Catch up time...

So I guess it appears I fell off the earth. I am so sorry to not post in such a long time. Summer life around here with three busy bees is just really busy. That and it is really hot in my craft room lately. Which leaves me to no creating and little computer time. My room catches the afternoon sun.. and no A/C up here in the great Northwest. Well we could have it but what for?? A couple of hot days in the summer doesn't seem worth it.

Our family had a GREAT 4th. We did a fun parade with the neighborhood. I have to show my youngest 2 who rode their decorated bikes...




Then it was a great day of BBQ in the park, face painting, and water balloon fights. The whole day was one of many clouds and a wonder of when would it pour but our few sunbreaks were beautiful. I managed to even get a picture of the little break we got!! Fireworks and Smores topped off the night. It was truly a great day and I hope you had fun too.









That weekend was the Tahoma All Stars tournament. Kaelyn played great. But the first pitch of the second game took Kaelyn out for a few innings. He swung the bat and the ball hit the bat, the home plate, and then his right eye... we had quite the scare but he is okay. Here is a picture of his souvenir from the weekend.



I did get some new stamps that I ordered from Addicted to Scrapbooking... click the link on the right side bar if you want FAST ship and GREAT prices. I ordered and received my stamps in 1- yes 1 day. I was shocked. But even better was I got my first MFT stamp set and my favorite ever set of CUPCAKES!!! I love them. On the cupcake close up you will see the liquid glass and stickles weren't quite dry yet as I took the photo. I can't wait to share with you the cards so I will quit the idle chatter and share with you now...

MFT's Rain or Shine




Hero Arts Cupcakes

Grad's & Mother's Day!!

Well, I had fun these cards. The first is for my brother. Final card is 5x7.


Stamps: Legendary Moments, Rustic Alpha, Card Commentary, and Express Postage
Embellishments: bamboo eyelets and chocolate waxy flax
Papers: Free Spirit and Desert Sand CS
Colors: Twilight, Desert Sand, Cocoa

The second is one you may have seen but I used my copics to add a little color. It is one I did for a card class back in March.




Stamps: Simple Beauty, Frienship Puzzle
Paper: silohuette polka dots, Black, White daisy, Grey Flannel, Sweet Leaf
Inks: Grey Wool
Embellishments: Black brads, Stickles

The last card was the fun one. I had seen one like this in an old Paper Crafts... but it was really plain. I decided to dress this one up. I have to admit I tried to texture the "pot" portion of the card with my cuttlebug but it just didn't work out with the dimensions of the card being bigger than the embossing folder. So, this is the second attempt and I love how it turned out!! I hope you do too.






Stamps: Simple Beauty
Paper: K & Company Roam Designer Paper
Tools: Cuttlebug flower dies and embossing folder
Inks: Sweet leaf, chocolate
Embellishments: My Stickease from Caprice and Life Delights, liguid glass, stickles

Busy Weekend

Hello!!
Saturday was crazy- and quite beautiful!! Sunshine and a little warmth too.
But the day itself was crazy busy!! We had one baseball game at 10, basketball at 2 and 4. A birthday party at 2... It was just busy, busy!!! We watched August Rush that night for our Family Movie night. I have to say, I loved that movie. It was perfect!! The kids loved it- even Ethan!!
Sunday was a wonderful day. We went to church- and that was great. I ran with Ethan in the jogger 5 miles and the kids and Dalton went to the gym. Then we met back at home and loaded the bikes and the bike trailer for Ehtan up and headed to the trail. We rode for 10 miles. I was proud of Brookelyn for riding so long. Kaelyn, well I was proud of him too but he could have rode all day. I on the other hand was beat!! Pushing the jogger is hard to do while running and little man loves to talk. I love to listen to my worship music and run- and I can't talk and run. And then pulling the trailer, well I was tired by the time we made to car.
I have to really hunker down this week and train hard. We run 18 miles this week. I just can't believe it is almost here... the marathon.

I did manage to make a couple of cards over the weekend. One birthday card for the party and then one just cuz!! I hope you enjoy and thanks for letting me ramble on...

The first one uses a retired paper pack for the b&t paper (Great Outdoors) and then a cute stamp set that I had to have and have never used until now. Roughin' it. I love how cute this card turned out. The little boy was having a camo party- not camping camo but boot camp... but it still was cute!! The trees, baby bear, and the tent are pop dotted.


This next one is one of my favorite Stamp of the months yet to be released!! It is for June... With Love. Paper is from a little stack that I picked up at M's. I used my copics again to color the flowers and vase. I did use Heavenly Blue CS and sparkles from CTMH also. Ribbon was from M's too.

Ooops I forgot...

This year Easter was just too early. It caught me off guard. I knew it was early and coming but still didn't really grasp just how early!!
I forgot to post my Easter Card I had made. I made cute little baskets to give away and forgot to take a picture. But I did get a picture of the card. And I love how it turned out!!! I hope everyone had a blessed Easter.

Colors are Buttercup, Sweet Leaf, Colonial White, and Blush. The stamp set was our Stamp of the Month for January. Very fun set. The dots are from Simple Stitches. The boxes are raised with foam squares and the eggs and flowers have pop dots for dimension.

I hope you have a great day.

I heard a little bird singing...

I had a cleaning busy day yesterday getting ready for my Lia Sophia Jewelry Party. And I am so excited to announce that not only do I get to pick out some Amazing Hostess Benefits but I also signed up!! I am going to start under Stacie who is just amazing. I am just hooked. I used to run a jewelry shop- Friendze. It is out of Texas and it was a beading shop and we sold some sterling pieces and fun gifts. I loved it. And Lia Sophia's jewelry is fun, affordable and I can't wait to get started sharing it with everyone!!!

But for now I want to share this card I made today. Ethan is taking naps again and I couldn't be happier to have a little fun time to myself during the day. It is a nice way to get my creative juices out before 2 am.



The colors are colonial white, heavenly blue, cocoa. I machine stitched on the card for the first time. I was ultra excited to break out the sewing machine!! I have hand stitched on cards before but never got out the machine and it was fun and will have a permanent place out on the table now!! I also used window charms (on both sides), eyelet, and safety pin to make a cute charm to dangle from the ribbon. Finished card is 4 x 5.5

More Workshop Cards

And these are a few more of the cards we will be doing at our workshop/class this next Friday. I just have to get cuttin' now!!

The first two incorporate fun stamped images and one of my favorite papers. Free Spirit. I used Legendary Moments, Ticket Tags, Genuine Fun, Happy Birthday... Colors are Colonial White, Cocoa, and Twilight. Ribbons are cocoa and twilight ribbon rounds.




This next one is made using March Stamp of the Month Simple Beauty.
Colors are Black, Grey Flannel, Grey Wool ink, Sweet leaf and White Daisy...

Long time no blog...

I am so sorry that life is just getting ahead of my ability to keep up to date. I read so many blogs everyday you would think I could at least update my own. I love looking at artwork on all the ones I visit daily that I have decided I am going to have to post more of my own artwork. So, hopefully I will be able to do just that!!!

In February we had a great month!! We decided to walk in faith or obedience to the Lord rather, and put our homestudy up for review for a family that we are so interested in. I hope that you all will stay in prayer with us as we should be hearing something soon. Valentines day was such a great "family" day of love!! I have to say I agree that it really is just a Hallmark day!! I love the red hearts and the fun that the kids have passing out valentine's but I am rather sure I would rather make sure everyone knows that I love them each and everyday!!!


Here is the card I made for Dalton I really enjoyed it and so did he...:o)



Another pretty card made using the February Stamp of the Month... I have two extra sets still for sale if you are interested in this set... it is really a pretty set to play with. It is paired with lots of sparkles and the beautiful Silhouette Papers in our new Spring Catalog.



The kids had winter break for a week and we had so much fun going to the beach and yes it was chilly but it was a beautiful sunny day!! We also took other day trips to the Pacific Science Center and parks... Here are a few great pics from those days..





More to come on my upcoming Stamp Camp next week!! Still a few more spaces, be sure to leave a comment if you would like to be added to workshop!!!

Stamp Camp Samples

Well mark your calendars for March 14th. I will be doing a stamp camp that night- 10 cards for just $10.. They are worth more than $1 a piece but the fun we will have is surely worth even more!! I hope that if you weren't a part of the orginal Evite you will drop a comment below and let me know if you would like to be added to the list of FUN gals that are already coming. That night all you need to bring with you is a basic tool kit. Which includes micro-tip scissors, small paper trimmer (not completely necessary but will cut down on your wait), and adhesive!!

Here are some of the designs and I will be adding more soon...
All products are Close To My Heart unless listed otherwise.

CREATE!!!

Do you ever feel like you just Need to be creative. I am having one of those days... So until I plop down and create something let me share some things that I have created when I did feel this way. I cleaned up my craft room and started seeing some of the fun things I made and didn't give away and thought "now what are you ever going to do with that?? It literally is taking up dust!!"
This first one was so much fun to make and I adore it still. The papers are Close to My Hearts- Simple Pleasures. My downline gave me the tin at convention last year and I dolled it up to my likings sometime after.



And this time of year you start to think Spring is just around the corner. The sun has been shining so bright- yeah it's 20 degrees in the morning but it has to be close after all the Sun is shining!!! Spring means fun handbags to me!!! Here is one of my favorite projects to make Paper Purses!! It has a darling little pen and mini composition book to match. Papers are Close to My Heart but they are retired. It was a fun set to play with.



And then lastly I love reading all the Papercrafts, Creating Keepsakes, you get the idea magazines... I saw an inspiration card just around the time of my dear friend Tricia's birthday this last year... I loved the paper in the card. I took out so many different stamps and recreated it!! I think if you saw the pic and yes I showed it to her you would just be amazed at what you can do with your stamps!!



So until later, be inspired to go Create!! It's good for you!!

Creative Play Day

So, today I am recovering from Bunco last night. :o) We had a fun time and it was a lot of prep work but I think it was a success. Ethan has a double ear infection so the two of us stayed in comfy clothes and lounged. I did get 6 loads of laundry done and my kitchen cleaned up but I also played in my craft room in spurts.

Here are the two cards I made today. They were fun.

The first one uses a fun set that is now retired. Winter's Melody. I love these girls. I also used New Fallen Snow and paper from the Christmas Stack. Cardstock and ribbons are Heavenly Blue. The girl is paper pieced and the bling is Sparkles from CTMH... I also used Stickles for a little extra glitter. I doodled around the snowflakes for some whimsy... overall I love this card.



This second card is also using papers from the Stack... and CTMH bamboo cardstock. It uses a beautiful vintage set called Winter Wonder. I just used this set for the first time today. I love it. I used chocolate inks. I stamped the skis and pop dotted them for deminsion as well as the "bundle up". The snowflake has a button actually sewn to it and then a loop made in the back for a hanger. I love how this turned out and would make a great masculine card.





I hope you enjoy. I had fun playing and I am off to do Christmas gifts... can't show those.