Soaring

CQC #121 & CPS 252

2012-01-26T13:32:00.001-06:00

I've got another, little trio of Valentines, for Winter's Valentine's Day Card Drive, to share with you all, this afternoon. And I'm just going to get right to it, because it's been a busy day, and I still have a load of things to get done.

How about a little closer look?

I started this card by trimming the bottom of a piece of mustard, flourish, patterned paper with a punched strip of red, polka dot, patterned paper and the top with a punched strip of olive, paisley, patterned paper; machine stitching, with white-threaded, zig-zag stitches, between the patterned paper connections; and adhering the prepped piece to the 3" x 4", Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face, which had been stamped, in Basic Black ink, with the "You're a great CATCH!" sentiment.

I then wrapped a length of Baker's Twine, three times, around the horizontal center of the prepped, patterned, paper piece and tied it, in a bow, near the left edge of the card face.

The hooked worm was stamped, in Jet Black ink, on a Whisper White, cardstock die cut; surrounded with the stamped, in Old Olive ink, double frame; colored in with More Mustard ink and a blender pen; and dressed up with a couple of google eyes. I then laid it in place to stamp the string, in Basic Black ink, from the top of the hook off the top edge of the card face, before securing it, in its proper position, with foam tape.

Inspiration for these cuties came from ColourQ's Challenge #121...

and Card Positioning Systems' Sketch 252.

I've got a few, more Valentines, for the children's hospitals' kiddos, that I'm still working on and hoping to share, with you all, before the close of the week, as well as before Winter's deadline; but I've also got a lot of work still to do to really show off a trio of beautiful stamps and coordinating dies that Dawn has cooked up, for you all, this month. So, cross your fingers and wish me luck to get it all done ;). Thanks so much for stopping by, ya'll, and have a truly terrific day! Hugs!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Hooked On You - hooked worm & sentiment, Brothers & Sisters - frame, & Classic Christmas - string (Wplus9) Paper: Crumb Cake & Whisper White (SU); mustard flourish (Basic Grey); olive paisley (K&Company); red polka dot (KI Memories) Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, & More Mustard (SU); Jet Black (StazOn) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); All Occasion Label die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); Edger punch (EK Success); Upper Crest Border punch (Fiskars); foam tape (Scotch); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); google eyes (craft supply store)

PDCC116 - Sweet 'n Sassy

2012-01-25T23:01:00.089-06:00

So fun to have you visiting for The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #116!

I had the treasured privilege of having dinner with my sweet friend, Lynn Mangan, last week. And not only did we get to spend time catching up and learning more about one another, but she paid for my dinner and all. What a blessing! I was so surprised, and I know that it's just a card; but I so wanted to say a big thank you, even if it is in such a small way. So, this sweet thing is for her.

I started this card by trimming the bottom of a wide strip of blue, floral, patterned paper with a slightly shorter strip of punched, Whisper White cardstock. I then trimmed the space just above that punched strip with two, punched and layered strips of chartreuse, patterned paper to represent the grass, before machine stitching, with white-threaded, straight stitches, the lengths of the top and bottom edges of the blue, floral, patterned paper and adhering it near the bottom of the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face. A white embossed "You make days brighter and life sweeter." sentiment rounds out the bottom of the design.

The top edge of it was then dressed up with a plum ribbon, tied, in a bow, near the left edge of the card face.

And a couple of punched, from Whisper White, textured, cardstock, clouds turn our attention to the mid section; where I hand cut a chartreuse, glitter tree from patterned paper and adhered it with foam tape, before finishing the design with a trio of embossed and die cut, from Elegant Eggplant cardstock, butterflies, which were adhered just at their centers and embellished with clear gemstones.

I'm also turning this one in for The Punches Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. And now, it's your turn; and I hope you all won't turn running from this challenge but will really dive into your stashes and hunt for just the right elements to make these plum, chartreuse, and moldy cheese colors shine. You have until the close of the day EST, next Tuesday, January 31, 2012, to link up your takes over at the challenge link above. Please also use that link to find out what the rest of the team has been up to, as well as to find out what you're playing for, this week, from our fabulous sponsor, Sweet 'n Sassy.

We're also saying goodbye to Michele Gross and Andrea Ewen this week, and I cannot tell you all how much I'm going to miss these ladies. I had the privilege of working side-by-side with Michele, in cahoots with sponsors and guest designers, way back in the beginning of my first term here at the PDCC. From that interaction, I learned that she is literally one of the kindest, most flexible, willing to bend over backward for you kind of people I've ever known, and that's not even to mention that she ROCKS a CAS design. And Andrea portrays pure perfection when it comes to the vintage, shabby chic world. Plus, if it's possible, she's even sweeter than her unending creations. I have no doubt that both of these ladies will go so far and wide into the future with their creativity, and I know that they'd really appreciate it if you'd stop by their blogs to wish them well. Big hugs and tons of blessings, ladies!

Thanks for peeking in, ya'll! Have a terrific day!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: The Birds & the Bees (Wplus9) Paper: Crumb Cake, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, & blue floral (SU); chartreuse (KI Memories); tree (DCWV) Ink: watermark (VersaMark) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Scallop punch, white embossing powder, & Beautiful Wings Embosslit (SU); Big Shot (Sizzix); Grass & Cloud punches (Fiskars); plum ribbon (Hobby Lobby); clear gemstones (Paper Studio); foam tape (Scotch)

Three in One

2012-01-24T13:57:00.001-06:00

Good afternoon! We're back to warmer weather in my neck of the woods, but Adina is also back to feeling icky. It seems that every time we go to church, she comes home not feeling well. That cannot be good! Then, I get so tired taking care of the poor, little thing, that it's difficult to keep caught up on everything. Help! I think I need a vacation! Anyway, I'm still trying to get my mojo back but, at the same time, refusing to let it take a break. So, I do have a pretty, little number, to share with you all, today.

I started this card by machine stitching, with ivory-threaded, straight stitches, a piece of pink, polka dot fabric to the front of the Very Vanilla, cardstock, card face, which had been distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks.

A strip of gray, doily, patterned paper was then adhered down the vertical center of the card face and anchored with ivory-threaded, zig-zag, machine stitches. I then wrapped a length of seam binding ribbon, which had been stained with Pink Bubblegum Glimmer Mist, around its center; tied it, in a dressy bow, near the top edge of the card face; and embellished it with a couple of hemp twine bows; a black, checked bow; a cream, resin flower; and a chipboard house, which I dressed up with a little, silver glitter.

A piece of Very Vanilla cardstock was then stamped, in Basic Black ink, with the "Congratulations to the happy couple" sentiment; clear embossed with the gorgeous, blossom images; distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks; framed with a piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock, as well as ivory-threaded, straight stitches; and finally, dressed up with a little, pink trim; a couple of cream, doily, flower halves; and a trio of silver, mini brads, before being tucked under the embellished bow.

Inspiration for this card came from the Tuesday Trigger: Winter Blossoms in the Moxie Fab World...

The Shabby Tea Room's Week #98: Sparkly & Bright...

and Deconstructing Jen's Deconstructed Sketch No. 35.

I'm also thrilled to tell you all that this card, that I made for Winter's Valentine's Day Card Drive, put me in the Top 3 over at The Ribbon Reel. Thank you so much for the honor, ladies! My cup runneth over!

And thanks, to you all, for stopping by! Please don't forget that you have until the close of tonight EST to link up your takes on The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #115. Then, I'll be back, late tomorrow, along with the rest of the team, with another color story to try your hand at. Until then, happy stamping, and be blessed!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Heartfelt Mix - sentiment & Very Vintage Greetings - flower (Wplus9) Paper: Very Vanilla & Pink Pirouette (SU); gray doily (My Mind's Eye) Ink: Basic Black (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger); watermark (VersaMark) Other: ivory thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); pink polka dot fabric & pink ruffle trim (Hobby Lobby); cream doily flower & chipboard house (Jenni Bowlin); white seam binding ribbon (Zipper Stop); Pink Bubblegum Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); skinny black ribbon (May Arts); clear embossing powder & silver mini brads (SU); silver glitter (K&Company); foam tape (Scotch); cream resin flower (Maya Road); mini clothespin (Canvas Corp.)

Weekend Snapshots

2012-01-23T14:10:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday, ya'll! First and foremost, I have to say thank you so much for all the sweet, birthday wishes you left, for me, on yesterday's Birthday Giveaway post. You all are the best! Thank you! And it was so fun to see that most of you celebrate low-key in exactly the same way I did, but before I get to that, I had to share a few pics of Ezekiel's Saturday, afternoon, basketball game.

The kiddos and I were on our own all morning, while BJ was away at a church meeting; but we all met back up, early afternoon, to cheer Ezekiel on to another, unfortunate loss. But look at this lineup! How did those boys get so tall anyway?! Sigh. We couldn't even catch a rebound!

I tried to get crafty Saturday afternoon, but I cannot seem to focus lately. My mind is racing a million miles an hour with everything that needs to be done, and between that and the continual interruptions from little ones, I just wasn't getting anywhere. So, I bailed, baked a couple loaves of French bread, and whipped up a big batch of Gumbo. At least everyone went to bed happy and full :).

Then, at church, on Sunday, we, along with the rest of the parents, were invited to spend the morning, with Ezekiel, to see what happens in the first to fifth grader's territory. It meant a lot, to Ezekiel, for us to be there, and it's always fun to see him interact with his friends and spout out verses and answers left and right. It's comforting to know, too, that he knows the right way to behave when his sister gets into his things. Now, if we can just put that into practice. LOL! (Ezekiel's in the green and plaid shirt to the far right in the photos below.)

Then, we went to Olive Garden for my birthday lunch, courtesy of BJ's aunt, via a couple of Christmas gift cards...

and finished up, back home, with an Apple Crumb Cake that BJ made for me.

Poor Adina might've gotten mauled after she blew out the first candle. LOL!

I got to pick out a few, new, creative goodies to celebrate with. My kiddos were completely giddy to give me the cards they picked out all by themselves. LOVE! And my handsome hubby brought home these sweet, flower bundles, which I separated, to keep me company all weekend long.

Oh! And I think my hubby's working up a light box for me, too. Woohoo! Wish him luck!

We spent the rest of the day taking a nap and watching football, while we listened to the thunder and watched the lightening, which is so out of character for January in Kansas, but I LOVE rainstorms! BJ and I have been totally cheering against one another, during the football games, for the last two weeks; but so far, I'm 4-0. Although, I have to admit that I no longer know who to cheer for. I guess that I've got a couple weeks, before the Super Bowl, to pick a fave.

Oh! And Ezekiel was blessed with this big box of books from a family friend, whose son is all grown up and off to college, and started sorting right away. Now, they'll be gratefully loved :)!

Thanks for peeking in, and have a wonderful, work week, ya'll! I'm off to sneak in a little creative time, while my kiddos are resting/reading. Hugs!

Birthday Giveaway

2012-01-22T07:00:00.001-06:00

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! I'll have pics to share of ours tomorrow, but I wanted to pop in here, today, to share a little something-something with all of you. I was planning on doing a little giveaway, when I reached 200 followers; and although I haven't quite reached that number, today is my birthday, and I'm thinking that's a great reason to celebrate early.

So, I've picked out two of the most popular, not to mention my most favorite, products from my newest gig at Market Street Stamps. And I'd LOVE to send them both, including Gone Campin'

and Vintage Notebook...

to one of my faithful followers, just for being said such. All you need to do, to be in the running to have them all for yourself, is leave me a comment below, telling me how you like to celebrate your birthday, by the close of next Sunday, January 29, 2012, CST. And I'll announce a winner the following Monday.

Good luck, and thanks so much for all the love and encouragement you've showered upon me over the last almost two and a half years. Gosh, it's hard to believe that it's been that long! But when I started my blog back then, I never imagined that I'd meet so many kind and talented people along the way, and I cannot even begin to explain the amount of joy you've all brought into my life. THANK YOU! Enjoy the rest of your weekends!

Papercraft Star Challenge 80

2012-01-20T14:20:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday, ya'll! We've been out and about, at Adina's dance class and picking up some necessities, and I just cannot believe how cold it is! We've been spoiled rotten, this winter, with gorgeous weather and unseasonably warm temperatures, and I've already begun dreaming of tulips and daffodils and hyacinths. Matter of fact, I just had to try to bring a little springtime back on this chilly day, when I saw Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday #49: Ghost Masking post. LOVE! Although, I have to admit that the shot below was my fourth try, and I'm still not completely happy with the way the masking lined up. Sigh. I still think it's beyond beautiful, though, and I'll definitely continue to work with this technique. Thanks for sharing, Betsy!

I started this card by stamping the frame, in Jet Black ink, near the bottom center of a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and distressing the edges of that piece with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks. I, then, masked it off and stamped the heart strip in Basic Gray ink, the large blossoms in Ruby Red ink, the small blossoms in Pool Party ink, and the leaves in Lucky Limeade ink, before reversing the mask and doing the same thing again, with the exception of stamping off first. A stamped, in Basic Black ink, "The heart blooms with Love" sentiment finishes the ink work.

I then trimmed the top edge of the stamped piece with a punched strip of floral, patterned paper, which is also where I pulled my ink colors from, before framing the whole thing with a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and machine, stitching, with black-threaded, straight stitches, around the bottom edges of the prepped piece.

A length of red, saddle stitch ribbon, wrapped around the prepped piece, between the stampy portion and the punched strip, and tied, in a bow, near the left edge of it, as well as a few pieces of foam tape, prep the piece for its final resting spot on the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face.

Further inspiration for this card came from Papercraft Star's Challenge 80 to use a frame, and if it inspired us so, to use the below photograph as well. And oh, my gracious, I so want this bedroom! My poor quilt, that we bought, right at two years ago, back here, is falling apart at the seams, and the ones in this photograph have me oooing and awwwing.

I also have a few recognitions to share, with you all, today. I haven't been very good about doing so this year, but I'm uber proud of each and every one of them, and I think that it helps encourage others to find and support many of these online challenge blogs as well. So, without further ado, I'm thrilled to share that this card and this one, as well as this beauty, were all three featured over at CREATE:, the first two for CARDS' Vellum Challenge and the third for CARDS' Rolled Paper Challenge. These cuties put me in the Top Three over at Do You Stack Up? and also earned me a spot Guest Designing, with their fabulously talented crew, on February 9, 2012. I hope you'll be sure to pop back in and join in the fun!

And this layout made me a Sketchy Thursdays' Fave for their final :( sketch. Thank you so much to all those who made said such possible! What a true privilege it is to get to be a part of this fabulous, creative community!

That's all, for today, folks! I'm off to fold another load of laundry and try to sneak in a nap. I'm feeling a little under the weather and think that one might do me some good. Have a fabulous weekend, ya'll!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Ever After - blossoms, leaves, & sentiment, Design Basics: Backgrounds I - heart strip, & Very Vintage Greetings - frame (Wplus9) Paper: Very Vanilla & Crumb Cake (SU); floral (Basic Grey) Ink: Ruby Red, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Basic Gray, & Basic Black (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger); Jet Black (StazOn) Other: black thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Label Layers 3 die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); Edger punch (EK Success); red saddle stitch ribbon (Hobby Lobby); foam tape (Scotch)

SIT #67

2012-01-19T12:01:00.003-06:00

Note: If you've come here looking for my PDCC115 post, please scroll down.

It's that time again! Time for Sketches in Thyme's monthly, two-page sketch, specifically for Challenge #67 this go around.

I've got to say that I'm completely loving these two-pagers! While I'm not usually drawn to finishing two-page layouts, I've got pictures running out my ears that call for said such, and they're all slowly but surely finding homes. LOVE! So, here's what I came up with this month.

I created the beginning of this layout, at my Scrapbook Club, by adhering the top, two strips of patterned papers across the Pretty in Pink, cardstock pages and dressing up those delicious papers, which were adhered across their bottom edges, with embossed and die cut, stacked, cardstock buttons, laced with hemp twine, fabric brads, and pom-pom trims. And I just couldn't seem to work that little, button, card embellishment into the completed design. So, I've set it aside to grace the face of a future, card creation.

I then tucked my photographs into a strip of coordinating, green, sewing pattern, patterned paper and added a smattering of staples along those embellished bottom edges...

before turning my attention to the left side of the layout...

where I added a couple of die cut embellishments, before machine stitching, with both white-threaded straight and zig-zag stitches, along the edges of my patterned papers.

A trio of die cut, from Whisper White cardstock, clouds...

a yellow, photo corner; and a length of Pink Sorbet twine, tied in a couple of bows...

turns our attention to the right side of the layout.

After I applied the same, machine stitching, as above, along the top, two, patterned papers, I tucked a strip of Whisper White cardstock behind my pictures, as well as that green, sewing pattern, patterned paper, and machine stitched, with more, white-threaded, straight stitches, that final strip into place. The top of the cardstock strip served as a place to put my journaling, which reads, I cannot even begin to explain how beautiful you looked, to me, in the birthday dress I made for you. There's so much life, joy, and excitement in those big brown eyes, and I'm the luckiest mom in the world to call you mine.

And the bottom of that cardstock strip houses the "First Birthday" title, which was created with hot pink, scratch 'n sniff alphas, as well as the Sunday, November 1, 2009 date. A couple, more, Whisper White, cardstock clouds and another length of Pink Sorbet twine, tied in a bow, in cahoots with a small handful of yellow photo corners, complete the design.

Now, it's your turn! You have until the close of the month, on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, to link up your takes, on Challenge #65, Challenge #66, and/or this week's Challenge #67, over in the right hand column of the Sketches in Thyme Blog. Please be sure to stop by the challenge link above to check out the fabulous takes, on this week's sketch, by the rest of the Mavens, as well as to be reminded of what you're playing for this month. Thanks so much for dropping in, and have a terrific Thursday!

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, & all patterned (SU) Ink: Basic Black (SU) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Hearts & Clouds die (Wplus9); Sweet Buttons Embosslit die, hemp twine, photo corners, fabric brads, & pom-pom trims (SU); Big Shot (Sizzix); foam tape (Scotch); staples & stapler (office supply store); pink die cut trim (My Little Shoebox); green polka dot die cut trim (Crate Paper); Pink Sorbet twine (The Twinery); hot pink scratch 'n sniff alphas (American Crafts)

PDCC115

2012-01-18T23:01:00.015-06:00

Welcome to The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #115!

I cannot tell you how much this slate, moss, bark, and burlap color story spoke to me! LOVE! And although I didn't go that direction, I think that it would make a fantastic guy card. So, here's my take.

I started this card by piecing the various, patterned papers onto a piece of Mellow Moss cardstock and machine stitching, with white-threaded, zig-zag stitches, between their connections. I then ink distressed the edges of a doily, cut from a gray, patterned paper, and adhered it, horizontally centered, near the papers' left side. The "thank you" sentiment was stamped, in Jet Black ink, on a strip of vellum, before being anchored to the prepped piece with white-threaded, straight, machine stitches, running around the edges of the entire piece.

A punched strip of Whisper White cardstock was adhered to the prepped piece's left side, before the entire thing was adhered to the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face.

Finally, I dressed it up with a moss-colored, metal flower, embellished with a pearl, and a cream, fabric flower, flanked with stamped, in Mellow Moss ink, on Whisper White cardstock, hand cut, and ink distressed leaves and a trio of hemp twine bows.

Further inspiration for this card came from this week's Card Pattern's Sketch 148. And now, it's your turn! You have until the close of the day EST, next Tuesday, January 24, 2012, to add your entries to our gallery at the challenge link above. Please also use that link to see what the rest of the girls have been up to, as well as to find out what you're playing for, this week, from The Twinery.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a truly terrific day, ya'll!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Ever After - leaves & Very Vintage Greetings - sentiment (Wplus9) Paper: Whisper White, Mellow Moss, Crumb Cake, & kraft polka dot (SU); large gray polka dot (Authentique); brown damask (BoBunny); moss music (unknown); small gray polka dot (American Crafts); moss crackle, kraft woodgrain, & vellum (Paper Studio); brown woodgrain & gray doily (My Mind's Eye) Ink: Jet Black (StazOn); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); cream fabric flower (Prima); moss metal flower (Basic Grey); pearl (Paper Studio); foam tape (Scotch); Scallop Trim Border punch (SU); hemp twine (Creative Impressions)

Goodbye Sketchy Thursdays

2012-01-18T20:16:00.000-06:00

We have had such a busy but really good day! Ezekiel had a little, home school program, called When Science Attacks, at the Kansas City Zoo, this afternoon; and he was so excited to get there, that he got all his work done before lunch. And not only was it done, but it also looked fabulous! LOVE! I wish he had that kind of commitment every day of the week. LOL! Anyway, I know that it's a bit of a late post for me, but I just couldn't miss out on Sketchy Thursdays' final sketch. So, I'm sneaking it in with moments to spare.

I started this layout by anchoring the photo, on the gray, scroll, base page, with a piece of gray, polka dot, patterned paper, secured with black-threaded, straight, machine stitches. I then stacked lots of color-coordinating, patterned papers, haphazardly, below the photograph and anchored them all, across their top and bottom edges, with more, black-threaded, straight, machine stitches, running over onto the base page itself.

The partial, "YOU make me" title was tucked under the top edge of the photograph, near its left corner...

and the completed, "happy" title was stamped, in Jet Black ink, on a strip of vellum, before being secured over the bottom portion of the photograph.

I then flanked the picture's left side with a hand cut, from a gray, patterned paper, doily; a stack of canvas and cardstock, patterned flowers, topped with a red Sparklet; and a white tag, laced with white string and upon which I journaled, You had your Daddy wrapped around your little finger from the moment he laid eyes on you.

A red label, which was anchored, at either end, with silver, mini brads, was used as a 6 days old, date card.

Finally, I hand cut the pennants from a patterned paper; strung them on two lengths of white string, crossing over one another; and anchored each end of the banners with pewter, Jumbo brads, dressed up with white, string bows.

Like I said above, inspiration for this layout came from Sketchy Thursdays' current and last sketch. Thank you so much, Diana, Heidi, Julie, and the fantastically talented, Sketchy Thursdays' Design Team, for the inspiration you've been to me and all of your creative groupies and for all the time and energy you've put into making your challenge such a huge success. You will be deeply missed!

I'll be back, in just a bit, with a brand new challenge from The Play Date Cafe. Until then, thanks so much for peeking in, and have a truly wonderful evening! I'm off to enjoy the rest of my favorite and cannot miss show of the week, Modern Family. Hugs!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Happy Everything (SU) Paper: gray scroll (Authentique); banner, hot pink polka dot, & gray doily (My Mind's Eye); pink star & pink & red letter (Jillibean Soup); gray polka dot (Fancy Pants); red & pink floral (Jenni Bowlin); vellum (Paper Studio) Ink: Basic Black (SU); Jet Black (StazOn) Other: black thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); white tag (Kraft Outlet); canvas & cardstock flowers (Basic Grey); red Sparklet (Kaiser Craft); red label (Jillibean Soup); "YOU make me" journaling card (lilybee design); pewter Jumbo eyelets & silver mini brads (SU); white string (Hobby Lobby); foam tape (Scotch)

Valentine's Day Card Drive

2012-01-17T13:58:00.002-06:00

Warning: This is a picture heavy post. But hang in there, because it's all for such a great cause.

Hey, ya'll! I'm just popping in here, today, to share a trio of Valentine's Day cards that I made for Winter's third, annual Valentine's Day Card Drive. She's collecting cards for St. Jude's and Vanderbilt, Texas, and St. Louis Children's Hospitals. Here's the deets for this year's drive...

Cards need to be a Valentine theme.
Cards can't have anything about 'Get Well Soon', 'Feel Better', or anything reminding them of being sick.
No buttons or anything that can be pulled off and become a choking hazard.
Please make cards that can be used for any gender or age.
Cards must be able to fit into a 4-1/2" x 5-3/4" envelope. Winter will provide clear envelopes for each card, so there is no need to send one with your card.
You can include a message on the inside of your cards, but please, remember nothing reminding the children of being sick... maybe just a Valentine sentiment. You can, also, sign your first name but not your last name or where you are from. St. Jude's rule's state that they can't give out the givers info.
Please include, with your cards, a piece of paper with your name, address, email address, and the amount of cards you sent. Winter will be picking random winners for prizes, including your choice of two stamp sets from our very own Wplus9 Design Online Store.

She will be accepting cards until the end of January at...

Winter Sims
Cards For St. Jude
P.O. Box 754
Warren, TX 77664

I'll also post the St. Jude's logo, on my blog, to make it easier, for you all, to find all the necessary information throughout the course of the drive. Now, how about a little inspiration, from little, old me, to get you creating?

First and foremost, I need to share that inspiration for all of these beauties came from this card, created by CASE Study's January Muse, Jen Rzasa, for Challenge #73.

Now, let's take a look at the first one, in the stack above, up close and personal.

I started this card adhering pieces of color-coordinating, patterned papers to the 3-1/2" x 5-1/4" Pink Pirouette, cardstock, card face.

I then die cut the hearts from the front, Whisper White, cardstock panel, stamped the "hey there" sentiment in Basic Black ink, and dry embossed the prepped piece with polka dots. A length of Blush Blossom twine was wrapped, three times, just below the die cut hearts and above the stamped sentiment, around the stamped piece and tied, in a bow, near the left edge, before adhering it, with foam tape, over the patterned, paper pieces, to the card face.

Further inspiration for this one came from Create for Fun's Color Challenge #46.

The top one, in the stack above, was created in exactly the same way...

with the exception of a change of sentiment to "Celebrate"...

twine to Honeydew, cardstocks to Very Vanilla and Coral Calypso, and patterned papers...

to fit The Paper Player's Colour Challenge #78.

The third and final card, in the trio above, too, was made like the cards above.

However, the sentiment was switched to "You're Special"...

the twine to Pink Sorbet, the cardstocks to Very Vanilla and Pretty in Pink, and the patterned papers...

to fit a trio of challenges, including Do You Stack Up's Challenge #54: Pink...

The Ribbon Reel's Challenge #19: Pink Polka Dots...

and Paper Smooches' current SPARKS Challenge.

Thanks so much for hanging in there and humoring me with a stop by my little neck of the woods! Please don't forget that you have until the close of today EST to link up your takes on The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #114. And until tomorrow, happy stamping, ya'll!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches) Paper: Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette, Coral Calypso, & Pretty in Pink (SU); gray polka dot (Authentique); yellow pink & gray floral & pink & yellow plaid (American Crafts); pink paislee & hot pink polka dot (My Mind's Eye); coral floral (Webster's Pages); pear glitter (K&Company); pink star (Jillibean Soup); red & pink floral (Jenni Bowlin) Ink: Basic Black (SU) Other: polka dot embossing folder (SU); Hearts & Clouds die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); Blush, Honeydew, & Pink Sorbet twine (The Twinery); foam tape (Scotch)

Weekend Snapshots

2012-01-16T14:01:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday, ya'll! I hope you had a nice weekend! Ours was relaxing and full of television football, which was just what I needed after a week of taking care of a sick little one. I was tapped and beginning to feel icky myself.

On Friday morning, Adina began her first dance class. The teacher is young and was uncomfortable with parents being in the same room. So, most of us huddled around the door to try to catch a glimpse of our kiddo, through the little window in it, as she tiptoed or danced by. I'm going to try to sneak in and get at least a few pictures over the next few weeks. Anyway, when we got home, I went to help Ezekiel get started back with his assignments and came to see what she was up to. She was exhausted, and I found her all cuddled up, in the beanbag, dozing with our dog Summer. Too cute!

Saturday brought another basketball game. Ezekiel's just loving it!

A little lunch, at Red Robin, afterwards, was just what we needed.

Then, Sunday, I finally got to go to church again. I haven't been for a month! They closed down over the holidays for two, whole weeks. Then, with Adina being sick last week, as usual, I was the designated nurse. So, it was really nice to get back in the swing of things. Afterwards, my kiddos wanted to go to Barnes and Noble. They both had Christmas gift cards burning holes in their pockets. So, we humored them and came home with a small bundle. We LOVE books!

Oh! And my January Jenni Bowlin kit arrived, this weekend, too. I'm hoping to have a chance to play with it a little later today, but I just couldn't wait to share. Delish!

Here's the deets...

1 Crate Paper Pattern Paper
2 Bo Bunny Pattern Papers
1 Lily Bee Pattern Paper
3 Basic Grey Pattern Papers
2 Coredinations Cardstock
1 Coredination Solid Cardstock
Crate Paper Random Alpha Labels
1 pkg. of Kaiserkraft Sparklets
Basic Grey Die Cut Flowers, Picadilly
Mercantile Exclusive Stamp
1 XL ledger index card
Pillow Box containing:

Harlow Prima Flowers – colors will vary between cream, pink and red
Metal Flowers Basic Grey, Picadilly
1 yard May Arts Ribbon
2 vintage “Smith” pharmacy labels

Now, even with it being Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and many children being out of school and adults being off of work, we're plugging along, as usual, with laundry, dishes, changing the beds, cleaning the mouse cage, and even baking a couple loaves of bread.

Oh! And I also just have to share this little conversation we had at the dinner table. It began with Adina practicing her memory verse, and I'm thinking that her Sunday School teacher must've really plugged the whole manger scene image over Christmas.

Adina: With God, all things are possible. (while doing hand motions)
Daddy: Good job! Do you know where Jesus lives?
Adina: With the cows.
Mommy/Daddy/Ezekiel: Snicker. Snicker.
Adina: I mean with the sheep.
Mommy/Daddy/Ezekiel: More snickering.
Ezekiel: No, He lives in Heaven.
Adina: No, He lives with the cows.
Ezekiel: No, He lives in Heaven with God the Father.
Adina: He lives in Heaven with the cows.
Mommy/Daddy/Ezekiel: Hysterical laughter.

I just can't argue with that face! Plus, I'm sure there are cows in Heaven, too. Gotta love the innocence of a little one! Thanks so much for stopping by! May you all have an absolutely blessed work week! I'm off to see if I can sneak in a little time with that kit, before my little one is up from her nap.

Tuesday Trigger: By the Numbers & CR84FN45

2012-01-13T15:46:00.002-06:00

The ups and downs of last weekend have carried into and throughout my week. Remember back here, when we awoke to no heat. Well, it turned into an even bigger problem, with the winter temperatures finally hitting Kansas City, this week. The blower stopped working, too. So, we had to bite the bullet and get the ignition control fixed, which cost way more than our budget can handle right now. Ugh!

Adina has continued to feel icky for the better part of the week. She's been my little shadow, which I truly don't mind. I really love our cuddle time. She even fell asleep, in my arms, in the rocker, yesterday.

Fortunately, now, she has been fever-free for two whole days. Woohoo! And she's getting right back to being her spunky old self. Thank you so much for all your well-wishes for her! I truly so appreciate your kindness and prayers!

And because I threw in those few of Adina, I wanted to share some of what Ezekiel has been up to this week. He's plugging along at school and loving learning how to read maps!

I also wanted to give you all an update on his standing in the Young Environmentalist Competition for Sea Life Aquarium. He is currently running 22nd out of 101 entries, which is a great place to be, but it doesn't get him the title. If you'll remember, he has to be in the top twelve. I'm a firm believer in if it's meant to be, it will be; but I also believe that with the help of many, great things can be accomplished. So, I'm asking, once again, for your help.

If you haven't already, please go "Like" his entry! You can use the link in the top right corner of my blog to go directly to Ezekiel's entry; or if you'd like to check out all the entries for yourself, you can go to the Entry Gallery. Please also share his link on your Facebook pages, and THANK YOU to those who have already voted, and in advance, to those who are heading there now! Your votes are deeply coveted! Now, how about a little something papercrafty in nature ;)?

I started this card by stamping the "Celebrate" sentiment, in Jet Black ink, on a 4-1/2" square piece of Whisper White cardstock...

machine stitching around its edges, with white-threaded, straight stitches; and dry embossing the prepped piece with polka dots.

I then cut my "3, 2, 1" numbers, from various, patterned papers, with my Cricut and adhered them, just to the left of the stamped sentiment, before punching a small hole above the "2" and lacing a length of Charcoal Twine, after it was wrapped around the Ballet Blue, cardstock, card face three times, through it. The prepped panel was then adhered, with foam tape, to the card face; and the twine was tied in a bow and embellished with a black, glitter brad.

Inspiration for this card came from the Tuesday Trigger: By the Numbers in the Moxie Fab World...

and Create For Fun's Challenge #45.

That's all, for today, folks! Thank you so much for stopping by! Your visits and comments truly make my day! Have a wonderful, safe, relaxing weekend!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Mehndi Medallions (Wplus9) Paper: Ballet Blue, Whisper White, orange polka dot, & yellow gingham (SU); blue stripe (American Crafts) Ink: Jet Black (StazOn) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); polka dot embossing folder (SU); Big Shot (Sizzix); black glitter brad (Paper Studio); Charcoal Twine (The Twinery); George & Basic Shapes, Cricut Keystone, & Storybook Cricut cartridges & Cricut (Provo Craft); foam tape (Scotch)

SIT #66

2012-01-12T12:01:00.004-06:00

Note: If you've come here looking for my PDCC114 - Simon Says Stamp post, please scroll down.

It's time for another sketch, specifically associated with Challenge #66, over at Sketches in Thyme!

I hope you all can forgive me for steering a little, hopefully not too far, from the sketch. I kept the circle, the number of photographs, the trio of paper strips, and the below-the-pictures title, but I threw it all into a bit of a wonky placement on the page. Check it out!

I started this layout by using a sort of whitewash, of Ivory White, acrylic paint, to stencil through a large, paper doily near the top left corner of the base page, which, although it appears to have been pieced together, actually comes that way. I then machine stitched, with black-threaded, zig-zag stitches, between each of the different, patterned squares, before trimming the top of the page with a torn strip of textured, Ruby Red cardstock and the bottom of the page with torn strips of the previous, as well as Basic Black cardstock.

A trio of patterned papers were then adhered, haphazardly and vertically, near the center of my white-washed doily.

After adhering pictures, I tucked an "APR" Bingo card under the top left photo...

and used the bottom center photo as the foundation for my "Mesmerized" title, which was created from black, mini, chalkboard alphas, anchored with messy, black-threaded, machine stitches, tied off, to the front of the page, at either end.

The medallion image was stamped, in Basic Black ink, on Very Vanilla cardstock; hand cut it out; distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks; dressed up with a little Apple Red, acrylic paint; and tucked in the nook between the two right photographs. A number "FOUR", paper domino and a clear ticket strip were then tucked under its right side. And a black, country flower, backed with a Basic Black, cardstock, leaves die cut, as well as a trio of hemp twine bows; silhouette die cut; date sticker, which was labeled with the April 4, '08 date; and a red, "U" brad, complete the look.

Color inspiration for this layout came from The Paper Variety's Black and White With a Kiss of Color Challenge.

Now, it's your turn! You have until the close of the month, on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, to link up your takes over in the right hand column of the Sketches in Thyme Blog. Please be sure to stop by the challenge link above to see what the rest of the Mavens have been up to, as well as to find out what you're playing for this month. Also, just in case you missed it, be sure to check out our Top 3 and Our December Winner post. You won't be disappointed! Congratulations, ladies! And thanks so much, to you all, for stopping by! Have a terrific Thursday!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Medallion (Jenni Bowlin) Paper: Very Vanilla, textured Ruby Red, & Basic Black (SU); all patterned (Jenni Bowlin); paper doily (Wilton) Ink: Basic Black (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: black thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Little Leaves Sizzlit (SU); Big Shot (Sizzix); Apple Red & Ivory White acrylic paints (FolkArt); "APR" Bingo card, black mini chalkboard alphas, & "FOUR" domino (Jenni Bowlin); black country flower & clear tickets (Maya Road); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); date label (Jillibean Soup); silhouette die cut (October Afternoon); red "U" brad (Paper Studio)

PDCC114 - Simon Says Stamp

2012-01-11T23:01:00.072-06:00

Welcome to The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #114!

I must admit that I always struggle with color combos that incorporate gold. It's just not one of my go-to colors, but I tried to weave it in any and everywhere I could, and I think that I stayed true to my style and still did that burgundy, gold, and plum color story above justice. Check it out!

I started this card by adhering a piece of gold, doily, music note, patterned paper (I soooo wish that paper photographed better! LOVE the subtlety of the shine!) to the bottom of a piece of burgundy, polka dot, patterned paper and trimming the space between them with a punched strip of damask, text, patterned paper. I then stamped the "Wishing you a never-ending love Song" sentiment, in Jet Black ink, on a hand-cut, vellum pennant, before anchoring it with gold-threaded, straight, machine stitches, running around the entire, prepped piece's edges.

Gold-threaded, zig-zag stitches were machine stitched between the gold, doily, music note, patterned paper and the punched, patterned, paper strip, before the entire, prepped piece was adhered to the Very Vanilla, cardstock, card face. I then wrapped a length of plum ribbon, vertically, around the card face, just to the left of the stamped, vellum pennant; tied it, in a bow, near the top edge of the card face; and embellished it with a gold, heart button, backed with two, hemp twine bows.

A pair of stamped, in Elegant Eggplant ink, on Very Vanilla, cardstock die cuts, birds were adhered, with foam tape, just to the bottom left of the sentiment and overlapping the length of ribbon, and dressed up with a hint of glitter, to complete the look.

Now, it's your turn! You have until the close of the day EST, on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, to link up your takes over at the challenge link above. Please also use that link to find out what you're playing for, this week, from our fabulous sponsor Simon Says Stamp...

as well as to see what the rest of the team has whipped up with this regal color story. Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Love Birds & Just a Note (Wplus9) Paper: Very Vanilla (SU); vellum (Paper Studio); burgundy polka dot & damask text (My Mind's Eye); gold doily music note (lilybee design) Ink: Elegant Eggplant (SU); Jet Black (StazOn) Other: gold thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); plum ribbon (Hobby Lobby); gold heart button (Jesse James & Co. Grandma's Grab Bag); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); Dazzling Diamonds (SU); Love Birds die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); Edger punch (EK Success); foam tape (Scotch)

Market Fresh Jan. Kit Reveal

2012-01-10T19:00:00.109-06:00

Today's the big day, ya'll! Your January Market Fresh Kit, from Market Street Stamps, is available to you, even as this post goes live. But before you're off to getting them while they're hot, if you haven't done so already, please let me share with you the whole kitten caboodle.

Here's the deets...

“Love Birds” Kit

(1 sheet of each 12x12 patterned paper per kit)

Crate Paper “Valentine” Paper Heart Collection

Crate Paper “Cupid” Paper Heart Collection

My Mind’s Eye “Banners” Love Me Collection

My Mind’s Eye “Love” Love Me Collection

My Mind’s Eye “Favorite Party Paper” Lost & Found 2 Blush Collection

My Mind’s Eye “Precious Motif Paper” Lost & Found 2 Breeze Collection

Lily Bee Design “Courting” Head Over Heels Collection

Lily Bee Design “Dreamy” Head Over Heels Collection

(1 sheet of each 12x12 cardstock per kit)

Bazzill Cardstock 12 x 12 Berry Sensation/Smoothies

Bazzill Cardstock 12 x 12 Almond Cream/Smoothies

Bazzill Cardstock 12 x 12 Iced Cocoa/Grass Cloth

(Embellishments: 1 per kit unless otherwise stated)

Crate Paper Border Stickers 6 x 12 Cardstock Stickers Paper Heart Collection

May Arts Velvet Satin Edge ½” Ribbon Silver (2 yards per kit!)

Dear Lizzy Thickers Alpha Stickers Black

Lily Bee Design Journaling Cards Head Over Heels Collection

Kaisercraft Paper Blooms Sage

(Stamps)

One stamp set valued at $5, which, if you'll remember, came a little late to my mailbox, so it missed the photo shoot above

And despite all the projects you've seen me create with these fantastic goodies, I just couldn't resist showing you all the supplies that I still have left. Oh, but don't get me wrong! None of it will be sticking around in my creative space for long ;). LOVE!

Are you ready for your subscriptions yet?! Here's a few more details for you to consider...

Monthly Papercrafting Kit, coordinated by Stephanie Washburn, containing 12x12 patterned papers, cardstock, and coordinating embellishments
Each Kit contains one exclusive stamp, illustrated by Angelica Suarez.
20% Discount on stamps for the months you are a kit member
First 50 Kit Club Members receive a FREE stamp set!
Choice of 3 month ($29.99 + $8.50 shipping/month), 6 month ($27.99 + $8.50 shipping/month), or 12 month subscription ($24.99 + $8.50 shipping/month)
Shipping cost is based on US Domestic Shipping only. Canada/Mexico Kit Members will be billed $24 for shipping, and International Customers will be billed $33 for shipping. Orders may be combined so everything ships in the kit box. You never pay more than it costs to ship. Our cart software uses a USPS calculator to estimate your shipping charges. In the event you are charged over the actual cost of a shipment, we will refund you automatically.

Now, run get 'em here; and if you still have any questions, I'm sure stopping by the Market Street Stamps Blog will take care of that. Happy creating, ya'll! Oh! And please don't forget that you have a few hours left to enter The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #113. Can't wait to see what you all have cooked up!

Market Fresh Jan. Kit Sneak Peek: Day 2

2012-01-09T19:00:00.208-06:00

Welcome back for another sneak peek of Market Street Stamps' first ever Market Fresh Kit! It's so good to have you here visiting! I promised you all some card creations in my Market Fresh Jan. Kit Sneak Peek: Day 1 post, and I'm here, today, to deliver.

I started this card by adhering a piece of turquoise, doily, patterned paper to the center of a piece of gray, design, patterned paper; machine stitching, to either side of the paper connections, with gray-threaded, straight stitches, the inside of which was tied off, to the front of the piece, at all four corners; and adhering the prepped piece to the kraft, cardstock, card face.

I then ink distressed each of three, journaling cards and adhered one, haphazardly and directly to the card face, before wrapping a length of gray, velvet ribbon, vertically, around the card face and tying it, in a bow, near the top edge of the card face. Ya'll, Stephanie was uber generous with that ribbon. This kit comes with two yards of it! Woot! Woot!

The last, two, journaling cards, the top of which was stamped, in Basic Black ink, with the "i like you just the way you are" sentiment...

and dressed up with a touch of glitter, were then adhered, with foam tape, one on top of the other, to complete the look.

But that's not all! I've got two, more, card creations, to share with you all, today. So, I hope you'll hang on for the ride.

I started this card by piecing punched strips of patterned papers onto a piece of kraft cardstock; adhering it to the hot pink, cardstock, card face, whose edges were then softened with a little Ivory White, acrylic paint; and machine stitching, with ivory-threaded, straight stitches, around its edges.

I then wrapped a length of white, seam binding ribbon, vertically, around the left half of the card face; tied it, in a dressy bow, near the top edge of the card face; and embellished it with an aqua, paper bloom.

Finally, I tucked one of those yummy, journaling cards, which I trimmed down, rounded two of the corners of, and ink distressed, in the center of the card face, tucked under the embellished bow, with foam tape.

I hope you're still with me, because I've got one more sweet, little number, for your viewing pleasure, today. And you don't want to miss it, because it shows off the fantastic, Market Street stamp that comes in your kit. It was running a little behind at the manufacturers, but I'm so excited that it arrived in time for our card creations sneak peek!

I started this card by stamping the birds image, in Jet Black ink, near the bottom of a piece of Whisper White cardstock and coloring it in with Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, Ruby Red, Lucky Limeade, Barely Banana, & Crumb Cake inks and a blender pen.

I then masked off the colored image, as well as several clouds in the space above and below the image, and inked the entire panel with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, before black embossing the "LOVE BIRDS" image, centered above the inky birds in the cloudy sky.

After adhering the prepped piece to a piece of hot pink, polka dot, patterned paper and trimming it, across its bottom edge, with a heart die cut, I machine stitched, with red-threaded, straight stitches, around its edges.

A length of red, gingham ribbon was then wrapped around the card face, before the entire prepped piece was adhered, with foam tape, to its center; laced through a hole I punched near the right edge of the prepped piece; and tied, in a bow, near the prepped piece's right edge. A touch of glitter and a turquoise button, laced with a couple of hemp twine bows, complete the look.

That's it, folks! I have had so much fun making these projects to show off this fabulous Market Fresh Kit, which will be available for purchase tomorrow, and I hope that you've had as much fun seeing the potential it contains.

Please be sure to stop by the Market Street Stamps Blog to check out more details of the kit club subscription and the Market Fresh Kits Group in the Neighborhood, as well as by my teammates' blogs, to see what they've cooked up with their kit goodies.

Brenda Weaver
Stephanie Washburn

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a super week, ya'll!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Cheep Talk (MSS) Paper: kraft (Bazzill); gray design & turquoise doily (lilybee design) Ink: Basic Black (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: gray thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); journaling cards (lilybee design); Dazzling Diamonds (SU); gray velvet ribbon (May Arts); foam tape (Scotch)

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: hot pink & kraft (Bazzill); gray design (lilybee design); teal lacy, aqua design, & hot pink polka dot (My Mind's Eye) Ink: Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: ivory thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Ivory White acrylic paint (FolkArt); foam tape; Corner punch (SU); Edger punch (EK Success); white seam binding ribbon (Zipper Stop); aqua paper bloom (Kaiser Craft)

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Cheep Talk & Love Birds (MSS) Paper: Whisper White (SU); kraft (Bazzill); hot pink polka dot (My Mind's Eye) Ink: Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, Ruby Red, Lucky Limeade, Barely Banana, & Crumb Cake (SU); Tumbled Glass (Ranger); watermark (VersaMark) Other: red thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); 1/16" Handheld Circle punch, black embossing powder, embossing gun, Dazzling Diamonds, & turquoise button (SU); heart die cut (Crate Paper); foam tape (Scotch); red gingham ribbon (Hobby Lobby); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); Cloud punch (Fiskars)

Weekend Snapshots

2012-01-09T09:37:00.002-06:00

We've had one of those up and down weekends. It all started on Thursday late afternoon, when we got a few, more, Christmas gifts in in the mail.

Then, Thursday evening, Adina took quite a fall. I only saw the end of it with her falling, on the back of her head, from the wing chair in our kitchen; but she said that her ear hit the counter, and she had some scrapes below her lip and a bruise on her chin. Anyway, all tears aside, she really seemed to be fine. I was watching for all the signs of any head injury, but it appeared to be just another fall. Then, she started running a high fever in the middle of the night and didn't sleep well. A nurse friend assured us that the fever and fall were most likely unrelated, but as the day progressed, Adina began to complain of her ear hurting, and I didn't know if it was just because she bonked it or if there had been an internal injury. And even with Ibuprofen in her system, her temperature spiked to 103.5 degrees. I had it! So, I hauled her off to the pediatrician.

As it turns out, it was just pure coincidence that the temperature began when it did. Praise the Lord! Her white blood cell count was low, but her ear looked just fine, and she passed all the other tests. So, I've been cooped up, most of the weekend, watching movies, cuddling, reading stories, and nursing her back to health, while the boys have been off gallivanting around. Matter of fact, the only thing she just couldn't live without was a quick stop by the library, on Saturday morning, to give a hug to our children's librarian, who is retiring. We have known her since we moved into our home when Ezekiel was two-years-old. We will miss you greatly, Miss Debbie!

Then, the boys were off to Ezekiel's first basketball game. I was so bummed to have to miss it! Sigh. According to Ezekiel, they got "creamed"; but he had so much fun in the process, and that's what really matters ;).

Sunday was just a completely lazy day, but I cannot even begin to tell you how exhausted I felt. Adina and I whipped up pork chops, rice, and glazed baby carrots for Sunday noon, which was good, because the boys were starving, when they got home from church. But other than that and a massive pile of dirty dishes to wash, we just rested, watched football, and tried to relax; before the boys were off to Awana again, and us girls got back to the really important stuff, like changing our toenail polish from RazzApple Magic Dip...

to Wicked Lemonade. I'm not sure either one was a very good decision. LOL!

Now, we're off to another week of school and taking care of all the things that come with managing a household. Plus, the Market Fresh Girls and I have got a fabulous line-up of card creations to share, with you all, later today. I hope you'll stop back by to check it out! Until then, I wanted to leave you with a picture of our amaryllis. I just LOVE to have a little pop of sunshine, growing right in my window box, when the plants outdoors have lost their luster and shriveled up with the frost!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful start to your work weeks, ya'll!

Market Fresh Jan. Kit Sneak Peek: Day 1

2012-01-06T19:01:00.008-06:00

Eeek! Just typing that title has my temperature rising and my feet doing a happy dance! So excited to be here showing off the fabulous, January Market Fresh Kit, from Market Street Stamps, that Stephanie Washburn has so brilliantly put together!

Today is all about layouts. Then, for those of you whose fancy is card making, we'll be back, on Monday night, showing off our card creations, using this same kit. So, enough of the chit-chat. Let's get down to business and showing off all that this month's kit has to offer.

I started this two-pager by piecing together the woodgrain doily and aqua, stripe, patterned papers; trimming the space between them with a punched strip of teal, lacy, patterned paper; and machine stitching, with black-threaded, straight stitches, to either side of the connection between the punched strip and aqua, stripe, patterned paper. That sets the foundation for both sides. So now, let's take a little closer look at the left side first.

I'm being completely real, with you all, in showing these personal pics of my family and I with a blotchy, tear-stained face and all. So, please be gentle with me :). Anyway, every element, on this page, surrounds and highlights that picture of my hubby and I with our littlest, beginning with the "bundle of love" title, which was created from teal alphas, which were anchored with black-threaded, messy, machine stitches, tied off to the front of the layout, and gray Sticky Keys, both of which do not come in the kit, as well as fabulous, black, puffy Thickers which do. Hip, hip, hooray!

The cluster to the bottom left of the photograph includes a hand-cut and ink distressed, patterned, paper doily; a hand-cut from hot pink, polka dot, patterned paper and machine stitched around, with black-threaded, straight stitches, heart; an aqua, girl silhouette, which came from my stash; an aqua, paper bloom; and a handmade, by me, hot pink, felt flower, which was topped with a black button and flanked with Garden Green, cardstock, die cut leaves, as well as a bundle of hemp twine bows.

The "Just the facts:" journaling card was then tucked under the cluster's bottom right corner; embellished with a portion of a die cut, ticket strip, which was positioned with a mini clothespin I picked up; and detailed with the following: 1.) My water broke @ 7pm. 2.) We arrived @ the hospital around 10 pm. 3.) Hard labor began @ 11:30 pm, and I began pushing @ 12:40 am. 4.) We were holding you in our arms @ 12:54 am. I've got so many pictures of Adina's birth, that I think that's all the journaling this layout needs.

Another hand cut and ink distressed doily; a portion of an aqua, floral die cut; an AMAZING, gray, velvet ribbon, anchored with black-threaded, messy, machine stitches; and a black button, from my stash, which was stitched to the page with hot pink thread...

turn our direction to the far right edge of the page, which gives a hint of what to expect on the right side of the layout.

The hot pink, die cut, scalloped strip was anchored with black-threaded, messy, machine stitches, tied off, at either end, to the front of the layout, and serves as the foundation upon which I built six more pictures from the same moment in time.

I then tucked an "adore", texty, journaling card under the pictures far right edges...

and a hand cut and ink distressed, patterned, paper doily under their top right corner. Another, handmade, felt flower, embellished in the same way as above, completes the look.

Okay, ya'll, if you're still with me, let's just move right into my second layout, and remember that you'll find nearly all of these goodies in the January Market Fresh Kit.

I started this page by adhering a wide strip of turquoise, doily, patterned paper down the center of the kraft, patterned, paper base and machine-stitching, with pink-threaded, zig-zag stitches, down either of its long sides. After adhering a circle, cut from the backside of that turquoise, doily, patterned paper, near the bottom right of the wide strip, it too received a pink-threaded, zig-zag, machine-stitch treatment, before having a pink, lacy, scalloped, die cut strip, which was anchored, at either end, with a couple of staples, adhered, horizontally, across the top of it.

I then adhered my photographs, a few of which had one corner rounded in order to keep the eye moving throughout the design, in their respective locations. A floral, journaling card was tucked between the top, two photographs; used to anchor the "J&L" title, which was made with black, puffy Thickers...

and written upon with, Even though we didn't get to attend Jared and Lindsay's wedding, what a joy it was to have these beautiful pics given to us. Orange Beach, AL, September 5, 2009. A large heart was cut from clear cardstock and anchored, over the journaling, with a small handful of black, hand stitches.

A "LOVE METER" die cut...

and a trio of die cut, from Whisper White cardstock, clouds, complete the look.

Ready for one more? This third and final layout was inspired by this page, by Lisa Dickinson, which I found on the JBS Mercantile Blog.

I started this layout by arranging and adhering my photographs around a center, 3" square piece of notebook, patterned paper, which had a large heart Cricut-cut from its center; was grounded with black-threaded, straight, machine stitches, tied off, at all four corners, to the front of the layout; and serves as the foundation for the "my girl" title, which was created from more of those fabulous, black, puffy Thickers.

I then adhered four blocks of punched, from a quartet of patterned papers, hearts and anchored them with large, free-hand zig-zag, black-threaded, straight, machine stitches. A "TODAY'S DATE IS" label, which was filled in with, Melvern Lake, KS, June 13, 2009, was placed in the bottom left corner...

and a "darling" tab, which was trimmed from one of those lilybee design, journaling cards that come in the kit, prepares the page for journaling, which reads, You were the muse of all our pics with that gorgeous smile, happy spirit, and easy-going demeanor, as well as the many faces you portray in a matter of minutes. This was your first camping trip, and you couldn't have done any better!

That's all, for today, folks! I hope that I haven't completely overwhelmed you, but rather inspired you to get scrapping and excited you about this absolutely AMAZING Market Fresh Kit! I just know that you'll be as in love with it as myself and the other girls are! Anyway, I'd be just thrilled to have ya'll come on back, next week, to see more of what this kit has to offer. Please be sure to stop by the Market Street Stamps Blog to check out more details of the kit club subscription and the Market Fresh Kits Group in the Neighborhood, as well as by these two, uber talented ladies', whom I am so lucky to call my teammates, blogs, to see so much more of what this kit has in store for you and 2012.

Brenda Weaver
Stephanie Washburn

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a fabulous weekend, ya'll!

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: Garden Green (SU); aqua stripe & woodgrain doily (Crate Paper); teal lacy, gray doily, & hot pink polka dot (My Mind's Eye) Ink: Basic Black (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: black & hot pink thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Little Leaves Sizzlit (SU); Big Shot (Sizzix); journaling cards (lilybee design); black buttons & heart template (Jenni Bowlin); aqua floral, ticket, & hot pink scallop die cut (Crate Paper); gray velvet ribbon (May Arts); foam tape (Scotch); aqua paper bloom (Kaiser Craft); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); hot pink felt (Hobby Lobby); mini clothespin (Canvas Corp.); teal alphas (Sassafras); gray Sticky Keys (October Afternoon); black puffy Thickers (American Crafts); Upper Crest Border punch (Fiskars)

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: Whisper White (SU); kraft patterned (My Mind's Eye); turquoise doily & chevron striped (lilybee design); clear (PTI) Ink: Basic Black (SU) Other: pink thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); circle template (Fiskars); Hearts & Clouds die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); "LOVE METER" & pink scalloped lacy die cuts (Crate Paper); staples & stapler (office supply store); Corner punch & paper piercing tool (SU); heart template (Jenni Bowlin); black embroidery floss (DMC); foam tape (Scotch); black puffy Thickers (American Crafts); journaling card (lilybee design)

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: tan textured (Bazzill); gray notebook, hot pink polka dot, teal lacy, & aqua design (My Mind's Eye); turquoise doily (lilybee design) Ink: Basic Black (SU) Other: black thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); George & Basic Shapes Cricut cartridge & Cricut (Provo Craft); heart punch (EK Success); "TODAY'S DATE IS" tab (Jenni Bowlin); "darling" tab (lilybee design)

SIT #65

2012-01-05T12:01:00.072-06:00

Note: If you've come here looking for my PDCC113 - Sweet Stamp Shop post, please scroll down.

Welcome to our first Sketches in Thyme sketch for 2012, specifically Challenge #65!

I just couldn't LOVE the CAS design of this sketch, with the potential to grow and build upon, any more! Delish! Here's what I came up with.

I started this layout by using a polka dot stencil to paint little spots of white over that gorgeous, texty, kraft base. I then added three strips of patterned paper, cut as though they were banners, vertically, to pull in additional color...

tucked a hot pink, journaling card, which had been distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, under the far right strip; and used that card to journal, Just a sweet pic of another, little accident, while BJ was in charge none-the-less. That literally never happens! Your accidents always seem to occur on my watch. Anyway, Daddy was trying to get things cleaned up, when I walked around the corner and found this. Too cute!

The photograph was matted with Whisper White cardstock and used to anchor my "accidents happen" title, which was made from Blueberry, Scratch 'n Sniff letters and orange, mini alphas.

A "Best of Times" tab...

and a few, hand cut, from lace cardstock, hot pink doilies, embellished with color-coordinating buttons, laced with white string, complete the design.

Color inspiration for this layout came from The Color Room's Palette #91: {Sun Room}.

Now, it's your turn! You have until the close of the month, on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, to link up your takes over in the right hand column of the Sketches in Thyme Blog. Please be sure to use the challenge link above to see what the rest of Team A, as well as our talented Guest Mavens, Karen and Rita, have cooked up with the sketch and to find out what you're playing for this month. Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a truly wonderful day!

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: Whisper White & hot pink lace (SU); texty kraft (My Mind's Eye); aqua plaid & yellow polka dot (October Afternoon); orange ruler (Crate Paper) Ink: Basic Black (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: Blueberry Scratch 'n Sniff letters (American Crafts); orange mini alphas (My Little Shoebox); orange & hot pink buttons & yellow button blossom (SU); white pearl button & polka dot stencil (Jenni Bowlin); foam tape (Scotch); Ivory White acrylic paint (FolkArt); white string (Hobby Lobby); "Best of Times" tab (October Afternoon)

PDCC113 - Sweet Stamp Shop

2012-01-04T23:01:00.070-06:00

I trust you all had a wonderful holiday season! It's so good to have you back visiting, in 2012, for The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #113!

Our sponsor for this week is Sweet Stamp Shop...

and I've used their Tree Traditions stamp set to capture that gorgeous, juniper, mint, and vanilla color story above.

I started this card by white embossing lots of snowflake images over a piece of juniper, snowflake, patterned paper, which had its top corners rounded.

I then trimmed it, across its bottom edge, with a strip of mint, patterned paper, stamped, in Chocolate Chip ink, with the "let's make cocoa." sentiment, before adhering it to a piece of vanilla, text, patterned paper, which, too, had its top corners rounded, and machine stitching, with white-threaded, zig-zag stitches, around its edges.

Before adhering the prepped piece to the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face, I distressed the edges of the vanilla, text, patterned paper. A length of white lace was then adhered, horizontally, just below the snowflake, embossed, patterned paper and topped with a piece of mint, ruffle ribbon, which was tied, in a bow, near the left edge of the card face and embellished with a mint brad, backed with a couple of hemp twine bows, to complete the look.

Now, it's your turn! You have until the close of the day EST, next Tuesday, January 10, 2012, to link up your takes over at the challenge link above. Please also use that link to check out what the rest of this talented team has stirred up using their Sweet Stamp Shop goodies, as well as to find out what you're playing for this week. Also, Sweet Stamp Shop is having a DT Call, so be sure to run check out all the details! Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a fabulous day!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Tree Traditions (Sweet Stamp Shop) Paper: Crumb Cake (SU); vanilla text (7 Gypsies); juniper snowflake (My Mind's Eye); mint (Pink Paislee) Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU); watermark (VersaMark) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); white lace (Hobby Lobby); mint ruffle ribbon (American Crafts); mint brad (Jenni Bowlin); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); white embossing powder (Ranger); Corner punch, distressing tool, & embossing gun (SU)

CASE Study #71

2012-01-03T14:15:00.000-06:00

Good afternoon! What a busy day it has been! It's our last day of Christmas Break, so I'm scrambling to get everything lined up to have a good start back tomorrow. Plus, if this is your first time visiting today, we've got some exciting news to share in my previous Market Fresh Kits Design Team and Please Help! posts below. So, please be sure to scroll down! With that said, let's just jump right into a fresh, new, paper-crafted creation of mine.

I started this card by adding a strip of punched, stripe, patterned paper near the bottom of a square of couch, patterned paper; machine stitching, with white-threaded, straight stitches, around their edges; and adhering the prepped piece to the 4-1/2" square, Pool Party, cardstock, card face. I then trimmed the space above the punched strip with a length of white, scalloped lace, as well as a piece of brown, pleated trim, topped with a length of hemp twine, which was wrapped, around the card face, twice, and tied, in a bow, near its left edge.

The lace circle was hand cut from a piece of lace cardstock and adhered just to the right of the hemp twine bow. I then dressed up that circle with a stamped, in Chocolate Chip ink, on Whisper White cardstock, and hand cut, leafy branch, as well as a stamped, in Chocolate Chip ink, on a punched, from Crumb Cake cardstock, label, "welcome" sentiment, both of which were adhered with foam tape. A little, aqua, house brad completes the look.

Inspiration for this card came from this beauty, created by CASE Study's December Muse, Amy Sheffer, for Challenge #71.

Before I whisk myself off to my creative space, I'm thrilled to share that this card was featured in CARDS' New Year Cards Challenge Gallery; and this one was recognized, at Embellish, as one of their Mixed Patterns Color Trends Challenge What's Hot creations. Thanks so much to Paige, as well as to Ashley and her talented design team! What a thrill it is to see my creations recognized through so many avenues! My cup runneth over!

That's all, for today, folks! But please don't forget that you have until the close of today EST to link up your takes on The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #112. Then, I'll be back, tomorrow, along with the rest of the team, with a brand new, soft and serene color story fit for a January sky. Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a terrific Tuesday!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: House a Home (Ippity); Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions (Wplus9) Paper: Pool Party, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, & lace (SU); all patterned (Nikki Sivils) Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Modern Label punch (SU); foam tape (Scotch); house brad (BoBunny); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); white scalloped lace (Hobby Lobby); brown pleated trim (Prima); Upper Crest Border punch (EK Success)

Market Fresh Kits Design Team

2012-01-03T08:55:00.000-06:00

I'm beyond thrilled to tell you all and super glad that I don't have to keep it a secret anymore ;), that I will be joining Market Street Stamps' new Market Fresh Kits Design Team, beginning this month! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, Angelica and Stephanie, for giving me this amazing opportunity!

Membership to the Market Fresh Kit Club includes a fabulous and versatile, monthly, paper crafting kit, as well as exclusive perks throughout the length of the subscription. So, please be on the look-out for more details to come in the coming days. You don't want to miss out!

And if this is your first stop by my blog today, please be sure to scroll down, to my Please Help! post, to find out how you can help my big kiddo become a Young Environmentalist for Sea Life Aquarium.

Please Help!

2012-01-03T07:50:00.003-06:00

My big kiddo, Ezekiel, recently expressed an interest in becoming a Young Environmentalist/ocean ambassador for the new Sea Life Aquarium opening, at Crown Center, in April 2012. Sea Life is looking for 12 young, ocean enthusiasts from the greater Kansas City area, and Ezekiel has fulfilled the requirements to become one of those said such promoters. Now, he needs your help! Please go to the Sea Life Entry Gallery, and "Like" his entry beginning TODAY! For ease in finding his entry, on page 14, here is his imaginary sea creature, the Octoshark...

and you’ll find his 100-word essay, completing the statement, “We need to protect our sea life because…”, below. You can go directly to his entry, here, as well. Please also tell all your friends and family members to go vote and help him earn an amazing opportunity to further enhance his own personal growth and education of the great mysteries of our sea. And finally, THANK YOU, from both he and I, in advance, for your invaluable help!

We need to protect our sea life, because some ocean creatures that live today may not be living in a few years if we don’t. One way that we can protect our seas is by not littering. Even a plastic bag can be mistaken for a jellyfish by a hungry sea turtle. It is also important not to cut and let big, fishing nets float freely in the sea, because a sea animal could get tangled up in them. You can help protect the seas by simply spreading the news to others about why sea animals are endangered. The more people that know why, the more they’ll be educated to help.

Weekend Snapshots

2012-01-02T17:15:00.001-06:00

We had a super relaxing weekend that started, on Friday night, with a visit from my parents. I just love these pictures of my kiddos, that I captured, while they were anxiously awaiting Grandpa and Grandma's arrival. Our little library has the best view, in the house, for being the first to see a car pull into the driveway. LOL!

Then, we had a delicious dinner and a few, more, Christmas presents to open.

Plus, we also had a birthday to celebrate. I know that Apple Crumb Cake isn't much to look at, but it is both my Mom and my favorite in the whole wide world! It has a delicious, warm, buttery sauce that tops it, too. Check out My Birthday Weekend post for a close up. Anyway, happy birthday, Mom!

On Sunday, we just hung out and were really lazy. Gotta LOVE days like that! Although, I did find one opportunity to take a couple snapshots of my littlest. LOL!

Then, lucky for us, our weekend expanded into today, since BJ didn't have to work. So, I started laundry and changed the beds. Then, we packed up the kids and went to do a little shopping at Crown Center. We picked up a birthday gift for my niece, played in the Crayola store...

and just enjoyed the atmosphere and sights and sounds that Crown Center has to offer.

Have a fabulous, hopefully abbreviated, first, work week of 2012, ya'll!

December Pubs

2012-01-01T15:12:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year, ya'll! I hope you all had memorable celebrations! We stayed home, together, and enjoyed good food and watched even better movies. Ezekiel picked out Ramona and Beezus for us to watch as a family, and once the kiddos went to bed (They're the grouchiest kids on the block, when they don't get their sleep. Plus, neither of them were really interested in staying up to usher in the new year.), BJ picked out The Help for the two of us to watch. I totally recommend them both! We've seen Ramona and Beezus before. Matter of fact, we own it. But The Help was new to us. Regardless, I'm not afraid to admit, that they both drove me to tears. There's just so much meaning wrapped up in their little packages. LOVE!

Anyway, I had four, card creations in the December 2011 issue of CARDS Magazine; and if you have a moment, I'd LOVE to share a few of their snapshots. All the details and supplies for the making of the first two, to follow below, can be found on pages 99 and 84 consecutively. LOVE that the first one couldn't be more perfect for my first post of 2012!

And all the details and supplies for the making of the last two, to follow below, can be found on pages 71 and 52-53.

Thanks so much for peeking in, and may all your hopes and dreams come to fruition in 2012! Hugs!

Friday Faves

2011-12-30T14:18:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the December 2011 edition of my Friday Faves! I've got an awfully scrumptious line-up of goodies, for your viewing pleasure, today, beginning with a quartet of stamp sets from Gina K. Designs. I adore the versatility of Vintage Backgrounds...

the sweet patterns present in Perfect Pennants...

the fabulous fonts and bold, floral silhouettes Botanicals boasts...

and the playful images and puny sentiments Garden Fresh supplies to any and all of my creative muses.

Last month, I shared JBS Mercantile's Black Ledger Cardstock Alphabet Stickers; but now, I'm lovin' that I could create them in any color I want with their Clear Stamp - Alphabet. Eeek!

Crate Paper's Paper Heart Collection Kit is absolutely perfect for all those Valentine concoctions just waiting to be cooked up. Plus, I LOVE the pinks and reds and blues, as well as all the scrumptious, lace embellishments! Delish!

While we're talking holidays, how about fancying up those Christmas pics with a little something fabulous from Chic Tags, like Christmas Chevron ATCs...

Christmas Vintage Cards...

Christmas Scalloped Lace...

or Christmas Milk Bottle Caps? LOVE!

I'm thinking that a little, sweet stamping with Lawn Fawn's Love 'n Breakfast...

and/or Paper Smooches' Yummers, from The Kismet Collection, might just satisfy my late night cravings without adding any bulk to my mid-line. LOL!

This edition of my Friday Faves just wouldn't be complete without a peek into Noel Mignon's newest Mistletoe and Holly Kit. After all, scrapping the hundreds of Christmas pics I take, at least for me, is an all-year affair.

In putting my love for papercrafting aside, I just had to sneak in here another one of the things that tends to capture my attention; and this Black Everyday Zippered Closure Bag, from Marbled, fulfills that to a "T".

And finally, just because it's New Years and someday I'll actually have a need for a gorgeous, little, black dress, I'd love to try on Old Navy's Women's Chiffon Ruffle Dress...

and/or LC Lauren Conrad's Ruffle Mixed-Media Dress for size.

That's all, for this round, folks! I hope you found something to love, too! Thanks so much for peeking in and for all the love and encouragement you've showered upon me throughout 2011! May you all have a truly happy and safe New Year! See you in 2012!

Three in One

2011-12-29T15:05:00.001-06:00

Good afternoon! And oh, my goodness is it a warm one, at least for this time of year, in our neck of the woods! We spent much of the morning playing outside. Ezekiel can't stop practicing with his new bow and arrow, which I LOVE! And Adina just isn't the same when she doesn't have some time, during the day, to play on the swing-set; ride her bike; color, on the patio, with chalk; or blow bubbles. They both just love to be outdoors, and we've been blessed, thus far, with a mild winter, which makes our 920 square foot home much more manageable with two kiddos :). So, enough chit-chat. How'd ya'll like to see a little, country, New Year's creation?

I started this card by adhering a strip of black, damask, patterned paper, vertically, near the left edge of the Very Vanilla, cardstock, card face and machine stitching, with ivory-threaded, zig-zag stitches, down its long sides. I then anchored a piece of black, polka dot, patterned paper, overlapping the right side of the black, damask, patterned paper, with ivory-threaded, straight, machine stitches, before hand cutting the silver banner from glitter tape and adhering it draped across the top right corner of the card face.

The bird was hand cut, from a gray, textured cardstock, using a template; silver embossed with the "Celebrate" sentiment; distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks; given a black, crystal eye; and adhered, with foam tape, just below the silver pennants.

A length of ivory lace anchors the bird and was topped with a black, gingham ribbon, tied, in a bow, just to the left of the sentiment, and embellished with a black, scalloped and pearl-studded brad.

Inspiration for this card came from ColourQ's Challenge #117...

The Ribbon Reel's Challenge #18...

and Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday: Challenge #43.

I also wanted to share a few pics of my kiddos decorating Christmas cookies. We usually decorate them on Christmas afternoon, but the weather was so nice, even then, that we went outside. It's kinda fun to drag our Christmas festivities into the week after the big day, too, though. Although, I really wouldn't mind a little snow ;).

And I just couldn't resist throwing in the first take on that last photograph. LOL! She's such a silly girl!

I have one last Friday Faves, for 2011, coming your way tomorrow. Then, I'll be off celebrating 2012! So, if I don't catch you tomorrow, have a safe and happy New Year, ya'll!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Mehndi Medallions (Wplus9) Paper: Very Vanilla & gray textured (SU); black damask & polka dot (Jenni Bowlin) Ink: Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger); watermark (VersaMark) Other: ivory thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); foam tape (Scotch); silver glitter tape (Recollections); black crystal (Prima); silver embossing powder & embossing gun (SU); black gingham ribbon (Hobby Lobby); ivory lace & black scalloped pearl-studded brad (Paper Studio); bird template (Jenni Bowlin)

Embellish's Mixed Patterns Challenge & Card Patterns Sketch 146

2011-12-28T15:11:00.001-06:00

We've been out gallivanting around, enjoying our days away from school and soaking up our free time with friends. So, I'm coming your way a little later than usual today but still coming, none the less, with a beautiful, little, paper-crafted number. Check it out!

I started this card by piecing the brown damask and navy, polka dot, patterned papers together; tucking a shortened strip of yellow, lace, patterned paper between them; machine stitching, with brown-threaded, straight stitches, around all of their connections; and adhering it to the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face. I then wrapped a length of fringed, yellow ribbon, twice, vertically, around the card face; tied it, in a bow, near the bottom edge of the card face; and embellished it with an olive button, laced with two, hemp twine bows, as well as a stamped, in Jet Black ink, on a strip of vellum which had been cut in the shape of a banner, "Happy Birthday" sentiment.

The scalloped circle was die-cut from an olive, text, patterned paper and adhered, with dimensionals, with its bottom left edge tucked under the embellished bow. The dogwood image was stamped, in Jet Black ink, on Whisper White cardstock; colored in with Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, and Old Olive inks and a blender pen; hand cut out; and adhered, with dimensionals, in the center of the die cut, scalloped circle.

A yellow butterfly gives the card a perfect, little touch of softness and completes the look.

Inspiration for this card came from Embellish's Mixed Patterns Color Trends Challenge...

and Card Pattern's Sketch 146.

Before I'm off to doing a little dusting, I wanted to remind you all that you still have another week to take on The Play Date Cafe's gorgeous Challenge #112. Can't wait to see what you all have been up to!

I'll be back, tomorrow, with a creation fit for the New Year's holiday. Until then, thanks so much for stopping by, and happy stamping!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Flora & Fauna I - dogwood image & Pile It On - sentiment (Wplus9) Paper: Crumb Cake & Whisper White (SU); navy polka dot (Jenni Bowlin); yellow lace (Crate Paper); brown damask (BoBunny); olive text (7 Gypsies); vellum (Paper Studio) Ink: Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, & Old Olive (SU); Jet Black (StazOn) Other: brown thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Big Scalloped Circles LG dies (Spellbinders); Big Shot (Sizzix); foam tape (Scotch); olive button (SU); yellow butterfly (John Allen); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); yellow fringed ribbon (American Crafts)

Christmas Treats

2011-12-27T13:16:00.005-06:00

I promised you all a peek at some Christmas treats in yesterday's Celebrating Christmas post, and I'm here, today, to deliver. I always like to put together packages of homemade goodies for both BJ's and my parents, simply because... well... honestly, my parents have everything they need; and if they don't have it, they don't wait for someone to gift it to them. Plus, this kind of gifting works well for guys and girls alike. And, to quote a popular, children's story, "When a gift is made by hand, all of that person's love is captured in it." So, without further ado, here's their Christmas gifts.

Now, let's take a look a little closer at what each package entails. Of course, you'll find a jar of our homemade apple butter, as well as a set of five cards, from my etsy shop, that need some loving; but there's also a Yankee candle, petite poinsettia, Christmas Worship CD, and a bundle of Christmas candy, including almond bark dipped pretzels, with a few, Christmas sprinkles to dress them up...

and homemade butterfingers, which are made from peanut butter, sandwiched between two Cheez-Its and dipped in almond bark.

I overheard the recipe for the latter, while scrapping with a group of ladies, several years back. Unfortunately, I don't remember who voiced the recipe or what she called it, but they taste just like Butterfingers without the stuff that gets stuck in your teeth :). Mmmmm! We also filled a big plate with more of these two candies to contribute to both of our families' Christmas celebrations.

Finally, we threw in some tasty Chocolate-Toffee Potato Chips...

and Sweet and Savory Mixed Nuts to round out the packages. The recipes for these two came from Paula Deen's Christmas Collector's Issue 2011, and I wrapped them super similar to the way she did in the magazine. Why mess with perfection?

I wish that I'd gotten a picture of the gifts we gave to all my nieces and nephews. We put together movie packages, including microwave popcorn, lots of "movie" candy, and two, family-friendly DVDs for each family. Each kiddo also had a pair of warm, fuzzy socks all of their own to unwrap.

Then, we passed a Sweet and Savory Mixed Nuts cone, as well as a jar of apple butter on to all of our sisters and brothers and grandpas. Usually, we do a gift exchange among the adults, but due to a lack of finances, BJ and I opted to take this route and exclude ourselves from the exchange. It really stinks, especially when we don't see one family for Christmas, because it kinda feels as though we've been forgotten. It's not that I need a gift. It's just nice to know that you've been remembered. So, that's what we tried to do, with our little goodies, for everyone.

I'm also thrilled to share, before I'm off to a little storytime with my kiddos, that this layout made me a ColourQ Courtier! Yea! Thanks so much to Arielle and the ColourQ team! It is always so much fun to play along with your fun and inspirational color stories!

That's all, for today, folks! I hope that you've gotten a few ideas for future, Christmas gifts of your own, and thanks so much for peeking in! Have a terrific Tuesday!

Celebrating Christmas

2011-12-26T18:36:00.000-06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Ours began on Christmas Eve, when we celebrated at my in-laws

and carried over to our own home, when the kiddos unwrapped their Christmas jammies.

We also had to sneak in one last Christmas story before the big day.

I don't think any of us slept well that night. We were all excited for what the day of our Savior's birth had in store. It began with a Christmas story that Ezekiel wanted to share.

Then, BJ read the Christmas story in Luke; and Adina had to share her own version, too.

Finally, we took time to thank the Lord for sending His Son, as a baby, to save our lost and dying world...

before the kiddos opened their gifts.

BJ and I opted not to do anything for one another this year. We got a new bathroom, and that's all the gift we needed. It has truly been just that. We spent the afternoon watching movies, helping Ezekiel practice with his new bow and arrow...

and eating way too much. A delicious turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, Paula Deen's Pecan-Molasses Rolls...

cinnamon Jell-O...

and Ooey Gooey Butter Layer Cake, another Paula Deen specialty, ended a perfect day.

Well, I guess we could've done without the fits. LOL! Unfortunately, those come, even on Christmas day, to a tired, little, three-year-old girl.

I'll be back, tomorrow, to share a couple of homemade, Christmas treats and their packaging. Until then, may you all have a truly wonderful start to a magnificent week!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

2011-12-25T18:17:00.000-06:00

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning the Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Luke 2:1-20

Jay Gee's Nook Challenge #14 & Our Family Christmas Letter

2011-12-23T11:12:00.000-06:00

It's such a busy time of year, but we have had a really wonderful week of cleaning, baking, making Christmas goodies, listening to Christmas music, attending parties, caroling, and just enjoying an unscheduled routine. Ezekiel finished up with school on Tuesday, had a few corrections to make on Wednesday morning, and then was home free until after the first of the year. Woohoo! We're all looking forward to the much-needed break. So, anyway, I wanted to pop in here real quick, while Jesus' birthday cake is baking and before BJ is off work for the holidays, to share some simple, little, Christmas tags I made for all that apple butter we whipped up, back here, for BJ's co-workers, our neighbors, the mailman, our trash men, and family and friends.

I started these tags by die cutting them from Crumb Cake cardstock; stamping them, in White ink, with both the frame and the ornament images (LOVE how the dotted lines mimic one another, even though each stamp is from a different manufacturer!); stamping the "Season's Greetings" sentiment, in Basic Black ink, centered just inside the frame's bottom edge; and finally stamping the holly image, in Garden Green and Real Red inks, near the top of the ornament. I couldn't help dirtying up the edges with a little Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks. Then, I just laced them onto Baker's Twine, which had been wrapped around the mouths of the jars, tied it in a bow, and multiplied them by about 30. Super CAS, yet elegant, and just perfect for duplicating!

Inspiration for these cuties came from Jay Gee's Nook's Challenge #14.

And just for fun, I had to show a couple pics of my Christmas card collection. Lots are layered behind the pics, which tend to take precedence; a few always make their way in after Christmas; and I always get fewer than we send out, but it is truly so fun to read about and see what precious friends and family members have done throughout the year. And what a blessing to get a few, gorgeous, handmade creations from many of you! Thank you!

Also, while you're visiting, I'd love to share our family Christmas letter with you all, if you're interested in reading. If not, thanks so much for being a part of my every day! Hugs! And Merry Christmas! May yours be happy, blessed, and full of wonderful memories!

December 2011

Dear family and friends,

Every year, as we get ready to type this letter, we wonder what we’re going to write about. Then, we begin flipping back through our wall calendar and are pleasantly reminded that we truly are a blessed bunch.

Adina is full of such joy and personality. She is vivacious and strong willed and likes to think she makes the last call. She’s our dancer, storyteller, musician, chef, train conductor, artist, builder, and mommy, and she is absolutely irreplaceable. The highlights of her year were getting to see Toy Story on Ice in March, making a trip to CoCo Key Water Resort in April, and celebrating her 3^rd birthday, at Grandma’s, the end of October. She also loves story time at our local library and grew nearly four inches in the last year!

Ezekiel is so smart and super challenging, but it is a true pleasure to get to watch the Lord shape and mold him into an unwavering follower of Jesus Christ. He is learning so many scriptures from his 3^rd grade, homeschool, A Beka Academy Video teacher, Mrs. Achuff; Awana at First Baptist Church of Shawnee (FBCS); and Upward Basketball through Valley View United Methodist Church. This summer, he was our little fish; played on his first t-ball team; attended Vacation Bible School at FBCS; and celebrated his 8^th birthday, in July, with one sweet friend, who joined us for our first ride on the Sky Safari at the Kansas City Zoo. He also achieved his goal of seeing Mount Rushmore in person this year.

Aside from being super busy being a wife and homeschool mom, Jinny has continued to dabble with papercrafting and was thrilled to have her first card, of many, published in April. She also had the pleasure of meeting several of her precious, blog friends in person this year. She still enjoys making meals for new moms at Heartland Community Church (HCC) and had the opportunity to help with the HCC Thanksgiving meals distribution last month and the Angel Tree ministry this month. What a blessing it is to see those that have reaching out to help those that do not!

BJ is still a project manager/estimator at Bamford Fire Sprinkler Co., Inc. and enjoyed a trip to San Antonio, Texas, in September, for the American Fire Sprinkler Association National Convention. He is truly thankful for not only a steady job in a crumbling economy, but also for how much he is continually learning, about his field, on a daily basis. In June, he had the opportunity to build another home, alongside a group of teenagers and adults, for a family in need, in Mexico, through the Casas por Cristo organization. On top of everything else, he continues to serve as a pastoral elder at HCC, assists with Ezekiel’s Awana class, and coaches Ezekiel’s Upward Basketball team.

Together, BJ and Jinny enjoyed taking a parenting class this year and got to make a solo, weekend trip, to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in celebration of their 10^th anniversary. As a family, we rejoiced in the marriage of BJ’s sister, Hannah, to her new husband, Johan, in Dallas, Texas; celebrated Jinny’s Dad’s retirement from Flint Hills Technical College; enjoyed a summer visit from Jinny’s little sister’s kiddos; prayed some sweet family friends off to the mission field; tried to keep our sanity through not only the demo and re-carpeting of our loft space, but also the renovation of our little, dilapidated bathroom; labored over the extension of our backyard patio; picked apples at Pome on the Range Orchard; took a family vacation to the Black Hills in South Dakota; enjoyed Jinny’s extended family’s annual, camping trip to Council Grove Lake; and remembered the full life of BJ’s grandfather, Wayne Newlin. And that’s just the big stuff!

It has been a year of things for which we find ourselves, again and again, saying thank you. First and foremost, thank you to our Heavenly Father for all he has given to us, both spiritually and physically. Thank you to one another for the privilege it is to grow, learn, laugh, cry, and share in all the things that make us who we are. And thank you to you all for remaining a sweet part of our lives, throughout the year, whether it be in a big or small way. May thankfulness, benevolence, and unending joy fill your hearts and homes this Christmas season and be your fulfillment in 2012.

God Bless, BJ, Jinny, Ezekiel, and Adina Newlin

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Classic Christmas - ornament & RetroGirly Christmas - sentiment (Wplus9); Sweet Scallop Tag - frame (Verve); Holiday Tag Team - holly (SU) Paper: Crumb Cake (SU) Ink: White, Garden Green, Real Red, & Basic Black (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); Sweet Scallop Tag die (Verve); Big Shot (Sizzix)

SIT #64

2011-12-22T12:01:00.162-06:00

Note: If you've come here looking for my PDCC112 - Lil' Inkers post, please scroll down.

Welcome to Sketches in Thyme's Challenge #64!

So, lots went into deciding which pictures I should put into the layout I have, for you all, today. With Christmas being just a few days away, I naturally dove into all the hundreds of Christmas photographs I have put away in boxes. I also know that my dear sister-in-law, Courtney, won't be with us this year; so, scrapping pictures of her, with the family (You'll find her in the Thanksgiving two-pager, that I did, for Challenge #61, last month, too.), has been a source of comfort for me. Please tell me that ya'll do that sort of thing, too ;). So, anyway, without further ado, here's my take.

I started this layout by adhering a piece of red, "DIAMOND INK", patterned paper across the Crumb Cake, cardstock, base pages and machine stitching, with double, black-threaded, straight stitches, around its edges. I then adhered several strips of color-coordinating, patterned papers, horizontally and haphazardly, across its center and overhanging onto the base pages themselves. More black-threaded, straight, machine stitches anchor them.

That sets the stage. Now, let's take a look at the left side a bit closer.

After adhering pictures, I tucked a kraft, pocket, journaling card, which I laced with a red, stripe ribbon and tied off with a hemp twine bow, under the bottom, two photos. LOVE how a sweet pocket can hide a little, personal journaling! I then used my Cricut to cut a couple of Crumb Cake, cardstock snowflakes, which I distressed the edges of, with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, just to make them stand out a bit more. The larger one serves as the foundation for my box flower, which I made by die-cutting five scalloped circles from canvas; folding and hand-stitching them onto a canvas circle; and topping them with a red, stitched button. A chipboard, Christmas button, as well as a red button, both laced with hemp twine, round out the bottom corner of the design.

A kraft, floral button, anchored with hemp twine; another, slightly larger, Christmas, chipboard button, which was topped with a couple of green, leaf, trinket pins, as well as a red button, and anchored with more hemp twine; and a music, tin pin, complete the left side of the design...

and turns our attention to the right.

After adhering pictures, the "ChRistmaS @ The Newlins" title was created over a large, Cricut-cut from Crumb Cake cardstock, and ink distressed snowflake and from red, foam, glitter letters; a kraft, hardcover Thicker; and mini, chalkboard alphas, which were anchored with black-threaded, messy, machine stitches, tied off, to the front of the layout, at either end.

I then created a date cluster, near the top right corner of the design, from a vintage, coat check tag; a red, "YOU ARE HERE" label, which I filled in with, Emporia, KS, December 26, '09; a pleated length of red, stripe ribbon, anchored with messy, black-threaded, machine stitches; and a chipboard, Christmas button, as well as a red button, both of which were anchored with hemp twine.

A little ink distressing with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, as well as black-threaded, straight, machine stitching, to the entire layout's outside edges, completes the look.

Color inspiration for this layout came from My Time Made Easy's Pretty Palette #40...

and ColourQ's Challenge #116.

Now, it's your turn! Remember that you have until the close of the month, on Saturday, December 31, 2011, to link up your takes, on Challenge #62, Challenge #63, and/or this week's two-page Challenge #64, over in the right hand column of the Sketches in Thyme Blog. You're playing to be named one of our Top Three and/or for your chance to win the December kit from Memorable Seasons. Please be sure to pop by the challenge link above to get all the details on that kit, as well as to see what the rest of the gals have cooked up with Tiffany's fabulous sketch!

That's all for today, folks! But thanks so much for checking in! And for those of you who aren't regular followers of my blog, have a truly amazing Christmas and a happy New Year! Oh! And Courtney, if you're reading this, I wish you the very best in all that you do. LOVE for you to call me sometime! Merry Christmas, and hugs to you!

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: Crumb Cake (SU); red "DIAMOND INK" (Jenni Bowlin); black damask (Pink Paislee); green ledger (My Little Shoebox); green holly & green & red polka dot (My Mind's Eye) Ink: Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: black thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Winter Lace Cricut cartridge & Cricut (Provo Craft); Big Scalloped Circles LG dies (Spellbinders); Big Shot (Sizzix); kraft journaling pocket & green leaf trinket pins (Maya Road); red stripe ribbon (May Arts); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); kraft floral button (Blumenthal Lansing); red buttons (DeNami Design); chipboard buttons, red "YOU ARE HERE" label, mini chalkboard alphas, & vintage coat check tags (Jenni Bowlin); music tin pin (October Afternoon); canvas (unknown); red stitched button (Basic Grey); red foam glitter letters (Making Memories); kraft hardcover Thicker (American Crafts)

PDCC112 - Lil' Inkers

2011-12-21T23:01:00.098-06:00

Wow! You all knocked it out of the park, with all your gorgeous splashes, last week! LOVE to visit and be inspired by you all, and it's so good to have you visiting me for The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #112!

Our sponsor for this week is Lil' Inkers...

who so graciously gifted me with Rainbow and Cloud Sentiments and the rainbows and clouds dies. Thank you ever so much, Lil' Inkers! LOVE! So, along with that deep red, lime, pine, and egg nog color story above, this is what they inspired me to create.

I started this card by distressing the edges of a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock; stamping it, in its bottom center, in Cherry Cobbler ink, with the "hope your day is all sunshine & rainbows" sentiment; dry embossing it with the polka dots; and adhering it to the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face.

I then adhered a piece of deep red, damask, patterned paper just inside the previously prepped piece's edges; machine stitched, with ivory-threaded, straight stitches, around its edges; and trimmed it, across its bottom edge, with a strip of lime and green, patterned paper, which was anchored, across its bottom edge, with two rows of ivory-threaded, straight, machine stitches and, across its top edge, with a length of ivory lace, topped with a red, gingham ribbon, tied in a bow and embellished with a red button, laced with a duo of hemp twine bows.

The rainbow was die-cut from Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla cardstocks; pieced together on a Cricut-cut, from polka dot, patterned paper, frame; and anchored with die-cut, from Very Vanilla cardstock, clouds, which were adhered with foam tape. I have to give complete credit for this candy cane rainbow idea to Michele. I was struggling with where to go with this color story and the product I received, and the PDCC team was so helpful with all their suggestions. Love these ladies!

I then adhered the rainbow piece, with foam tape, inside a slightly larger, Cricut-cut, from Garden Green cardstock, frame, which was then adhered, with more foam tape, centered above the stamped sentiment and just to the left of the embellished bow, to complete the look.

Now, it's your turn! You have two weeks to complete this one! So, be sure to get those beauties linked up, by Tuesday, January 3, 2012, over at the challenge link above. Please also use that link to check out what the rest of the DT has created with their Lil' Inkers goodies, as well as to find out what you're playing for this week. And to all those who aren't regular followers of my blog, may you have a truly memorable and exciting Christmas and a happy and safe New Year! And for the rest of you amazing people, I'll be back, tomorrow, with another, papercrafted creation, and thanks so much for being devout followers of my work and my life! You all are true treasures!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Rainbow and Cloud Sentiments (Lil' Inkers) Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Crumb Cake, & deep red damask (SU); lime & green patterned & polka dot (K&Company) Ink: Cherry Cobbler (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: ivory thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Storybook Cricut cartridge & Cricut (Provo Craft); foam tape (Scotch); rainbow & cloud dies (Lil' Inkers); Big Shot (Sizzix); ivory lace (Paper Studio); gingham ribbon (Hobby Lobby); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); Pure Poppy button (PTI); polka dot embossing folder (SU)

Numana Meal Packaging

2011-12-20T13:24:00.001-06:00

I promised you all, in this post, that I'd share a little of what we did this past weekend, when I got the pics off my camera. Well, we spent our Saturday morning, at our home church, Heartland, packaging meals, for Kenyans, through a hunger relief organization known as Numana. BJ had volunteered to help behind the scenes. So, as soon as we walked in the door, he took Adina with him and left Ezekiel and I to put on our gear and get down to business, alongside the some 1,100 other volunteers.

I'm still in awe that our faculty announced, just a week ago, that we needed 500 volunteers to make this event happen and, on the weekend before Christmas none-the-less, all these people showed up to give of their time and energies and serve. Praise the Lord!

Each meal package contains a spice envelope, veggie protein, red beans, and rice and feeds about six people. And we were able to package 141,000 of them.

I mentioned, above, that BJ took Adina behind the scenes, while Ezekiel and I worked.

Well, she thought she had to wear a hairnet and spent her time snapping Rubbermaid lids...

and decorating boxes (The second photo below shows her green, polka dot work.)...

as well as helping to steer them off to be wrapped and loaded into the trucks.

Our church building is a renovated, furniture store. So, in the unfinished portion, we have (I think.) six docks that, as far as I know, we've never had the need for until now. They sure made light of the loading process.

So, anyway, it was such a great day and for such a good cause, that I had to share. If you'd like to get involved, with this organization, in helping to feed the hungry, you can contact Numana here, or you can make a generic donation or donate to a specific event here. Thanks so much for taking the time to read, and have a terrific Tuesday! Oh! And don't forget that you have until the close of the day EST, today, to link up your takes on The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #111. Can't wait to see what ya'll have been up to! Hugs!

MFW: Pot Pourri Challenge & CASE Study #70

2011-12-19T14:02:00.002-06:00

Good Monday afternoon to you all! It's rainy and cold here and the perfect day for our planned dinner of Gumbo. Mmmm! But this weekend, it was unseasonably warm to the point of being able to, aside from whipping up a delicious batch of Molasses Crinkles and Pumpkin Dip, get out and do some yard work, which worked out perfectly, because we had Christmas goodies for our pick-up men and needed a reason for them to stop and get them :). But our weather people are promising snow tomorrow. I guess what they say about Kansas is true. If you don't like the weather today, just wait until tomorrow. LOL! Anyway, enough of me rambling. How'd ya'll like to see a little, paper-crafted something-something? Well, here goes.

I started this card by trimming the bottom of a piece of vintage, chair, patterned paper with a punched strip of yellow, polka dot, patterned paper; filling the space between them with a dry embossed strip of Pink Pirouette cardstock; machine stitching, with white-threaded, straight stitches, around the edges of the vintage, chair, patterned paper...

and, with white-threaded, zig-zag stitches, to either side of the dry embossed strip; distressing the edges of everything with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks; and adhering the entire prepped piece, with foam tape, to the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face.

I then tucked a length of hot pink, plaid ribbon, just above the top, horizontal, stitched edge, under the right side of the raised piece and tied it off with a length of white, seam binding ribbon, tied in a dressy bow and embellished with a yellow button, laced with a duo of hemp twine bows, as well as a mini clothespin.

The floral, circle die-cut was backed with a piece of computer paper; hand cut out; distressed, with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, just for a little added dimension; and adhered, with foam tape, just to the right of the embellished bow. It also serves as the foundation for my "YOU'RE A GOOD EGG" sentiment, which is another die cut, backed with computer paper, hand cut out, adhered with foam tape, and grounded with a couple of yellow gemstones.

Inspiration for this card came from in the Pot Pourri Challenge in the Moxie Fab World...

this card, created by CASE Study's December Muse, Amy Sheffer, for Challenge #70...

and my delicious, December, Jenni Bowlin kit.

Here's the deets...

3 double sided October Afternoon Papers
4 My Minds Eye papers
2 Core'dinations Cardstock
1 Bazzill Dot Cardstock
1 October Afternoon Farmhouse Word Stickers
1 October Afternoon Sticky Keys Alpha
1 October Afternoon Tin Press
Mercantile Exclusive Stamp
Mercantile Exclusive Stencil
Mercantile Exclusive Month Bingo Card
Maya Road Wood Doilies
Pillow Box containing...

Prima Flower
½ yard May Arts Velvet Trim
2 “Friends Restaurant” Mini Cream Vintage Milk Caps

Thanks so much for stopping by, ya'll! I hope that you're enjoying all your last minute preparations for Christmas and that you have a wonderful week!

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: Crumb Cake & Pink Pirouette (SU); vintage chair & yellow polka dot (October Afternoon) Ink: Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Scallop punch, yellow button, & polka dot embossing folder (SU); Big Shot (Sizzix); foam tape (Scotch); white seam binding ribbon (Zipper Stop); hot pink plaid ribbon (Hobby Lobby); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); floral circle & sentiment die cuts (October Afternoon); yellow gemstones (Doodlebug Design); mini clothespin (Canvas Corp.)

Papercraft Star #75 & TPV: Anything Goes

2011-12-17T14:50:00.005-06:00

We've had just the last couple of hours to give me the kick in the rear I needed to get my holiday spirit back. We were at church packaging meals. (I'll share more about that next week, when I get the pics off my camera.) Then, we grabbed a little lunch and ran into the sweetest family. I'm telling you that the Lord knows who we need, when we need them. I just happened to mention to the mom that I loved her bag. Who doesn't LOVE a good Vera Bradley bag anyway ;)?! Well, that opened the door to great conversation amongst the whole family. And get this, they're church hunting and had their sights set on visiting our Heartland. So, we may just be seeing them again in the near future.

Then, when we got home, we had two checks in the mail that we had been waiting for and a super sweet thank you from one of the new moms, from our church, that I had prepared a meal for, just after her youngest was born. It's very rare that I hear from those precious moms. So, what a blessing it is to know that all that hard work was appreciated :).

Plus, I've gotten several encouraging comments and private emails from you all. Thank you! It's so refreshing to know that I can be just who I am and still be loved right here in blog land!

Now, my littlest is resting and my big kiddos, that includes my hubby (Tee hee!), are getting haircuts. So, I'd LOVE to share some sweet, little, colorful ornaments, that I made for my nieces and nephews, if you're interested.

Really, my Cricut did all the hard work of cutting those snowflakes out from Lavender Lace, Brilliant Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink, and Pumpkin Pie cardstocks. Then, I pieced them together; punched a hole in the tops of them; covered them in glitters to match their papers; and strung them with color-coordinating ribbons, through which I laced a loop to hang them from the tree, as well as a little, snowflake charm, tied in bows.

Then, they were laced onto "brown, paper packages, tied up with strings (These are a few of my favorite things." Yep, I know I sing that every Christmas! Don't judge me.) and paired with a Jelly Belly candy cane...

as well as a stamped, in Real Red ink, on Whisper White cardstock, smiley face, ticket tag, which was stamped again, in the same color of ink, with the TO: and FROM: words; filled in, with the specifics, by hand; and comes from my December, Jenni Bowlin kit. I'll share more of the specifics, as well as a project inspired by that kit, next week, but isn't that ticket image just too fun! They're perfect for a bunch of sweet kiddos!

Inspiration for the way I dressed these packages came from Papercraft Star's Challenge #75 to include a bell or an ornament...

and The Paper Variety's Anything Goes Challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a fabulous last weekend before Christmas!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: All Occasion Tags (Wplus9); Smiley Tickets (Jenni Bowlin) Paper: Whisper White, Lavender Lace, Brilliant Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink, & Pumpkin Pie (SU) Ink: Real Red (SU) Other: Winter Lace Cricut cartridge & Cricut (Provo Craft); glitter (Doodlebug Design); ribbon & snowflake charms (Hobby Lobby); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); 1/16" Handheld Circle punch (SU); hole punch (office supply store)

DYSU #50 & Tuesday Trigger: And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

2011-12-16T14:15:00.003-06:00

This has been one crazy week! Why, you ask?

The pilot light went out on our heater last night which made for a super stinkin' chilly start to our day.
My big kiddo can't stop yelling at my littlest.
My littlest can't stop screaming because she doesn't want to eat a piece of pumpkin bread she just asked for or she doesn't want to help pick up her mess or she has to have a different certain toy in the bathtub or she got another owie or she doesn't like the choices she's given for clothing to wear or she wants to put on the "cuter" undies or she has to paint NOW or... well, I'll spare you the rest. The list could go on forever!
We got another bill reminder in our email.
My hubby didn't do something that he promised he would. Plus, he lost a much-needed gift card.
We found out that we have to have family pictures taken with BJ's family at Christmas, when we just had family pictures taken, at his sister's wedding, in February. And we have to coordinate our clothes none-the-less.
There's a rat going freely in and out of our basement, that must have some major radar to maneuver in and out and around all the traps we have set down there. Ick!
Our dog escaped from the backyard... again, but don't worry. She's back safe and sound now.
I forgot that I needed to buy another Christmas gift.
Everyone wants us to be here or be there or to see people that we don't hear from all year round just because it's Christmas.
Oh! And we had to spend the money to get Ezekiel new glasses, at the worst possible time of year, because his other ones broke. He does look awful handsome, though.

Aaah! The holidays are getting to me, ya'll! Breathe deep. I know things could be so much worse. We're healthy and have a roof over our heads, clothing on our backs, food on the table, and even gifts under the tree. I just need a weekend to catch up, refresh, relax, and get my sparkle and shine back.

I started this card by machine stitching, with white-threaded, straight stitches, around the edges of a piece of light blue, snowflake, patterned paper, before adhering it to the Basic Gray, cardstock, card face. I then adhered a strip of white, lace cardstock down the center of the card face; dressed up its center with a strip of silver, glitter tape; and decked out its left side with a length of white seam binding ribbon, which was tied, in a dressy bow, near the top edge of the card face and embellished with a white, crochet flower, which was dressed up with a light blue button, laced with a couple of hemp twine bows.

The bird and nest image was silver embossed on a piece of woodgrain, patterned paper; framed with a piece of Whisper White cardstock, which was also stamped, in Basic Gray ink, with the "MAY YOUR HOLIDAYS sparkle AND shine." sentiment; and adhered, with foam tape, in the center of the card face, just below the embellished bow.

A trio of clear gemstones completes the look.

Inspiration for this card came from Do You Stack Up's Challenge #50: Winter...

and the Tuesday Trigger: And a Partridge in a Pear Tree in the Moxie Fab World. Obviously the color completely inspired me, but I also LOVED that glittery bird image and knew just the stamp that would attempt do it justice.

I'm hoping to pop back in tomorrow with the completion of a project I've begun, but it's proving to be another busy weekend, so keep your fingers crossed :). Thanks so much for stopping by, and I promise to come back next week with a better attitude! Hugs!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamp: Classic Christmas (Wplus9); Swirly Bird Nest (Stampendous) Paper: Basic Gray & Whisper White (SU); light blue snowflake (My Mind's Eye); woodgrain (Paper Studio); white lace (sei) Ink: Basic Gray (SU); watermark (VersaMark) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); white seam binding ribbon (Zipper Stop); white crochet flower & clear gemstones (Paper Studio); light blue button (Harmonie); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); silver glitter tape (Recollections); silver embossing powder (SU); foam tape (Scotch)

SIT #63

2011-12-15T12:01:00.002-06:00

Note: If you've come here looking for my PDCC111 - Cindy Coutts post, please scroll down.

I'm leaving the takes on Sketches in Thyme's Challenge #63 up to Team B, because the holidays have just got me running! But I didn't want you all to lose out on one minute for creating your own masterpieces! So, without further ado, here's this week's sketch.

Don't forget that you have until the close of the month, on Saturday, December 31, 2011, to link up your takes, over in the right hand column of the Sketches in Thyme Blog, to have the privilege of being named one of our Top Three and/or for your chance to win the fabulous December kit from Memorable Seasons.

Please also be sure to use the challenge link above to take a peek at all the beauties some of the team has designed just for you, before you're off to having a terrific Thursday!

PDCC111 - Cindy Coutts

2011-12-14T23:01:00.083-06:00

Welcome to The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #111!

Without further ado, let's just get right to my take.

I started this layout by adhering my patterned papers and pics down the center of the aqua, snowflake, glitter, paper, base page, leaving only a small space between each connection; tucking a scalloped, flourish, journaling card, to which I added a kiss of glitter, under the top right picture and the patterned paper just below it; and machine stitching, with black-threaded, straight stitches, around each of the patterned papers' edges.

The "WHITE christmas" title was created from big, white alphas, layered under small, black, foam Thickers...

and flanked with Cricut-cut, from Whisper White cardstock, snowflakes, dressed up with a touch of glitter.

I then layered an aqua, "issue no." die cut below a black, framed, journaling card, upon which I wrote, What a surprise to wake up to this amazing winter wonderland. No more dreaming for Ezekiel. 12.25.09. I also dressed the journaling card up with a length of Caribbean Twine, wrapped around its left half three times; tied in a bow, after lacing a length of black, embroidery floss through the knot; and topped with a clear gemstone.

The ends of the embroidery floss were then embellished with stamped, in Pool Party ink, on Whisper White cardstock, and hand cut mittens. A "happy memories" die cut, adhered with foam tape, completes the look.

Further inspiration for this layout came from Scrap It With a Song's "Dreaming of a White Christmas" by Bing Crosby Challenge.

Now, it's your turn! You have until the close of the day EST, next Tuesday, December 20, 2011, to link up your takes over at the challenge link above. Please also use that link to see what the rest of the girls have created with this gorgeous, aqua, color splash, as well as to find out what you're playing for this week from our fabulous sponsor Cindy Coutts. Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a fantastic day!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Winter Wishes (Wplus9) Paper: Whisper White (SU); aqua snowflake (K&Company); black chain-link, polka dot, & damask (Jenni Bowlin); black gingham (Pink Paislee) Ink: Pool Party & Basic Black (SU) Other: black thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Winter Lace Cricut cartridge & Cricut (Provo Craft); Dazzling Diamonds, "issue no." die cut, & clear gemstone (SU); white alphas & black foam Thickers (American Crafts); black embroidery floss (DMC); Caribbean Twine (The Twinery); "happy memories" die cut (October Afternoon); black framed journaling card (Jenni Bowlin); scalloped flourish journaling card (Fancy Pants); foam tape (Scotch)

Christmas Stories

2011-12-14T14:05:00.005-06:00

I know that I said, in yesterday's post, that I wouldn't be back until late tonight for The Play Date Cafe's next challenge. But last year, I felt like I posted this glorious line-up of children's Christmas stories a little too late; and I wanted you all to have the time to load up on them, before the Christmas season was over and done with for 2011. The last two, by Karma Wilson, are the only new ones we've added to our list in the last year.

A Christmas ABC by Alice Gold
My First Treasury: The First Christmas by Leslie Lindecker
Nate the Great and the Crunchy Christmas by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs (LOVE all of Liz's parable stories!)
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (a favorite of mine)
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola (another favorite of mine... It never fails to bring tears to my eyes, though.)
Santa's Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki (yet another favorite of mine)
The Berenstain Bears Trim the Tree by Jan & Mike Berenstain
Clifford Celebrates the Year: Clifford’s Christmas by Norman Bridwell
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Winnie the Pooh: The Merry Christmas Mystery by Betty Birney
When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston (another one for which you'll need the Kleenex box)
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Dream Snow by Eric Carle (Adina's favorite)
Snow Happy to be Here: The Slightly Silly Story of the Snowblatt Family by Cheryl Hawkinson
You Can Do It, Sam by Amy Hest
The Dinosaurs' Night Before Christmas by Anne Muecke (super fun CD with it)
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Anne Geddes
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg (still another favorite of mine)
The Snow Must Go On: A Way, Way Off-Broadway Adventure by Molly Wigand
The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne (great history here)
Merry Christmas, Curious George by Cathy Hapka
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney (fabulous rhyme)
It's Christmas, David! by David Shannon
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt
On This Special Night by Claire Freedman (Ezekiel's favorite)
My First Read and Learn Countdown to Christmas by Mary Manz Simon
Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson
Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson

Last night, Adina and I went to the grocery store, while the boys ran an after-hours errand for BJ's job. We hit ALDI first, but then we were perusing the aisles at HyVee, when Adina locked eyes on a man, with a long, white beard, who was curiously dressed, from head to toe, in Norwegian Christmas gear. She stared at him for what seemed like the longest time. Then she asked me, "Is that Santa?" LOL! Well, it was loud enough for him to overhear; and he turned and looked at her saying, "You never know. I might be visiting you again in just a few days." We don't teach our kiddos that Santa Claus brings the gifts. So sorry to burst your bubbles! We focus on Christ's birth and even give our kiddos three gifts, aside from loaded stockings, just like the wise men brought to Jesus' manger. But I absolutely LOVE the magic the Christmas season brings to the hearts of my little ones!

I also just couldn't wait to tell you all that this card was named one of The 365 Cards Week Challenge Winners in the Moxie Fab World! Woohoo! Thanks ever so much, Cath! I'm floating high on Cloud 9!

And thanks so much, to you all, as always, for stopping by! Hope that list above helps stock your bookcases! Oh! I'd also be just thrilled if you'd share your own favorite, Christmas story title with me! Hope to see you all back here a little later!

Embellish Banners Color Trends Challenge & SSC41

2011-12-13T14:56:00.001-06:00

It is such a cold and dreary day in our neck of the woods. Our weather people are predicting rain for the next three days. And we need the moisture desperately, but I hate how it makes me just want to crawl back into bed or curl up, on the couch, with a cup of coffee, and watch a Christmas movie. I've got too much to do to let those feelings take over! Don't the weather patterns know that Christmas is only twelve days away for goodness sakes?! I've got my shopping pretty much done, but nothing has yet been wrapped. I also haven't done any of the baking and still have a decorating project that I wanted to get done this year. But all that's going on the back burner, while I do the cooking, cleaning, washing, homeschooling, taking care of my kiddos, and completing DT assignments. So, being the busy body that I am, I'd better stop rambling and share the masculine, card creation, that I have for you all today, so I can get to all that business above :). Enjoy!

I started this card by trimming the bottom of a piece of ivory, text, patterned paper with a piece of orange, lattice, patterned paper; machine stitching, with brown-threaded, straight stitches, around their edges; and adhering it to the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face. I then adhered a distressed tag just inside the right edges' stitching and machine stitched, with more, brown-threaded, straight stitches, to anchor a horizontal strip of green, plaid, patterned paper.

A length of brown leather was adhered near the top edge of the horizontal, patterned, paper strip. I then wrapped a length of hemp twine, three times, around it and tied it, in a double bow, through a plum button, near the right edge of the card face, before adhering a portion of a calendar flashcard, which had its left side corners rounded to match its right, just to that embellished button's left.

The ticket stubs were stamped, in Chocolate Chip ink, in a row, along a strip of distressed, with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, Whisper White cardstock; filled in with the stamped, in Chocolate Chip ink, outside images and, in Perfect Plum ink, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" sentiment; and adhered, over the calendar flashcard, just below the wrapped twine and slightly overlapping the leather strip.

Finally, I stamped the flags, from left to right, in Garden Green, Perfect Plum, and Really Rust inks, on Whisper White cardstock; hand cut them out; adhered them, with foam tape, draped across the top left corner of the card face; and dressed up their connections with clear gemstones.

Inspiration for this card came from Embellish's Banners Color Trends Challenge...

and Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #41.

Before I run do a little grading and get a grocery list cooked up, I'm thrilled to share that this card was featured, at the Lawn Fawn Blog, for Fawny Flickr Friday, nearly ten days ago now.

Also, this creation was listed as a Favorite at Color Throwdown, and this layout received an Honorable Mention over at Papercraft Star, both just this morning. Thank you, again and again, to all those who made said such possible! What a privilege it is to get to design, amidst such amazing talent and gorgeous inspiration, on a daily basis! My cup runneth over!

Thanks so much for looking my way, and have a terrific Tuesday, ya'll! Oh! And please remember that you have until the close of the day EST, today, to link up those takes, on Challenge #110, over at The Play Date Cafe! Can't wait to see what you all have been up to, and hope to see you back here, late tomorrow, for a brand new and truly beautiful splash! Hugs!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Le Cirque (Wplus9); Friendly Flags (Hero Arts) Paper: Crumb Cake & Whisper White (SU); ivory text (7 Gypsies); green plaid (Nikki Sivils); orange lattice (Sassafras) Ink: Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, & Really Rust (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: brown thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Corner punch & plum button (SU); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); calendar flashcard (Pink Paislee); distressed tag (Kraft Outlet); clear gemstones (Paper Studio); foam tape (Scotch); leather strip (BoBunny)

Weekend Snapshots

2011-12-12T09:33:00.001-06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Ezekiel and I finished up a little, Christmas shopping, on Friday night, and wrapped up the evening with ice cream. Then, on Saturday, we were back to my parents' place for our extended family Christmas. We always love getting together with this bunch...

(my Uncle Rick and Aunt Cindy)

(my Uncle Rod and Aunt Joanie and my cousin Matt's sweet wife, Linda)

(my cousin Matt and my littlest kiddo, trying to convince me that she'd take a nap right there)

(my Grandpa and my Dad)

and my kiddos just cannot get enough of their cousins!

(my little sister's son Hunter, my big sister's daughter Jenna, and Ezekiel)

(my big sister's son Grant, Hunter, Matt and Linda's daughter Camaro, and Ezekiel)

I even got to catch up with an old friend, Kari, who was home visiting her family...

and meet her kiddos, Ian and Audrey, for the first time. Aren't they just the cutest?!

And I loved that we didn't exchange gifts, with one another, this year! Instead, we took up an anonymous offering to purchase gifts, through Compassion International, for a family in need, in Africa and/or India. Even our kiddos were totally on board with the whole idea!

Then, yesterday, in church, Ezekiel had the opportunity to make a Wiscurzoo. A young man, named Maverick Kempf, from our congregation, makes Wiscurzoos in honor of his brother Mason, who courageously ended his battle with cancer in March of this year. All the proceeds, from the Wiscurzoos, go to the Make a Wish Foundation. Together with his brother, Maverick has already sponsored one child and had the help of our 1st through 5th graders, this week, to do it again. Their mother gave an update on that goal in this post. LOVE these outside helps to teach my kiddos compassion and to treasure and reach out to those in need!

We grabbed a little lunch after church and crashed for an afternoon nap, when we got home. I even had to wake my littlest to have some dinner and a bath, before heading back to bed. Poor thing was just maxed out!

Thanks so much for peeking in, and have a truly wonderful, work week! This is our last full week of school before Christmas Break! Woohoo!

Guest Designing with Card Patterns

2011-12-10T10:01:00.012-06:00

I'm absolutely beyond thrilled to get to be guest designing, this week, with the Card Patterns' team...

for Sketch 145!

And here's what I've created to hopefully inspire your own creations.

I started this card by trimming the right side of a piece of burgundy, patterned paper with a punched strip of olive, patterned paper; adhering the two to a portion of a journaling tag; rounding the formed piece's bottom left corner; adhering a strip of suede, polka dot, patterned paper, vertically, just left of the burgundy, patterned paper's center; and machine stitching, with olive-threaded, straight stitches, around the edges of the burgundy, patterned paper and, with olive-threaded, zig-zag stitches, between all vertical, patterned, paper connections.

I then trimmed the left side of the suede, polka dot, patterned paper with a suede-colored, pom-pom trim...

trimmed it, to its right, with a length of twill tape, tied, in a bow, near the top edge of the prepped piece, and embellished with an olive-colored button, laced with a couple of hemp twine bows.

The entire prepped piece was then adhered, with foam tape, to the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face, before adding the glittery, dimensional, "You're the Best", sentiment rosette, to complete the look.

Color inspiration for this card came from Color Throwdown's Challenge #171.

Before I'm off to a Christmas celebration with my extended family, I want to send out a HUGE thank you to Tracy, Michelle, and the whole Card Patterns' team! I'm honored to be a part of it all even for just a week! Please be sure to run by the challenge link above to see what this talented team has whipped up with the sketch above, as well as to find out what you're playing for this week; and thanks, ever so much, for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: Crumb Cake & suede polka dot (SU); burgundy patterned (My Mind's Eye); olive patterned (K&Company) Other: olive thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Corner & Scallop Trim Border punches, olive-colored button, & twill tape (SU); foam tape (Scotch); journaling card (BoBunny); glittered dimensional sentiment rosette (Making Memories); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); pom-pom trim (unknown)

SIT #62

2011-12-08T12:01:00.199-06:00

Note: If you've come here looking for my PDCC110 - DRS Designs post, please scroll down.

So good to have you visiting for Sketches in Thyme's Challenge #62!

With no monkeying around, let's just get right to my reversed take.

I started this layout by distressing the edges of a 10" square piece of Crumb Cake cardstock with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks; adhering it in the center of the red, floral, patterned paper; stamping the ornaments and their strings, in White ink, across its bottom edge; and machine stitching, with aqua-threaded, straight stitches, both just inside and outside its edges.

I then adhered a strip of aqua, leafy, patterned paper, horizontally near the Crumb Cake cardstock's top edge; dressed up its bottom edge with a length of scalloped, white lace; and machine stitched, with brown-threaded, zig-zag stitches between it and the lace and the length of its top edge, before adhering pictures. A brown, music notes, journaling card was then tucked under the photographs' far right edge and etched, in Basic Black ink, with these words. We just love to turn the Christmas music up full blast and decorate the tree the day after Thanksgiving. Ezekiel and Adina were super helpers this year, when they weren't diving in head first or racing to grab something else from the Christmas boxes, amidst all the excitement.

The "trimming the tree" title was created from aqua, scratch 'n sniff stickers (They were a sweet gift from my PDCC teammate, Savannah O'Gwynn, and smell like blueberry! Too fun! Thanks again, Savannah!) and red, foam, glitter alphas. Oh! And I just wanted to share a little secret about the latter. Those e's, which always seem to be the first letters to go, are really c's. I just curled those top corners around to expand my alphabet.

I then created my cluster, which consists of a soft green, die cut foundation; a couple of white, tissue paper flowers, which were punched out and are about 16 rumpled layers thick, anchored with pearl brads, and spritzed with Pearl Glimmer Mist; a duo of Cricut cut, from Whisper White cardstock, leafy flourishes, as well as silver, ornament hooks; and a handful of stamped, in Certainly Celery ink, on Certainly Celery cardstock, hand cut, and ink distressed leaves. A trio of hemp twine bows; an aqua, floral, circle die cut, embellished with a lone pearl; and a soft green, dimensional, "delight" sticker, round out the cluster.

A couple of die cut, photo corners complete the look.

But surprise! I didn't stop there. This baby became a two-pager. I blame our fearless, Sketches in Thyme leader, Tiffany, for inspiring me with those end of the month, two-page sketches. LOL!

Let's take a closer look at this side.

This page had the same foundation as the previous, including papers, ink distressing, stamping, lace, and stitching. After adhering pics, it also received a few of those die cut, photo corners from above.

And the cluster, to the right of my photographs, consists of many of the same elements as the left side, including a Cricut cut, leafy flourish; a silver, ornament hook; stamped and ink distressed leaves; a sparkly, white, tissue paper flower; and trio of hemp twine bows. A soft green, plaid, circular sticker, embellished with a trio of pearls, and dimensional, "cherish" sticker serve as a couple of new additions.

And a white, embellished die cut serves as my 11.27.09 date card.

Further inspiration for this layout came from ColourQ's Challenge #114...

Papercraft Star's Challenge #74, to include a tree...

and the Tuesday Trigger: Deck the Halls in the Moxie Fab World. I was totally lovin' that color palette but was also drawn to the idea of using ornaments, which naturally led to pics of us trimming the tree.

Now, it's your turn, ya'll! You have until the close of the month to link up your takes over in the right hand column of the Sketches in Thyme Blog. Be sure to stop by the challenge link above to see the rest of the mavens' glorious creations, as well as to find out what you're playing for this month. Also, don't forget to check out our Top 3 and Our November Winner post. These ladies have really done our sketches up right! Congrats to all our winners! Oh! And please be sure to help us welcome A New Sketches in Thyme Maven, the uber talented Wendi Robinson. So good to have you, Wendi! And thanks so much, to you all, for stopping by! Have a truly terrific Thursday!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Classic Christmas & Ever After (Wplus9) Paper: Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery, & Whisper White (SU); red floral & aqua leafy (K&Company) Ink: Basic Black, Certainly Celery, & White (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: aqua & brown thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Storybook Cricut cartridge & Cricut (Provo Craft); foam tape (Scotch); silver ornament hooks, white tissue paper, & white scalloped lace (Hobby Lobby); pearls & pearl brads (sei); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); aqua floral, soft green, & white embellished die cuts, aqua floral circle, & photo corners (Paper Salon); soft green dimensional stickers (Target); aqua scratch 'n sniff stickers (American Crafts); red foam glitter alphas (Making Memories); brown music notes journaling card (BoBunny); soft green plaid circular sticker & Scalloped Circle punch (SU); Pearl Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels)

PDCC110 - DRS Designs

2011-12-07T23:01:00.081-06:00

Welcome to The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #110!

Our sponsor for this week is DRS Designs...

who graciously gifted each of us designers an image and sentiment stamp. Thank you so much, DRS Designs! Mine are just perfect for the season upon us! Unfortunately, however, I think that someone is playing a practical joke on me this month. LOL! The stamps I've had to work with have been quite challenging for the color stories, but I made due, once again, and came up with this, using that lime green, royal blue, crystal blue, and red color story above.

I started this card by adhering a piece of lime, text, patterned paper to the top of the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face and a portion of a "TRUE STORY" journaling card to its bottom. I then machine stitched, with aqua-threaded, straight stitches, around the top, patterned, paper piece; wrapped a length of red, polka dot, patterned paper, around the card face, between the two; tied it, in a bow, near the left edge of the card face; and embellished it with a Pure Poppy button, laced with a trio of hemp twine bows.

The manger scene image was stamped, in Jet Black and Summer Sun inks, on a piece of Whisper White cardstock; colored in with Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Blush Blossom, and Crumb Cake inks and a blender pen; distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks; adhered to a piece of aqua, patterned paper; and machine stitched, with aqua-threaded, straight stitches, around its edges, before being adhered, with foam tape, just to the right of the embellished bow.

I then stamped the "SIMPLIFY CHRISTMAS, Celebrate Christ" sentiment, in Jet Black ink, on a strip of vellum, which was laid across the top of the colored, manger scene image and anchored, at either end, flush with the card face, with vintage brads.

Finally, I stamped the "December 25" postmark image, in Jet Black ink, under the bottom right corner of the colored piece, to complete the look.

Now, it's your turn! You have until the close of the day EST, next Tuesday, December 13, 2011, to link up your takes over at the challenge link above. Please also use that link to see what the rest of this fabulously talented team has created with their DRS Designs goodies, as well as to find out what you're playing for this week. Thanks so much for taking the time to peek in! I so appreciate each and every one of your visits! Have a terrific Thursday, ya'll!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: manger scene & sentiment (DRS Designs); Postmarked (Wplus9) Paper: Crumb Cake & Whisper White (SU); lime text (7 Gypsies); aqua patterned (Studio Calico); vellum (Paper Studio) Ink: Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Brilliant Blue, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Summer Sun, & Blush Blossom (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger); Jet Black (StazOn) Other: aqua thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); "TRUE STORY" journaling card (BoBunny); foam tape (Scotch); vintage brads (SU); Pure Poppy button (PTI); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); red polka dot ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

Three in One

2011-12-06T14:09:00.001-06:00

Well, hello there! It is a super chilly, 27 degree day in our neck of the woods; but everyone is filled with excitement, because we woke up to our first snow! I was just telling a friend, yesterday, that if it was going to be this cold, it might as well snow. But our weatherman promised that it wouldn't come as far north as us. So, we were pleasantly surprised to open the curtains and find that he was oh, so wrong. Woohoo!

So, anyway, in putting all that aside, I've got a pretty, little, papercrafted number to share, with you all, today.

I started this card by distressing the edges of a piece of aqua, patterned paper with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks; adhering it to the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face; and machine stitching, around its edges, with aqua-threaded, straight stitches. I then added a strip of pink, lacy, patterned paper, which had its right side corners rounded, down its middle, just left of vertical center; trimmed it, down its left side, with a length of white lace; and machine stitched, around its edges, with aqua-threaded, zig-zag stitches. A length of aqua, polka dot, frayed fabric was then wrapped around the card face twice; tied, in a bow, near the left edge of the card face; and embellished with a mini clothespin, dressed up with a duo of hemp twine bows, as well as the "Thanks sew much" sentiment, which was stamped, in Crumb Cake and Coral Calypso inks, on Whisper White, cardstock, Cricut-cut tags, distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, and pinned to the fabric bow with a regular, old, safety pin.

I then stamped the larger dress form, in Coral Calypso ink, on Whisper White cardstock; hand cut it out; distressed its edges with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks; dressed it up with a white, flower, sticker embellishment; and framed it, just to the right of the embellished bow, with an ink distressed, kraft, polka dot die cut, both of which were adhered, to the card face, with foam tape. Another stamped, in Pretty in Pink ink, on Whisper White cardstock, hand cut, and ink distressed, smaller dress form was adhered, tucked under the larger one's right side, to appear as though it were in the background.

Finally, I added a couple of color-coordinating buttons, in the bottom right corner of the card face, by stitching them in place with hemp twine.

Inspiration for this card came from the Celebrating Hobbies Challenge in the Moxie Fab World, Create for Fun's Color Challenge #44...

and Deconstructing Jen's Deconstructed Sketch No. 29.

That's all, for today, folks! Please don't forget that you have until the close of the day EST, today, to link up your takes on The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #109. Then, I'll be back, late tomorrow, with a brand new, bold and beautiful, color story to try your hands at. Until then, thanks ever so much for stopping by, and happy stamping!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: C'est la Vie (Wplus9); In Stitches (Skipping Stones) Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, & all patterned (SU) Ink: Coral Calypso, Crumb Cake, & Pretty in Pink (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: aqua thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Corner punch & aqua button blossom (SU); pink button & white flower sticker embellishment (Paper Studio); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); foam tape (Scotch); George & Basic Shapes Cricut cartridge & Cricut (Provo Craft); Label Layers 2 die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); fabric ribbon & safety pin (JoAnn Fabrics); mini clothespin (Canvas Corp.); white lace (Hobby Lobby)

Wplus9 Dec./Jan. Release: Group Post

2011-12-04T23:01:00.196-06:00

You made it! Today is the fifth and final day of Wplus9 Design's December/January Release, and it just so happens to be Group Post day over at the Design Blog. So, please be sure to check it out! With that said, I've got one more project, boasting two of this month's releases, as well as their coordinating die, for you all, today. Enjoy!

I started this layout by stamping a mix of sentiments, from Love You More, in Tempting Turquoise ink, on a piece of distressed, with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, Whisper White cardstock; framing it with a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock; machine stitching, with black-threaded, straight stitches, around its edges; and adhering it near the bottom left corner of my red, distressed, base page.

I then layered a couple strips of color-coordinating, patterned papers, anchored with black-threaded, straight, machine stitches, as well as a length of scalloped lace, before adhering my pictures.

A vintage, ice cream tab was tucked under the far left pics and served as the foundation for my red, framed, journaling card, upon which I wrote, We just {heart} our Valentine's Day tradition of dinner @ Red Robin. They always take such good care of us. It was further dressed up with a white, crochet flower, backed with a trio of hemp twine bows; anchored with a red, polka dot, epoxy brad; and flanked with a stamped, in Basic Black ink, on Whisper White cardstock, banner, from Heartfelt Mix, which I cut in half and used as ribbons.

The heart banner was created by stamping a variety of heart images, from Heartfelt Mix, in Real Red, Garden Green, and Daffodil Delight inks, on Whisper White cardstock die cut, using the Hearts & Clouds die, hearts. They were then adhered, with foam tape, hanging below the stamped, in Basic Black ink, layered line from the same stamp set and anchored with mini clothespins.

A black and red, polka dot, photo corner, as well as a mini label, which serves as the location for my February 14, '10 date, round out the bulk of the design...

and turn our attention to the top right corner of the page, where I stamped, in Basic Black ink, lots of sentiments, from both Love You More and Heartfelt Mix, down the edge of the paper; trimmed them, down their right side, with a punched strip of green, plaid, patterned paper, as well as a portion of a kraft mini tag, laced with hemp twine; anchored both with black-threaded, straight stitches; and dressed everything up with a floral, Bingo marker; a green button, laced with hemp twine; and a white, flower, sticker embellishment, to complete the look.

Okay, ya'll! You saw them, in their entirety, yesterday, on the Wplus9 Design Blog, but here they are once again.

Love You More

6x8 clear photopolymer stamp set
contains 19 stamps; 2 word art images and 17 mix-and-match sentiments and images
available for purchase for just $19

Heartfelt Mix

6x8 clear photopolymer stamp set
contains 24 stamps; 12 images and 12 sentiments
available for purchase for just $19

A Pocketful: Valentine

4x6 clear photopolymer stamp set
contains 15 stamps; 1 pocket image, 3 pocket filler images, 5 accent images, and 6 sentiments
available for purchase for just $13

Hearts & Clouds

coordinates with Heartfelt Mix stamp set
comes on a single die that can be easily snipped and separated
available for purchase for just $7

Love Notes

compliments the A Pocketful stamp series
comes on a single die that can be easily snipped and separated
available for purchase for just $7

Love Birds

coordinates with Love Birds stamp set
comes on a single die that can be easily snipped and separated
available for purchase for just $9

Now, off you go to the Wplus9 Design Online Store to get 'em while they're hot! Can't wait to see what you all cook up with these cuties! Please be sure to peek in on the rest of our talented team, too. They've worked extra hard to bring you their very best all week long, so show them some love. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and see what I've been up to. Hugs! And for those of you who aren't regular followers of my blog, I hope you all have a memorable Christmas and joyful New Year!

Cristina Kowalczyk
Dawn Woleslagle
Elise Durenberger
Jean Martin
Kerrianne Gwin
Lea Lawson
Savitri Wilder

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Love You More & Heartfelt Mix (Wplus9) Paper: Whisper White & Crumb Cake (SU); red distressed (Basic Grey); yellow damask (Fancy Pants); multi-colored heart (Jillibean Soup); green plaid (Nikki Sivils); black & red polka dot (Jenni Bowlin) Ink: Real Red, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, & Basic Black (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: black thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Hearts & Clouds die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); Threading Water Border & Upper Crest Border punches (Fiskars); mini clothespins (Canvas Corp.); kraft mini tag & floral Bingo marker (Maya Road); green button (New Phase); white flower sticker embellishment & crochet flower (Paper Studio); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); red polka dot epoxy brad & Corner punch (SU); foam tape (Scotch); red framed journaling card & vintage ice cream top (Jenni Bowlin); mini label (7 Gypsies); white scalloped lace (Hobby Lobby)

Wplus9 Dec./Jan. Release: Day 4

2011-12-03T23:01:00.157-06:00

Woohoo! Today's Reveal Day over at the Wplus9 Design Blog, and you don't want to miss it! But if you haven't been there yet, hang tight just a minute, while I show you that layout I promised in yesterday's Day 3 post.

I started this layout by adhering a couple of patterned, paper squares to the distressed, patterned, paper base page and machine stitching, with black-threaded, straight stitches, running over onto the base page itself, around their edges. After adhering pictures, I tucked the original Valentine, that my son is making in the photographs, to their top left corner and stamped, in Basic Black ink, the "LOVE notes" title, which had a heart, epoxy brad driven through the "O". The "LOVE" comes from Love You More, and "notes" comes from A Pocketful: Valentine.

I then stamped a branch, from Love Birds, in Real Red ink, on a Whisper White, cardstock die cut, using the Love Birds die; glittered it; and tucked it behind the envelopes image, from A Pocketful: Valentine, which was stamped, in Basic Black ink, on a red, polka dot, patterned paper; hand cut out; and adhered, with foam tape, to the bottom photograph's left side.

Another branch, prepared in the same way as above, was tucked behind a black and white, photograph, journaling card; a "FEB" Bingo card; and a notebook, patterned, paper, journaling card, which was created by stamping the numbered lines image, from Class Act, in Basic Black ink, over it and filling it in with, You just loved making these fun Valentines for your cousins and friends and were proud as a peacock to mail them off. Feb. 10, 2010, all of which were pinned together with a silver paperclip. A die cut, using the Love Notes die, from black, polka dot, patterned paper, envelope; a stamped, in Real Red ink, on a distressed, silver-rimmed tag, "{heart} you tons" subtitle, from Love Birds, which was also laced with hemp twine and embellished with a red, gingham ribbon, tied in a bow...

and a Valentine, chipboard button, anchored with hemp twine, round out the cluster.

A punched, from dictionary, patterned paper, photo corner, completes the bulk of the design.

I then adhered a length of red, stripe ribbon near the top right corner of the base page and dressed it up with two, Whisper White, cardstock, cloud die cuts, using the Hearts & Clouds die, as well as a red button, laced with hemp twine.

Now, off you go to see what the rest of the team has whipped up. And please don't forget to peek back in, tomorrow, for one final day of us all showing off what Wplus9 Design has in store, for you, for Christmas and 2012. Thanks, as always, for stopping by and for all the love you've shown me throughout this release! It just means so much, to me, to have you all stop by! Hugs!

Cristina Kowalczyk
Dawn Woleslagle
Elise Durenberger
Jean Martin
Lea Lawson
Savitri Wilder

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: A Pocketful: Valentine, Love You More, Class Act, & Love Birds (Wplus9) Paper: Whisper White (SU); red polka dot (Crate Paper); black polka dot, black chain link, dictionary, & red floral (Jenni Bowlin); distressed (BoBunny) Ink: Basic Black & Real Red (SU) Other: black thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Love Notes, Love Birds, & Hearts & Clouds dies (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); red stripe ribbon (May Arts); red button (DeNami Design); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); Dazzling Diamonds, heart epoxy brad, & Photo Corner punch (SU); foam tape (Scotch); silver paperclip (office supply store); red gingham ribbon (Hobby Lobby); distressed silver-rimmed tag (Kraft Outlet); Valentine chipboard button, black & white photograph journaling card, & "FEB" Bingo card (Jenni Bowlin)

Wplus9 Dec./Jan. Release: Day 3

2011-12-02T23:01:00.089-06:00

Well, I hope you all are just as excited as we are about what you've seen so far! But that's not all by a mile! We've got another, new, A Pocketful: Valentine, as well as its coordinating, Love Notes die, to show you all today. So, grab a cuppa your favorite, holiday steamer and relax a bit, as I show you all the details behind the making of this trio of Valentine cuties.

Let's take a look at each one up close and personal. Shall we?

I started this card by stamping the lollipop images, in Jet Black ink, on a piece of distressed, with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, Very Vanilla cardstock; stamping the row of hearts in Ruby Red ink; coloring the ribbons with a Tempting Turquoise Stampin' Write Marker and the sticks with a Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker; framing it with a piece of Ruby Red cardstock; and machine stitching, with turquoise-threaded, straight stitches, around the ink distressed cardstock's edges, before dressing it up with a dab of glitter...

and adhering it to the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face, which had its bottom right corner rounded and had been stamped, in Basic Black ink, with the "be mine Valentine" sentiment.

I then adhered a length of ivory trim, across all layers, near the bottom of the stamped piece and wrapped a length of Baker's Twine, around the card face, three times, over it, before lacing it through a Pure Poppy button and tying it, in a bow, near the left edge of the card face. The sweet, little pocket was die cut, from Very Vanilla cardstock, using that new, Love Notes die; stamped, in Ruby Red ink; backed with a little, scrap piece of gingham, patterned paper, peeking through the die cut heart; and adhered, with foam tape, just below the lollipops and over the embellished trim.

The second card, in the row above, was made in exactly the same way...

with the exception of a different, "Sweet on you" sentiment...

and another, fun, little, stamped image, which was colored in with Tempting Turquoise ink and a blender pen.

And the same thing goes for the third.

It was given a "Love notes" sentiment...

and the pocket was filled with stamped, in Tempting Turquoise inks, envelopes, which were dressed up with a touch of glitter.

Okay, folks, tomorrow's the big reveal, but us designers are still going to have plenty to share. So, please come on back for Day 4! I've cooked up a layout, for you all, using all the dies from this release and sentiments from two of the new, stamp sets, as well as images from a couple of oldies but goodies, Love Birds and Class Act. Can't wait to share it! Thanks, again and again, for hanging out with me today, and have a truly terrific weekend!

Cristina Kowalczyk
Dawn Woleslagle
Elise Durenberger
Jean Martin
Kerrianne Gwin
Lea Lawson
Savitri Wilder

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: A Pocketful: Valentine (Wplus9) Paper: Crumb Cake, Ruby Red, Very Vanilla, & red gingham (SU) Ink: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, & Ruby Red (SU); Jet Black (StazOn); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: turquoise thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Love Notes die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); Corner punch & Dazzling Diamonds (SU); Pure Poppy buttons (PTI); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); ivory trim (BoBunny); foam tape (Scotch)