Paper Sweeties Inspiration Challenge #13

It's a brand new month, friends, which means another beautiful challenge, to make your cutie pie stamps work for you, at Paper Sweeties.  Once again, we're being inspired, in any way whatsoever, by the photo below.  It reminded me so much of my daughter, and being as November 1st is her birthday, not to mention that she thinks every card that I make with the Paper Sweeties images is for her ;), I thought this was the perfect opportunity to make her a card.

I started this card by piecing together a trio of color-coordinating, patterned papers; adhering them to the Kraft, cardstock, card face; and machine stitching, with bright-green-threaded, straight stitches, a frame around their edges, as well as, with the same color of zig-zag stitches, between their connections.  I then stamped the split, "Happy Birthday Pumpkin Pie" sentiment in the top...

and bottom centers of the card face.

A length of seam binding ribbon was wrapped, horizontally, around the card face; tied, in a bow, near its left edge; and embellished with a pearl button, laced with a hemp twine bow.

Emma was then stamped, in Jet Black ink, in the center of an Oatmeal, cardstock, rounded rectangle; colored in with pencils and mineral spirits; and dressed in a paper-pieced dress and White, cardstock shawl and boots.  All of which were stamped in Jet Black ink and hand cut out, and the latter of which was colored with pencils and mineral spirits.  Her feet were then surrounded with lots of stamped, in Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, and Crumb Cake inks, on Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, and Kraft cardstocks, and hand-cut leaves.  A handful of pearl sequins and a trio of die-cut, felt leaves complete the look.

And here's this month's sweet Inspiration Challenge #13 picture to get you off and running in the right direction. 

You have until the close of the month, on Saturday, November 30, 2013, to link up your takes, over at the challenge link above, in order to be in the running to win a $20 gift certificate to the Paper Sweeties Shoppe.  Have fun with it, y'all; and while you're at it, have a wonderful weekend!  Hugs!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Emma, Giddyup!, Occasions, Warm Winter Wishes, Stand Add-On 2, & Happy Thanksgiving (Paper Sweeties) Paper: Kraft, White, & Oatmeal (Wplus9); yellow floral (Basic Grey); pink/green plaid (Nikki Sivils); bright pink medallion & multicolored floral (My Mind's Eye) Ink: Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, & Crumb Cake (SU); Jet Black (Ranger) Other: green thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Clear Cut Stackers: Rounded Rectangles & Pretty Patches: Apple dies (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives); pearl button & sequins (The Ribbon Reel); bright pink seam binding ribbon (SU); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); colored pencils (Prismacolor); mineral spirits (Inky Antics); felt (Scrapbook Page)

Weekend Snapshots

Afternoon, y'all!  So sorry that it's been so long since I was last here.  I've missed every one of you ever so much and am hoping to find time to visit before the end of the week.  It's been crazy!  I think I said, in an earlier post, that my parents were here helping my hubby lay a new cork floor in our library and Ezekiel's bedroom/bathroom this past weekend.  I LOVE it!  It's so warm and soft and easy to clean, and at less than $3 a square foot, it can't be beat!  My kids love it because all their games and puzzles set up perfectly and don't fall apart on it.  Plus, it's a much better surface for coloring and drawing than carpet.

My Mom brought Adina a new fleece and pjs for her upcoming 5th birthday.  She loves the moose as much as I do.  I didn't realize, until later, how tired she looked in this pic.  She ran a low-grade fever most of the weekend, which kept us home organizing, cleaning, and painting those baseboards, that you see in the photos above, all white, but she's back to her old self today.

Our little, loved home officially went on the market this past Monday.  Please keep praying for a quick sale.  We're heading up to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to look for new houses and deliver my hubby to his new job, this weekend.  Then, the kids and I will be back here for school and appointments and whatnot until the house sells.  So, the sooner it sells, the better.

We also bought a new vehicle.  I really wanted an SUV.  I feel old driving a minivan, but when we started really looking, this 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan had everything we were looking for and more.  It's ever so spacious, rides comfortably, and I just love that if we're out and about and need to haul something big home, which happens more frequently than you'd think, I don't have to find a place to store the third row of seats.  Both it and the second row all fold easily right into the floor.  Plus, the price fit our new budget perfectly.  Yay!

Lots of changes, but fortunately, everyone is handling it well.  It's such an exciting time!  I'll be back late tomorrow with our November Inspiration Challenge from Paper Sweeties.  Until then, thanks so much for checking in on us, and have a blessed rest of your week!

The Studio Inspiration Challenge

It's time for The Studio's second challenge of the month, friends.  This one entails being inspired by the photo at the bottom of this post.  I was drawn to the feathers.  So, I hunted my photo stash for any pics of birds.  Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by how many I found, but in the end, I decided to go with pics of one of my family's trips to the zoo, focusing in on the pancake breakfast we had, where all the proceeds went to help bring penguins to our zoo, as well as on my kiddos and hubby feeding the lorikeets.

I started this layout by anchoring a trio of patterned papers, to the aqua, leafy, base pages, with navy-threaded, zig-zag and straight, machine stitches.  I then framed my pics with Whisper White cardstock and spread them, haphazardly, across the two-page design, before turning my attention to the left side.

Here I created a journaling cluster, tucked under the left edges of the far left photos, which includes a bright pink, paper doily; floral and "A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD ME..." transparencies; and an orange-framed, journaling card, anchored with a vintage button, laced with hemp twine and used to journal, Just enjoying being together on a wet, chilly, spring day @ the KC Zoo.

The pics on the left side were then grounded with a couple of hand-cut, from patterned paper, phrase bits; another bright pink doily; leaf and bird tag, which was laced with a hemp twine bow, transparencies; and a couple of paper blooms...

pouring over onto the right side of the page.

Near the top of this side you'll find a bright-pink-framed, journaling card, upon which I recorded the April 27, '13 date, as well as another bright pink doily and a couple, additional, phrase bits.

A hand-cut, from patterned paper, "TOGETHER is our FAVORITE place TO BE" card serves as my title and was framed with a gold, arrow die cut; a couple of die-cut, from patterned paper, feathers; another vintage button, laced with hemp twine; floral die cuts; and one, final, bright pink doily.

Further inspiration for this layout came from Color Me Scrappy's Challenge #48...

and My Scraps and More's Sketch #50.

And here's The Studio's October Inspiration Challenge pic to get you off and running in the right direction.

Be sure to stop by the challenge link above to catch all the nitty-gritty details, as well as to see lots of amazing inspiration from the Design Team.  And don't forget this month's sponsor is Teresa Collins Stampmaker.

Manufactured by Photocentrics, who also manufactures clear stamps, the Stampmaker is the perfect tool if you like to design your own stamps and is available all over the world.  You can find it at Hobby Craft or order your own clear stamps at Photocentrics.

One lucky winner will get one set of stamps (size A6) of their own design.  You could make one single size A6 stamp or several smaller that fit in that size.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a blessed week!

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: Whisper White & aqua leafy (SU); multicolored diamond & orange floral (Basic Grey); pink medallion (My Mind's Eye); navy polka dot & chevron (Jillibean Soup) Ink: Black PITT artist pen (Faber Castell) Other: navy thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); die-cut cardstock & transparency bits (Basic Grey); vintage buttons & bright pink doilies (SU); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); phrase and title tags (Crate Paper); die-cut flowers (Sassafras); bright pink journaling card (My Mind's Eye); foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives); feather cut file & Cameo (Silhouette)

Friday Faves

TGIF!  It has been such a busy week around our place!  I wouldn't even know where to begin to explain all that it has entailed.  Honestly, I'm too tired to even try to put it all into words.  So, in jumping ahead to today, we've got a day off from school and work.  My mom and dad are here helping my hubby lay a cork floor for our library and Ezekiel's bedroom/bath.  It'll replace some old, worn-out carpet and compliment our hardwood floors beautifully.  It's something that we've wanted to do since we moved in.  But thanks to that little bonus, that I spoke of in an earlier post, we were finally able to make it happen... just in time to move out.  Isn't that the way things always seem to go?  I know that our home's future owners will really appreciate it, though.  And hopefully, it'll give our little place that extra something special to get it sold quick.

Then, tomorrow, we've got a heap of yard work to tackle.  Fortunately, it looks like we'll have warmer weather to help us along.  Plus, the only room that I have yet to get in order is my studio.  That will be at the top of my to-do list.  Matter of fact, I'm hoping to get that started this evening.  But you all didn't come here to read about all my moving woes.  So, without further adieu, welcome to this month's Friday Faves!  It all begins with this scrumptious Prima Alencon 15mm Lace from The Ribbon Reel.  Doesn't it have such a rich, vintage quality?  I just got some in the mail, and it's just as lovely in person.  Can't wait to put it to good use!

I always have the hardest time picking a Christmas collection that I love, but Simple Stories' December Documented 12" x 12" Collection Kit has it all, from cute to traditional, with plenty of bits to journal upon, and trendy chalkboard elements, not to mention lots of little, complimentary stickers.  It promises to get you itching to scrap all those precious, Christmas memories in no time flat.

I also couldn't resist sharing one of my latest purchases from Spellbinders, Foliage.  LOVE that these babies can cut, emboss, and stencil all in one.  Genius!

It occurred to me, as I began wondering if we'd even get to decorate for Christmas this year, being as we don't yet know where we'll be, that come next year, Kaden won't have a Christmas stocking to match the rest of ours.  So, it'll be time for an upgrade, and I couldn't possibly love the texture or homespun appeal of these Chunky Knit Stockings, that I found on houzz, any more.  Swoon!

And finally, I'm throwing in Salma Hayek's Nuance AM/PM Anti-Aging Super Lotion which can be found at CVS Pharmacy.  I guess only time will tell if it really does its job, but smearing this beautifully scented moisturizer on my face is literally one of my favorite parts of the day.  It's all in the little things, friends ;).

That covers things for this month, folks.  May your weekends be filled with love, laughter, accomplishment, and REST.  Hugs!

For the Love of Books

It's just me, popping in, as promised, with my pick for this month's For the Love of Books post.  Many of you may have already heard of this book, but in honor of our expecting a baby boy, in just a few, short months, I couldn't resist sharing it here.  I don't think I've ever made it through one reading without crying, but it's still one of my all-time faves.  It is a book every parent should own and is written for book lovers of all ages.

Love You Forever, written by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Sheila McGraw, tells the story of a baby boy growing into an ornery toddler, strong-willed adolescent, strange teenager, and finally, an independent adult.  Through it all, when his mother finds him sleeping, even as she peeks through his window, with the help of a ladder, after he moves into a home of his own, she picks him up and rocks him, singing, I'll love you forever.  I'll like you for always.  As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.  There comes a day, however, when the mother becomes too old and sick to sing to him anymore.  The roles are then reversed, and the final page promises this affectionate display of love will continue for generations to come, as the son does the same with his new, baby daughter.

If you treasure Love You Forever as much as I do, or if you're off to the library to check it out for yourself, I'd love to know what you think.  Thanks so much for reading!  Be blessed!

Family Update

Morning, y'all!  Just wanted to pop in and share a few pics of what we've been doing as a family.  Look at all these yummy apples we harvested from our very own apple tree.  So excited to see it producing such deliciousness!  This just proves that good things come to those who wait ;).

My good, Colorado friend, Chris, was in town, for a MOPS Convention, last weekend.  So, we all met up with her for a scrumptious dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.

I had to throw in a picture of Adina and my dessert, too... Hershey Chocolate Bar Cheesecake.  Yum!

I wanted to let you all know, too, that my hubby has accepted a position as the division manager of the fire sprinkler department for a company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  He begins work on Monday, November 4, 2013.  So, he'll be moving into a hotel for a little, until our house sells, and the kids and I can join him.  We've had a lot to do as far as depersonalizing and getting the house ready for a sale.  So, please forgive me for my lack of visits.  Slowly, but surely, I'll be around to visit.  I'm just trying to keep up right now.  It goes on the market this coming Monday, though.  So, I'd be ever so grateful if you'd help us pray for a quick sale.

Even though a lot is happening all at once, we are really excited about our move.  Kansas City is a beautiful city with a lot to offer, but it's been really hard for us to find our place here.  We've had to really push and pull and dig our way in, and unfortunately, it's been the same with making friends.  We moved back here, from Greeley, Colorado, when Ezekiel was just a year old, because we wanted to be more involved with my family and work out the tension with BJ's family in hopes of the same.  Unfortunately, things haven't quite worked out as we would have liked.  We've given all this over nine years of our lives.  Now, it's time move on.

It's been so neat to see, through some of the details that are unfolding, how God orchestrated this whole thing way back when.  And while I know that it won't be easy to say goodbye to what is routine and comfortable, I also know that it will be a real growing time for us, as we trust Him to guide us through.  We can't wait to experience the adventures that await!

So, that's the long and short of it, friends.  I'll be back tomorrow with this month's For the Love of Books post and, then again, the day after with this month's Friday Faves.  Then, I've cooked up a few, creative things, even amidst all the craziness, to share with you next week.  So, hang tight.  I'm not going anywhere.  It'll just be a little quieter than usual around here for a bit.  Thanks so much for checking in on us, and have a wonderful Wednesday!

TCM: New Release Blog Hop

It's time for The Craft's Meow's October New Release Blog Hop, y'all!  Woohoo!  You should be coming here from Jessica Fick's Blog, but if you didn't, got lost along the way, or simply want to start at the beginning, you can find the complete list of hop participants on the TCM Store Blog.  So, let's get right to it.  Shall we?

I started this card by vertically piecing together two strips of Christmas, patterned papers; stamping the bottom left corner, in Jet Black ink, with the "WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY Season's Greetings AND A JOYOUS NEW YEAR" sentiment; framing them with Ruby Red cardstock; and machine stitching, with red-threaded, zig-zag stitches, around their combined edges and between their connection.

Before adhering it to the Pink Ballet, cardstock, card face, I wrapped a length of soft green, fringed ribbon, around the prepped piece, just to the left of the patterned paper connection; tied it, in a bow, near the top edge of the prepped piece; and embellished it with a red button, laced with a Baker's Twine bow.

A kraft envelope was then stamped, in Chocolate Chip ink, with the deer silhouette, as well as, in Jet Black ink, with the stamp image.

The latter was then colored in with pencils and mineral spirits, and the prior was embellished with a pink, ribbon bow, as well as a couple of holly branches, stamped, in Jet Black ink, on White cardstock; colored with pencils and mineral spirits; hand cut out; and dressed up with a little, Xmas Red Stickles.  A pink, "holiday", chipboard element preps the envelope for the card face, to which it was adhered with foam tape, and completes the look.

I had to reach for one of those sweet images from Under the Tree, too.

I started this card by framing a piece of whimsical, holiday, patterned paper with Bashful Blue cardstock.  I then stamped the "PEACE, LOVE, JOY" sentiment, in Jet Black ink, on a strip of vellum and anchored it, to the prepped piece, just below horizontal center, with soft, blue-threaded, straight, machine stitches, running around the edges of the prepped piece.

The stacked gifts were stamped, in Jet Black ink, in the center of the white tag; paper-pieced with a variety of color-coordinating, patterned papers; and had their ribbons decked out with a hint of glitter.  I then adhered the tag, with foam tape, in the center of the card face, under the stamped sentiment panel.

A die-cut, from Bashful Blue cardstock, snowflake, which I also glittered, embellishes the top right edge of the prepped tag...

which was dressed up with a couple lengths of ribbon, as well as a white button, laced with a Pink Sorbet twine bow.  Both prep the piece for the Kraft, cardstock, card face, to which it was adhered with foam tape, and complete the look.

And here's the full view of what's new to the shop for the month of October.

Under the Tree

by Mindy Baxter

4" x 6"

Christmas Blessings

by Karen Baker

4" x 6"

Christmas Lantern

by Clare Buswell

4" x 6"

 

Holiday Poinsettia

by Nina B. Designs

4" x 6"

Inside Christmas

by Karen Baker

4" x 6"

(FREE gift with $60 purchase.  May also be purchased separately.)

That's all for this month, friends!  Now, off you go, to Karen Baker's Blog, to continue your hop.  Commenting by 8 pm PST, on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, on each of the blog hop posts, makes you eligible to win all five of this month's new stamp sets.  You are not required to leave comments on each blog, but your chances of winning do increase.  So, be sure to leave lots of love along the way.  And until next time, happy stamping, friends!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Inside Christmas, Christmas Lanterns, Holiday Poinsettia, & Christmas Blessings (TCM) Paper: Ballet Slippers & White (Wplus9); Ruby Red (SU); multicolored polka dot & pink/red trees (My Mind's Eye) Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU); Jet Black (Ranger) Other: red thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives); ribbon (Hobby Lobby); button (JoAnn Fabrics); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); colored pencils (Prismacolor); mineral spirits (Inky Antics); Xmas Red Stickles (Ranger); kraft envelope (Paper Studio); "holiday" chipboard (Crate Paper)

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Under the Tree & Holiday Poinsettia (TCM) Paper: Kraft (Wplus9); Bashful Blue, soft blue butterfly, & two-tone pink stripe (SU); green star & yellow stripe (October Afternoon); bright pink polka dot (My Little Shoebox); whimsical holiday (Nikki Sivils); vellum (Paper Studio) Ink: Jet Black (Ranger); Jet Black (StazOn) Other: soft blue thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives); Seasonal Sentiments die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); button, Dazzling Diamonds, & pink/green ribbon (SU); gingham ribbon (Hobby Lobby); Pink Sorbet twine (The Twinery); tag (Paper Studio)