TCP Tuesday - A Bright and Sunny Color Challenge

Its time for another fun TCP Tuesday Challenge and I'm thrilled to be your hostess for the week! For TCPTues102, I used of my new favorite color combinations. I think it's a nice mix of farm fresh, bright and sunny, and just cheery!

So here goes. This week's color challenge is, poppy, olive, sunny yellow and black!

I just love that pop of black in there for additional contrast, and of course, it brought my sweet Penguins to mind. And this week, the set that was calling my mind is "You Sick Thing."

I've paper pieced the bedding with a scrap of olive paper, but left the top part white...you see, the bed is all neatly folded down showing those nice crisp sheets! I used a teeny bit of the red gingham to paper piece the ice pack on top of the sick little guys head.

The layout here is from Taylor's sketch this week. However, I fiddled with it a bit, adding a bit of a bow, swapped the main image for a circle instead of a rectangle, and I couldn't keep my hands off of the apron lace punch...

This little card is getting tucked into the mail to Susie and Eric. (((hugs)) to you both at this difficult time guys.

To play along in this week's challenge, you'll link your sample to the guestbook on Alma's blog. To those of you that haven't played along before, I'll add in all the TCP Tuesday details below.

Here are the deets for the challenge.
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, techinque, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design to the guestbook on this blog. Your design must be uploaded to the guestbook to be considered.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. Only designs posted to the guestbook will be considered for the Swanky Stamper.
8. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

Note to my local friends!! Alma is actually traveling into Boston this weekend for a show. She'll be hosting a Trunk Show at Ink About It in Westford Mass on Saturday the 27th from 10-noon.

Dude!

Can I just say, last week, was the LONGEST week ever. My husband was traveling to Japan, and with my job as a mom, and my job as a daycare provider, plus two sick kids - ugh, I think it was one of the hardest weeks on record.

After a wonderful weekend full of bikes, sun, playing outside, birthday parties etc...I'm ready to get back to business. Can you believe that this little SK8R Boy cutie, was the only stamping I did all weekend?

This little cutie is from Stamping Bella and I inked it up complete with a paper pieced t-shirt for a little friend's birthday this weekend. I sure hope his mom liked it. *giggle*

Patterned paper is from the Joyride Collection of Cosmo Cricket. Lots of fun papers for boys in that paper pack! And, of course, a kraft cardbase, because lately, that's how I roll!

The layout is this weeks sketch from Taylor. (Just the jumpstart that I needed for a quick project!) Okay, folks gotta run - work to do!! Have a wonderful day!

A Sketchy Baking Turtle

I don't usually stamp with the same images back to back, but I can't help myself. You'll have to forgive me because.....I'm in LOVE with these Turtles. And, Taylor's Sketch this week was just perfect for a little Baking Turtle.

For me, baking is a big part of my job description as a mom. With two boys with severe food allergies, it is usually the best choice to just cook something myself than to try to find something that both boys can safely eat.

I was more than pleased to find a piece of this October Afternoon Farm Fresh paper in my big cleaning project. I was sure that I'd run out of this cute blue flowery one.... Hooray! These colors are so cheery and happy for me, especially on a grey, rainy gross day. For the scalloped piece in the sketch, I substituted in a piece of vintage trim. (I'm going to be sad when this runs out, I'm having fun with it!)

Next week's Bellariffic Challenge is to use a monochromatic pallette in your project. I'm off to dig through my paper collection to see which paper will be my jumping off point for a monochromatic project.... Be sure to send your entries to Emily by Thursday, March 18th to be included in her weekly roundup!

Friends with Flair Friday - Stuck on this sketch!

Oh, those girls at Unity are serious enablers, after last weeks previews from the team, I treated myself to the October Stampin Store kit just so that I could get my hands on this adorable little pin cushion. Totally *melts* my heart! The coordinating sentiment is on the inside of the card and reads "Stuck on You."

You might recognize the sketch, it is Taylor Van Bruggen's weekly sketch from last friday. (I used it yesterday too!) I only cheated just the tiniest bit... instead of three buttons shown in the sketch, I used a small strip of self adhesive half pearls. And of course, I had to use the scalloped strip as my "bow-tunity" in my project.

The papers here are all from My Minds Eye - I'm a sucker for anything pink and green don'tcha know? The sentiment "I'm stuck on you." (awww...) as well as another strip of ribbon and a tiny heart shaped button have been added to the inside of the card.

Please be sure to check out the Unity Blog for today's list of Friends With Flair - that's a huge list other Unity Lovin Bloggers like myself!

Don't forget to stop by Taylor's blog a little later today to see her latest sketch - I'm such a sucker for a good sketch challenge!! Always such a jump start to a project!

Blog Hoppin with the Kettos!

I hope that you've been having a wonderful time hopping along through the first Ketto Blog hop sponsored by Stamping Bella! 

If by chance you've just popped into the hop in the middle then be sure to CLICK HERE to start from the beginning at Bloggabella.

I hadn't inked up this little Lucy Ketto and thought that this blog hop was just the time to do so!  

I picked up this amazingly fun paper from American Crafts at my LSS, I knew it was just right for a Ketto card! This sketch is from Taylor's weekly sketch challenge. 

Lucy is stamped with Memento Ink then colored with Copic Markers.  I added clear Spica pen to her wings for a little bit of shine!

I'm off now myself to head through the hop! Can't wait to take in all the eye candy.. but guess what, it gets EVEN BETTER. 

How about a prize? In addition to the fabulous eye candy, we have decided to hide a prize somewhere along the hop! One pre-selected blogger will draw a random winner from the comments on her post, and the winner will receive a $40 Gift Voucher to Stamping Bella!!! 

The fun part is...we're not telling you who it is! So as you hop, make sure you leave comments on every post so you have a chance to win!! The winner will be announced on Monday!

Thank you SO very much for stopping by to visit today! The next stop on this blog hop is  Brandi at Sparkle Shimmer and Twinkle! 

Tee Off!!

Every summer, I say "Next year I'l learn to golf..."   I know that I'd have a blast spending the day with my husband, even if I'll totally stink at it (lets just say I'm not so good with the hand eye coordination thing....)  and now my eldest son loves golfing too.  

I have a feeling that sooner or later I'll be a ski mom in the winter, and a golf mom in the summer.  But right now, that sport is a little expensive for me as I'd need to hire a sitter for my little one, take lessons etc. 

But, I'd pick up this sport just to be able to wear socks like this. I mean come on!  How cute!  

This is my sample for this week's Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge. I used my Pink Pirouette patterns paper which I stitched to a coordinating panel than ran through a Cuttlebug Embossing folder.  I added some cute Amuse patterned paper.  Teeoffabella is stamped with Memento Ink, then colored with copic markers, her pants are paper pieced.   I'd admit, I fiddled and fooled with these three embellishments for quite a while, but in the end, I got to play with my fun Paperie flowers, so its all good! I love those!

Thanks for looking and have a wonderful day!   

Its an Extra Specially "Fun Friday!!"

Good morning and Happy Friday!!  You all know I *love* Fridays right?  This one is even better than my usual Starbucks Run, Daycare Closed, Fun Friday, I've been keeping a little secret the last few days.  giggle.....

I am over the moon excited this morning and its not only because I'm on Nantucket for the beginning of a girls weekend, but also because I got an email from Taylor earlier this week asking me if I'd like to be her Cupcake Sampler this week!! Would I?  EEEEKS!  

I've had a big cheesy grin on my face all week! Thanks so much Taylor! You all KNOW I love a good sketch challenge right??

As soon as I saw the sketch, I knew it was the excuse to use the stamp set I've been itching to play with "Fish Friends" from Whipper Snapper.  The whole set is so sweet, but my very favorite image is the little lady bug hanging out on this daisy. 

The image was stamped to Watercolor Paper and then stitched to a layer of Kiwi Kiss cardstock.  

For the scalloped element, I just had to squeeze in a little bit of red to tie in with the ladybug and I had some Rockability paper handy.  I added some piercing to each of the scallops to mimic the dots on the lady but and on the kiwi paper too.  Of course, I couldn't pass up a little "bow-tunity" to add a little scrap of gingham ribbon tied off with a piece of linen thread. 

I can't wait to see what Taylor's Cupcake Sampler team came up with for this sweet little sketch! Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful weekend!

Got Cupcakes?

The other night, as we were cleaning up from stamp club, my friend was commenting on all the leftover cardstock. 

  

I told her not to worry, I'd turn them into something new as I sat down the next time to work, and sure enough, the leftover papers were the inspiration for this chocolate Cupcake Flopsey today!

This fun sketch is from the Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge - the sketch was just perfect for Flopsey. 

The only new piece of paper I 

trimmed was the center white for Flopsey. I used SU in my workshop the other night, but I don't like SU white for Copic work, so I used my new Perfect Paper Panels from MFT for that piece.  All the other pieces were scraps  from my class the other night.  I just had to trim down the striped panel, it was a little too wide for this layout! 

I stamped Flopsey twice so that I could pop up the cupcake in his hand one level. and I usually make it a cutesy cupcake when I play with this stamp set, but today, I went for tasty chocolate frosted cupcake YUM! He's colored with Copic markers and all my panels are stitched up.

Be sure to stop by the My Favorite Things Splitcoast Member Company Forum tomorrow to play along in Celebrate MFT Day and to join Christina and I for this weeks installment of "Who's That Girl." Hope to see you there!

Somebunny Cute!

I'm not usually a double poster, but lately, I've had more cards created than days to share them. And this sweet little cuppie bunny, he just makes me smile, so I had to share.

I thought you wouldn't mind a little extra cuteness today right?

This is some Imaginesce paper "For Peeps Sake" that I've had in my stash since last Easter.  And when I saw this week's sketch from Taylor, I just had to squeeze a little Sweet Spring cupcake action into my schedule.

This is the card I'm tucking in little guy's lunchbox this week, I'll have to be more secretive about stashing it because he noticed me tucking it in last Wednesdays lunch.  So much for a surprise. Sigh....

So, tonight, I'm making his lunch with the card inside the bag when he's in bed.  So there!  He hasn't even seen this card yet (usually he's witness to either the making of, or the photographing of the card) so it will be an extra special surprise!

I didn't want to fuss up the front, so I tucked the sentiment on the inside and added a little ribbon treatment.  I figure my extra special buddy deserves an extra special treatment to his card.

I hope you like it, and I hope my little bunny does too!

I'm sure you already read Taylor's fantastic blog, but don't forget to play along in her Friday Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge. I'm a day late in posting my sample, maybe I'll get my act together next week to play at the correct time! Whoops. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Snowy Sketchy Day

It has now been snowing since Friday afternoon and will snow here again all day today.  It is beautiful outside my window, and feeling very Christmasy. Our neighborhood is not on a main road, so there is barely any traffic coming through, save for the rare adventurous neighbor.... I'm going out for a snowy walk around the block and perhaps do a little sledding with my husband and the boys. 

Its feeling so very cozy in my Lazy Pants and enjoying my warm Christmas candles burning, and my George Winston Christmas music off my ipod... but it such a winter wonderland out there that boys NEED to go play a little.  

Last night, I stalled on my "to do" list a little bit and just wanted to play with two of my favorite sketch challenges.  

My friend Karen is the Featured Cupcake Sampler for Taylor this week, so how could I not play to celebrate. Besides, the sketch is super cute, and just right for this sweet set from The Cat's Pajamas that has not so quietly been calling my name!  Sprinkle is dressed in a paper pieced scrap of this Stampin Up Ski Slope designer paper, and then given lots of liquid applique details.    

Since my Ski Slope paper was already in use, and quite honestly, because I have lots of it, I decided to also use it in Jen's Sketch for You To Try this week.  

Again, I had a particular set in mind that I've been wanting to pull out and use again, Cornish Heritage Farm's "Heartwarmer's"    

I will admit, all those circles terrified me, but I turned one into a bow placement, one the sentiment, and one is a clear button to which I added a circular punchout of paper coated with glitter.  

After our little adventure outside, I'm looking forward to a lunch of minestrone soup I made in preparation for the snowstorm on Friday, a Christmas movie for the boys, and hopefully LOTS more stamp time for me!

Stamp a Sweet Sketch!!

Its been fun to watch Taylor's new stamps pop up on all my blurfing around blog land.  I literally BOUNCED when I opened my little mailbox the other day and found my package of stamps.

I knew I'd hold off though till this week's Cupcake Challenge to see what fun layout she had in mind for all of us challenge junkies this week.  And what a fun little sketch it was. 

Turns out that naptime yesterday was the perfect opportunity to play, dragged out my nesties, embossing folders and copic markers and had a little playtime.  I loveeee Fridays!! I'm tucking this card into the mail to a very dear friend who is celebrating her birthday this week. Can you guess who it is.......

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, thinking of all my friends down in Texas and hoping everyone weathers the storm safely.  ((hugs))))

   

Enjoy it!

Since I'm addicted to sketch challenges and all, I can't believe that I haven't yet had a chance to play along in Taylor's Weekly sketch challenge.  Looking back, Taylor's blog was the very first blog I'd ever read. I of course, found it through Splitcoast.

I was so very excited to hear that she's started her very own line of stamps "Stamp a Sweet Expression". Which by the way, are totally adorable and just perfectly suited for her pretty well known addiction to cupcakes.  wink.  

So, of course, I had to stay up a little late last Thursday night to be sure I scoffed up one set to have on hand.  I mean, a girl can never have enough cupcake stamps right?  

This card is for my aunt who graduated from college this past weekend.  She's been working full time, putting her children through college and attending classes herself.    Even more impressive, she was the graduation speaker at her ceremony with a 3.99 GPA!!  

So, this is a non typical graduation card, I just want her to enjoy every moment of life, and celebrate all that she has accomplished.  We're all SO very proud.  

Have a great day everyone, enjoy every moment!