Annual post? Lol!

Let's see if I can still do this.  I can't believe it's been a year since I posted something.  I still do my crafts but not as much as I used to.  I have been super busy with life and with the boys in grades 2 and 3, I am even more busy with them and their activities.  I jokingly said to my husband the other day "I don't know how I could possibly fit a job in".  Lol. 

It's that time of year again for me to start my Christmas Cards so that I can get my American ones done before Thanksgiving.  Sadly, I am feeling quite unmotivated.  And after reviewing my pictures file I see that I didn't even take pictures of the ones I made last year.  I really thought I had.  Apparently the last photos of cards I took are on the previous post.  hmmm.   I will have to rectify that.  So for those following me, I think I may try to start posting a little more.  We'll see...

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.......

That is the BEST commercial for back to school.....I can totally relate.  Today was the first day back for my boys.  One in 1st Grade and one in 2nd Grade and that means they are both in school a full day.  Bye-bye on the bus at 8:00 and hello again at 3:20.  I have all that wonderful time to myself...I actually sat there for a few moments this morning asking: "what the heck am I going to do with myself?" 

During the summer I didn't find too much time to sit down and get busy at the craft table.  I was able to bust out a couple of cards so here they are.


The first was for Father's Day.  The image is Whipper Snapper that I colored with copics.  I'll have to dig out the paper to let you know who that is.

This card was for my niece who obviously had a girl.  The flowers are done with the new Cuttlebug Quilling dies.  They are really cool!!

This card uses Hero Arts Cling Stamp Butterfly that I colored with copics, Basic Grey paper, and Martha punches

Here's another Hero Arts Butterfly Cling stamp from the same set as above.  Colored with copics, Basic Grey DP.

This was done for a birthday party my son was going to.  It was for one of his little 'girlfriends'.  He's kissed 4 girls already ya know!!

This one was for a birthday party my other son went to.  One of his buddies, thus the more boyish colors.

This was for my DH for his birthday.  I have to run for the details. If you want them, email me.

Boredom

"I'm bored."  If the kids came to me and said that, I would come up with a million things to occupy them such as vacuuming, dusting, cleaning up the infinite amount of legos littering the floor.......You get the picture.  Of course I could be doing the laundry, scrubbing the bathroom....... But I'm not in the mood.  It's rainy and cold and I feel like taking a nap, so instead I am procrastinating.  It's like I have this unwritten rule about no fun stuff until the work is done.  Oh screw it, when I'm done here I'm going to take a nap.

My youngest, Leo, got invited to one of his (many) girlfriend's birthday party.  I was so excited to be able to make something GIRLY!!!!  I had picked up this paper a long time ago because of the outstanding bright colors.  This picture does not do it justice.  Of course the butterflies are not for the boys so when he got his invite I jumped all over this paper and got to work.  It's from Pinecone Press "Flutter By".  I used my nesties for the oval and cut out one of the butterflies, traced in on the hot pink cs, and cut both out....the pink being a bit larger than the butterfly itself to make a "shadow".  I only glued down the center of the butterfly so it looks like it's wings can move.  I think my bow turned out pretty good too as I don't have an easy bow maker so I freehand it all. 

Now, about Leo and his girlfriends.  I keep hearing about how he likes to kiss his girlfriends at school and on the bus.  With him only in kindergarten I don't get all bent out of shape about this, except his list is up to three girls!  I guess I shouldn't worry because in about 4 years he's gonna think girls are "icky".  Ten years from now is too far away to worry about, so I just remind him that if he's gonna kiss them, do it on the cheek.  So far he hasn't listened.  He likes the "big slobby ones" on the lips......whatever!!

Maybe if I'm 'bored' tomorrow I will post another card.......now off to take my nap..... :)

Basic Grey Challenge

Hello!  I am a total fan of Basic Grey!!  I love all their patterned papers.  The only problem is there are not any stores near me that carry the line.  So I am limited to what I have.  I made this card for the Basic Grey Challenges Blog #11.  It was a photo inspiration challenge and I love blues, greys and browns together. 

The paper is from K&Company, the punch is Martha Stewart.  I cut the brown flourishes on the Slice.  The flower in the center is from CTMH.  Ribbon is from Michaels.  I based the layout on a sketch from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge blog - which of course I missed the deadline for.  What's new?  I am quite pleased with the result.

another challenge I missed for TESC97!!

Good morning!  Here's another card I made for a challenge on Taylored Expressions #97.  At least I'm pretty sure I missed it.  Anyhow, the stamp is another Whipper Snapper colored with copics.  The dp is from K&Company that I've had in my stash for a while.  The colors are much more vibrant than the picture shows. 

Last night I pulled out my box of pictures and decided I'm going to doing some scrapbooking.  I really should get going as I only have about 5 pages done for Leo and he is 5 1/2 years old!!  I'm sure you can imagine how large this box of photos is!!  lol!    While I scrapbook I will be waiting for the doctors office to call me back.  I'm waiting to hear the results of some bloodwork for Erik (my six year old).  He has been complaining/crying about severe leg pain so I took him to see the Dr. on Wednesday who sent us for bloodwork.  That in itself was a treat.  He cried the whole time.  It was like trying to hold a greased pig.  When we walked out thru the waiting room everyone was telling him how well he did.  Since he wasn't feeling well he really couldn't care less but I thought it was sweet of the other people to lend their support for such a little boy dealing with the traumatic experience of having blood drawn with that harpoon they used.  Anyhow this whole ordeal really has me quite concerned.....

Check this out!

Hi all!  Just posting something I want to share with y'all.  There is a cute new release called Aurora Collection by Victoria Case!  It represents all the good things in life like kindness, caring and someone to remind all of us to stay in the moment and enjoy life.  Not to mention that it is totally cute!!  Check out the blog here to see Victoria's Aurora Collection for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design.  The release is the 15th but you can see them!!

Another challenge - Mojo Monday 120 - in under the wire!!

Good Morning!  What a bright sunny, snow covered, 10 degree (farenheit) day!!   I think I will be staying inside today to keep warm.  I can't speak for my kids though.  It amazes me that they are able to go out and play and still come in stating they are hot in their snowsuits.

Here is a card I made for the Mojo Monday sketch challenge.  I enjoy the challenges but never have my cards completed, photographed and uploaded by the deadline.  I think I've squeaked in under the wire here for this one!!

I used a Whipper Snapper stamp which I think is just adorable.  Colored it with copics.  DP is Bo Bunny, another one of my favorites, cs is ctmh, with a Martha punch and nesties.   After all the Christmas cards, I am liking the color scheme which is more springy!  :)

This second card also uses a Whipper Snapper stamp colored with copics.  The dp is Basic Grey that I've had in my stash for a long time.  Another Martha punch with some nesties.  Again I like the color combination of the cranberry and brown.

This one was for the 2S4Y challenge but I didn't make the midnight deadline last night.  Oh well.  I guess it pays to have the battery in the camera charged.

Since I am staying in today I think I will spend some time at the craft table.  Maybe I'll be able to make a couple more challenges this week.  Check out the right side of my blog to see the challenges I enjoy and maybe you can join in too!!

Merry Christmas to all......

Merry Christmas to all!  The weeks leading up to the holiday were hectic to say the least.  I'm amazed I'm still standing.  The kids were off school and it was c-o-l-d!!!  They couldn't play outside so they ran around the house yelling and shouting.  We baked some cookies together for three days - didn't turn out too bad mess-wise.  We went ice-skating.  Well I should say Erik went skating.  Leo had no interest so he and I sat on the side and watched....and froze. 

Santa paid a visit and again I have to say I think he has gone insane.  I don't think Santa is going to appreciate that visa bill come January...... The boys got a new basketball hoop and as soon it was opened it started to snow.  We haven't had any snow til this point until we want to go outside.  Figures.

This card uses Debbie Mumm paper from Joanne's.  The stamp is Magnolia and colored with copics.  Also includes nestabilities.  A simple card. 

BRRRRR!

Afternoon!  Did y'all hear the Browns beat the Steelers last night?  WoooHoooo!  The Steelers have beaten the Browns for the last 12 games.  Until last night!!  My dh is a die-hard Steelers fan and I am a Browns fan.  Needless to say, he was a little grumpy....and told me he better not hear about it for the next year.

We're inside today.  It's a whopping 18 degrees out (Farenheit) and the wind is a-blowin'.  Brrrrr!  The kids and I did a snowflake craft to keep busy, but now they are bouncin' off the walls a bit.  It's going to make for a long night.

Here's a card I made using Bo Bunny dp and an Inkadinkadoo stamp.  This is one of my favorite Martha punches (lace doily).

The second card uses Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses dp and a stamp from Impression Obsession that I colored with copics.  I must have been into red ribbon that day?  

A sketch

Hi.  This card I made for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #109.  The dp is K&Company "secret santa", stamp is Magnolia which I colored with copics.  (what else?) The snowflakes are cuttlebug on pink paper and glimmer misted with "marshmallow" which you can't see in the picture, but are sparkly.  I'm not usually a pink christmas fan but I really like this one. 

A House and a Card

Hi all, I've got a few spare minutes here.  I just returned home from the Kindergarten Christmas Concert at school.  They are way too cute.  And they still like to sing and do the hand motions that go along with the songs.  I got a few pictures.  Not sure how they turned out without great lighting.

Yesterday the boys and I tried a new project.  We made a gingerbread house.  I don't get the frosting thing though.  I must have made it too runny even though it was the consistency of "toothpaste" like the directions said.  It kept sliding off the house.  We would put a candy on and it would just slowly slide off.  Next year I'm going to hot glue it together and just cover the glue with the frosting.  Its not like we're gonna eat the thing after it sits out for 3 weeks.

Okay onto the card.  This one I made for my step-daughters sixteenth birthday.  The colors are much more vibrant in person. I don't remember where the dp is from.  DCWV I think.  I used my nesties for the tag and the stamp is from CTMH.  I did the inside of this one too but forgot to take a picture. 

Well my free-time is almost over.  Off to the bus-stop to get Leo. 

Ah, the Joys of Christmas....

Good Morning and Happy Sunday.  I think we have all of our Christmas decorations up now with the exception of a few strays I need to finish.  But the empty boxes are back up in the attic until January.  Phew!  I don't know about anyone else, but I love to make Christmas cards, but yesterday I couldn't put anything together to save my life.  I couldn't match two pieces of paper.  It was awful.  I did manage to make two, but it took all day!!  I will post those later since I haven't photographed them yet.  Here's a couple I made the other day.  The first uses a snowman  stamp from CTMH (All Decked Out D1308), my nesties, and dp from Bo Bunny 'Tis the Season - Snowflakes'. The second card uses a stamp from Hampton Arts 'Santa Pulling Sleigh' and  dp from DCWV.  I think the ribbon is from Michael's.  I'll try and post the cards I made yesterday after I go find the camera.  And hopefully this week I will find some creative inpiration or there will be alot of people not getting cards this year!

P.S.  Is anyone else having trouble with the new blogger format?

Another Challenge

Hi again! Here's another card I made for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge 50. The image is from My Favorite Things colored with copics. I used my cuttlebug embossing folders for texture with a circle pattern in mind, and nesties for the ovals.

This card can also be used for the Copic Colour Challenge 42. The parameters were to use RV06, YG03, and YR04.

In about 20 minutes I have to take my son to a birthday party - so I'll have a couple of hours to myself til I have to go back and pick him up. Then later I need to get back to a really fun and fabulous job of finding which light is out on our pre-lit Christmas tree. I've already made one trip to Wallyworld for new light bulbs......pretty soon I'm going to give up and just buy a new tree. I feel like that guy in the "12 Days of Christmas" song who is "rigging up the lights..."

A new challenge SSSC46

Hi all, I hope everyone is full of turkey. We we're out of town for the holiday and I did take my computer but it wouldn't allow me to link up to the internet for some reason. A bit annoying.

Anyhow, I made this card for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 46. The dp is American Traditional Designs "Holiday Cheer" (red) and Basic Grey "Eskimo Kisses" (green). The wreath is pieced together with the punches from Martha Stewart. I added a couple of red sparkly thingys and a bow. Super Easy!!

A couple of new cards

Hi there! Here's a couple of new cards I did. The colors are anything but traditional with the pinks, aquas, and oranges but I kinda liked the change from the norm. The stamps are from Magenta which I colored with copics, cs is dcwv, and dp is Fancy Pants "Happy Holidays" that I picked up at the cutest little store outside Chicago called Hannah's Home Accents".

Hannah's is in Antioch, IL about 4 miles south of the Wisconsin border. It is a total girlie store with all the homey knick-knacks anyone would love, a purse section, scrapbooking section, jewelry section (they carry Pandora which I'm totally into) and more. If you're ever up that way check it out. My friend Shelly and I spent about 2 1/2 hours in there when we just planned to 'pop in'. And about 25 minutes from there is an Archiver's store. Needless to say, that was one great day. And if you check out my sidebar, I've added links to the weekly challenges I've found and like.