Challenge 15: Sketch

This is Lily and Milo from Stampavie. Cute aren't they? This is my contribution for the Sketch challenge for the KL SNS Saturday Challenge this week. I REALLY liked this sketch and thought that Jodi did a great job.

One thing I noticed while creating my card was the bleeding that occurred when I used my copics (look closely at her hair and his mittens). In the past when I've used GP paper, I haven't noticed a bleeding problem. So either this is a new problem or I haven't been very observant. I decided to invest in Neenah paper and try the coloring again. I'll let you know if I see an improvement.

So take a good look at the sketch and grab your markers, stamps and good paper and join in the KLSNS Saturday Challenge!

But wait ... it gets better 'cuz you could win a prize!!! Look at all the great stuff you could win just by participating:

Happy Birthday Andrew!!

My nephew (in-law) is having a birthday and ... I forgot it. Technically, I didn't forget it since it's today (me waving "hi") but since it's unlikely that his card will arrive today ... I think we can go with I forgot.

It's actually been awhile since I've had ABSOLUTE FREEDOM while stamping. I've been doing so many challenges lately. The freedom, while exhilerating, is also a wee bit intimidating. What set should I use and what layout?

I love Andrew. Number one, he loves my niece Kelsey absolutely and that in itself makes him number one in my book because Kelsey is my FAVORITE niece who was born in May. Number two, my kids LOVE him. When I told them that we were making a card for Andrew they both said, "Are we going there?" He plays with them like crazy. And lastly, I love Andrew because he's kinda fun to tease (in a good way!) I considered embarrassing him with a funny card 'cause his ears turn red and it's cute. But in the end, I decided to show him some respect and just go with robots. What guy doesn't like robots?!!

This is Our Craft Lounge: Meet the Botz. How stinkin' cute is this set?!! I actually made two versions of this card (one that I slapped in the mail quick like a bunny so it could get there remotely on time) and this one. I like how they both turned out.

So Happy Day Dude!

Challenge 14: Get Out Your Nestibilities!!

So the challenge this week is to use punches and/or Nestibilities to make a card. The first card I made, while cute and using Nestibilities, was rather lackluster (according to my husband). So off I went to try again. This card has two kinds of Nestibilities AND three punches. Yay me! I think I met this challenge and then SOME!

I was excited to use Label 4 from Nestibilities since I hadn't done so before this. I have a tendency to buy things and then let them languish in a drawer and not use them. The only problem I have with the Labels series is that they don't have as many layers. I end up having to cut my own shadow layer with scissors and that's irritating to me.

If I'm not careful, the blog police will pull me over for using too much pink in my cards (I think every single one of my DT contributions for Kelly's site has been with a pink theme. But, in my defense ... I love pink. I have boys and I NEVER get to use it. AND it IS the season of pink. So Happy Valentine's Day to you all. You can expect that pretty much EVERY card I make until February 14th WILL be pink.

Even if you don't like pink as much as me ... break out your punches and Nestibilities and join in the fun at KL SNS!

Supplies
Stamps: Magnolia, Tilda with a Puppy, SU: Fancy Flexible Phrases
Accessories: Nestibilities: Circle and Lables 4, SU oval punches, MS Daisy Fan punch, gold brads, Singer Sewing Machine, ribbon

No Card for YOU Bucko!!

This card ... a perfectly acceptable card I might add ... was laying on the kitchen table. I had just finished uploading it to the computer and was getting ready to tuck it away until Valentine's Day. This was going to be my card for my darling man. Inside reads, "Once in a lifetime, you meet someone who changes EVERYTHING." It was perfect, I thought, romantic yet cute.

In walks my husband. "Oh hey, you made a new card. Hmmm ... you've done better," he said.

I must have made a cranky miffed noise in my throat because he went on.

"It's kinda dark and I'm not crazy about how puffy it is." (you can't really see in the photo but I used pop-dots to lift the first circle from the second)

I still like the card but by golly I'm off to make another card for Kelly's Saturday challenge (the theme is a secret for now ... tune in for Challenge 14, coming SOON). As for Mr. Critical ... it's Hallmark for him!

Card Supplies:
Stamps: High Hopes: Mooshie Steals a Kiss
Accessories: Nestibilities, Ribbon, Pop-Dots, Crystal Effects, Copics

Tuesday Morning Sketches

Have you been to Melissa's Sketch Challenge blog?

This week her challenge was this:

I loved the DT cards so I decided to give it a try. First I rotated the sketch and made a fairly simple card. It was REALLY hard to step away from the layers that I seem to use in most of my cards so to compensate for the lack of paper, I think I used every bling technique in my arsenal! I've got glitter paper, sparkles and of course ... just plain glitter on this card.

This is "Hit With a Snowball" from Eat Cake Graphics, one of my favorite stamp companies. I got this stamp before Christmas but never did ink him so I wanted to use him.

While making this card, I broke my SU scallop punch and ended up making the card with my nesties. Now my dilemma is whether or not to get a new SU punch. I will admit that the convenience factor of a punch is appealing but I hate that they break. Hmmm, what to do?

What YOU should do is hop over to Melissa's spot and participate in the challenge. I did!

Happy "Appreciate a Dragon" Day

What? Come'on ... that's not a real holiday, you say and I would say, "ya huh" Check it out here. I'm guessing that your next question is ... "Well, how do you celebrate this holiday?"

Easy-peasy. Create something gorgeous using your favorite dragon stamps or dragon skin DP or your CuttleBug folders for texture. Then post your creation to the KL Stampin N Scrapping Blog before midnight on Friday, January 22nd to win the Top 3 Blinky brag award for your blog.

Why on Earth are we celebrating? Well High Hopes is getting ready to release new stamps from a brand new artist ... Dustin Pike. There is some MIGHTY cute stuff coming our way. I think that I am going to have to get the featured stamp. It kind of reminds me of my four year old who ALSO believes that pants are optional. So hustle off to KLSNS and post your dragon card or buy a dragon stamp (or both!)

Lessons Learned

Have you ever had one of those days?

Here's how my day went yesterday. My oldest had to go back to the doctor to be seen about his cough at 9:30, TJ had to be dropped off to pre-school by 11:45 and then I had a doctor appointment for 12:30. It was a tight schedule but do-able.

Then ... the dog scratched open his belly and was bleeding. He needed to be seen. "Can you be here at 11:00?" said the vet tech. Uh, yeah sure.

As we all loaded up in the car, TJ looked over at the dog. "He looks sad, Mom." Well, he's not excited by the trip to the vet, I told him.

Pediatrician: check.
Vet: uh-oh, long wait.

We loaded up in the car after the vet at 12:00. It's OK, we'll just be a tad late dropping TJ off, I thought .... and then I remembered that I hadn't fed anyone yet. Crud, another wrench in the schedule. Hmmm, Sonic is on the way to the school, I'll just hit the drive-through and we'll be back on schedule. I ordered two Happy Packs and a banana for me. TJ ate in the car but Caleb opted to wait until home so he could have catsup. I had already bagged the possibility of making my doctor appointment and was trying to salvage what was left of my schedule.

We arrived at school at 12:20 (35 minutes late but he'd still get to have a little preschool) and everyone left to walk TJ to the door (have you spotted my mistake yet?) We returned to find the dog wagging his tail and all Happy Packs consumed ... he even ate my banana.

The dog was not at all sad to be in the car anymore. :-)

Enjoy your day everyone. I promise to have a card featured tomorrow!

What's Black, White and Pink all over?

No joke ... KLSNS has their new challenge posted and it's just in time for Valentine's day. If you want to play along, create something fabulous using black, pink and the neutral color of your choice. Then post it on the KL Stampin N Scrappin site. Easy-greasy.

This is MY pink card. I was in heaven when I read Risa's challenge colors .. I really love using pink and black. The stamp I used is High Hopes' "Cupig" which Kelly DOES carry but doesn't appear to be in stock currently. Remember when placing a special order, it takes a bit of extra time for the stamps to make it across the US/Canadian border. Please be patient!

There is also an opportunity to win some GREAT blog candy! Jessica George from Jess' Obsession is celebrating her first blogaversary on Friday, January 15th. Her blog candy basket truly DOES runneth over. Hop on over there for chance at something amazing.

Supplies for card:
Stamps: High Hopes Cupig
Paper: SU Pink Pirouette, Black, White
Accesories: Cuttlebug folder: Love Language, CB dies: Vintage, Circle Nestibilities, ribbon, sparkle bling, and copics