School Rocks

So I always mean to do all these challenges and blog posts. Sometimes I even have cards made or drafts started and I just forget to finish them. Others, like today, I pretty much forgot everything until the very last minute. I wanted to get the kids, or at least the oldest, to do the Simon Says Stamp Back to School Vacation kids challenge. Which ends today. If Patricia hadn't posted the fantastic card her son made I wouldn't have remembered at all! Thanks Nick and Patricia!

Here is Archer's card. He decorated the front, back, and inside. I think I need to start letting him (and ONLY him) use my ink pads. The kid ones are extremely juicy.

 

And, yes, that is our update after one week of school. So far, school rocks. He has had great teacher feedback, has been getting ready without complaint, and is excited to go back. I'm very grateful and happy!

Thanks so much for looking!

 

Supplies:

Stamps - Paper Smooches Smarty Pants

Ink - Hero Arts kid ink

Paper - PTI white, Pure Poppy, SU designer paper

Other - PTI pumpkin die shaped into an apple (these were leftover from a project I did last year)

New Beginnings

First day of school in the morning. Kindergarten for my first child. Clothes are laid out, school supplies ready to go. Wow. It's just so hard to believe. The days are so long and slow, but the years just fly by. He rides his bike without training wheels and has a tooth loose, too, just for extra emphasis. It's true, the saying that when you're a mother your heart is now outside your body, but it seems so much harder to have it walking around in some other building from 8-3. This is faith and vulnerability right here, y'all. He is so excited, though, and I think he will have a wonderful time mostly. He is amazing and I hope Kindergarten is ready for the awesome!

I made this for him for in the morning using the MFT weekly sketch. My awesome friend Jaala sent me the papers and they are perfect. (My husband told him "the journey of 1000 miles begins with one step" proverb the other day so this seemed like the perfect sentiment.) The banners are handcut and I enjoyed stapling everything for once. :) I have another card for when he gets home and, of course, one for his brother. It's a big change for him, too! (The girl will also get a card, but I'm probably just going to glue random die cuts to a base because tearing cards apart is kind of her thing right now.)

I'm linking this at the MFT Sketch Challenge and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog for their back to school challenge. If you have a baby starting school tomorrow - or high school or college - I'm thinking about you!

Supplies:
Stamps - MFT Clearly Sentimental About New Beginnings
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink Antique Linen
Paper - DCWV school papers, cork paper, PTI Rustic White
Other - Tiny Attacher, pop dots, MFT red hot felt, Jolee's red twine

Lost in Blue

Finished up another monochromatic card tonight. I've been admiring all the beautiful mixed media work people have been doing lately. This is me dipping my toes in. ;) Lots of ink, a little fiber paste, smooch spritz, and glitter paper. I sponged blue ink on the glitter paper so it has a mottled appearance up close. I also gave a few swipes with a white crayon for some resist action. I had fun making this card and getting out of my box. Linking this at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog.

 

 

Supplies:

Stamps - Studio Calico What a Wonderful World

Ink - SU Cool Caribbean, Memento Paris Dusk, Teal Zeal, Bahama Blue, Nautical Blue

Paper - PTI White, Recollections glitter paper

Other - Simon Says Stamp Leanna butterfly die, Fiber Paste, Studio Calico Intertwined Circles stencil, Smooch Spritz Sea Breeze, blue rhinestone, Ranger ink blending tool pad (but not the handle, which explains some of the harsh lines. No idea where it's disappeared to.), white crayon

Nuttin' Better Than a Friend Like You or Is It Fall Yet?

Morning! This week is a special week. It's the last week before my firstborn starts school for the first time. To me, it's the biggest transition since he was born and we went from married adults to parents. What. A. Ride. I'm both excited and terrified for next week. So far, he's only excited. We're practicing getting up early, going to bed early, and making lunches, but I'm trying to be pretty chill about everything else. This last little bit of summer, of early childhood, of early parenthood, is about to be over so we may as well enjoy it.

In all other respects, though, from the weather to food and color choices, I am ready for fall. The kids are drawing pumpkins at the moment so I think they're ready for fall, too. :) And part of my staying calm is crafting. It is so therapeutic for me. It takes all that nervous energy and makes something from it. Combine those two thoughts and you get fall crafting. The best crafting. :)

I'm playing in a new to me challenge this week, A.R.T. A Random Thursday Challenge, discovered because Misti, an awesome online friend and major inspirartion, is on their DT. It's a cutie pie CAS sketch this week. This is also for Simon Says Stamp Monochromatic challenge. Monochromatic is really hard for me so I am pleased to get to enter. :)

Thanks so much for looking!!!

Supplies:
Stamps - PTI Autumn Acorns
Ink - Memento Desert Sand, Rich Cocoa
Paper - PTI Rustic White
Other- rhinestones, polka dot washi

Feel Better Soon

I'm excited to be playing in the new to me CAS(E) This Sketch challenge. This sketch is by the fabulous Karolyn Loncon! Karolyn was my secret sister once in a Splitcoast swap and boy does she know how to send a package! And make cute sketches. ;)

 

The picture looks crooked, but it's my ridiculous photo setup not the card. I decided to try stamping on cork. I used Memento ink on it and I think it worked pretty well. I'd love recommendations, though! A friend just sent me the pretty red twine and I'm trying not to hoard. ;) It's a complete cheater bow. The twine was too stiff for me to tie a bow tight enough and a knot just wasn't enough so I tucked some loops into the knot and it seems to work just fine. Several friends are dealing with aches and pains and medical situations so a feel better card seemed just the thing.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Supplies:

Stamps - PTI Botanical Silhouettes, Waltzingmouse Stamps Frame It

Ink - Memento Bamboo Leaves, Lady Bug, Rich Cocoa, SU Marigold Morning

Paper - Cork paper, PTI Summer Sunrise

Other - Jolee's paper twine, scor-tape

Bonjour

We read a bedtime story set in France last night so this card from Dare to Get Dirty seemed like a good one to post. It's for my Eiffel Tower loving little sister.

 

Lots of old things making an appearance. I've had the stamp set, the paper, the seam binding, and the glitter for at least 4 years. I need to rotate my supplies more often!  My glittering glue is also a few years old and has gotten thick.  Maybe the next time Michaels has a 50% off coupon a new Xyron will come home with me. :)

I thought I'd try something new and actually include the instructions for the card. It's pretty straightforward but maybe someone will want them.
1. Make card base (or in my case, find it on the table).
2. Cut patterned paper 4 in x 5.25 in. Sponge edges with distress ink.
3. Stamp Eiffel Tower. Position die cut with tower in the middle, fix in place with washi tape, die cut. Run through the cuttlebug  again using the embossing mat to emboss. Sponge with distress ink.
4. Die cut oval mats in vanilla and brown. Spread glittering glue as evenly as possible and apply glitter. (I do this in an old Stampin Up clamshell to cut down on the mess. Glitter is the devil to clean up.)
5. Adhere the mats together. (I put adhesive on the brown layer in the middle and all over the back of the image layer so that I could just sandwich the glitter layer between them.)
6. Tie/tape seam binding to paper, tie a bow. Adhere image over the seam binding with pop dots.
7. Die cut sentiment strip. Sponge with Distress ink. Stamp sentiment. Adhere to card. Trim edge. Adhere pearls.

I had such a good time with the Dare to Get Dirty challenges. I have a few more cards from it that might make a blog appearance. :) I'm linking this at Simon Says Stamp. Thanks for looking! 

Supplies:

Stamps - Crafty Secrets French Mail

Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa, Distress Ink Tattered Roses

Paper - GinaK Vanilla, Basic Grey Blush, SU Chocolate Chip

Other - Oval nestabilities, Martha Stewart seam binding, Martha Stewart White Gold glitter, MFT Sentiment Strip die, pearls, sponge
Card is A2, 4.25 in x 5.5 in.

Give Up on Perfect

Just a little reminder for us all. :)

 

 

Another one of my Dare to Get Dirty cards from Splitcoast. Love this sentiment from My Favorite Things. I had a little tantrum the other night when I didn't get to craft and was behind and was afraid I wouldn't get all the challenges done. And I didn't get them done. But that's okay, I just needed some deep breaths before I remembered it. Linking this at the Simon Says Stamp challenge. Anything goes. ;)

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps - MFT Clearly Sentimental About New Beginnings

Ink - Versamark

Paper - PTI White, Pure Poppy, Basic Grey Fact collection

Accessories - Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, Zing White embossing powder