Pink Lemonade

CardMaker Kit-of-the-Month Club - Project: 1

Hey Gang!! So nice to be back on here with something FUN & CREATIVE to share with you! YAY!

Thanks for the wonderful comments on my last post, I was very encouraged and just wanted to take the time to say THANK YOU. :)

Soooo before I show you my project I wanted to share some info about the CardMaker Kit-of-the-Month Club with you and how it works. Here's the list of bene's to members and an idea of how it all works.

·         When members join, their first kit is over ½ off the usual price - $7.99 (plus postage & processing)

·         They also receive 5 free gifts along with their first kit: zippered carrying pouch, bone folder, embossing and piercing tool, “created by” stamp, and acrylic block.

·         Kits will be sent about every month at the cost of $16.99 (plus postage & processing)

·         There is no minimum purchase and members can cancel at any time.

·         Members a assured of  a 100% guarantee of satisfaction.

·         Each kit includes exclusive materials to make 8-10 cards such as:

o   Quality card blanks and envelopes

o   Printed papers

o   Die-cut sheets

o   Decorative stickers or rub-ons

o   Clear acrylic or self-cling rubber stamps

o   Color-coordinated ribbon and embellishments like brads, buttons, glitter, pearls, rhinestones, flowers, and more!

o   A full-color, step-by-step instructions

·         None of the kits or kit components are sold in retail – they are sold exclusively to members of CardMaker Kit Club!

·         Each kit features an occasion like birthdays, thank-you cards, friendship, etc.

·         Each kit teaches a fun technique like embossing, stenciling, quilling, iris folding, specialty card folds, and simple layering techniques

·         There is also an instructional video for the first kit and for using the free gifts. http://www.cardmakerkitclub.com/video.html

·         To view a gallery of kits, go to: http://www.cardmakerkitclub.com/project_gallery.php

·         To join or learn more, just go to http://www.cardmakerkitclub.com

 

Okay so that's the info part....here's the eye candy part! LOL

I thought I would first share a few photos of the kit itself. Then show you my project.

 

This is how the kit arrived at my door. All organized and pretty. The front item you see it are the FULL COLOR INSTRUCTIONS on how to make the cards shown on the front cover. Also in the booklet are step by step instructions on how to do specific techniques with step out photos as needed.

 

This is my "unpacked" shot of all the goodies. As you can see there is a ton of product here. Stickers, Stamps, Die Cuts, Die Cut Card Bases in two colors, Square Envelopes, Patterned Paper, Ribbon, Fabric Flowers, Glitter, Brads & Sandpaper....and the best part? It all MATCHES! YAY!

So now without further ado - Here's my card -  Friends.

 

As you can see I mixed up the papers a bit, used the glitter, the sandpaper, the die cuts, the stamps etc.... And since the card was just too cute I decided to stamp up the side of the front of my envelope to make a quick matchy matchy envelope to go with it! I hope you enjoy this one! Hop back over tomorrow for my other card I have to share with you...next time it'll be a fab and fun flower shaped card!!! Enjoy!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year & all that goes with it!

Good morning my bloggy friends!

Well I have been super quiet as of late I know and there are many reasons for that but the biggest is this: I have simply not felt like blogging! I have had this blog for over five years and this is the first time I can honestly say that I have simply not even wanted to blog....about anything....for anyone or any reason!

A few months ago I had some MAJOR disappointments in the "industry" and as the months have passed not only did I have those first disappointments to deal with I also have had additional ones too. Biggest and newest is that Layers of Color as we know it will be closing their doors and they are currently selling off all the stock on hand. This news came as a shock and a surprise to me and it just has taken the last bit of wind from my sails to be honest.

I have taken this last month to reflect my "spot" in the industry and have found I really dont' have one to speak of and that for me is a first in five years!! So I have NO IDEA where or what I will be doing over the coming months but it is sure to be interesting to me seeing as I am simply feeling like I am "out of options" and have no real direction as to where to look next.

There is a silver lining however and I have to report that I finally felt spontaneously creative on Saturday! YAY! It was a great feeling and I have a photo to share of what I created!

This is a shot of a Black Forest Trifle that I created to bring to my husbands annual squadron party. It turned out beautifully don't you think?

I have also kept up my weekly card on Card Postioning Systems and so I will blog those soon too!

And last but not least, I have a plan for the next few posts to also share what I will be creating with some kits from the CardMaker Kit-of-the-Month Club!!! I have designed for a few of the kits and so it's now fun that I get to work with fully finished kits and see what else I can come up with. Having all the matching components to work with really helps take the "guess work" of our design and from this weary designer's heart it's like a breath of fresh air...so I hope you will pop back over tomorrow to see the first project I have created using the "Friendship Blooms" kit, the first you will recieve as a member of CardMaker Kit-of-the-Month Club. :)

Sparkle Christmas

This week's sketch over at Card Positioning Systems is the last of the year!!! Can you believe it? CPS is taking a holiday break....so YOU HAVE TO PLAY one last time... :) Here's my card for this week...I hope you enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies:
Flower Soft Diamond Range : Ruby & Gold
Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Bamboo Leaves
Flower & Leaves: Memory Makers

Inky Antics Wrap It Up Blog Hop!!!

 

 

 

Welcome to Inky’s “Wrap It Up” Blog Hop! If you’ve come fromTex’s blog, Savor The Journey, then you are in the right place! I used four fun little stamps for my project today.  First I quickly dressed up my plain white tissue paper by stamping Tumbling Snowmen along the edges of the paper in red ink. I then made short work of the bag itself by first stamping  Peace on Earth WordGround in Rich Cocoa Memento, then I masked off a square around that image and stamped Speckeled Background in Cloud White VersaMagic to kinda create a "frame effect". And finally I used one of my favorite Inky Christmas images, Snow Shepherd to create my tag. :) You can find all of these image and more here on this page:http://www.inkyantics.com/december2011hop.htm

Here's a shot of my entire bag all assembled and ready to toss under the tree.

Then I thought I would share a quick shot of the close up so you can see how I masked the square around the image centered on the bag's front panel as well asa little bit of a close up to show you how simply I colored the main image. I didn't go whole hog on this one, just added enough color to the image to make the details POP! I whipped up a double layer triple loop bow using my Bow Easy (also available at Inky Antics) to just give a "finishing touch" to the tag.....All these fun details while keeping the time invested into a fun and cute wrap job short and manageable for this time of years hectic schedule! Enjoy!

The blog hop starts today and ends on Sunday, December 11^th at midnight Central time. Please visit each DT members’ blog to view their projects and leave a comment for each designer. The more you comment, the better your chances are to win. (Limit one comment per blog, please). Two people’s names will be drawn at random to receive a surprise Inky prize pack. The winners’ names will be announced on the Inky Antics (insert link) blog next Monday, so remember to stop back and see if you’ve won.

 

Your next stop will be Debbie’s blog, The Paper Garden. Have fun hopping and remember JESUS is the reason for the season!

 

For a Special Young Man

 I finally have gotten some "me time" today to get into the studio and create! And I finally inked up more than just the sentiments from Sweet Silhouettes! Okay, so yeah you all are right *love*.........

This card is for my younger brother...he's eighteen, in college, getting STRAIGHT A's and is pursuing God's calling on his life. He believes he will become a lawyer with a focus on Constitutional Rights (or something like that, I can't recall exactly what it's called! LOL)....he feels we need good men to step up and defend what our country was founded on if we are going to preserve our heritage as a Godly nation....I say "GO FOR IT"! I am not one to get "into politics" per se but I love that he has a critical mind that is strongly based in Biblical foundations. :)

Anyway, I send him a little "walking around money" each month, so this month he is getting this fun little card. I challenged myself to make a not heritage looking card...I love the way these images worked with this fun and bright color palette! LOL Enjoy!

Supplies:
Stamps: Layers Of Color - Sweet Silhouettes
Ink: Tsukineko - Memento Tuxedo Black
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye - Ooh La La For Her
Cardstock: Bazzill
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels Ten
Embellishments: Velvet Ribbon, Glitter & Light Green Rhinestones

30 Days of Thankfulness: Catch Up & a card for today!

I got so busy with real life Thanksgiving that I didn't take time to blog. I did however reflect each day on what I was thankful for! So here's my bullet point list. :)
Day 23 - Thankful that my DH was able to get home from his mission in time to join us on our holiday trek to see family.
Day 24 - Thankful for family but also for family who loves to be together.
Day 25 - Thankful to be able to breathe freely. I had a very scary allergic reaction and had a difficult time breathing and once the scare was past the thankfulness of knowing I and none of those I love suffer from asthma on a regular basis was HUGE. It was very frightening to not be able to breathe freely for a few minutes!
Day 26 - Thankful to get to go and spend a few hours enjoying God's beautiful nature while we treked the side of the NC mountains in search of the perfect Christmas tree.
Day 27 - Thankful for safe travels and no major delays while traveling home from NC.
Day 28 - Thankful that God has provided work for my DH during this trying time of non steady orders....even if it meant hearing an alarm going off at six am first thing Monday!
Day 29 - Thankful that my children have had the chance to learn ASL to include some beautiful Christmas carols...signed songs are so beautiful!
Day 30 - Thankful for friendships....near and far, real life and online.... & Thankful for realizing this year that life in balance is a much happier and less stressful life.

Thank you all for reading through my 30 days of Thankfulness. I know some of you just come to "see what's new" in my creative spot on the web...so thanks for reading along!

Well I have to apologize to Emily at Stamping Bella this week. I got home from NC and life was bonkers with a very strange and jumbled schedule and I TOTALLY FORGOT to create my CPS card for last week's sketch! BUT I did create it and loaded it to the blog late - and here's what I made. I love how it came out...during this time of Autumn hues and Christmas red and green preparations, I thought this color group was a fun one! Don't you? Enjoy! -

 

 

Supplies:
Stamps: Stamping Bella - LuLu's Set of Fruits (set of four)
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Copic SketchMarkers
Patterned Papers: My Mind's Eye - Ooh La La For Her
Cardstock: Bazzill
Twine: The Twinery - Honeydew
Flower: Prima
Embellishments: seam binding, button

30 Days of Thankfulness: 22 and a card to boot!

Hey gang! 

Today was what I like to call a recoup day. After the day I had yesterday I was feeling so worn out today that we pretty much laid low and did just what "HAD" to get done... and when I thought about it I found I was super thankful that I don't have to work a 9-5 out of the house job. I am able to take days and just "wing it"...it's great!

 

Today's card is done using the Dressform die just release by Spellbinders as well as the Nested Tea Cup dies! I turned the largest tea cup die upside down to create the skirt. Cute, right? :) The stamps are from Layers of Colors newest relase from Nina B Designs - Beautiful Lace. And ink? Shimmer and shine from none other than Tsukineko's Delicata Golden Glitz. I had intended to showcase this gorgeous ink when making my Christmas cards but I keep getting sidetracked and using it for other projects! LOL Enjoy!

 

30 Days of Thankfulness: 21

Just spent nearly nine hours at the MUSC Hospital with my friend and her infant son...Praising God for the good news that took far too long to attain....Tonight I am thankful for my own children's health...thankful that I have never had a need to know the inside maze of halls, corridors, connectors & elevators that make up MUSC Children's Hospital....I was thankful to need to read signs to get from point A to point B tonight...thank you Lord for your constant grace over our family....

Layers of Color Tea Party Blog Hop

Welcome to Layers of Color

Tea Party Blog Hop!

This blog hop starts at Layers of Color blog. If you have come from Jessica's Blog, iEmbellish , you are in the right place, if not, please start at the beginning, the Layers of Color Blog, to be sure you don't miss anything along the way!

Layers of Color design team is having this blog hop in celebration of the release of Spellbinders newest die templates, Decorative Dress Forms, (designed by Nina Brackett and Laura Campbell) and Nested Tea Cups, (designed by Laura Campbell)! Layers of Color will be offering both these new dies February 1, 2012, or you can purchase them now through Crafters Home participating stores.

Welcome! Come on in and join us for a spot of tea and enjoy these tasty treats for the eyes!...

I decided to go "Fancy Schmancy" for this one...My mom has always loved tea cups and so I thought of her while making this card... Enjoy~

I used Tsukineko's Delicata Golden Glitz for the bulk of my stamping here. Pairing Layers of Color's Vintage Roses with Beautiful Lace & Sent with Love really helped this card just come to life.

 

Here's a close up of the double stamped floral image. I stamped first in Tsukineko's Memento Rich Cocoa and colored using Copic markers. Then I stamped over top using the Delicata Golden Glitz to give the image that guilded look.

 

Using my Bow Easy to tie the perect triple loop bow and embellishing with a handmade deco pin just helped this card feel "finished", don't you agree??

Thank you for spending this lovely time together with us today. What a joy to be here with you! Please help yourself to these lovely tea-inspired FREE TEMPLATES exclusively from Layers of Color.

Teacup Card Template, designed by Melisa Waldorf

Paper Tea Cup and Saucer, designed by Laura Kirste Campbell

Layers of Color has wonderful tea-inspired art stamps to go with your tea cup projects! You may need sweet sentiments and verses, a spoonful of honey with Teacup Blessings, and of course some flowers and lace doilies to decorate the table! We'd love to see what you do with these unique templates and art stamps! Please share your delicious creations on Layers of Color Facebook page!

Come on friends, let's continue hopping to all the talented designer blogs to see what they have brewed up for us! The next person's blog that you can hop to none other than LOVELY LINDA'S CRAFT CENTRAL! Enjoy the hop!

Diana * Janice * Jennie * Jessica * Keri * Linda * Melisa * Nina * Savannah

30 Days of Thankfulness: 20 & a sneaky peek of tomorrow's hop.. ;)

Tonight I am thankful for online friends! :) I have had delightful evening chatting with sweet RT DeBoise and created away! I got so much done in such a short time! My CPS card for the week, DONE! My card for the Layers of Color Tea Party Blog Hop Tomorrow, DONE! I hope you can come and do the hop tomorrow.... :)

Here's a sneaky peek...just to make sure you come back!! ;)

And finally I also made a card that is just an "extra" for the week! :) I will post it Tuesday... :)

30 Days of Thankfulness: 19

Today is a day I am thankful is OVER! LOL It was not really a bad day but it has been a very long week here at the Sereika household and so tomorrow begins a new week afresh...and for that I am thankful. I love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite family holiday. So many of my best memories are wrapped up in the scents of turkey baking, pies cooling and veggies simmering.

Today I am thankful also that I am not a single mom. For me,  I know there is an end in sight, I know my husband will be home once his mission is over and I will get to take a break....

My heart goes out to all single parents out there. My prayer would be that you would get a break from being "the parent" and get some time to just chill out, laugh with friends and close your eyes without fear of the house falling in on you! LOL

YAY! It's almost Thanksgiving week! 

30 Days of Thankfulness: 17 & 18 & Another Layers of Color New Release Project!

I totally had thought of my "thankful thing" yesterday but didn't get time to pop in and post it! I was standing at the kitchen sink with the hot water running and thought "Man I am so glad I have running water, it makes cooking so much easier!"...so yesterday's was RUNNING WATER....

Today, the irony hit.... I was sitting at the computer (getting lost on pinterest no less) when my four year old came running over and said "Mommy quick Lily Kate is making a mess in the kids bathroom with the sink and water all over!!!" I jumped up and asked "Did you turn it off??" To which she sweetly replied "No!" LOL So I run down a flight of stairs, up the other flight of stairs only to find at the top of the stairs that the upstairs bathroom sink has a cloth in the bottom of it, the water running FULL BLAST and it has spilled over  and I mean ALLL  OVER the bathroom floor.... So NINE BATH TOWELS and a BEACH TOWEL later I caught it all....ahhh the irony of the blessing of RUNNING WATER! LOL But as I was cleaning up I was soooo thankful that Emi thought to come running to get me and that I was able to catch it before we had actual house flooding and damage due to my two year old...who's newest nickname given her by her older brother Coleton seems to fit her perfectly today "THE MASTER OF DISASTER"....yep that sums it up...of course my Mom called her the Two Year Old Tornado...and that works too...all too well... So while I was thankful for running water yesterday, today I find I am glad that there was no damage to speak of in regards to OVERRUNNING WATER! LOL

 

My card today is one of the newest projects created with Layers of Colors new Nina B Designs Release. Using Tsukineko's VersaMagic inks in Cloud White & Purple Hydrangea I tried to keep the color fluid...with a hint of kraft cardstock to warm it up a bit and touch of black to make it all POP! What I loved about this project was that I used Spellbinders Grommet Tags die and just "altered" the die cut to fit what I was looking for...a little fun and shapely tag for the sentiment to stick out from beneath the layers on. Enjoy!

 

 

Inky Antics Homemade Holiday Gifts Blog Hop

Welcome to Inky’s Homemade Holiday Gifts Blog Hop! If you’ve come from Jovi's blog, you are in the right place! If you just happened along today I do so hope you will hop on over to the Inky Antic's Blog and start at the beginning...they say it's a very good place to start! ;)

 

For my handmade gift I really wanted a "year round useful" type of gift....so I thought, "Why not do up a quick and easy photo frame!"  For the base of my project I used a dollar frame that I bought at the local craft store...I often stock up on two or three different sizes and styles when I see they are in stock so I have them on hand for projects just such as this! I used less than a block of Sculpey Oven Bake Clay to cover the top surface of the frame, then I stamped right into the clay using  two FABULOUS stamps by Inky Antics: Retro Dot Wallpaper & Retro Dot Background  which you can find ON THIS PAGE.

After the frame was then baked and cooled, I applied a quick splash of Deco Art Acrylic Craft Paint in Buttermilk, allowed that to dry and then lightly sanded to distress the surface and bring out the details.  I hot melt glued on just a touch of ribbon to both sides and then tied a sheer double loop bow using the Bow Easy (also available through Inky Antics!) for embellishment.

 

Creating handmade gifts can be both cost effective and very personal.  All in all I have less than four dollars into this gift...and if I were to make more the price per gift goes down because I really used a very small amount of the bottle of paint! A VERY AFFORDABLE gift that you could easily recreate in any color scheme/style you like. I personally love the shabby/country look....and this frame isn't going anywhere...I am keeping it, as a gift to myself! LOL

 

The blog hop starts today and ends on Sunday, November 20^th at midnight Central time. Please visit each DT members’ blog to view their projects and leave a comment for each designer. The more you comment, the better your chances are to win. (Limit one comment per blog, please). Two people’s names will be drawn at random to receive a surprise Inky prize pack. The winners’ names will be announced on the Inky Antics  blog next Monday, so remember to stop back and see if you’ve won.

 

Your next stop on this fabulous and fun Homemade Holiday Gifts Blog Hop will be Tex's blog. Enjoy the rest of the hop!

 

30 Days of Thankfulness: 16

Tonight as I was struggling to finish my project for tomorrow's blog hop (yes I am in another one tomorrow! YIKES!) I found myself really just wanting to quit and throw in the towel. I have had sick and crabby kids all day, no relief  as "the parent on duty" while Daddy is accross the ocean on his latest mission, and I was just about to email Jackie and say "Sorry no can do" when I took a few moments to read the beautiful, inspiring and encouraging comments you all have been leaving on my blog today....it changed my entire outlook and I was able to get my project done and it's so cute! (wait till you see it!)....so today, I am thankful FOR YOU... my readers...your comments cheer me when I am down, your encouragement warms me when I am cold and burnt out, your smiles embrace me when I am struggling and your appreciation strengthens me when I am too tired to go one more moment...and tonight, you got me through and helped me to press on and meet my goal of getting tomorrows project finished up and loaded in time for the blog hop tomorrow...so THANK YOU...Thank you each of you...you know who you are.....

Layers of Color NinaB Designs Blog Hop

 

 

Welcome to a very special Layers of Color New Release Blog Hop!

This is the beginning of the blog hop!

Today is so exciting because we are introducing

Layers of Color  Designer Collection

showcasing Nina Brackett's new signature stamp line,

Nina B Designs!

This gorgeous line has delicate Fairy Wishes that pair perfectly with the large blossoms from Dotted Dahlias and Dotted Peonies. And there are Sweet Silhouettes that are lovely with Beautiful Lace and Elegant Labels.  To inspire you with delightfully fresh ideas, Layers of Color designers have created their best projects with NinaBDesigns new release stamp sets. Come visit the newest clear stamp art galleries!

Also introducing,

Angel's Twine and Feather Twine!

 

These unique and pretty card embellishments are found exclusively through Layers of Color boutique. Angel's Twine is a thinner cotton than Baker's twine with a metallic thread twisted through it adding a special sparkle. Feather Twine is soft, feathery and sweet as butterfly kisses. Both lovely twines are coupled together on a reusable artist's tag with a free fabric rose!

I'd love to share some of the fun I had with NinaBDesigns new release...

 

I fell in love with this Dotted Dahlias set the moment I inked it up! It stamps BEAUTIFULLY! Here are two ideas that I came up with as soon as I saw how gorgeous this set was in COLOR! :) Enjoy!

 

 

Giveaways!

Sign up for Layers of Color newsletter and let them know you did in a comment on their blog and you will automatically be entered into a random drawing to win NinaBDesigns Sweet Silhouettes art stamp set! The winner will be announced on Layers of Color blog tomorrow, Nov. 17th. There is another giveaway along the blog hop so let's get hopping!....

Diana Queen * Janice Whiting * Jennie Harper * Jessica Fick 

Keri Lee Sereika (Thanks for hopping by!)

Linda Lucas * Melisa Waldorf * Nina Brackett * Savannah O’Gwynn

 

 

30 Days of Thankfulness: 15 & another Layers of Color Sneaky Peek - Beautiful Friend Tag

Today we had a fun park day with friends we have not seen for far too long... It was fabulous. The weather here in SC is still very mild and today it even bordered on HOT...

I have had a rough couple of weeks here..it feels like I am just dragging and lagging....I don't generally like to "take it easy" and lately it seems it's been a forced taking it easy! LOL Once we were done at the park we had a few errands to run then we beat it home and I took an hour to just rest.

Today however I can say I am thankful for my health! I know it sounds weird but other than being worn out and needing to rest I am generally a healthy person. I have a dear friend who has been plagued by Lime's Disease for years and while some days are wonderful there are many days that she suffers with true fatigue and pain beyond measure. Thank you Lord for my health!!!

Tonight I have one last sneaky peek of the newest Layers of Color stamps that will be released TOMORROW! YAY!! Be sure to hop back on over FIRST THING TOMORROW to see it all! :)


I also have a SUPER DUPER SPECIAL something....I have the pleasure of showcasing one of my first projects using a FANTABULOUS die that was co created by both NINAB & LAURA and just released today by Spellbinders! The Decorative Dress Form dies will be available in Feb after CHA through LOC but if you really MUST have now, you can get them now... These new dies are in stock! Get yours now at a participating Crafters Home store!

So without further ado: Here's my Beautiful Friend Tag:

 

 

(The dress form "stick" is made using two pieces from the Symbology One die set)

30 Days of Thankfulness: 12,13, 14 & a Layers of Color Sneaky Peek

Making a point of blogging the things I am thankful for each day has not been as smooth sailing as I had hoped! LOL

I have been single momming it for the last few days, Ad got home yesterday and is leaving again tomorrow...

So for day 12: I was thankful for getting a NAP! Oh yes, my beautiful children allowed me to snooze for over an hour on Saturday. It was delightful. I have been trying to get past a headache and that was so necessary on Saturday.

Day 13: My love. I am so thankful for my love, my best friend, my husband, Adam. He arrived home and just feeling myself engulfed in his strong and steady arms once again reminded me just how much I love him and just how thankful I am for a husband who deserves all my love and honor. Tirelessly he works to provide for us, his family, all while taking into account that all he does is by God's grace. That he willingly works, leaving us home while he flies all over the country and the world to serve our country. Thank you God for my wonderful husband.

And today: Today I am so grateful for learning American Sign Language. My two oldest have been taking a class in it for a few weeks and it is completely amazing to me to see how quickly they learn and how much they absorb.


Today I have a Layers of Color Sneaky Peek for you! On Wednesday LOC is releasing six new stamp sets!! Here's a sneaky peek of one of my cards...all the details will be shared later this week~ Enjoy!

30 Days of Thankfulness: 11 & my card for the day.

Today I am thankful for friends. I have spent the day with my dear crafting friend Niki Meiners and I have had a blast. We spent the beginning of the day on a field trip at Boone Hall Plantations enjoying Living History Days...such a load of fun...and after spending the cool morning out in the wind I am also super thankful that we do not live in the 1800's trying to stay warm by burning wood! LOL

This week's CPS sketch was a weird one for me...I had a hard time with it at first. But once it was done I was happy with the end result...sorta! LOL Enjoy!

 

Supplies:
Sponsored Product: Want2Scrap - Fancy Tags 2 - White Pearl
Stamps: Impression Obsession - Birthday Sentiments
Ink: Tsukineko - VersaFine: Onyx Black, Vintage Sepia
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels Twenty-One, Classic Circles
Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee -  Fascinating
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Embellishments: Ribbon &Twill

30 Days of Thankfulness: 8, 9 & 10!!

This morning I realized that while I thought of what I was thankful for the last two days I didn't remember to actually post them! LOL

Okay so day eight:
All I could think Tuesday was how thankful I am that my children can learn, enjoy learning and love to share what they have learned. We are blessed to be taking a delightful sign language class this semester and both of my boys are learning so much. Truly amazed.....

Day Nine: Yesterday: I took time in the morning while the little men were working on their math lessons to stamp... Layers of Color has a new release that is coming out in a week...the stamps are GORGEOUS...seriously BEAUTIFUL! It's a whole release by none other than Nina B! And let me just say, she's outdone herself! LOL Here's a little banner to give you an idea of what I am talking about! ( and I hope to have a sneaky peek up later on today too, so be sure to come on back, okay??)


 And today...well today I am so thankful that I have a girls night out planned. I have about 15 girls coming over to hang out, watch a Pampered Chef Cooking Demo and EAT! And the best part of all? I even have my crafty friend Niki Meiners coming in from out of town to visit too! So what could be better?? Thankful...thankful for time that I get to enjoy with friends, new and old!

A Blogging For Books Review: When God Created My Toes

Filled with whimsical images and a sweet sing songy rhyming pattern, "When God Created My Toes" is an adorable children's book filled with fun thoughts of what God was doing or thinking when he created each of us. Sitting down to read it as a bedtime story with my four children was a delightful experience. They all giggled in turn as we read page after page of cute prose. I found the idea of writing from a child's point of view in awe and wonder of what God was doing or thinking as He created was a really sweet and touching point of view. 

The illustrations in "When God Created My Toes" are so fun and filled with wonderful detail. On more than on occasion as I was beginning to turn the page one or more of my children would stop me and point out a part of the illustration that told more of the story. For instance they all got a kick out of the little girl having a tea party  with her parents while her cat was dressed up and also seated at the table looking none too happy to be there...all of my children laughed out loud when they saw "the grumpy cat" as guest at the tea party.  

All in all, "When God Created My Toes" is a sweet and delightful children's book, one that we will be reading over and over again I am sure! 

 

 

 

 

 

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

 

30 Days of Thankfulness: 7

Today I am thankful for the ability to teach my children at home, the freedom to teach my children at home and for  having a great group of women who also teach their children at home. Getting to spend the evening with this wonderful group of wise women who are all a gem for their own special things was really fun tonight! Grateful to know I am not alone when the discouraging days come, and happy to know that someone else "gets it" when I have something awesome to share in this fun and sometimes trying journey of life we call "homeschooling". :)

30 Days of Thankfulness: 6

We have spent this entire weekend as a family doing alot of "togetherness" stuff. We have played games, watched a few shows, made cupcakes, baked rolls, painted fingernails and toe nails, created a few fun felt flowers...you name it, we have just done the "hang out with family" thing for the last three days....today I am thankful for TIME...TIME well spent doing "nothing" all while doing what REALLY MATTERS MOST, growing together and investing TIME in one another...

30 Days of Thankfulness: 5

Tonight I am thankful for soft warm flannel sheets & PJs....comfort clothes...tonight they are just the ticket!

30 Days of Thankfulness: 4 and You Make The Grade

Today I spent a few hours planning the next two weeks worth of meals, shopping for said meal and making room for all those groceries in my fridge and pantry...today I am thankful for an abundance of food in a wide varitey of flavors and styles. We are a blessed country and so often we forget that so many go to bed hungry each night. I am thankful that I have enough food, and that I have OPTIONS of what I want to eat!

 

 

Today I have last week's CPS card to share with you. A cute "School girl" card just fit my mood last week! I was in the midst of putting the finishing touches on a huge project, keeping my boys up and going on their school and planning classes for early next year....talk about a "school mode & mentality"....

Last week's sponsor was My Favorite Things and they really have such a sweet feel to their Sweet Innocence Line. And their newest dies are "to die for"! LOL Enjoy!

Supplies -
Stamps & Flower Die: My Favorite Things
Inks: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Copic Markers - BG72, E000, E11, E31, E55, E57, G12, R39
Patterned Papers: October Afternoon
Other Dies: Spellbinders - Circle & Petite Scalloped Circle Dies
Twine: The Twinery Marachino
Other: Ribbon & Button

30 Days of Thankfulness: 3

Today I am so thankful to once again have a working washer in the house. With four little ones in the house all day long, laundry piles up SUPER quickly around here and so I have been watching these mountains of dirty clothing pile up for a week now! EEEKS ! But God in all His Faithfulness saw fit to bless me with a brandy new large capacity, front loading washer and dryer set! I kid you not folks, I can wash a week's worth of laundry in about five loads in these commercial grade babies!!! Thank you God for your provision and for my husband being such a hard worker to be able to provide these new appliances...this will certainly make my life "loads easier"...sorry to be so punny! LOL



Today's creation is based on THIS WEEK'S CPS SKETCH! Flower Soft is our sponsor this week and I just HAD to use the Diamond Range Amethyst & Ulrta Fine White...as many of you know I am not a HUGE fan of purple but thought "hey why not?!" LOL

I also was finally able to use my beautiful Golden Glitz Delicata Ink Pad from Tsukineko...talk about shimmer and shine! GORGEOUS!!! It provides PERFECT coverage....but I needed a more "distressed" look for what I had in mind so I stamped my images on to glossy card stock, then I spritzed with alcohol and pressed a scrunched up piece of paper towel on top and "turned just a bit" as I lifted off...it took off a little bit of ink and gave me that perfectly "aged look" that I was going for. :)

I know you all know I love Layers of Color (especially Touch of Elegance) but I just have to say, this set is AWESOME!!! I know they are not really "snowflakes" but don't they work for this card??

If you look at the bottom panel I used Tsukineko's Essential Glue Pad and the Diamond Range Amethyst Flower Soft to give both sparkle, texture and detail to my card with out distracting from the beauty of the distress gold "flakes". :) I hope you enjoy!

 

Supplies:

Flower Soft: Diamond Range Amethyst, Ultrafine White

Cardstock: Dark Purple, Pale Purple, Ultra Smooth White & Glossy White
Stamps: Layers of Color - Touch of Elegance, Sentimental Banners
Inks: Tsukineko - Delicata Golden Glitz, Essential Glue Pad, Memento Tuxedo Black
Die: Spellbinders - Create a Flake 2 (Retired?)
Twine: The Twinery - Lilac
Embellishments: Ribbon, Button

 

30 Days of Thankfulness: 2 & a card to boot!

 

Working hard....today I am grateful that I have the ability to work hard. That my limbs work and that my mind is sharp (okay, so perhaps not "sharp" but "working well" can still apply, right? LOL) I have been hard at work for weeks wrapping up an ongoing project that I am almost done with and today was a majorly long hard day...and though my muscles ache and my eyes are sore from shooting hundreds of step out photos, I am thankful that I have muscles that ache only because I over worked them and eyes that are sore because I have using them to SEE...Thank you Lord for the things I so often forget to say THANK YOU for.

 

This card is from a few week's back on CPS. If you are ever looking for a good "jumping off point" you really should play along with CPS and the weekly card sketch we have! Enjoy!

 

 

 Supplies:

Stamps: Impression Obsession - Thanks Sentiments
Ink: Tsukineko - VersaFine Vintage Sepia
Copic Markers & ABS - E57, E35
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels Eighteen
Pearl Heart & Pearls: Want2Scrap - Scallop Heart & Beaded Square, White Pearl (Altered with Copic ABS)
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Patterned Paper: Graphic 45
Embellishments: Ribbon Rosette(handmade) & Ribbons

30 Days of Thankfulness: 1

Last year my friend Fairlight over at Polkadot Tree did a 30 Days of Thankfulness series for the month of November and it stuck with me so much so that I decided to do it this year as well! Fairlight is doing it again so it's fun to know that there's a group of us to check in with each day and see what each of us has to be thankful for as we enter this special season of expression of gratefulness.

Today despite the loads of undone laundry, stacks of dishes I have washed and put away, toys I have picked up, noses I have wiped etc etc and so forth - I am thankful that I am a mom to four beautiful and super healthy children who I adore and who love me deeply in return....I am so thankful for my family of four busy little bees! I meant to snap a photo of them all today but didn't get all four of them in once place long enough...perhaps I can grab em all tomorrow! :)

 

 

A Pink Lemonade Tutorial: Step By Step of how to make the Very Vintage Spherical Ornament

Good Morning!!! I am back today like I promised I would be to show you the step by step on how I made my Very Vintage Spherical Ornament. I would have run this yesterday but I know how getting through a blog hop can be time consuming so I thought I would just bump it a day...so with out further ado, Here's today "Walk Me Through It Wednesday" just a day late.

 

1 - First you will need the stamps you wish to work with(I am using Angelic by Layers Of Color), a good ink pad (I am using Tsukineko's Olympia GreenVersaFine because it really lends to crisp images & dries quickly), and a piece of cardstock that is 6"x12"

 

2 - Stamp with the largest stamp you are going to use first.

 

3 - Fill in any bare spots using a smaller image in the set.

 

4 - Cut the entire stamped panel into 1"x6" strips

 

5 - Next you will need an ink sweeper& Brilliance ink  in Chocolate

 

6 - Begin to sponge all edges of the stamped side of each strip.

 

7 - Flip the strips over and apply a bit of color to the blank side of each strip.

 

8 - Before putting the ink and ink sweeper away, sponge some ink onto Layers Of Color new Angel Twine to give it a vintage look.

 

9 - Punch a hole about 1/2" in from each end.

 

10 - Thread the altered Angel's Twine through the eye of a large embroidery needle. Tie the crystal to the end of the twine.

 

11 - Place the needle through the entire stack of strips going from the stamped side to the blank side, this will be the bottom of your ornament.

 

12 - Place the needle through the entire stack of strips going from the blank side to the stamped side, this will be the top of your ornament.

 

13 - Pull the strips into a "U" shape and tie a length of wide organdy ribbon through a knot at the top of the ornament.

 

14 - Tie the twine into a loop at the top of the ornament, making the knot as close as possible to the ribbon knot.

 

15 -  Tie the length of ribbon into a full pretty bow.

 

16 - Carefully heat the ribbon to create more of the aged vintage feel. WARNING: The heat tool is extremely HOT so becareful not to over heat and melt the ribbon or to catch it on fire. Go in small short applications of heat and pull the tool away as soon as you see the ribbon begin to crumple.

 

17 - Here you can see the difference in the two ribbon tails. The left has been heated, the right has not.

 

18 - Finish heating the second ribbon tail as well as the bow EVER SO SLIGHTLY to create the final effect.

 

19 - Begin to fan out the strips to create the spherical look of this paper strip ornament.

TADA!!! The finished project. I certainly hope you have enjoyed today's tutorial! Be sure to pop on over to the Layers Of Color Blog to see if you were a chosend winner from yesterday's blog hop or congratulate those who were! :)

 

Supplies:
Stamps: Layers of Color - Angelic
Inks: Tsukineko - Imperial Green VeraFine, Chocolate Brilliance
Embellishments: Chandelier Crystal, Angel Twine (Layers of Color) & 5/8th wide Organdy Ribbon

Layers of Color Ornament Blog Hop - Very Vintage Spherical Ornament

Welcome to the Layers of Color Ornament Blog Hop!

The beginning of the blog hop is at the Layers of Color blog. If you came here from  Jessica's blog, you are hopping in the right order.

This is the place to discover the newest creative paper ornament ideas, be inspired by talented designers, and get showered with gifts! Layers of Color is giving away:

FREE Ornament Templates, FREE Vintage Roses Ornament Tutorial, and 6 drawings for a $20 Layers of Color Gift Certificate!

First, some ornament inspiration! (Come on back and see the how to tomorrow! :) )

 

Supplies:
Stamps: Layers of Color - Angelic
Inks: Tsukineko - Imperial Green VeraFine, Chocolate Brilliance
Embellishments: Chandelier Crystal, Angel Twine (Layers of Color) & 5/8th wide Organdy Ribbon

 

GIFTS FOR YOU!...

Come get a FREE Vintage Roses Ornament Tutorial tomorrow, October 27th on Layers of Color blog!

With every online purchase from Layers of Color boutique you will get an exclusive FREE Vintage Ornament Template designed by Laura Campbell! She made this sample using Glad Tidings art stamp set and Feather Twine. Your gift will be printed on cardstock ready for you to add your creative ideas with stamps and ink! Limited time only!

Let's get hopping to discover lots of gorgeous ornament projects to add sparkle to your Christmas preparations! There are drawings for $20 Layers of Color Gift Certificates as surprise gifts for you along the way, so be sure to visit each designer's blog... Enjoy!

Laura Campbell – LOC blog Diana Queen Gini Cagle Grace Nywening Holly Simoni Jennie Harper Jessica Fick Keri Lee Sereika Linda Beeson Linda Lucas Melisa Waldorf Nina Brackett Rae Barthel Savannah O’Gwynn

 

A Blogging for Books Review: When the Hurt Runs Deep - An Unfinished Book for me....

I was given the book When The Hurt Runs Deep by Kay Arthur through the Blogging for Books Program run by Waterbrook Multnomah  and quickly I found this book a hard read to "get into"...it was deep to be honest I felt it very hard to get past the third chapter....is it a bad book? BY NO MEANS...it simply wasn't what I wanted to read at this point in my life. I felt like I was "working to read it" and I had too many other things on my plate to sit and struggle through a book I could not get past the third chapter. I hope to at some point to have the time in my day and the brain power to really get into this book and finish it as it is a great Biblically founded book, I just simply could not get "connected" to the text....

 

Have you read this book? I am interested to know a few things...were you in the midst of a painful situation when you read it? Were you trying to find answers to a painful situation and did it help you? I hope to read this book come the New Year with a renewed sense of study and interest but I would also like to know if anyone else has read it by chance and what you thought of it! Thanks!!