#1 All-Star Coach!

Baseball has just wrapped up for the season. My son played for the Cubs this year with a great group of boys. We had the "end of season" party last night so of course I needed to put a thank you together for the two coaches. I did my standard popcorn/candy/blockbuster gift card basket that I do for all of his coaches. I found the popcorn tubs at "Dollar Tree" and they worked out perfectly.

The tags were made using the Cubs colors, which I was excited about because they are so "All American" looking. All of the candy seemed to match better as well! LOL! I had originally started making cards, but yesterday was one of those crazy days, so only tags got made. I used a SU! set called "Sporting" to stamp the #1 image, I used Star Prints and All-Star Team from Papertrey Ink for the penant and star image and then finished it off by stamping the word coach using a really, really old alphabet stamp from PSX. I punched out large circles out of kraft cardstock and then used the feather stitch on my sewing machine to make the baseballs. The baseball buttons were the finishing touch. They were one of those random purchases a year or so ago and when I was making these, I was so glad I had them.

Yes...I could have added more bells and whistles, but I was truly running out of time. The coaches appreciated it and said thanks numerous times. Now I am happy to take a bit of a breather before the real fun starts....FOOTBALL!!!!!!

You make this world a better place *SFYTT*

Today's card was made for my sweet team teacher at church. I have really enjoyed getting to know her better and she has taught the lesson for me quite a few times, especially after I had Rowan. I have been wanting to do something for her, so I thought I could at least get started with a card.

I used some older paper from My Mind's Eye that I picked up last year. I have been so good to stay away from the stores. I don't think I will ever run out of paper!!!! The funny thing about getting *new* things is that eventually they become *old* things, especially if you buy alot or don't use them quickly. Anyway...enough about my frugal behavior! LOL! I paired the cute paper up with a few different Verve stamps that I thought worked well together. The sentiment is also from Verve and is one of my favorites. It fit perfectly into this Nestabilites ribbon label, which I also love.

The images were colored with copics and prismacolor markers. The flowers and pot were cut and mounted with foam squares. My embellishments on the side of my focal image aren't quite what the sketch called for, but I had spent too much time trying to figure it out. I decided in the end to just try my best and do what looked cute. I was pleased that I had red thread in my sewing machine from stitching paper baseballs. You will be seeing what that was all about in a future post. Anway...I thought it turned out cute with the red thread. The finishing touch was a few dollops of Crystal Effects to the center of each of the stamped flowers.

Thank you for all of your sweet comments regarding my photo incident last week. My husband loved the photos.

You won't want to miss the other gals creations!!!!
Jen Del Muro and Andrea Ewen
Amy Rohl
Susan Liles
Amy Sheffer
Leigh O' Brien,
Jenn Diercks,
Amber Hight
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins

SFYTT X Three

or should I say...times 4! I needed to make a few Father's Day cards for my husband, father-in-law and step-dad. I decided to make things easy and just make the same card three times. I made a fourth and left the sentiment off so that I could suit it to what I wanted when the need arose. Since I was making three, it seemed silly not to make a fourth since I had already cut the base cardstock and I would have had one left over anyway.

The card itself is a bit juvenile, but I don't care. I don't think boys ever really grow up when it comes to their cars, planes, boats, etc. The images are all from Papertrey Ink which probably doesn't come as a surprise since the majority of my cards seem to be PTI. It really is amazing how their stamps have taken over most of my designs. My poor SU! sets sit collecting dust as well as most of my others. I think it is time for a major stamp over-haul to get rid of the things that I *never* use.

Anyway...on to the card. The paper is from the old slab of paper from My Mind's Eye. I knew that I could find some suitable paper to use for masculine cards. I chose the colors for the plane based off of the colors of the paper. I colored the image using copic and prismacolor markers. I added a few details here and there to give it some detail and dimension.

You won't want to miss the other gals creations!!!!

Jen Del Muro and Andrea Ewen
Amy Rohl
Susan Liles
Amy Sheffer
Leigh O' Brien,
Jenn Diercks,
Amber Hight
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
I had an interesting experience at WalMart today. I try and avoid that place like the plague, but I needed to get some Top-Secret photographs( photos of the kiddos for hubby) printed for Father's Day and I really like the finish that they use with their one hour photo processing. I got there and the photo desk worker found my pictures, but said that there was an *issue* with my photos and that there were some "copyrighted" photos. I scratched my head and told her that I had taken all of the photos myself. She thumbed through them and said that she thought they were okay, but she would need to check with someone else. He proceeds to thumb through them and said how wonderful they were, but they did appear to be copyrighted. I told him how flattered I was that they all thought that my photographs were professional, but insited that they were all taken by ME!!!!! Then, a third worker thumbs through them and brings one over to ask what is on the side of the photograph. If you look closely at the border that I put around most of my photos, it looks like an old photograph with some writing. I told him that it is from my photo-editing software. He proceeds to tell me that if *I* could take pictures that well, that I should be in the business. Again, I am flattered, but really it seems like what they were saying is this: There is no way that a frumpy house-wife, with kids dangling from the shopping card, hair mussed and make-up halfway on, could possibly have taken the photos. He said that it really was amazing that I had known just which angles to use and this that and the other! All in all, they insisted that I sign a copy-right release saying that WalMart couldn't be held accountable if the *real* photographer ever came knocking at their door asking why they had printed *their* designs! It really was humiliating and un-nerving! If anyone understands how horrible it is for someone to take their designs without permission, it is me! It was really horrid having to sit there and insist that I was the one who had taken the photos. I don't think WalMart will be getting my photo business anymore, which is the only business they were getting from me. Although, I did find some *adorable* Mary Poppins clothes there for Emma. The T-shirt says "Perfect in Every way". They had some fun clothes with Kites and a cute shirt that said "Jolly Holiday" but I couldn't buy her all of it, as much as I wanted to. Anway, I will stop venting! Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. I thought I would share one of the Top-Secret photos. I have quite a few different ones
to give to my husband for Father's Day. I took the kids a few days after Memorial Day. It was perfect because the sky was overcast, which made conditions ideal so that the sun didn't get in their eyes. I thought this one was precious. I love my kids so much.

It is my 12th Wedding Anniversary today. It is crazy how fast time goes by. We will be taking the kids to see Toy Story 3 , but then we will have the evening to ourselves.

From the bottom of my {Heart}!

Our Principal and Assistant Principal will be leaving our school at the end of the school year. I have really had a lot of fun working with both of them as I have volunteered with the PTA and in the kid's classes. I was in charge of getting the going away gifts, so I volunteered to make the cards to go along with them. Who would have guessed? LOL! Anway, I was short on time so I kept things super simple, but really wanted to add this quote that I found the other day.

I computer generated the sentiment and printed it out onto white cardstock. Then I carefully die-cut it using Nestabilities. The heart is from this stamp set and coordinating punch. That is the only stamping that this card has! I really wanted to try and stamp a smaller heart over the large word "heart" on the sentiment, but I couldn't chance it not looking right and having to start all over. I will have to try it again sometime. I actually have two extra quotes printed out, but I had spaced things incorrectly when I was printing them, so I couldn't use the nestablities using only one sheet of paper. Thus, I have two extras and I can play around with those

The cards are almost identical. I used two different backgrounds using paper from Pink Patterns. I added some ribbon and buttons and called it good! They were a hit. The assistant principal said that I should *go into business*! I guess even the simplest of cards are sure to impress! I am off to create dinner! Thanks for fluttering by!

Fluttering by to say "Hi" *SFYTT*

I am so excited! This week's SFYTT has been sponsored by Skipping Stones Design!Thank you, Thank you!!!!!! I chose to use this stamp set called "Dandelion Dreams". I just had to have it, especially because of the sentiment that I used on my card. Isn't it perfect?! I am sure you will be seeing it on quite a few creations in the future. I am loving this week's sketch, too! It was fun using all of the different panels. I have said it before and I will say it again; I don't know how Jen comes up with her fabulous sketches week after week! Speaking of Jen....she will be giving away not one, but two *unreleased* Skipping Stones Design set! You will definitely want to stop by her blog( link at the bottom of this post) to find out all of the deets!!!!!!

I already knew which sentiment I would be using and of course I needed to add the butterfly images, etc. I decided to use some more October Afternoon (Fly a Kite) paper. I chose to use a few of the patterns that I hadn't already used on any designs. I love the color combo, especially paired with the Kraft. I chose to use Kraft since the images I was using were silhouettes and I wanted them to have a shadowy effect rather than color. I like how soft it turned out.

I let the pattern paper do most of the work as I do so often. I did add a little bit of glitter to the flower image and a bit of black ink splatter. A few scallops and inked edges and it was good to go! I really enjoyed putting this little creation together.

We will be going to the annual Scottish Festival today. It has been a tradition since I was a kid. My brother played the bagpipes in the Utah Pipe Band, and my sister and I trained in percussion so that we could become drummers for the band....that never came to fruition, however! My family went to Scotland in 2003, but I had just given birth to Emma, so our little family didn't go with. I hope to go there someday!

You won't want to miss the other gals creations!!!!

Jen Del Muro and June Guest Designer
Amy Rohl
Susan Liles
Amy Sheffer
Leigh O' Brien,
Jenn Diercks,
Amber Hight
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Thanks for fluttering by!

Congrats to the grad!

Before I get started, does anyone know how to get my blog back to the old template? I decided to try one of the new templates that blogger was offering and totally changed everything. I can't seem to find any of the old templates...only the new designer ones! EEEk!

I am super excited that I get to make a graduation card this year. My oldest nephew recently graduated from highschool! I followed alot of the same design elements I used on this card, since I was using the same stamp set and paper. As you can see, I un-jammed my sewing machine, but by the time I was done it got jammed again! I think something is wrong and it will have to go visit the sewing machine doctor. Thank goodness there is a Bernina store close by and they can figure out what is wrong, hopefully.

I don't know what the "etiquette" is on how much cash you give a grad, but I thought it would be fun to give him $20.10 since he graduated in 2010. Maybe I am just super corny! LOL~ He would probably prefer $201.0 or maybe even $2,010 but I am not a money tree! LOL!

On with the card...all of the stamps are from Papertrey Ink. I combined two sets; Mega Mixed Messages and Star Prints. For the sentiment on the large circle, I simply bent the acrylic image onto my block. I used the "negative" space from the paper I punched the circle from, layed it onto my block and used that as the template to get just the right curvature.

All of the edges are distressed with Vintage Photo distress ink by Ranger. The paper is super old from K & Co., but I love it. I hope he enjoys his card and corny money! I will be back tomorrow with a new SFYTT from Jen. Thanks for fluttering by!

I've been thinking about you.

I decided to switch up my morning routine a bit and actually do some stamping! The floor hasn't been swept and the dishwasher hasn't been unloaded, but I got a card made! Yay! In all reality, I actually sat down to *clean* my desk, but ended up creating with the left-overs from Saturday's card. I am glad that I was able to make use of the flowers that I had die-cut and stamped, but never used. In fact, I die-cut two more for the 2nd smaller flower! I used the same paper as Saturday's card, too.
Originally, I had planned on using the flowers separately, but as I was cleaning, I stacked them up to toss them and realized what a nice statement they made stacked. That was really what got me in the mood to make something from them. The stamp set has some flower center images, but I decided to add some buttons instead. For the leaves, I inked the leaves with Spring Moss and then added a bit of Ripe Avocado to the edges before stamping it onto the cardsock. The sentiment is from this stamp set, which I love.

The friend sentiment was made using this alphabet. I added a few more buttons, scallops and lace and called it good. I didn't even add any ribbon! I know just who will be getting this card along with a sweet treat! I hope she likes it!


So...after it is all said and done, my desk is still messy and the sewing machine is still jammed! LOL!


The weekend after Mother's Day, I took Rowan for a hair cut. It was a sad day, but it needed to be done. She cut it so that I could do it in the Kewpie Doll style or the baby boy comb over. Unfortunately, now that it is cut, the ends stick *straight* up, giving it a true Mohawk look rather than a sweet Kewpie Doll. My sister gave me this really cute shirt that says "Tough Guy" so we went with the Mohawk. He really can pull it off, can't he?

Whenever I see the boys with their "Faux-Hawk" hair, I really want to comment on what a nice Kewpie Doll *do* they have, but I think they might scratch their heads and wonder what in the world I am talking about!

I actually have some really darling Kewpie Doll stickers that I should incorporate into a card design one of these days. I used to use them all the time for baby cards, but got out of the habit as soon as stamping took over my life! LOL!

Thanks for fluttering by!

You've been so Kind!

ETA: Someone asked which nestabilities I use for my ribbon slides. You can find them here.
Well...we made it through our first week of summer vacation. All I can say is that if they are all like this one, summer is going to be GREAT!!!! The kids and I have had a lot of fun. I have kept them busy and active, even reading and stuff! Now I am not saying that the T.V. hasn't been watched or the Wii played, but it has been kept to a tolerable level. I did think that I would be able to sneak a little stamping time, but that didn't happen. The kids are off at their friend's house, so I took the time to get my SFYTT card done. Three focal images later, and here I am! LOL!

I chose my papers because I really wanted to use this stamp set. I thought that the flowers would look really great with the colors and it is a combo that I normally wouldn't use. I just wasn't feeling it, so I moved on to focal image two, using the bicycle image from this set. Still not feeling it. Last but not least, I used the stems from the same set (thank goodness) and chose to bring in the colors using buttons instead. The stamping ended up being minimal, but I think it turned out cute. What's not to love about a bunch of buttons?

My sewing machine got jammed as I was about to sew my last stitches, so it is a bit naked here and there, but I wasn't in the mood to un-jam it just yet. I am tired...I guess entertaining the kids this week really did a number on my energy level. It is a good tired, though. The kind of tired that makes you sleep really good and wake up ready to go. Maybe the sewing machine will get un-jammed tomorrow! LOL!

I love this week's sketch! I hope you all get a chance to play!

Jen Del Muro and new June guest designer
Amy Rohl
Susan Liles
Amy Sheffer
Leigh O' Brien,
Jenn Diercks,
Amber Hight
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Thanks for fluttering by!

How do you like them apples?

Last Friday I headed out the door with my basket filled with gifts for teachers, secretaries, librarians, etc. I asked my kids which of their specialty teachers they would like to give a gift to and they both replied; music and librarian. It was settled. For my assortment of gifts, I used the motto" go with what you know" and I didn't reinvent the wheel, at all!!!! I kept all of the supplies the same, layouts, etc. It really makes it much easier when you are mass producing or creating a cohesive ensemble.

I knew that I would be using Teacher's Apple since it was one of my newly purchased stamps from Papertrey Ink. I paired it with Polka Dot Basics and Background Basics: Text Style, two of my "go-to" sets. My color palette was simple; Red, Olive, Kraft and White. If you have been around a while, you will remember that last year's gifts were done with the same theme and colors.

For the librarian and music teacher I made a simple basket box and filled it with "Hershey's Nuggets" in a cellophane bag. I punched each circle from Kraft cardstock & frosted them with white ink. I then stamped the Text style image using Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger onto each circle. Then I was able to stamp the sentiments, etc. I thought that this quote worked nicely for the two teachers since there are musical masterpieces and well as literary masterpieces.

The two classroom teachers both got a nugget tin, card and of course I had to add an "Applebees" gift card with each one. I purchased a set of three $15 dollar gift cards at the grocery store, which made things super easy. I have one left over that I will be giving to the Principal at our June PTA meeting along with the third nugget tin.

I finally found my stash of Hinged Tins that came in super handy. I had "tucked" them away and I couldn't, for the life of me, find them. Yay! Nugget tins to the rescue. For the labels around the nuggets, I used the super fun Limitless Labels stamp set. I really need to use it more often since it has so many fun images for all kinds of occasions. For the belly band, I stamped the red cardstock using Polka Dot Basics and then added the circle image using foam squares. For these circles, I added a little zig-zag stitching for some extra detail. I colored the apples using copic markers. The white highlight on each apple was done with a white gel pen.

I was running out of time, so I needed to make the cards super simple. After I was done, I realized how similar Saturday's SFYTT was to my card. I guess it must have seeped into my subconcious when I saw it for the first time.

For the Secretaries, I got some apple soap, added a tag and called it good! I know that they aren't "official" teachers, but I am sure they do their fair share of "teaching", so I thought that this sentiment worked well for them.

As I dropped them off, one of the secretaries wanted to see what other goodies I had in my basket. She said, "oh...you are the papercrafty girl that leaves us things! " I had to laugh, because in years past, I have just left them on their desks without a note saying who they were from. I guess my good deeds have now been "discovered"! LOL!

Today is our first "official" day of summer vacation! Yay! We woke up to a steady rain fall, but it hasn't dampened our spirits. We will be heading to the library to sign up for the summer reading program. My kids brought home a calendar that has a suggestion of something to do each day and that is what today suggested. What a perfect idea for a rainy day. Rockwell booed the idea, but Emma was eager, which is a good sign! It is imperative that she keeps reading throughout the summer to keep her on track. I still haven't signed her up for summer school, but I think traditional school gets out this Friday, so I still have time.

Rowan had his four-month birthday on the 20th. I can't believe how fast time is flying by. I took a few photos to capture him at four months. I have been very diligent about taking them each week and on each month mark. The blanket that I was using as my backdrop had fallen by his face, but I think it turned out really cute. He had his mouth opened so perfectly, I snapped the picture. Well...speaking of Rowan, he has woken up from his nap, so I need to go! Thanks for fluttering by!