Saturday {SFYTT}

I had every good intention of getting my card done before today, but it just didn't happen. I have been spending quite a bit of time in my stamp room, but just not stamping. I have completely organized all of my stamps. I have had my SU! sets all over the place, so it feels great to have them all together. I even made a stamp inventory list. Anyway,I will share the sketch and all of the links for the other gals. I didn't want to bow out completely so I am hoping to have my card done by Sunday, so stay posted. It is such a great sketch and I have tons of ideas for it! Here is a look at what the other gals have been up to:

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

Sailor Seal Wishes {HB} SFYTT

This week our SFYTT has been sponsored by The Greeting Farm. They have some absolutely adorable images and I was smitten by Sailor Seal. Isn't he just the cutest? I knew that this image would come in handy for many occasions. Since he is juggling cupcakes, I thought I should create a birthday card. Emma has already said that it should be for Rowan's first birthday, but since I added pink ric-rac, it might end up being my sweet little neices first birthday card.

Since this particular image is digital, I resized it in my photo editing software, printed it and then got to work coloring him using copic and prismacolor markers. I went through my paper stash and couldn't find what I was looking for until I went to the really, really old stash and found this paper from a company that I am not sure even exists anymore. I loved the red and white polka dot paper since it coordinates perfectly with his little scarf. The striped paper had all of the colors that I wanted to incorporate into the cupcakes, so I got to work. I should let you know that I didn't actually start coloring my image until I picked my paper. I have mentioned that before, but I do that because I always want my image to be cohesive with the paper. I don't want the paper to seem like an afterthought.

I wanted to add some extra detail and dimension to the focal image, so I ended up adding some glitter to the cupcake tops and some crystal effects to the seal. I love how real seals look so shiny so I wanted to mimic that effect on my image. You can't really tell in the photos, though. I added some ric-rac, ribbon and buttons. The birthday sentiment is from a retired SU! set called "Circle of Friendship" and is one of my all-time faves! I stamped it twice; once onto the striped paper and once onto blue paper. I punched it out and layered it using dimensionals inbetween each layer.

As you can see from the sketch, I flipped mine today. My image worked much better with it switched. I can't wait to see what the other gals have been up to and which images they chose to work with.
Jen Del Muro and Ashley
Amy Rohl
Susan Liles
Amy Sheffer
Leigh O' Brien,
Jenn Diercks,
Amber Hight
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
CAROLE
Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. Rockwell has his first official Football game of the season! I always get so nervous! Anyway, wish him luck! Also, little Rowan turned 7 months yesterday. He is just the cutest thing. I Love him so much!

So Happy For You!

A friend of mine down the street is having twins; a boy and a girl! Isn't that fun? I can only imagine how hard twins are, but having a boy and a girl just seems so fun. I went shopping the other day and got her a couple of outfits for her babies. I wrapped them in some fun jungle baby paper that included giraffes, so of course I needed to use "Wild about You". The giraffe stamp was almost identical to the giraffe image on the paper.

After I stamped the giraffes, I added some color in the circles rather than keeping them white. I also added some crystal stickles to a few of the larger circles for some added dimension. The sentiments are all from "Nursery Necessities" stamped in Smokey Shadow ink. I thought about using some scraps of the wrapping paper for the background, but since I had already crumpled it up, I decided to go with this instead. I haven't used it much and it seemed perfect for the occasion.

I hope she doesn't mind getting one gift and one card for her babies. I thought about wrapping the stuff separately and making two different cards, but I was good just to get one done. I had my husband walk it down to her house yesterday evening to find out that she thought she was going in to labor. Oh my! My husband asked if she needed anything, but help was on the way! I can't wait to hear if all is well! Thanks for fluttering by!

{Live, Laugh, Love} SFYTT

Sometimes when I see the new SFYTT, I *totally* know what I want to do, other times...I am truly at a loss. This week was one of those unsure weeks. I decided to start with what I felt like; I knew that I wanted to color. I pulled out this set, because it has some fun butterflies to color and I haven't used it in a while. I chose my color palette based on the cluster of markers that were together in my basket. Once I had those elements figured out, I just went with it.

I like the organic feel that evolved with this card. I tried to choose details and embellishments that continued on that path. I decided to give this card to one of my friends and she absolutely loves the saying "Live, Laugh, Love". I thought that would be perfect to add to the tags on the side. I simply used some old Making Memories alphabet stickers that I have had for years.

The background was embossed in my cuttlebug using a music note embossing folder. It seemed unexpected, but fitting all the same. I decided to call it good once Rowan started having a fit. I was having Emma "babysit" and she couldn't handle it anymore. The boys (Dad and Rockwell) were off to football practice. Now that Dad is coaching, he is gone in the evening and I have no one to "hand the baby off to". Not that I am complaining. I would much rather have my sweet little guy than have my hands free all the time!

Rockwell has his first practice scrimmage of the season today. I hope they do well. I always get nervous and excited all at the same time.

I Hope you all have a chance to play this week!

You won't want to miss the other gal's creations!
Jen Del Muro and Ashley
Amy Rohl
Susan Liles
Amy Sheffer
Leigh O' Brien,
Jenn Diercks,
Amber Hight
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
CAROLE
Thanks for fluttering by!

Supplies:

Butterfly Dreams, Background Basics: Text Style, Fundamental Phrases

Ink: Palette Noir, Antique Linen Distress Ink by Ranger

Paper: Kraft cardstock by PTI, Always Artichoke, So Saffron, White

Embellishments: circle punch, cropadile, eyelets and brads, Butterfly Die, twine, foam squares, diamond stickles

Say Cheese!

It isn't every day that you get a package from the famous Amy Rohl. Aren't I lucky? I was thrilled to find not one, but two Amy Rohl originals, plus some fun gifts for Rowan. Back when Amy's Little George was born, she had tried to send me a thank you card, but the zip code was wrong so it never made it. She has been hanging on to that for a long time and tucked it inside the package for me! Isn't that just the sweetest? Thank you a million times over, Amy!!!!

She sent Rowan a cute little "Wisconsin" outfit and a darling dairy cow, hence my title! Get it? I know I am clever! LOL! Rowan looked especially nice in it because it really brought out his blue, blue eyes. We are finding that he looks equally dashing sporting a faceful of sweet potatoes or carrots! LOL!

I feel so fortunate to have such wonderful "stamping" friends! Amy is such a dear and I treasure our friendship, even though we have never met. I hope to remedy that one of these days! Thank you again, Amy!

I also recieved some other fun and unexpected mail a couple of weeks ago. When I made this card for a SFYTT, many of us used Verve stamps. I left comments for my fellow sisters and I guess I must have won the random blog hop, which meant I got a lot of super fun Verve stamps. I can't wait to play with them and I have to say thanks to Julee for sending them my way! Thanks for fluttering by!

Mr. & Mrs. {S} SFYTT

Have I told you how much I love weddings? Probably not, but I do...I really do! I had so much fun planning and preparing for my own wedding and I would absolutely love to be a wedding planner. I am always thrilled when we receive a wedding invitation. Unfortunately, my son and husband will not be able to attend the reception with us, but Rowan, Emma and I will go. Of course I need a card and this week's fabulous {SFYTT} sketch by Jen is perfect.

I knew that I wanted to really make the circle image a big focal point and then work the rest of the details into the other embellishment areas. I also knew that I wanted to use this paper from "The Paper Studio". I pulled out my trusty Heart Prints stamp set and got to work. I love how the clock made a perfect backdrop for the two stamped hearts. I don't have many wedding stamp sets, but I knew that this reliable "Mr. and Mrs." sentiment from Stampin' Up! would work nicely to pull the two hearts together.

I am a big fan of monogramming. I think it is really classy and especially fitting on a wedding card. I used this alphabet for the "S" and this stamp set for the border around the "S". I punched it out along with a couple of other circles for some added interest. Since I had worked the clock into my design, I computer generated the sentiment that tied it all together. I was especially excited to use this ribbon that I have had for a couple of years. I have used it on a couple of other projects, but it was absolutely perfect for this card. Don't you love it when that happens? I added some silver gems to finish it off. Now all I have to do is get the gift! LOL! I have something in mind that I spied the other day.

You won't want to miss the other gal's creations!
Jen Del Muro and New August Designer
Amy Rohl
Susan Liles
Amy Sheffer
Leigh O' Brien,
Jenn Diercks,
Amber Hight
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
CAROLE
Thanks for fluttering by!

Start each day with "Whee"!

A couple of weeks ago, I purchased some stamp sets from MFT. This is the last of the bunch and isn't she sweet? I just couldn't resist her and I just love the sweet sentiment. After reading all of your sweet and uplifting birthday comments, I decided to try and have a better attitude and something like this is perfect! Thanks, gals!
ETA: Oh my word...I sure use the word sweet alot! LOL!

I stamped her onto kraft cardstock and colored her with Copic and Prismacolor markers. You have to be really careful when coloring onto kraft cardstock to use more saturated colors. You will find that in time, all of your hard work will just disappear if the colors are too light. I made this mistake with this card, but I still think she looks sweet.

I made an "all about Emma" poster to take to school for her birthday and I used this retired SU! paper. Once I got it out and started working with it, I just knew it needed to be used on a card. In fact, I think it may need to be used to create a banner. I currently have this banner hanging in my entry way, which is perfect for the season, but maybe, just maybe, I will make a new banner for another reason. We shall see!

The kids are off to school, baby is napping, dinner is simmering in the crockpot, the house is "relatively" tidy, what's a girl to do? Maybe a little creative time is in order. I have been sewing some things for Emma which I will share here. She has been quite pleased with my creations.

Football has officially started and that means a lot of crazy, but it is the crazy that I really love. Thanks for fluttering by!