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!

Soaring by to say Hi *SFYTT*

Well...another week has come and gone and so has my mind, I think! I was able to get all of the teacher, secretary, librarian, etc. gifts done and delivered to the school yesterday. I will share them later. The only gift I have left to put together is for the principal. She will be leaving our school in July and I will miss her. She is great and I have gotten to know her pretty well through PTA. Our last meeting will be in June, so I will bring her gift then. I want to do something extra special for her.

I have decided that it is a pretty great thing that I am on the SFYTT team; mostly because of the amazing sketches Jen puts together each week, but also because at least this way I am posting at least once a week. LOL! I really am trying, but it just isn't happening.

This week's sketch is really fun. I had fun creating my card using one of the new PTI stamp sets which I believe is called "Fly Away". My desk is way too messy after creating, so I can't find the packaging that it came in. LOL! It is a tiny set; one of the five dollar ones, and well worth every penny.

The image is colored using copic and prismacolor markers. I used a lot of sewing on this card, some piercing and sponging. The sentiment is from "Everyday Button Bits" which I thought suited this card well. I was proud of myself for not using more than one piece of patterned paper on this card. I used background stamps and images to create the other papers. I took my color cues from the pattern paper, which is a great combo. I had fun using them all together.

The kids are finally out of school. I am sure it will take us a week or so to get into a new routine. I am hoping that the new routine will be baby friendly and that he won't get too upset having them home. Emma's dance recital was great; she did a great job and looked so cute. I took some pictures of her afterward that I will have to share. I also have some cute ones of Rowan, too.

You won't want to miss the other designers! I have been having a hard time getting myself to everybody's blogs, but they always do such a wonderful job!
Jen Del Muro and May 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!

Good Luck *SFYTT*

My daughter has her Spring Spectacular "Finding Neverland" dance recital tonight. I can't wait to see her dance her little heart out! In honor of tonight's festivities, I thought it only fitting to make her a card for good luck. The inside used the sentiment from the butterfly set that says, "Let your dreams take flight" which I thought was perfect for this card. I got her a few little presents that I will give her along with the card at our special dinner we are having before the show starts.
I mentioned last week that I had some Papertrey goodies on their way and they arrived earlier in the week, but I haven't had a chance to sit down and use them. I was excited to use Butterfly Dreams on this card. I still have quite a few other sets that I haven't even gotten out of the boxes, so I will be playing quite a bit in the near future. This week has been one of those non-stamping weeks, which I never like. It has been crazy with dance and baseball! Sometimes I wonder how I *ever* have time to stamp.

I did finish my project for Tweety Jill and got it sent off, which felt good.

Next week will be the last week of school for my kids so I absolutely *need* to get some projects done for end of year gifts, etc. I am definitely looking forward to having them out so that we can enjoy some time together! My only fear is that having them home will mess up Rowan's schedule that seems to be working well for me and for him. We shall see and adjust if needs be!

You won't want to miss the other designers!
Jen Del Muro and May 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!

Praying for You *SFYTT*

When I was picking up my Mom's Mother's Day gift, I picked up a few sheets of "Lush" pattern paper by My Mind's Eye. I was going to use it for a different project, but it was beckoning me to use it for today's SFYTT. I paired it with Damask Designs; one of my favorite stamp sets. I wanted to keep it crisp, clean and simple. I have been working on another project for the last couple of days that is anything but simple! LOL!

I actually used this sketch for my Mom's Mother's Day card, but I didn't have a chance to photograph it before we left to visit. For her card, I used scraps from the wrapping paper that I wrapped her gift in. I had been hoarding the paper for years; it was a Toile pattern that I picked up at a specialty store and never wanted to use it because it was "too" nice. I thought "Who better to use it for than my Mom". I still have a few scraps left that I tucked away on my desk, so you may see it in a design in the near future.

The stamping and design is pretty straightforward. I did add a few rhinestone gems to the corners and on the two damask images. The focal piece and ribbon slide were die-cut using nestabilities and my cuttlebug. I also embossed the background using the swiss dot embossing folder.
I have a Papertrey Ink order coming on Monday with lots of fun goodies that I can't wait to play with. I purchased the 'Teacher's Apple" stamp set so that I can get some end of year projects done for school. We only have two weeks left so I better get busy!
Emma got her new glasses on Wednesday and she looks absolutely adorable! She was able to read much quicker with them on! I hope we can get to the bottom of all of this and get on a plan to help her!

You won't want to miss the other designers!
Jen Del Muro and May 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!