Got Sketch 113...Happy Bird!

I'm finally finished with the worst of my reports!  Well, technically anyway, I still have lots to do.  But, I won't be spending all weekend in the office, so, that's something I guess!!  I need to catch up on what I've been up to now though!

In the meantime, I've been fighting with my blog design.  Is anyone else having issues?  I'm not sure if it's me, but, I'm trying to keep it simple until I figure it out!

I've been desperately trying to keep up with birthdays this month, it is just one after another!!  These cards were done for my MIL and her friend Barbara.  I sent them both the new Kraft Color Ready Borders from CTMH as part of their birthday gifts and wanted to demonstrate how great they were.  I still love them, but, won't be adding any more color to them unless its black or a shade of brown!!  I tried everything, but, the colors just don't come out right.  But, how CUTE is this little Happy Bird digi stamp from Doodle Pantry!!!!  And the best part is he's FREE!!!  I loved him so much, I bought a birthday image of him as well and have a few more I plan to get in the near future, he reminds me of my little bird and you just can't help but smile when you see him!

I've been super short on time so I used the Got Sketch? 113 sketch for inspiration for both cards and used scraps from my "Family Ties" layout that were still on my desk....I'm still trying to "think spring" despite the daily forecast of snow! ;O)

Paper:  My Mind's Eye Pretty Please

Cardstock:  Juniper, Tulip, and Colonial White

Stamps: Doodle Pantry Happy Bird and Card Chatter-Birthday 

Ink:  Sunset, Juniper, and Tulip 

Other:  CTMH brads in Juniper and Tulip, EKSuccess Corner Rounder (Scalloped border inside card), CTMH Kraft Color Ready Borders, Crop-A-Dile Corner punch, Copics, and Cuttlebug/Nestabilities.

Sketchy Thursdays...Family Ties

I follow a Russian blog that I really love, but, can't understand a thing that's said!  Anyway, I have had the beautiful layouts shown in this post stuck in my head for a year now where each layout includes a picture within a picture.  I loved the idea and was reminded of it when I saw this sketch at Sketchy Thursdays.  I found this picture of Owen with his grandparents at the glacier in Valdez and attempted to make the 3 of them pop by making the background a little more monochrome.  I actually printed two pictures with the intent of using foam tape to make the photo really stand out, but, changed my mind at the last minute and just glued it down.  The difference in the photos is a little more obvious in person, but, I still liked it.  I'm going to have to try this again and get out of the box a little more!!

I had so much fun with this one, it was SO nice to take a break from work...of course, it just set me back that much further!  

I didn't think I'd ever use this paper from My Mind's Eye because there was so much pink, but, I think it worked well and the colors make me happy regardless!!  I absolutely love these flowers too...they were on an example layout in the latest CTMH catalog and I thought they looked like "manly" flowers...;O).

Anyway, if you'd like to play along with this sketch, you have a couple more days!!  Make sure you use spring colors for the extra challenge!  I am dying for spring!!  I think we got about 6 more inches of snow this morning...it makes the already 40 minute commute that much LONGER let me tell you!!  

Paper:  My Mind's Eye Pretty Please
Cardstock:  Juniper and Colonial White
Stamps: Bohemian Alpha
Ink:  Sunset, Juniper, and Tulip 
Other:  Fiskar Circle Punches (flower petals), CTMH brads in Colonial White, Juniper, and Tulip, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Zig Pen, and of course, lots of Photoshop!

Sketchy Thursdays...Do Dragons Roar?

I had this post ready to go and then decided I wasn't entirely happy with this layout.  I made some adjustments and took a new photo.  I'm still not entirely thrilled, I think I lost my mojo thanks to the 2 sick "boys" I've been taking care of!!  I love these pictures of my little man in his "dragon" costume though!  He's SO much fun lately and this particular day was no exception... I may be bias, but, I think he's the cutest thing ever...hehe...I know, every mom is obligated to think that about their munchkin...I guess the real test will be if I still think so in about 12 years! ;O)  I'm working through the weekend again, so, no more layouts will be done any time soon.  I'm hoping I can really get some reports knocked out this week and get my weekends back to myself!

Paper:  My Mind's Eye Boo to You 

Cardstock:  White Daisy, Black, and Barn Red
Ink:  Honey and Black
Stamps:  Rustic Alpha, Fright Night, and Spellbound
Other:  Martha Stewart Border Punch, CTMH Bitty Sparkles, Cricut Designer's Calendar (font) and Wild Card (bat) Cartridge, and Zig Pen

Best Friend

Well, once again, its been forever since I posted. Seems like things have been total chaos the past couple months between illnesses, daycare issues, work, and to top it all off, my computer completely crashed on me!!! I'm struggling to get used to my husband's Mac, but its so different and he doesn't have Photoshop...we're working on that!

In the meantime, I have managed to fit in quite a bit of scrapping. This is my latest accomplishment and it was so much fun!! I've been working on the Hawaii pages for my sister's scrapbook for what seems like forever and followed that up by putting together five one-pagers for the parents with preemies in the NICU during the month of December. It's a program my friend in Nome does to give something back after she spent a couple of months in the NICU at Providence with her youngest son.

Anyway, I've been on a roll with the fabulous sketches at Inspired Blueprints, so I decided to stick with what's working! ;O) This is the most current sketch (until tomorrow that is!), Sketch #30.

I had to move some stuff around, but I think I pretty much stuck to the sketch. I used the Maggie May line of paper from My Mind's Eye which I had been dying to use since I bought it forever ago. I just love those owls!!! I also used lots of the corresponding die cuts from the line, rub-ons from both American Crafts and We R Memory Keepers, and tons of Robin's Nest Dew drops. The Cocoa and Outdoor Denim cardstock, twinkle brads (owl's eyes), and Cobblestone Alpha are all from Close to My Heart.

I dug in the Inspired Blueprint archives for something that would work with this particular piece of paper. It's hard for me to work around a pre-printed shape on a piece of patterned paper and this one was particularly tough for me as it took up almost half the page. But, I loved the owls in the tree and wanted to make it work. This is actually the first sketch on the Blueprint blog and I thought it was perfect...just needed a little rotating! ;O)

This side used more of the same....oh, i just love this paper!! I have a little bit left, enough for one more page...just hate to see it go!

I will try to be better about posting as I learn the Mac way of life...we'll see how it goes!!