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

Sketchy Thursdays...My Funny Valentine

I got SO tired of making cards during my last minute race to get my Valentine's done that I started not one, but THREE different layouts!  I absolutely loved this sketch from Sketchy Thursdays along with this sketch they posted on 2/10.  I missed the deadline for the 2/10 sketch, but, I'm managing to get this one entered at the last minute.  The third layout is a 2-pager out of CTMHs Magic book, so, no deadline obligation there!  I've had two sickos at home with me since Thursday and am supposed to be working from home as well as cleaning house for my dad's arrival next week....but, I'm hoping to finish up the other Sketchy Thursday layout tonight and get it posted tomorrow!  Priorities, right? ;O)

In addition to the sketch, Heidi at Sketchy Thursdays, added three additional requirements to include on our layouts:
                                      -Pink/green or red/turquoise
                                      -Hearts
                                      -A list about something/someone you love

I don't often use bright colors, but, I was absolutely in LOVE with Basic Grey's Lime Rickey collection when it was first released and even pre-ordered the 12x12 collection pack.  Of course, I love it so much, this is only the second layout I've managed to bring myself to use it on!  Why do I get such an attachment to paper!!  Anyway, where else was I going to find paper to create a Red and Turquoise layout! ;O)

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and staying healthy!

Paper: Basic Grey Lime Rickey

Ink: Tsukineko Memento in Tuxedo Black, Cranberry, and Ocean (retired)

Cardstock: Cranberry and White Daisy

Stamps:  Doodle and Bohemian Alphabet

Other:  CTMH Clear Buttons, Copic Markers, Accent Essentials Cricut Cartridge, and Zig pen

Mojo Monday #158 and 176...Last of the V-Day Cards

Alright, just a few more and I'm done!  Whew!  This is the one that started it all...I was flipping through my digi images and found this sentiment that was a freebie on the Meljens Design Blog.  I love this little lamb from CTMHs A Birthday Wish set and never pass up an opportunity to use it!!

Paper: Cherry-O Creative Basics

Cardstock: Colonial White, Blush, Crystal Blue, and Sweet Leaf

Ink: Tsukineko Memento in Tuxedo Black, Crystal Blue, and Sweet Leaf

Stamps:  CTMH A Birthday Wish and Key To My Heart, Meljens Designs I Love Ewe Freebie

Other:  Martha Stewart Edge Punch, EKSuccess Corner Rounder, Crop-a-Dile Corner Punch, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Liquid Applique, and Stickles

O.k., so by my last two cards and I was SO over the Cherry-O paper and decided to change it up!!  

The paper from this one is from last years stack that Martha Stewart put out.  I love the colors and the patterns, fortunately, I have TONS left!  This was another rubber stamp I couldn't resist from Great Impressions (Owen's initials are OWL, so, thats where my love for owls began!).

Paper:  Martha Stewarat Holidays Collection
Cardstock: Blush and Colonial White
Ink:  Tsukinko Memento in Tuxedo Black, Cranberry, and Crystal Blue
Stamps: C411 from Great Impressions and CTMH Just The Ticket
Other: CTMH Hollyhock ribbon, Craft Essentials Heart Brads, Copic Markers, and Stickles


This one is a gift card holder for my brother.  The idea came from a fellow CTMH consultant's blog, Brenda Frerichs, and is super easy to do!  I think I'll change up the measurements in the future as this one was kind of an awkward size, but, it gets the job done!  I was in a hurry to get this finished, so, it's not my best work.  But, how much do you love the new Bohemian Alpha set!

Cardstock:  Colonial White, Black, and Cranberry

Ink: Blush, Cranberry, Black

Stamps: Key To My Heart, Bohemian Alpha, and Freindship

Mojo Monday #172 and 173 and More V-Day Cards

O.k., hang in there with me, I just have one more set of Valentines Day Cards to post after this and then I'm done.  I spent so much time on them, I feel like I HAVE to share! ;O)

Whenever I go to start a card, I always take a look through Mojo Monday sketches.  I truly love them and find so much inspiration on their site!  Anyway, it was no different for my Valentine's Day cards.  

This image was part of the Beary Busy stamp set from CTMH that I bought with Valentine's Day in mind.  The "load" in her wheelbarrow is a pile of hearts!   How cute is that!  You can choose from a load of hearts, leaves, or flowers.  So many possibilities! ;O)

Paper:  CTMH Cherry-O Creative Basics

Cardstock:  Colonial White, Sweet Leaf, and Blush 

Ink: Tsukineko Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black and Crystal Blue

Stamps:  Beary Busy

Other:  Craft Essentials (small heart brads from JoAnns), Bigger heart brad from my stash don't know the brand, CTMH Paper flowers, Stickles, Nestabilities Circle and Scalloped Circle dies, and Offray ribbon

This is another image from the Beary Busy set and the one I like the most!  It reminds me of a truck my sister wanted growing up, an old Ford!
I always forget to use my embossing folders, but, thought of them just in time to include on this card for my in-laws.  My MIL got me started down this road with a Texture Boutique and tons of folders, so, I better prove I'm using it (and loving it by the way!), right? ;O)

I even used a little mini-strip embossing folder on the back of the card.  So fun and I love how professional looking the embossing makes a card look!  The only down side is that it kind of warped the whole card base, I think my plates were just a tad to thick.  I'll have to try this again another time.

Paper: Cherry-O Creative Basics

Cardstock: Colonial White, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, Tulip, and Blush

Ink: Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, Cranberry, and Blush

Ink: Tsukineko Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black, Sweet Leaf, Blusch, Cranberry, and Crystal Blue

Stamps:  Michael's Dollar Bin (sentiment), CTMH Key To My Heart (hearts and vine flourish) and Beary Busy

Other:  Cuttlebug Embossing Folders, Stickles, CTMH bitty sparkles and Velvet Ribbon in Tulip (comes with Creative Basics), Crop-a-Dile and EKSuccess Corner punch, and Cricut Wild Card and Designer's Calendar Cartridge

A second card with the Beary Busy truck.  Again, I used the same sketch for this card as for my Hedgehog airplane cards, I have no idea where I came up with it.  Also used some Nestabilities to cut the circles!

Paper:  CTMH Cherry-O Creative Basics

Cardstock:  Colonial White, Sweet Leaf, Blush and Crystal Blue

Ink: Tsukineko Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black, Sweet Leaf, Blusch, Cranberry, and Crystal Blue

Stamps:  Michael's Dollar Bin (sentiment), CTMH Key To My Heart (hearts and vine flourish) and Beary Busy

Other:  Craft Essentials (small heart brads from JoAnns), Bigger heart brad from my stash don't know the brand, CTMH Paper flowers, Stickles, CTMH bitty sparkles, Crop-a-Dile Corner punch, Nestabilities Circle and Scalloped Circle dies, and Martha Stewart Edge punch

More Valentine's Day Cards...

I know I created this sketch with a Mojo Monday sketch in mind, but, it apparently didn't work out well, as I can't find any sketch that remotely resembles this card!  Oops!!  I know I had a little trouble incorporating this image into a card because it was so darn long.  But, I thought it was worth it!  I have a family full of pilots and I thought this little hedgehog called, Hedgehopper, from Penny Black, was too cute to pass up!  I ordered this Cherry-O Creative Basics paper quite a while ago with Valentine's Day cards in mind.  I loved that it had some pink and red (really Tulip) in it, while still having my favorite earthy colors!  I think it worked out pretty good.

I could not find a clear stamp that said "Happy Valentines Day" anywhere!!!  CTMH has just ONE out of all the V-day sets in this catalog and numerous sets I've bought in the past, but, I don't love the rest of the set and wasn't going to spend $20 for ONE sentiment!  I looked all through the acrylics at Michael's and JoAnns before giving up and buying this rubber stamp from the dollar bin.  I had a lot of trouble with it though and not one of my cards has a straight sentiment on it!!  I'm spoiled having started out with acrylics!

Sorry for the lighting on these, I just couldn't get it right.  These are just a couple additional cards I did with the same Penny Black image.  I'm still working on my coloring with my Copics...these two could have been better, but, I think the first one came out pretty good at least!

Paper:  CTMH Cherry-O Creative Basics
Cardstock:  Colonial White, Sweet Leaf, Cranberry, Blush and Crystal Blue
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black, Sweet Leaf, Blusch, Cranberry, and Crystal Blue
Stamps:  Michael's Dollar Bin (sentiment), Penny Black Hedgehopper, CTMH Key To My Heart (hearts and vine flourish)
Other:  American Crafts glitter brads, Paper flowers from CTMH and Kaiser Craft, Stickles, CTMH bitty sparkles, Crop-a-Dile Corner punch, and Cricut Wild Card Cartridge

Happy Valentine's Day....I Know I'm a Little Behind!

So, in addition to this being my busiest time of year work-wise (I'm supposed to be working from home as we speak...but, I have a little one with sniffles here keeping me company instead!!), Owen's teacher decided to require the kids to make hand-made Valentine's Day cards for his class of 25!!  Plus, each kiddo had to sign their name to every card...doesn't seem like such a big deal right?  Not until you sit down and start doing it....to give you an idea, this is how it sounds when Owen signs his name, "Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, Dubaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu", well, you get the picture! Asking 3 to 5 year old kiddos to do that 25 times is like a 3 hour ordeal!  I was so glad his name wasn't Benjamin or something longer!!  I think we worked on these at least a little each night for almost two weeks!  Owen decorated a couple to begin with and was kind of pleased.  When I told him we still had more to do, you should have seen the look on his face!  It was like pulling teeth to get him to finish the rest!

Here's a picture of my little valentine...I know those are girly glasses, but, they don't make cute V-day stuff for boys!!  Plus, he thought they were hilarious and we had fun taking photos with them! ;O)

Here's some of our handy work.  I got the idea for these lollipop covers from Scrapbooks Etc.'s Craft it Forward project for February.  I think their pattern (click here to get it) may be a little off, but, I can't remember which measurement I had trouble with.

To accommodate the Jolly Rancher Heart lollipops, I cut Owen's a little differently.  I cut White Daisy cardstock in 2.5"x6" strips and scored at 2.5", 2.75", and 5.25".  I cut a strip of Cranberry cardstock punched with a Martha Stewart border punch and glued the top of it down to the wrapper so that I could tuck the 3/4" flap up under the hearts to hold it closed.  I finished my part by stamping "Happy Valentine's Day" on the inside using a dollar rubber stamp from Michael's and a "From" stamp that is included in the CTMH Share The Magic set.

Owen did the rest!  He used foam heart stickers we bought at JoAnns (sorry, don't remember the brand) and glitter glue from the dollar bins at Michael's. Note...the dollar glitter glue is NOTHING like Stickles!!  I was so upset when we finished, as I had Owen sign his name first and decorate afterwards.  The glitter glue soaked through the cardstock and made his name run...I felt SO bad, but, I sure as heck wasn't going to make him re-do them!! 


Owen feels no obligation to write the letters of his name in any particular order.  I tried to explain to him that they couldn't read it, but in the end, I didn't argue as I knew it was already going to be a long process without him being upset.  So, I went ahead and added his name legibly later myself.  He's such a goofball...tell me they grow out of this stage! ;O)

We had a lot of fun together making these, but, with just a couple weeks notice and SO many to do, it was also a little on the painful side.  We had fun going through all of the other kids' Valentines though.  You can tell that the girls tend to have a little more patience and interest when it comes to the arts and crafts stuff, their cards were typically FAR more creative and involved.  Almost every one of the boys stuck to a few stickers on a piece of paper their parents cut for them!!  So funny!

Sketchy Thursdays...For The Bird

I started this layout using yet another of Sketchy Thursdays sketches a couple weeks of ago and unfortunately, just finally wrapped it up last night.  This is one of "those" papers for me.  I've had it for a couple years now, just waiting for the right photos.  But, when I started to cut into it, I started having a panic attack and beads of sweat were running down my face!!  Haha, not really, but it WAS painful.  I don't know why, but, I absolutely love it and the thought of making a wrong cut and rendering the paper useless, was more than I could bear (or is it bare?).  Anyway, it was one of those moments when you realize this whole paper crafting biz isn't as much a hobby as it is an addiction!! ;O)

Despite the drama of cutting up the paper, I'm happy with the results and absolutely love these pictures.  How cute are these two together!!  This bird absolutely adores Owen and we have trouble keeping them apart!  Owen's very gentle, but, with such a little bird, you just can't risk it!    

Paper: Three Bugs In a Rug Happy Bird-day

Cardstock: Vineyard Berry, Creme Brulee, White Diasy

Ink: Vineyard Berry, Juniper, Creme Brulee, and Cocoa

Stamps:  The Works Alpha, Small Chocolate Alpha, Your a Hoot (branch), Twitterpated Exclusive set (leaves), and Dream Wishes

Other: EKSuccess border punch, CTMH Ribbon, CTMH Spring Blossom Mini Medleys and brads, Making Memories Embroidery Floss and Bazzill Basics In Stitches Circle Guide, and Zig pen

Toot, toot!

O.k., I don't normally do this, but, I was super excited and nobody here understands...I was in the top 5 at Sketchy Thursdays (for the second time) for my "Only Exception" layout!!  The girls that enter the sketch challenges over there do AMAZING work, so, even though I didn't win the whole thing, I'm truly SO honored!!!  The challenges over at Sketchy Thursdays are truly inspiring, I hope you can join me in the next one!!

Sketchy Thursdays...Rudolph On Ice

I had so much fun with the last sketch from Sketchy Thursdays, I decided to keep the fun rolling with the current one!  This one goes against the engineer in me...I do better with big pieces of square paper...strips of paper are outside my comfort box!! ;O)  I'm sad, I know...I'm working on it!!  This was a great way to use up some scraps though!

How cute is my little man as Rudolph...he had to take beginning skating lessons over again this year...he was quite the pro by the end of the winter last year, but, we didn't stick with it over the summer and he informed us the ice was "too swippery" when we got him on skates this year. Anyway, the rink had a Christmas recital at the end of the lessons and we decided he might as well participate in it since we skipped out last year.  Owen likes being in front of a crowd, but, didn't feel the need to do the dance moves.  So, mostly, we went to watch him stand on the ice...I think we'll stick to hockey and avoid any possibility of another skate recital in the future! ;O)

Paper: BoBunny Tis the Season

Cardstock: Cranberry, Clover Meadow, and Colonial White

Stamps:  True Friends and I Believe

Other:  Cricut Plantin School Book Cartridge (title), MS Snowflake punch and border punch, Stickles, CTMH pearl colored red with Copic markers, Glitter Dome Crystal Stickers by Mark Richards, and Zig Pen

Sketchy Thursdays...Only Exception

I don't know what it is about the Sketchy Thursday Sketches, but, they totally get me inspired and motivated!!!  I've had a really hard time getting back into the swing of things since the holidays and I haven't loved my last few projects.  But, I LOVE how this one turned out and it went together so fast!!

I've been wanting to document a special thing that Owen does and this was just the layout to do it!  He and I were listening to Paramore's song "The Only Exception" in the truck one day and Owen started singing it with me.  Ever since then, any time the song comes on the radio, Owen always says "It's our song mommy!" and stops whatever he's doing to sit with me and sing it.  It's the sweetest thing EVER!  He's such a little love bug, I don't know how we got so lucky!

I was so excited to get started with this sketch, it wasn't until I was looking at everyone else's entries that I realized this is a contest sketch!  Not only will the winner get the prestigious honor of being a Guest DT member in February, but, there's also an AMAZING kit up for grabs from Artfuldelight.  You have until the 22nd to post your take on the sketch!!


Paper:  Kaiser Craft Shaken Not Stirred Collection
Cardstock:  CTMH Black and White Daisy
Ink: CTMH Black and Cranberry
Stamps:  Felicity Alpha
Other: CTMH Sparkle brads, Cricut Designer Calendars (heart), Making Memories Embroidery Floss, Ribbon was by the yard from LSS, Zig pen, and White Gelly Roll Pen from Sakura

The Scrappiest (Technically)...4 Years Old

I started off with this super cute sketch from The Scrappiest, but, things deteriorated and below is the result...a little less from the sketch and a little more just randomly placed! ;O)  Seems like that happens a lot to me...I start out with good intentions...oh well!!

I absolutely love this paper from BoBunny, seems like I've been more and more into their paper lately!  Its hard to tell, but, there are tons of Stickles on this layout and even my Spica pen glitters...snow should sparkle even if it is purple and green!  I can't believe my little man is 4, that just breaks my heart!!  He's so thrilled about it too, I think his teacher has really talked-up the fact that turning 4 is when you become a "big boy".  He tells me that constantly now...I don't need any reminders!! :O(

Paper: Bobunny
Cardstock: Hydrangea, Twighlight, Citrus Leaf, and White Daisy
Ink: Kiwi
Other: EKSuccess Edge punch, Stickles, Cricut Cartridges (Wild Card and When It's Cold Outside), Lavender Spica Pen