A Soft Suede Sunset...

This card was sent to my Uncle who shares my birthday on Sept 26th. This was made in minutes, I was in a huge hurry, but I still love how it turned out! The base is Soft Suede, and I used Naturals White CS for the Top Note Die. The corners are the Curly Label punch lined up in the Photo Corner punch, although in hindsight, you can't see the centers, and it would have saved a ton of time to just cut the Curly Labels in half. Oh well, you live and learn, right? The treeline is from Lovely As a Tree, and the background is brayered in 3 colors (Bordering Blue, Crushed Curry, and Old Olive) with sponging over it in places, and the sunset is sponged in Crushed Curry and a tiny bit of Really Rust. I used a Gel Pen for the corners and edge of the Top Note, and stamped the sentiment from Heard From The Heart in Soft Suede. Finished this off with some Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon, and called it done.

Birthday Wishes from Under The Sea...

My youngest daughter turned 3 today!!! She is an Ariel fanatic, she just loves that mermaid, so I decided to make her an Ariel birthday card. Of course, I don't have any Ariel stamps, so I had to think. I GOOGLED 'Ariel Line Art' (cause if you google Ariel images, or Ariel clip art it's all in color), and adjusted the size down until it was small enough for my card front. I printed it on cardstock, and colored it in. This card is SO simple, I probably shouldn't blog it here, but it goes to show you don't have to go all out to make a nice card! I knew that Tara would want to keep this in her room and play with it, so I did not want any embellishments on it that would come off.

This is not the best pic, I remembered to snap it right before giving it to Tara, so there was no time! However, the bubbles have Crystal Effects on them, as do Ariel's eyes. The coloring is actually a lot more detailed than the picture shows. This image was colored with Sharpies 36 Color Collection! Her hair has NO lines at all, I was amazed, it took some time to color, as I don't have the fine point Sharpies, but this looks great for what I used. Frosted Lace Stickles were used on her tail.

And here is the best picture by FAR!!! My little angel SO excited to have an Ariel birthday card!

CS is SU and DCVW White Core

Ink is Sharpie, and a couple SU markers

Image is digital and I can email to you upon request.

Big Shot was used with a bubble texture plate on the green.

Sorry for the bad pics and quick post. This week is just starting, we still have Chloe's birthday at home, a small family party for both kids, a friend's kids birthday party Friday, beach trip to pack for this weekend, I am on preschool snack duty all week, and the house is getting dirty, it's freaking me out. I am a neat freak who loves to clean, so needless to say, no more stamping till I catch up on cleaning!

My Homemade Sock Monkey (if you laugh, I will hit you with him!)

As many of you know, my husband and I recently spent a couple nights quietly together making sock monkeys from a kit to give our little girls for their birthdays. Our youngest girl, Tara, turned 3 today, and Chloe turns 5 on Thursday, but we gave both of them one today. This is the monkey I made! No, he isn't the prettiest thing (or even close to it) that I have ever seen, but the light in those girls eyes when we handed them over was priceless! This one went to the 5 year old, and she named him Banana Head (so original, huh?). Jim and I had a great time. They each turned out differently as I varied from the pattern a little bit as I wanted big, round monkey ears, and the kit pattern was for flatter ones. We also chose different buttons for the eyes. We can't help but laugh when we look at these guys! The girls just got them today, and they seem to be a hit! It's from the heart, and that's most important. Of course he was set aside to open real presents, but was picked back up and loved! I have included a full body shot, and then his close up with the vest I added buttons to! He's too skinny, kind of ugly, and a pain to make, but SO worth it to watch 2 little angels enjoy them!

Sock Monkey Double Challenge! MOJO102 / CC232

I am HOOKED on the Mojo Monday Sketches! I just finished #101 last night, the new one posted today, and so I just finished #102! I have posted the sketch below so you can see it! Check out Mojo Monday for yourself! I also made this for last weeks SCS Tues Color Challenge, CC232 (a little behind, but I wanted to use this combo tonight!), to use Close To Cocoa, Taken With Teal and Very Vanilla.

I LOVE this Sock Monkey from SU so much. I have heard people on forums knock him, all I can say is, they must not own him! He's adorable, and oh so much fun! I usually paper piece or color him, but today he said he felt like being Vanilla!

Stamps: Sock Monkey
Paper: CS...Close To Cocoa, Taken With Teal, Very Vanilla
Ink: CTC, TWT
Punches: Scallop Edge, Scallop Square, Photo Corner, Boho Blossom, 1", 3/4", and 1/4" Circles
Accessories: Sponges, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Styled Vanilla HPH, Very Vanilla Ribbon, Paper Piercer, Cuttlebug Folder....BESIDES the Cuttlebug Folder, this card is once again SUO!

I hope you all enjoy it! It was the most fun to make, I truly had a good time. Now to get ready for bed! I think I will leave the mess I made for another day :)

Mojo Monday 101 Sketch Challenge...

Look Ma, no stamps!!!!! This card is for the Mojo Monday Sketch, week 101. Check out THIS site to see all the Mojo Monday challenges. I really love this card, probably because I am addicted to green olives out of the jar! I am trying to use up some old DSP, and both of these papers are from Bella Rose, I used Kiwi Kiss and Riding Hood Red Textured Cardstock for the base, olive, and red strip. I can't cut straight to save my life, so I used the edge of the Photo Corner punch to 'V' the end, worked perfectly! I ran the white rectangle through the Big Shot with a Cuttelbug folder, besides that folder this card is SUO. I used the Word Window punch to punch out my 'Olive You' sentiment that is handwritten with a Chocolate Chip marker. Three Square Fire Rhinestone brads in the top right corner finished this card off!

Hope you all like it, and I hope some of you will jump into the Mojo Monday challenges! I just recently discovered them, and love it!

Life has been really busy here lately! I have my library committee things to do, getting my oldest daughter ready for preschool in two weeks, my husband has been on call for 3 straight weeks, and it has been a test of my patience to say the least. I am eager for Fall!!! Summer is a busy time of year for all of us, and with NC heat and almost constant humidity, I am DONE with Summer!!!

Recent Blog Awards...

From Siobhan...
From Siobhan...
From Sarah...

I have been meaning to get these put up here. There are a few more floating around out there that I will get up ASAP, and pass them on all at one time...Thanks ladies!

Every Good and Perfect Gift...

A girl I have known since childhood is pregnant with her first child. She just had her shower, which unfortunately I could not attend. This is her card. She did not wish to find out the gender of this child, so I was torn!!! I have never made a card for a woman who was pregnant without knowing whether the child was a boy or girl. It was quite the challenge for me!!! I saw this amazing quilt technique over at SCS, and wanted to give it a try, so I figured a baby card would be the perfect opportunity! The DSP is from a retired hostess Prints Pack, and is Bashful Blue and Pretty In Pink. I also used Bashful Blue cardstock, along with Whisper White. The sentiment is from a long ago SU set called God Bless. I framed (cut and embossed) it with a Nestie called Labels One. The pink edges are the Photo Corner Punch. I dressed this card up with some paper piercing (I thought it went well with the quilting), Whisper White Organza from SU, and Pearls by Mark Richards. The quilting took a little while, but the outcome is beautiful! I hope she likes it, and will forgive my being late, as usual!