Mother's Little Helper

YNS Fun Friday: As Close as I'm Going To Get...

... to having a six-pack in this lifetime is this card:

It's Your Next Stamp's Fun Friday, don't you know, and I've opted to play using the sketch challenge, which looks like so:

The thing I really like about Fun Friday Challenges is that you have choices; there's a provided sketch and also a color challenge. When I'm feeling extra ambitious, I combine them for a two-fer. But ordinarily, I "feel" one more than the other, and that's what I opt to do. No pressure, and still participatory -- win/win, which, as Stephen Covey (RIP) would tell you, is one of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. (Kudos to Karen!)

I really wanted to use the Fast Food Fun Soda Pop Bottle die for this card.  To accommodate, but still adhere to the sketch, I made the card larger than the usual 4.25" x 5.5" size and started with a 5" x 7" card base.  I cut out the pop bottles in various colors of card stock [Red Hot, Sour Apple, Field Day (MFT); Summer Sun, Taken With Teal (SU!); Suede Brown Dark (Prism)]  and created their "labels" with scraps from Doodlebug Designs' Day by Day 6"x6" pad.  I initially came up with the color scheme thinking I was going to use a particular piece of patterned paper from that pad as a background layer, but when I got to the point of assembling, it seemed too busy, so I opted for the Sno Cone (MFT) background, instead.  The sentiment -- from YNS's Fast Food Fun Sentiments set -- is inked in Taken By Teal ink.  The teal accent layer was die cut using YNS's Criss Cross Border die (FYI - this die is currently on sale for only $2.98, way down from its original price of $13.95. You should definitely throw it in your cart if you don't already own it!).

Here's a close up of the sentiment and bottom row of bottles:

Be sure to visit the YNS Blog to see what the current color challenge is, for inspiration from today's participating YNS designers, and for information about how you can play along and be eligible to win up to $20 in YNS goodies. Another possible perk of participation: you could very well be deemed the "Top Pick" for Challenge #10 and get a fancy-schmancy badge for your blog and bragging rights for life.  Pretty cool!

Thanks for stopping by to visit me today. Do you have fun plans for the weekend?  I'm off on a quickie trip to Chicago (hubby has a work-related conference, and I have much-needed shopping and restaurant-ing to accomplish).  The high temperature for half of our visit is a blustery 31 degrees F -- one last hurrah for the sweaters and Uggs!

PS -- I'm also considering this 5/100 in my 100 Card Challenge. :)

 

MFT Guest Blogger Today...

Hey peeps -- just a heads up to let you know I'm today's Guest Designer on the MFT Blog.  I'm conducting a little experiment and need your input, so be sure to leave me a comment there.  Here's a teeny-tiny peek at the projects I created in the course of my 'research' :

 Now go see 'em in their full-sized glory.  Vamanos, amigas!

Mojo Monday -- Woof!

Howdy, pups!  It's Monday, so you know what that means: time for a brand-new Mojo Monday Sketch to spark your creativity. Know what else it means? That tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day!

How do you plan to celebrate? Me, well, I've got good news and bad news. The bad news: Carter will be undergoing another surgery at Gillette Children's Specialty Hospital in St. Paul, MN. Fortunately,it's not a "major" surgery, according to our orthopedic surgeon. Of course, the last time he said that, it took Carter 3 or 4 months to get back on his feet. But the doctor promised this surgery was much less invasive than the last, so we'll see. Speaking of Carter, it's been a while since I showed a picture of him, and he's grown quite a bit. And gotten even more handsome, if I do say so myself.  Don't believe me? Then check out this cutie-pie...

Now for the good news: since we'll be in MN, and my BSF Amy Rohl lives just over the border in Wisconsin, she's coming to visit me on Tuesday! Yay! It's been far too long since I've had a chance to see her, so I'm looking forward to hugging her neck.

So that's what I'm doing. Not so fun, then fun. Kind of a metaphor for life, no?

Ready to see the card I made for Mojo Monday?  It's a two-fer, and I have to admit, I think it's pretty darn cute.  I combined this week's sketch with the current My Favorite Things Color Challenge, which looks like so:  Here's what I put together:

As a mom to two rescue girlies, the new Pure Innocence Woof You set is a must-have. First, I stamped puppy Daisy (there are lots of ways to tell my dogs apart if you know them, but to the unitiated, Daisy is the dog with the brown patch on her eye) and masked her, then stamped Miss PI. That step ended up not being necessary, because I decided to stamp Daisy out again on Primitive White card stock (because she's more Primitive White than stark white in color). I then colored her eye, nose, collar, and shadows with Copics, cut her out and put her to the side. I colored Miss PI in, using Color Challenge-friendly colors. 

To create the various patterns on the different shades of card stock, I used three different MFT Background stamps (Linen, Small Brick, and Paw Print), inked in Coral Crush Pigment Dye Ink, Steel Blue Hybrid Ink, and Tropical Teal Pigment Dye Ink.  I used a stitched-scallop Die-namic from Blueprints 23 for the Steel Blue horizontal detail, topped with a strip of Primitive White. The side embellishment was created using Pet Accents Die-namics, Platinum Shimmer bakers twine from The Twinery, and a button from my stash.

Here's a look at the brand-new Mojo Monday Sketch (#389!):

Be sure to visit the Mojo Monday blog to learn how to play along with this week's sketch, and go see these lovely ladies interpretations for more inspiration:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Erin go Bragh!

MOTHER'S LITTLE HELPER: I always like to make the hair color of the images on my cards match those of the eventual recipient.  Most of the time, however, I don't know who will receive a particular card when I initially make it. My solution: color everyone blonde at first. It's super-easy to go back in and darken hair color, but you can't go back and lighten it.  

It's Fun Friday - You'd BETTER Be Having Fun!

That's right -- I DEMAND you have F-U-N, all day long. And if you don't? I will find you, and I will make you wish you had. Don't mess with me. You know I'm the mom who sent her son to Survival Kamp when he forgot how to behave one too many times...

A good threat is always the best way to get people in a happy mood, wouldn't you agree?

Anyway, anyway: Fun Friday. It's Your Next Stamp's bi-weekly sketch and/or color challenge.  Those who participate are eligible to win up to a $20 gift certificate to the YNS Store.  Sounds pretty good, don't it? Yeppers!  So go to the YNS Blog for all of the info re: how you can play along, as well as to see lots of inspiration from the rest of the YNS Design Team.

This week, I chose to follow the sketch challenge, which looks like so:

And here's my interpy-tation:

The only thing I like better than a Peep is a stale Peep -- the outside gets crunchy, but the inside is still ooey-gooey; the best of all worlds!  Here's a close-up of the cute-cute die-cut from YNS's EASTER GOODIES DIES...

Just makes my mouth water, thinking about chomping into this sweet little appendage-free marshmallow puff.

YNS supplies used include: Easter Goodies Die Set | Easter Goodies Sentiments | Circles | Piercing Holes | Flower Fun Scallop Die

I said it before and I'll say it again: it's FUN FRIDAY!  Go and have fun, which includes visiting the YNS Blog for information and inspiration, and then getting your own crafty groove on and playing with us.  You hear what I say?  You do what I say!  That's an order, peeps.

At ease until next time, soldiers!

YNS March DT Dare: Stripes and/or Polka Dots

Hallo Freunde! It's time for another YNS DT Dare, in which all of the Your Next Stamp designers are challenged to use stamps and dies from the latest release in a particular way; this month's challenge is utilize stripes and/or polka dots. 

Here's what I came up with, using the new EASTER GOODIES dies and EASTER GOODIES SENTIMENTS stamp set:

Polka-dotted carrots are even better for your eyes than regular carrots, you know. That's a fact. And yes, there are exactly 24 of them on this card. Count for yourself in this straightforward view:

There are two carrots in the die set, so I had to run the dies through both the Green Galore card stock and patterned paper (from Doodlebug Design's Kraft in Color - Color 6"x6" pad) in the machine a dozen times.  It's okay - you're worth slaving over a hot Vagabond for. :)

I think I'm going to do something wild & crazy and actually send this out in the mail TOMORROW. Have you ever heard of such a thing? There's an excellent article I recently read in Texas Monthly (which is a fabulous magazine, by the way, and I say that as one who holds no particular love in her heart for the Lone Star State) that I've been wanting to send to a friend (it's called Man on Fire and is about the self-immolation of a Methodist pastor). I could just send her the link (the article is there in full, if you're interested), but I think receiving it in the mail with a card is a lot more fun, don't you?

I've got the envelope ready and waiting.  This little baby will tuck in there nicely, despite the fact that it's 5.5" square.

Head on over to the YNS Blog to see how the rest of the YNS designers met this month's challenge. I'm sure you'll be happy you did.  Thanks for stopping by to see me today!

Mojo 388: A Stamping Tragedy Narrowly Averted

Oh, friends. It is with a fried brain and a weary soul I greet you this Monday. I was in an accident just prior to writing this. No, not THAT kind of accident. It was... *sigh*... a papercrafting accident. In fact, it was a rookie mistake. I was walking upstairs from my basement lair with my completed Mojo Monday/MFT Color Challenge sample in one hand, and a beverage in the other. And, I tripped. I didn't fall, but you know what happened, right?  MY CARD GOT WET!!!

I finished my journey upstairs, and immediately got mucho sympathy from the husband and Carter. In fact, Sean grabbed the card and started spouting all sorts of ways it could be salvaged (he knew I'd been working on it for a couple of hours). I ended up only having to re-do the tiny sentiment panel, and Sean took it outside to his grilling area to blow it dry with some fancy Big Green Egg-related tool.  Thus, I bring to you this battle-worn-but-hangin'-in-there card:

It's a little lumpy-bumpy from being wet, and you can see a few dings (the ribbon is no longer perfectly straight, there's one jellybean that is a darker purple than the others, and there's a bit of staining on the right side of the Green Room scalloped-edge accent layer), but considering the fact that it was dripping in Margarita just a few momentos before this photo was taken, I feel okay about it. Things could always be worse: I could have been drinking RED wine!

As I said before, I created this card as a sample for Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 388 and as my entry for MFT Color Challenge #16. The parameters of each challenge are like so:

In early February, I was lucky enough to take a long weekend and go visit my dear, wonderful friends Kim (aka The MFT Lady) van der Sanden and Jody (Eagle Eye) Morrow in Florida. We had such an awesome weekend of catching up and making new memories, including an incredible night communing with the giraffes, zebras, et al at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, followed by a day trotting the globe at Epcot. I'd tell you more, but then I'd be breaking the Girlfriend Code, and Kim & Jody would have to kill me. I still have a young child at home, so I kinda have to take that into consideration. One day, I'll write a crafty tell-all and silence all those haters who think those of us who like to make stuff with our hands are dowdy and boring. Little do they know!

Anyway, where was? While in warm and wonderful FLA, I had a chance to take one of Jody's monthly card classes at the My Favorite Things bricks and mortar store, and then go shopping afterward. I shopped to my heart's content, and later informed my husband that Valentine's Day was more than covered! In other words, I. Loaded. Up.  Almost everything (including the adhesive) I used on today's card was purchased at that little piece of heaven on earth.  I'll start a list:

• Die-namics Candy Jar
• Candy Jar Companions
• Swiss Dots Background Stamp
• Die-namics Blueprint 20
• Die-namics Blueprint 22
• Brown Paper Bag Card Stock
• Lemon Chiffon Card Stock
• Lavender Fields Card Stock
• Green Room Card Stock
• Primitive White Card Stock
• Lavender Fields Premium Dye Ink
• Lemon Chiffon Premium Dye Ink
• Gem-Tac Permanent Adhesive

All that leaves is a little bit of twine, some acetate, a couple of brads, and Jody Boosters. 

As far as the how-to's, the most difficult thing was creating the candy jar full of jelly beans.  I die-cut a couple of layers of acetate, and on one of those layers, I started adhering jelly beans in random-ish order.  I topped that layer with the second layer of acetate, then adhered the Brown Paper Bag bottom and lid.  The rest is pretty self-explanatory.

(You can still see a bit of moisture in between the layers of acetate.  Drunken lil' jellybeans!)

Head on over to the Mojo Monday Blog for more information about how you can play in this week's sketch challenge, and also visit these lovely ladies for their (hopefully less traumatic) interpretation of Sketch # 388:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Your Next Stamp March New Release Blog Hop!

Are you ready, are you ready, are you ready?!?!  It's time for the YOUR NEXT STAMP March New Release Blog Hop!  If you've been hopping in order, you've come to my blog via the oh-so-talented-and-lovely ANITA (can that girl color, or what?).  If you're not hopping in order (you rebel, you), that's okay, too.  Just be sure to visit all the stops (you can see the locations via the linkymabob below) so that you can A) see all the fabulous projects the YNS Design Team and Guest Designers have created just for you, and B) leave comments at each stop so that you're eligible to win a $20 gift certificate to the YNS Store.  You may think to yourself, "Oh, why bother?  I never win anything..."  STOP IT!  That's stinkin' thinkin', friend.  Why, just last week I won a $75 gift certificate to a great stamp-n-die store, and I had only a 1 in 87 chance.  You've gotta be in it to win it, friends.  So comment, comment, comment -- eventually, you will win.  I guarantee it!

My sneak peeks for this month were all about my youngest son, Carter.  My hop cards, however, are all about my eldest, Truman.  He's a senior this year, and thus the new CONGRADS stamp set is especially close to my heart right now. Actually, I ALWAYS love a good graduation set, as that seems to be one of those annual events I'm always in need of several cards for. Take a look at CONGRADS, and you'll see why it's a must-have...

Here's what I made with it, incorporating as many of the sentiments and images as I could in one card...

The hardest part of this card was the large, layered panel to the left.  First, I stamped the mortar board image, then I masked it off.  I wanted it to look like it was "sitting" on the sentiment.  Next, using my MISTI (ok, I swear I'll quit talking about that thing soon...), I placed the sentiment just so and taped it off to be able to use multiple colors of ink to make the sentiment *pop* and add visual interest.

I then used Rectangle Nestabilities to cut the sentiment out. The tassel was stamped and colored a second time, then fussy-cut out and adhered to the first image.  Once done with the initial image layers, I decided a little color-blocking would be the way to finish out the card, as well as a way to incorporate a few more sentiments from the set. One thing I really like (now that it's made) about this card: it can serve as a starting place for LOTS of grad cards, utilizing school colors where the Steel Grey and Robins Egg are in this sample, in combination with traditional black and Primitive White. 

Next up is a little portrait of my soon-to-be-spreading-his-wings kiddo, using the new ADORKABLE stamp set.

Now here are a couple of things you need to know about Truman: he really is a scholar, but he's also a bit of a dandy.  I mean that in the best possible way.  If you need further proof, though, here is a photo of a pair of shoes I gave him for Christmas that he LOVES:

Need I say more?  Thus, here's what I'm going to consider #4 in my 100 Card Challenge for Truman...

The outfit (khakis, Buks, tortoise shell glasses, and Harvard crimson sweater do resemble my boy, but that's where he'd probably draw the line. His hair, he would have you know, is shorter (thank heavens -- he was trying to grow it out like Thor's for a year or so, but it was just a stringy mess) and blonder. Carter (to give Truman a hard time) would surely say this looks like Kyle One (shout out to all of the South Park fans in the hizzy).

I created the little blackboard (Harvard is old school -- it probably still has blackboards, if any college does, don't you figure?) using layered Rectangle Nestabilities with kraft cardstock and backed it with Black Licorice cardstock before stamping out the sentiment in Sweet Tooth Pigment Dye Ink. The "wallpaper" was created by stamping a Linen Background stamp in So Saffron ink onto So Saffron Cardstock. The left-hand side of the image layer was looking a little nakey, so I added a few YNS Grape Punch Glittered Gumdrops to balance it out. 

Are you already sold?  Then don't forget to use your coupon code when you checkout:

And if you still need more convincing, or are a smartie who wants to see the rest of the hop and leave comments to increase her chances for winning FREE STUFF, then by all means, head on over to visit sweet, sensational SUE!

YNS March Release Sneak Peek

Good news for fans of Your Next Stamp: tomorrow is the day for the March New Release!  And today?  Well, today I have a preview of two new stamp sets hitting the shelves (or whatever sort of display unit Karen keeps 'em on).  I'm on the record of being a big fan of what I refer to as "food with faces" images.  These two sets, then, are right up my alley...

Take a look at FRUITY FUN.

 

Cute enough on its own, right?  But just imagine the possibilities with the new CREATE A CHARACTER set...

Be still my food-with-faces lovin' heart! 

Carter (my 10 year old) packs his lunch to school everyday; a ham and cheddar (yes, he's specific about the cheese - woe unto whomever tries to slip him a slice of American cheese...) with mustard sandwich, a Capri Sun, and two 'sides' -- usually a Go-gurt and a sweet of some kind (Little Debbie, Oreos, a chewy granola bar - you get the picture).  Sometimes, depending on the morning and my mood, I slip a little note in, too.  When I do, he never fails to makes a comment after school about the note, so I know he likes them.  Thus, when I got my designer package from Karen in the mail this month, I knew just what I needed to make: a set of lunchbox notes just for Mr. C!

Here's a group pic:

I started by die-cutting a kraft card stock base using YNS's LARGE POSTCARD DIE, then I pierced around all of the scallops with a paper piercer for a little visual interest.  Not for Carter, mind you -- that sort of detailing was done strictly for YOU!  You're welcome. ;)  Next, I cut a panel of Spring Rain card stock out with a Mega Nestability Rectangle, inked a background using a Cloudy Day stencil and some Sweet Tooth Premium Dye Ink.  The grass was created using YNS's SPRING GRASS DIE.  I have to thank my MISTI, again, for just-right placement and coverage of the sentiments (not to be morbid, but you're going to have to rip the MISTI from my cold, dead fingers as I will never give it up before then).  As for the fruity images themselves, their bodies and faces were stamped out in Black Licorice Hybrid Ink, masked, and then their limbs were added.  They were colored in with Copic markers, fussy cut out, and then popped up on Jody Boosters.

Here's a look at the crew individually.  First among equals is Mr. Apple, who's been spending many a night with John Travolta caressing his face at the disco.  If you're wondering why he has a yellow-ish corner, it's because he's a Honey Crisp apple, which is our favorite variety (remember I told you Carter can be particular; can't imagine where he got that from...).

Now, Sir Pear.  He might be my favorite, as I'm a girl who likes green.

Oh, Miss Peach. I liked you better before I judged -- no lie -- 30-SOMETHING PEACH FLAVORED ENTRIES in SOSU's Founder's Day Peach Cook-off today. Actually, the entries (ranging from cupcakes to barbeque sauce) were pretty fabulous, but after the first 20, you get a tiny bit peached-out.  The overall winner was a FANTASTIC peach salsa. Miss Peach looks happy about that...

And last but not least, the goofy class clown Strawberry, who is probably closest in personality to Carter, himself.

These notes would be plenty, as-is, to cause a happy little ruckus in the cafeteria, but as you know, I'm a long-winded sort of gal.  Thus, I also put a white card stock panel on the back to personalize them even further, like so:

I know you're itching to see the other YNS Sneak Peeks, so head on over to the YNS blog for a complete look and links to the design team and our fabulous guest designers.  Thanks for stopping by today, and I'll see you tomorrow for the YNS New Release Blog Hop. :)

Mojo Monday - Irish Hello

Top o' the morning to ya! It's the first Monday of March, which means this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge has PRIZES up for grabs! For every 50 card entries, one randomly selected participant will win the VERVE stamp set of her choosing, and there can be up to 7 winners. Be sure to visit the Mojo Monday Blog for all of the details how to play along.  In the meantime, here's my sample this week: 

This wee Leprechaun has a powerful thirst, but he's still gentleman enough to give you a proper greeting.  The image and sentiment are both from Your Next Stamp's new IRISH HELLO set, and his mug of green beer was created using the IRISH FUN DIE SET.  The circle layers behind the main image were die cut with YNS's CIRCLES and STITCHING MARKS die sets. 

The color scheme was inspired by a recent (but not current) Color Throwdown challenge:

I created the background paper using My Favorite Thing's Harlequin Stencil. First, I inked MFT Spearmint Hybrid Ink on to MFT Sweet Tooth card stock, then I shifted the mask over slightly and inked the paper with MFT Coral Crush Premium Dye Ink.  Fun stuff, huh?  Other card stock used  Gumdrop Green, Spearmint, and Coral Crush.

Here's a look at the actual sketch:

I think I'm going to go ahead and mark this one as 3/100 in my 100 Card Challenge for Truman. This time next year, he'll get a little hand-crafted, green-beered howdy from good ol' Mom. Lucky kid!

For more interpretations of this week's Mojo Sketch, head on over to these lovely ladies' blogs:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Thanks for stopping by today, cairde!