Mother's Little Helper

Perk Up!

Hello from beautiful and temperate Pontiac, Michigan! The weather has been insanely glorious since we arrived on Sunday. Lows in the high 50's/highs in the mid-70's, sunny and clear. Perfect! I've been taking advantage of it while Carter's in therapy by taking long walks and getting lots of steps logged with my FitBit. Afterwards, I head back to the room, take a shower and get ready, then walk back over to the EuroPeds clinic. I sit and read for a few minutes, then Carter and his physical therapist come out and tell me what they've been up to over the past few hours. We head back to our room, grab a little lunch, do some homework, and then head out for the day's adventure. Not a bad way to spend a couple of weeks!

We're both excited for tomorrow (which is today, by the time you read this) -- a few months ago I bought tickets for us to see MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE; can't believe the time has already arrived!  (Why does that same time seem to be dragging with regards to the house we're remodeling?! More on that in a different post...)

Anyway, I created today's card before I left Oklahoma. It's for the current Your Next Stamp Challenge (#23); YNS Challenges always have a sketch or color component, and if you're feeling really ambitious, you can incorporate both. This time, I went with the color challenge, which is:

Very autumnal, no?

I broke out the new PERK UP stamp set, which I had yet to use.

I like a cup o' joe in the a.m., usually, but if I don't get one, it's not a big deal to me. I'm definitely not one of those coffee fanatics that lose their minds this time of year because Starbuck's Pumpking Spice Lattes are back on the menu. Still, I couldn't resist this cute, kawaii caffeinated stamp set. Have you ever seen such a happy little coffee bean grinder or french press? I think my favorite is the standard coffee maker. I watercolored backgrounds for each image panel -- on trend and SO easy!  Win-win.

My card was inspired by this sweet card by my wonderful friend, Wanda. One of the things I like best about Wanda's card is how it features lots of images from a single set.

YNS products used include: Perk Up stamp set, Stitched Rectangles die set, Stitched Squares die set, Spellbound Gumdrops, and Silver Tinsel Gumdrops.

Go to the YNS Blog and see what the other participating designers made with YNS Sketch/Color challenge #23. There, you'll also find graphics for the sketch, as well as info about how you can play along and possibly win FORTUNE & FAME (up to $20 in YNS moola and/or be selected as the YNS Top Pick. Top Pick-ers get featured on the YNS Blog and a nifty badge to wear on their blog, proclaiming them as a winner of this major award).

Thanks for stopping by today, friends! Have a fabulous first weekend of Fall.

 

Michigan Mojo

Carter and I have been traveling all weekend, driving a total of 18 hours to get from Durant, OK, to Pontiac, Michigan. We're back for another two-week stint at Euro-Peds Center for Intensive Pediatric Physical Therapy. This is, I believe, our fifth time to come to EuroPeds, and Carter makes wonderful gains in strength, balance, and mobility every time we're here. It's a good thing, so let's celebrate with donuts!

This week's Mojo Monday Sketch (#416) was the perfect opportunity to break out My Favorite Things' tasty LLD Donuts & Sprinkles stamp set and coordinating dies.  Take a look at the sketch, and you'll see what I mean:

Circles galore! Because I wanted to use the long sentiment above the donuts (perfect to send to my college freshman, who I'll have you know is actually going to his mailbox to retrieve my cards/packages! Of course, I have to text him that it's probably there, and I always add a little present to sweeten the pot) I had to figure out that element in the lower right hand corner. I came up with adding a tiny trio of donuts, and threaded baker's twine through two of them before tying up a bow.

Other card facts:

• The sentiment was heat embossed in white detail embossing powder on a Blu Raspberry scalloped die cut, made using Blueprints 23 Die-Namics.
• The background was created by stamping MFT's Pin Stripe Background stamp in Daffodil Premium Dye Ink on Smooth White card stock.
• This card also fulfills the current MFT Color Challenge:

And now?  I'm a bit tuckered out after driving all those hours, unloading the car, and unpacking/nesting in our abode, aka a 2 bedroom unit at The Residence Inn.  Oooh -- want to hear something fabulous (at least, to us)? Get this: we always stay at this particular Residence Inn when we come to EuroPeds. Previously, the clinic was located in a hospital near downtown Pontiac, about 20 minutes away from our hotel.  Within the last few months, EuroPeds relocated to a new, stand-alone building. That building is DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET from our hotel!

I'm going to wrap this up before I head off on another tangent.  (I think I'm getting a little punchy from fatigue...) Head on over to Mojo Monday Blog to see how you can participate in this weeks challenge, and be sure to visit my fellow Mojo Makers for inspiration:

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Justin Krieger
• Lori Tecler
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Thanks for visiting me today, and wish Mr. Carter good luck on his therapeutic journey, if you would. I'll be back later on in the week and fill you in on his progress and our adventures. :)

Boots, Class, & a Little Sass

It's Monday again, friends. How do you feel about that? I'm on the fence. On the one hand, it's my favorite month -- temps are getting cooler, fall is on it's way -- and we're edging ever closer to my birthday, which is Friday. Yay! On the other hand, why I am I excited about having another birthday/turning older?  (Answer: it does beat the alternative...)

Other things on my mind: Carter and I leave on Saturday for another two-week stint at the EuroPeds Pediatric Intensive Physical Therapy clinic in Pontiac, Michigan. We always enjoy our weird little vacations there, and have lots of traditions we've created and haunts we frequent when we're in that part of the world. Plus, Carter always makes incredible gains in his gross-motor skills while we are there. All great things. But in the meantime: I've got a ton of work to do to get organized, packed, etc. And y'all know I'm a tiny bit lazy...

Once we get there (after an 18 hour drive that we'll break up over a couple of days), all will be well. And for now, I'm going to quit dreading and pretend that I like packing, etc. Wish me luck!

But enough about me. Let's distract ourselves with a little stamping therapy, shall we?  Here's my sample for this week's Mojo Monday Challenge:

Fun stuff, right? Taylored Expressions (one of my favorite stamp/paper craft companies) has just started a new weekly challenge and challenge blog, the Share Joy Challenge. I have a ton of wonderful TE product that I received when I used to design for them, but never got around to using. Darnell has a new NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) Challenge, so this created the perfect storm for a three-fer:

I've been wanting to use the cute-cute SADDLE UP stamp and coordinating die set for a long time, now. This seemed like the perfect opportunity. I was inspired by the color scheme of the Share Joy Inspiration photo. I would totally wear these boots, wouldn't you?

I created a trendy little watercolored background for the boots and then adhered my images on top of it with Jody Boosters. Want to see the sentiment?  It's on the tag, which the recipient can pull up and then put back when she's done looking at it. (Tag created using TE''s TAG STACKLETS ONE die set.)

Well, cowpokes, I have miles to go before I sleep, so I'd best head yonder.

Now, however, you should giddy-up over to the Mojo Monday blog for all the cotton-pickin' details re: how you can play along in this week's challenge. Then, you must high-tail it to these gifted gauchos' blogs for even more inspiration:

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Justin Krieger
• Lori Tecler
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

TE Saddle Up Stamp & Die set	TE - Tag Stacklets One die set	Copic X-Press Blending Card Stock	MFT Smooth White Card Stock
Doodlebug Designs - Hello, Sunshine 6"x6" pad	MFT Card Stock	Memento Tuxedo Black	MFT Hybrid Ink - Blu Raspberry
Copic Sketch Markers	Uni-ball Impact Gel Pen, White	Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors - 36	Crop-a-Dile
Vagabond Die Cutting Machine	Jody's Foam Boosters	MISTI

InLinkz.com

Some-of-a-bunny

It's Labor Day in the U.S., and if you're here in the land of the free and the home of the brave, I hope that you're having a restful, relaxing day off from work. I have a Mojo Monday sample for you, and even though it's the unofficial beginning of fall, I've created something with a bit of a spring vibe to it. Check it out:

I was looking through my yet-to-be inked stamps for something fun that would work well with the current Mojo Monday Sketch (#414), when to my utter HORROR, I discovered that I had never inked up the ADORABLE "Somebunny" stamp set from My Favorite Things! Can you believe it?! I know -- I've had it since February (I think), but neither it nor its coordinating dies have ever seen the light of day.  I vowed to give this sweet little bunny gal some oxygen & ink, pronto.

I guess I could have given her a fall wardrobe (after all, on TV, everybody wears sleeveless year round), but I didn't. That's okay. She doesn't mind. She's just happy to be out of that cellophane! She reminds me of "Miffy," the bunny in the Dick Bruna books that I used to read to Truman and Carter when they were little. Did you ever read your kiddos those books? My boys loved them. I think Miffy may have even had an animated series at one time.

With her little boots and scalloped collar, the MFT bunny is more like Miffy's more glamorous older sister. She's Spiffy.

Here's this week's Mojo Monday sketch:

And, since it's the first Monday of the month, it's PRIZE WEEK!  That's right -- for every 50 participants, one will be randomly selected to win a stamp set of his/her choice from VERVE. Head on over to the Mojo Monday Blog for all the pertinent info, then visit my fellow Mojo Monday designers to get even more inspired:

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Justin Krieger
• Lori Tecler
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

MFT Somebunny stamp set	MFT Linen Background stamp	MFT Somebunny Die-namics	MFT Blueprints 20 Die-namics
MFT Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX	MFT Black Licorice Hybrid Ink	MFT Grapesicle Hybrid Ink	MFT Limeade Hybrid Ink
VersaMark	MFT Smooth White Card Stock	MFT Grapesicle Card Stock	MFT Grape Jelly Card Stock
MFT Limeade Card Stock	Copic X-Press Blending Card Stock	Copic Sketch Markers	PPP - 6 mm Sparkling Clear Sequins
PPP - 4 mm Trick or Treat Mix sequins	Stampendous Detail White Embossing Powder	Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper	Uni-ball Impact Gel Pen White
Jody's Foam Boosters	MISTI

InLinkz.com

YNS September New Release Blog Hop

You know, I've always said that Karen Dedman (owner of Your Next Stamp) is the one of the sweetest peopl in the stamping industry. Do you want further proof? She has scheduled this release EXCLUSIVELY to celebrate one Carter Burrage's 11th birthday!  Isn't that awesome of her?  And since I'm his mom, Karen thought I should be the first and only person on this blog hop to wish him a "Happy Birthday!" (She doesn't want any of the other participating designers to steal my thunder and make me look lame in front of my own kid.) So, Happy Birthday, Carter! I love you!

Moving right along... Have you been hopping in order and leaving comments everywhere you go so that you have the best chances of winning the $25 YNS Gift Certificate? Oh, good. That makes everything so much easier. Then I don't have to tell you that the hop starts at the oh-so-crafty KYMONA's blog, and that you should have came this way via the super-talented SUE. I can just go straight to the cards.

 First, I decided to shake it up with the frightfully delightful new TRICKY TONIC stamp set and coordinating dies. Take a look-see:

I don't know what it is about me, but every design team I'm on, I seem to get assigned the stamp sets with adult beverages. Isn't that weird? Do you think I have a reputation of some sort?

(I suppose the martini siggy might have something to do with it.  No matter, I LOVE adult beverage sets, and TRICKY TONIC is one of the most fab I've seen in a long time. Even if I wasn't on the DT, I'd be snapping this one up in a jiffy! If these drinks tasted as good as they look, I'd be on a bender until Halloween, for sure. Good thing they don't, as I have the aforementioned 11 year old. Plus, stamping and drinking don't mix. Everything just gets a little... sloppy. What's not sloppy? These fun images:

 Next up: I have a VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.  Are you paying attention?  Good.  Because you're hearing it here, first.  PICKLES are the new pineapples!  Don't believe me? Just take a look at this savory new stamp set, DILL-IGHTFUL, complete with coordinating dies:

I love this whole family, but I do believe the lil' gherkin is my favorite...

They're so cute, I just want to eat 'em up!

I'll add additional info about my cards and products used after the linky-list so that those of you who are anxious to keep hopping can do so.  Next stop on the hop is that oh-so-amazing and thoughtful gal I was talking about earlier, YNS's founder/owner/fearless leader -- KAREN!

 

TRICKY TONIC card:

• This card measure 5"x5".
• The shaker was made using YNS's Circle dies, and Halloween Mix sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. 
• The panels behind the drinks were made with the same YNS Circle dies, and the Circles Stitching Marks die set.
• I used Key Lime Translucent Art Glitter to create the "sugared" rim on the martini glass.
• The skeleton mug has a couple of 4 mm Silly Eyes from Pretty Pink Posh. 
• The black gumdrops are from YNS's brand new SPELLBOUND gumdrops.
• Patterned paper is from Doodlebug Design's Halloween Parade 6"x6" pad.

DILL-IGHTFUL card:

• This card measures 3.5" x 4.75" -- not a standard size, but large enough for a short little note. :)
• The image layer was created by using YNS's Stitched Rectangles die set.
• I sponged Tumbled Glass Distress Ink on the part of the background layer, then made a "floor" for the pickles to stand on with a piece of gingham washi tape from Doodlebug Designs.
• The pickles are popped up on foam boosters, as is the image layer.
• The pickles were colored in with Copic Markers, then "dotted" with a colorless blender to give them a bumpy looking texture.  I also highlighted some bumps with a Signo Opaque White pen.

Three Little Pumpkins

Happy Labor Day weekend, for those of you visiting from the U.S.!  I love this weekend for a variety of reasons: 1) it means summer is just about over (and hopefully the heat and humidity that go with it) and fall is around the corner; 2) it's September, which is my birthday month (a.k.a. my favorite month of the year); and last but not least, my boon companion and saving grace, Mr. Carter Burrage (my soon-to-be 11 year old) was born on Labor Day, way back in 2004. Now I have one more reason to celebrate this weekend -- it's new release time for Your Next Stamp. Yay!

I've had so much fun creating for this release, I have to tell you.  Longtime readers know I'm a fan of cute, kawaii and cartoon-y, and this release has all that and more. Plus it's chock-full of Halloween goodness, and what kid-at-heart doesn't love Halloween?

Ready for a sneak peek?  Of course you are!  Here's a look at YNS's new HALLOWEEN PUMPKINS stamp set and coordinating dies:

My card was inspired by this cute little poem I found while searching my stash of Halloween paper pads. It's from We R Memory Keeper's "Spookville" collection from a few years ago.

From there, I die cut the three different shaped pumpkins from Pumpkin Pie card stock, then stamped the pumpkin images on the card stock with VersaMark ink.  Same story for the leaf stems, using Old Olive card stock. The jack-o-lantern faces were cut from black card stock and adhered onto the stamped die cut pumpkins.

Other YNS products used include the Fence, Spring Grass, Stitched Squares, and Bookmark/Tags - Large die sets.

I'm sure you're anxious to see more previews from this fabulous release, so head on over to the YNS Blog where you'll find a linky-list to all of the design team members and guest designers who have created lovely projects for your viewing pleasure.  Thanks so much for stopping by today, and be sure to come see me tomorrow for the YNS September Release Blog Hop.