Mother's Little Helper

You're Seriously Awesome

Hello, hello!  I'm here, and I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT the fact that my firstborn is leaving for college tomorrow. 

I'm telling myself that I am absolutely fine with this fact. It's a good thing! Especially considering the alternatives. It's the circle of life, right?

Right. So let's move along, shall we? Everything is right with the world. (*breathing in through the nose, out through the mouth... breathing in through the nose, out through the mouth...)

Today I've got a TRIPLE THREAT card for you! That's right, I've combined three -- count 'em: 3! -- challenges in one single card. I'm not going to claim it's the holy trinity, but it's definitely a trinity of some sort. Let me explain:

1. It's my sample for this week's MOJO MONDAY card sketch -- # 411, for your information.
2. The color scheme is from the current COLOR THROWDOWN challenge, #355.
3. I used stamps and dies from Lil Inker Designs, just in time for their AUGUST MONTHLY MEET-UP challenge.

Here's my card, also very suitable for my 100 Card Challenge for Truman (the aforementioned eldest sweet child o' mine):

The Basic Gray card stock was so dark, I knew I'd need to add an interior panel of white to make it useable. I also know myself well enough to know that I'd better do so when I make it, or it might never get done. There are so many great sentiments in the Seriously Awesome stamp set, that I couldn't help but stamp one in Tempting Turquoise ink to the interior panel:

Compare and contrast to the various challenge parameters:

And be sure to visit the MOJO MONDAY BLOG to see how you can play along. For further inspiration, visit my craty Mojo Monday Design Team Members at:

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

Thank you so much for coming to visit me today! I get by with a little help from my friends, like you. :)

Little Inker Designs - Seriously Awesome stamp set	Lil Inker Designs - Pointelle Cover Up die	Lil Inker Designs - Seriously Die	Stampin' Up Card Stock
SU! Tempting Turquoise Ink	Jody's Foam Boosters	MISTI	YNS Silver Tinsel Gumdrops

InLinkz.com

Carter's 2015 Valentines

Are you all Valentined out by now?  Or can you find it in your heart to stomach one more post featuring cute notes of affection? Oh, good -- I knew you could!

When I saw Lil Inker Designs' Lollipop & Pencil Treat Holder Die and the adorable Perfect Pairs stamp set (food with faces! Be still my heart...), I knew Carter and I were in business, and exactly what the boys and girls in his fourth grade class would be receiving. What I didn't know was when the class party would be taking place. Surely on Friday the 13th, the day before Valentine's Day, right? 

Nope.  I learned on Wednesday that there was no school on Friday or Monday, thus I began working on Carter's Valentines at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night, and finished them up around 2 a.m. Thursday morning.  Of course, I still had to photograph everything if I was going to share my labors with you, so imagine how cranky I was in the wee hours of Thursday morn...

 Devoted mother that I am, I woke at 6 to decorate his Valentine box. (Nothing special -- just a shoe box covered in printed duct tape.  Not worthy of photographing.)  The good news is, Carter was very pleased with and appreciative of them, which is why we moms do these sorts of things in the first place.  Here's how they turned out:

Carter decided he wanted to give both lollipops and pencils with his Valentines, so I wrapped a pair with Washi tape, then tied them to the Valentine with ribbon.  Here's an individual look of each design.  I ended up creating 6 of the five different illustrations (I didn't use the coffee and donut image; though super cute, most fourth graders I know still don't drink coffee).

Mac and cheese...

Eggs & bacon...

Peas & carrots...

Peanut butter & jelly...

And my personal favorite, burgers & fries.   Here's a look at all five images:

Laura at Lil Inker Designs is starting a new monthly challenge with prizes available (you can read more about it on the LID blog HERE). This month's theme is "Anything Goes", so you can bet I'm going to enter these little guys.

Last thing before I leave you tonight: it's happy dance time around these parts.  We have a contract on our home in Claremore!!!  While I do have mixed emotions about moving and leaving all of our friends and the home we loved for so many years, it does us no good to have a big asset like that sitting empty when another family could be enjoying it and making their own memories there. 

I'll be back soon, with my take on this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  xoxoxo