Mother's Little Helper

Something Incredible

Hi, friends. It's been a couple of weeks since I checked in. Carter had a great session at EuroPeds. He and I had a fun couple of weeks, hanging out with each other and doing our own little things. It's good to get away, one-on-one with your kiddo if you can, because you really get to know each other in a different way than you do at home. Carter and I have had many of these opportunities between various therapeutic programs, surgeries, recoveries, etc., so I know of what I speak. All in all, the conclusion that I repeatedly come to is: he's a sweet, funny, awesome little-but-quickly-getting-bigger guy, and I'm luckier-than-all-get-out to be his mom. :)

Now that we're back home, I've rediscovered my stamping cave, and I'm back with another Mojo Monday card.  Here's the lovely sentiment I focused on, in all it's emboss-y glory:

Heat embossing is still and will forever remain magical to me.  This sentiment is from Reverse Confetti's Shine From Within stamp set, and was heat embossed with Ranger Fine Detail Black embossing powder on to patterned paper from Echo Park's Teacher's Pet 6"x6" pad.  Here's this week's Mojo Monday sketch:

Here's my scholastic sample:

Dies used include these from Your Next Stamp: Circles, Stitching Marks Circles, Stitched Squares, and File Tab Die.  I also used MFT's Fishtail Flag STAX Die-Namics.

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

Thank you for stopping by to visit me. I appreciate each and every one of you who spends a moment of your day with me. Have a great week, and I'll be back in a couple of days with brand new stamps and dies to show you from YNS.

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

Sympathetic Pineapples

As a longtime lover and semi-collector of all things pineapple, the current pineapple trend makes me slap-happy.

I received an order from Lil Inker Designs last week; I know I said I'd ink up all of my LID stamp sets that I had before placing another order, but I couldn't resist the new Pineapple Panache stamp set, and LID was having a birthday sale. What's a girl to do? She's to order the pineapple set and coordinating die, as well as a few of the other sets/dies she's been wanting (because: 20% off!). And that's how you go broke saving money.

Anyway, I was itching to play with aforementioned Pineapple Panache, I needed to make my sample for Mojo Monday, and a close friend's grandmother passed away last week.  Those parameters were not enough: I also wanted to participate in the current Color Throwdown challenge (#357). Thus, I determined to make a pineapple-themed sympathy card with this sketch and color scheme:

And here's what I came up with, turning the sketch on it's side:

The card measures 3.5" by 5.5". I used LID's Circles & Diamonds Stitched Background Die to give the white background a little texture.  The sentiment came from LID's Really Rosemaling stamp set, and was heat embossed with white detail embossing powder.

My ink colors are Baja Breeze (Stampin' Up!) and Blush (Close To My Heart), both of which seem to be retired.

Ready to play in this week's Mojo Monday challenge? Then head over to the Mojo Monday blog where you'll find all of the details, and be sure to visit my fellow Mojo Monday design team members for lots of lovely inspiration:

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

LID Pineapple Panache stamp set	LID Pineapple Panache die	LID Really Rosemaling stamp set	LID Circles & Diamonds Stitched Pattern die
MFT Card Stock	VersaMark	Stampendous Detail White Embossing Powder	Jody's Foam Boosters
MISTI

InLinkz.com

Clowning Around with Charlie Brown

Hey, friends.  This is going to be a quickie, even though I'd like for it to be longer because I have a lot of backstory and extra photos I'd like to share with you. However, it's 9-something p.m. as I write this on Sunday night, and I have to get up at 4 a.m. tomorrow to make a 7 a.m. flight out of Dallas (wake, shower, load car, drive). Sean and I are heading up to Boston so that we can help Truman move into his dorm room. I have spent the whole weekend packing up all of Truman's stuff. I still have yet to pack my own bag.  Eek!

Anyway, I didn't want to leave without showing you the sample I made for this week's Mojo Monday sketch, #412. I'm sure it will not be a huge surprise to know I made it with Truman in mind...

I used a new-to-me stamp set by Lil Inker Designs called The Fine Print.  It's got several what-seem-to-be-snarky sentiments, but when you read the fine print, they are quite sweet. Take a closer look at this one:

There's a story behind the Charlie Brown zigzag. Truman was bald for a long time as an infant, and so for his first birthday (his birthday is on Oct. 30, hence he's had lots of costume parties and Halloween has always been a big deal at our house) he was Charlie Brown.  Here's a look at part of a scrapbook page from way back then:

And since I'm showing scrapbook pages, here's a part of a two-page spread devoted to the clown I spoke of in my last post:

I've already started buying little gifts I can stick in the cards I'm going to send Truman as part of the oft-mentioned 100 Card Challenge.  I picked up this USB drive a week or so ago for him, and now I have the perfect card to go with it. :)

Alrighty, folks - this is way longer than I intended, already. I have miles to go before I sleep!  Wish me luck, and I'll be back soon.  In the meantime, be sure to visit the Mojo Monday blog where you'll find this week's sketch and get info about how you can play along in the current challenge. 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

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

Happy Campers

Hi, friends. How was your weekend? Mine was great. We had a bestie from Claremore come down and stay with us Friday evening, showed her our new hometown on Saturday, and then on Sunday the husband and I went to a church off our beaten path to hear a sermon given by a wonderful friend who was subbing for the regular minister (he did an awesome job -- go Dell!). To top all that off, Sean's been ever so diligent at his grill this weekend, and I'm anticipating some mouthwatering barbequed ribs and corn on the cob as I type this. Life is good!

(I'm still trying not to get in a funk about the fact that Truman is leaving in 16 days...)

Earlier today I saw a cute pic on Instagram where one of my local friends (whom you would love; she is so, so funny and cool. One of my favorite peeps I've met since we've moved) posted a picture of a trio of tents set up in her backyard. Her son and friends had a little impromptu camp out, and it inspired the card I created for this week's Mojo Monday.  Take a look:

That's some summertime fun, right there! Not only does it use this week's Mojo Monday sketch, but it also qualifies for the current TCP Tuesday Challenge from my longtime friends at The Cat's Pajamas (challenge = Anything Goes) and I'm going to enter it in TCP's Summer Blog Hop.  All ingredients are listed in the In Linkz area below.  As far as card details are concerned, the only perhaps less-than-obvious thing I did was stamp the image first on my background patterned paper layers, then again onto Ultra Smooth alcohol ink cardstock.  After coloring the image with Copic markers, I fussy cut it out, then adhered it to the patterned paper layer.

You'll definitely want to play in this week's Mojo Monday challenge (#409). Not just because it's a great sketch, but because it's the first sketch of the month, which means... PRIZES!!!  For every fifty entries, one lucky participant will be randomly selected to win the Verve stamp set of his/her choice.  That definitely beats being poked in the eye with a sharp stick, doesn't it?

Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for more details about how you can play along, then go visit the other memebers of Mojo Monday's design team for further inspiration.

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

Thanks so much for visiting, and go make this Monday a fun day! :)

Mojo Monday Sketch # 409	TCP - Under the Stars	MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rounded Rectangles	Taylored Expressions - Pinking Circle Stacklets	Memento Tuxedo Black
Echo Park Happy Camper	Stampin' Up Card Stock	UltraSmooth Premium White Card Stock	Copic Sketch Markers	MISTI
Jody's Foam Boosters

InLinkz.com

Hello, My Love, I Heard a Kiss From You...

As I've told you many, many, countless times, often while I'm creating a card, a song plays on repeat in my mind. This time, it was a great pleasure: Strawberry Letter 23 by the Brothers Johnson. Here's a refresher, in case you've forgotten or have the misfortune to have never been exposed to this sublime sound from the seventies ('77, to be exact):

Aaah... Do you not feel particularly funky and fresh after watching/listening to that? I know I do. The impetus for my card was not actually this song, but this month's Design Team Dare from Your Next Stamp, the theme of which is Summer Fun.  What reminds me of summer?

STRAWBERRIES! My family are a bunch of strawberry-eatin' fools at this time of year. Truly. We add 'em to our daily protein shakes, cottage cheese, yogurt, and eat them on their own. Nom nom nom!

I was having dog difficulties (I'll save those for another post) when the actual DT Dare took place last week, but I jerry-rigged the guts of that card to fit the current Mojo Monday sketch, like so:

Mmm, mmm, good!  For the image panel, I stamped and masked, then stamped and masked some more, the strawberry image from YNS's Fruity Fun stamp set onto Strathmore Bristol paper. Then, for the first time, I used my new Zig Clean Color Markers (everybody's been raving about them, so I had to give them a shot, too). They're super bright watercolor markers, and very fun to work with. I added "seeds" to the berries by first making an outline with a white colored pencil, then adding a line of glue and Light Gold Opaque Art Glitter (by Barbara Trombley). Here's a closer look:

The sentiment is from YNS's Woodland Cuties stamp set, and the strawberry patterned paper is from Doodlebug Design's Fruit Stand 6"x6" pad.  Because it's Tall & Skinny week for Mojo Monday, this card measures 3.5" x 5.5", and I have to say, I'm loving this size.  A bit smaller canvas, but still fits into a regular A4 envelope. Yay!

Head on over to the Mojo Monday Blog for all the details re: how to participate in this week's challenge, and then visit these crafty folks for more inspiration.

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

 Stay as cool as the Bros. Johnson, peeps.

Gems Are Truly, Truly Outrageous

Title reference: do you remember the Jem cartoon/dolls from back in the '80s?

She was a little after my Barbie-playing prime, but my oldest niece was very into her, I do recall. When Carter and I went to see "The Minions" last week, there was a trailer for a new, live-action Jem and the Holograms (that was the name of Jem's all-girl band, you know) movie, with Molly Ringwald playing the mom.

Why am I bringing this up? Because I couldn't get that dumb theme song out of my head while I was creating my card for this week's Mojo Monday challenge, #407:

I used the Girl's Best Friend stamp set and coordinating die from Lil' Inker Designs. I was fortunate enough to win a $75 shopping spree to LID by participating in their February Monthly Meet-Up Challenge, and this is part of the lovely loot I ordered. I'm a big fan of Laura Pryor and Lil' Inker Designs -- she's super smart and innovative. If you aren't familiar with LID's products, do yourself a favor and visit the website. I'm forcing myself to use all of my stamps and dies from there at least once before I place another order, but my wishlist is growing, so I need to get after it! The weird part of me that fancies myself a tattoo artist (though I have yet to commit to a tattoo of my own and am not particularly good at drawing) is especially desirous of the Vintage Ink stamp set and coordinating dies...

Anyway -- back to my card. I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but on the sentiment layer I randomly stamped a smaller diamond and star image in Grout Grey ink (MFT Hybrid). I used silver metallic paper from my stash to die cut the large diamonds, and then backed them with white card stock that I brushed with Wink of Stella for extra sparkle. Both diamonds are popped up on Jody Boosters. 

Other card ingredients: patterned paper from Little Yellow Bicycle's Swoon 6"x6" paper pad; black and white card stock; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; black grosgrain ribbon.

Here's a look at this week's sketch:

Head on over to the Mojo Monday Blog for all the details re: how to participate in this week's challenge, and then visit these crafty folks for more inspiration.

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

Thanks for stopping by to visit me today -- you're a real gem!

Pineapples Aplenty, Part 1

As a Virginian, I have had a lifelong love and appreciation for that most majestic of fruits, the pineapple. Coming from the Old Dominion and Birthplace of Presidents, as far as we Virginians are concerned, we're the shizzle. How could we not think that, when the Virginian Creed states:

To be a Virginian either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one’s Mother’s side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign country and a Benediction from Above.

More often than not, the Creed is accompanied by that age-old (to us - we're Americans and brand-new, so what the hell do we know?) symbol of hospitality and welcome, the pineapple.

(I would include images here, but unfortunately I'm writing this post on my husband's wretched PC because I forgot my MacBook when we left town for St. Paul, MN.  It was early, I was cranky, and this is the price I pay... I don't know how nor do I want to take the time to relearn this operating system. Just imagine how AWESOME my post might otherwise be.  I'm sorry I let you down!)  Here is one image, though, of my very favorite new drinking vessel.  I bought this "for Carter" when we were in Florida a couple of weeks ago. But who do you think has been using it most?

Anyway, when I saw my good friend/REVERSE CONFETTI stamp company guru Jen del Muro's stamp set, PINEAPPLES APLENTY, the narcissist in me wanted to believe she had created it just for me. My rational self soon took over, but still felt that I NEEDED this set, with its coordinating dies, and the awesome & easy Pina Colada Quick Card Panels.  Lurve,lurve,lurve 'em!!!

I want/need/must jump back into my privilege of being on the Mojo Monday design team.  Julee has been far more patient than a saint with me, and now that I've been in my new home for a year (even though I still can't find a thing and will move the minute our purchased home is remodeled... don't try to keep up -- it's futile and I'm scattered. I'm a mess; can you relate?), I feel like I need to step up and be consistent. I'm not making promises, but I am endeavoring, and here's my contribution to this week's Mojo Monday Sketch # 405: 

 

As mentioned, I used Reverse Confetti's Pineapples Aplenty stamp set and coordinating Confetti Cuts.  That fabby pineapple panel is from the Pina Colada Quick Cards Panels.  The rest is black and white card stock, and the dotted pattenred paper is from Doodlebug Designs Craft in Color 6"x6" pad.

Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for the sketch and info about how to play along.  It's the first Monday of the month, which means it's CONTEST WEEK! We'll have one winner for every 50 entries, up to a max of SEVEN winners!!! Winners will receive the Verve Stamps set of their choice. You can play as often as you like, and the more entries the more winners!

For more inspiration, head on over my fellow design team member's blogs -- you'll be ever so glad you did!

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

I just couldn't leave these sweet pineapples alone -- I'll be back soon to show you what else I made with 'em!  In the meantime, I thank you for visiting me and hope you have a wonderful, Mojo-filled week. :)

Two Birds, One Stone

Hey, gang. I've got a two-fer for you today.  Here's my Mojo Monday (#395) sample, as well as an example of my favorite color combo for feature on the Your Next Stamp Blog:

Go to the YNS Blog if you want to get up close & personal with moi, as I yakity-yak about the fam, my time with YNS, what images I like best, and my favorite color combos. It's riveting, fascinating, and mind blowing, for sure.  Don't read it before bedtime or you'll be up all night from the excitement.  (I have that effect on people, you know.)

I used the new For the Boys stamp set and the Circles Die Set to create the above card, based on the following Tall & Skinny sketch by Julee.

Tall & Skinny... once upon a time, those very words were frequently used to describe me.  Alas, that is no longer so. Mama definitely needs to get her groove back. But that's a post for another day and time. 

Play along in this week's Mojo Monday sketch, why don't you?  All the info re: how to do so can be found on the Mojo Monday blog, and if you're looking for more inspiration, look no further than these lovely ladies' blogs:

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

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.  

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

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!