Mother's Little Helper

Fall Rainbows

It's fall, friends, and it's the 22nd of the month.  Because it's the 22nd of October, in the year 2015 of our Lord, it's also my friend Charla's 50th birthday. That may not mean much to most of you, but she's kind of a big deal in these parts. I'm writing this late on the evening of the 21st, so by the time the majority of you read this, me and mine will be well on our way and/or there in Cambridge, MA, home to Harvard College (which I've learned over the past few months is what one calls undergraduate school at Harvard; Harvard University is the collective title of both the undergraduate and graduate schools. Thus, I totally showed what an ignorant non-Ivy I am when I created Truman's graduation announcements stating he would be "attending Harvard University in the fall." Color me hayseed).

Know what else the 22nd of the month means? It's Your Next Stamp's Feature Day, the day when members of the YNS Design Team shows creations around a given theme, and this month's theme: FALL.  Now, y'all know I'm basically Skittles in human form, meaning I like to create/taste the Rainbow. I tried to do so with my YNS Feature Challenge card using YNS's Rainbow Fun Die Set. My thought was to do so in a way that speaks to the season. Thus I used "earthier" colors, as opposed to the bold brights I typically use. See what I mean?

From this vantage point, it still looks pretty bright, I know. But hear/see me out. Instead of Real Red, I went with Purely Pomegranate. Instead of Daffodil, I chose Summer Sunset. I elected for a dark teal instead of a bold blue.  Rather than Garden Green, I selected Old Olive.  Simply Suede substituted for whatever shade of violet, and my background was an autumnal kraft. The sentiment (from YNS's new Waddles - Sweetie Pie Stamp Set) was heat embossed in Wine embossing powder (which I've had forever from Powder Keg/PK Glitz, but as of now, I can't find retail existence of; too bad, because their stuff is/was awesome). Even the clouds are earthier - being die-cut out of Neenah Ivory card-stock, rather than solar white.

My inspiration was the earth-tone rainbow graphics of the seventies like this one, that I've saved on a dedicated Pinterest board:

Now do you feel me?

If not, it's okay. But you should still check out what my talented DT-mates have put together for you over at the YNS Blog, all of which I guarantee are more traditionally autumnal. Another reason to visit the blog? If you leave a comment regarding what your favorite card is, you'll be eligible from a random pick to win the YNS stamp set of your choice.  And should you win by stating my concept-rock of a card (I'm like Rush or Yes, I'm thinking...) then I'll even send this card to you!  Let me know.  I'm good for it - I swear! 

I'll be back tomorrow for the YNS Sketch & Color Challenge. Peace out, peeps, and thanks for stopping by to visit me. Stay groovy, and steer clear of any 70's-style key parties.  (<-- word to the wise.  If you don't believe me, watch the movie "The Ice Storm."  No good can come from that!)

Awesome x 3

So, this is the third time in one week that I've used a sentiment that features some variation of the word "awesome." Pretty sure that's a record of some sort. I don't think I could do that again if I tried...

It's the 22nd of the month, which means it's Your Next Stamp's Feature Day!  Every month on the 22nd, YNS design team members are challenged to create a card around a given theme.  Because this is YNS's birthday month, this month's theme is CELEBRATE!

Clowns are celebratory, don't you think? (Or creepy/scary, but let's not go there.) Thus, I inked up the recently released WHEELIE FUN stamp set to put together this number:

I think this will for sure be a part of my 100 Card Challenge for Truman, as he is freaked out by clowns. At his first birthday party, David Boren (Sean's former boss, a former US Senator and the President of the University of Oklahoma for the past 20 years) and his lovely wife, Molly, had a clown deliver a proclamation that Truman was the first student in the high school graduating class of 2015 to be accepted at OU. Isn't that, well, awesome?!  Truman did NOT like the clown, however, and cried all through her presentation. (Maybe that's why he's going to Harvard, now, and not OU?  Hmmm... it's a theory!)  I'll have to remind him of this story when I send him this card.

Let's call this clown Tickles, because what little kid wouldn't love to be tickled by a clown? (hee)  Here's a close up of Tickles. Please note the embossing on the background behind him; a bumpy background makes his unicycle/juggling feat all the more extraordinary.

Head on over to the YNS Blog and check out what fun and festive cards the DT has put together for your enjoyment. Make sure to leave a comment and you'll be eligible to win a FREE YNS stamp set of your choosing! Free stamps -- that's wheelie awesome, for sure!

Thanks for stopping by, friendlies.  Have a wonderful weekend!

YNS - Wheelie Fun stamp set	YNS - Wheelie Fun die set	Doodlebug Designs -- Hip Hip Hooray 6"x6" pad	MFT Card Stock
Copic X-Press Blending Card Stock	Memento Tuxedo Black	Cuttlebug Clockworks Embossing Folder	Copic Sketch Markers
Jody's Foam Boosters	MISTI

InLinkz.com

The Fabulous Mr. Fox

Hi, friends, and for all of my U.S. readers, Happy Memorial Day!

Man, oh man -- for the previous eight years, Memorial Day Weekend was monumental for my family.  Not because we were remembering those who fought for our country and died, but because it signaled that the Oklahoma legislative session was out and Dad would be home more-or-less full-time until January. As I've mentioned in previous posts, my husband took a new job last July which required him to leave his office as state senator and necessitated a move to the opposite end of the state. Though I was sad to leave my longtime home of Claremore, one of the HUGE benefits that came with this move/life change is that my husband of nearly 22 years very rarely has to spend a night away from us (as opposed to residing at the state capitol for a third+ of the year), and more often than not, he is literally a stone's throw away. It's been such an improvement, words fail me. I know that must seem like an obvious statement, but after a few years, you adapt and get used to whatever rhythms life imposes on you, and hardships become the norm. Now, in addition to honoring the intended purpose of Memorial Day, this weekend is a less-heightened event for us, and that is a very, very good thing for which I am especially grateful.

So, there you go. Coincidentally, this Memorial Day coincides with Your Next Stamp's FEATURE DAY, a monthly reason for the YNS design team and guest designers to give folks a little eye candy.

For this particular Feature Day, we were challenged to:

• create a project that CASEs (Copy And Share with Everyone) another DT member
• this project should inspire you/you love it and would remake it as your own
• remember to tell your readers that if they comment on the YNS blog, they have a chance to win a FREE STAMP SET of their choice

I'm not telling you anything you don't know when I say that choosing what to CASE from the oh-so-talented members of the YNS Design Team was tough, tough, tough! Not leaving-your-family-and-putting-your-life-on-the-line-tough (let's keep this in perspective...), but not an easy-peasy choice, just the same. I hemmed and I hawed, but eventually, I decided the most recent project that I wished I'd made for my very own was the lovely LAURA'S super cute Fox Journal that she proffered for the most recent Design Team Dare.  Here's the nifty notebook and pen I wish I had as my very own:

Isn't that absolutely delightful?!  Every single thing about it is sweet perfection, to my eyes. Thus, when I converted it to a card, there were minimal changes I elected to make. Really and truly, besides size, the main change I made was using a ribbon embellishment in place of the notebook's elastic closure band. See for yourself:

That oh-so-perfect patterned paper is from Doodlebug Design's Friendly Forest 6"x6" pad.  Supplies from YNS include

• Woodland Cuties stamp set
• Woodland Cuties coordinating dies
• Circles die set
• Stitching Marks Circles dies
• Black Licorice Glittered Gumdrops

Here's a close-up of this darling little fox, illustrated by the fabulous Macy Wong:

Now, head on over to the YNS Blog and check out what my crafty comrades have created, then leave a comment. I really want YOU to win the stamp set of your choice! (What can I say? I'm a giver... ;) )

Love & Fast Food

It's the 22nd of the month, which means... it's Your Next Stamp Feature Day!  Every 22nd of the month, the YNS Designers create a project around a given theme, using stamps and dies from -- where else? -- Your Next Stamp.  This month's theme: VALENTINES!

Truman, my oldest son, is senior in high school. Much to his chagrin, he hasn't grown since his freshman year. Thus, he has an extensive wardrobe and absolutely zero body fat. I'm not kidding you -- the kid is a lean bean o' muscle. This is in spite of the fact that he eats whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and goes through the Whataburger drive-thru at least once per day. I tell him to enjoy it -- the days of a carefree metabolism very rarely last. And, I suspect, he'll probably be one of those guys who grow six inches his freshman year of college (which will mean a whole new wardrobe, of course).

I made my YNS January Feature Card with Truman in mind, and it will serve as his Valentine from me this year.  Check it out:

I used the Fast Food Fun - Burger Die Set to create this lovely double cheeseburger (with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and a sesame seed bun), and a sentiment from the Fast Food Fun Sentiments set.  The stitching around the red "placemat" is courtesy of YNS's Stitched Line Die.

Here's a close-up of this mouthwatering meaty treat:

Nom nom nom!

Be sure to visit the YNS Blog today to see what the rest of the designers created for this month's lovey-dovey theme.