Hang in There!!

This is my second post.  The TAWS 

blog hop is just a post away!

I love this week's sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch!  I had so many ideas swirling around in my head - having multiple ideas from which to choose is quite unusual for me.  I hope you like the direction that I went...

As usual, the rest of the design team has a wide variety of inspiration for you  - head over to the CAS(E) this Sketch! blog to see how amazingly different and creative each card is!

Hope to see you play along this week!

• Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Like Your Style (from the February kit)
• Paper: Glitz Hello Friend dsp and various CS (also from the kit)
• Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Suede
• Accessories: Maya Road Vintage Love Hanger (from the kit!), Papertrey Ink Sweet Blush button

Tiny Treasures from TAWS

It's that wonderful time of the month where The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) is releasing new stamps!!

There are three sets each month - plus there's a freebie-with-purchase mini set this month.  If you've been hopping, you have probably seen samples from each of them.  If you started with me - you should head back to the beginning at the TAWS link and check them all out.

I decided to focus on the new set - Tiny Treasures.  They are each absolutely darling and I used four of the stamps and the frame to make this simple set of cards.  (The sentiment is from a different set.)

And these aren't the only images in the set!!!  You'll have to check back on the TAWS blog tomorrow to see the entire set!!  (Plus the cute Easter set, the sentiment set - see my sneak peek from Tuesday, and the freebie set).
Next on the hop is Melissa. Here are the official words from TAWS:
One person will win ALL 3 NEW SETS!! YEP!! So if you want that person to be you.. all you have to do is comment on the hop! Here are ways you can win.. You can pick and choose which ones you want to do.. but the more you comment, the more chances you have to win.. 1-Comment on The Alley Way Stamps Blog 2-Comment on the DT girls blogs (below) 3-Post about it on facebook or your blog 4-Like us on Facebook (leave a separate comment for each that you do) This is a fun mini set that is yours FREE when you spend $40.00 or more during the month of February! Nothing to do but shop.. this little guy will be added to your package.. You have until tonight, Jan 31st by 10:30 PM TAWS time to leave comments.

One person will win ALL 3 NEW SETS!! YEP!! So if you want that person to be you.. all you have to do is comment on the hop! 
Here are ways you can win.. You can pick and choose which ones you want to do.. but the more you comment, the more chances you have to win.. 

1-Comment on The Alley Way Stamps Blog

2-Comment on the DT girls blogs (below)

3-Post about it on facebook or your blog

4-Like us on Facebook

(leave a separate comment for each that you do)

This is a fun mini set that is yours FREE when you spend $40.00 or more during the month of February! Nothing to do but shop.. this little guy will be added to your package..

You have until tonight, Jan 31st by 10:30 PM TAWS time to leave comments.

Here are the DT Blogs to visit

 

LAST DAY for you to enter...your name will be put into a drawing for 5 FREE stamp sets of your choice. 

Plus a crafty goody bag from me. 

Your Friendship Warms My Heart

I have a set from Flourishes that I loved when I bought it years ago and it has never seen ink.  (Of course, I could say that about the majority of my stamps!!)  But this one is particularly nice.  So when two challenges came up - "hearts" and "markers" - I knew what I had to ink up...


There is a little bit of sparkle on each flower.

I picked the colors because I had just gotten a package from Timeless Twine.  I had ordered when I saw seen this yellow/gray twine (Cape Code) on their design team's blog.  Just so that it didn't get put away and never used (as did the stamps!) I wanted to use it right away.
The sentiment is a fun set from Inky Antics that I just picked up when I treated myself to an Archiver's trip yesterday.  I had taken my son to take his home-school finals (finals have to be proctored at an official center).  I took my own homework and planned to spend a long two hours sitting in the car taking notes on Accounting 101.  But...it was cold...and I realized there was Archivers about 20 minutes away.  Hmmm....tough choice!!??  I'm not buying many stamps lately - mostly I like new papers, dies and embellishments.  However, this Inky Antics set - Simple Sentiments - is all innie/outies and they are just a little unique.  The innie for this stamp says "you add sunshine to my life".  I really like one that has an outie "sending a hug" and an innie "you can return it whenever you want".
I am playing along with Addicted to CAS.

And with CAS-ual Fridays.

• Stamps: Flourishes Hearts & Flowers, Inky Antics Simple Sentiments
• Paper: white
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Timeless Twine Cape Cod, Crafts-Too embossing, Stickles

Hold On Pain Ends - HOPE

I am so in LOVE with this sentiment from the February release at The Alley Way Stamps!!  It's so unique and it says something that is so very hard to say...

And it is just one of ten fun sentiments in the new set All About You. Check out the link above to see some more sneak peeks with this same set!! I used the sketch from Less Is More.

And the colors from Dynamic Duos.

NOTE: The darker brown really is Soft Suede.  That's one of the colors that I have the new Stampin' Up ink pads for.  I have been throwing away my old pads as I got the newer ones and I am really regretting that.  There are some blog conversations going around that the ink isn't as good with clear stamps.  I can't say I have had coverage problems with clear stamps, but even IRL this does not look like Soft Suede.  Anybody else having problems?

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps All About You (to be released Feb. 1), Trees Company
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake
• Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Suede and Crumb Cake
• Accessories: Memory Box Woodland Branch die, MFT scallop die, CTMH Bitty Sparklers, Stampin' Up embossing folder, white crochet thread

All My Favorites in One Place

Ardyth, on her MASKerade blog, challenged us to look at our first blog post and CAS it.  I've been avoiding this all week long as I just wasn't sure that I wanted to see what I was doing in November 2010 - the stamping world seems to change monthly let alone over the course of 2+ years.  And I would certainly hope the my style has matured too!!

As it turns out, I don't hate my first ever blog card.  That's not remotely the same as saying that I love it, but I don't hate it!

But when I got up to work on it this morning, I truly struggled.  Perhaps it's just because I'm not getting as much cardmaking time as usual.  (For those of you that asked, being a full-time college student is kicking my butt!!  It's not particularly hard, but it is much more time-consuming than I had planned on even in the worst case scenario!)  The cards that you saw on my blog this week, I actually made last week - so I haven't been in my craft corner for a week - skills seriously deteriorate in ONE week!!

I really don't have time to struggle, because I also have a paper to write, a chapter to read and a quiz to take!!  So after a number of false starts - I decided to add my own criterion.  What am I using or doing a lot now that I didn't back then?  Unfortunately, the list got long.

1. White space

2. Small square cards

3. Baker's twine - love the lighter, airier look of a little twine vs. a ribbon

4. Buttons

5. Embossing folders and plates

6. Dies/punches that coordinate with stamps

7. Pennants and flags

Guess what?

I put together a CAS card with ALL of the above!!  (Sorry for the dark picture - I could not lighten it up without losing the embossing detail).  I don't see much resemblance between the two cards but what I was going for were the trio of things across the bottom.

I've also just noticed that my photo taking skills have improved (other than the shadow on this one!)

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Papillon Potpourri, Itty Bitty Banners
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet
• Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Suede, Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink impression plate, kraft buttons, Trendy Twine, Stampin' Up butterfly punch and banner die

Eyes for You in Pink and Blue!!

There's a challenge going on over at The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) with this inspiration photo that includes some lovely pinks.

The set that originally got me all excited about The Alley Way Stamps is called adoraBOWL and includes three fun and funky pairs of glasses.  As a long-time wearer of glasses (with about 6 years in the middle glasses-free due to LASIK) - this set just had to go in my collection.  But I haven't used it yet.  So I decided funky pink glasses would work well.

I made this two days ago to meet the deadline for the TAWS blog, then yesterday I sat down to write this post and I realized that the card made no sense.  On the one hand, I was practically giddy that I had made a spontaneous gem purchase that ended up being PERFECT for these glasses.  On the other hand, how does this card get used?  I wouldn't give it to my hubby because...it's pink!!  He wouldn't give a card like this to me because the "I" in "I only have eyes" implies that the glasses are his and...they're pink!!  Had I thought of this in advance, this card could have been saved because there are other "eye" sentiments in the set. So, although I'm happy with the card, I tried again.  I wear brown glasses with a hint of aqua on the edges (although not cat eyes!)  Nice, masculine colors and perfect for a card!!

Although hard to see - I did add Glossy Accent for the lenses on both cards!
Big news at TAWS - the huge online stamp store, Simon Says Stamp, is now carrying TAWS so you can add them to your cart along with that darn "falling hearts" die that I have been using this week!!  FYI - when I looked this morning - if you use the Manufacturer Search drop down box to find TAWS look for just "Alley Way".  And...as of yesterday they only had 9 sets available but there are many more to come!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps adoraBOWL, Chatterbox (the sentiment; although there are also great "eye" sentiments in adoraBOWL.)
• Paper: first card is Stampin' Up Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink, second card is Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate and Aqua Mist
• Ink: first card is Memento black and Copics, second card is Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate and Aqua Mist
• Accessories: first card uses Hobby Lobby brand rhinestones, second card uses Papertrey Ink buttons and twine

Always Praying for You

It's time for another sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch!  I do love these sketches but I have to admit to really struggling with this one.  I tried and discarded a number of ideas.  I kept having to remind myself that it's a "challenge" for a reason!!

The light bulb came on for me when I was organizing some supplies.  I saw this wooden word and realized that the sentiment didn't have to be ON the panel - it could BE the panel!!

I sure would like to see what each of you come up with for this one!

• Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Always & Forever
• Paper: Stampin' Up More Mustard, Baja Breeze and Naturals White, Pink Paislee Prairie Hill Hilltop
• Ink: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp alterable wood word, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, misc pearls

Love You with Falling Hearts

I'm still trying to justify the $23 die!!  Here's card #2 so the die is now costing me $11.50/card!! (Card #1 was yesterday.)

Andrew comes back from D.C. tonight!  I've begged him for pictures - and all I got from their experiences at the inauguration yesterday was this...

(Luckily there is a professional photographer on the trip so I am able to view much better pictures on that gentlemen's website!)

This picture was taken during the President's inaugural speech - I'm not sure real sure what we are looking at in this photo except a subset of the million people in attendance!!

To hear Andrew relate the story, it was not the best day for the group.  They walked for over three hours fighting crowds all the way, got there just as the President started speaking and, even though the news is reporting a flawless event, Andrew says the jumbo-tron wasn't working at all and the sound system was cutting in and out.  So he didn't see or hear a thing.  Then they had all afternoon to kill - I think their travel agent let them down because they were planning to visit museums - but they were ALL closed!!  Don't feel too bad for them - they have had the last day and a half to visit - so they have seen the monuments, toured the Capitol, the Spy Museum, the Holocaust Museum, and Arlington (he has a picture of the President's helicopter lifting off when they were there on Sunday).  They also have until mid-afternoon today before they head to the airport but I don't know what they will be visiting.

Typical teenager - do you know what his trip highlights have been?

1. There is a microwave in their room and a grocery store across the street - so they buy big bags of frozen Pizza Rolls to snack on!

2. He was so exhausted yesterday that for the first ever in his whole life - he had a cup of coffee.  Well, actually, a Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce latte which is more dessert than coffee.  And he liked it!!

In fairness, he has spent a lot of time in D.C. since my husband's brother and family, his mother and many cousins are in the area and we visit regularly.  So I'm not overly surprised that his highlights weren't seeing the sites!!

It has just dawned on me that I need to make him a welcome home card with a cup of coffee on it - so I better get working!!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Seasonal Sayings
• Paper: Stampin' Up Real Red
• Ink: Memento Black
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts die, Dress It Up Heart Button, The Twinery Maraschino Twine, Hobby Lobby brand ribbon

Love (and Hearts) are in the Air

I got this falling hearts die JUST to make this card.

This die cost $23 (not counting the shipping charges!)

You are going to be seeing this die on a lot of other cards, year-round, because I have never spent this much on a single card.


But isn't it nice that this very simple card looks extra special because of the falling hearts???!!!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Lighter Than Air
• Paper: Stampin' Up Island Indigo
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts die, Stampin' Up Island Indigo ribbon, My Favorite Things Fishtail dies

Seize the Birthday Masculine Style

Seize the Birthday is the fun new challenge that uses the same sketch for two weeks.  The twist is that the first week is feminine, the second is masculine!!  This week is masculine week.

For the guys in my life, the simpler the better.  I was playing at my friend's house with her new Stampin' Up stuff (the very best kind of play date!) and thought this brilliantly colored paper was all the accent that this card needed!

Speaking of my men...I put Andrew on a plane yesterday with his high school band heading to Washington D.C. for the inauguration.

Mine is in the pink shirt!

Just as I was finishing up this post, my sister-in-law, who lives in D.C. texted me this picture of their performance this morning.  They had to play at 8:30 D.C. time which would have felt like 6:30 a.m. Denver time.  Ouch.  Teenagers do not function well at that time.

But, she also sent this very blurry cell phone picture of him saying "Hi" to us back in Denver.  He appears to be smiling.

They have free time this afternoon - hopefully my son will remember to snap some pictures of himself in front of various D.C. monuments.  On Monday, they are actually going to the inaugural festivities!  I told him to take a picture, even though I would guess that there will be a million people there and the President will be a little dot in the far distance.  Even so, there aren't many people who can say they have been to an inauguration!

• Stampin' Up: a single (don't know the name!)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Not Quite Navy, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Parker's Patterns dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Not Quite Navy
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Embossing folder, button and ribbon, Spellbinders die

Feel Better with a Comfie Quilt

It's time for another great sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch!

When you are on a design team, you get all of the sketches well in advance.  I had this card done ages ago because I immediately knew that I wanted to pull out a set that I hadn't used in a long time - I wanted to do a cheerful quilt.  (I love it when a card comes together like this, typically I struggle for longer than I care to admit!)


I think this would make someone feel better!
I love looking at your submissions to these challenges - it's the highlight of my morning over my first cup of coffee to page through what everybody else has done.  I learn so much from each of you!!  So...play along....link it up at CAS(E) This Sketch!....I'm looking forward to seeing what you do!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Quilter's Sampler, Healing Touch Sentiments
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz
• Ink: Memento Black and Copics
• Accessories: doodlebug baby girl boutique buttons, misc twine, Sizzix embossing folder

A Do-Over!!

This is just a quick sidetrack for a do-over.

Yesterday, we had a little blog fun by posting anniversary cards and wedding photos and linked them all up.  I linked my card.  We were supposed to link our wedding photos.  I cannot figure out how to change what I linked on inlinkz (if anybody knows, let me know!)  It won't let me link again because it knows I already used that link.  I can't hit the "x" and delete it because in the last few days that darn Pinterest icon pops up when I cursor over absolutely anything so I can't even get to the little red "x".  And I just don't have time to deal with it - so you get ANOTHER wedding photo today so I can link it!!

To Darnell and her Mister

If you aren't reading Darnell's blog djkardkreations, you are seriously missing out.  This lady uses the English language like no other - always with incredibly humorous results!!  Her posts never fail to brighten my day and provide inspiration.

She is also just a truly nice person.  If you follow her blog, she will make sure she gives you a big shout out!  You can count on her to comment on your blog and you can always tell that she has taken time to read what you have written.

Darnell has a Mister who is regularly mentioned...with humor!!  And it turns out that Mister and Mrs. are celebrating an anniversary today!!  Another special lady, Ardyth from MASKerade, got us all together and decided we needed to make it a very special anniversary by surprising her with our anniversary cards to her.

Although I truly love this lady and wish her a big congratulations on her anniversary - I really couldn't be totally serious about this card...

Tee-hee!!
Have a great day Darnell and Mister!!  Hope your cheeks end up as rosy as this pair's!!
And "without further adoseydo" (Darnell-speak), we have been asked to post our own wedding pictures.  Here I am in 1989!

• Stamps: I Brake for Stamps, Gina K Punch Words
• Paper: Stampin' Up Real Red and Basic Gray
• Ink: Basic Gray and Copics
• Accessories: EK Success pennant punch, MFT fishtail die, Dress It Up button

Attaboy!!

I have wanted to use the cute dogs in the set The Gang by The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) in some kind of "attaboy" card that I could have on hand when (or if!) any of my boys did something worthy of an "attaboy".  (FYI: "attaboy" isn't in The Gang, but TAWS does have an alphabet set!)

I also wanted to play along with CAS - Colours and Sketches.  This week is sketch week.

I love the card that I came up with but, in retrospect, it probably won't work.  We are big dog people.  The kids barely remember our original fur-family.  We had two Great Pyrenees - all white, gentle giants.  Our male was 170 pounds.  When he stood on his hind legs, he could put his paws on my 6'4" husband's shoulders and stare him in the eyes!!  We have early pictures of my oldest son crawling on them as if they were jungle gyms and their thought bubbles clearly said "seriously??"  They are bred to guard sheep - just sit on a hillside and survey their territory so they aren't particularly active - and, with my son as their only little lamb, they were quite protective.

A very soft climbing toy!

Here's our girl at 7 mos. in her preferred
environment - a mountainside!

This is the smaller of the two (only 120 pounds) helping
me study over 20 years ago!

Then another puppy came along - he's only 3 months old here
(and I'm only 30!)

They loved the mountains!

We lost both of them within a few weeks of each other a long time ago (the younger to cancer, then the oldest just quit), but we will never forget them.  We did not replace them with another Pyrenees.  At that point, we had human babies and we had realized that baby equipment and really big dogs simply didn't fit in cars - even in our big Suburban!

Anyway, the point of that whole story is that my husband is such a big dog person, that he always refers to little dogs as "hors d'oeuvres"!  That's the attitude that my kids grew up with.  So the cute little dog on this card would get nothing but snickers - sort of negating the whole concept of an "attaboy" card!!

Case in point - my husband walked by as I was typing this, he saw the original card and asked, "Is that a dog or a mouse?"

• Stamps:The Alley Way Stamps The Gang, Alphabet Soup
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Queen & Co Pet Hearts dsp
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Stampin' Up heart embosslit, ribbon