Mother's Little Helper

You've still got time...

... to participate in the May SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY!

To refresh your memory, here's the current SFYTT:

And here are a couple of cards I made with it...

A mustachio'd masculine birthday card, using THE MUSTACHE SET and the Mustaches and Mustache Slide CutUps dies from The Cat's Pajamas.  And...

A Claremore Zebra themed graduation card using Paper Smooches' ZOO CREW and SMARTY PANTS sets. 

Ready to give it a go?  Then here are the Notes You Need to Know:

Jen and the SFYTT Sisters (no relation to Josie and the Pussycats) will have a new SFYTT and samples for you on Saturday, so be on the lookout.

In the meantime, I'd like to wish MISS MEOWY (aka Alma de la Rosa, owner/illustrator/Creative Cat of THE CAT'S PAJAMAS) a wonderful 29th birthday! (Again.)  She's one of my favorite people in whole wide world - talented, kind, smart, and cool.  In other words, she's the whole shebang.  Love you, Alma!

Now, I'm off to cook and clean - Drunko Bunco's at my house tonight.  We'll promise to keep it down if you promise not to call the cops.  Deal?

 

Happy Memorial Mojo Monday!

For those of us in the U.S., today is Memorial Day - a holiday when we remember those soldiers who have died in wars, and when celebrate the start of summer vacation season with barbecues, etc.  On a more personal note, the Oklahoma legislative session officially ends on the Friday before Memorial Day, which means my husband is back home full-time, and not in OKC Monday - Thursday.

 

After four long months, it's always good to get him home and get back into our regular family rhythms. Thus, I'm dedicating this Mojo Monday card to my dearest. I know he'll be so touched and flattered... ;)

First, though, let me show you this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  Because it's the last Monday of the month, you've got a choice whether to make it Round or Square:

This one's for you, Honey...

{hee}

Man, do I ever love a good hot dog!  My favorites are Nathan's, and everytime I'm in the Phoenix airport, I have to have one with mustard and sauerkraut, regardless of what time it is.  Mmmm... Locally, it's hard to beat the ones from QuikTrip (a regional gas/convenience store chain).  This particular hot dog is from Paper Smooches' ALFRESCO set.  I love that Kim draws little smilies you can stamp on the food, as I am particularly fond of food-with-faces.  They just make me happy!  I wanted it to look like my hot dog was on a plate, so I used The Cat's Pajamas' Easy Rosette die, flat and embossed, then backed it with the dark gray cardstock to make it pop from the background.  My sentiment detail is the smaller Easy Rosette, flat, embellished with a button, Lemon Divine Twine, and a sentiment flag.  The 'Hot Dog!' sentiment is from The Cat's Pajamas, too.

Here's my weenie, up close and personal...

 

(Sorry, couldn't resist...)  Mr. Meyer was color with Copics and his mustard was given a coat of Honeysuckle Transparent Art Glitter by Barbara Trombley.  The patterned papers were selected to give it the homey-feel of a backyard barbecue (neighborhood - from Pink Paislee's Hometown Summer; gingham - from Echo Park's A Boy's Life; and dots - from Echo Park's Dots & Stripes, Soda Fountain.  All are 6"x6").

You'll want to go to the Mojo Monday blog for all of the details on how to play along with this week's sketch, and for more takes on this week's sketch, be sure to visit my fellow Mojo Makers:

• Debbie Carriere
• Mary Fish
• Teresa Kline
• Stephanie Kraft

Have a wonderful day! :)

My Not-So-Little Project...

Being somewhat confined at home these past few weeks due to Carter's recuperation, I've had time to do a smidgen of online shopping.

 

Er, um... yeah.  So, anyway, a week or so ago, I bought several new (to me) colors of cardstock from Papertrey Ink, and replenished some I was getting low on.  For several days, the new packages of pretty paper sat on the floor of my craft room, waiting for me to create file folders so I could put them in their place in my cardstock filing cabinet.  I'm not organized about too much in my life, but those things I am organized about? I'm fairly anal retentive.

Cardstock is one of those things for which I actually am organized.  I have a tall, four-drawer filing cabinet that I keep my cardstock in.  Each color has its own hanging file folder, and within each folder, I keep a page protector to hold scraps of that particular color. 

My card making process usually begins with stamp selection, then patterned paper selection, and then I head for the cardstock cabinet to pick papers I think will coordinate.  The problem is, my cardstock cabinet is in a dark corner of my craft room.  (Is there EVER enough light for us papercrafters?  I think not.) Typically, I'll look at the patterned paper I've selected and think, "I bet MFT Banana Split is the right yellow for this, and SU! Regal Rose would coordinate..." or whatever.  Then I go to the cabinet, grab the scraps plus one full piece of the cardstock.  I look at everything under my Ott lights to make sure they match as closely in reality as I envisioned in my head.  If so, we're off - if not, it's back to the file cabinet with me saying to myself "I need a darker yellow with a little green in it..." or what have you.  In other words, it's a lot of up and down and relying on my memory. 

For some reason, as I was getting ready to file my new purchases in the cabinet, I thought, "There has to be a better way..."

And that sent me down the rabbit hole for a couple of days.  Fortunately, though, I've returned with something I think is going to be incredibly handy...

I created a swatchbook of all of my cardstock!  Now, if I'm debating in my head, "Should I use New Leaf, Wild Wasabi, or Gumdrop Green?"  I'll just grab my handy-dandy swatchbook (located conveniently on my desktop) to make my decision...

Putting this sucker together was no small accomplishment.  I cut out 2 1/8" x 3 1/2" pieces of each color of cardstock (191 colors, in all), then rounded a couple of corners for flair, and adhered identification labels made from trimmed down mailing labels; font = Walkway Bold. Most of my 8.5" x 11" colored cardstock is from Stampin' Up!, Papertrey, or My Favorite Things; I also have many colors of 12" x 12" cardstock from Close To My Heart that I keep in a rolling file unit. The CTMH cardstock often gets forgotten about unless I can't find anything else that will do.  It's a shame, because CTMH cardstock is white core, and thus great for vintage-y stuff when you want to distress, plus there are some really bright, beautiful hues. 

I put the swatches in ROY G. BIV order with subcategories for pinks and aquas, and with browns and neutrals in the back.  Then, I made a cute little 'cover' decorated with circles punched from scraps. I hole-punched all the swatches with my Crop-a-Dile then put them on a large jump ring, with lots of room for growth.

I really think my new little friend will help save me time, put together new color combos, and utilize heretofore forgotten colors. Plus, I just like to look at it...

Aren't You Curious?

Doesn't this particular piece of home decor make you go "Hmmm?"  Do you really think you'll be able to concentrate on anything else today before you get the story behind it? 

Luckily, I tell all in this month's edition of CAROLE'S CREATIVE COMMOTION on the Your Next Stamp Blog.  In addition to giving you the whys and what nots of the project above, my post discusses:

• time management,
• Howard Stern and Oprah,
• psychological research,
• my guest bedroom (with photos!),
• and a great tip for cutting out stamped images.

But wait!  There's more!  You also have the chance to win the above image just by leaving a comment (on my YNS blog post - not this one).  Better get there quick, though, because time is running out. 

 

Merrily, Merrily Mojo Monday

Happy Monday!  Actually, as I write this, it's Sunday night at 11-something p.m. CST.  I stayed up late to watch Game of Thrones and the finale of Celebrity Apprentice (can I just say how much Aubrey O'Day makes me cray-cray?  She and I would come to blows if we were on the same season.  Of course, I've turned Donald down every year he's approached me; I figure it's good karma to give those fading stars the opportunity.  I hardly need the extra exposure, what, with all the traffic I get on this here blog... ;) ). I still have an episode of Mad Men to catch up on - thank goodness for DVR.  I don't know how a TV-lovin' gal like meself ever survived before it!

Ready to see this week's Mojo sketch?  Here you go...

And here's what I did with it, using the adorable new AYE,AYE CAPTAIN set from The Cat's Pajamas:

Mr. Bunny is so Renaissance, don't you think?  There's nothing he can't do, including row, row, row his boat.  He was colored with Copics on Copic X-Press Blending cardstock, and his waves were created using TCP's WAVE CutUps die.  The side life-preserver side embellishments were made using images from the set, coloring them in, and then backing them with a bit of hemp before popping them up on foam boosters.  See...

The little paper-flag/brad corner embellishment is something I improvised because I thought that corner of the image panel looked a little empty.  I like how it turned out, though - hopefully I can remember that for future use. ;)

Ready for more inspiration?  Then look no further than my fellow Mojo Makers to see how they interpreted this week's sketch:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Stephanie Kraft

Of course, you'll also want to visit the Mojo Monday Blog to get all the details of how to participate in this week's challenge. 

It may be morning (or so) when you read this, but it's purty late as I type, so you'll forgive me for being a party pooper and cutting this a bit short.  I'll make up for it next time - promise! 

Quick and Easy ConGRADulations

Good Saturday morning, friends!  I hope you and yours are doing well this fine May day.  I'm writing a little drive-by blog post before I hit the shower and then face the laundry.  *sigh*  Perhaps I should hit the laundry first, though, because I think I may be out of clean underware.  TMI?  Yeah, sorry about that...

Anywho - Claremore High School had it's graduation this week, and as Truman gets older, we seem to know more and more graduating seniors.  I've got a stack of announcements I need to respond, so I thought I'd better get cracking on an easily mass-produced card.  Fortunately, this month's Sketch For You to Try is perfect for the image and paper I wanted to use.  Yay!

Here's another look at this month's SFYTT...

I think I've mentioned once or a hundred times that our school system's mascot is the Zebra.  You can't imagine the squeal I made when I saw this ADORABLE zebra from Paper Smooches' Zoo Crew set:

Hee - aren't his/her eyes so expressive?  Kim Hughes is just the best (as an illustrator AND a person - love her!).  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches' Smarty Pants set.  I first stamped it out under the zebra in Marvy Matchables Black (my FAVORITE black ink for coverage when you don't need to color the image in with Copics.  It smears with Copics, but it's fabulous in all other respects - rich and deep).  Then, I stamped it once more with SU! Real Red, cut out 'grad,' and popped it up on top of the background sentiment with one of Jody's Foam Boosters.  See...

Now that I look at it, you can see one of the pink liners from the foam boosters on the patterned paper to the left of the image panel.  I could reshoot the photos, but I think I'm just going to chalk it up to wabi sabi. 

Even though it's pretty clean and simple, I did add a few things for texture and visual interest: the black cardstock is embossed with a Cuttlebug dots embossing folder, I Corner Chomped several of the corners, and I added a bit of red and white twine from The Twinery (gifted to me by Cammie Camster).  Easy but sweet, and I should be able to create a half-dozen or so within an hour now that I have the prototype.

Ready to see more second-takes on this month's SFYTT?  Then be sure to visit my SFYTT Sisters who are also making new cards with the May sketch today:

• Jen del Muro (you can also get all of the details about how you can participate on Jen's blog)
• Jodi Collins
• Susan Liles
• Jen Tapler
• Tracy Shultz

Thanks again to SKIPPING STONES DESIGN for sponsoring this month's SFYTT.  And thanks to you for coming by to visit me! :)

Moony Mojo Monday

Good morning, friendlies!  I've got a lovely little combo of a card to share with you this Mojo Monday.  I was a little stuck on exactly how I was going to do it, but I'm pleased with what I ended up with.  Don't you love it when that happens?

First things first: here's this week's Mojo Monday sketch, created by that lovely ray of Virginia¹ sunshine, Teresa Kline...

I love it when the Mojo sketches have a big focal point - makes it so much easier to insert my beloved cartoon-y images. :)  This is such a great, classic design, it may just wind up in my Go-To sketch file. 

I combined my Mojo sample with the current TCP TUESDAY challenge (brought to you by The Cat's Pajamas).  My dear buddy, SUSIESTAMPALOT (aka Susan Liles, Sus, Sus-a-palooza, and the Birthday Bowling Queen) is this week's Hipster Hostess With the Mostess, and she's come up with a doozy of a Stamps/CutUps challenge: use any stamp that starts with the letter "M" for May.  And for the CutUps, use the Pennant Die (none of the dies start with M!). As Susan explains, "The stamp SET doesn't have to start with "M", just the stamp or something within the stamp.  Like the penguin holding a Margarita, the little girl holding a Mug, obviously the MUSTACHES, Merry Christmas, the bunny riding the Moped, the Monkeys, the bunny on the Mushroom, all the bears have Muzzles, Music--now ya'll get the idea?"

Got it, sister.  For my M 'mage², I chose the bunny on the moon in the brand new WISH set.  I wasn't sure exactly how I'd get the pennant die to fit in with the Mojo Sketch, but I played around with it an came up with something that I think works³.

Isn't that image cute?  Lovey!  I paper pieced the moon and colored the bunny with Copic markers, then fussy cut the image out and popped it up with foam boosters on the starry background paper.  Notice the way the card is opening - I usually cut my card base from cardstock then score it with a top fold.  I was doing a little LONG OVERDUE cleaning of my craft room this weekend, and came upon a stash of store-bought, pre-scored white card bases.  I figured that since I'm on a white card base kick these days, I might as well use them up.  Hence the side-fold.  Top folds are much easier to photograph/balance, but I do feel nice and green not letting these card bases go to waste.

Head over to the Mojo Monday blog to see how you can participate in this week's challenge, and be sure to visit the blogs of my fellow Mojo Makers for further inspiration:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Stephanie Kraft

You've still got a few hours to get in on the TCP Tuesday Stamps/CutUps challenge (see this post on Alma's blog for all the details).  Still, even if you don't finish it today, it can get you thinking about the TCP Tuesday challenge that will be issued tomorrow (a little bird told me it's going to be a sketch challenge...).

Alrighty, I'd best be going.  I have a little man in the other room demanding that I help him organize his Lego Star Wars minifigures.  May the force be with you!

 

Footnotes

1. Virginia is my home state - I born and raised in Alexandria until I was a sophmore in high school, and then I lived there once more for a year and half as a newlywed. Gotta love the Old Dominion! Truman - my 15 year old - did break my heart a little bit yesterday (on Mother's Day, no less!) when he told me he had no interest in going to college at UVA. I grew up wanting to go to school there, but fate had other plans for me... I've always hoped one of my boys would end up a Cavalier.  Guess I'd better get to work on Mr. Carter... 
2. Get it? "M 'mage"?! As in "image"?! *chortle!*  Like Ralph Malph, I still got it! Speaking of Happy Days, do you remember when Potsy would say "Funny as a crutch, Rich"? I never understood that. Is he saying that crutches aren't funny? Okay. That I get.  But why does he think "Funny as a crutch" is a snappy comeback? He's such a Dren... (remember that?  When Joanie had a crutch on Potsy and would write love notes to him addressed to 'Dren' because its 'nerd' spelled backward?  Man, I watched way too much TV as a kid... Just think if I'd had all the channels kids today have? Or Netflix?!  Oooh...)
3. And by 'works,' I mean that I actually think it looks like it goes with the card and wasn't just tacked on there to fulfill a challenge requirement. Even though it was.
   

Mother of All Blog Hops!

Hello, hello!  I had just purchased a brand new batch of stamps from THERE SHE GOES when I learned about TSG's third annual MOTHER OF ALL BLOG HOPS, and I thought, "It's fate! I must participate!"  TSG's fabulous Trendsetters (aka design team) and customers like me are all coming together to show you a lots TSG goodness as you blurf this Mother's Day weekend.

First off, I'd like to share with you a wee somethin'-somethin' I made with the brand new A LITTLE TREAT set...

Those of you who read my blog on a regular basis know I love a good foodie image, and this is one of the cutest yet!  Take a closer look at that scrumptious cake Ms. Chef is showing off...

As you can see, the icing is covered in Baby's Breath Art Glitter, popped up on foam tape, and topped with adhesive gem 'strawberries.' Delicious!

Speaking of delicious, since we've been home from Carter's surgery (my 7 year old had major orthopedic surgery a few weeks ago and is homebound, recuperating for the next several weeks), my family has been so blessed to have lots of friends and neighbors bringing us meals.  In fact, I've discovered the most HEAVENLY-but-easy spaghetti sauce recipe I'm going to have to share with you soon.  In the meantime, though, I've got lots of thank you notes to write, and fortunately, TSG's BON APPETIT was perfect for creating a colorful, clean-and-simple thank you that was just right for mass production.  See what I mean...

I made a dozen of these to have on hand over the next few weeks...

Lots of TSG's fun and fabulous stamps will be featured by MOABH participants today and tomorrow, so be sure to stay tuned.  As if seeing such yummy inspiration wasn't treat enough, you've also got the opportunity to win fantastic TSG prizes!  For all of the details/instructions, be sure to visit the There She Goes Blog.

Now, are you ready for the next stop on this Mother of all Hops?  Then click on the In Linkz button for instant transport.  Thanks for stopping by, and have a WONDERFUL Mother's Day!

 

 

Supplies used:

You Take The Cake - Stamps: A Little Something by There She Goes; Paper: Neenah Classic Crest White, Regal Rose (SU!), A Muse green gingham, Crate Paper 'Pretty Party' 6"x6" pad, On The Bright Side 6"x6" pad (MME), Copic Blend It X-Press; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Scattered Straw Distress Ink by Ranger; Accessories: Copic Sketch Markers, Icing CutUps die (The Cat's Pajamas), Nestabilities, foam tape, satin ribbon, adhesive gems, Baby's Breath Translucent Art Glitter from Barbara Trombley

My Compliments - Stamps: Bon Appetit by There She Goes; Paper: Neenah Classic Crest White, True Black (PTI); Ink: Marvy Matchables Black, Turquoise Color Box Brush Pad, Summer Sun (SU!), Citrus (Adirondack), Watermelon (Adirondack), Slate (Adirondack); Accessories: black brads (American Crafts), Corner Chomper

Mojo Monday With Sympathy

Most paper crafters I know aren't especially fond of making sympathy cards.  I'm certainly not.  They make me sad.  But, as I learned after my mother passed away last fall, it's those gestures made during hard times that mean the most to the recipient.  The father of a dear friend passed away in a very sad and sudden manner recently.  Thus, I put away the fun & cartoon-y stuff I tend to gravitate towards and went straight for my Class Act Stamps (aka Verve) to create an appropriately elegant and respectful sympathy card. 

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch as my blueprint:

And this is what I put together:

It may look fairly simple, but let me tell you - this took me a long time to make!  There are always a lot of decisions to make when you're creating a card, but they seem weightier when you're creating a sympathy card, don't you think?  Everything has to be just so.  The color scheme, for example.  For some reason, I got it into my head that I wanted to use purple, gray, and white as my color scheme.  I searched through my plethora of 6"x6" pads (I swear, I should just get rid of all of my 12"x12" patterned paper, as I use it so seldom these days) and found some good gray patterned paper, but couldn't find any purple patterned paper that wasn't a weird shade or whimsical.  I had to ditch the stark white cardstock I wanted to use, though, because the patterned paper had more of an ivory background, and I'm pretty sure Jody has a rule about that (I can't knowingly break Jody's rules, or she'll haunt me).  Should I do gray and purple felt flowers?  I was thinking so, but the gray felt I have is a cool gray and didn't blend well with the warmer grays of the patterned paper and cardstock, so I opted for just purple flowers.  What color should the ribbon be?  I didn't want to use gray ribbon on top of the gray patterned paper and cardstock layer where the bow would be - too much gray.  I don't have any purple ribbon that's dark enough to match the purple felt or cardstock.  Maybe I should put black pearls as the flower centers and use black ribbon?  No, I don't like to use black on sympathy cards.  I mean, I know I'm making it because of a death, but using black ribbon seems so... literal.  And so on, and so on, and so on.

This is why I don't like making sympathy cards - they're hard!

Fortunately, though, I didn't have to come up with the sketch, too.  Mama-to-twin-baby-boys JULEE did that for me.  And she's done it for you, too.  Go to the Mojo Monday blog to find out how to participate in this week's sketch challenge, and guess what?  Since it's the first Monday of the month, it's PRIZE WEEK!  If you participate and your card is deemed one of the Mojo-est Of Them All, you could win a free set of Class Act Stamps (aka Verve) of your choosing! So get 'er done.  And for more inspiration, please visit my fellow Mojo Makers' blogs to see what sort of loveliness they've created to inspire you:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Stephanie Kraft

 

Mojo 240 Sketch Kind Words Set Loopy Blooms dies Head Over Heels 6"x6" pad TCP Felt Neenah Classic Crest Cardstock Flags & Tags Stamp and Die Set Geometric Circles Embossing Folder Nestabilities Circles Stampin' Up Card Stock Jody's Foam Boosters

InLinkz.com

 

A Fan-STACHE-tic May Sketch For You To Try

Happy Cinco de Mayo, mi amigas!  I hope today brings you mariachi music, guacamole and margaritas!  What I'm certain it will bring you: a brand new Sketch For You To Try!  Olé!

 (Note: that small introductory paragraph used four - count 'em, four - exclamation points.  One for each brief sentence.  I fear I've used my exclamation quota up for this entire post in a single outburst; I've shot my punctuation wad, so to speak.  And yet, I know I'll type a few more exclamations as this post goes forward.  Despite knowing that exclamation points should be used rarely and with discretion in good writing, I like 'em and use them with what some might call "annoying frequency."  Can I help it?  I suppose I could, but here's the deal: I write like I speak, and I'm an enthusiastic gal. Besides, it's my blog, and if I want to use dozens of exclamation points per post, that's my and Bobby Brown's prerogative. When Bobby tells me I have to lay off the exclamation points, I shall do so willingly.  Until then: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

So, um, where was I?  Oh yeah! (<--- exclamation point) May's new SFYTT!  This month, the SFYTT is sponsored by SKIPPING STONES DESIGN.

With all of the hullaballo surrounding Carter's surgery over the past couple of months, I was distracted and forgot to submit my choice for a sponsor set.  However, I know from seeing SSD images all around the stamping blogosphere that they have tons of beautiful and fun stamps in all sorts of styles.  Definitely check them out - you'll be glad you did. :)

Here's the new sketch Jen's put together to challenge and inspire you this month - I'm pretty sure I'll be adding it to my 'Go-To' sketch file...

And here's what I made with it, using The Cat's Pajamas' F-U-N & fabulous new THE MUSTACHE SET:

In addition to The Mustache Set, I also used TCP's funky new MUSTACHES CutUps die to cut the big mustache out of felt.  I liked that furry 'stache so much, I decided to thread a strip of felt through the lower sketch strip, using the oh-so-innovative-&-creative MUSTACHE SLIDE CutUps die.  (I can't help but giggle when I think of the name of that die.  Then my mind starts to wander, and I start singing in my head "Why don't you come with me, little girl, on a magic mustache slide?")

Look, Ma!  It lays flat for easy mailing!

My color scheme was inspired by this week's TCP Tuesday Color Challenge, hosted by the lovely Lori Tecler:

For info about how to play along in this week's challenge, see THIS POST on Alma's blog. Other card supplies include patterned paper from Pink Paislee's Hometown Summer 6"x6" collection, Prism's Intense Kiwi cardstock, Marvy Matchables black ink, Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder, Tim Holtz mini stapler, Corner Chomper, and foam boosters from Jody Morrow's sticky stuff store.

You'll definitely want to visit JEN'S BLOG to see how The Sketcher Herself and our Designer of the Month, ANNIE ROSENSTIEL, used this month's sketch.  And it goes without saying you'll want to visit my superlative SFYTT Sisters to see what sort of splendor they've created for your viewing pleasure. 

Amber Hight
Amy Sheffer
Becky Carafa
Jen Tapler
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles

and our newest Sister, Tracy Shultz!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I must take leave to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride...

 

Exciting News!

Hi, friends!  Long time, no see.  My life has been turned upside down (not in a terrible way - just in an "I can't find my behind with both hands" way - since we've come home after Carter's surgery). Still, I couldn't NOT be a part of sharing this F-U-N May Day news.  Are you ready for it?  Let me break it down for all you visual learners out there...

+

 

= Stamping Heaven!

That's right - YOUR NEXT STAMP is Splitcoaststampers' newest MEMBER COMPANY!!!  To celebrate, the YNS Design Team and a few special friends are throwing this celebratory blog hop.  Again, for the visual learners...

We have 3 hidden prizes along the way, so make sure you comment on all of the participating blogs for your best chance to win! Here’s the hop list:

Dana- http://gotjoycreations.blogspot.ca/

Kerri- http://cardsbykerri.blogspot.ca/

Cabio - guest - http://cabioscraftcorner.blogspot.ca/

Carole- http://motherslittlehelper.typepad.com/

Diana- http://doodledeedesigns.blogspot.ca/

Veronica- http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.ca/

Jen D- http://iheart2stamp.com/

Jen R- http://www.tennisgirl27.blogspot.ca/

Kelli - guest - http://stampingwithadream.blogspot.ca/

Susan- http://www.susiestampalot.com/

Wendy- http://sugarpea-designs.blogspot.ca/

Peggy- http://cardcrazy.wordpress.com/

Lydia - guest- http://understandblue.blogspot.com/

Jenny P- http://mylittlestampinspot.blogspot.ca/

Karen- http://yournextstamp.blogspot.ca/

The hop will run from today, May 1st at 8:00 am (EST) until Sunday, May 6th at midnight (EST). Winners will be announced Monday, May 7th on the Your Next Stamp Blog  and the YNS Splitcoaststampers  forum.

Now, because of my aforementioned haywire life, I know you won't mind me showing you a little something that has been viewed by human eyes before, but never on this blog. So it IS new for the hop, in a way.  Please let me retain my illusions/delusions for the moment, okay?  Mama's sanity is hangin' by the most slender of threads at uno momento and you don't want to be responsible for sending me over the edge, do you?  Let me tell you, my edge of reason ain't pretty.  For example, yesterday my eldest (15 year old) son and I were... having words.  We managed to come through it in a civilized fashion, but I did warn him that next time, I would be taking his phone away from him and taking him on a little drive.  We'd go for about 5 miles to a remote - but scenic - country road, and then I would be dropping him off.  He could then spend an enjoyable couple of hours finding his way home and thinking about ways to avoid similar situations in the future.  He said, "You wouldn't really do that, would you?" 

My answer: "Trust me. Or find out the hard way. It's up to you, buddy."

Anywho... enough o' my rambling.  If you want more crazy talk, there's always the monthly CCC - CAROLE'S CREATIVE COMMOTION - which occurs on the YNS Blog on the 18th of every month. (How's that for wrapping up a tangent with a tidy little bow?)  And speaking of the CCC, here's what I made for my last CCC post, using the cute new ELLIE LOVES LATTE set:

(I used the April Sketch For You To Try as my blueprint, by the way. :) )

Karen - YNS's lovely owner and just an all-around-awesome gal - is also in the process of moving, so YNS is having a HUGE moving sale!  You'll want to shop early to get all of the stamps and dies you want at fantastic prices because quantities are limited. Don't forget to check out the Bargain and Retired Stamp Bins on the YNS site, too, for savings of up to 70% off!

Ready for more YNS goodness?  Then hop along to the delightful DIANA'S BLOG for something special.  And don't forget to stop by and visit us in YNS's SCS MEMBER COMPANY FORUM!

Hello, hello!  It's The Cat's Pajamas' New Release Blog Hop time, in addition to being TCP Tuesday.  Our Hipster Hostess With the Mostess this week is my sweet friend JULIE MASSE, and she's got a Supply/Technique Challenge for us to create HOMEMADE FLOWERS!

As our Challenge Hostess, Julie is starting off today's blog hop, so if you didn't start there, you may want to head back to the beginning so you won't miss one beautiful thing.  If you've been a good little hopper, you've come my way via my oh-so-sweet and talented Dirty Dozen teammate, CHRISTINE OKKEN (we served on the SCS DD together in 2008 - good times!).

If I told you what a long and grueling week this was, I would not be lyin'.  In addition to the internal angst that accompanies having your seven-year-old undergo 5+ major orthopedic surgeries, I have the external aches that go with sleeping on one of those impossibly uncomfortable hospital fold-out chairs for the past five nights.  You know what I could use right now (in addition to a Xanax drip and gallon-sized premium margarita)?  A little BUBBLE THERAPY! 

Fortunately, Sprinkle is looking out for me...

Glamour puss Sprinkle lounges in a paper pieced tub with a Copic airbrushed background.  Her bubbles were made fluffy with liquid applique.  The sentiment was heat embossed with white detail embossing powder - see what I mean?

And I fulfilled this week's challenge using my brand new POM POM FLOWER CutUps Die.  It makes such a yummy, fluffy flower - I lurve it so.

Okay, gang.  Be off - I've got a bed to fold out and try to catch a few winks on before a nurse comes in here with a flashlight & meds (that should be right as I doze off...), and you'll want to see what sort of breathtaking wonderfulness my favorite Pickler, AMY SHEFFER, has to inspire you! 

And don't forget to head on over to The Cat's Pajamas website when you finish the hop, for all of the swanky new goodies are waiting for you to give them a good home and put them to use.  :)

Belated Mojo Monday greetings from Gillette Specialty Children's Center in lovely St. Paul, Minnesota.  Carter had his big surgery last Thursday morning. I have much I want to show & tell about our experience in the hopes that it may be helpful/informative for other families, but that post will come after we get home and can process the whole experience. In the meantime, know that Carter is doing well and that we are looking forward to coming home tomorrow morning.  YAY!!!

Today I am oh-so-thrilled to share with you my brand-new ALL TIME FAVORITE stamp set in the whole wide world!  Yeah, that praise may seem hyperbolic, but when you see the set, and when you read the words Alma The Awesome uses to describe her inspiration for the set, you'll see I speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

First, though, I need to show you this week's Mojo Monday sketch...

And here's what I made with it, using the SO INCREDIBLY ADORABLE new set from The Cat's Pajamas, QUALITY TIME:

Tell me that Mama Bear (or PJ, whom I believe is a male bear) reading to Baby Bear (in his little bunny slippers!) in a comfy-cozy chair isn't the most adorable image you've ever laid eyes on, and I will have to gather a bunch a letters from your loved ones and hold an intervention.  Because that would be proof positive that whatever dangerous substance(s) you've been drinking/smoking/snorting/huffing/injecting/swallowing/etc. have done serious and possibly permanent damage.  I'm getting my Master's in Counseling Psychology, which automatically makes me an expert on all of these sorts of things, you know.

Look a closer look at these precious bears, and tell me if you can read the title of their book...

BEARY POTTER! Isn't Alma the cleverest cat in the universe?  (The bears were colored with Copics, and mounted on top of their paper-pieced chair.  The book, Mama's paws, and their feet were stamped and colored again then popped up on foam boosters.

And just look at the twirly-swirly elegant font of the oh-so-fun sentiment...

The very idea of this image - a shared reading experience between a parent (or some other loving older person - sibling, aunt, cousin - whatever) and child is enough to make my heart go pitter-patter.  It reminds me of that wonderful poem, The Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan, the last stanza of which is:

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a Mother who read to me.

But then, when Alma revealed what inspired her to create this set, I honestly wept, I was so moved and honored.  As she's has wrote on her blog post today,

When I designed this set, I had one of the members of The Cat Pack in mind, Carole Burrage. Not only is Carole, probably one of the smartest people I know, she's a devoted mother, and wonderful friend with a wicked sense of humor. And I know that she's passed these honorable traits onto her terrific sons. I don't know how she does all that she does, and raised two such wonderful sons, but she tells me it's all about Quality Time.

(I SWEAR I did not pay her to write that.) ;)  To say that I'm humbled and touched doesn't begin to describe what I feel about this set, those words, and my amazing friend, Alma.  For once, I'm speechless!

I hope you'll love QUALITY TIME as much as I do, and make lots of beautiful projects with it for the readers in your life. Alma's got more Sneaky Peeks using QUALITY TIME on this post on her blog.

For more info on how to participate in this week's Mojo Monday challenge, head on over to the Mojo Monday Blog.  Lots of lovely inspiration can also be found by visiting my fellow Mojo Makers' blogs:

• Debbie Carriere
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline

One of my all-time favorite sayings, and a motto I try to live by, is "Bloom where you're planted."  I don't know about you, but sometimes I look around at my life and think "Huh!  I never expected to be planted in this particular garden..." Most of the time and in most ways, I believe my life has turned out far better than I could have ever hoped. Still, there are somedays when I wonder, "How did you end up in Claremore, Oklahoma, and not - say - Manhattan?"  On those days, I just remind myself: "It's easy to find interesting and entertaining things to do in Manhattan.  It takes an interesting and entertaining person to create those kind of opportunities in Claremore.  BLOOM WHERE YOU'RE PLANTED!"  (Picture me giving myself this pep talk in my bathroom mirror, a la Jack Donaghy)

 

No wonder I love this sweet new bunny set BLOOM, available on Tuesday the 24th, from The Cat's Pajamas...

I kicked it old-school style on a Fabriano notecard with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol, highlighted with a bit o' Copic white opague.  A smidgen of Plum Divine Twine gives a little nod to what's au courant. Visit Alma's blog for a list of the other Cat Pack-ers and Swanky Stampers giving glimpses of BLOOM today, and don't forget to leave a comment on TCP's IN IT TO WIN IT thread in our SCS Member Company Forum to win our ENTIRE NEW RELEASE (including seven stamp sets and 5 new CutUps dies).

By the way, it's the 18th, which means my CCC post is brand new and waiting for you on the Your Next Stamp Blog.  And, lastly, my little guy Carter has his big surgery tomorrow morning, bright and early, so if you're the praying sort, please say one for him.  I'd be ever so grateful.

Love and hugs - I'll be in with a post-surgery update and more crafty goodness soon.

redux: (adjective) brought back, restored, revived

 

Yesterday, I revealed to you - for the first time, in the history of mankind - a card made with the new COMMEMORATING YOU set from The Cat's Pajamas.  Scroll down to yesterday's post if you don't believe me; nevermind... I'll just show you:

Why, you might be asking, am I showing you the same card, two days running?  Surely you know I have an excellent reason for that: it's TCP Tuesday! Though said card was created as a sample for the current Mojo Monday sketch, it was also constructed with this week's TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge in mind.  In common parlance, it's what we call a "two-fer."

Behold!

Jen is our TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge Hipster Hostess With the Mostess, as well as the concept designer of COMMEMORATING YOU (Alma - TCP's owner and FEO {Feline Executive Officer} used her incomparable graphic design skillz to translate Jen's idea into stamp form). For details about how you can play along in this week's TCP Tuesday challenge {and be eligible to win FAME & FORTUNE as our next SWANKY STAMPER}, head on over to Alma's blog.

Here's a closer look at the 16 images and 17 sentiments that come in COMMEMORATING YOU:

How would you like to get your paws on Commemorating You, free o' charge?  That got your interest, didn't it?  All you have to do is leave a comment on today's IN IT TO WIN IT thread in The Cat's Pajamas' Member Company Forum on Splitcoaststampers and you'll be eligible to win.  Easy-peasy, no?

I'll be Sneaky Peeking another new set tomorrow - see you then!

TCP New Release Blog Hop - Bubble Therapy!

Hello, hello!  It's The Cat's Pajamas' New Release Blog Hop time, in addition to being TCP Tuesday.  Our Hipster Hostess With the Mostess this week is my sweet friend JULIE MASSE, and she's got a Supply/Technique Challenge for us to create HOMEMADE FLOWERS!

As our Challenge Hostess, Julie is starting off today's blog hop, so if you didn't start there, you may want to head back to the beginning so you won't miss one beautiful thing.  If you've been a good little hopper, you've come my way via my oh-so-sweet and talented Dirty Dozen teammate, CHRISTINE OKKEN (we served on the SCS DD together in 2008 - good times!).

If I told you what a long and grueling week this was, I would not be lyin'.  In addition to the internal angst that accompanies having your seven-year-old undergo 5+ major orthopedic surgeries, I have the external aches that go with sleeping on one of those impossibly uncomfortable hospital fold-out chairs for the past five nights.  You know what I could use right now (in addition to a Xanax drip and gallon-sized premium margarita)?  A little BUBBLE THERAPY! 

Fortunately, Sprinkle is looking out for me...

Glamour puss Sprinkle lounges in a paper pieced tub with a Copic airbrushed background.  Her bubbles were made fluffy with liquid applique.  The sentiment was heat embossed with white detail embossing powder - see what I mean?

And I fulfilled this week's challenge using my brand new POM POM FLOWER CutUps Die.  It makes such a yummy, fluffy flower - I lurve it so.

Okay, gang.  Be off - I've got a bed to fold out and try to catch a few winks on before a nurse comes in here with a flashlight & meds (that should be right as I doze off...), and you'll want to see what sort of breathtaking wonderfulness my favorite Pickler, AMY SHEFFER, has to inspire you! 

And don't forget to head on over to The Cat's Pajamas website when you finish the hop, for all of the swanky new goodies are waiting for you to give them a good home and put them to use.  :)

Mojo Monday - Quality Time Sneaky Peek

Belated Mojo Monday greetings from Gillette Specialty Children's Center in lovely St. Paul, Minnesota.  Carter had his big surgery last Thursday morning. I have much I want to show & tell about our experience in the hopes that it may be helpful/informative for other families, but that post will come after we get home and can process the whole experience. In the meantime, know that Carter is doing well and that we are looking forward to coming home tomorrow morning.  YAY!!!

Today I am oh-so-thrilled to share with you my brand-new ALL TIME FAVORITE stamp set in the whole wide world!  Yeah, that praise may seem hyperbolic, but when you see the set, and when you read the words Alma The Awesome uses to describe her inspiration for the set, you'll see I speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

First, though, I need to show you this week's Mojo Monday sketch...

And here's what I made with it, using the SO INCREDIBLY ADORABLE new set from The Cat's Pajamas, QUALITY TIME:

Tell me that Mama Bear (or PJ, whom I believe is a male bear) reading to Baby Bear (in his little bunny slippers!) in a comfy-cozy chair isn't the most adorable image you've ever laid eyes on, and I will have to gather a bunch a letters from your loved ones and hold an intervention.  Because that would be proof positive that whatever dangerous substance(s) you've been drinking/smoking/snorting/huffing/injecting/swallowing/etc. have done serious and possibly permanent damage.  I'm getting my Master's in Counseling Psychology, which automatically makes me an expert on all of these sorts of things, you know.

Look a closer look at these precious bears, and tell me if you can read the title of their book...

BEARY POTTER! Isn't Alma the cleverest cat in the universe?  (The bears were colored with Copics, and mounted on top of their paper-pieced chair.  The book, Mama's paws, and their feet were stamped and colored again then popped up on foam boosters.

And just look at the twirly-swirly elegant font of the oh-so-fun sentiment...

The very idea of this image - a shared reading experience between a parent (or some other loving older person - sibling, aunt, cousin - whatever) and child is enough to make my heart go pitter-patter.  It reminds me of that wonderful poem, The Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan, the last stanza of which is:

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a Mother who read to me.

But then, when Alma revealed what inspired her to create this set, I honestly wept, I was so moved and honored.  As she's has wrote on her blog post today,

When I designed this set, I had one of the members of The Cat Pack in mind, Carole Burrage. Not only is Carole, probably one of the smartest people I know, she's a devoted mother, and wonderful friend with a wicked sense of humor. And I know that she's passed these honorable traits onto her terrific sons. I don't know how she does all that she does, and raised two such wonderful sons, but she tells me it's all about Quality Time.

(I SWEAR I did not pay her to write that.) ;)  To say that I'm humbled and touched doesn't begin to describe what I feel about this set, those words, and my amazing friend, Alma.  For once, I'm speechless!

I hope you'll love QUALITY TIME as much as I do, and make lots of beautiful projects with it for the readers in your life. Alma's got more Sneaky Peeks using QUALITY TIME on this post on her blog.

For more info on how to participate in this week's Mojo Monday challenge, head on over to the Mojo Monday Blog.  Lots of lovely inspiration can also be found by visiting my fellow Mojo Makers' blogs:

• Debbie Carriere
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline

Sneaky Peek: BLOOM

One of my all-time favorite sayings, and a motto I try to live by, is "Bloom where you're planted."  I don't know about you, but sometimes I look around at my life and think "Huh!  I never expected to be planted in this particular garden..." Most of the time and in most ways, I believe my life has turned out far better than I could have ever hoped. Still, there are somedays when I wonder, "How did you end up in Claremore, Oklahoma, and not - say - Manhattan?"  On those days, I just remind myself: "It's easy to find interesting and entertaining things to do in Manhattan.  It takes an interesting and entertaining person to create those kind of opportunities in Claremore.  BLOOM WHERE YOU'RE PLANTED!"  (Picture me giving myself this pep talk in my bathroom mirror, a la Jack Donaghy)

 

No wonder I love this sweet new bunny set BLOOM, available on Tuesday the 24th, from The Cat's Pajamas...

I kicked it old-school style on a Fabriano notecard with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol, highlighted with a bit o' Copic white opague.  A smidgen of Plum Divine Twine gives a little nod to what's au courant. Visit Alma's blog for a list of the other Cat Pack-ers and Swanky Stampers giving glimpses of BLOOM today, and don't forget to leave a comment on TCP's IN IT TO WIN IT thread in our SCS Member Company Forum to win our ENTIRE NEW RELEASE (including seven stamp sets and 5 new CutUps dies).

By the way, it's the 18th, which means my CCC post is brand new and waiting for you on the Your Next Stamp Blog.  And, lastly, my little guy Carter has his big surgery tomorrow morning, bright and early, so if you're the praying sort, please say one for him.  I'd be ever so grateful.

Love and hugs - I'll be in with a post-surgery update and more crafty goodness soon.

Commemorating You {Redux}

redux: (adjective) brought back, restored, revived

 

Yesterday, I revealed to you - for the first time, in the history of mankind - a card made with the new COMMEMORATING YOU set from The Cat's Pajamas.  Scroll down to yesterday's post if you don't believe me; nevermind... I'll just show you:

Why, you might be asking, am I showing you the same card, two days running?  Surely you know I have an excellent reason for that: it's TCP Tuesday! Though said card was created as a sample for the current Mojo Monday sketch, it was also constructed with this week's TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge in mind.  In common parlance, it's what we call a "two-fer."

Behold!

Jen is our TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge Hipster Hostess With the Mostess, as well as the concept designer of COMMEMORATING YOU (Alma - TCP's owner and FEO {Feline Executive Officer} used her incomparable graphic design skillz to translate Jen's idea into stamp form). For details about how you can play along in this week's TCP Tuesday challenge {and be eligible to win FAME & FORTUNE as our next SWANKY STAMPER}, head on over to Alma's blog.

Here's a closer look at the 16 images and 17 sentiments that come in COMMEMORATING YOU:

How would you like to get your paws on Commemorating You, free o' charge?  That got your interest, didn't it?  All you have to do is leave a comment on today's IN IT TO WIN IT thread in The Cat's Pajamas' Member Company Forum on Splitcoaststampers and you'll be eligible to win.  Easy-peasy, no?

I'll be Sneaky Peeking another new set tomorrow - see you then!