Oh, how I love ME time!

I know, I know...lame title. Give a girl a break. I may make some interesting cards, but titles are not my thing. ;)

So, my mom came and picked Noah up yesterday around 2 pm and after a couple of hours of vegin in front of the TV I decided to make some cards. I had 2 challenges to get done and just wanted to create in general.

The first card I made was for my sketch challenge over on Cafe Mom, Card Makin Mamas. We are using Splitcoaststampers sketch number for our sketch this week.

I used one of my favorite stamp sets for this card, Stampin Ups, Simply Sweet. I LOVE this set and have not pulled it out in WAY too long! Since I am still trying to get some birthday cards stocked up, I thought this was a good opportunity to do that. =0) The sentiment is from a long ago swap on Card Makin Mamas. I used my watercolor pencils and marvy blender pens. The felt embellishments are from La-Di-Da (clearance, woot!) and I used stickles to make it all pop! The paper, of course, is K and Company!

This next card was going to be my original submission for the Cute Critters Club "anything goes" sketch challenge. I thought the sketch I came up with was nice n simple....I LOVED this image that was RAKd to me this week from a dear, special friend of mine who, despite her hard time the last few weeks thought of me....so caring and humbling. Love that turtle tot!! This flower is also from La-Di-Da and the paper is from....hmmm...might be my minds eye, but I could be mistaken. I used my BIC markers (STILL wanna know who my SS is, btw...) and a watercolor pencil for his belly.

THIS is the submission that I used for the "anything goes" sketch challenge, as well as for the Cricut Chirpin Mamas challenge over on Cafe Mom (I need to get out more). I came up with this sketch as well. I used my cricut cartridge, George and Basic Shapes for the rings. Stickles for the dots and bling...and of course, my latest purchase, Snaily Mail Huggabugg. I am in LOVE! AWE!! Of course, watercolor pencils were in order. The flowers are from Prima and were RAKd to me ages ago. I have been using them sparingly, but these were the very last ones. ::sigh::

Here is the sketch so you can use it if you would like. I am considering starting to make sketches and see if I can get anywhere with them. I love making them. This is the fourth one that I have come up with. Hmmm. maybe some blog candy challenges are in order??? Stay tuned. We shall see!

This last card was made this afternoon. I am SO MAD!!! I got my bi-monthly Card Makers magazine in the mail, and of course, its loaded with ideas. This was one of the ideas. The movable feature on the card, in this case, the watering can moves as the card is tilted. That's not what I am mad about...I worked on this card, no joke, about 2 hours trying to get the motion right and get it to work. FINALLY! I got it! And like a dingleberry...I adhered it to the card flat...NOT with dimensionals...so now it does not work unless you physically move it yourself. ::sigh:: Oh, well. Better luck with my brain cells next time, right?

The watering can and the flowers are from my Cricut sampler cart, but the images are actually from the cartridge called, Walk In My Garden (I think that's right). The paper is from My Mind's Eye. LOVE their stuff! The flower on the can is from American Craft. You can't tell, but I stickled the flowers because they were too flat. They needed something to make them pop.

I hope you ladies enjoyed my weekend of "me time". My mom just called and they decided to keep Noah tonight afterall. Yay! Maybe DH and I will get to go out and do something as a couple!

A very merry unbirthday, to you! to you!

I used to love that song when I was a kid. Loved that movie too. Alice in Wonderland. I want to read the book. I am sure it is so much better! Books usually are better than the movies. imo...

ANYWAY! The theme is birthdays! I have not been keeping up with many of my dear friends and fellow card makers birthdays so last night I broke out the supplies and made a couple of cards for just that purpose.

My dads birthday is coming up in march and my Secret Sister was thoughtful enough to send me Fixafella images. My dad used to be all about his tools and making things. Not so much since his accident. (a few years back he broke his back in a car accident...shouldn't be walking...the disk SHATTERED). But I know he still likes looking and dreaming. So this one is for my dad.

The paper is an unknown brand from my sweet friend and admin Razberrywhine (diane). The other image is from my Riviting SU set. I used my watercolor pencils and Marvy blender pens. I lightly distressed the edges of the images with Soft Leaf colored ink and a sponge. Viola! A manly card!

In all honesty, I am not so sure about this second card. The colors are not what I had hoped on the image. Too dark. But I DID brave purple...I love the color, but I can never make it look right for some reason. I bought this paper like....AGES ago and have no idea who makes it. I also received the House Mouse Birthday Cupcake image as a RAK ages and ages ago. The flowers are American Craft and I stickled to add some bling!

SPRING FEVER~!

Its so close, I can smell it...I can SEE it. Can't you see it on the horizon?? Its not helping that winter has had 70 degre days followed by 20 degree days and then RAIN but basicall NO SNOW. What's up with that? So in my spring feverisness, I am carding hoping that Mother Nature gets the hint....

This first card was made initially for the challenge over on Cafe Mom in the Cute Critters Club group, but I bombed because I didn't read the directions. Had I just READ them I could have made the stars WHITE instead of YELLOW and could have been up for a prize. DUH...It was a President's Day challenge to use RED, WHITE and BLUE only...I used Red, White, Blue and YELLOW....nice...On the plus side, I really love this card. I didn't expect it to be HALF this cute. When I posted it, my sweet, dear friend, the owner of CCC was kind enough to make my card the icon for the group. AWE! Spanks!!!

I used DCWV glitter stack paper (which is SUPER thick, btw) for all of the CS that you see. The stamp is from Stampendous called "Watemelon Bee". I got him from our Secret Sister Swap in CCC. I think I am in love! I used my Cricut to cut my YELLOW stars. (George and Basic Shapes). Also in the SS swap I got my first set of BIC markers. I am in love!!! I may never go back! LOL! Now I need the pastel set!! (I am just never satisfied...)

This second card was made on a whim. I thought it would be fun to make a St. Patricks Day Card but I HATE some of the tacky green cards that I see around. Kind of like the Valentine colors. Too much of a good thing makes you want to barf kind of thing? So I thought, well? think outside the box...and voila!

The image is Goodluckbella (correct me if that name is wrong) and I am not sure where I got the image. I got it in an image swap about a year or more ago and apparently shared all but this one out. The papers are all from K and Company. I LOVE them, have I mentioned that before?? ;) The flower is also K and C. The Eyelets are Making Memories and I used my watercolor pencils and Marvy blender pens to color her. I also used stickles to make her pop a lil more. It just needed some bling,you know?? So here it is!!

Feeling Mousie!

Not sure what happened. I sat down to scrap last night and had NO layout ideas. I made a...well, it was a layout..but not a great one. Therefore I will not show it here. After struggling with that for about an hour, possibly more, I decided to card.

One of the things I have been trying to do is use my GIANT box of awesome scraps. I was looking through hoping for inspiration to hit me, and it did. Right between the eyes. My wonderful friend Diane (Razberrywhine/Pinkberry) sent me these beautiful 2 sided papers ages ago and somehow they got lost in the shuffle. I felt like they were just perfect for one of my favorite stamps: House Mouse's, Two Part Harmony. Once I got it mostly assembled I remembered my new stamp set Riviting and had to add one of the stamps. It was the perfect touch. imo. Well, here you go!

Today, after church I still felt crafty. Noah took a two hour nap, so I checked some email then got to work. The first card I made was also with some paper that Diane sent me. I loved the rustic feel. It really lends itself to my House Mouse images and stamps! I have not used this stamp often. I believe it is called, Writing a Note, but I could be mistaken. I have almost gotten rid of it a few times, but I liked the way this card turned out so I might let it stay around a bit longer. Also, note the appearance of Riviting. I think I might be in love with this set!

This last card (and probably the last one for awhile with my two boys, lol) is also a mouse. I think I see a trend here....This was my very first House Mouse stamp. Its called, "Feeling Rosey." He just looks so content. Like he is really enjoying himself. Again, note Riviting. I think we might be seeing a lot more of that set in the future!

Well, there you have it. I hope you all are having a wonderful, crafty weekend!

That funky monkey!

I LOVE Changito. Have I said that recently? There cute personalities and their spindly little limbs. I found this one today and I am in love! I HAVE to find one somewhere! (Anyone? Anyone? Willing to trade images over here!)

Anyway, this ADORABLE image aside, I actually braved making a card while babysitting. I was shocked! My card just fell together without much thought! It kinda scared me a little bit. I usually have to really think and plan my cards. Not to mention that the boys were nice to each other a good deal of the time it took me! Wowza! I cut out each and every flower. I lost the small petal no less than three times. WHAT was I thinking? lol I received this image from...Possibly Heather (Heathermom8). Its called "Changito Boquet". The sparkly paper is from DCWV. Hope you enjoy!

Lastly, Noah decided to learn to crawl out of his crib last Thursday. SO, since he was crawling out whenever he wanted anyway, we perminantly put him in his toddler bed last night. At least when he was done he could get back IN the bed, right? Ugh. I was so nervous that today was going to be terrible and napless. I was, thankfully, wrong. Noah voluntarily took a nap this morning and it was normal length! SO happy over here !I am under no allusions that all days will be this good, but at least the first transition day was! Here is my big boy!