krafTy mama

Hot Wheels Valentines

2012-02-13T08:44:00.002-06:00

Blake isn't in school yet but just had to have Valentines for his friends at daycare!

Much easier since I only needed 5 and they are mostly boys so I went with Hot Wheels.

Used THIS printable that I found on pinterest (what did we do before it?!?!?)

Thanks for looking! What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Pop Rocks Valentines

2012-02-12T06:44:00.001-06:00

It's almost Valentine's Day! I have never been a big fan of the holiday myself. Before marrying Handyman if I wasn't dating it was just torture and if I was dating someone there was way to much pressure! Now that I am married and have littles it's kinda fun! This year we are making pizza with heart shaped pepperoni and red velvet cupcakes. K Man gets to build a box which means Boo will probably want to also! I actually planned ahead this year for K Mans valentines and decided to use Pop Rocks.

Do you remember Pop Rocks?!?!?

They were the coolest candy when I was a kid - one thing I actually like from the 80's!

Well I looked around our town and couldn't find any so I ordered them from Amazon!

And wouldn't you know they now have ones that turn into gum! Even cooler to a 1st grader!

I made them pretty simple since K Man likes crafting but gets tired and with 24 to make needed to be simple (and let's be honest all but the candy will be in the trash within minutes).

I made a template up on PSE and printed it out with Happy Valentine's Day on the front with room to stamp.

On the back it had To: and From: Kaden printed so all he had to do was write his classmates names (all 24 of them). We then used PTI's Signature Greeting set to stamp Dude you Rock in red on the boys and Girly you rock in pink on the girls. It was easy it was fun I should have left more room but oh well!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Grandparent Valentine

2012-02-11T16:00:00.001-06:00

Here's the Valentine we made for the grandparents.

Idea from pinterest of course!

I created the saying in PSE and printed them off, added the kids thumbprints - getting Ava's was interesting!

I then put them on some polkadot patterned paper added some Doodlebug bakers twine (really like it).

Linked up

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Picture Letter Name

2012-02-06T16:44:00.001-06:00

Here is a super easy project with incredible results!!!

I made this for one of my very best friends for Christmas.

I came up with the idea from.....

Pinterest, where else?

I used THIS collection on flickr.

I turned the pictures black and white and cropped them down to 4x6 in PSE.

Then popped them in frames.

The hardest part was selecting pictures that I could easily crop down to 4x6 as many were too wide.

They just bought a new house so hoping this will be a nice addition!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Ava's Tutu

2012-02-04T10:14:00.000-06:00

So lots of people on FB and SCS were asking me how I made Ava's tutu, especially since they know I don't really sew. It requires no sewing!!! MY kind of project!

I got the idea off of pinterest and THIS blog.
All you need is a stretchy headband which I got from Hobby Lobby for 79 cents and tulle. I got two spools one of dark purple and one of light. It could be done with just one spool. The spools were like $1.50 each at Hobby Lobby half off (everything at HL goes on sale if you wait!) So the tutu was less than $4 with tulle left over! (more than enough for other projects, like her headband).

To make the tutu cut 56 strips of tulle (I think). Mine were 24 inches long because they would be doubled so 12 i nches and I want this tutu to last for pictures the whole year. If you don't need it to last that long you can adjust accordingly. You then tie the tulle to the holes in the headband. VERY easy! Trim up when finished if necessary and viola you have a cheap cute tutu. I see more of these in our future!

Let me know what you think! I think her Halloween costume is going to involve a tutu!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Ava is One Month Old!

2012-01-29T15:04:00.002-06:00

How is that even possible? I JUST had her! This means I go back to work Tuesday! :( So very sad about that!

Look how smart she is! She even knows she's one month old!

This one's my fave for some reason! I used a lovely treatment in PSE for all these - really like it!

Look how long the tutu is! It will be neat when she's bigger and it's not so long anymore! I think it will give a good perspective! Oh and I made her tutu I saw the idea on Pinterest and made her headband! The stickers are from Purple Possum on Etsy.

linked up here

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Craft Room Reorganize!

2012-01-28T16:04:00.000-06:00

It's a ways into the new year and I am thinking man if I am going to scrap I really need to get my room organized! You see we were living in a duplex in Savannah while trying to sell the house and that got to be just to much! So back into the house we went and 30 minute drive returned! Oh well. I HAVE had my scrapbook room organized more than once! This is the 3rd room in this house it's been in as well as the move to the duplex!

It now shares an upstairs room with Ava (who is still in bassinet in our room so it's all good). This used to be our bedroom and Andrew just recently added on a huge closet. This is what it currently looks like.

YIKES!!! I know right?!?!?!

Well luckily my friend Christie at Two Chicks Designs is hosting a Get Organized Challenge for the next month! Just what I needed!

To join go to this FB event.

Or check them out on their blog HERE.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Ava Graphic Print

2012-01-25T11:16:00.000-06:00

So life with a newborn and two older children is crazy!!!!!

I am not finding nearly enough time to scrap as I would like! I am spending a LOT of time on Pinterest though! That is where I found the original idea for the print I made for today's post. It is a graphic type art print with Ava's birth stats. I used purples and browns cause that will be the colors of her room if we ever get it done (right now she's just in bassinet on main floor by our room and her room is also my scrapbook room, MAN I want a new house!) ANYWAYS, it was fairly simple to create in Photoshop Elements. I created the document to be 7.5 inches by 10 so that I can double matte it when I put it in a frame. I made the boys one also but need to double check the stats on theirs! YIKES! Bad mommy?!?!? I hope not. That's why we scrapbook right? To record all these things so we don't have to be able to recall them at a moments notice?!?!

Here is the print, can't wait to print it off!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Chow Time

2012-01-22T11:50:00.000-06:00

Here's another layout I did Monday while scrapping with my girls! I had thrown together several "page kits" a while back for crops and such and this was one of those. The pictures are REALLY old so it felt good to get them scrapped! I used a random sketch I had printed off and the papers are Echo Par Little Boy. I also used Jillibean Soup Corrugated Stars and Bo Bunny to the Moon alpha stickers. Thanks for looking!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Late Christmas Layout

2012-01-19T11:48:00.000-06:00

Here is a layout I did of this year's Christmas photo (notice no Ava) using Allison Davis' One Page Sketch #16. I only used one picture and turned it horizontally. I also moved the title but the basic sketch is still evident. I used Simple Stories Christmas Collection for this layout and it worked great with the sepia toned picture. The photo matte is one piece with an overlay over the picture. Quick and Simple!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

What's going on?

2012-01-17T12:00:00.000-06:00

I have been missing for awhile!

This is what's been going on.

Moving out of duplex

Closing of Pink Whimsy

Thanksgiving

My dad battling cancer

Being preggo

Kaden's Christmas Program

My dad passed away from cancer on December 15

Christmas

Ava's due date came and went

Ava was finally born on December 29

New Year's Eve

abnormally warm January making my boys crazy!

Trying to assimilate to our new normal around here! I did get some scrapping in yesterday so hopefully I will have something to share with you!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

November Pink Whimsy Kits

2011-11-01T19:42:00.000-05:00

Play Date Includes

Simple Stories Happy Day Celebrate
Jillibean Soup Sour Salt
Jillibean Soup Raisins
Jillibean Soup Tomato Sauce
Jillibean Soup Sweet and Sour Soup Bite Size Bits
October Afternoon Sidewalks Jump Rope
October Afternoon Sidewalks Hide and Seek
October Afternoon Sidewalks Red Rover
October Afternoon Sidewalks Red Light Green Light
October Afternoon Sidewalks Duck Duck Goose
1 American Crafts Crimson
1 American Crafts Parfait
1 American Crafts Miss
1 Bazzill Lakeshore
2 American Crafts Chestnut
2 American Crafts Kraft
Embellishments:
1 Jillibean Soup Sweet and Sour Soup Cardstock Stickers
1 October Afternoon Sidewalks Shape Stickers
Assorted October Afternoon Miscellany Pieces
Assorted Crochet flowers
1 yard yellow Fancy Pants Designs Ric Rac
1 yard aqua polka dot ribbon
1 yard reversible brown ribbon with dots and stripes
Assorted buttons
Rhinestone buttons
Contains 3 Exclusive Pink Prints Sketches!

Game Time Includes

Patterned Paper:
Bella Blvd. Wall of Fame
Bella Blvd. Bliss
Bella Blvd. Soccer
Little Yellow Bicycle Christmas Plaid
Little Yellow Bicycle Game Day Words
Little Yellow Bicycle Game Day Words Blue
Little Yellow Bicycle Field Dirt
Little Yellow Bicycle Game On Pennants
Jillibean Soup Red Beans
7 Gypsies Naxos
1 American Crafts Dandelion
1 American Crafts Denim
1 American Crafts Moss
1 American Crafts Crimson
2 American Crafts Black
2 American Crafts Kraft
1 Bella Blvd Making the Team Cute Cuts
1 Bella Blvd Making the Team Miniatures Stickers
1 Bella Blvd. Making the Team Borders
1 Echo Park Dots and Stripes Alpha Stickers
Assorted Die Cut Stars
Assorted Buttons
1 yard navy velvet ric rac
1 yard twine
1 yard Fancy Pants Designs red gingham ribbon
1 strip black paper ribbon (2/3 yard)
1 yard orange ribbon
1 yard green fabric trim
Assorted buttons
Rhinestone buttons
Contains 3 Exclusive Pink Prints Sketches!

Holiday Sparkle Includes

Authentique Wonder "Anticipation
Authentique Wonder "Yearning"
Authentique Wonder "Surprise"
Making Memories Twinkle Poinsettia Stripe
Making Memories Twinkle Music
Little Yellow Bicycle Home For Christmas
Little Yellow Bicycle Joy & Peace
Little Yellow Bicycle Christmas Village
Little Yellow Bicycle Simple Stripe
Bo Bunny Father Christmas Berries
2 American Crafts Vanilla
2 American Crafts Moss
2 American Crafts Crimson
2 American Crafts Chestnut
Embellishments:
1 Making Memories Twinkle Word Fetti
1 Authentique Wonder Tabloids Die Cuts
1 Authentique Wonder Petite Type Circle Alpha
1 Pink Paislee Glitter Alpha
1 yard Pink Paislee Red Tinsel Trim
1 yard Pink Paislee Gold Tinsel Trim
1 strip red glitter tulle
1 yard Fancy Pants Designs Red Gingham ribbon
Assorted buttons in red, green, brown, and cream
Assorted clear rhinestone buttons
Assorted Making Memories Twinkle Shimmer Die Cuts
1 strip black paper ribbon (2/3 yard)
1 yard orange ribbon
1 yard green fabric trim
Assorted buttons
Rhinestone buttons
Contains 3 Exclusive Pink Prints Sketches!

Shop Directly through my site HERE

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Makin it Dimensional with Bo Bunny

2011-10-17T18:31:00.000-05:00

Here is my first offical layout for my baby GIRL! *squeal* so excited to do girly layouts!

It's her ultrasound pictures :) I used Bo Bunny's Jazmyne Collection it is a much older line but it is so beautiful! It has beautiful colors and shades of purple which is my favorite color and therefore what the baby's room will be done in! :) I wanted to add lots of dimension so it would qualify for THIS challenge on the Bo Bunny blog so I layered up chipboard accents, flowers, buttons, twine and bling!

Here is a close up of one of the sections. Thanks so much for looking and keep watching for more GIRLY layouts!!!!!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Jillibean Sketch using Apple Cheddar from Pink Whimsy

2011-10-15T08:46:00.000-05:00

This is a layout of an afternoon we spent at Schweizer Orchard a locally owned (I teach with the daughter in law) orchard near Savannah. We picked apples, played and had a lovely day! I used the Jillibean Sketch found HERE.

I absolutely LOVE this collection! LOVE LOVE LOVE! I used a bunch of different elements from it and inked them all up! above you can see the diecuts and a label sticker some are popped up on pop dots. I love that you can get everything the paper, the stickers the die cuts for one price from Pink Whimsy! Trust me you will use every single piece of this paper and be wanting more! I know I am!

Another cluster of embellishments!

The title I used Jillibean soup corrugated alpahs and tiny kraft stickers.

Order the collection pack from PW now! HERE

or order our limited monthly Kit Fabulous Fall which has several of the pieces of this collection combined with other papers and embellishments and cs! HERE

Will ship directly to you! Be sure to put my name in the Creative Consultant! Tessa Miller-Schweder

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

October Pink Whimsy Kits

2011-10-12T06:28:00.001-05:00

Here they are!!!! The October Pink Whimsy Kits!

I am so in love with these kits!!!!

I can NOT pick a favorite, ok yes I can but I really like them all!

First up a good ole' Halloween kit! Create some home decor, premake layouts for the big night, or if you are like me work on catching up from the last 5 years of Halloween photos!

In this Happy Hauntings kit you will receive:

Authentique Glowing "Thrill"
Authentique Glowing "Enchanted"
Authentique Glowing "Lustrous"
Authentique Glowing "Afterglow"
Bella Blvd. Too Cute Too Spook Borders
Bella Blvd. Too Cute Too Spook Full Moon
Bella Blvd. Too Cute Too Spook Jacks-A-Glow
Bella Blvd. Too Cute Too Spook Itsy Bitsy Spider
Bella Blvd. Too Cute Too Spook Quadrants
1 American Crafts Apricot
1 American Crafts Grape
2 American Crafts Black
2 American Crafts Kraft
1 Bella Blvd Too Cute Too Spook Alpha + Bits Stickers
1 Authentique Glowing Headlines Title
1 strip black paper ribbon (2/3 yard)
1 yard orange ribbon
1 yard green fabric trim
Assorted buttons
Rhinestone buttons
3 Exclusive Pink Prints Sketches!

this is my favorite, probably cause of the Jillibean Soup! I am a wee bit obsessed with Jillibean Soup! This kit is great for all your fall pictures! Back to School, Apple Picking, Pumpkin Patch and more! In this Kit, Fabulous Fall you will recieve:

Crate Paper Farmhouse Farmers Market
Jillibean Soup Shredded Cabbage
Jillibean Soup Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Jillibean Soup Green Peppercorns
Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Soup Bite Size Bits
Bella Blvd. Leaf Pile
Bella Blvd. You're a Hoot
Simple Stories Endless Summer
1 American Crafts Scarlet
1 Bazzill Lakeshore
2 American Crafts Chestnut
2 American Crafts Kraft
1 Bella Blvd Finally Fall Alpha + Bits Stickers
1 Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Soup Pea Pod Parts
1 strip Blue Check fabric ribbon (2/3 yard)
1 yard orange ribbon
1 yard brown ribbon
Assorted buttons
Assorted Flowers
3 Exclusive Pink Prints Sketches!

and I love this for October in Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month a Think Pink kit!!!! For which I will donate $5 to our local Paint the Parkway Pink Charity that raises money for the Susan G Komen foundation.

In this kit you will recieve:

Authentique Uncommon Unique
Authentique Uncommon Gifted
Authentique Uncommon Rare
Authentique Uncommon Distinct
Echo Park Paper Windchime
Echo Park Paper Picket Fence
Echo Park Paper Garden Trellis
Echo Park Paper Rose
Echo Park Paper Rose Garden
1 American Crafts Grapefruit
1 American Crafts Butter
2 American Crafts Charcoal
2 American Crafts Vanilla
1 Echo Park Paper Victoria Garden Alpha Stickers
1 Echo Park Paper Victoria Garden Element Stickers
1 Authentique Uncommon Diction Stickers
1 Fancy Pants Designs Sweet Glitter Title
1 yard Brown Tulle
1 yard pink raffia
1 yard sheer pink polka dot ribbon
Assorted buttons
Assorted Flowers
3 Exclusive Pink Prints Sketches!

There are 3 options to purchase right now:

1 month one of the above kits for $32 which includes shipping.

3 months which will start with this month (one of the kits above) and one of next month's its (November) and December for $90 which is a savings of $6!!!

OR for the best deal sign up for 6 months which will start with this month and include November, December, January, February and March for $180 which is a savings if $12.

In the notes to seller please just put which kit you would like.

To sweeten the deal a bit I will be running TWO contests this month!

Contest 1 is simple, purchase from me and be entered to win a $10 GC!
Any purchase = 1 entry
Kit purchase = 2 entries
3 month kit subscription = 3 entries
6 month kit subscription = 6 entries

Contest 2 purchase a kit and make something and link to this post to be entered to win! No limit on how many entries can enter a card, tag, layout or other project!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Sneek Peeks and a contest!

2011-10-11T06:44:00.001-05:00

No time for a full post but I have been scrappin!

Here are some sneek peeks of what's coming soon!

Anyone take a guess at what 3 companies and lines I used here?!?!?!? Anyone get it by Friday night at 5 pm Central and I will give them a prize!!!! More than one correct answer and I will draw from those that are correct. Must have Company and Collection.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

The winner is...

2011-10-08T08:44:00.000-05:00

Ashley Newell!

For the September Pink Whimsy Kit Poll Contest! Ashley claim your prize of a $10 product credit to Pink Whimsy - you must order through me not directly on the website. Thanks and be on the look out for our next contest!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Hope Floats

2011-10-07T20:01:00.000-05:00

I was home with a sick kiddo today :( but it gave me a little bit of time to make a card while he slept.

It is for SCS's Hope You Can Cling to Challenges and uses one of my favorite techniques, Paper Piecing making it eligible for the Wee Memories Challenge.

This is just the balloons.

Here is the whole card.

I made my own sentiment with Papertrey Ink's Simple Alphabet that I thought went with the balloons.

Supplies:

CS: Dark Chocolate, Hibiscus Burst, White all PTI

Ink: Dark Chocolate, Hibiscus Burst PTI

Stamps: Absolutely Priceless by Unity which coordinates with Simple Stories Baby Collection, and Simple Alphabet by PTI

Other: EK Success border punch

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Embellish Apples

2011-10-04T06:44:00.001-05:00

I have something for apples lately. Not sure if it's a fall thing or a teacher thing.

I made this for Kaden's teacher just to thank her for everything she does for him and putting up with me!

She is a wonderful teacher! The Embellish Challenge was to use the color combo and circles this is what I came up with.

I stamped 3 different apples from Paper Trey Ink's Teacher's Apple onto white circles and then added the circles to larger green SU cs circles. I then added some stems. I added the sentiment to the bottom and some bakers twine.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

All Things Unity Ispired

2011-10-03T06:15:00.000-05:00

So I was playing with my new Unity stamp To the Core that coordinates with Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Soup Collection from Pink Whimsy - available NOW! I wanted to make something so I thought I would try the All Things Unity for some Inspiration which sent me to etsy where I found this:

A cute little apple cozy from Natalya's Studio! But more so I liked the colors and was inspired to make something using the colors and apples! :) This is what I came up with:

I kept it simple hoping to use it as a Make and Take at an upcoming show. I used Fine Linen CS, Apple Cheddar Soup pps, and stamped the sentiment and apple in Dark Chocolate ink. I also used some Dark Chocolate Bakers Twine. Super easy and will hopefully inspire people to want to stamp/scrap! I am trying to convince Christie, my friend and owner of Pink Whimsy to carry stamps, specifically Unity stamps that coordinate with paper lines! I have to convince her I can sell them! I don't think that's too hard but maybe it will be! So do you buy Unity stamps? For stamping for for scrapbooking?

Remember to order you can contact me, or order directly through my site and have it shipped straight to you!

My site : Tessa's Pink Whimsy

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

ODBDSLC78

2011-10-02T17:55:00.000-05:00

For those of you close to me you know that my Dad has been diagnosed with a form of carcinoma and the prognosis is not great. It has been devastating to us but we are trying to focus on the time we DO have and hoping he is as tough as we think and can beat or make it much longer than they think. I wanted to make a card to just lift up him and my mom since I feel like I can't be there as much as I want.

I wanted to use a scripture and looking through my scripture stamps I found Isaiah 41:10 which is perfect I think.

I decided to make it the focus of the card which is perfect for the Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge.

I was going for simple but elegant. I embossed Fine Linen CS with a Damask CB folder. I stamped the scripture on the same cs in Ripe Avacado ink and cut it out with Nestablitites oval and layered it. Behind that I added a punched strip with some ribbon. A bit of bling and there you have it.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Last Day of September

2011-09-30T18:57:00.000-05:00

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MME Streaker

2011-09-29T19:11:00.002-05:00

Quick layout using Stella and Rose MME Hattie papers and THIS sketch that I didn't get blogged in time to link to the MME site :( Story of my life! Oh well, anyway I inked up all the edges and used the chipboard accents from the Fine and Dandy True Blue collection. I also used an old Autumn Leaves (I think) stamp for the journaling spot. Thanks for looking

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

PLAY - Crafting Family Sketch

2011-09-27T07:03:00.001-05:00

Don't forget you still have till Friday to vote for your favorite September Pink Whimsy kit in the side bar and comment on THIS post to win!!!!

So I have had this OLD, thin Bo Bunny paper for ever! It is really thin but I liked it and wanted to use it. This was finally the layout! I used the Crafting Family Sketch and changed it up a bit. I added some Tim Holtz tickets, some chipboard letters which I painted with Jenni Bowlin paint dauber and made a gluber using MME burlap (should have cut it down). Thanks for looking.

Supplies:

Paper: OLD Bo Bunny

Tools: SU scallop edge punch, Scallop Circle punch, EK success big scallop punch, white gel pen, Cosmo Cricket Gluber

Other: Basic Grey chipboard letters, Jenni Bowlin paint (green) Tim Holtz tickets, MME Burlap, Random button, white gel pen

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

TGF Edward for Halloween

2011-09-24T19:24:00.001-05:00

So I felt like coloring today and so I decided to check out Friday's Greeting Farm Challenge. It was to create a Halloween themed card. Oh goodie! I love Halloween! I don't have any TGF stamps that are specifically for Halloween so I decided to go with Edward :) I hadn't inked him up yet and he seemed like a good choice.

He is stamped on SU shimmer CS cause it IS Edward after all and I felt he needed to sparkle! LOL! Ink bled on his face even with heat setting though :(. I colored him with copics, for the hair I used a multi - liner cause I realized I took my black marker to school for a project - I think it actually turned out quite nicely!

And for the finished project

I used Tim Holtz patterned paper and a Martha Stewart border punch for the fence (isn't it fun). I added a bit of black seam biding to the bottom. Edward himself is popped up with dimensionals. TFL!

It works for the Wee Memories patterned paper challenge as well :)

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

No Patterned Paper, WMS Sketch, Not Big on Pink!

2011-09-23T07:55:00.000-05:00

Yes I am still alive (just barely at times but still). I am ready for Christmas break already or at least A break! I did manage to make a card this week though to share. And it works for THREE challenges! WOW

There is no patterned paper for the Wee Memories Challenge.

Sketch is Waltzing Mouse and uses the WMS sentiment

and it fits the Our Creative Corner not big on pink challenge with the colors and texture and there are metal "attachers" from Tim Holtz's tiny attacher on either end of the burlap. Thanks for stopping by today! Hope yo have a great day!

CS: Dark Chocolate, Hibiscus Burst, Soft Rain, Cream all PTI

Stamps: WMS and PTI

Ink: Dark Chocolate and Spring Rain PTI

Other: Burlap MME, Bakers Twine PTI, Martha Stewart border punch, Threading Water Fiskars punch, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

MME Birthday from Pink Whimsy

2011-09-18T06:39:00.009-05:00

Here is a quickie layout that I whipped up using MME's birthday mini collection. There is a boy and girl version and they are BOTH available from Pink Whimsy! This is Kaden's birthday dinner from this past summer! I can't believe he is seven! Everything is from the kit except the 7 stamp which is Unity. I used Sassy Lil Sketches for this as well.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Pink Whimsy Kits

2011-08-12T09:46:00.001-05:00

And here are the kits for August/September! Being the first month the company is in business the kits will go through September. They are $25 plus shipping which is a phenomenal deal! You get 6 sheets of crdstock, 9 sheets of name brand patterned paper and lots of embellishments!!!!! Oh and 3 exclusive Pink Prints Sketches! There will be an auto-ship program which I know I will be signing up for but more details on that later! Here are the kits!

Out of the Blue

includes 7 gypsies papers, MME papers, American Crafts CS, alphas embellishments 3 exclusive sketches and more!

Splendid

includes Authentique papers, MME papers, Echo Park Papers, American Crafts cs, Authentique alphas, and stickers and more embellishments including flowers and ribbon! Oh and 3 different exclusive sketches.

And finally we have Everyday

which includes Bo Bunny Papers, Echo Park Papers, MME Papers, American Crafts CS and lots of embellishments including buttons, ribbon, diecuts, stickers and 3 more different exclusive sketches!

What do you think? Which one is your favorite? Post here and I will draw a winner from the posts to win a $10 GC from me for Pink Whimsy on October 1st.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Put some Whimsy in Your Life!

2011-08-10T16:14:00.001-05:00

I am thrilled to announce that I am one of the very first Creative Consultants for Pink Whimsy! A brand spankin new direct sales company created by Christie Welch of Scrapbook Chicks, Finished in Fifteen, and Two Chicks Designs. She is a trustworthy, reliable, business-minded person with a great vision for scrapbooking.

Pink Whimsy is not just for scrapbookers though! (ut they do have the best supplies and apparel around) They also carry the cutest home decor items! So really something for everyone!

To purchase supplies, apparel or decor items simply use this link directly

Tessa Miller-Schweder Pink Whimsy Site

1. Go to pinkwhimsy.com.
2. Click on Start Shopping.
3. Click on Tessa Miller-Schweder

products ordered from the site will be mailed directly to you!

Oh and be sure to check back often as new items including Unity Stamps, Spellbinders and all the new Bo Bunny and Jililbean Soup collections are being added daily!

If you have always wanted to be part of a direct sales company but were hesitant NOW is the time to try!!!! Since it is a BRAND new company our 1st "quarter" runs through December 31st!!!! Plenty of time to make your minimums and see if this is right for you! Sign up is only $50 plus shipping!

To learn more visit this section of the Pink Whimsy Site

Become a Consultant

to join add the consultant kit to your cart (there are 3 to choose from) and type my name Tessa Miller-Schweder in the Referral Upline Coordinator Spot

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Lil Squirt

2011-07-20T05:41:00.000-05:00

Had a great time at the scrapbook retreat! Made a cool altered canvas that I will post soon! Also did several layouts but I need to photograph and edit them. So here is a layout from a while back that I did at my friend Shelly's house. She commented and you might notice too that I do a LOT of water/pool layouts. Well what can I say?, that's what we do all summer! In this one I actually got my husband to do to the pool with us! It's almost scary how much he and my youngest son look and act alike! Pretty simple layout but I was doing 3 of the same pool trip! One for each of the boys books and one for the family album! I used Cosmo Cricket Salt Air, Jillibean Soup corrugated alphas, Cricut Life's A Beach, and even did some sewing!

Here is a close up of the life preserver embellishment I made using Life's a Beach. I decided to use DMC floss instead of the paper cut out to go through the little holes, I really like it!

This shows another embellishment I made by punching out two layers and putting them together, also shows the sewing. Thanks for looking, check back soon!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Floral Birthday Card

2011-07-15T07:23:00.009-05:00

My friend Natalie has a birthday today!!!! This is the card that I made for her. She is getting the matte for the Sew Easy as well. I also leave for a Scrapbook Crop tomorrow BRIGHT and EARLY!!! Hoping I might get to see Harry Potter 7 tonight!

I cased this from the gallery at Splitcoast stampers. It was really pretty quick and easy. I used my big shot to cut out the tattered floral Tim Holtz die and inked the edges and sprayed it with glimmer mist. while still wet I molded the petals some. The border was made using an EK success punch. The sentiment is on the SU curvy label punch? seems like it might be a different one. The happy birthday is from the Taylored Expressions set and I added some bling that I colored with Copics.

Thanks for looking!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Baby Cards

2011-07-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

Ok there is something in the air/water whatever! Everyone around me seems to be preggo! I have 3 friends who just had babies and lots more who are preggo. And one very special one trying to get preggo so let's send some of whatever this is to her please! This summer I have made 3 baby cards and the last one is being induced today, the other two are already here! :)

This first one is for a boy obviously and uses Basic Grey Oliver Collection with Verve to the Moon stamp set and VLV sketch from june. I just love those little critters. I colored them with copics - think I am getting better! The die cut shape is from PTI and the pleated thing I made myself - maybe a tutorial on that is in order.

This next one uses Mamabella which I haven't pulled out my bellas forever so that was fun! Again colored with copics - bellas are HARD to color with copics! Oval nesties, Seam Binding, button and twine!

And this one is for a sweet baby girl who is being born today!!! I saw this idea on SCS and just had to try it myself! I think it is so cute! I used Close to Cocoa cs and inked the edges, used pink brads and made a hanger out of jewelry wire.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*
Tessa

This boy!

2011-07-06T12:07:00.000-05:00

My son and his buddy on an October afternoon on our playset. I used Crate Paper's Toy Box line that I got from Scrapbook Chicks at their crop. And now in the store it's on clearance!!!!! Check it out HERE! I just love Christie - the chief chick and her store! She has weekly deals that come out on Wednesdays but you can get in on it early by watching their ustream broadcast on Tuesday nights at 9 pm CENTRAL. Check out their facebook page for all the updates HERE!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Mama's Boy?

2011-06-30T08:05:00.000-05:00

I love this picture! I have wanted to scrap it for so long but couldn't figure out just the right paper and lo. At the Scrapbook Chicks crop last month I got this kit in my goodie bag it's some older fancy pants and it was perfect! I used the Tim Holtz Gear dies and EK sucess border bunch. The little Jillibean letters at the bottom say. " I ain't no mama's boy, but boy I sure to love my mama!" I can't wait till the next crop in July! Find out all the details on their site Scrapbook Chicks.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Bo Bunny Blast Off! Buddies

2011-06-24T08:02:00.000-05:00

Layout using Bo Bunny's Blast Off! collection that I got from Scrapbook Chicks. I need to make lists of paper lines coming out so I don't wind up with 3 space lines! Really who needs 3 space lines? Though this is definitely my fave! You can use it for so much! Super cute and I love Bo Bunny's double dot cardstock that they have that coordinates with each of their lines!!! I used a layout from Sketchy Thursday but didn't get it uploaded in time :( story of my life lately!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Father's Day Cards

2011-06-19T21:16:00.000-05:00

My first card is for my husband. He loves Hawaii so I went with a fun tropical color theme and stamp set Happy Days from Verve. I was going to enter it into their June challenge but it didn't turn out quite as well as I had hoped. But oh well. It still works for the Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge, and SCS direct to paper technique and Play Date Cafe's Challenge this week. I stamped everything in versamark, then embossed it with white EP and applied the ink directly to the paper over it wiping it off the embossed part with a paper towel. I hand cut everything out and layered it up.

The second card for my father I like much better!!! I did some insane masking using 3 different stamps to create this fishing scene which I then colored with copics. I used Gina K's stamp TV Free For All Friday challenge which was a sketch AND to use TREES. So to continue that theme I embossed the two background panels with Tim Holtz wood grain embossing folder.

I hope you all have a wonderful day with the dad's in your life!

Hawaiian Fathers Day Card:

CS: Summer Sunrise, Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shores

Ink: same plus versamark and Spring moss

Stamp: Happy Days by Verve

Other: White Embossing Powder, Dots Embossing Folder

Dad's Day Fishing Card

CS: Terracotta Tile, Smokey Shadow, Ripe Avacado

Ink: Pallet Noir and Smokey Shadow

Stamp: Gone Fishing by Theresa Momber for Gina K

Other: Nestabilities Lables, Copic Markers, Silver Brads, Wood Grain Embossing Folder

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*
Tessa

Cricut Vinyl!

2011-04-10T18:04:00.000-05:00

I've been playing with my Cricut using Vinyl!!!! I got a 12x24 matte and decided it was time to use the vinyl I had sitting here! This is what I came up with

for my krafty room

in a fun little font!

and in the dining room - wanted to put in living room but wouldn't stick on textured walls

I like them!! What do you think?!?!? Oh and I am hooked!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

3 in 1!

2011-04-09T18:14:00.000-05:00

I started this card for the Verve Friday Sketch challenge, then I found my colors using Color Throwdown #136 and when I saw Wee Memories challenge to use twine? I threw that on there too!

This set Great Friend by Verve is new to me. I fell in love with it when Jen Tapler used it to make the prettiest vellum flower on a blog hop - which I just happened to win a Verve GC on! So of course I HAD to order that set!!!! I stamped the three sizes of flowers in Terracotta Tile on vellum and heat embossed them with clear EP then cut them out and layered them. I colored in the petals with a pale blue copic marker which is barely noticeable but whatever! I layered with demensionals and added a Copic colored pearl to the center. The kraft background is embossed with the Leafy Branch folder from CB and for it to show better I used vellum for the square panels as well which I punched with my pink Marvy scallop punch. I stamped for you from the same set. Behind the flower I layered Terracotta Tile cs punched with SU scalloped border punch, with a Soft Sky circle behind the flower and soft sky on top of the scalloped piece. I added some twine ;) and some krinkle ribbon! Finished it off with some colored pearls!!!!

Color Throwdown was to use Orange, Soft Sky, and Kraft hope my Terracotta Tile works I am not a big fan of orange!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

First Time Using Flower Soft

2011-04-08T06:04:00.001-05:00

and honestly I am still not sure about it! Sorry those of you who love it! I have had it for awhile now and finally sucked it up and tried it for the Flower Soft challenge on SCS, mine pales in comparison to the ones on there but oh well. I used a flower image from GKD Sending Sunshine by Theresa Momber and the outline is from Waltzing Mouse stamps. The flower soft is Spring.

The challenge was for a square card and the Sassy Card sketch was perfect! I colored some pearls with Copics as well as the stems. I matted the image on Pale Plum cut with Nestabilities Scalloped Square and then a Perfect Plum square behind that.

What do you think? I am NOT in love with it or flower soft, should I give Flower Soft another try?

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Wee Memories - A Rainbow of Butterflies

2011-04-04T06:04:00.008-05:00

First off - Happy Birthday to my husband Andrew.

He has to work tonight so we celebrated this weekend. We went out to dinner Saturday, then I made German chocolate cake Sunday and he grilled steaks and shrimp. You can scroll down to see his birthday card ~ it's the Copic Beach scene.

But for today's card I have something a little brighter for you.

It is for Challenge #50 at Wee Memories. I have seen this done before and so when I saw the bright rainbow of colors in the inspiration piece I decide to give it a try. I used a Martha Stewart butterfly punch to punch out cs scraps and lined up the butterflies. I then colored some clear bling with copics (another reason I am in <3 with them) and added it. The sentiment is from one of Dawn McVey's little sets by PTI.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Bonus Post - GYSO Road Trip

2011-04-03T22:04:00.000-05:00

This so did NOT turn out the way I expected!!! Oh well it's a finished layout right?!?!?

I used sketch #13 from Get Your Sketch On but changed it up a bit. All the papers and stickers are from Simple Stories destinations - available RIGHT NOW from me! I have it IN stock! Oh except the two strips of signs which are Basic Grey from the Wander line. That's it peeps! over and out!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Birthday Boy Continued

2011-04-03T12:50:00.000-05:00

and here it is the rest of the birthday boy layout! and whaddya know, I used another Sassy Sketch! It was just perfect for lots of photos which is what I had!

I continued the spotted number strip across the back from the other page but the rest is pretty true to the sketch. These pictures are from an impromptu party we had for Blake at Andrew's parents in August two months before his actual birthday cause they weren't going to be up for his actual birthday. Here is both pages together ~ I think it works!

Lots of Jillibean soup goodness and border punches! Thanks for looking!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Squeal!

2011-04-02T12:37:00.001-05:00

EEEEK! The new Memory Works catty is finally live online!!! Check it out HERE.

The email me to order!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

NEW Cheeky Beach Girl

2011-04-02T06:44:00.001-05:00

Isn't she fabulous?!?!?! I got home Friday and she was here waiting for me from All That Scraps!!! I colored her last night with Copic markers - think I am finally getting the hang of them! Then when I woke up this morning I saw this month's Sketch for You To Try and decided to use it with her!!! No sentiment yet I will add it when I decide who to give her too!!! This fits the Farm Fresh Friday Challenge to use NEW items! She is new and Copics are NEW to me!

Thanks so much for looking and be sure to check out the Sketch for You To Try and the Farm Fresh Friday Challenges!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Just Ducky!

2011-04-01T20:44:00.001-05:00

Isn't this little guy from Verve just ADORABLE!!!!!!!! I used old Jillibean Soup Egg Drop soup from last Spring it is the best Easter/Spring line! I colored Mr. Duck with Copic markers and added some highlights with a white sharpie paint pen. So bright and cheery and springy! I know it's alot of patterns and I actually had a pattern where the pink cs was and thought it was too much - yes me! that's for you Natalie~! I just love all the layers and details! I used the Viva la Verve sketch!!!! So fun! I was inspired by the Colors at Off the Wall Craftiness - they just scream spring and Easter!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

I spot an owl, and a sketch!

2011-03-30T11:26:00.000-05:00

This is for the March 7th Sassy Sketch - I started it and knew I was going to have to do a two pager with all the pictures I had - that and I am trying to do more 2 pagers for a certain sb store owner who I promote! ;) So I went ahead and made this page for the right side of the sketch! I really like how it turned out and I just love this Jillibean Soup spotted owl collection that I got at SCRAPBOOK CHICKS!!! It worked perfectly for this birthday layout but look closely you could so use it for many many other things!!!! TFL! STay tuned for the other half of this layout!!!!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

How about some Krafty Kandy?!?!?!?

2011-03-30T08:36:00.000-05:00

Ok here's the deal - I have been blogging for over 3 years and I barely have any followers! Which eh not that big of a deal I do this more for me than for anyone else! BUT I have some good things coming up and I want to be able to share them with as many people as possible!!!! Good things I assure you! So I want more followers!!! And comments - I love comments they truly make my day!!! I battle with anxiety and depression and so something simple as a blog comment really has a deep effect on me! So to reward my followers both current and hopefully new I am going to give away some KANDY! It will be good! Let me start by saying it will be housed in a Little Yellow Bicycle Bag!!!! There will be paper and embellies and stamps and more - some new some used but all totally awesome of course!!!!! To have a chance at this incredible blog candy you need to do the following:

Follow me through google - post that you already do or follow then post that you have started 1 chance

Follow me on network blogs on FB - link to the left - post that you already do or start then post 1 chance

Comment on a project post 1 chance per time (comment on this post each time you do) You must comment on my actual blog not FB though I like those too! :)

Click on my Scrapbook Chicks link at the top under my picture and post what your favorite product is 1 chance

Link me on your sidebar - I love blogger buddies - comment here with link 1 chance

This contest will be open for 1 month until April 30th which is a Saturday!

I will draw a winner when I get home Sunday night from the Scrapbook Chicks crop in Witchita!

So start following and start commenting!!!!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Toes in the Water...

2011-03-29T08:30:00.000-05:00

....@ss in the sand. Oh how I long for the sun and the beach!!!! Not going to be going anytime soon so this card will have to tide me over! It is a one layer image that I colored with Copics. I used THIS tutorial on You Tube to color the background. I then stamped the dock from Theresa Momber's Gone Fishing which I won awhile back. I then colored it in with my copics. I added some seagulls and the sentiment from Melanie's Gifts from the Sea.

I then trimmed it and matted it on some cs! This will probably be Andrew's birthday card since it is coming up! I loosely used this sketch from Sassy CARD sketches HERE.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

2 Infinity.....

2011-03-25T20:04:00.000-05:00

say it with me.......and beyond!

Quick layout for you - one that almost sent me over the edge! I cut the paper wrong TWICE! lost the journaling spot and lost the embellishment, then my tape runner ran out! Needless to say I packed it in after that! But I managed to come back and finish it up and it turned out pretty good in spite of things!

I used the NEW To The Moon Line by Fancy Pants that I got from Christie at Scrapbook Chicks!

Have you checked out Scrapbook Chicks yet? Yes - isn't it GREAT!?!?!? No - What are you waiting for!?!??!?! They are the BEST!!! Latest and greatest products - BEST prices, excellent customer service, and fast shipping! What more could you want?!?!?! A crop? They are having one April 29,30 and May 1st!!! Click HERE then click on Scrapbook Retreat at the top! I am going and I am sooooooo excited! Be sure to mention I referred you! She even has a reward program where you earn credit for MORE great scrappy stuff! Oh and don't forget to check out the LIVE U stream videos on Tuesday nights at 9pm central! Just click the link HERE to go to their Ustream page - you have to sign up but it's free and so fun! Christie shares layouts, does give aways, we chat it's so fun! Oh and if you do stop by please say hi and that I sent you! :)

Ok enough of my rambling here's the stamped image I used on my layout

It is from the Gina K Designs set Oh Boy by Tami Mayberry I colored it with Copic Markers B95, B97, B99, R29 and R27 and Y00, Y35, and Y38 I then added some gold gel pen for highlights. I cut it out and popped it up. And now for the entire layout.

I used the Sassy Little Sketch found HERE. Thanks for looking!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Echo Park - Little Boys Like to Play Ball!

2011-03-21T18:26:00.001-05:00

This is a layout of Kaden from T-Ball last summer. He loves T -Ball and had so much fun playing!
I used Echo Park Little Boy papers and stickers which you can get at Scrapbook Chicks! Christie has all the latest and greatest Echo Park also so be watching for more layouts! She also has Fancy Pants and Bo Bunny which I have on the way! I used one of Allison Davis' sketches - the one currently being featured on the Sketch Support blog right now! It is a one page sketch even though she usually does two pagers! I also used a chipboard star that I painted with my new Jenni Bowlin paint Seed packet.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Elementary Anya

2011-03-20T18:23:00.001-05:00

So yesterday when I got home from three days away to Omaha for the doctor then Rock Port to see my parents (during which Kaden got sick and still is which is rare for him) I had a little package of goodies from my dear sweet domestic friend Paula! Check out her blog HERE! It included this adorable Teacher Anya image as well as several other images! She is so sweet!

I colored my little anya with Copic markers I think I am getting better at using them, I think?!?!?

I cut her out with Nestabilities oval and inked the edges with Fired Brick ink.

I used papers from Simple Stories elementary kit and a journaling jot which I stamped the sentiment on which is from Taylored Expressions Extra Credit. The letter strip is also from the same set. I embossed them both with Gel-a-tins Apple scented embossing powder.

I have the elementary Simple Stories kit and journaling jots for sale on my Memory Works Page.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

One Month

2011-03-19T18:15:00.000-05:00

Pretty little baby layout for you today. I had these wonderful intentions of taking a picture of blake every month in the same spot with his baby bear. And I took it exactly one time! Sheesh! There are lots of other pictures of him just not the ones I planed and got the bear for! So this is Blake with his bear at one month old. I used MME Lost and Found Buddies Papers and Banner Stickers.

For the layout design I used Sassy Lil' Sketches found HERE

I added some twine to some buttons for embellishment. I added some stamping on the banner stickers from Technique Tuesdays Banner set and then added some other stamps below the pictures. I used the light blue pp to cut strips for the journaling. To create the large embellishment in the left corner I punched a scalloped circle and scored it and then folded it and fanned it out. It's like those rosette dies but cheaper! Maybe I will do a tutorial on them here before long! Here is a close up picture of it!

Thanks for stopping by come back soon!

Krafted with

Stamps: all Tech Tuesday - Live in the Moment exclusive CKC set, Little Lables, and Message in a Banner

Ink: Smokey Shadow Pallette by PTI

Paper: Lost and Found Buddies by MME

Tools: Purple Marvy Scalloped Circle punch, SU scalloped border punch, scor pal

Other: MME banner stickers, PTI bakers twine in dark chocolate, buttons from stash

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Happy Everything!!!!

2011-03-17T06:04:00.000-05:00

This is just a little card I whipped up for Through the Craft Room Door's call for projects with buttons. I was told they liked it but I don't know if it was printed or not?!?!?! Oh well I like it! The stamps are Lizzie Anne Designs. I decided to post it for St. Patrick's Day cause rainbows go with St. Patrick's day to me!!!! TFL!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Mojo Rescue

2011-03-16T06:04:00.003-05:00

Ever lost your mojo? Ever been stuck in a funk? Ever been so busy that your brain just has no room left for creativity cause it is on autopilot just trying to keep up with your life? When even a challenge or sketch won't get the mojo flowin? Sometimes new product works but sometimes not :( This is where I have been! But when you get new product, have the perfect pictures AND a great sketch!??!?!?!? It's the get your mojo flowing TRIFECTA! And this is what comes out of it!!!!

A two page layout of scrappy goodness! I got an order from Scrapbook Chicks, (which included all this Imaginisce goodness) we had just been to the circus, and there was this sketch from Sketchy Thursday! Oh and I was home from work that day cause Blake was sick!
I used the new line by Imaginisce, Animal Crackers, It is sooooooooooo cute! And perfect for these pictures from the circus! I cut the title with SCAL on my cricut from a font I downloaded.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Birthday Candles

2011-03-14T05:58:00.000-05:00

This is another of my non submitted cards for the Papercrafts sketch issue. I used a dollar spot candle stamp, stamped it on several different colors of cs then cut them out and adhered them to the cs. I added some Stickle flames and stamped Happy Birthday from Party This Way by SU.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Egg Drop Soup Layout

2011-03-13T05:48:00.000-05:00

I started this layout a while back and couldn't get it to work for the longest time!!! Finally saw this layout on my friend CHERI's blog and decided to use that sketch even though the deadline had passed for the contest - it's not always about the contests but about getting pages DONE! And once I started with that sketch it came together VERY quickly and I love it! All of the products are Jillibean Soup except the background cardstock. Most of it is from the older line Egg Drop Soup. I used a corrugated circle behind one of the stickers for some more visual interest. And used corrugated blue alphas - they are my fave alphas right now!

Here is a close up of the sticker cluster. It is also shows the papers I shaped with two different punches! I used my SU scalloped edge punch on the blue dot and my new EK success punch on the striped paper.

The original sketch is from Sassy Little Sketches.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Circle of Thanks

2011-03-11T05:55:00.000-06:00

This is one of the cards I made for the Papercrafts Sketch Submission - not sure if I can call it a reject cause I forgot to submit it by the deadline!!!! So I am not sure it that counts as a reject?!?!?!? Oh well it won't be published but I like how it turned out! I used Papertrey Inks dot patterned paper and punched out two different size circles in each color and layered them popping some up which is hard to see in the photo. I then die cut the banner also from pti and stamped the long sentiment which is from Hero Arts.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Strawberry Sweetness!!!!!!!

2011-03-08T06:01:00.000-06:00

Just a Quickie Card I whipped up with some old papers from my stash, and some NEW Unity stamps!!!! I colored the strawberries in with my copics. I decided to cut the sentiment apart from the image to make it easier to stamp it in a different color. I used some dew drops and a bit of Ocean Tides ribbon.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

New Destinations Simple Stories is in stock!!!!

2011-03-04T17:37:00.004-06:00

Also all of the Life Documented and ele.men.tary collections are in stock now too! Check out my Memory Works Page at the top of my blog to purchase!!!!

Also have the new MME, Cosmo Cricket, 3 Bugs, and Echo Park collections!

Check those out HERE then contact me to purchase! Hopefully I will have some layouts with the simple stories for you to look at soon!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Drool - GYSO

2011-02-20T15:28:00.000-06:00

I know I haven't posted much, darn job keeps getting in the way of my scrappin! I have bought alot though so hopefully I will have some projects to show for it! Like today's - ALL NEW stuff! Fun! I love new stuff! As I was looking at this week's Get Your Sketch On, I saw a big picture with the three rectangles as paper behind it!

I had an adorable 5x7 picture of my youngest laying on my messy desk and it just happened to go perfectly with my new MME Fine and Dandy True Blue Collection that I got in the mail last week! I started pulling patterns and ended up with 5 - Natalie will have a coronary!

I used new Jillibean Soup corrugated alphas for the title and inked them a bit - hard to see in picture. I just love these alphas! The kraft are my favorite - cause they go with everything! I also got red and blue! FUN! I inked them with Tim Holtz Wild Honey Distress ink which I think went perfectly with the colors in the MME Fine and Dandy. I just LOVE that line so perfect for boys, not too cutesy but not too girly! Just love love love it! I wanted to make a little cluster in the top right corner of the picture. First I decided it needed something along that edge and found that the ruler sticker from Crate PAper School Spirit Collection went quite nicely! Then on to the cluster. I used a polkadotted brad that came in the Coordinates Collections kit with the Crate PAper, used a Stampin Up Build a Brad by punching out a small circle from some more MME Fine and Dandy star paper and hand cut an owl and inked him up.

What do you think? I like the little grouping!

Then I wanted to add at least a bit of journaling, so I pulled out this single from Technique Tuesday. Capture the Moment, I like to capture every moment! I stamped it in Pallet Dark Chocolate and cut it out and inked it with Tim Holtz Wild Honey Distress Ink, I journaled on it with SU Marina Mist Marker - oh how I love that color! Would you like to see the end result?

Are you sure? Hee hee I am such a tease!

Ta-Da! What do you think. I like it! Thanks for looking today!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Banner layout for a banner day!

2011-02-13T16:44:00.018-06:00

Have you noticed banners are EVERYWHERE?!?!?!??!

I jumped right on the bandwagon with this trend - I love banners! Sooooo, I was delighted when I saw this sketch, from Sassy Little Sketches.

Fun fun fun! I wanted to use my banner stamp from Technique Tuesday and decided to use that for my title. I also wanted to make a cut file that would work with the stamp. This is what I came up with.

Papers are from Imaginesce that I got last October at CKC. Title is old CM stickers and new American Crafts Thickers. Also used these puffy baseball stickers. This is one of my favorite pictures of Kaden - he was and still is so proud of that trophy!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

FWF - Awaiting

2011-02-04T06:04:00.000-06:00

Good morning! I am back at school today - gee I hope I can handle this one day week!

Have you seen Unity KOM yet!??!?! I just signed up last month and I love that ticket in this months kit!!! And those teacups! Oh my! My layout today features one of my fave unity stamps for scrapbooking! This super cute polka dot month journaling spot!

I love it! So fun! And you can get it HERE. It is huge and you could use it so many different ways! masking, cutting off the outer part - I just love it! So here it is with the full layout!

Cute?

Man I was HUGE! This was less than a month before Mr. Blake showed up!

Krafted With:

CS: Blueberry Sky PTI, Bazzill Brown, Very Vanilla SU

PP: Creative Imaginations

Stamps : Unity, Pink Cat Studio

Other: Ribbon, Flowers, Brads, SU Markers, Copics, Jillibean Soup Sugar Picks, Making Memories and Dream Street alphas

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Quick Post

2011-02-03T07:40:00.001-06:00

I am so glad we are going back to school tomorrow! This 4 snowday week has really worn me out! HA!

Quick post for you today! Check back tomorrow for a layout!

This is Emery from Verve - Isn't he adorable!??!?! Though this card is rather girly! It was for the last January Viva La Verve Sketch. I paper pieced him and I left off a sentiment thinking I could use it for a birthday, christening, baptism, or baby card which ever I need first! Thanks for looking!

Krafted with:

CS: PTI Dark Chocolate

PP: Basic Grey Capella

Stamps: Emery by Verve

Tools: Lables 4 Nesties, Pinked Circles Neties, EK Sucess Punch

Other: Lace Trim, Vanilla Seam Binding, Pink Button, PTI Bakers Twine

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Pull and Go Template!

2011-02-02T18:06:00.000-06:00

I have something REALLY special to share with you!

I was chosen for a Guest Design Spot for

Pepito's Room on Etsy!

She makes the cutest SVG/PDF Templates!

If you have used My Time Templates from PTI or Lauren's New My Time Made Easy TEmplates then these are right up your alley!

I was selected to create examples using Pull and Go - a super fun versatile template perfect for Valentine's Day and many other gift giving needs!

I got a little carried away and actually made 3 versions of the template!

It was so easy! They cut great with SCAL and my cricut and I used my scor pal to score the lines! The instructions included were super simple to follow and very detailed!

Here is the original design which I decorated with Capella Stickers from Basic Grey. I also made the handle out of a Capella border sticker! I just stuck it on a scrap piece of pp and then cut it out!

I love how the handle slides up and down!

I think this one is my favorite! I cut the feet off and used the postage looking cutout that comes with the template! I then cut the template out again on the Imaginesce PP and cut it for just the front and back! I used a random valentine sticker that I added stickles to and three MS punched hearts all with stickles too!

Here is a close up of all that shine! LOVE IT! Instead of the paper sliding handle I went all the way around it with some Pure Poppy PTI Stitched ribbon instead! Love the look!

For my 3rd one I wanted something a little more masculine and wanted to play with the opening. I opted for red CS, broke the design apart, cut out a heart in the middle, and handles to look like a little shopping bag! HOW fun?!?!? more stickles (BLACK) and some word fetti stickers finish it off! These are great for Valentine's Day, Birthday Parties and much much more!!!!

Be sure to check out Pepito's Room etsy store for more cute templates and other decorative SVG cuts!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Perfect Pair - Card Patterns Sketch 100

2011-02-02T06:05:00.001-06:00

Home again! We survived the Blizzard of 2011! Now just trying to dig out from it!

I have a little card for you today that has NO stamps! GASP!

I know right?!?!?! But it's still pretty cute!

The papers are Basic Grey Pyrus, the little pears are from the same collection but are the writers's block journaling spots! I cut out the sentiment using SCAL and my cricut. I used a little button for the dot of the I. I added some hemp to both of the pears and some lace behind it! This is for Card Patterns Sketch 100.

Stay tuned I just might have more for you today!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Sledding

2011-02-01T08:10:00.000-06:00

So we are home again today due to the BLIZZARD! Town where I live has already called off school for tomorrow! So I have been BUSY scrappin ~ and looking at pictures from CHA!

Today I have a layout about sledding! It uses the Sketchy Thursday Sketch 1.27. Pretty fun sketch!

For the journaling spot in the top left I layed two marvy purple punched snowflakes (from Bo Bunny papers) that I stamped with PTI's snowfall stamp set. I then created the journaling/date spot with PTI's scrapbook series Journaling spot and tabs! It is stamped in white craft ink and embossed.

I added detail to the scalloped border with the curly stamp from tabs and some baubles.

Here it is in full force! What do you think? I love the depth stamping adds to your layouts!!!

The background was just a little too stark so I inked it with some Tim Holtz distress inks in Antique Linen and Weathered Wood!

There is a row of baubles under the chipboard (basic grey) title as well. I also added buttons to the centers of the other snowflakes!

Krafted With:

CS: White, Brown Bazzill

PP: Bo Bunny

Stamps: PTI Snowfall, Scrapbook Series Tabs, Journaling Circle

Tools: Fiskars Threading Water Punch, Marvy Purple Snowflake punch, PTI large scalloped die

Other: White Gel Pen, Embossing Powder, Clear Baubles, Buttons

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress in Antique Linen and Weathered Wood, PTI Dark Chocolate, SU White Craft

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Birthday Layout

2011-01-31T13:34:00.000-06:00

Today I have a little layout for you! It is based on the Sassy Little Sketches sketch from January 7th.

All of the patterned papers are Imaginesce birthday collection. I hand at the banners at the bottom. The picture is my son and his first "girlfriend" Gracie celebrating her birthday at the sitters two years ago!

Here is a close up of the little birdy that I cut from Straight from the Nest on my Cricut! Turned out pretty cute I think!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

News!

2011-01-30T13:08:00.000-06:00

I have some news to share! I am now a Memory Works Independent Consultant!

MemoryWorks is a direct-sales company like no other, offering a unique, no-pressure sales approach, unmatched customer service, and the top name-brand scrapbook products in the industry. They carry ALL my faves Basic Grey, MME, Fancy Pants, Cosmo Cricket, Bo Bunny, Tim Holtz, Pink Paislee, Crate Paper, Bazzill and American Crafts! Ok so they are missing Jillibean Soup and October Afternoon but the do carry the occasional collection by them! AND they have an EXCLUSIVE line of products called Simply Stories. A line of scrapbooking products designed to help you get your pictures scrapped that much faster! For complete details on how it works see the Simple Stories blog HERE. To order please contact me or order direct from my page HERE. There are currently 3 lines of Simple Stories

Life Documented

ele.ment.ary

and Destinations

The other product of theirs that I am super excited about is their Memory Works Express!

Each month they have a kit that ships out automatically filled with yummy goodness!

I can't wait to get my starter kit and start sharing my creations with you! Stay tuned for more information!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Cyber Crop this weekend!

2011-01-25T09:58:00.000-06:00

There is a cyber crop at Coordinates Collections this weekend! I am hoping to get to play but we have a pretty busy weekend for once - if we don't get another snowstorm that is! So check it out and tell them Tessa sent you!

Coordinates Collections Winter Crop

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Sketchy Thursday Layout - Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2011-01-25T06:12:00.000-06:00

You know how I love my sketches! Well I found another blog of sketches that I like! It's Sketchy Thursdays.

So I participated in their sketch this past Thursday Sketch 1.20 - you know when we had a snow day and I still had mojo?!?!?! Here is what I came up with

Likey?

I used We Are Memory Keepers Papers and alpha, printed twill, tim holtz hardware and mask and tickets.

Thanks for looking

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Hi There!

2011-01-24T05:13:00.000-06:00

So Saturday night my mojo disappeared! Seriously! I don't know where it went but luckily I made quite a few projects before it took off!

This is a cute little card for the Gina K Color Challenge and using Card Patterns Sketch 99.

I colored the little Giraffe with copics and used long rectangle nesties which I had to cut twice to get to work the way I wanted but I did! Used my new go to EK Success Border punch, an embossing folder and some dew drops! The detailed mutli colored image was a bit of a challenge with the copics so I hope I did ok!

Krafted with:

CS: Hawaiian Shores, Dark Chocolate, White PTI

STamps: Gina K - this is a wish RAK image, Sentiment My Favorite Things

Tools: Long Rectangle Nestabilities and Scalloped, Dew Drops, EK Success Border Punch

Other: Hawaiian Shores Bitty Dot Ribbon PTI, Dew Drops, Floral Fantasy CB folder

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Scripture Sunday - BIBLE - Etsy Inspired - ODBD Sketch

2011-01-23T09:44:00.000-06:00

Today's project is for Patter's ABC Scripture Challenge - this time's word is Bible. I wasn't sure what to do with this! I did just get a new bible for Christmas, as I continued thinking about it I thought The Bible for me is a way to grown in grace - to model your life after Jesus you have to read the Bible and know how he lived!

So I chose ODBD Grow in Grace Stamp set. I stamped the floral image and embossed it then colored it in with Copics and Adirondack Markers. I knew I wanted floral and purple because of this

a beautiful piece of wearable art from this week's Etsy Inspired Shop Nanny's Room. Isn't it lovely?!?!?

So with my stamp and colors and verse, I needed a layout!

Enter ODBD Sketch Challenge for this week! SWEET! and how appropriate?!?!?

I tweaked the sketch a little but you can still see all the elements!

Here is a close up of the flower that I used my quickie glue pen and added some dazzling diamonds to!

Thanks for looking! Have a wonderful day!

Krafted with:

PP: Websters Pages Wonderfall and Hollywood Vouge

CS: Elegant Eggplant and Whisper White SU

Ink: Dusty Concord Distress Ink by Ranger, Smokey Shadow by PTI

Stamps: Grow In Grace by ODBD, OLD OLD alpha stamps from Leaving Prints

Other: Silver Sheer Ribbon, Embossing Powder, Dazzling Diamonds

Tools: Bow Easy, Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, Scalloped Border Punch SU

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

And the Winner is....

2011-01-22T07:59:00.000-06:00

I used Random Org but I can't get it to copy and paste in here like other people do -someone wanna teach me how to do that?!?!?!?

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 5 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

This is the best I could get - and I used 46 cause that's how many comments there were.

So number 5 is the winner!

And I believe that is Natalie -

Natalie, please email - eryn@unitystampco.com

with your name, addy and tell her you won the fwf 25 free stamps! enjoy your stamps!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

All Things Unity #22 - Coloring with Copics!

2011-01-22T06:44:00.002-06:00

So I caved! I finally gave in to the EXTREME peer pressure from my wonderful friends and gave into the Copic Craze! I don't have very many yet - only about 30 and for now I am buying Ciao cause they are way cheaper! I get them at Creative Play STamps! I love coloring with them and even my hubby (the true artist in the house) says I am getting pretty good with them! But this will be my first time posting a project with them! So be kind! I decided to start small and what better than All Things Unity Mini Card Challenge?!?!?!

They had a challenge to create mini 3x3 cards.

And what better Unity Set than Little Me?!?!

I made two little baby cards using the pea and peanut from this set.

First up close ups of the coloring

How did I do? I think the peanut needs more blending!

Now for each of the cards with their markers.

CS is Lemon Tart by PTI - Copics are E29 and E55

CS is Pear Pizzazz by SU, Copics are YG97 and YG95

And here are both cards together.

They just make me smile!

I am hoping this will help me get selected for a Design Team!

hmmmmm maybe it will NOT depending on how good I am! I submitted to another mag and applied to a DT today so here's hopin!

Oh and I will draw and post the winner from yesterday's FWF when I get up - I scheduled this post ;)

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Friday Friends with Flair - LAYOUT style

2011-01-21T08:04:00.002-06:00

So since we had a snow day yesterday I had plenty of time to Hip Hop and drool over all the new Unity Goodness! Seriously loving all these new stamps!!!! Especially the cobranding with two of my fave companies! Cosmo Cricket and Jillibean Soup! Because I did have so much time I decided to create a layout! YAY! I used all kinds of Unity Stamps on it!!!! Which is perfect for the Two Peas Stamping on your layouts class/challenge that they are doing this year! The challenge was to stamp the Title in particular but I did one better I stamped, title, date, and embellishments!
Here is a list of the stamps/kits I used! They are all linked directly to the stamp
Just Circles
Just My Type
Let's Get Scrappy
Our Life Our Stories
Time for Travel

First off I want to show you the Date Spot I made

And here is the handstamped title - I am trying to get better with not having things perfectly lined up!

And here are some of the little circle embellishments I stamped and punched out!

And oh alright here's the whole layout!

This layout has lots of layers, lots of ink, lots or stamps and was LOTS of fun to do!
You will notice LOTS of circles which qualifies it for Natalie's I Dare You Circle Challenge, The Coordinate Collections Circle Challenge, and I used the Get Your Sketch On Sketch #3 for this week! Also qualifies for Pile it On Anything Goes.
WOW! Thanks for looking!

Krafted With:
PP: MME So Sophie
Stamps: All Unity
Ink: Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Broken China, Forest Moss, Antique Linen Distress Inks
Die Cuts: MME
Tickets: Jenni Bowlin
Sticker border: MME
Transparency: MME
Frame: MME
Tools: 1 inch Circle Punch EK Success, Pink Marvy Circle Punch. Large Scalloped Border Die PTI
Other: Clear Embossing Powder, ATG Gun, Stream Adirondack Marker

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Another Reject Card! ;)

2011-01-20T13:02:00.000-06:00

I have another Papercrafts rejected card for you today! I am trying to not let it get me down! Besides it means I have cards to share with you!

This one was for the sketch challenge. When I saw the banner these

little chipboard pennants by Jenni Bowlin instantly came to mind!

It is a simple card but I like it!

Krafted with

CS: Real Red, So Saffron, Whisper White SU

PP: Jillibean Soup

Stamps: Fillable Frames 8 PTI

Ink: Real Red SU

Other: Playdate Banner Stickers, Banner Chipboard Pieces Jenni Bowlin, Bakers Twine Jillibean Soup

Tools: Fillable Frames Die PTI

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Another Day Another Card

2011-01-18T19:28:00.000-06:00

So yesterday it got up to 40 degrees here in NW Missouri and right now it is 18 with a wind chill of 7! Gotta love crazy Missouri weather right? And tomorrow we are in for another snowstorm of 4-7 inches! Oh my! I am hoping we at least go to school tomorrow to get in a half day! I am tired of my lesson plans looking like football plays with all the x's and lines drawn everywhere! I am previewing two new books for my kiddos though, Sisters Grimm which is a series - I love series! I get very attached to characters! Some of my faves are Harry Potter and Percy Jackson for kids and Twilight and Shopaholic for older. And the other one is Granny Torelli Makes Soup - so if you know anything about these books, have comments, opinions, resources etc. please feel free to share!

And enough about work, onto today's card:

this is for the Viva la Verve challenge and it stretched me a bit!

It is a long skinny card - usually I just do standard and square so that was a challenge and then I didn't have rhinestones to match, which I was able to remedy by coloring some clear ones with my Adirondack alcohol markers!!!! I don't have that much Verve so I used Donna Downy for Unity for the stamps. The butterfly I cut and layered using my cricut. If you look closely you can see I glittered the butterfly up with rock candy stickles. Thanks for looking!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*
Tessa

CASE Study Challenge

2011-01-17T06:10:00.033-06:00

First off I want to say Happy Birthday to my "little" brother!!!! He is 27 this year!!!! Anyone single out there in NW Missouri? I am looking for a papercrafting sister-in-law!

And now on to the card I have for you today!

I made this card for the CASE study challenge blog found HERE. Each month they have a MUSE and each week they post a card that you are to use to inspire you. I love the card this week! I started with a pretty direct CASE and it took on a bit of it's own personality -which is the point right?!?!?!

I just LOVE this stamp from Unity! I added some stardust sakura gel pen do it for a bit of shine! As well as to the Basic Grey Kioshi papers. Here is a close up of the focal image.

Thanks for looking!
I was nicely informed that this also works for the Play Date Cafe Color Challenge - I think I found a new challenge to participate in!!!!

CS: Kraft, True Black, Soft Sky

PP: Kioshi by Basic Grey

Tools: Labels Nestabilities, Distress tool, scallop border punch, notebook edge punch,

Other: Black Rhinestones, Sakura Gel PEn

Ink: Pallette Noir

Stamps: Unity

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Bonus Post!

2011-01-16T17:50:00.000-06:00

I have a bonus post for you!!!! I actually have a backlog of goodies that I have made and haven't gotten to post yet! Some were submissions but I scrapped two layouts and 4 cards last night while skyping with my friends! How fun is that!?!?!? Here is a very special card that I made that will be headed to a very special lady soon. It is for the Viva la Verve Sketch and the Color Throwdown #124 - which is honoring Katie Renz who was diagnosed with Cancer - to read more and or participate please check out the Throwdown Blog HERE. So here is the color challenge

I don't actually have Melon Mambo or Early Espresso so I had to make do! (Side note I really need to buy the new SU colors or at least get swatches so I can match!)
The colors reminded me of my new Basic Grey Hopscotch paper so I went to that for inspiration.
I also decide I wanted to try out some rolled paper flowers since I keep seeing them everywhere! Being mildly lazy and unconfident in my cutting skills I went on a search for a cut file and found it! YAY! So here is what I came up with.

The embossed panel is CB Floral Fantasy which I hadn't used in a while and just seemed to fit with this! I cut the oval out with Nestabilities and inked it with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink. I cut 3 flowers of 2 different sizes out - rolled them up and added them! YAY! So quick and easy! They are spritzed with glimmer mist too. Here is a close up of the flowers.

I used Verve's Plain Jain of this scripture, I hope it's ok, appropriate for someone with cancer - I just don't know! I can't imagine what Katie and her family are going through!

Thanks for looking (again) today!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Scripture Sunday - January Calendar Page

2011-01-16T11:04:00.000-06:00

This is the calendar page for January that I did for my mom's Christmas present. It is on one of the stands my husband built! I think this scripture from James is very appropriate for January and snow!

It is a pretty simple page. I embossed the cs with Tim Holtz's snowflake embossing folder and punched out some snowflakes with Martha Stewart punches. The scripture I printed out. Added some pearls and there you go!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Snow Day - and a DARE!

2011-01-15T16:40:00.003-06:00

I have a nice snowy layout to share with you today! I used the Sketch from Get Your Sketch On, the new sketch site I posted about a few days ago - hurry there is still time to play till Sunday night! And I used Dare 45 from Elizabeth Kartchner's book 52 more scrapbooking challenges which is featured on my friend Scrappy Natty's blog! The challenge or dare is to Get Inked! That is to use ink on your layout!

I used the snowflake stamps from Gina K's Winter Mittens in Marina Mist on Marina Mist CS. I then spritzed some Sea Glass, Lavender Fields and Snowflake Glimmer Mist on the background. I also painted the edges with a white paint dauber! Then for the felt snowflakes from SU I spritzed them with the same colors of glimmer mist and it was a totally different look. In the center of the snowflakes I put either a rhinestone or a dew drop. I placed a small strip of SU pp behind the bottom row to anchor the picture.

Beside the picture I added a sparkly sprig and berries and tied some Marina Mist taffeta ribbon to that.

For the title I just used some sparkly Doodlebug letters and wrote his age and the date in Marina Mist SU marker.

Here is a close up of the picture with Sprig and title.

Thanks for looking and be sure to check out

Get Your Sketch On and

Scrappy Natty's I Dare You

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Embossed Floral

2011-01-14T18:18:00.000-06:00

This is a simple little card I submitted for the Papercrafts call - but alas it was not selected. I guess I am making progress just submitting. It was made using PTI Raspberry Fizz cs that I embossed with SU's Manhattan Flower embossing folder. I layered it on True Black cs, stamped happy birthday and added a bit of bling to the corners. Too simple maybe? I now have several cards similar to this trying to get just the right one to submit. Thanks for looking! Happy Friday!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Get Sketchy and Grey is the New Black!

2011-01-13T19:39:00.001-06:00

Back to school today! Actually kinda glad, was getting a little stir crazy! And I would like to get out before June! I have a card for you today that is for TWO challenges! First off, Friday's Get Sketchy Challenge #69.

And Grey is the New Black on Moxie Fab World which I was particularly inspired by this

So are you ready for the card!?!??!?!

Here ya go! Was it worth waiting for? I embossed Smokey Shadow cs from PTI with Kassies Brocade using my Big Kick (yes I have a big kick) and then paired it with Cosmo Cricket's Everafter!!! PERFECTION! The sentiment is a cardstock sticker from the same collection as well as the two border strips. I added some twine to it for contrast then decided instead of a premade flower I would attempt to make one of Tim Holtz's tissue tape flowers! First I inked the tissue tape with Mustard Seed distress ink - which I then had to blot off cause it was a little bright! Then I made the flower following the simple you tube video!!!! So easy and I am pleased with the results! I added a big ole' bit of bling to the middle and adhered it to my card!
Here is a close up of the tissue tape flower

The Get Sketchy challenge ends tonight but if you hurry there is still time! And the Moxie Fab Challenge is open until January 24th so you have plenty of time to play!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

New Sketch Blog!

2011-01-11T17:42:00.002-06:00

If you know me very well or have followed my blog for some time you know I LOVE sketches! And there is a NEW sketch blog that I think is going to be FABULOUS! It's called Get Your Sketch On! As a new year new blog kick off they are having a HUGE give a way! Check it out there are LOTS of ways to earn entries! Oh and If you post and refer to ME in the post I get another entry!!!!!! I also have them all linked up on my side bar!!!!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

Rockin' Layout!

2011-01-11T09:53:00.001-06:00

Today I have a layout to share with you! YAY! I truly am a scrapper first! This layout is from a kit that I bought at CKC from Embellish-It. I just love that booth! I even got to be the TA in one of their classes in Des Moines last summer. The layout features Crate Paper and lots of distressing!!!!

Here is the full layout! Both pages together. It is of us and my brother playing Guitar Hero that he got my hubby and Kaden for Christmas last year.

For the left page I crumpled up the brow pp and sprayed it with Glimmer mist - the background is also spritzed with glimmer mist. I distressed the edges and doodled on them! the alpha stickers for the title are Periphery from BAsic Grey.

For the second page I used one of the photo mats for my journaling and popped up stars and other elements here and there.

The only things I added to the kit was this metal strip from Tim Holtz that I painted over with Picket Fence Paint Dabber and then wiped off leaving the paint in the recess of the letters, and the crinkly seam binding to this and a couple elements on the first page.

Have a great day! I am home because of snow again! Hopin to get crafty here soon!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*
Tessa

A card AND matching envelope!

2011-01-10T08:33:00.001-06:00

Good Morning! There is only one way I am this cheery on a Monday morning! We have a snow day!

Yep! I am home all day and will be creating up a storm! Stay tuned for details!

Today I have a card and matching envelope for you! I started with the card for the Gina K release Color Challenge, then I saw the Just Us Girls challenge to coordinate the envie! It is sponsored by Gina K! She was a wonderful little video on stamp TV on how to make coordinating envelope liners! So here we go!

For the card I used Bazzill Espresso cs, Jillibean soup kraft pp, and Graphic 45 Boardwalk.

I stamped Labeled with Love and Happy Birthday in Broken China and embossed it. I cut it out with Labels 14 Nestabilities - seems like there should be another one in between these two but there isn't!

I dyed the seam binding with Broken China Distress ink and Sea Glass Glimmer Mist. I decorated the envelope with the matching Graphic 45 paper.

Thanks for looking.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*
Tessa

Alpha Scripture Challenge - Anchor

2011-01-09T13:15:00.001-06:00

I decided to join Patter Cross' Scripture Challenge this year - it is an ABC Challenge! Something about ABC albums and pages and such I just love - I think it's the Kindergarten teacher in me!

So the first word was Anchor. So I did a topical search for anchor and came up with this verse.

Hebrews 6:19

I decided to go with an ocean theme and used Graphic 45 Boardwalk papers for my page.

I used Inspired Blueprints 63 for my sketch.

I cut out the anchor on my cricut using Life's a Beach. Here is the finished project.

I handwrote the scripture -which I don't do often and used Cosmo Cricket letters for the word. I then added some buttons with some PTI bakers twine.

My husband was very happy to see me using the stand he made me finally!

He made 4 of these! Isn't he talented?!?!? I made Kaden's teacher, my mom, and his mom scripture calendars that hang on these for Christmas.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

Mojo Monday 172 - Dude Verve Rocks!

2011-01-08T12:49:00.000-06:00

Have you seen Verve's new release?!?!?! It has the baby set I have been searching for! It is the BEST baby set I have ever seen - it's called To The Moon and it is adorable!!!!!! I am so hoping I win this Mojo Monday Madness so I can get it and not break my freeze! I did sell my clip it up though - so I do have that money that won't break my freeze. ANYWAY on to my card!

I used the Mojo Monday 172 Sketch and Verve Stamp set Dude. I went with a fun sunny card - which is what I need today when it's 5 degrees out and we are about to get a HUGE snowstorm!

All of the papers are from Little Yellow Bicycle's collection Boardwalk.

I flipped the sketch on it's side just to be different!

I distressed all the edges and inked them with Vintage Photo distress ink - it's my go to dark distress ink! I love it! I stamped the "You Rock" in it as well on a strip cut by PTI's banner dies. I stamped Dude In spiced Marmalade Distress ink - I like how the letters are grungy - goes perfect with all the distressing! Added some buttons and there you have it! Thanks for looking!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

Winter White Trigger

2011-01-05T20:32:00.003-06:00

I haven't had a chance to play along with the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger in several weeks and I missed it! So I was delighted to be instantly inspired by this weeks trigger!

Isn't that just beautiful!?!?!? My wedding cake couldn't have been more different! LOL not that it wasn't beautiful it was just very simple and square and had red roses on top of it.

This cake evokes everything a fairytale wedding should be!

White on white, black tie, flowers and shimmer!

You will see this reflected in my card!

I used SU's shimmer white paper for everything and sprayed the flower pieces with Marshmallow glimmer mist for even more shine!

I found it is very difficult to photograph a white on white card with shimmer! But I gave it my best effort!

This picture was the best that you could actually see the shimmer on and now I am not even sure you still can! I started with a shimmer white base. Added another shimmer white layer that I embossed with CB folder Birds and Swirls. I then trimmed a doily and stamped this sentiment on it - it's a SU set - can't remember the name of it! My friend Paula gave it to me! I like the texture the doily adds.

Here is a close up of the sentiment and you can see the soft silky white seam binding I tied around it - I am in love with seam binding!!!!!!! I stamped the sentiment in Tim Holtz Distress ink in Pumice Stone - I just love this non color!

And a close up of some of the flowers. I die cut a bunch of Tim Holtz Tattered Florals from SU shimmer white and then sprayed them with glimmer mist, layered them up and added a sparkly brad in the center.

Thanks for looking!

You can still play along with this week's Trigger until Sunday night! Just check out all the details HERE.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

I know Christmas is over....

2011-01-03T22:25:00.001-06:00

but apparently my brain is still on Christmas. I was going for a winter card but it came out kinda Christmasey! Oh well head start for next year right?

I used Gina K Stamp TV's sketch and ran out of room for the sentiment!

I had not gotten to use this Winter Mittens set by Gina K Designs nor this lovely Jillibean soup patterned paper so I just HAD to use them. And they are so cute together! I stamped the mitten in Vintage Photo distress ink and embossed it and then cut it out with spellbinders mitten shaped nestabilities. I layered it on some Cherry Cobbler CS and Craft finished it off with some white brads and a little bakers twine leading the receiver inside to find that sentiment! ;) I added a little white gel pen doodling for some more visual interest. Quick and simple hopefully it will give my mojo a kick start!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

New Years Goals

2011-01-02T11:14:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year!

I try to do this every year - set goals in writing for the new year. So I was all ready to do this then I was upset by a friend last night and it totally messed me up so I had to rethink alot!

So here are my goals for this year.

1. Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
2. Excercise on a somewhat regular basis.
3. Be more organized.
4. Save money AKA Mission get out of this house!
5. Submit to mags once a quarter at least.
6.Menu plan and eat healthier.
7. Evaluate all aspects of my life and really decide if they are positive or not.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

Tag a la' Tim Santa

2010-12-14T06:16:00.000-06:00

This *might* be my favorite one! EEEEK! It is inspired - and I actually followed pretty closely to THIS tag - again from his first year of the tags 2007. I remember loving this TAG soooooooooooo much that I had to have the stamp set - um it's 2010 and this is the first time two of the stamps have been inked!

I still love it though! And now it will be one of my go to Christmas sets!

I stamped the santa in Pallet Noir then the Tree in Simply Chartreuse and Believe in Pure Poppy - my tags are somewhat smaller than tims but I think it works. I used the foam dauber and added the green and red inking all over the tag. I found some grunge pieces that I painted gold along with the numbers. I added brads to the pieces. And used Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding for the tie - I love that stuff! This one came together really quickly! Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps: Tim Holtz

Ink: Pallet Noir, Simply Chartreuse, Old Olive, Pure Poppy all PTI, Walnut Stain Distress ink

Other: Gold Brads, Gold Paint, Grungeboard shapes, Grunge numbers, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding. Foam Applicator, Tim Holtz Distress Tool

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*
Tessa

Tag a la' Tim SNOW

2010-12-13T09:02:00.000-06:00

OK This is NOT my favorite tag - but since this was my third effort at it I just went with it!

It is inspired by THIS tag again from the first year of tags.

This technique and I do not get along so well. What I ended up doing was stamping in versamark the snowflakes and let it snow sentiment, embossing and letting cool. I then used alcohol inks and my dauber and inked over the whole tag. I then wiped the ink off the snowflakes letting the tag show threw. I added some grungeboard alphas that I painted white with the snowcap paint dauber - oh how I love his paint daubers!

I then added some baby blue stickles to them. I tried to make it look like they were falling like the snowflakes. I added some bling to the middle of the flakes and some white paint to the edges.

Again - not my fave - any suggestions?

Oh this also qualifies for the 7 Kids Challenge Winter Wonderland.

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

Tag a la' Tim Wreath for your Door

2010-12-11T08:45:00.000-06:00

Another Tag a la' Tim Holtz for you today! I am obsessed I tell ya! Now that I actually understand how to use alcohol inks and I have the right tools I am ink love ! Today's tag was inspired by THIS tag from his very first year. I don't have those stamps but wanted to recreate it best I could.

I did create the background much the same. I painted the tag with white crackle paint, let dry then inked it with antique linen ink. I distressed the edges and inked them with walnut stain.

I love how it looks like an old door!

For the wreath I punched out a bunch of MS pine branches and just formed a wreath. I added some red stickles to it and voila! Down at the bottom I used glitter stickers which I colored with alcohol inks red to spell out JOY and I stamped Christmas above it.

I used a large eyelet from stampin up to look like a door handle and I found these adorable little bitty keys from 7 Gypsies at Archivers. I hung one from some bakers twine and glued it behind the Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Bow I made for the wreath.

And here is the wreath close up! Very pleased how this one turned out!

Supplies:

Stamps: Waltzing Mouse

Ink: Dark Chocolate by PTI, Antique Linen, Walnut Stain

CS: Ripe Avacado

Other: Red Stickles, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Brass Eyelet, Brass Key, Bakers Twine, White Crackle Paint, Scrap Satin Brown Ribbon

Tools: MS Pine Branch Punch, Tim Holtz Distress Tool

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

Tag a la' Tim - BLING snowman!

2010-12-10T20:31:00.001-06:00

Hi! Feeling better!

So have you been checking out Tim Holtz's twelve days of tags? I have! I have followed him and especially his 12 days of tags since he started it 4 years ago! And I have never actually completed a tag.........until now!

I finally sucked it up and bought some alcohol inks and distress inks (for the second time but that's another story)

and attempted to create something Tim worthy!

This tag was inspired by Tim's Day 4 Tag seen here.

I said inspired by not copied!

It was also inspired by this tag HERE from last year.

I told you I have followed his tags for 4 years but never completed one so I have a lot of ideas and techniques and tags swirling together!

I started out stamping the snowman and flakes in Broken China and then embossing them with clear EP. I then rubbed silver paint dauber over the top. I used a wet paper towel to wipe the paint off the embossed areas creating a kind of resist. I stamped Seasons Greetings and added a swirl bling, and bling to the bottom. I inked up some adornments with broken china and tied some stretchy silver cord around it with some baubles hanging from it! I am super pleased with how it turned out and it was really pretty simple!

In my search for all things Tim I found 7 Kids College Fund and this tag fits this week's challenge for Winter Wonderland!
It also works for another great site for Tim products' challenge this week Simon Says Stamp!

Supplies:
Stamps: Tim Holtz, SU Four Christmas
Ink: Broken China, Pallette Noir
Other: Silver Paint Dauber, Tim Holtz Baubles, Tim Holtz Adornments, silver cord, bling swirl, individual bling

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*
Tessa

This blog has been interrupted due to

2010-12-06T17:23:00.002-06:00

sickness!

the boys, and now me! I did manage to make some tags a'la Tim Holtz but need to get them photographed! Hope to return to blog land soon!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

30 Days of Thankfulness

2010-11-30T17:20:00.000-06:00

Here we are at the end of our journey of thankfulness! It has been a real blessing to do this.

To just take a little time each day and count my blessings and reazlie there are so many things

to be thankful for.

So today I am thankful that I am a crafter and a blogger and that I get to be a part of such

a cool, amazing, collection of people! Thank you to those who read my blog!

I am thankful for you too!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

Day 29

2010-11-29T19:19:00.000-06:00

Today I am thankful for my school Librarian! She is the most amazing woman! She is so incredibly helpful and so sweet to me! I just love our school library!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*

Tessa

Day 28

2010-11-28T07:15:00.000-06:00

Today I am thankful for Blake my youngest son! He is my cuddle boy!

He is the sweetest thing and is just growing WAY to darn fast!

I love you my Boo!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*
Tessa

Snowing Gingerbread - Day 27

2010-11-27T20:39:00.021-06:00

I just adore this week's Tuesday Trigger! I LOVE LOVE LOVE snowflakes! Well the crafty kind. The real kind I can do without. I knew I wanted to play when I saw the trigger and it reminded me of a card I had seen on SCS. Here is my version!

I used my purple marvy punch to punch out this large snowflake from Kraft cs. I inked it up to show some depth and then put a very vanilla layer behind it that I ran through my big shot with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.

I then tied some Dark Chocolate Bakers Twine around that panel. I layered it onto Close to Cocoa Cardstock and then Dark Chocolate. I finished it up by stamping let it Snow from Compliments of the Season by Waltzing Mouse Designs! It is the perfect let it snow I have been looking for, for ages!

I used the CPS sketch but didn't get it done and uploaded in time to enter it - oh well. I do have time for the Tuesday Trigger and so do you if you hurry! Just create a card and upload and link it HERE by tomorrow (Sunday night).

Today I am thankful for leftovers - this is a rarity in my house so I am very thankful to have leftovers and not have to cook!

*Live*Laugh*Love*Create*
Tessa

kraf*T*y mama

Hot Wheels Valentines

Pop Rocks Valentines

Grandparent Valentine

Picture Letter Name

Ava's Tutu

Ava is One Month Old!

Craft Room Reorganize!

Ava Graphic Print

Chow Time

Late Christmas Layout

What's going on?

November Pink Whimsy Kits

Makin it Dimensional with Bo Bunny

Jillibean Sketch using Apple Cheddar from Pink Whimsy

October Pink Whimsy Kits

Sneek Peeks and a contest!

The winner is...

Hope Floats

Embellish Apples

All Things Unity Ispired

ODBDSLC78

Last Day of September

MME Streaker

PLAY - Crafting Family Sketch

TGF Edward for Halloween

No Patterned Paper, WMS Sketch, Not Big on Pink!

MME Birthday from Pink Whimsy

Pink Whimsy Kits

Put some Whimsy in Your Life!

Lil Squirt

Floral Birthday Card

Baby Cards

This boy!

Mama's Boy?

Bo Bunny Blast Off! Buddies

Father's Day Cards

Cricut Vinyl!

3 in 1!

First Time Using Flower Soft

Wee Memories - A Rainbow of Butterflies

Bonus Post - GYSO Road Trip

Birthday Boy Continued

Squeal!

NEW Cheeky Beach Girl

Just Ducky!

I spot an owl, and a sketch!

How about some Krafty Kandy?!?!?!?

Toes in the Water...

2 Infinity.....

Echo Park - Little Boys Like to Play Ball!

Elementary Anya

One Month

Happy Everything!!!!

Mojo Rescue

Birthday Candles

Egg Drop Soup Layout

Circle of Thanks

Strawberry Sweetness!!!!!!!

New Destinations Simple Stories is in stock!!!!

Drool - GYSO

Banner layout for a banner day!

FWF - Awaiting

Quick Post

Pull and Go Template!

Perfect Pair - Card Patterns Sketch 100

Sledding

Birthday Layout

News!

Cyber Crop this weekend!

Sketchy Thursday Layout - Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Hi There!

Scripture Sunday - BIBLE - Etsy Inspired - ODBD Sketch

And the Winner is....

All Things Unity #22 - Coloring with Copics!

Friday Friends with Flair - LAYOUT style

Another Reject Card! ;)

Another Day Another Card

CASE Study Challenge

Bonus Post!

krafTy mama