Mummy Madness

This "mummy" just fight go mad! Working full time and keeping up with 4 busy kids is exhausting! But somehow, I found time to whip up a cute card and candy to give the kids' teachers for Halloween.

Here is the mummy card....

I just tore and sponged strips of paper and glued to a card base. Then I ran the whole thing through my Big Shot with the Top Note die. I used some punches to make the eyes. Fun, huh?

And I needed a mummy candy to go with it...

They are Hershey bars wrapped in white crate paper! I glues some google eyes on cardstock and glued them onto the candy. Then just wrap it up! Done!

Have a happy Halloween!!!

Valentine in September?

Why not?! If you can do Christmas in July then it must be Valentine in September. Makes sense to me!

I attached different ribbons to the card background. Then I punched hearts out and lifted that piece with dimensionals. It is an easy technique that is perfect for using scraps of ribbon!

I know that I am a very sparatic poster these days. I am working full time and trying to keep up with my own kids. Stamping has taken a back seat. I do miss it and hope to find some "me" time soon! (Maybe I will stay up past 9pm!)

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Can't get enough buttons!

I am pretty sure that I could use this Button Buddies set on every single card!!! I am already hoping for Button Buddies 2 in the next catalog!

I went back to my old light tent with no lights for this picture. It is annoying because I only have enough light in my room between 9 and 10am. It is not too convenient!

Happy stamping!

Quilling

Does anyone still read this? I have been thinking about quitting blogging. Anyone want to talk me out of that?

Any who....I really like this card in person. But the picture is BLUH!!! The card is Kraft color and then I used quilling for the design. It was featured in the Stampin' Up! demonstrator magazine this month and it looked so cute that I had to give it a try right away! I like the flowers....which hard to see in the pic. They are made with an 1/8 of an inch thick strip of paper. I rolled it, glued it down and added a rhinestone. Easy!


Anyone have some picture tips for me? I have tried all different ways of using my ott lights. And my pics look worse than when I didn't have any light at all. Help!!!

A little birdie says "Thank You!"

I made this card quite a while ago. I CASED it from a card in the Stampin' Up! catalog. I liked that the patterned paper layers is lifted up and the bird is flat against the card front. That caught my eye (strangest thing, right?) and so I had to make my own version!

I am leaving it short and simple today!

Happy Stamping!

Here's to good friends!!!

I still can't figure out my new lights. My pictures are blurry. But hopefully you get the idea anyway. Another card made with Button Buddies...I just can't get enough of this stamp set!!!! I stamped the flower image in Old Olive. Then on a scrap, I stamped it again in Pumpkin Pie. I cut out the vase and popped it up. Add some super cute flower shape buttons and viola!

And I am sitting here reflecting on some amazing friends that I have! One friend, in particular, is on my mind tonight. No matter the miles between us- she always makes me smile! I hope that everyone has some friends like that!

A break from the chaos...

I had no idea that it would take me so long to get back to my blog! I beg your forgiveness! Let me explain (or just scroll down to the pictures)...

First, you know the usual list of chores that you come home to after vacation. Six people sure do make a lot of dirty laundry! And then there is the grocery shopping, unpacking and regular house work. This was made even more difficult since my parents came over the day after we got back (to celebrate my birthday) and we went out with friends the following night (more celebrating and repacking the kids for grandma's house). By Saturday, I was just plain exhausted. I slept in, slept through a movie with the kids, took a nap later and went to bed at 9.

Next, the kids started school this week past week. So we had to go to Open House at the school on Monday. This is not like any other Open House I have ever been to. It is stressful, crowded, irritating (why so much darn paperwork?!!!) and just plain chaotic! We had to bring so many school supplies for each of the 4 kids that we had to make multiple trips to the car in order to carry them all in. Crazy, right? And then I had to send the kids to their first day of school on Thursday. It is the first year that all of the kids are in school. Laynee is in Kindergarten, the twins are in 1st grade and Kyler is in 2nd grade. I am the super sappy mom that cried like a baby the day before school started, on the playground when I dropped them off and all the way home. I may cry all over again as I type this! I remember when they were all babies (4 in diapers at the same time!), I would dream about the day that I would "retire" and get to send them all to school. And now that the time has come, I desperately wish that they could be babies again.

Finally, my week became busier (and I cried some more) because the twins had their birthday on Saturday. They turned 6. How can that be right?!!! 6???? All day long I kept thinking "I remember exactly what I was doing at this moment 6 years ago." I remember it like it was yesterday! So we started the festivities on Friday. I brought cupcakes to school. (The day before I make 6 dozen ice cream cone cupcakes. I learned a very important lesson: When the directions say to only fill the cones half way- they really do mean it. So I had to toss 2 dozen cupcakes that oozed batter everywhere and had to send my hubby out for more cones.) On Saturday, their actual birthday, we had an entire day of fun. We made pancakes for breakfast. We opened a whole ton of presents (I think I went a wee over board.). We gave them everything they needed to redo their room to make it more of a big girl room. Since they couldn't agree on a theme (The twins are nothing alike.) we went with half the room in a ballet theme (Makenzie) and half of the room in a rock star theme (Danika). Then we went out to lunch, the bookstore and to make pottery. Finally, we went to dinner with their grandparents and home to open a ton more presents.

The rest of this week doesn't look any less chaotic. I have 2 doctor appointments, Kyler has an orthodontist appointment, Laynee's birthday is on Wednesday and all the girls are having a swimming birthday party on Saturday. Wowzer!

Can you see why I haven't had time to post (or stamp)? I actually have a bunch of cards made, but haven't taken the time to photograph them. My husband even got my ott lights and a smaller (more practical) light tent for my birthday. I am excited to try it out.

Now on to the stuff that you actually come to my blog for. First I have the most simple card that I have ever made. And even though their is a lot of white space and only one layer- I still love it. It is still cuter than any store bought card (in my opinion). And I made it using my new favorite stamp set: Button Buddies.




And now, because I feel so guilt about not blogging in so long, I have a little scrapbooking lesson/challenge for you. It is OK to make a scrapbook layout WITHOUT any pictures! It really is! After all, we scrapbook because we want to document our family's story. Any sometimes the story doesn't have or need a picture. So try it! Challenge yourself to make a layout without a picture! Maybe you want to talk about a goal you made, a big decision that you made or feeling you had about a change in your life. I have some examples of recent layouts that I made without pictures.

This one talks about my obsession with couponing. I could have used a picture if my stockpile, coupons or a store. But I didn't have any good one- so I relied on some fun embellishments. And I think they look much better than a picture would.

I turned 30 a couple of weeks ago. I got a little sappy about it. (Big surprise, right?) Being in Disneyland on the big day helped to distract me though. But I also thought it would make me feel better to document all the amazing things I got to do during my twenties. There are lots of different pictures I could have used. In fact, I could have made an entire scrapbook about the subject. But I didn't have time! And I had way to many things to include to have room for pictures. So I made a list and skipped the pictures. After all, a lot of those pictures are on previous layouts.

Wowzer! My twenties were awesome! I graduated from college, did lots of traveling, discovered stamping and scrapbooking, made incredible friends, married my high school sweetheart and had 4 beautiful children. It was so much fun to list it out!

So there is. The longest post you will find on my blog! I will be back soon!

At a loss for a title....

One of the hardest things about blogging is coming up with a catchy title. I thought and thought. I thought so much that it hurt (didn't take that long) and then gave up.

The card is super simple. The pin wheel stamp is in the set Sweets for the Sweet. I love that set!
The bottom paper strip is actually inside the card.
I cut the pinwheel images out and popped it up.

I just got back last night from a family vacation to Disneyland and the beach. The kids had a blast! And I am just a big kid when I get in Disney! I celebrated my 30th birthday while we were there. Doesn't get better than that! I took over 800 pictures. Don't worry. I won't post them all- but maybe a few!

New To Me

The stamps that I used for today's card are not new to the catalog. They are just new to me. I have wanted them for a while and while I was placing a big order, I decided to take advantage of the SU! new hostess program and get them! The stamps are Elizatheth and Oval All. Even the scallop oval punch is new to me. I LOVE punches so I am certain it will be used often! The DSP on this card is new to the catalog (Beau Chateau andFirst Edition). And the card itself is a CASE of my upline's!

I just love the safety pin from the Vintage Trinkets!

If you want to order any of these product, just shoot me an email at sears1130@gmail.com!

I hope my fellow demonstrators are having fun at convention. I can't wait to hear all the exciting announcements that they make at convention!

I'm Not Lion!!

I just LOVE the cute sentiments that come with the images in the Under the Big Top set! So cute! I think this will make a great kid bday card and I love to have a stack of those for all the parties the kids get invited to!

This is one CRAZY week!!! I am looking foward to scrapping with a friend tonight while my kids are at vacation bible school!

Bling!

I have another card using the new Button Buddies stamp set for you today. Only I didn't use any buttons! You don't HAVE too. The images are pretty even without the buttons. Instead, I stamped the flowers a few extra times on white cardstock and punched out the centers. I attached them to my card and added a little bling. It is another simple, white, one layer card. They are my fave these days!

I am still recovering from yesterday's crazy busy day! We had summer movie (super cheap movies at a movie theater about 45 min from us), errands, piano lesson, dance class, vacation bible school and a huge shopping trip for birthday gifts for all 3 of my girls. We are painting and decorating the twins' room for their gift and it is far more complicated, time consuming and expensive than just buying toys!

I am hoping that once we finish this project- I will be able to focus my attention on decorating my stamping studio. It is very functional, but has NO decor! It is hard to be creative while staring at empty white walls.

I am gearing up for another busy day of a dentist appointment, dance, vacation bible school and a date with my hubby to watch the All Star game!

Celebrate!

I almost didn't get the Under the Big Top stamp set because it requires coloring and that is not my strong suit. But the images were too cute to resist! I love any stamp set that comes with useful sentiments! Plus, it had paper to match! I started with a card using the image that looked the easiest to color...It is hard to tell in the picture- but I dry embossed the white paper.

I have to be off to piano lessons, dance class and vacation bible school. Summer is not as relaxing as I envisioned! But we are making lots of happy memories!

Happy stamping!

Button Buddies

My very favorite stamp set in the new catalog is Button Buddies. All the images are created to add a button to them. Papertrey has similar sets and I have longed for SU! to have one. And now they do!!! And it is AWESOME!!! I must warn you....I am in a clean and simple mood. Lot's of white space.So simple! But who wouldn't smile when they received this? I challenge you to leave some white space! It can be hard to do- but liberating!

Sweet NEW stamps!!!

I got my 1st order from the new catalog about 24 hours ago and I have only stopped stamping to eat and sleep! These stamps are so fun! They are exactly what I needed to get out of my summer stamping slump! My favorite set so far is Button Buddies. I will show you a card with that set tomorrow. This card is my assistant's favorite card. Makes sense since she is 4!

I love having paper to coordinate with stamps! It just makes it easier to put together a card! And these colors are just so fun!

What is your favorite new stamp set?

Having one of those days....

I was all ready to post earlier- but for some reason or another we didn't have an internet connection! And then when we got that cleared up- my computer wouldn't show me any of my pics and so I couldn't upload. But I was relentless and so I have a card to show ya.

I am pretty sure that I was the last one out there to buy the Aviary set. I remember everyone getting excited last year when it came out. I was like "Why all the fuss? That isn't cute." But then I started to see some cards made with it. I even got to use it at a class. And what do you know? Now I think it is cute and had to order it for myself! Please tell me that happens to you too.

It is a very simple card, but I think the pearls make it special.

More on my day.....I discovered that I have lost my coupon binder. If there are any avid couponers out there- you know just how important the binder is. It is almost like losing a kid. I called stores and checked everywhere. I am to the point that I know I need to start a new one. (I guess that is a difference between the coupon binder and kids. I can replace the binder. But replacing one kid with another is generally frowned upon.) So I am off to work on coupons even though I would rather be stamping.

Finally....

I finally finished the gifts for teacher appreciation week (which was last week)! It took me forever! I actually made 4. And after working on them for nearly a week, I finish and wouldn't you know it? I forgot to send them to school with the kids! Ha! They have waited this long, so what's another few days!

I do like the way they turned out! (But note to self- you don't want to make these next year. Once is enough!)

It is also finally Friday! The kids will be gome in a few minutes and we can start our weekend of fun with some swimming!

Never too old.....

to be goofy!

This is one of the 10 cards that I made at my upline's 10/10/20 class on Monday. She is super talented so you best take time to check out her blog. You'll be sorry if you don't!

When I saw this card I thought "This one is so ME." I love the colors and the simple layout. Plus, I got lots of practice using the stamp-a-ma-jig thingy. That thing used to drive me crazy. I got rid of mine! But after a little separation, I can see being friends again.

The saying makes me think about my impending 30th birthday in July. When you are 16- 30 seems ancient. You think that by that age you will be wearing depends, using a walker and checking into the nursing home. Now that I am a few months from turning 30- I think 30 is young!!! And I intend to be goofy on my birthday. We will be in Disneyland with the kids! That always makes me feels young!

Enough blabbering. My DVR is full of good shows that are calling my name!

Troublemaker

I made a 3x3 card a few nights ago. I thought it was simple and cute. I wanted to post it- but I could NOT get a good picture. I tried different lighting, different times of the day, different backdrops, etc... Still no good!!! After about 50 different pics, I decided to give up and just show you the best of the batch. Then the darn picture wouldn't load on to my blog! I finally have the card to show. But keep in mind that it is much prettier in person!

I just love making these fun crumpled up flowers.

Everything is SU! except the sentiment. It is from a set by Papertrey. I love their little sentiments with cute fonts.

Ok, I best publish the post before the pictures disappear! Happy stamping!

I may be going batty!

Right after I got sick in October, my hubby started joking that I had a "broken brain." The week after I got out of the hospital I insisted on going to the pumpkin patch. (Apparently, I had asked about the pumpkin patch repeatedly while in ICU. But I cannot confirm that.) While we were at the pumpkin patch, Scott took a picture of me holding a sign that said "Gone Batty." It seemed appropriate! There is a point to all this. When you see my card, you may think that I really have gone batty.....

Yes, I made a Halloween card. It is not a card I had saved from October. I really sat down and made this a few nights ago. I do have my reasons (beyond just a broken brain). And I hope to share my reasons another time soon. It's a cliff hanger!

Sweet & Simple

Just a clean and simple card for you today.....

I couldn't get the pictures to turn out the way I wanted but I am too lazy to retake them! Speaking of pictures- Almost all of the pictures on my blog are not loading. I don't know how to fix it. Does anyone have any ideas?

I am off to have dinner with my hubby. We are having brownies. That's it. And I am not joking. :)