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!

You crack me up

We were all cracking up here- thanks to the dog! The kids spent time coloring hard boiled eggs this afternoon. They were diligent and very careful. The eggs looked great. So we head out to grab a quick dinner. When we came back- there were only 4 eggs left in the carton. I was perplexed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a purple egg sitting in the grass right outside the door. The darn dog got the eggs!!! He ate 7 hard boiled eggs (shell and all). Yuck!!! And he is a small dog! I have banished him to the backyard for tonight. I don't want multi color poo in the house!

I have a simple Easter card for ya....

I colored the chicks with some copic markers. I am still not too good with those things. But, from time to time, I have fun pretending I am an artist.

Happy stamping!

Another SPACIAL Day and a card!!!!

Today is ANOTHER very special day in the Sears Family!!!! Today Laynee is turning 3!!!!! Where sis all my babies go?!!!! We celebrated Laynee's birthday along with the twins' when we were in Disney. And then we had a birthday party yesterday. So today will be a little low key. I am going to take the girls' for a pedicure! Fun!!!! Here is my gorgious birthday girl...

Happy Birthday, Laynee Bug!!!!!

Are you ready for some stamping?!!!!

Here is another thank you card that I made with this beautiful stamp from paper pretties.....

I colored her in with my copic markers and the paper is retired and call Sweet Slumper Specialty. Enjoy!

Christmas in July

I know that some of you think I am a little strange for making Christmas cards when it is 110 degrees outside. But come December- I want to have lots of cards ready to go so I can focus on other things like baking and shopping!!! So here is another card that I made using my copic markers. I am not going to lie- this card took me FOREVER to make!!! Ha ha!

The stamp set is from Stampin' Up! and is called Holiday Line Up. I used this one quite a bit last year. I think all the images are adorable and fun to color when you are in the mood!!!

Time to Celebrate

I have always loved the Stampin' Up! set A Little Birdie because it i so much fun to paper piece. But I got brave on this one and colored the birdies with my copic markers. Fun! It's a little hard to read the sentiment in this picture but it says "A little birdie told me....it's time to celebrate!"

BTW- the patterned paper is retired and called Maine Blueberry.

Howdy!!!

I got a few new Copic markers and so I have been busy coloring!!! The card today uses the Billy stamps from Pink Cat Studios. I just love this one because he always reminds me of my little guy. It took quite a while to color him but I am so very pleased with the end result!!! I am finally getting better with these copics!!

Have a Happy Monday!

Simple and Masculine

I LOVE to make smple cards. But I always struggle with making masculine cards. Almost all of my stamps are floral sets and I am addicted to ribbon and buttons! So making Father's Day cards is always a huge challenge for me.

This is a super simple card that I made for my Father-In-Law using the set Boys Will Be Boys by Taylored Expressions. I just stamped the image on Kraft cardstock and colored it with my Copic markers. The white layer on the card was run through my Big Shot with one of the texture plates from Stampin' Up!

I am taking a picture of the card I made for my hubby right now. I will schedule it for tomorrow. Promise!!!!

Today the kids have swim lessons, then swimming in the back yard. In the afternoon we are going to do a craft together and hopefully work on writing their names. I am so happy to have my hubby home today. Maybe I will be able to sneak a little stamping time in! Have a great Monday!!!

Make a Splash

My kids are on their third week of swim lessons for the summer. I am pleasently suprised at how well they are all doing! It has been ages since I have shared kid pictures here on ym stamping blog- but I just can't help it today! I LOVE swimming pictures! So if you are here for the card, you have my permission to scroll down!

This is my oldest, Kyler.

This is Makenzie. She is one of the twins and they will be turning 4 next month!!! Wow!

Here is her twin sister, Danika.

And this is my baby, Laynee. And she is going to be 3 next month!

Aren't they adorable?!!!! I just love them!!!!

 

Now on to the card!!!! I was so excited when the Paper Pretties introduced this stamp as one of their stamps of the month! It reminds me of my girls!!!!!

I CASED this card big time!!!!! Becky Carafa made the orginal which you can see HERE. I changed the main image and the sentiment- but otherwise kept it the same. The colors in this DSP (which is retired) always remind me of summer! The stamp is from Paper Pretties and I colored her with Copic Markers, but the rest of the card is made with Stampin' Up! supplies.

Recipe:

Stamps: Make a Splash (Paper Pretties)

Paper: Spring Break DSP (retired), Soft Sky (retired), Whisper White

Ink: Graphite Brilliance Black

Other: Copic Markers, Silver Brads, Spiral Punch

Par-fect Day!

Today my hubby and I are taking the kids to go see Horten Hears a Who. I don't know why- but I love that movie! So I am excited. Nothing like buttery popcorn and M&Ms for breakfast!!! Then after the movie, the three older kids have a singing class with Parks and Rec. They are thrilled about it!

So I am taking a bit of a risk showing you this card today. See I always tell my friends to check out my blog. But I don't think my non-stamping friends really look!!! So I am showing you a Father's Day card that I made for one of my bestest friends. We'll see if he listens to me!!!

I got this stamp set Boys Will be Boys from Taylored Expressions just for my Father's Day Cards! I needed a more manly set or my hubby would be getting a floral Father's Day Card!!!! I stamped the image on Kraft cardstock and colored it with my Copics.

Recipe:

Stamps: Boy Will be Boys (Taylored Expressions)

Ink: Brilliance Black, Close to Cocoa

Paper: Patterned Paper by Cosmo Cricket, Kraft, Soft Sky, Garden Green, Whisper White

Other: Tag Punch, Linin Thread, Buttons from my stash, White Gel Pen, Copics

More coloring!!!

I used the same stamp from my card yesterday. I just gave it a new color combo!

Again the stamp is from Paper Pretties and the coloring was done with my Copics. The rest of the card was made with Stampin' Up! stuff!

Paper: Summer Picnic DSP, Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Whisper White, So Saffron

Ink: Black Brilliance

Other: So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon, White Gel Pen

Hola Chica!

I joined the Paper Pretties Stamp of the Month club a while back. I wanted to work on coloring with my Copic Markers and so I thought it would be fun to get a new outline stamp in the mail each month! I still have a long way to go on learning to color with these things but I am sure having fun trying!

The stamp is by Paper Pretties. The coloring is done with Copics. And the rest of the card is made with Stampin' Up stuff.

Paper: Summer Picnic, Real Red, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie

Ink: Brilliance Black Ink

Other: Pumpkin Pie Brads, Real Red Striped Ribbon, Small Oval Punch

Pretty Sophia

I really mean to post this yesterday!!!! I had such good intentions. And then I forgot!!!! My brain is just getting a little slower every day!!! Anyway....I made this little easter basket tag for a friend's daughter. It took me forever to do the paper piecing! But I think it was worth it!!!!

The stamp is from Paper Pretties and it is called Hipity Hop Sophia. I colored her with my Copics.....but I need so much more practice with that!

Hope you had a great Easter weekend!!!!

I love you, Valentine!

I only have a minute (maybe less!) but I wanted to post the Valentine that I made for my sweet hubby. Then I have to go give it to him!!!

The stamp set is by Papertrey Ink and I colored it with my Copic markers. I also popped up the mailboxes and that looks really cool IRL.

I will update this post tomorrow with the recipe!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Blog-aversary to me!

Who knew that blogging would be such a blast?! I am addicted! Just ask my hubby! I want to thank you for all your sweet comments. You all keep me motivated and I am so please with how many projects I have completed since I started my blog! So are you ready for a blast from the past? I thought I would show you my favorite projects from each month of the past year! Maybe they will re-inspire you!

February, 2008

March, 2008- My first card ever published!!!

April, 2008

May, 2008

June 2008 (Another card that was published!)

July, 2008

August 2008

September 2008

October 2008

November 2008

December 2008

January 2009

Can you tell how much fun I have been having this past year?!!! And my photoraphy sure has gotten much better!

Love ya!!!

Hand Stamped Dry Erase Boards!

Sorry to post so late today but I had MOPS this morning (it's an hour drive each way) and I just never had a chance to schedule a post. But I have a project to show you that I just LOVE. I needed to bring a small gift for ech of the 8 gals at my table and it was suggested that we bring some sort of notebook or something that could be used for To Do lists. It got me thinking about a project that Diana Gibbs made back in December. So here are 2 of the dry erase boards that I made....

So sorry about the crappy lighting in the pictures. It has been cloudy and raining for about 36 hours so there is no good lighting for pictures. But aren't these cute?! I got the photo frames at the dollar store. They are 5x7. I took some patterned paper and printed lines on it with my printer. Then I decorated with a stamped image and stuck it in the frame. Now you can use a Dry Erase marker to write on it!!! I am going to keep mine in my stamp room. Whenever I run out of a crdstock color or something, I can write it on the frame to make ordering easier! I also think it would be great to put next to the phone with a list of friends and family with birthdays coming up. It will help to remind you to call them. You could even use it for phone messages!

I will upload pictures of the other frames this weekend.

 

A Spring Day!

So the high today in Casa Grande, AZ is 79 degrees!!! Crazy! But so nice! It feels like spring. I have been wearing capris and flip flops this week! And so here is a nice spring card...

I used a hostess set that just retired on Sunday. It had never seen ink!!!! Crazy! But over the weekend, I really wantd to color with my Copic markers and so I pulled this stamp set out! I am sorry the sentiment is so blurry in the picture but it says "A Nice Word is like a Spring Day."

Here is a close up of the coloring...

I think I am getting better with the copics, but I still have a ways to go.

Recipe:

Stamps: Serene Spring

Paper: Maine Blueberry DSP, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Black Archival Brilliance

Other: Scallop Edge Punch, White Gel Pen, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Copics Markers, Bashful Blue Button

 

Have you placed your first order from the new catalog yet? I placed mine yesterday afternoon and now I am waiting impatiently for my new goodies to come!

No Girlz!

This is the card that I made for Melissa's challenge at the Pink Cat Studio blog. She wanted us to use Billy or Lilly and place them in a room. I chose to place Billy at his clubhouse!I made the wood background by cutting strips of More Mustard Cardstock and rubbing Close to Cocoa and Whisper White ink on them. I glued them on to a base and used my Chocolate Chip marker to add to nails. It didn't take long at all!!!
I colored Billy with my Copics and paper pieced his shirt with Jersey Shore DSP.
The door hinges are SU! hodgepodge hardware.

I didn't win the contest- but it is always fun playing with my Billy stamps. They always remind me of my son. He has three younger sisters!!!


I am soooo tired. I was running errands and shopping all day! The good news is that I can walk normally now!!!! My toe still hurts if anything touches it so I am not to keen on walking in large groups. More good news- I got a new dress to wear to awards night at convention! Have I mentioned that I am bringing my entire family to Salk Lake with me?!!! That is why I had so many errands- I have to get everyone ready. It will be a long car trip and so I bought new movies, coloring books, snacks, etc. I also had to shop for the girls' birthday gifts as their birthdays will all happen while we are in Salt Lake! I have not picked up a stamp today. I think that I hear the TV calling. I need a little R&R before I can be creative again!

Without Mommy- the house would go to poop!

This morning I woke up with a really bad migraine and my DH was still at work. When the kids woke up- I asked them to just sit in my son's room and watch a DVD. That lasted for about 2 minutes before they all went downstairs. I heard them let the dogs in. The dogs went up and down the stairs a few times. I heard them fighting over bananas. And at one point the baby came into my room (how did she get out of her crib?) holding her wet diaper. About 45 minutes later my DH came home. Here is what he came home to:

-poop and pee all over the floor (presumably from the puppies)

-banana peels all over the floor

-kids sitting at the table eating strawberries. They were pulling the stems and leaves off and they were also on the floor

-one of the puppies was eating a strawberry on the carpet

-Candee (the other puppy) was eating a candy cane off the floor (Now seriously- where did that come from?!!!) I guess she has earned the nickname of Candee Cane!!!

-Makenzie had a dirty diaper and (not to gross anyone out) the poop was all the way up to her shoulders

-Laynee was diaper less and he couldn't find her diaper but did discover that her crib was wet

- And finally he found me laying in bed

So now he knows what would happen if I didn't get out of bed and take care of the kiddos!!! Once he got over the initial shock of what he found- he had to laugh. When he told me about it, my reaction was "Did you take a picture?" It would have been a great scrapbook page!!! And it i,s a good thing that I have the BEST hubby- or I might not be around to type this right now!

I have a Christmas card for ya today! I used a sketch from the Got Sketch class. I love this sketch!!!!

I think you could actually use the insert to share a holiday recipe, a family picture, a gift card, a little note, etc.

The patterned paper is just some random paper that I found in my stash. But it would look great with the SU! Dashing paper from last year. But I only have a few scraps left. I can hardly wait to see what this year's holiday paper will look like. I will have the catty in my hands in just 3 weeks!!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Merry and Bright (last year's holiday mini), Just Celebrate (Occasions Mini)

Paper: random patterned paper, Real Red, Whisper White, Garden Green

Ink: Black, Real Red

Other: Lipstick Red Copic, Circle punches, scallop punch, tab punch, red grosgrain ribbon, staple

Happy Father's Day!!!

Ok- here is your warning- this is a long post!!! I just have sooo much I want to share!

First, Happy Father's Day!

This is my dad. We all met for lunch at Oreganos yesterday. If you have never eatin there- then you are missing out on the best dessert! Yummo!!
And here is my DH. I got him the outfit as a Father's Day gift. He loves Hawaiian shirts. Did you notice that my dad does too? I swear I married the blond version of my dad!!! Something weird- Scott is always squinting in pictures. I can't find one where his eyes are open!!!

Now on to some stamped creations!!

First- this is the card that I made for my dad and for my DH. I told you they are a lot alike- so the same card worked for both!!!

I used Nichole Heady's wallet tutorial. Isn't it adorable!!! The DSP is western Sky and that cute sentiment is from Papertrey. Nichole actually used a sewing machine for all of her stitching. I had to make faux stitching with a paper piercer and a white gel pen. I think it turned out cute! My dad's "wallet" had a Starbucks gift card in it. But Scott's was empty!!

I made this card for my mom to give to my dad. It was super simple! And a Hawaiian shirt just like my dad loves! I used the Spring Break DSP. (I am LOVING that stuff!!) I cut the DSP to about 3 3/4x5 1/2. I folded it in half and then cut a small line done the top middle. I folded that paper down to make the collar. I cut the pockets out a of a scrap and added some brads. I stuck a piece of Old Olive cardtsock inside the shirt so my mom would have a place to write. The sentiment is also from Papertrey. In order to keep the shirt closed. I added a couple of brads under the collar where you can't see. My mom has already asked for a new insert so that she can reuse the card! She'll probably give it to Scott!!!!

Here is the card that I made for my mom to give Scott. Isn't it sweet that she gives her son-in-law a Father's Day gift? I used the Family Accessories stamp set and the Jersey Shore DSP. The cardstock is Real Red and More Mustard. Here is my tip for making the circles equidistant from one another: Start by adhering the DSP onto the Mustard cardstock. Then use scrap paper to punch out 3 circles. Snail these circles onto the strip. It is easier to measure and eyeball them this way. And if they don't look perfect- carefully move them. Then use the circle punch again to punch the scrap circles out of the DSP strip. Does that make sense???

I actually glued a white strip down and then put the DSP strip onto the card with dimensionals. Then I took the baseball stamp and added it. It worked since the stamp is so small.

Now on to the story of the box: My mom bought Scott 2 tickets to a Diamondbacks game. She asked me to make a baseball box for her to put them in. So I bought this round box at Target and I used White acrylic paint for the lid. I tried to put some red faux stitching on it- but it didn't look right. My hubby came in and so I told him that my mom wanted it for my dad. He took one look at it and told me that I was doing it all wrong. He repainted the lid and added the stitching (with my Copic) himself. He made his own gift box without even knowing it! He sure was surprised when my mom gave it to him filled with game candy and the tickets!

So here is my DH with all 4 of his babies. I took this pic BEFORE church this morning. That is why my DH is still smiling! He had to teach Sunday school this morning and he ended up with 30 kids all by himself. They were all between the ages of 2-4. He was kinda cranky after that!!! But who wouldn't be?! It just so happens that church went long today!!!!

Now I have to show you a few pics that I took yesterday of the twins. The other 2 kiddos were at my parents house so we got some alone time with Danika and Makenzie. We painted nails (Scott helps by drying them), put on makeup (Scott put eyeshadow on their cheeks!) and I flat ironed their hair!


Aren't they just adorable?!!! Danika normally has curly hair so we were all amazed by how long her hair is when straight!

Ok I am done!!! See you tomorrow for another scrapbook layout from my Got Sketch Class!