The Mother of Teenager

I am officially the mother of a teenager now.  It's hard to believe, and when I think back to when he was born, I've overwhelmed that God entrusted him to me 13 years ago when I was only 22.  I'm so thankful, because he made me grow up, and he and his sister have made me better.  

We just got back from Panama City Beach, FL, where we seem to spend his birthday every year now.  He certainly doesn't seem to mind, and neither does the rest of the family.  We spent a lot of time at Shell Island, we played family games, and ate some wonderful sea food.  Next year we will be moving to the Midwest, so we are soaking in as much beach time as we possibly can.

The new teen had only one request for his card (yes, they put in requests for special cards to be made).  He wanted a minotaur card.  I don't know about you, but I don't have any minotaur stamps, so I had to improvise.  I used several sets on this special card.  The background was made with You're my Hero by Taylored Expressions.  My minotaur was made using the moose from Chubby Chum Pals by Paper Smooches.  The rest was done with a hodgepodge of stamps from Paper Smooches:  Birthday Buddies, Hang Ups, Word Salad, & Squeaky Clean.  I drew the little shield.

The shield and axe have special meaning, because my son simply wanted a bunch of supplies to make his own duct tape weapons.  He's such a creative kid.  He was pretty thrilled with both his card, and his loot of pvc piping, pvc insulation, and lots of duct tape!

Here he is after one of his creations last night. . .happy kid.  He's planning to have a few friends over so they can make some too, and then they can battle.  That's my boy!

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

It's a surprise birthday blog hop for the owner of There She Goes Stamps!  Are you surprised, Jessica?! I was honored to be asked to join along in the hop as one of TSGs customers.  I don't know Jessica personally, but I do know that she has amazing customer service and some of the cutest stamps on the planet!  I have quite a few of their stamps, and every month my list of 'wants' gets larger and larger.

I used TSGs stamp set called Ninja Skillz.  Haha, the set just cracks me up, and I thought it was the perfect set to use for Jessica's card!  I used the current Retro Sketches for my layout.  They always have great sketches to get the mojo going.

Stamps:  Ninja Skillz

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  Simon Says cardstock, Neenah Solar White, BG dp

Accessories:  Copics, TE Photo Stack die, teal twill ribbon, foam tape

There you go!  I hope you were surprised, Jessica, and I hope you gets lots of birthday wishes today!  Hoppers should head on over to Jessica's blog to be sure to wish her a very happy birthday!

Paper Crafts Gallery Idol 2013

I'm throwing my hat in the ring to this year's Paper Crafts Gallery Idol.  I think I did last year too, but I don't remember.  I had some time to make something for the theme, which is birthday cards for kids/teens.  I chose the teen side, because that is what I seem to be surrounded by these days ;)

I created my background by inking up my craft mat and dabbing my paper into it.  I just love the look it creates!  The stars are wood veneer dabbed with some liquid pearls, and the sentiment comes from Taylored Expressions Oh Snap set.  

My son doesn't know it, but it may end up being his card this year.  His birthday is Monday, and we will be traveling all weekend.  I've been so crazy busy with our standardized testing and other various activities that the card he really wanted me to make, may not happen.  I'm still hopeful that I'll have some time today, but I'm not holding my breath.  He'll be 13 on Monday, and I'm a wreck about it.

Stamps:  TE Oh Snap

Ink:  Distress Faded Jeans & Broken China, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  watercolor, Neenah Solar White

Accessories:  water mister, Tabs Nestabilities, washi tape, Wood Veneer Stars from Studio Calico foam tape, buttercream Liquid Pearls

Wish me luck!

May TE Key Ingredients Kit

I have another card to show using the May Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit along with the new Stamp of the Month and it's matching die.  The Stamp of the Month for May is called Cutie Pie and it's matching die set is called Branches Banner & Bloom.

The kit comes with the darling Echo Park Sweet Girl paper, and I love it so much that I literally only have scraps left with all of the things I've created with it.  If you don't know about Taylor's Key Ingredients Kits, there are 3 options for subscriptions.  You can read all about each one on her Subscriptions page.  There is a kit to appeal to all paper crafters :D

Thanks for stopping in today.  I'll be sharing stuff all week, despite our being busy with standardized testing.  I need the crafting for my sanity ;)

Christmas Wishes

Did you have a good weekend?  Mine went so fast as they always do.  My kids and I attended a homeschool convention up in Atlanta, and had a great time to say the least.  We met some great people, listened to some great speakers, and picked out our curriculum for next year.  My son met 'his people' as he called them, when we came across the Warfare by Duct Tape booth.  Now all he wants for his birthday this weekend is duct tape, pvc pipes, and foam, lol!

I have another project to show you from my time on the Dirty Dozen from Splitcoaststampers.  It was a sketch challenge, and I used a Saturated Canary image called Christmas Angel.  She was so fun to color!

I'll have more to show this week for sure.  My kids are having their standardized testing this week, so we'll be busy with that.  Have a great Monday!

Christmas Wine Topper

My time with the Dirty Dozen over at Splitcoaststampers came to a close yesterday, but it was such a fun and fast ride!  I'll be hosting a challenge in July for the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges, so you'll have to stay tuned for that.  If you're not a Splitcoaststamper Fan Club member, you should really think about it, because I personally believe it's worth the little extra money to get access to the extras :)

Over the next few months I'll show you a couple of the things I made for Splitcoaststampers DD.  This month I'll show you some November 2012 stuff.  My first item was a wine bottle topper, and I used some Papertrey Ink goodies.

I'm headed out soon to enjoy a homeschool convention up in Atlanta.  I'm super excited to check out new curriculum and hear some motivational/informational speeches geared toward the homeschooling community.  Thanks for stopping in today!

Taylored Expressions May Key Ingredients Blog Hop

Welcome to the Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Monthly Blog Hop!  I have been so in love with this month's kit and Stamp of the Month, that I just can't seem to put it down.  The papers are all so lovely and rich, and I always love the various types of ribbon that Taylor includes with the kit.  Not only that, but the Stamp of the Month called Cutie Pie is just gorgeous!  I just can't resist those lovely flowers, and sentiments. . .not to mention the matching die set called Branches Banner & Bloom.  Eeek, that banner is simply perfect!

I've been a long time fan of Taylor's kits, and now with the addition of matching stamp sets and dies a girl like me is in stampy heaven!  If you didn't know, there are a few options to being a kit subscriber.

Stamp of the Month Subscription

Deluxe Subscription

Key Ingredients Subscription

Each is suited to fit your crafting needs.  Maybe you just want stamps, maybe you just want coordinating papers and ribbons, or maybe you want it all.  There is an option there for everyone!  My personal fave is the Deluxe Subscription because of the amazing benefits that comes with being a Deluxe Subscriber :D

There is a lot of TE KI goodness to see this month, so you'll need to keep hopping!  Check out the rest of the KI Team and Baker's Dozen's blogs for my KI inspiration:

Amy Crockett

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask (me)

Charmaine Ikach

Debbie Carriere

Jami Sibley

Kerri Michaud

Monika Davis

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

Thanks again for stopping in, and have fun hopping!

Stamps:  Cutie Pie

Ink:  SU Bermuda Bay, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  May TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Branches Banner & Bloom Die, TE Instant Photo Frames Die, yellow buttons, foam tape

So Many Smiles

I had a bit of time this morning to make something for the Retro Sketches from Saturday.  They always have the best sketches to follow.  I pulled out a set from Papertrey Ink called Natural Beauty, that I earned earlier this year.  I just love those overlapping flowers.

My arrow comes from Studio Calico's wood veneer line that I purchased over at Simon Says Stamp.

Stamps:  Natural Beauty

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, MME Mabel dp

Ink:  SU Apricot Appeal, SU Pumpkin Pie, SU Pool Party, SU Bermuda Bay, SU Lucky Limeade, Distress Vintage Photo, Craft White

Accessories:  Hearts & Arrows Wood Veneer, white embossing powder, foam tape, Labels 11 Nestabilities, Buttercream Liquid Pearls

Thanks for stopping in!  Be sure to come back tomorrow :)

Happy Heart

Oh happy day, it's Friday!  I've been scrambling around getting the kids motivated to get the last few weeks of school done before we have our standardized tests.  In between I've made the time to create a few things.  I've made quite a few Mother's Day cards, but sadly had to get them in the mail so I didn't get pictures taken.  Normally I'm so good at taking pictures ahead of time, but not this time.  

Yesterday I saw the Mojo Monday sketch and decided to play along.  I pulled out the new May Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit along with a newer set called Happy Heart.  I'm so happy with how this one turned out.

 Stamps:  Happy Heart

Ink:  Craft White, Distress Black Soot

Paper:  May 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, Prima flowers, Circle Nestabilities, foam tape, sponge, Liquid Pearls, white embossing powder

If you haven't seen what comes in the kit, take a peek:

Gorgeous stuff in there, huh?!  All right well, I'm going to go and educate my children for the day ;)  I'm hoping to have more crafting time, so I hope to see you later!

Life is Sweet

Hello crafty friends!  Another Monday is here and yet I managed to find a bit of time to craft in between teaching, laundry, and picking up.  We are winding down our school year, so the kids are mostly working on their research papers and getting ready for our standardized tests.

I checked out the CAS challenge over at Splitcoaststampers, and it's a Featured Player challenge!  It's always fun to check out another stampers gallery and be inspired.  Bonnie has a lot of inspiration in her gallery, and I chose THIS particular card to CASE.  I changed the image, colors, and the placement of the sentiment, but otherwise you get the feel.

I used the set called The Sweet Life from Papertrey Ink.  Those roses are just gorgeous.

Stamps:  The Sweet Life

Ink:  SU Pool Party, SU Bermuda Bay, SU Lucky Limeade, Distress Black Soot

Paper:  PTI Rustic White, SU Pool Party

Accessories:  MFT Jumbo Scallop border Die-namics, foam tape

Thank you for stopping in today!  I'll have even more to show later in the week :D

Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit for May

Have you checked out the latest Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit for May?  If not, you should!  It includes the papers from Echo Park's Sweet Girl line, and I just love all of the vibrant colors in the kit.  I used my kit this morning to make a card for 100th sketch over at Deconstructed Sketches.  Plus, it's my father-in-law's birthday this weekend.

I decided to flip the sketch on it's side, and I used the Oh Snap stamp set from Taylored Expressions that was released a couple of months ago.  There is a matching camera die that you can purchase to go with the set.  The little banner was made with a new die set that was just released to go with the new SOTM from Taylored Expressions called Branches Banner & Bloom.  Lots of goodies to see, I tell ya!

 Stamps:  Oh Snap

Paper:  May 2013 Key Ingredients Kit

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Bermuda Bay, Distress Barn Door

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, Labels 12 Nestabilities, Oh Snap Cameras Die, Branches Banner & Bloom Die, foam tape, sponge, Copics

 It's a celebration for the 100th sketch, so you should really go check it out!  Congrats to the sketch team and Jen for providing so many wonderful sketches and inspiration!