Butterfly Kisses

Good morning friends! Did you all enjoy the holiday weekend?! 

My husband and 2 boys left for Boy Scout camp on Saturday morning so the house is pretty quite here and perfect for crafting! I spent some time last night creating while my daughter and her boyfriend watched a movie.

I received a package from MFT while I was away so I ripped that opened first and set to work! I used this week's MFT sketch and some DP by Echo Park to match my Make a Wish PI girl. I colored her with Copics and paper pieced her dress. The sentiment is cut with the Fishtail Flags layers stax (love!) and embellished with some SU! butterflies.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

stamps: PI Make a Wish (MFT)

ink: memento rich cocoa (Tsukineko)

paper: crumb cake, very vanilla, riding hood red, pool party (SU!); Beautiful Life DP (Echo Park)

accessories: glitter, beautiful wings embosslit, clear gem (SU!); fishtail flags layers stax (MFT); carribbean twine (The Twinery); Copic sketch markers

Lady Liberty

Happy Birthday America!

Enjoy your holiday (and the fireworks!) and thanks for stopping by!

stamps: PI Lady Liberty (MFT)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: night of navy, whisper white (SU!)

accessories: oval, scallop oval nestabilities (Spellbinders); Spectrum Noir markers; glitter (SU!); polka dot embossing folder (Life Style Crafts); ribbon (Michael's)

Happy Summer!

Hello friends! It is finally feeling like summer here (hooray) and my pictures have gotten much brighter (double hooray). This card is for this week's MFT sketch challenge on SCS. I colored my PI cutie with  my Copic markers and layered her up on some Sweet Girl DP by Echo Park.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

stamps: PI and the Pinwheel (MFT)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)
paper: whisper white, real red (SU!); Sweet Girl DP (Echo Park)
accessories: Copic sketch markers; circle, scallop circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); yellow silk ribbon (Creative Impressions); glitter (SU!)

Aim High

Hello friends! I have a fun graduation card to share with you today. I used MFT's Tree Swing PI with a sentiment from the MFT PI Aim High set. I colored my cute little boy with my Spectrum Noir markers to match the Scoot DP and used this week's MFT sketch challenge for my layout (man that's a lot of initials in those sentences!!) I added a ribbon bow with a button embellishment to balance out the image.

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy your Sunday!

stamps: PI Tree Swing, PI Aim High (MFT)

ink: memento rich cocoa (Tsukineko)
paper: very vanilla, night of navy (SU!); Scoot DP (Echo Park)
accessories: Spectrum Noir markers; blue ribbon (May Arts); button (?); natural twine (Creative Impressions); Mix and Match banners (MFT)

The Best Day

Good Monday morning friends! Today is our official first day of summer vacation! It is also my youngest son's 10th birthday! Eeeks- now all of my kids are in double digits! We have a day of family fun planned. My 15 year old son has a soccer game tonight in Duluth (about 2 1/2 hours from us) so my husband took the day off and we are heading up to the north shore about noon. We will spend a couple hours by Lake Superior, enjoy a nice birthday dinner and then head to the game. We are all looking forward to it!

This is the card I made for him using MFT's Skater Boy and a sentiment from Paper Smooches Slang Gang set. I colored my boy with my Spectrum Noir markers and layered him up on some Boy Crazy DP using last week's MFT sketch.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

stamps: PI Skater Boy (MFT); Slang Gang (Paper Smooches)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: very vanilla, riding hood red (SU!); Boy Crazy DP (MME)

accessories: circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); banner trio die (WPlus9); corner punch (SU!); button (?); black gems (Kaiser Craft); black twine (Hemptique); Spectrum Noir markers

Hey, Sassy Pants

Hey Friends! Did you enjoy your long weekend? We had a soccer tournament (that was local) so we spent oodles of time at the soccer complex. Unfortunately the weather was not real summer like and we ended up wrapped in blankets while cheering on my oldest son's team! Many people had on their winter jackets but I refused to bring mine back out of the closet! Fortunately, the rain held off so we were only cold and not wet too! It was all worth it though with my son's team winning first place in their age division! (It was a come from behind win and really quite exciting!)

Anyways, today it is still chilly and overcast and the perfect weather for stamping! I found a 6x6 paper pad in my stash that I bought last summer and only used maybe 2 times (shame, shame) so I thought I would give it another go round before my NEW shipment of summer papers arrives from i {heart} papers! (Yes, I am a paper addict!). I colored my MFT Pure Innocence girl with my Spectrum Noir markers and carefully trimmed her out. I paper pieced her dress and added a tiny gem to her hair. My layout is loosely based on this week's MFT sketch.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

stamps: PI Cute-a-tude (MFT)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: old olive, basic black, very vanilla (SU!); Hometown Summer DP (Pink Paislee)

accessories: wide ribbon (SU!); banner trio die (WPlus9); green gems (Kaiser Crafts); Spectrum Noir markers

Hippo Hooray!

Hello my friends! My card today is a boy birthday card for my stash. With 3 boys in my house- we are always in need of boy themed birthday cards! This time I used some Bundle of Joy Boy DP by Echo Park and a cute little hippo stamp from Paper Smooches. I colored my hippo with my Spectrum Noir markers and added the sentiment on an MFT banner die. For sparkle (which is a necessity in my book) I covered a star die in dazzling diamonds glitter. Some twine, a button and a tiny clothespin complete the look!

Thanks so very much for stopping by! Psst- see the pretty pink flowers in the background of my photo?! Spring has finally sprung here and my rhododendrons are blooming!!

stamps: Zoo Crew (Paper Smooches)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: baja breeze, whisper white, so saffron (SU!); Bundle of Joy Boy DP (Echo Park)

accessories: green twine (Hemptique); button, glitter (SU!); star die (WPlus9); clothespin (Canvas Corp); mix and match banners (MFT); Spectrum Noir markers

Be Prepared

Hello Friends! I'm back today with another card using my new Spectrum Noir markers. I'm getting used to the different colors and I really like the fine tip end of the markers after using the brush tip of Copics. I think there is a bit more control. . .

Anyways, each year the Lions in our community generously donate to our Boy Scout Troop and each year I volunteer to make the thank you card! I used my Boy Scout from My Favorite Things and I colored him up and layered him on some MME DP. I also used my beloved banner trio dies from WPlus9 for the Scout sentiments. My layout is last week's Deconstructed Sketch.

I love this little cutie and use him often for my Scout related cards but I'm wishing I had other Scout stamps to add to my collection. I also have a couple of sets from Our Daily Bread Designs that are patriotic and get a lot of use for Scouts, but I'm always looking for more! Anybody have any ideas for me?

Thanks so much for stopping by! Oh- i {heart} papers is REALLY close to reaching the 3,000 fan mark on Facebook (and I hear when that happens there's going to be a SALE!) so go over to the Facebook page and "like" us!

stamps: Boy Scout (MFT)

ink: memento rich cocoa (Tsukineko)

paper: crumb cake, very vanilla, early espresso (SU!); Fly A Kite DP (MME)

accessories: banner dies (WPlus9); buttons (?); purple twine, orange twine (Hemptique); Spectrum Noir markers

Snow Day

Hello friends! My card today is for Jen's Deconstructed Sketch. I love sketch challenges and this one was a fun one! I colored my PI cutie with my Copics and added some sparkle to the snow. All of the DP is from the Hopscotch collection by Fancy Pants.

We don't have much snow here (yet) and the schools in our district NEVER close in the winter. (I'm pretty sure you could Google Anoka-Hennepin District #11 and that would be one of the statistics that would show up first!) So it's very unlikely that our kids will have a snow day this year- but they can always hope ;)!

Thanks for stopping by!

stamps: Snow Day (MFT)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)
paper: pumpkin pie, very vanilla (SU!); Hopscotch DP (Fancy Pants)
accessories: oval, scallop oval nestabilites (Spellbinders); scallop border punch (Fiskars); orange will ribbon (May Arts); buttons (?); orange twine (Lawn Fawn);glitter (SU!); Copics sketch markers

Monday, Monday

Good Monday morning friends! Did you have a good weekend? Ours was busy with outdoor winter preparations! We got all of the bushes trimmed, the patio furniture stored away and even put up our outdoor Christmas lights. It feels good to have all of that stuff done! Now it's time to work on the inside chores and prepare for Thanksgiving dinner (yum, yum!).

Sunday was my daughter's 17th birthday! We had a nice birthday dinner here and her boyfriend even made the birthday cake!(and I have to say it was delicious!) This is the card I made for her using MFT's Cute-a-tude Pure Innocence girl (fits my daughter perfectly!) I paper pieced her dress and then colored her with Copics. The DP is from the For the Record 2 Tailored collection by Echo Park. I added some ribbon roses trim and a button twine element to finish it all off!

Thanks so much for stopping by and come back tomorrow for our IHP Design Team challenge!

stamps: Cute-a-tude PI (MFT)

ink: memento rich cocoa (Tsukineko)

paper: riding hood red, very vanilla (SU!); For the Record 2 Tailored (Echo Park)

accessories: circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); Copic sketch markers; button (Cosmo Cricket); natural twine string (Creative Impressions); roses trim (Maya Road)

Strong

Hello my crafty friends! I was surfing the net this morning, visiting my favorite blogs, when I saw Jen's Deconstructed sketch for today! It was just the motivation I needed to head back to my craft desk for the second time this week ;) Hopefully I'm on a roll! 

I used a stamp and die set from MFT that I had ordered awhile ago and was still sitting on my desk in the shipping envelope (sad, I know). The DP is from My Mind's Eye Lavender collection that I bought from i {heart} papers. Have you seen all of the new papers in the store?! Now THAT'S mojo motivation! I also did some paper piercing that I haven't done in a long time. I love it- back to basics!

Thanks so very much for stopping by!

stamps: Vertical Greetings (MFT)

ink: chocolate chip (SU!)

paper: Lavender DP (MME); very vanilla, chocolate chip (SU!)

accessories: vertical greetings die (MFT); circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); brown check ribbon (May Arts); button (Cosmo Cricket); natural twine string (Creative Impressions)

Think Happy, Be Happy!

Hello again my crafty friends! I'm playing with my MFT Pure Innocence kids today and this week's MFT sketch. I paper pieced and colored my cutie with Copics and then layered her up on some Fine & Sunny DP by Kaiser Craft. I made my own sun with paper scraps and an embossing folder for a fun accent! I just love this sentiment and I totally believe in it! I think a positive attitude makes all the difference in the world! So put on your happy face today and enjoy the day!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

stamps:  PI Freckles (MFT)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: so saffron (SU!); Copic blending card stock (X-Press); Fine & Sunny DP (Kaiser Craft)

accessories: swiss dot embossing folder (Provo Craft); circle punches (SU!); Copic sketch markers; clear gems (Kaiser Craft)

Graduation

Good morning friends! I have another card for a 2012 graduate to share with you today. I love those cute little Pure Innocence kids from My Favorite Things. I try to abstain every time there is a new release but many times I just can't help myself!! I find them so versatile and perfect for many different occasions. Here, I colored my cutie with my Copics and added a sentiment from Verve's Small Phrases set. I used some feminine DP from the Dolled Up collection by My Mind's Eye and some lace trim to put it all together.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

stamps: Because You're Special (MFT); Small Phrases (Verve)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: riding hood red, whisper white (SU!); Dolled Up DP (MME)

accessories: Copic sketch markers; clear gems (Kaiser Craft); lace trim (May Arts); circle, scallop circle nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Thank You

Good morning friends! Here is another teacher appreciation card I created last week. I used stamps from the Perky Plants set by Paper Smooches (makes me smile every time!) and some DP by Kaiser Craft. The cork paper is cut with a Die-namic from My Favorite Things. My layout is last week's SCS sketch. 

It's only the first day of summer vacation for my kids and I already have been "hired" as the taxi driver for my daughter! Busy, busy, busy!

Thanks for stopping by!

stamps: Perky Plants (Paper Smooches)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: certainly celery, cherry cobbler (SU!); Copic white blending card stock (X-Press); Fine & Sunny DP (Kaiser Craft); cork paper (Canvas Corp)

accessories: zig zag Die-namic, mini tab Die-namic (MFT); Copic sketch markers; red twine (Divine Twine); red gems (Kaiser Craft)

Dude!

My son attended a birthday party for a fellow Wolf scout at the archery range today. The six boys, and a couple of the dads, had so much fun shooting for 2 hours and challenging each other to different shots. I was very impressed with how well these 8 and 9 year-olds can shoot! 

This is the card I made for Master Gray. I used the skater boy PI from MFT and colored him with my Copics. All of the DP is from the A Boy's Life collection by Echo Park. To make my banner across the lower half of the card, I used this little tip I learned from Joanne! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

stamps: Skater Boy (MFT)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: crushed curry, night of navy, very vanilla (SU!); A Boy's Life DP (Echo Park)

accessories: oval, scallop oval, circle, scallop circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); Copic sketch markers; Die-namics mix & match banners (MFT); silver baubles (Sierra Pacific Crafts) 

Is it Wednesday?

I get so messed up with what day it is when the kids have an extra day off of school! I just realized this afternoon that it is actually WEDNESDAY instead of Tuesday! That much closer to Friday I guess ;)!

Here's a sweet little card I made for a friend. I just love coloring these Pure Innocence kids from My Favorite Things with my Copics! This time I tried the spotted shadow effect (I don't know if that's really what it's called but that's what it is!). Anyways, it looks a lot more subtle in real life- it looks kind of weird here in the picture. My DP is from the new MME Miss Caroline Dolled Up collection and my layout is by Jen Shults.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great Wednesday!!

stamps: Feeling Froggy (MFT); Tiny Tags (SU!)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: riding hood red, whisper white, kiwi kiss, pink pirouette (SU!); Dolled Up DP (MME)

accessories: leave die, butterfly die, tiny tag punch, button, linen thread (SU!); circle, scallop circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); flower punch (Target $ Spot); Copic sketch markers; pink rhinestone (Kaiser Craft)

Happy Heart

Happy Friday! I played along with this week's My Favorite Things sketch challenge! All of the papers are from the Fine and Dandy Tickled Pink collection by MME (an older collection that I have to use up before I can buy anymore DP! Yeah right!) I colored my cutie with my Copics and paper pieced her dress. Here's the original sketch and you will see that my main panel is a bit shorter than the sketch dictates- oops! I still love it and it felt good to stamp 2 days in a row :)

Speaking of Copics. We were weren't we? i {heart} papers now has the set of 12 new Copics in the store!! Thanks for stopping by!

stamps: Because You're Special (MFT)

ink: memento rich cocoa (Tsukineko)

paper: whisper white, riding hood red (SU!); Fine and Dandy Tickled Pink DP (MME)

accessories: Copic sketch markers; button (Cosmo Cricket); brown twine string (Creative Impressions)

You

Hello my friends! How is your Wednesday going? I just love these short weeks :) My card today uses Jen's Deconstructed sketch from a couple weeks ago. I thought it might be a tough one at first but came together pretty easily! I used a cute PI girl from My Favorite Things and some Free Bird DP by Authentique. There's a bit of glitter in her hair and on the flowers for some sparkle (of course).

The sun is bright and sunshiny today so our driveway/ice rink is melting nicely! The streets are even clearing off and when I was outside this afternoon I could hear the snow dripping into the gutters from the roof :) I don't mind the winter weather- I do live in Minnesota after all- but the sun shining and the snow melting is always a good thing! (I hear rumors that it may reach a balmy 45 degrees F tomorrow! Fingers crossed!)

Thanks for stopping by!

stamps: Because You're Special (MFT)

ink: memento rich cocoa (Tsukineko)

paper: very vanilla, crumb cake (SU!); Poised & Warmth DP (Authentique)

accessories: blue rhinestones (Kaiser Craft); Copic sketch markers; circle and wonky rectangle nestabilities (Spellbinders); open scallop die-namic (MFT); vanilla seam binding, glitter, word window punch (SU!)

Birthday Monster

Happy Monday?! The sun is shining here so that always makes a good day for me (even if it is Monday!) Yesterday, one of my little daycare friends celebrated his first birthday. He is a happy little boy but man is he curious! He gets in to EVERYTHING! I call him (lovingly) my little monster boy. So, when making his birthday card, I knew exactly which image to use! I paper pieced my monster with some Happy Day DP by Simple Stories and added a bit of shading with my Copic markers. I cut out the main image with a wonky rectangle Spellbinders die and then used some antique linen distress ink around the edges. My layout is this week's MFT sketch challenge.

Be sure and stop by tomorrow for our i {heart} papers design team challenge. We are adding a new twist to the challenge by getting our blog visitors involved. Let me just say that there is PRIZES up for grabs {wink}!

Thanks for stopping by!

stamps: Lil Loveosaurus (MFT) 

ink: memento rich cocoa (Tsukineko); antique linen distress ink (Ranger)

paper: chocolate chip, very vanilla (SU!); Happy Day DP (Simple Stories)

accessories: ribbon (SU!); brads (OTC); wonky rectangle (Spellbinders); Copic sketch markers

Fabulous

My daughter just finished her High School soccer season last week. Her team had about a 500 record and there was a variety of talent on the team. It was tough and frustrating for her at times but she played hard and was dedicated to her teammates. This week's My Favorite Things weekly sketch challenge was the perfect excuse for me to ink up my PI soccer girl and make her a card! I colored my girlie with my Copics and used some Harvest Market DP by LilyBee Designs for the layout. My sentiment is from a Verve set called small phrases.

Did you enjoy the Swimming For Katie Blog Hop yesterday? Well, there's 2 more days left!! Go HERE to see who is hopping today.

Thanks for stopping by!

stamps: PI I Get a Kick Out of You (MFT); Small Phrases (Verve)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: crumb cake, basic black, very vanilla (SU!); Harvest Market DP (LilyBee Designs)

accessories: word window punch, glitter (SU!); black ribbon (Michael's); circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); Copic sketch markers