Random thoughts of a Confessed Stamp-A-Holic

Balloons balloons make me happy

Super simple little birthday card for you today :) really this needs absolutely zero explanations- it's that simple

materials used: crazy for cupcakes (SU); vintage cream cs (PTI); basic black cs (SU); tuxedo black (memento); copics; rich razzleberry ribbon (SU); candy dots (pebbles); spica glitter pen

The chill has finally settled on us here in NJ--perfect timing for us to start our Christmas decorating :)  Normal people would have put up the outdoor lights and decorations last week while we were having 60* weather....but for some crazy reason I enjoy doing it out in the cold (I actually prefer to put them up at night too).  You go outside and freeze your tush off and then come in and have a nice hot mug of cocoa.  Perfect :)  I'm going to try and get the lazy little lady to help me this year.....I can only imagine what the house will look like if she puts up the lights.  Gorgeous I'm sure :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!  Have a wonderful day :)

There's a monkey in your cake

I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed lots of steals and deals yesterday during all the fab Black Friday deals!  Our holiday was very enjoyable and the kids and I spent the day inside yesterday making some fun Christmas decorations.  I should be working on my Christmas cards but......well you know how that goes *wink*

I finally got some time to play along with some fun challenges this week (again putting off those Christmas cards).  I made this fun card using this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  I needed a make a few birthday cards to send out my BRAKs this month and this one fit the bill perfectly :)  I picked my colors based on the super cute cupcake paper stack.  And can I say how much I love that marina mist is a perfect match?!?!  LOVE!!

materials used: birthday changito (stampendous), fabulous phrases (SU); marina mist, pink pirouette cs (SU); blending cs (x-press); cupcake dp; tuxedo black (memento); copics; crystal effects (SU); marina mist taffeta ribbon (SU); choc chip brads (SU); oval punch (SU)

I've made a nice collection of birthday cards now on to those Christmas cards.   Of course I am missing one of the key ingredients for the card-the oh so hard to get Christmas card picture. We tried the other day but I gave up....the little man was just not in the mood and all I was getting from the little lady were those fake cheesy smiles UGH.....going to try again tomorrow.  Fingers crossed

In the meantime.....enjoy some of our out takes :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go figure

I start making winter cards and the weather warms up into the 60s!  Crazy!!  We had a few *really* cold days (well for early November) and now we are in this nice warming trend......going to be a crazy one this year I guess..hopefully though the FEET of snow we had last year won't make a reappearance.  But if they do, this little guy is ready!  I always think of my niece when I make anything with penguins on it.  She loves penguins and really who can blame her?  They are so cute!  This little guy is no exception either.  He's all bundled up for the cold in his little hat and fluffy jacket.  He looks all ready for a romp in the snow doesn't he?  I used this week's Color Throwdown #118 for my colors and the sketch is the super fun Mojo Monday sketch for this week.  I LOVE this sketch!!!  I will definitely be using this one again.  It makes for a super cute card that you can make as simple or as involved as you like.  LOVE it!

Materials used: short stacks (stampendous); crumb cake, soft suede, cherry cobbler cs (SU); blending paper (xpress); cherry cobbler dp (SU); tuxedo black (memento); copics; cherry cobbler seam binding (SU); nestabilities; snow flurries embossing folder (SU)

I am SO looking forward to this weekend!  My hubby is off of work and I am looking forward to having another adult here to balance out the kid to adult ratio *wink* The kids have been running me ragged this past week and a half (being sick didn't help that either)...The little guy is into everything and trouble just seems to find him at every moment and the little lady?  Well she's just constantly on the move and keeping up with her social schedule is enough to make anyone tired *wink*

WIshing you a very relaxing weekend!  Thanks for stopping by today :)

Hello (again)

Wow!  look at me, two posts in a row.....(enjoy it folks cause it doesn't happen often)  This (so not typical Merry style) card is for the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge #176.  This card so could have been included in my Simple Sunday category (well if I had done the challenge on time.....).  I knew I wanted to use some pretty bold flowers when I saw the sketch I just wasn't sure which set I wanted to use.  Then while looking through my stash I stumbled across this set and decided to go for it.  I've had the set for a while now but each time I go to use it I don't actually end up using it.  Not sure why but I just haven't been able to make it work for me.  I love the set and have seen SO many fabulous cards made with it (that's why I own it) but it's never been kind to me.....until this one.  Even though this is not my typical style I love the end result of this card!  The color scheme is this week's Curtain Call colors Act 55-again not normally colors I would put together (don't think I've EVER put chocolate chip and black together before) but it works......well.  Who knows, I might even try another card with this color combo :)  

materials used (all SU unless noted otherwise): awash with flowers; real red, tangerine tango, WW, basic black cs; tuxedo black (memento); copics; hello rub on-chocolate chip; chocolate chip ribbon (american crafts); finial press embossing folder; rhinestones; curly label punch

Thanks so much for stopping by (again) today!!!  Wishing you a wonderful evening :)

I've said it before

but I'll say it again.....I am a slacker!!!!  Things have been crazy here, add to that a cold that seemed to find me (hate when that happens) and my SU hostess club meeting last week and what does that add up to????   A bad blogger :)  I think the saddest part is....I had cards made I just was too lazy...I mean busy to photograph them and post them!  But I'm back and I have some adorable cards to share with you over the next few days so thanks for sticking around with me!!!

I am getting this card in *just* in time (it's due by noon today!!!).  I made this one for the Create with Connie and Mary sketch challenge 123.  I normally don't make Christmas/winter cards this early but I had this paper sitting out on my table and it was screaming for me to USE it!!  This is one of those paper packs that I just want to buy a ton of and hoard in my craft room before I can't get any more....cause you know I just might *need* it 10 years from now.  It's just SO cute I need to have a bunch.  (But so far I've only bought one pack---which if you know me is *REALLY* good!)  And speaking of hoarding......you'll notice that cute little felt snowflake isn't currently available.  Nope that's from last year's mini and since I LOVED them I have a few bags stock piled away....but I am really trying to use what I have so here ya go *wink*  I also gave ruffling/scrunching my ribbon a shot on this card.  Not sure I am super pleased with the final result but I pulled it off and redid it SO many times that even Elizabeth looked at me and said "Ma, it's pretty just leave it!!!".  Now when a four year old tells you that you know you are in trouble :)  

materials used: a cute christmas (SU); baja breeze, blushing bride, real red cs (SU); candy cane christmas dp (SU); blending paper (xpress); tuxedo black (memento); copics; rock candy stickles (ranger); red satin ribon (PTI); felt flurry (SU); rhinestone (SU); oval, scallop oval punches (SU); candy dots (pebbles)

I'm working on finalizing my holiday cards for this year.  My goal is always to get them out the day after Thanksgiving but the last two years I haven't quite made that goal.  Hopefully if I start planning now I can do it in time!  My problem always though is that I start with a basic SIMPLE card design and as I keep playing with them and working on them the design gets more and more complicated and involved.  And when you are making over 100, involved and complicated isn't really what you want to do......eh we'll see if I can pull off simple this year!

Thanks SO much for stopping by today even though I have been a bad blogger and neglecting you!!!  I hope you have a wonderful day :) 

So outside the box for me.....

This card totally goes outside of my normal comfort zone!  I was gifted this set from Stampin' Up! around the time of the new catalog preorder and am sad to say I think this is only the 2nd time I've used it.  It's such a pretty set.....but it's just not my typical cutsie style.  It's good to stretch the zone every once and while though right?

I saw a card that used this sketch during one of my recent blog catch up sessions and thought it looked interesting.  Again not a design that I would typically do but it works for this image.  I airbrushed this flower using a few different shades of violet and blue to get the soft shades that are typically found in a hydrangea.  Then I gave it a nice spritz of vanilla smooch spritz to shimmer it up nicely.  I added a few of the teeny tiny pearls to a few of the flower centers to complete the beauty.  I think my DH's grandmother will love this card-tomorrow's her birthday :)

materials used: because i care (SU); bordering blue, perfect plum, sahara sand cs (SU); stamper's select white (PTI); tuxedo black (memento); copics; smooch spritz; pearls; nestabilities; silver brads (SU); vintage wallpaper embossing folder (SU)

Back to reality today....we just got home from a quick trip down to Disney World for Halloween.  We LOVE Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and with the little lady starting kindergarten next year we figured this might be our last time to get down there for a while.  But today it's back to school and life as normal until we get to go visit Mickey again in January for the marathon :)  I'm hoping that my mojo has also returned from vacation so I can get back to playing along with all the challenges I enjoy!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope you have a great day :)