Sites of the week

Hello All! I’m here in sunny Arizona for the week. I am enjoying spending time with my parents. They have a gorgeous home in Surprise, AZ and it has been a lot of fun catching up and enjoying the AZ sun. We got a chance to spend a little extra time together last night as Ellie had a stomach “episode”…if you know what I mean. Three hours and four wash loads later, we were back in bed. She is such a little trooper and I can’t wait to share some of the pics that I am taking of her (before the whole barf-o-rama festivities occurred).
I have not had a chance to comment on the cards that you have created for the Sketch For You To Try. I am using a dial up connection and it takes forever and a day for pics to load. I promise that I will be looking and commenting on them when I am home.
Thank you all for you kind words and prayers for my mom. They are so greatly appreciated. It is so wonderful to have an wonderful support group near and far.
I hope everyone is having a great week and I look forward to getting back to my usual posts next week. Hugs-Jd

Good Intentions. The road is paved with them, right?

Well, I had every intention of pre-loading some entries with projects for next week. Did not happen. I had every intention of making a sample for the Sketch For You To Try. Did not happen. I didn’t even take a shower yesterday until I was about to go to bed. That should sum up my day!! LOL!!

**ETA** The sketch sample that I had planned in my head used some of the new and super fun Verve Visual stamps. Starlight Starbright and Wonderful Wishes were released today!!! Go get your VERVE ON!!!

Today I am on a plane with Ellie on our way to AZ. Yes, I chose to fly alone with a 16 month old! Crazy?? Who me?? Well, maybe! At least she has her own seat. We are visiting my parents for the week. I wouldn’t call it a vacation really, because I know that it is going to be a lot of work with Ellie and no dada around to come to the rescue. She hasn’t quite gotten the whole “Grandma and Grandpa want to hug and kiss you and spoil you rotten” thing down yet, so it will be a lot of clinging to mama {I predict}. While we have had this trip planned for quite a while now, I would probably be going out there anyway now. A few weeks ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. While the prognosis is good, it has been a whirlwind of emotion for all of us. I am looking forward to spending time with my mom before her treatment begins, and I am thankful for the support system that has wrapped their arms around me. For those of you who know me, you know that it’s not my thing to hit my knees and pray. However, I do believe that if God brought us to it, he will see us through it. I thank you all now for your prayers, hugs, good vibes or whatever good will you send our way.

On a brighter and lighter note, I bring you this week’s SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY! I hope you like it!! **Remember** When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword SFYTT. I have been loving all the ones from the past weeks and I am really looking forward to seeing what you come up with for this one!!!

You can see some uber cool samples from Carole Burrage, Shannan Teubner {needs good vibes,too!}, Susan Liles!! Thanks girlies!

For the past few years my mom has asked me to make her Christmas cards. I always feel this unbelievable pressure that they have to be perfect and I stress over them. At one point this year, I almost just called her and said, “Nevermind, just go buy some at Target.” THEN…I relax and just do what I do best…design and stamp. When I feel pressure I create C-R-@-P! When I relax and enjoy the moment I like what I create. Imagine that!! LOL.
Anywhoooo…these are the cards that I made when I finally took a breath and just created. I love them!! I might just have to make them for myself…but in pink!! The white base panel is embossed with the Snowflake Cuttlebug Embossing Folder {purchased through eclectic Paperie}, and then wrapped with SU! Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon (some of my favorite ribbon!). The main image is stamped with stamps from the PaperTreyInk set, Snowflake Serenade in SU! Bashful Blue and Night of Navy. Of course, a card would not be complete without a little bling. I added some Swarovski crystals to make these shimmer and shine.

Well, I’m off to a day of stamping!! My last for a while. Boohooohooo! I am emptying my stamp room so that the carpets can be cleaned tonight and then next week I will be in sunny AZ! I have a bunch on my “to do” list and don’t think that it will all get done. Cross your fingers for me!! BTW-I will have some stuff auto-posting, including the Sketch For You To Try. I reeeeallly like what I have coming up for you this Saturday {hope you will, too!!}.

Dimensions: Standard
Stamps: PaperTreyInk Snowflake Serenade
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy
Ink: Bashful Blue, Night Of Navy
Other: Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

The new Verve Visual releases come out this Saturday!! Here is a sneak peek of the good stuff that is about to be in store. Check out the whole sha-bang at the Verve Blog.

Have a great day!

Ok, not really, because I really don’t like snow or cold weather in general. It makes me want to stay in bed all day in flannel jammies, with flannel sheet under a ginormous down blanket. I am one of those people that likes wearing flip flops all year long. I long for hot days and warm nights. Today it is very cool and windy. I feel cold from the inside out…I hate that. In case you are wondering, yes, I am wearing flip flops, which has nothing to do with me feeling so chilled…LOL. I don’t like the cold!!! HOWEVER, what I love about the cooler weather is that it brings with it holidays and family and really fun decor! You know, the fun decor that we all love, but thank goodness we don’t have to have it in the way 365 days a year! I love winter and Christmas stuff, so when I saw an unfinished mini sled at our local Hobby Lobby on sale for 50% off, I had to at least try to do something with it!

First, I painted the sled white. I then covered the sled with a couple kinds of DP and sanded the edges so that the paper was flush against the lines of the sled. I wrapped shimmery ribbon around the sled. I have had this ribbon forever and finally found a project that it matches perfectly to! {love when that happens!} The main image panel has ones snowflake stamped on it from the PaperTrey set, Snowflake Serenade. I used Memory Makers stickers to spell out “Let it” and the word “Snow” was created with the Red Tag Cuttlebug alpha. I outlined the letters with my Sakura Stardust pen {yes, you must have one of these!!}. I added some bling {Swarovksi crystals} to make it sparkle just a little more.
I really liked how this came out and I think that will recreate this a few times over for gifts.