Sites of the week

Did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Black Friday? I hope you all found some great deals on your shopping adventures! Well, hopefully you have some more time to rest, relax and, of course, STAMP. Here’s the Sketch For You To Try for this week…

Here is my sample using Stamp A Sweet Impression by Taylored Expressions stamps…

Here’s a detail shot. I used Platinum Stickles to dress it up a little, along with some Zva Creative Rhinestones. LOVE these!

Another beauty from Becca Feeken, November’s Designer of the Month…

Check out the samples from a few of my stampin’ friends, Amy R., Amy S., Carole, Shannan and Susan!

Wanna play? I hope so!…really, I do!! Here’s what you should know…
1. ANYONE can play.
2. Have fun with this!
3. When uploading to SCS, use the keyword SFYTT.
4. Post a link to your blog or gallery on this post.

I know that I am posting this the day before before Turkey Day, and I’ll go ahead and let you know that it’s gonna be here on Friday, too. This is just about my favorite card that I have ever done with a Verve set. Not only do I love the outcome, but I had a great time making it. Ellie sat on my lap practically the whole the time. She loved holding the markers that I am not using and telling me what colors they are. Every now and then I had to tell her to “freeze” while I get near the edges while I am coloring. Here is what “we” came up with…

Detail shot…

Happy Thanksgiving Card
Stamps: Tall Oaks (Verve Stamps)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Markers (Copic); Chocolate Chip (Stampin’ Up!)
Paper: Pattern Paper, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Kraft (Stampin’ Up!)
Other: Sewing Machine/Thread’; Nestabilities Dies (Spellbinders); Ornate Punch (Paper Studio); Dimensionals; Ribbon (May Arts); Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Provo Craft); Brads (Making Memories); Scallop Edge Punch (Stampin’ Up!); Sponge

I have to admit, when I first saw these fairy images that I was a little bit skeptical. After inking them up, I am in love. Has that ever happened to you? Usually it’s the other way around. I find something that I can’t live without and then when I start to play with it I find that I can’t stand it. So, it’s nice to have {very} happy surprises like this one.
I created this card for TCP Tuesday. This week’s challenge is a sketch and is hosted by Leigh. She grabbed this sketch from Susan, who created a darling bag with it HERE. I know that this week is busy, busy, busy, but I hope that you find time to play along with us!

So, wanna play along?…EVERYONE can! Here’s what you are gonna want to know…
1. Each a week one of the The Cat’s Pajamas DT Members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme/inspiration, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project on Leigh’s TCP Tuesday post.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES35 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.
10. Oh yea…HAVE FUN!

I hadn’t really given too much thought about the approaching holidays until yesterday. I was figuring out what all needed to get done in preparation for Thanksgiving and the days to follow. Then I went to the grocery store and I think that’s when reality really set in. I do not like grocery shopping when it’s crowded, so you can only imagine my joy when I was practically stepping over people just to get a jar of jelly {no sugar added, of course!}. So it begins…the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. While there are things that I don’t particularly care for when it comes to the holiday season, I really look forward to the time with family and friends. I love decorating for Christmas and carols on the radio {and at our doorstep}. Ellie will be having her first performance next Friday at the Saginaw Christmas Tree Lighting. Her Wiggles -n- Tunes class is playing Silent Night on bells. We have been practicing for weeks and I am so excited. I’m pretty sure that she is oblivious! So, in anticipation of the craziness that is yet to come, I have made two winter/Christmas cards for today. Both of these use stamps from SUInk. I would like to thank SUInk for having me as their Guest Designer this month. It has been a lot of fun playing and creating with the stamps! Thanks so much!

Ho Ho Ho Card:
Stamps: All Images and Sentiments from SUInk
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Ciao Markers (Copic)
Paper: Pattern Paper, Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Red Riding Hood (Stampin’ Up!); Stamper’s Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Other: Brads (Making Memories); Dimensionals; Baubles (Stamping Bella); Scallop Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Scallop Edge Punch (Stampin’ Up!)

Snowmen Melt Hearts Card:
Stamps: All Images and Sentiments from SUInk
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Ciao Markers (Copic)
Paper: Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Real Red, Bashful Blue (Stampin’ Up!); Stamper’s Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Other: Heart Punch, Snowflake Punch (Paper Studio); Dimensionals; Rhinestones; Snow Dots Embossing Folder for Cuttlebug (ProvoCraft); Red Grosgrain Ribbon (Stampin’ Up!); Red/White Polka Dot Ribbon (May Arts)

Things I need to work on with my Sketch For You To Try Saturday…
1. Uploading my card to SCS on SATURDAY!
2. Commenting on EVERYONE’S creations. I go to them, I PROMISE! I just need to get better about leaving you all some of the love that you SO VERY KINDLY leave me. I love you guys!
3. Coming up with more sketches that you ABSOLUTELY LOVE. I’ve got my sketch book here and I am working away!

This has been an exceptionally crazy week. The change to the new gym was stressful because of the circumstances, but I love it there and Ellie LOVES the daycare center there. I have started to go to Lady of America Fitness. I have driven by it a million times and wrote it off as an old lady gym {sorry, but I did!}. I went and checked it out and did a trial week and today yesterday I signed up. It will definitely work for me and my goals.

Well enough about all this non-stampin’ and sketchin’ stuff! Here’s this week’s SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY…

Is it possible to be inspired by yourself? LOL! I really liked my card that I did last week and played off of it for inspiration for this week’s card of mine…

Becca Feeken, November’s supah dupah Designer of the Month, created this cutie card…

Check out the samples from a few of my stampin’ friends, Amy R., Amy S., Carole, Shannan and Susan!

Wanna play? I hope so!…really, I do!! Here’s what you should know…
1. ANYONE can play.
2. Have fun with this!
3. When uploading to SCS, use the keyword SFYTT.
4. Post a link to your blog or gallery on this post.