Sites of the week

Happy Friday Y’all! It’s been a fun week! I am now working out at a new gym, as we had an “incident” at the childcare center of 24 Hour Fitness last Friday. Ellie is okay, but there is no way in -you know what- that I am ever setting foot inside another 24 Hour Fitness again. I would tell the story here, but let’s just say that I have signed away my right to do that.
I got my comp issue of Take Ten in the mail this week. YAY! I have 6 cards in there. I am expecting my issue of Cards Magazine anytime, too. This will be my first Cards Magazine publication. As I noted in a previous post, I will be concentrating a lot on publications both with the stamp companies I work with, and of course the ones that I just love! Crossing my fingers as I go in this direction.
Well, being that today is Friday I have an ABC project for you. I’m kind of cheating a little this week, because this is my project for the Verve Project Parade, which you may have already seen. If you are not familiar with the parade, you can check it out HERE on the Verve Stamps blog. Each month (except next month, because we are resting our stamping hands) Verve has a Project Parade using the stamps that were released that month. In a nutshell, it is a parade of ideas of what else you can do with your stamps. Here is the coaster box {<--link to directions} that I made for the parade...

Detail shot of the main panel…

See ya here tomorrow for another Sketch For You To Try!

Yesterday I told you that I would have a sample for the cuteness from Our Craft Lounge. So here it is…

I totally fell in the love with the little girl when I first saw these images! The set comes with her legs separate from the body portion. Why? Because there are different patterns you can put on her dress and then you can make her tights match! Gotta love a girl with fashion sense! I think that I may mass produce this card, or something similar so that I have them on hand as Ellie’s thank you notes. Speaking of Ellie Bellie…Yesterday when I was flat ironing my hair she came in and said, “Me too, me too!” So I did!! She has CRAZY curls and her hair goes in every direction, so I thought it would be fun to give it a shot…

CHEEEEEEEEEEEEESE…

The great thing about this industry is that there is no way that someone can get bored. There is always something new, and possibly exciting just around the corner. That being said, sometimes it is hard to keep up with everything…but I do my best!! LOL! To keep with the “always something new” theme…

MY FAVORITE THINGS…
Today is the release for the BC Dzyns line. This is a “tween” line with fun and funky images and sentiments. The blog hop for this release starts on Kim’s blog HERE. LOTS of cute stuff to see!

****I also want to take a minute and chat about my new relationship with MFT. I have officially stepped down from the Design Team. I have been with Kim/MFT for nearly wonderful years and I feel that my time as a DT Member and DT Coordinator has run its course. I will however continue to work with the product as a Publication Designer. I will be focusing much of my creative energies {and there are a lot of them!} on publications and I feel this relationship with MFT is nothing less of win-win!

OUR CRAFT LOUNGE…

Have you heard the buzzzzz? Cambria and Joy have their own company called Our Craft Lounge. I received some of these CUTE stamps in the mail yesterday and can’t wait to play! I’ll have samples for you here tomorrow. In the meantime, check out their stamps HERE.

STAMPING BELLA…
Emily is going to make me go broke over the chichiboulie line!! I know that I have raved on and on before, so I will spare you this time. Let’s just say that this line {and the Bellas, too} have a big chunk of my heart. Here’s a sample using Bluebell Bittybloom {LOVEEE the bitties!!}…

I decided to reorganize my studio AGAIN! Well, it’s not a full tear down and build it up, but there were some spots that were getting OUT OF CONTROL and I have put a little bit more control into those areas. I need to go get a couple more storage compartments and sort through some stuff that I have available for publication, but other than that I am feeling relieved! So relieved that I actually was excited to get back in here and stamp again! YAY!

Today is TCP Tuesday and the challenge is to use any cake image. MMMMM…cake! How could I resist that!?! Speaking of irresistible cake…we went out to dinner at Chili’s the other night and the Molten Chocolate Cake called out to me and I gave in. Fortunately, Tony and Ellie helped. Although, I still think that I am the one that did the most damage. Let’s just say I will be hitting the gym a little harder this week! Anywhoooo…onto the task at hand, TCP Tuesday. Here is my card that I created with some really fun We R Memory Keepers paper and TCP stamps {duh!}…

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 Toni’s post HERE.
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 TCPTUES34 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!

What a week! Aside from some drama here and there, it was a good week. I must say that I am glad that tomorrow is my rest and relax day…and even it’s gonna be busier than normal. LOL!

Last Saturday Tony and I went to a gala in Dallas for his MBA program. I seriously can’t remember the last time that we got all dressed up. The event itself could have been a little better, but we had fun nonetheless. Here’s a pic of us that the babysitter took as we were about to walk out the door (I even have on lipstick!)…

Alright, onto the business at hand…the SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY! This is actually a sketch from a card that I recently posted HERE. I had so much fun with it that I decided to put it out there for everyone to try. I hope you like it as much as I do! Here it is…

Here’s my sample. As you can see, I turned mine into a square card. If this didn’t involve so much coloring, I would love to make these my Christmas cards! I may still do it, but I will need some serious encouragement!

Here are a couple detail shots of the coloring/stamping. All stamps are from Cornish Heritage Farms. The Santa hat is covered with my clear Spica glitter pen, cut out and mounted on a dimensional.

The holly are also covered in the clear Spica glitter pen. I also freehand paper pierced {very carefully!} around the circles…

Of course Saturday’s would not be complete without a GORGEOUS sample from the Designer of the Month, Becca Feeken…

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