Sites of the week

That phrase has a couple meaning around here lately! Haha!

Bottom’s Up is this week’s theme for TCP Tuesday! No need to check your calendars, it is Thursday and I am running a bit behind on getting this challenge done. Better late than never, riiiight. Maybe not, but here it is…

This week’s Hipster Hostess with the Mostess is none other than my friend, Susan. You can check out all the deets for the this week’s challenge on her TCP Tuesday post HERE. If you want to play along, you will be linking your project to The TCP/Alma’s blog for a chance to win some fun money to spend on the TCP site.

A little about my project…
I decided to make a tag that can be added to a tea themed gift at a later date. I popped up the main image {from Toni’s Tea Set} that is stamped on a circle and then paper pierced around the mat circle. The open scallop punch on the top is from Fiskars and I thought it matched the tea/table setting perfectly. Papertrey ribbon tops it all off and I when I attach this to a gift I will just add a piece of silver cording.

Gotta run and attempt to get some stuff done around the house and prep for my Copic classes this weekend!

Greetings All! Thank you to everyone for the FB and emailed birthday wishes. I spent my special day in Austin at the lake with my family. Here is a pic of the sun rising over the lake…

So in all the hustle and bustle of taking a quickie trip to Austin, I got my days just a wee bit mixed up. I thought that MFT’s Greatest Hits: Clearly Sentimental was supposed to be today {you can see the links for everyone that did play along correctly HERE}. I didn’t design this sketch to be used with a smaller sentiment, so when I sat down to create this I had an “oh shoot” {or some form of that expression} moment. I still got it done, although it’s not quite like I want it. Then I got an email from Joanne yesterday saying, “Aren’t you playing with us?” Yep, I had another one of those “oh shoot” moments…followed by a smack to my forehead. It was a little too late to do anything other than just go with the original plan of having this as my MFT card. Oh well!

Now that I have just completely told on myself with all this business about this and that, why don’t I just show you the sketch and my card??

The sketch…

My card using the MFT set, Clearly Sentimental About You…

I wish I would have taken a picture of how I created the center panel, but I didn’t {there I go telling on myself again!}, so I will just have to tell you. I wanted a more substantial panel than the Framed Greetings Die-Namics, so I glued 2 of them together and put a strip of cardstock up the middle to hide the seam. Easy peasy and it created a great shaped panel!!

Designer of the Month, Ashley N. Newell, has created this cutie patooootie card using this week’s sketch…

Of course THE SFYTT SISTERS have some great inspiration for you to check out…
Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Leigh O’Brien
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Jenn Diercks
Carole Burrage

Want to play along? I think that you will have a great time with this sketch! Just upload your creation to the link system below so we can all see what you’ve come up with! When uploading to any online galleries, please use the keyword “SFYTT” and if you want to get the sketches early, just become a Facebook friend {link over there on the left}. I post the sketches on Friday’s over there

Happy TCP Tuesday!!

This week’s challenge is being co-hosted by Joanne and Carole. Joanne’s been your “it girl” for all color challenges, but the torch is being passed to Carole. Be on the lookout for some bright color challenges coming your way! This week is pretty mellow and fun with a combination of kraft, red and denim blue. I hope you have fun playing with these colors like I did. They certainly aren’t ones that I would have thought to grab on my own {that’s why I love challenges!!}…

Here’s my card using the favorite TCP “go to” set, A Beary Good Year…

I used a combination of Pink Paislee {blue} and The Girls Paperie {red} papers paired with kraft and white cardstock to complete this challenge. Using pattern paper is an easy way to bring color to a project. I didn’t always like using pattern paper and would use stamped or embossed cardstock instead. Granted, that was a long time ago!! I quickly learned that the patterns were fun to mix and match and the colors were a great addition to my cards/projects.

In addition to the papers adding some “umph” to projects, die cuts are all the rage with several companies producing their own, including The Cat’s Pajamas. TCP affectionately calls their dies “CutUps.” I used the Flower Buttons die set to create the layered flower on the bottom of the card. It’s topped off with some INCREDIBLE linen thread that doesn’t pill, break or fray!!

Alright folks, enough blah blah blah…I’ve got kids to feed around here I hope you will play along for a chance to win some serious Cat Cash…$$ to spend on TCP products. You can find all the “how to” deets on entering this challenge on Alma’s/TCP blog. Happy stamping and good luck!

Happy First Saturday of the Month! Um, have I mentioned before that I **LOVE** the first Saturday of the month!?!? I’ve sent out the sketches to the designers, I’ve invited a new Designer of the Month {and I get to introduce them} and today I get to announce the winner of the $25 gift certificate from TOTALLY STAMPALICIOUS (last week’s fabby sponsors!}.

The winner is…
#26 Kimberly Gajewski

Kimberly, shoot me over an email {link under my pic} and I will get you all taken care of!

This month we have a very sweet and talented stamper joining us as Designer of the Month…

Please welcome…ASHLEY N. NEWELL!

Here’s a little about Ashley in her own words…
I’m a stay at home mom of two little guys (Brady who is 3 and Parker who is 1) and I’ve been married for 5 years. My husband and I met when I was 16. My family is the most important thing to me but crafting is a very close second. I love make things as an outlet for my creative energy. I’ve dabbled in painting, cross stitch, scrap booking, jewelry making, and countless other crafts. I’ve been stamping for about 3.5 years now and it’s an absolute passion of mine. I also love that it connects me to this wonderful world of crafters who have become a second family to me.

Here’s this week’s sketch…

Here’s my sample using the new My Favorite Things set, How Does Your Garden Grow?, along with a brand new MFT die, Flower Trio & Leaf Trio {which is a MUST HAVE!}…

I also used some of my new Echo Park paper…mmmm, I love this stuff!!

Ashley did a wonderful sample {I know that SFYTT sister, Jodi, will approve!!}…

Are you a fan of SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY on Facebook yet? Click on the link on my left sidebar to be taken to the FB fan page and get a sneak peek of sketches on Friday nights!

Of course, more great samples can be found with the SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY sisters…

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Leigh O’Brien
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Jenn Diercks
Carole Burrage

Won’t you come play along with us? I’m looking for future Designer of the Month stampers to join us and will be choosing one from this month’s participants. Just link your creation to the link system below and when uploading to online galleries, use the keyword SFYTT.

*****SECOND POST! Please scroll down to see my MFT Teaser post!*****

Ok, I am going to start off this post by saying that sometimes what is in your head does not always translate onto paper just as you imagined it. Case in point below.

This might have something to do with Nic waking up a few times a night. Long winded translation: Baby cries in the middle of the night. Mom and Dad try to let him cry it out, but cries increase. One of us goes to check on him. He is crying in his sleep. Turn on sound machine and put the plug pacifier in. Repeat 2-3x per night until feeding at about 5:30 or 6. Lay back down for a little while and attempt to get the least amount of shut eye before the day has to begin.

Dear God, if this is your form of a joke. Haha! Ok, enough already!

On the note of babies… One of Tony’s college buds’ wife is delivering on Thursday. Being that I am so on top of it and prepare everything in advance {those who **know** me have fallen out of their seats laughing}, I have this card done and ready to go.

Before you look at it, remember what I said up at the top. Some things in my heads don’t translate onto paper! LOL! Actually, I don’t think this card is bad, I just wish that I hadn’t gone so overboard with the polka dot embossing folder. Let’s not focus on that though. Focus on the die cuts, which is what this TCP Tuesday is all about!! Amy Rohl {my muse for this line of buttons} is your Hipster Hostess with the Mostess and she is issuing the challenge of using your brand spankin’ new TCP die cuts to create something fabulous.

I used the new Buttons CutUps to create the string/border/line of buttons going on here. I love that this die comes with FIVE sizes of buttons, making it easy to mix, match and layer. In addition to this die, there are 2 other dies that were recently released. Amy, as well as many of the Cat Packers have some great samples to show off using these. Want to play along with us for a chance to win some serious Cat Cash {moolah to spend on TCP goodies}? Find out all the deets HERE on Amy’s blog! Good luck and happy stamping cutting!

PSST…25% off SALE going on at The Cat’s Pajamas site RIGHT NOW!!

EDIT: The alpha used is COOLVETICA from TCP. It’s my ALL TIME FAVORITE alpha and the “Welcome Baby” sentiment is from the new baby set, And Baby Makes…