Sites of the week

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER FOR THE GINORMOUS BLOG TART GIVE AWAY!!! HERE are all the details. **WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY!!** I had previously planned to announce the winner on the first, but I have something else up my sleeve for this Sunday, so you will have to be patient just one more day.

Happy Saturday everyone! As many of you read this I am marching up and down the high school stadium at {fitness} Boot Camp. I have been so bad this week!! Tomorrow starts a new week, a new month and a new eating plan…no bad food! I have indulged in a little of this and a little of that and it’s time to get back in gear. I have goals to reach by the end of the month!! Self-restraint is not a strong point of mine…just look at my studio!!

Anyways, I will stop boring you about how I am scared to get fat again and get onto this week’s SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY! Here is the sketch {I am so excited about this one!!}…

My sample…

Thank you so much to Kirsten DuBosque for being the Designer of the Month for January. Her creations have been amazing, and this one is no exception!…

Wanna see more samples? Give some love to…
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Shannan Teubner
Susan Liles
Carole Burrage
Kelly Lunceford

If you play along, just link your card on this post. When you upload to SCS, use the keyword SFYTT so we can see them all in one place. There are no rules to these sketches, just use your creativity and HAVE FUN!

Next week I am going to start using Mr. Linky {assuming that I remember!} on my SFYTT posts so that we can see all the players front and center.

Today is another repeat of Susan Liles’ 29th birthday. I won’t tell you what anniversary she is on, but let’s just say it’s not the first or second…or third, or… Be sure you hop on over to her blog and give her a big birthday hug!

Last night Ellie and went over to her house. The kiddos played for a little bit while we talked stamping and life. I gave her the present that I found for her on Etsy by searching the word “Faith.” I love that it has a crown on it, too-because that is just so her! HERE is the link to the Home Studio Etsy store where I found this and MANY MANY MANY other cool pendants and chains!

Of course, I couldn’t just hand her a necklace. Well, it came in a pretty lil’ bag, but I wanted something a little more. So naturally, I made the packaging. It’s essentially a 2468 box, but just scale that down to 1.75″ increments. I scored the sides of the bag about halfway down so that I could tie it shut. The crown charm just ties it all together.

The paper for this bag is from Papertrey and the taffeta ribbon is from Stampin’ Up!. Hope you all have had a wonderful week. I’ll be back tomorrow with another SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY…it’s my favorite this month and I already have my card done and I love love love love it {kinda a hint}.

Also, GLUE has a cool lil’ project for you to create for the special someone in your life. It’s called the Luv-O-Dex {cute, huh?}. It’s like a Rolodex of all the things that you love about your honey. It’s a 150+ piece kit for $14. HERE is the link with all the info and where you can buy it.

I went to several craft fairs this year and was lucky enough to find a couple things for {Mother’s Day Out} teacher gifts. Both of Ellie’s teachers will be getting a key fob similar to THIS ONE that I found on Etsy and a Cup {of} Cakes mix. What is a Cup {of} Cakes mix you ask? Well first off, I should have realized how easy it is to make myself, but I was happy to support local crafters all the same. A Cup {of} Cakes is a single serving of cake mix that the recipient can put into a mug, add a couple of wet ingredients and then pop into their MICROWAVE and then have cake in just a few minutes. Ok, so does anyone else thing that is just to convenient…and dangerous to those dieting {like myself…23 pounds down!!}? There were several flavors, but I picked up a Cherry Cheesecake Cake Mix and a Lemon Tart Cake Mix…YUM-O!! Both also come with a mixture for icing {powdered sugar and flavoring}. HERE is the link to a recipe site for those of you that are dying to try it at home. Think of the cute bag toppers and such that you could do with these!
Back to my little projects. I put both of those in a tin tie bag and topped it off with a tag using the Papertrey, Teacher’s Apple, set. It seems that in the past that I have purchased more PTI than I actually used, but I am so happy that I got this set because I know that I will use it over and over…and over! So here is the bag, tag and matchy-matchy card that use PTI’s Teacher’s Apple and Take A Bough {which I have kept solely for the font/sentiments!}…

The tag…

The card…

As for the other stuff that I used on these projects…I am in love with the Martha Stewart snowflake punch! I covered the snowflakes with Diamond Stickles. I also used the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder on the bottom portion of each of the projects. Finally, I cut the cellophane on the Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon and used it as a finishing touch.

Thank you all who participated in last week’s {and every week’s} Sketch For You To Try. As you know, the supah generous Emily donated a $15 gift certificate to be given to one random participant that used a Bella in their sketch. So who is the winner? Drumroll please…

#54 Kristie

Great sketch and samples! The bird house is adorable

Here is my version of the sketch.

Kristie, email me {link under my pic} for the code

When I created this weeks sketch many moons ago, I thought that it would be super easy peasy. Well for some it is, but for me it proved to be a little less so. I tried a little of this and a little of that. It just didn’t come together the way that I wanted it to, but oh well. Sometimes it goes that way. Do I think that it’s bad? Nah, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it either. LOL!

So, here’s the sketch…

My sample using Papertrey Ink stamps…

This month’s Designer of the Month, Suzanne {OMG isn’t she incredible!?!} Dean…

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

Wanna play? 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.

Happy Friday y’all! It feels like fall is coming up on us here in Texas. The mornings are cool and the evenings are warm. It’s a dangerous combination for those allergy sufferers…just ask Susan! Today we are going to enjoy the cool morning and head out to the zoo and hopefully catch a glimpse of the 3 new lion cubs. Maybe this time the white tiger will have finished his breakfast, too. Last time he was still enjoying his white rabbit…eeewww!!
Today I have a fun little project that I know that you are gonna want to try! It’s a little pumpkin! This idea was adapted from an ornament idea in a Making Memories book.

To create the pumpkin shape (or ornament, etc)…
*Note that these instructions to not account for the spiral pieces, sentiment panel {Papertrey Ink shown) or leaf punch.

1. Cut 10 pieces of orange paper 1/2″ x 4″
2. Stack together and punch a hole through all pieces at the top and bottom.
3. Adhere pieces with brads through the holes.
4. To create the round shape, spread out each piece of paper.

pssst…you can fill it with little candies, too!

Happy pumpkin making! {a little less messy than your usual carvings, I bet!}