I made the following two cards from leftovers from previous challenges. The first one features holly leaves from PTI and a sentiment stamp from Hero Arts. The second is an LPS cutie with a sentiment from Riveting.
Positive note of the day: Tristan's friend (who is normally nothing but perfect) who lives a couple of houses away chucked ice at him tonight so he was bleeding quite a bit (on his cheek near his lip) when he came in from outside. What's worse is the bruise inside his mouth which I hope doesn't look too bad in the morning. Even though the cut was small, it wouldn't stop bleeding. I really don't want to have to take him to get another stitch in the AM. He is such a good looking boy but all these scars are gonna take their toll. Charlotte played nursemaid in her "take charge" mode which was sweet.
BTW, it is 3 AM and I am listening to Avery cry it out. I feel bad for her but she is almost two and we are having regular temper tantrums about bedtime. Plus, she thinks that if she wakes up in the middle of the night that a) she is gonna get a drink, b) she is gonna get her mama in bed with her and/or c) it is time to get up for the day. Since Brad is gone for the week, I am letting the older two sleep in my bed so they are not interrupted and she is going to have to get used to sleeping through the night. Oh boy...is she mad!
Finally, here are C's birthday pics...even composing that blog post about it exhausted me (ha!).
Today's LPS Monday is a simple challenge...a fancy edge. Use an edge punch, your nesties or a simple pair of scissors and make it cute!
I love my edge punches and use them all. the. time. I made a CAS card for this challenge with some Melon Mambo and my new Basic Grey Sizzix embossing folder, Powdered Sugar and some ribbon I picked up from M's a few weeks back. Finished it off with some bling and my SU edge punch I got during last year's Sale-a-bration. Gosh, as I write this, it surprises me how I accrue this stash. I mean, at least I use it, but oh my...that's a whole lotta crafty purchasing!
Should you want to play along with the challenge this week, hit up the LPS blog (remember, there is always a prize given to a random participant!). Little Paper Shop stamps aren't necessary to play, so come on over!
Positive note of the day: This weekend has kicked my @$$! Brad is leaving today for a business trip and won't be back till early Saturday morning...wish me luck!
Long time followers of this blog may know that I have picked Stef's work as a "Me Likey" before but she is just so dang innovative that I had to do it again. I have wanted to try something with a zipper and this tag may finally push me off my tuches already! All I can say is "wow"!
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I used my Silhouette to fashion this pennant as part of C's black and pink decor. The pennant flag came as part of the default library. Each letter is the Garamond font sized to 600 points. I then stringed them on some gingham black and white ribbon and added a couple of blinged flowers to each flag.
I always wanted my name on things when I was a little girl (back then, nothing had "Allison" on it) so I hope Charlotte liked this! (She did thank me for her party so I am pretty sure it will end up as a happy memory for her...especially with the orgy of presents she received!)
Positive note of the day: I am so tired from this party! But it went off real well and the best part was something we hadn't made any plans to do...a toilet paper fight. I will share more deets once I get the photos downloaded!
The Little Paper Shop is cleaning up its inventory for the New Year. All in-stock product is currently 40% off (I just remembered when I traipsed over there and saw all the reduced prices!). So go have a peek and get your shop on!
I found some of this Making Memories DP from the Noel set at my LSS and just had to buy it (and ignored my "no more Christmas DP" rule). I thought it would make such a pretty background for the family picture I chose from all those scary proofs (ha!).
I added a punched edge to the top, a couple of small sticker embellies (a star and snowflake), some BG chipboard and all this spray bling. Very nice without being overpowering (IMO).
Positive note of the day: I think we are almost ready to go for C's party tomorrow (it is very pink in this place now). The cousins are sleeping over tomorrow night so we need an early bedtime tonight for sure!
P.S. Kids got their report cards and did very well. They are consistent performers in all their subjects and liked by their classmates proving that the "WJ" moniker leaves once they enter the school room doors!
I know I should have been more diligent today but I just couldn't help but play in the November PTI blog hop. These stamps needed some loving and I need some tags...win-win, right?
I used some Basic Grey Jovial scraps on a piece of hunter green glittered CS. I added the holly leaves from Holiday Button Bits (which I then sponged with Tea Stain distress ink). I finished it off with a spiral clip, a sticker from my Jovial set and some ribbon that has been sitting entirely unused in my stash for at least two years!
Okay, I'm out. I really need to write many pages on x-ray detectors tonight which will probably put me to sleep. Time to set up the tea pot! Cheers!
Inspired by fellow Cal-gal Merlie's hand with CAS117, I tried it out myself. All the images are digital (from a dingbat font titled DB Circles - 'Tis the Season). I tried to keep it as simple as I could (despite my urges to keep adding!) so a little bit of bling and organza ribbon (along with punched edges) and I was done!
Positive note of the day: Do you know what I did today (well, if you are on FB, maybe you do...)? I seared and cooked a roast in beef stock and it wasn't until I cut in to it that I realized that it was pork. Brad said we should call it "bork". It was still edible though...
I am making more Christmas cards since I am not only convinced that I need more cards, I have already run out. How did that happen? Oh well...I won't complain since they are my fav kind of card.
I have started to mix up my scraps to make up some creations. This is easy, a good way of getting every inch of paper used up and allows the sentiment to be the focal.
Positive note of the day: Thinking that I may have found Brad's big Christmas present. Now if I could only figure out my in-laws!
I was intrigued by the Sketch and Stash Challenge posted today so I decided to give it a go (even if the ribbon/brad combination was something I wouldn't have gone with originally). I like how it turned out for another holiday card (which, although I have lots of, I still don't think I have enough!). This SU DP was a RAK so I am not sure of its name. I did however color the Riley with my Copics and added lots of LA for the snow!
Positive note of the day: You know what I realized today? When I enter a store or home after coming in from a wintry day, there are no glasses that get fogged up anymore. Now that's a good thing!
It's LPS Monday! I left mine till the last minute. My girlie C fell asleep at 4 PM on the floor (a pasttime of late since I think she is still a little burnt out from her recent flu). The other three went over to Grandma's so I ended up passing out too...delicious! Once C woke up, we had PB and J for dinner (ha!) and watched some shows since we were both wide awake at that point (including that dinosaur show on Discovery...cool!). Anyway, once I dragged my butt downstairs, I made this creation (with some slight deviations from the sketch) but then realized my camera battery was dead. Now it's charged and I am in my kitchen blogging and loading the dishwasher (since that's the thing to do at midnight!).
Should you want to play along with the challenge this week, hit up the LPS blog (remember, there is always a prize given to a random participant!). Remember, Little Paper Shop stamps aren't necessary to play, so come on over! Positive note of the day: Stated above. Nap, TV time with my first girlie and a morning with a new nanny (which, to be frank, always nerves me out a bit which explains my late night cleaning binge!).
I bought T some more PJs (like his mom, he enjoys his "relaxing pants"). As part of the packaging, there was this felt skate that I chose to upcycle on a tag. I added some punched brown DP with a layer of Jovial DP, some embellies and I am done! TTY tomorrow...I am pooped from working so hard today!
Positive note of the day: I got most of the basement clean (save my office) and decorated for Charlotte's birthday party since next Saturday will be here faster than we know!
Needed a card for my youngest brother who has a birthday coming up. I have decided to go simple (and may make a few more to add to my stash since I am going to box up some cards for my mom)...of course, lately, when don't I go simple?
Positive note of the day: Hired a nanny today to start on Monday. I will have to apply to get her a work permit since she is a Filipina but a) she is more than anxious to start working and b) she came with some good referrals. Wish us luck (and some sleep!).
A sick husband, skating lessons for the older WJs and a girl working on her balance with the brace means no creating for me! If you'd like to help with linking up sketches today, have at 'er!
I just love this free snowman image from Torico...seriously, you must run over and download it now. Go! I'll wait...
Phew, you made it back! I printed mine off on kraft and then, spying this technique on SCS somewhere (sorry, I didn't save the link!), I dotted him in with gel pens...is this not a brill idea or what? Love the effect. I sponged the edges with some white chalk ink, added it to a base of Eskimo Kisses and then added some matching embellies. And it is already on a prezzie since I wrapped all mine tonight (yes, I am a giant nerd but the kids were at Grandma's so it seemed like a perfect time!).
Here's a little snowy scene to get you winterized. We have had about ten centimeters this week and each morning we wake up to more!
Positive note of the day: Today was quite the day. Ave got her brace on this morning and she lost it. OMIGOD. She did not want to be "manhandled" so it did not help that we had to place her foot "just so" in the brace so she would be working the correct muscles. We left with the provision that we could try again at home and only for twenty minutes at a time if she would tolerate it. After her lunch, we put it back on. She freaked out and had a temper tantrum for twenty minutes. We then took it off, let her have a bottle and she fell asleep.
After about a 45 minute nap, she was renewed. We put the brace on again while I distracted her by dancing to Britney Spears (the girl is a fan of her Top 40). She kept it on and we took her over to the grandparents. Brad and I then went out for our regular Thursday dinner out. We did get a call from Grandma saying that she took off the lower strap and she didn't feel comfortable trying to get it back on her. We didn't mind since by that time she had it on for two hours and there were no tears. Phew! I thought she was gonna take an age to transition to it (but of course, let's wait till morning to see how it pans out!).
That title about says it, right? I made some girly tags for C's prezzies and this one in pink and green was a particular fav.
Positive note of the day: Long days of child-rearing and work has made me very tired. Crashed with Ave tonight when she cried out after being in bed for only 45 minutes tonight. She is overtired too but she needs a good night's sleep since tomorrow is "brace day".
I am also interviewing a nanny tomorrow. She doesn't have her driver's license which would be a real pain but we cannot do this kinda schedule any longer. Ave is still up a couple of times a night and, nap or not, she seems to fight bedtime something fierce. Brad is getting beleaguered at night with the three WJs and I can't blame him. Plus, there are items falling through the cracks (e.g., reminding Tristan to do his homework, meeting expectations of friends, working out, etc.) so I think that we need "a body" here ASAP. And I don't mean to discredit any future nanny with that term but being a mom means a lot of behind-the-scenes management to get everything ship-shape. (I mean even prepping for Christmas with presents, cards, activities, etc. always seems to be driven by women which is above and beyond what we do already.) The thing is, I enjoy doing all of that work but just need six hours more day to have it happen...and hence, the nanny.
Work has been nothing but a bear lately. Not only is the sheer volume scary but it is bending my brain a great deal to figure out what the engineer is trying to say and/or the discussion at hand is particularly nitty-gritty. Plus, and I have come to this realization at a whole new level this week, it is achingly dull. And maybe it's just because I am tired that I am extremely conscious of it...ugh. The real challenge this past week has been just getting people to do the work they are supposed to produce for me (despite a couple of extensions already!). I cannot tell my peer to do something so I have to go to my boss who, while sympathetic and responsive, is too busy on his own to actually manage the process (another lovely result of layoffs). Anyway, I have blathered too much and should go find something productive to do...TTYL.
I took the plunge and created for SC307 tonight (shh!). Used lots of Basic Grey's Olivia and this stamp from Limited Edition. (Note: It seems this company was sold to Hampton Arts so perhaps they carry it now? Hmm...found this interesting link that reports all the stamp companies sold in recent past.)
Positive note of the day: My C was sick all day...not good. Here's hoping tomorrow is better (although I am not sending her to school since she kept nothing down today). And here's Ave singing and dancing to her fav song Raindrop Pop.
To begin, if you are relatively new to my crafty haunt, I refer to my kids as the "Wild Jackals" AKA as the "WJs". It is only with that information that this layout could possibly make sense!
My girly Teri sent me some fun and bright Doodlebug stickers. I found a way to layer them on the panel in a way I liked and then added the kids' Christmas Eve photo from last year. (BTW, I wonder if I should even try and get them matching PJs again...hmm...seems like a waste of money with C since she never wears anything but panties!). And look, I found a way to use some hideous Gable Green up (it looks good here!).
Positive note of the day: Got the girls room cleaned up today. I bet that even by bedtime, it will be trashed thanks to Avery's need to pull everything out. Sigh! And here's Ave's little tree. I think we will need to spruce it up a bit once time permits. (P.S. Playing with my focal black and white in these pictures...there's nothing wrong with Ave!)
I saw this today and had to share. Combining a beautiful stamp, the cracked glass technique (which I have still never done!) and all these pearls (not to mention Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses), it is such a lovely card for winter! Go check out Chris' blog for more loveliness!
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Today's LPS Monday features a product challenge...die-cuts (or in my case, punches!). I liked going with this color palette from this ribbon I have had forever and found a challenge to use. I paired it up with CAS114 and stamps from {Christmas Tags} and {Behind the Scenes}. (You probably can't tell here but I stamped the snowflake cardstock with the script stamp and then punched them out.) I finished it off with some bling and it's done!
Should you want to play along with the challenge this week, hit up the LPS blog (remember, there is always a prize given to a random participant!). Remember, Little Paper Shop stamps aren't necessary to play, so come on over! Positive note of the day: Watched Olive the Other Reindeer with the kids this weekend. It's one of their new faves! If you are interested, it is on YouTube (in high quality)...we like to watch it on the Apple TV. The kids are also addicted to any number of cat videos including this new one on how to wrap a cat for Christmas!
If there is anything I need to do right now crafty-wise, it would be to make some tags. Relatively fast and easy, you will probably see a lot of these in the immediate future (esp. since I need to wrap and hide some gifts before the WJs start sniffing around!).
P.S. Finally used the last of this SU DP...gosh, I loved it so!
Positive note of the day: Got the Snoopy/Woodstock piano for Tristan today. A) The kids love these (this is the third in our collection) and B) Tristan has taken quite the interest in the Peanuts gang. His cousin left him her collection (which was quite large) of comic books. Now that he can read, these are what takes up his time before bed. His favourite (to coincide with his new interest in the World Wars) is when Snoopy takes on the Red Baron. See, some things never go out of style!
I leave you with another pic of Ave doing what she loves best...reading books. Today she felt the need to sit in the bookshelf while we were rearranging the girls' bedroom. And we put up her little pink tree today too...I figured that with a Christmas birthday, she better have her own little Christmas tree (can you guess how much rationalizing I was doing with all my shopping today? Ha! I love to blow money on Christmas!)...
Positive note of the day: Tristan's friend (who is normally nothing but perfect) who lives a couple of houses away chucked ice at him tonight so he was bleeding quite a bit (on his cheek near his lip) when he came in from outside. What's worse is the bruise inside his mouth which I hope doesn't look too bad in the morning. Even though the cut was small, it wouldn't stop bleeding. I really don't want to have to take him to get another stitch in the AM. He is such a good looking boy but all these scars are gonna take their toll. Charlotte played nursemaid in her "take charge" mode which was sweet.
