February 2012 SFYTT, Post #3

We're in the final days of February and that means you only have a few more days to get those Sketch For You to Try creations submitted!! The SFYTT Sisters are all playing with the sketch for a final time in the last days of the month, be sure you play along with us! Here's my 3rd card using this month's fabulous sketch:


Our sponsor this month is Your Next Stamp and once again I played with one of their fun stamp sets. This time I pulled out my Aloha Fhiona set and created a fun card to have on hand for all those Baby Birthday Parties / Luaus we have coming up in the next few months (these are HUGE deals in Hawaii. Seriously. People spend literally thousands of dollars on their kid's first birthday party, a local tradition that goes back a few hundred years when it was a big deal for a baby in Hawaii to live to it's first birthday). Anyway, I used some Sidewalk October Afternoon papers and colored that adorable hula girl image with Copics.

Here's another look at this month's sketch:


So come on and join us! Remember, there's a HUMONGOUS prize package available for participants at the end of the year, but you're only eligible to win if you play along each month! All of the details can be found on THIS POST on Jen's Blog.

Sweet Sunday Sketch #153

Well, it's that time again - Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge time! Karen has a fun one for you this week. Check it out:


I felt the need to add to my stash of birthday cards when making my sample:


I used printed digi papers from the Sock It To Me digi kit by Libby Pritchett (Sweet Shoppe). The main image (colored rather poorly with Copics) is from the Tremendous Treats Valentine set (PTI) and the sentiment is from the Enjoy the Ride set (PTI). I kept the whole thing pretty simple.

Be sure to stop by the other Sweet Sunday Stampers' blogs to see what they've done with the sketch:

• Dana White
• Karen Motz
• Karen Giron
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick

AND...we have another fabulous Guest Sweet Sunday Stamper, Cath Groden! Be sure to stop by and see what she's created with this week's sketch too!

Then play along with us and post your own creation using InLinkz over on today's post on Karen's Blog!

Congrats Julee!

Today several Verve Divas and other special friends are getting together for a very special Baby Blog Hop to wish the head Diva herself, Julee, as well as Mr. Verve, Mark, the very best as they prepare to become parents to twin boys in the very near future! Be sure to start your hopping at Julee's Blog and wish her well on her special journey into parenthood! You can find the entire Blog Hop list at the bottom of this post.

I pulled out two of my very favorite Verve baby-themed stamp sets to create a fun twin card for Julee:


I absolutely LOVE that adorable Emery image. I paper pieced him twice using slightly different, but coordinating blue-ish papers from October Afternoon. I added the "Look Out World" sentiment from the To The Moon set, which seemed appropriate for twin boys! LOL. I used lots of papers from old October Afternoon paper pads and the sketch is modified from a SFYTT from about a year ago. I added some stitching and some embossed polka dots to the main circle panel and was done!

Julee, I can't tell you how excited I am for you and Mark. You are going to make such amazing parents and I can't wait to watch your family grow. Wishing you all so much love. As for advice...let's see...breastfeeding hurts WAY worse than you think it will. That doesn't last forever, but those crazy lactation consultants who tell you that if you do it right, it doesn't hurt, are full of it. IT HURTS at first. BAD. I didn't feel adequately warned about that and would have appreciated the honest truth. I have one word for you regarding that if you're planning on nursing...CABBAGE. Mark, as soon as you get home from the hospital, go straight to the grocery store and buy a couple heads of cabbage and put them in the fridge. When those boobs are majorly swollen and hurt like hell, pull off a cold cabbage leaf and just put it on there. You'll pretty much spend the first week without a shirt or bra on anyway. First of all, the leaf (or 3) molds on there surprisingly well. And it feels really good, instant relief. For real. Some nurse told me about this cabbage thing and somehow I managed to hear it through my tears of frustration. I wish I remembered who that nurse was because she might have saved my marriage or Joel's life or possibly both (those hormones are F.U.N.). So yeah. I sat around with cold cabbage leaves on my boobs for a few weeks. It was great. But it really and truly did help. I later read something about there being some enzyme or something in the cabbage that helps with pain and inflammation? Something like that. But do it. It's not as satisfying as throwing things at breast-less Mark when he tries to offer well-meaning but useless "tips" and "suggestions" (believe me), but it's a close 2nd. ;-)

Now, head on over to Andrea's blog to see what kind of fabulousness she's created!

But just in case, here's the entire hop list for ya. Be sure to stop by all of the participants' blogs for lots of baby inspiration!

Julee Tillman

Teresa Kline

Laurie Schmidlin

Jen Tapler

Andrea Ewen

Debbie Carriere

Charmaine Ikach

Sankari Wegman

Shannan Teubner

Lori Craig

Maureen Plut

Toni Storie

Wanda Cullen

Amber Hight

Marisa Ritzen

Janelle Stollfus

Tosh Leyendekker

Jackie Pedro

Betty Wright

Jen del Muro

Lynda Benden

Stephanie Kraft

Mary Fish

Sarah Bigelow

Alma de la Rosa

Carole Burrage

Susan Lilies

Amy Sheffer

Taylor Van Bruggen

Clarire Brennan

February 2012 SFYTT, Post #2

It's the 3rd Saturday of February and that means it's time for some more Sketch For You To Try Inspiration from a few of the SFYTT Sisters! Have you had a chance to play along with this month's sketch yet? You've got until February 29th at midnight, so there's still plenty of time to create something and it's a SUPER fun sketch this month!


Don't forget we have another amazing sponsor this month - Your Next Stamp!


Today, half of the SFYTT Sisters are posting another sample on their blogs using this month's sketch. I decided to create another fun spacey card for my little man Dean using the stamp set I received last year when YNS sponsored the SFYTT - you can never have too many space-themed cards around here! ;-)


That Space Boy set is still one of my favorite go-to sets for little boy birthday cards and also when I just want to make a fun card to give Dean some love. He's still space-obsessed, so he always loves whatever I make with that stamp! I added a little Verve sentiment from the Small Phrases set and was done!

Be sure to stop by these other SFYTT Sisters' blogs to see what they're sharing today with this month's sketch!

Jen del Muro
Carole Burrage
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles

Last but not least, Karen, the owner of YOUR NEXT STAMP has generously offered a sweet deal to all SFYTT participants…

Sweet Sunday Sketch #152

OK, so I got the camera back and I'm finally ready to share my Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge sample card with you. Since I'm so late I'll just get right to it. First, here's another look at Sketch #152:


I pulled out a few neglected Verve stamps for my sample:


The papers I used are printed digi papers from the new Happiness Is kit by Zoe Pearn (Sweet Shoppe). I stamped three of the small flowers from the Meditations stamp set in colors that matched the papers and then added a Just Because sentiment from the Great Friend set. Quick and easy!

Be sure to stop by the other Sweet Sunday Stampers' blogs to see what they've done with the sketch:

• Dana White
  
• Karen Motz
• Karen Giron
  
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
  
• Vicki Burdick

AND...we have another fabulous Guest Sweet Sunday Stamper, Jessie Rone! Be sure to stop by and see what she's created with this week's sketch too!

Then play along with us and post your own creation using InLinkz over on today's post on Karen's Blog!

Sweet Sunday Sketch #152

Did you know it's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge Time again? Well, most of you probably know by now that I rarely (ok, never) get my assignments and blog posts done in advance. So about 10 minutes before this blog post was supposed to be up, I went to grab my camera to take the picture of my card and almost had a stroke because I couldn't find it (my camera, that is)! Then I spent the next 30 minutes tearing the house and my car apart looking for it before I realized that I left it at my Mom's (at least I'm really really hoping that's where it is. I'm pretty sure it is). So, I don't have a photo of my card to share with you. So far, I've totally been slacking with my Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge posts in 2012, which means at least one of my New Years resolutions (ok, it's probably not the ONLY one) is a big fat FAIL. But anyway, I'll come back tomorrow (Sunday) as soon as I get my camera back from my Mom's and share my card. Do I get partial credit for at least having my card done on time?? I thought I'd go ahead and share the fun sketch with you now anyway. That way the rest of the team can't give me too hard of a time about being a slacker this week (wink). So here it is:


If you want some inspiration now, head on over to the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers' blogs and check out what they did with the sketch. They probably actually have a card posted right now.

• Dana White
  
• Karen Motz
• Karen Giron
  
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
  
• Vicki Burdick

AND...we have another fabulous Guest Sweet Sunday Stamper, Jessie Rone! Be sure to stop by and see what she's created with this week's sketch too!

Then play along with us and post your own creation using InLinkz over on today's post on Karen's Blog!

Stop back by here late Sunday sometime and I'll have my own card posted, I promise!

Project Life 2012 - Week 4

I have a bit of catching up to do with blogging this project. I am so proud of myself for staying completely caught up with Project Life so far this year - I just haven't been so good about blogging it! So I'll share Week 4 at least today and try to get my Week 5 posted soon!

Week 4 is probably my favorite week in my Project Life Album so far!! I just love all the color and fun bits and pieces! Here's a look at the whole 2-page spread with insert:


I added a special insert this week, a trimmed down 8.5x11 protector containing a fun mask Dean made at school to celebrate Chinese New Year. Insider the protector, behind the mask, I slipped a clipping from our local newspaper, a story they wrote about the big Chinese New Year celebration and Lion Dance Dean's elementary school put on that week.

Here's a look at both main Week 4 pages with the insert removed:


And now for a few close-ups. Product links are at the end of this post. It was a fun, full week around here! The left-hand page has a few photos from our trip out to Lahaina on Sunday when we went to Barnes & Noble and had lunch at Teddy's (Joel's favorite burger place on the island) before heading to Front Street so I could pick up some Lush essentials. We finished our outing with some ice cream at the ocean's edge right in front of the Old Lahaina Courthouse down by Banyan Tree Park - it was such a fun day!


I used lots of colorful products this week from a new digi find from Miss Tina's Live Free Love Life collection (links below). I attempted my first batch of homemade applesauce in the new Vitamix (SUCCESS!!). I love that this project allows me to include a little bag from my beloved Lush (the colors were perfect!).

I journaled a bit about the homework battle we've been having most days (I don't want to talk about it). And I found a fun free Chinese New Year wallpaper that I just printed out and included in one of the 4x6 pockets along with our fortune cookie fortunes from our oh-so-authentic Chinese dinner we had from Panda Express takeout to celebrate Chinese New Year! ;-)

And now the right-hand page. I captured a few truly "everyday" moments this week - Jamba Wednesday, making homemade pizzas for dinner Friday night, what each of us is reading right now. Love that.:

One of the first things is a 4x6 photo collage of pics from Dean's school's Chinese New Year celebration. I left one of the photo layers blank (filled with a solid digi paper) and then just journaled there. I think that worked fine.


I'm also loving these fun new journal card inserts from Cathy Zielske! I used this "awesome" one to journal about a sweet visit from Dean's former neighborhood babysitter, Sarah, who moved off-island a year and a half ago. Sarah and Dean have a really special bond and he misses her so much! We were so excited to spend some time with Sarah Saturday when she was in town for the weekend visiting family.

Seriously, LOVE this photo of Dean and Sarah. And I added some little filler stuff to the bottom right 4x6 pocket.

And finally, I used one of Cathy Zielske's Journal Cards to create our Week in Review on a 4x6 card this week. I really like how this turned out and will most likely be doing this more instead of on the 3x4 cards. We'll see.

So that's Week 4! My Week 5 is much less colorful, more of a black and white monochromatic thing, but I love it too! I'll share it ASAP. And now I'm halfway through Week 6 and already have a few things tucked into pockets!! YAY for being caught up!! :-)

If you're looking for some Project Life inspiration, Steph has put together a great Project Life Blog Roll of bloggers who are doing and sharing Project Life HERE. Thanks Steph!!

If you want more information about Project Life, visit BeckyHiggins.com

InLinkz.com

Verve Diva Inspirations February 2012 Blog Hop

It's February 5th and that means it's time for another Verve Divas Inspirations Blog Hop! On the 5th of each month, the Verve Divas Inspirations Team will be sharing creations using some of our favorite Verve sets from both past and present, and as always, there are PRIZES!!

You can start the hop at the beginning on the Verve Blog and continue on through each fabulous blog - be sure to leave a little comment love along the way and you just might win some Verve goodies of your own! If you arrived here from the talented Jen d's blog, then you're on the right track!

My little man ran his heart out Saturday morning in the 2K Keiki (Kid's) Race in the Run for the Whales, so I decided to make him a card to let him know how awesome I think he is.


Most of my regular followers probably already guessed that I reached for my 2 favorite Verve stamp sets to make my card. I just couldn't help it. That circle wave thing from Happy Days graces about half the cards I make for Dean. It's the perfect accent for boy cards (although I LOVE it in pink for girls too!). And all of the sentiments from Bountiful Backgrounds just go amazingly well poking out from that circle wave! The patterned papers are printed digi papers from the Hey Mister kit by Traci Reed and Jenn Barrette (Sweet Shoppe). Oh! I almost forgot to mention that I used the February Week 1 Viva la Verve sketch for this card - isn't it fun? You can see the sketch and play along for even MORE Verve prizes HERE.

OK, that's it from me. Now head on over to the boss-lady herself, Julee's blog, for some awesome eye candy! She's next in line on the hop list!

Wait, one final thing. I can't help but share this picture of Dean crossing the finish line Saturday morning after his race. See? He is pretty fabulous, right? (Thanks for indulging me...I've been in proud Mama mode lately it seems).

February 2012 SFYTT

Well, it's that time again already - first Saturday of the month and time for another fabulous Sketch For You to Try!! I hope you all had a chance to play along with us last month - Lots of exciting things in store for participants of the monthly SFYTT this year, including a chance to win another fabulous huge prize package at the end of the year!! All of the details can be found on today's post over on Jen's blog, with some of the details outlined in the "In a Nutshell" graphic at the end of this post. We have another amazing sponsor this month - Your Next Stamp!


And here's a look at this month's fun sketch.


Now I have to admit - those 3 little circles threw me for a loop at first and I was STUMPED. I wasn't really feeling this one when I first saw it. (sorry Jen! LOL). But once I sat down and got to work, I figured it out. And now that I've had a chance to step outside my comfort zone, I'm kinda liking it! ;-)


I chose to work with Kai from Hawaii. It seemed appropriate! (Papers are from the Boarding Pass and Seaside collections by October Afternoon). I'm not a big fan of coloring...mostly because I pretty much suck at it. But I was determined to make this little guy not look like crap and I'm fairly happy with how he turned out. My own little 5-yr-old surfer dude, Dean, was my inspiration. Although Dean's hair is less orange and more white, really the same pasty pale color as his skin, but I felt the need to differentiate between skin and hair here, so...ya know. Anyway, for your viewing pleasure, here is my little surfer sporting his European Style swim trunks at the beach a few weeks ago (there's a very small window of time when a guy can pull these off successfully - unless he's a swimsuit / underwear model - and let me tell you, Dean can pull these off! Tell me he's not absolutely adorable in those things!?)


Be sure to stop by the rest of the SFYTT Sisters' blogs to see what they've done with this month's sketch!

Jen del Muro and Designer of the Month Angela Thomas
Amber Hight
Amy Sheffer
Becky Carafa
Carole Burrage
Iwona Palamountain (Chupa)
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles