Robin Joyce is here!

Robin Joyce weighing in at 9 lbs., 13 oz. (thank goodness for C-sections!!) born January 25 at 8:25 p.m. Yep- 2 days before my scheduled surgery-- I guess she has a mind of her own! :) Everyone is home now and doing well. Probably won't post more than this for awhile for reasons you can imagine!

January Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!

Yahoo! Another Papertrey Ink blog hop!! It's been a few months since I've participated but this one CALLED to me. :)

Here's the details for this month's challenge...

With January being the beginning of the year, it is the perfect time to build up a stash of birthday cards! This month's challenge is to create your very best version of a birthday card. The card can be geared towards a female, male or child; it's your pick!

Here is my birthday card for that favourite teacher...

I used White Stamper's Select cardstock for my card base, layered with Kraft and black (the black being from Bazzil, since my PTI order hasn't arrived yet!!). The apple images are from Teacher's Apple set and were stamped in Spring Rain, Berry Sorbet and Plum Pudding, then cut out and popped up with dimensionals. I added Diamond Stickles to the details on the apples. The stem and leaf I stamped using Graphite Black ink on the kraft paper before adhering the apples. The sentiment "Happy Birthday" comes from the Birthday Basics set (I reach for this set EVERY time I make a birthday card!) and the "TEACHER" comes from the Teacher's Apple set. As a final touch I used 2 flatback pearls to accent the word teacher.

Thanks for looking and I can't wait to see all of YOUR creations!

Sketch and Stash #2

I read about the sketch and stash challenge on Becky's blog and decided to give it a go! This is week#2 and I'm looking forward to participating in more weeks to come.

There is a sketch to follow (which I altered a bit for my card- I left the sentiment off the main image) and you also should use your new, never used or neglected stash on your creation!

Well, I used lots of never used stash on this card! First off, the Nestabilities dies I bought before Christmas and never used, as well as the beautiful stamp from Sunshine Designs. Also never used- the Ocean Tides ribbon from Papertrey Ink. What is wrong with me?! All this great stuff lying around?? :) I'm glad I found a challenge that forced me to open this stuff up and get using it! Other facts- the card base is Kraft, the patterned paper from Basic Grey, brads are from MM and the sentiment from the Birthday Basics set by PTI. I coloured the image in with my Copics.

Friday sketch #45

Here's a card done using a sketch from Amy Rysavy- Friday sketch #45 in fact. I used a Whipper Snapper image (I love this cake stamp and I rarely use it!) and coloured it in with my Copic markers adding Stardust Stickles here and there for effect. Papers are Kraft and Sweet Blush from PTI, and patterned paper is from DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Girl 12x12 pack. I love those flatback pearls too!

Also from Amy Rysavy...I'm responding to her "tag" (which was basically anyone who wanted to participate) and am showing you this photo.

The rules were:
1. Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.

2. Go to the 6th Folder, then pick the 6th picture in that folder.

3. Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture.

4. Tag 6 other people that you know or don’t know to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog or an e-mail letting them know you chose them.

Okay, so this is a picture of my husband's hobby. :) It's kind of ironic that this was the 6th picture in the 6th file for me to share on a blog about MY hobby...This is his 'rock crawler'. He LOVES RC trucks, cars and planes. The pile of rubble the truck is crawling over is debris leftover from a shed we tore down. Conveniently, he saved some of the "junk" and created a mini obstacle course down the side of our hill for him to play with his trucks on...thankfully all the "junk" is out of site from the neighbours- that was my one condition!! NO MESS IN MY YARD!!

For my Husband

My wonderful husband's birthday is on Saturday, so here is what I created for him...

I know he reallllly wants a 40% RC plane for his birthday, but that just isn't happening! :) Sorry honey...maybe next year for your 30th??

Inspiration comes from TECC49. I used Papertrey Ink's Spring Rain and Summer Sunrise cardstock for this card; the yellow is Bazzil as my Lemon Tart was all gone! The white cardstock is something cheap and flimsy out of my scrap drawer. I stamped the Spring Rain cardstock with Spring Rain ink, using one of the polka dot stamps from the Polka Dots Basics set. The white circles were cut out using Nestabilities and run through my Big Shot using the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder. The center of each one has a crystal brad from Making Memories. Finally, the "for my" and "Husband" come from the Men of Life stamp set. I didn't like how the "for my" looked stamped right on the yellow, so I stamped it again on white, cut it out and inked the edges with Spring Rain before adhering it. I should point out that both stamp sets, the Polka Dot Basics and Men of Life are from Papertrey Ink. The ribbon is of course, Spring Rain. Thanks for looking!

A Beary cute Valentine

This Valentine is not quite so "pink" as some of the ones I have made lately. :) I can't decide if I'm going to give it to my nephew or my son...hmm...big decision!

The image comes from my mom's stash...thanks mom! :) I was over there stamping the other day, stockpiling some cute images for me to use. Aren't moms wonderful like that to let you use their stuff?? I coloured him in with Copic markers and used Misty Mauve Versacolor ink around the edges. The plaid paper is from DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Boy 12x12 pack, the Aqua Mist is from Papertrey Ink, and the lilac designer paper is also from Papertrey Ink (the Guide Lines pack). I used Nestabilities for the scalloped squares and a Making Memories heart brad. The card measures 4" square.

Baking Tilda tries the SFYTT!

Another Valentine for you to look at! This one will be for my cousin's little girl. I used Jen del Muro's SFYTT. I love all her sketches- so creative! My pictures have been coming out all goofy lately...I received a new camera for Christmas and just can't figure out the "proper" settings for getting my pictures fine tuned...even my photo editing program isn't helping! Grrr!

So ANYWAY...I used Basic Grey Bittersweet papers, paired with Tilda (from Magnolia stamps). I coloured her in using Copics and used a white gel pen for detail on some parts. I also used a pink Sakura glitter pen for the cookies, and my clear Spica pen for her wings. The flower is a Prima flower, the sparkly heart brad from Making Memories. Ribbon is misc. from my stash. I used a Marvy square scalloped punch for the corner piece, then cut it in half. I liked the way this one turned out...very pink!

A Bittersweet Valentine's Day

Okay, I'm cheating today...No real pictures of MY cards, but a picture instead of what I worked on this morning.
Have you tried one of the Basic Grey greeting card kits??

I received a beautiful Christmas card from a friend made using the Wassail kit, so when I saw this Bittersweet pack at the Paper Pickle, similar to the Wassail pack, I grabbed it up! My original thought was to get something easy to make once the baby is here, so I don't have to stress over making Valentine's while recovering from a C-section! Instead I went ahead and made them in advance...before I send them out I'll make sure to fill in baby's name on the inside. :)

I highly recommend this kind of kit if you're new to cardmaking, or want something completely easy and quick to work on. The best part is, of course, that you can add/subtract/alter any part of the cards they've laid out for you. Nothing is concrete! I went ahead and stuck to the "plan" that Basic Grey set out and was very happy with the results.

With all my Heart

You know how everyone gives the advice to get LOTS of rest before the baby comes?? How the heck am I supposed to do that when I'm running around averaging 4 doctor's appointments a week, not to mention trying to renovate a room for this baby to sleep in PLUS dealing with frozen water pipes today??!! ARRGGH! That's my vent for the day... all done now. Thanks for listening! :) On to the card...

This cute image was in my stocking Christmas morning (thanks hubby!). I think my husband is just the sweetest when it comes to my cardmaking stuff. He never EVER wants to know how much stuff costs...haha...maybe it has something to do with all the RC cars and planes he has out in the garage...hmm??

I used Basic Grey Bittersweet papers for this card (yep, still using those fab papers- can't put them down!). The sentiment is from Verve Visual's Heart to Heart set, flowers are all from Prima, the corner punch was done using the SU! Photo corner punch, and the scalloped oval, plain oval and scalloped border were all done using my Nestabilities. You might not be able to see the sparkle on the brad in the centre of the flowers, but it's this gorgeous browny/rust sparkly brad from a package of Making Memories' Noteworthy brads...oooo I love those brads! Also, I used a misc. pink heart brad and some fabulous glitter called Bonnie Blue on the string of hearts in the image.

Feeling scrappy...

Another scrapbook page for my baby girl- here in only 2 weeks!! My C-section is booked for January 27th...yikes!!

This page is of my in-laws. I had planned on 'blurring' their faces, but it made the page look wonky, so they'll just have to get over being seen in blog-land. :)

I used cardstock from Bazzil and patterned papers from K & Company's Wild Saffron line...I LOVE this line of papers and coordinating accents. Chipboard letters and felt flowers are also from the Wild Saffron collection. The sparkly red letters are Heidi Swapp adhesive letters that peel off and stick and you can add glitter to them (I used Martha Stewart glitter).

Here's a close up of the felt flowers. I think the texture and detail on these are just beautiful! Enjoy, and thanks for looking!!

Everyone was feeling rather jolly!!

I am trying to find a place in my house that will allow me to take a good picture of my cards!! Grrrr! It seems there is not enough natural light for quality picture taking, so I have to fiddle with all my settings on my editing program and I don't think this card came out quite right...

I used papers from the SEI Jolie Chocolate collection (pale pink, grey and patterned) and the white is Georgia Pacific from Walmart I believe. A SU! Ticket punch was used on the corners of the sentiment (which was stamped in silver ink)
and its matting. Ribbons are from Papertrey Ink, and the beautiful pearl stick pin is from Making Memories. I used a Cuttlebug folder for the embossing on the white cardstock, then covered it with some Diamond Stickles (which for some reason are showing up kind of blue here...). The final card is 5 1/4" square.

This is an anniversary card, but I can't say that I'm pleased with the way it turned out..not one of my favourites anyway. Oh well...we all have those days.

Martini afternoon?? :)

I really like how this card turned out. Basic Grey papers make everything look fantastic... :) The final card is 5 1/4" square.

This has always been one of my favourite images from Inky Antics. She cracks me up! I stamped her with Dark Chocolate ink and coloured her in with Copics, using Stickles on the bubbles. The edges are sponged with Dark Chocolate ink as well, and the whole image is matted on coordinating paper from the Basic Grey Sugared line. Brads are also from the Sugared collection. I used my scalloped circle punch to punch out a piece of patterned paper, then inked the edges and rolled them up a bit so it wouldn't lay completely flat. Then I added the Primas and the Sugared brad (which matches the background paper). The sentiment was stamped in Dark Chocolate, and is from Inkadinkado (and I bought it at the Paper Pickle!).

I'm going to give it to my mother-in-law for her birthday today!

More scrapbooking...

This scrapbook page is of my younger sister Holly, aka Aunt Holly to Jake and baby-soon-to-be. I used Bazzil cardstock and patterned paper from Basic Grey's Bittersweet line (love it!!). The mirrored butterfly is from Heidi Swapp, as is the 'bling'. The mini butterflies were punched out using a Martha Stewart punch from Walmart. Glittery letters are also Heidi Swapp- her adhesive letters that are just so easy to use- just peel off, add glitter and you have a quick, fabulous title on your page!

Big Brother Jake

Before my son was born I made an 8x8 album for him with pictures of me throughout my pregnancy and pictures of all his family members. I decided I better do the same for this little girl who will be arriving by C-section January 27th.

Unfortunately, I seem to be the one taking all the pictures, so there isn't much of me while I'm pregnant this time, but I did have fun making all the pages of baby's family members! I'll blur out some of the faces for privacy reasons on the rest of them, but for today I'll share what I made for my son Jake's page. Keep in mind I DO NOT like to scrapbook anymore, so these pages are super simple.

Papers are all from Bazzil, except the cream cardstock that I printed off on the computer- that is Vintage Cream from Papertrey Ink. Jumbo eyelets are Making Memories and the chipboard letters are from K & Company's Wild Saffron line (I just LOVE this line of paper and embellishments!). Ribbon is miscellaneous from my stash and all edges of the papers are inked with Pinecone Versacolor very softly.

Here is a close-up of what the journalling is:

Announcing...

I finished about 10 baby announcements for our upcoming arrival on the 27th of January. I think I'll fill in the proud parents part beforehand (since we definitely know THAT information!) and leave the rest to fill out at the hospital. These were easy enough to do that I can probably handle working on some more after the fact if I think I need them.

They were all made using Basic Grey papers. I just chose the girliest pieces from a variety of their lines. I think I own literally every single 6x6 pack, so you'll excuse me if I didn't keep track of where each and every piece came from. Just know it's Basic Grey okay? :)

The white cardstock (pretty sure it was from Walmart) was run through my NEW SU! Top Note die cut (thanks mom!!) and stamped with the Baby Announcement stamp from Hero Arts (bought at the Paper Pickle of course). I inked the edges with a coordinating colour and dug through my Primas, brads and gems decorated the bottom left hand corner.

I'm really happy with the way these turned out, and they didn't take long at all!