Sleeping Babies & Cowboys

This week has just flown by!  (I say that a lot, don't I?)

It's already time again for our Sketchy Thursdays challenge!!! 

This week's sketch is sponsor by Pixie Cottage Stamps and our DT were lucky enough to get to try some of the HUGE, suitable-for-layouts PCS stamps. 

To give you an idea just how huge this particular stamp is, this is a 4-1/4" circle and I still had to cut some of the image off!!  Isn't it just darling???  I love the pouty baby lips!  I colored both the image and the Prima flowers with oil pastels using my fingers.  When it comes to shading I'm so not good with tools.  Gotta go with the hands. 

Isn't this paper GORJUS?????  Is a new DCWV Stack called Vintage.  There are some awesome images in there including a few Anne Taintor-like gems.  Lots of yummy sparkle, too. 

I also created this layout with the current These Are a Few of My Favorite Things challenge in mind:  "these are a few of my favorite memories".  My daughter was not a quiet baby.  For her first 6 months she cried ALL THE TIME and pretty much refused to go to anyone other than mommy.  So some of my fondest memories of this time are when she slept, LOL!!!!! 

Did you notice the flower centers??  I just can't keep away from those Martha Stewart microbeads!!!!!  There are gold and kelly green ones on the flowers to mimic the flowers on the paper. 

Hop on over to the Sketchy Thursdays blog to check out what the rest of the DT made for your inspiration and play along with us for a chance to win some tasty goodness from Pixie Cottage Stamps.  

I have to make special mention of the layout this month's Guest Design Team Member, Sandra made for this sketch.  OMG - you MUST simply go over and take a look.  It's freakin' awesome!!!!!  The woman QUILLED a ton of flowers for Pete's sake!  I now MUST learn to quill, LOL! 

Details:  Paper - DCWV, Stampin' Up!; Stamps - Pixie Cottage Stamps, EK Success, Karen Foster; Ink - StazOn, Colorbox; Prima flowers; Martha Stewart microbeads; Stickles; oil pastels, thread; unknown ribbon.

Thursdays are also host to a sketch challenge on the Design Dollies.

I am so loving Kristy's sketches this month in particular.  I love all the fun fonts she's included for the titles. 

I started out going in a totally different direction for this sketch and as I was looking through a box of pics I came across these of my son circa 1-year-old in his adorable cowboy costume.  I loved this costume and was sad to see him outgrow it.  It was so plush and soft and just stinkin cute. 

I mean, seriously, is this just about the cutest cowboy ever????? 

Jump on over to the Design Dollies blog, too, to check out what the rest of the DT made for you. 

While you're over there, be sure to check out the DT Call!!!!  I can't believe I'm already almost 2/3 of the way thru my term.  Three months goes FAST.   I have been so lucky to work with this amazing group of gals, both the Founding Dollies (Adina, Kristy, and Leah) and the DT (Ellen & Nicole) and I'll be sad to see the term end.  This site has some of the most amazing challenges out there and the prizes are killer!!! 

Details:  Paper - DCWV, K&Co; Flair Designs vellum quote; Deluxe Designs word tag; Petals & Possibilities metal star; unknown star brads and grommets; twine.

Well, there you have it...two sketchy inspiration possibilities. 

Hope to see you play along!

Heidi

p.s.  Probably by the time you read this post my counter will have tipped over the top of 20,000 hits!!!!  I am so completely honored that you all stop by and thank each and every one of you!!!!!  Virtual hugs!!!

Robot Love, Fan Love, & DT Love

Yea!  We're back from the snow.  So happy to be home to our (tee hee) 77 degree weather.  Yes, I know I'll be lamenting and whining about the 110+ degrees in just a few months' time but this time of year is why I suppose we stick it out the rest of the year. 

Gotta share the cute little card I made for the hubs for V-Day:

Have I mentioned I love the BamPop!???  Any BamPop!  This cutie-patootie robot was snipped off of one of the new papers in the BamPop! Vol. 2 Collection available on Torendi. 

And, of course we have our perennial fave Cosmo Cricket Earth Love background.  This is one of the possible designs available in the Torendi "Joy" kit now on sale and supplies are going fast! 

Details:  Paper - BamPop! Vol. 2 Collection, Cosmo Cricket as found in the Torendi "Joy" kit; Colorbok heart; Dymo labels. 

And speaking of love, have you heard??!!  Sketchy Thursdays has gone Facebook on ya!!  In just 4 days we have over 250 fans!!!!!!!!!!!!   I'm blown away!  We'll be posting more of our fave layouts throughout the week for all to enjoy and doing extra giveaways over there.  Sheesh!  We just can't stop showering our followers/fans with goodies, huh?!!  Not a bad thing at all.

And finally...HAVE YOU HEARD??!!!!!!!  Sketchy Thursdays is having our next Design Team Call!!!!!  I so can't believe it's been 6 months already since Diana and I were picking our inaugural DT and wondering if we'd get a few followers.  Now we're up to 540 followers and Amanda, Tessa, and Jennifer have been a DREAM DT.  We'll be sad to see them off.  But I'm so excited also to see what amazingness we'll uncover with the call.  Interested in joining our team?  The call will run until 3/15.  Click on the link above for all the details. 

Are you like me?  Any slight bump in your routine and it takes ages to recover and get back into the swing of things.  I'm just soooo not feeling the mojo right now.  4 days off scrappin and I'm not ready to dive back in yet.  I think I'll just veg a little while longer tonight and jump back in it tomorrow.  There are quite a few new (new to me) challenges I'd love to start working into my routine.  The wheels are turning on how to incorporate one into my ST layout for this week...stay tuned.

Off to bed!

Heidi

Easter Egg Smackdown!

Sheesh, the glitter has hardly been brushed away, cupid is just retiring for another year, and there are probably a FEW chocolates still left but here I am jumping into Easter!!! 

March 2011 issue

I made this adorable layout for this week's fresh and happy SPCC color combo:

I've had this picture propped up in front of my crafty workspace for a while now just waiting for the perfect prompt.  It's just so funny!  Only my kids could take Easter Egg dyeing to the hood!! 

The style of my layout (the ribbon rainbow) is inspired by this layout done for this week's Sketchy Thursdays submission by our Guest Design Member Sandra.  I am so impressed with Sandra's style.  It's so gorgeous!!!  Wait til you see what she made for ST for next week!!! 

This type of layout is perfect for me because I own waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more ribbon and fibers than any sane person should.  And I keep adding to my collection!!!!  I can't help myself.  I do have to say, though, that I had a hard time coming up with a decent amount of bright yellow offerings. 

I LOVE the way the stitching came out on this.  I've had this "loopiness" happen before on the backstitch and have often tried to imitate it but can't seem to figure out what set of circumstances initiate it.  It can't be the type of thread because most of my thread is the same type.  But in any event, I ~heart~ the way this looks. 

I just found this alpha stamp set in my foam stamps stash.  No idea why it was in there and I'm bummed I've lost all that time I could've been using it.  It's (can you say it with me?) awesome!!!! 

Be sure to check out what the rest of the SPCC Divas made for your inspiration this week and play along with us!

Have a happy Monday!

Heidi

I Love Yushi!

I'm currently "up north" ~ahem~ enjoying the snow but I thought I'd schedule a post for you anyway.  I made this card a couple weeks ago for my husband for his birthday but I thought it was a fun little one for Valentine's Day.

January 2011 issue

The stamp actually said "sushi" but i only inked up the "ushi" part and then only inked up the "h" and turned it upside down for a "y". 

My husband isn't into the really frilly, sappy cards so this clean and simple one is right up his alley. 

January 2011 issue

This shot shows just how glossy and dimensional the sushi and heart are.  I covered them with a glossy medium. 

Used my fave Martha Stewart microbeads for the rice.  Too stinkin cute!!

Hope you are having a wonderful Valentine's Day! 

- Heidi

Details:  Maya Road stamps; Ink - StazOn, Stampin' Up!; Stampin' Up! cardstock; Martha Stewart microbeads; JudiKins glossy medium.

It's a Sketchy Kind of Thursday

Not only do I have our weekly Sketchy Thursdays sketch for you today but I also have a Design Dollies sketch, too!!!

Let's begin with a little Sketchy Thursdays action:

Lovin the multi-picture option!!! 

March 2011 issue

Everything but the pearls are from the Pink Ninja Addicts kit "Three Little Birds".  (There's actually a set of the same pearls/rhinestones in the kit of a different color...I was just in a blue mood.) 

I'm pretty proud of my pearl circle - I eyeballed it!!!  There's only one pearl that looks out of line to me.  ~jazz hands!~  Notice the rhinestone masquerading as an asterisk next to the title?  It's to alert you to the subtitle which is:

Every time I look over our "official" family pics* the one aspect that jumps out at me is my husband's beard, or goatee, or soul patch, or stubble...Seeing it every day I never realize how often he changes the "configuration".  I guess it's his answer to drastic new hairstyles or colors.   (Can you tell what I used to make the journaling block?  "B"s!!!!) 

* We've tried every year around the same time (c. the end of September) to take the same picture of our family as we took on our first day as a family, with my husband actually just holding the camera at arms' length.  You'll also notice that HE is wearing the same t-shirt in every pic.  Unfortunately we haven't yet taken our 2009 pic so I substituted another pic of the whole fam from October. 

Don't you just love that sparkly blue glitter cardstock?  It's in the Addicts kit.  It's American Crafts and it's THICK stuff.  Like too thick to punch, as I found out the hard way.  :o(  It's also really hard to see but the pics on the blue glitter c/s are also mounted on ponchello - it's a rad irridescent mesh. 

You have until next Wednesday 2/17 to play along with us.  Leave a direct link to your project on Mr. Linky in the Sketchy Thursdays sidebar for your chance to win a fabulous prize from MagPie Club.  (OK, can I quit ST now so I can try to win this??!!  Soooooooo yummy!  ~drool~)

Details:  Patterned paper, glitter cardstock, chipboard letters & shapes, ponchello - Pink Ninja Addicts Three Little Birds kit; Prima pearls. 

I was so lucky this week to have 2 FABULOUS sketches to work with .  This next one is by Miss Kristy from the Design Dollies (also the one and the same Miss Kristy from Some Odd Girl!  This chick has some mad skillz!):

Kristy's sketches are always so playful so I had to go with some super playful new paper from BamPop! which you can find in the Torendi store.  Be sure to check out all the new BamPop! in the Torendi store AND keep an eye out for all the new CHA finds arriving soon.  I can't wait!!!

Published in Scrapbook News and Review September 2010

Had a bit of neon photo editing fun on Picnik!!  My daughter is rawkin her Tinker Toy guitar in this pic so rainbow neon repetition seemed appropriate. 

I also happen to have several stamped BamPop! astro birdie images on hand thanks to Ms. L'Orange which were the perfect complement to this layout!!  Thanks chick!! 

My Little Janis.  Just as long as her penchant for nursing the apple juice isn't foreshadowing fifths of Jack, I love that she enjoys rocking out and encourage it wholeheartedly!!!  She's quite the little performer.   She's either going to be a rocker, actress, comedian, or WWE vixen, I just know it!  (Obviously some pursuits more desirable than others, LOL!) 

I just noticed that you can't tell the notebook paper edge is really punched.  I backed the layout on a black board to take the pics and now see that it detracts from the 3D, touchy-feely perspective. 

You have until next Wednesday to play along with us on the Design Dollies, too.  There's, of course, an amazing prize pack up for grabs.  Those Dollies are so generous!!!

Details:  Paper - BamPop! Vol. 2 collection, Torendi store; Trim - Michaels, Joanns; Target $1 section flair; Dymo; BamPop! stamps; Tsukineko ink; staples. 

Well, I'm off to snowier climes this weekend so I may not be around much.  I'll try to schedule a post or 2 to keep you company.  Yes, yes, I know...some of you are buried under feet of snow and here I am driving hours for it.  It's a once-a-year treat for us and the kids are so looking forward to it. 

Have a great weekend!!

Heidi

Handmade Ninja

Woohoo!!!  It's Pink Ninja Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!

The new prompt is "handmade", technique is to use cardboard, and the pink twist is lace. 

I have to admit I was flummoxed by the "handmade" prompt.  I dont' really make anything what I'd term "handmade" other than papercrafts.  I don't sew or knit or anything like that.  As Mo so nicely put it, I just wasn't getting my mojo green light.  And then ~chorus of angels, bright glowing light, bluebirds soaring~ the Sunday Target ad arrived and my mojo was greenlighted!  They had an adorable piece of "art" on sale that inspired this layout:

I obviously didn't focus on something handmade but I featured something "handmade".  The heart is "faux handmade paper".  I've used this technique before on another Pink Ninjas prompt way back when.  You use paint and toilet paper to get that fiber-y handmade paper look:

~title detail~
I have to say I absolutely LOVE painting on cardboard!  It's become my favorite base.  And I've been hoarding pieces for a while now and have some great "interesting" pieces.  This one, for instance, has several holes in it which I love.

Hop on over to the Pink Ninjas blog to check out what the other Ninjas made for your "handmade" inspiration.  It's a regular craft fair over there!!!  Have I mentioned how honored I feel to be included in this amazing bunch of artists??  These chicks are off the hook!

Hope you have a happy hump day!

Heidi

Rockin With Some Odd Girl

Today over on Sketchy Thursdays we're doing a Second Chance Challenge with Some Odd Girl, a new digi stamp shop online!  I especially ~heart~ this store because my girl Kristy from Design Dollies is the owner AND designer of all the adorable and rockin digi stamps!!!!



So I tried my hand AGAIN at doing the sketch...this time I went with a layout sketch and it's a bit "industrial-grunge" I'd say. 

However, as you know, I'm all for interpretation of my sketches and there's a good amount of "interpretation" happening over on the ST blog with the samples.  And we have LOTS of yummy samples this time because many of the Design Dollies played along with us.  You'll notice that all the samples also feature digi stamps from Some Odd Girl.  Aren't they all awesome??!!

I used the Some Odd Girl "Rockin Kody" stamp.  Unfortunately I suck at coloring so I chose to print him on colored and patterned papers instead. 

Both patterned papers, the spangley trim, and the AWESOME fimo lightening bolt are from this month's Pink Ninja Addicts kit "Mommy's Little Monster". 

I'm tellin ya, you need to go check the addicts out!!!  Gorgeous samples for this kit up on the blog by Silje.  That girl has TALENT!!

The Sketchy Thursdays Some Odd Girl Second Chance Challenge will run through Friday 2/12 at 11:59pm EST.  Up for grabs are THREE digi stamps of your choice from Some Odd Girl!!!!!  Hope to see you playing along!!

Have a great weekend!!

Heidi

Details:  Some Odd Girl digi stamp; Pink Ninja Addicts patterned papers, trim, fimo shape; Dymo; Making Memories paint; Maya & Glimmer Mists; Bazzill chipboard squares; Stampin' Up! cardstock & ink; thread.

Love You - A Dollies Trifecta

Got another post for you today.  Isn't that always the case?  When it rains it pours. 

The sketch challenge went up on the Design Dollies site today. 

Well, I just couldn't play along with the sketch challenge when this week's color and elements challenges were so awesome, too, so I went for the trifecta!!

March 2011 issue

The color challenge is red, black, and a neutral.  The elements challenge is lace, something sepia'd, and distressed/torn edges. 

Not sure why but I have several of the earlier pics of my son in multiples.  I think I found 8 of this particular pic.  Guess I was overly enthusiastic about my first!! 

The word "loveyou" is written with some bakers twine.  Looks really cool IRL. 

Head on over to the Dollies site to see what the rest of the Design Team made for your inspiration.  Almost the entire team played along with this sketch challenge this time!!  Play along with us!  You don't have to make the trifecta, but every one of this week's challenges are fun!

Thanks for stopping by again...and if you didn't get to see it earlier today, scroll down for today's Sketchy Thursdays /Torendi post.  I really like the layout I made if I may say so myself!  ;oD

- Heidi

Details:  October Afternoon paper; Stamps - {ippity}, Prima, Delish; Ink - Tim Holtz Distress; Colorbox; Martha Stewart bakers twine; Doodlebug heart confetti; Wilton doily; Stampin' Up! vellum envelope; Carolace lace; unknown tag. 

You Make My Heart Go Vroom

It's Thursday so you know what that means!!!  A new Sketchy Thursdays sketch:

Thought I'd play around a bit with this month's Torendi kit "Love Fool":

Using the black and white circles paper and some of the tickets I made:

Just can't seem to get enough of my Dymo!!!   And rub-ons are always fun.  The "m" in vroom is actually a "w" but thought it had perfect "movement" for the word. 

Can you guess what the heart is covered with?  Hot pink duct tape!!!!!!!  This pic shows just how many glossy and shiny elements are on this layout:

Head on over to the Sketchy Thursdays blog to see what the rest of the Design Team made for your inspiration.  We're also introducing our February Guest Design Team Member Sandra.  Be sure to check out her blog, too, and leave her some love!!! 

We'd love to see you play along with us, too.  Hook up your project to Mr. Linky in the Sketchy Thursdays sidebar for your chance to win a yummy prize from Ormolu!  Wow, you just gotta check out that etsy store.  Some serious yumminess!

Have a great Thursday!

Heidi

Details:  Paper & tickets from the Torendi kit "Love Fool"; Colorbok metal heart; Glimmer Mist; ColorBox ink; Dymo; duct tape; eyelets & alpha rubs on source unknown. 

I'm a Storyteller!

I'm so excited!!!  I am one of the newest Storytellers over on Category Stories!!!!!

Category Stories has AWESOME monthly prompts with great sponsors! 

I was lucky enough to be invited to be their February Guest Storyteller and THEN I was invited yesterday to be a part of the team!!  That's so cool!!

Come check out my fellow newbies, Jess (yes, that, Jess, Miss Ninja Thang!) and Lena Nielsen and leave them some love!! 

This month's prompt is "If I Had a Time Machine".  Come play along!

Valentine's Day 2006

Man, I have sooooooooooooooo many pics the are so scrapworthy and I'm never going to get to them all.   You, too?  When looking through a box of "BK" pics (before kids) I came across a bunch of duplicate pics of the kids much younger made presumably for grandparents.  Pics I'd forgotten about.  Not sure why they were tucked into that box.  In there were these 2 gems staged for a VDay card for my hubby:

January 2011 issue

We all joke that that's the boy's "heartthrob" photo.  Just look at that adorable expression.  Can't you just see that on the cover of Teen Beat (or whatever THE teen heartthrob magazine is these days)? 

I made this layout for this week's SPCC color challenge:

I had this leftover piece of the yellow & white paper already trimmed up like that and thought it looked pretty cool so I left it as is.  To make it a neat rectangle I backed the one side with some yummy leftover Basic Grey.  Ever since spying the gorgeous turquoise and red hot air balloon and birds paper by My Minds Eye on a layout by Tessa I just HAD to have it.  Isn't it just so stinkin adorable??!! 

After fussy cutting out the birds and balloons, I used the leftover red background pieces to cut the hearts.  As you can see from the pic above, there's lots of dimension on this layout.  Of course, had fun with the sewing machine again (the thread is hot pink despite looking red in the pics). 

Can't seem to leave my Dymo alone, either.  Ran some pinkish Basic Grey thru and sanded the raised letters to make them stand out. 

Be sure to head on over to the SPCC blog to check out what the Design Team made for your inspiration.  This was such a fun color combo and you will not be disappointed with the samples.  Be sure to hook up your project to Mr. Linky for your chance to win an awesome prize from Miss Sam herself!

Busy, busy blogging day today.  The first day of the month AND a Monday so lots of fun business to attend to.  Off to make something for the Dollies and then SLEEP!!!  Hopefully I'll actually get some tonight. 

Thanks for stopping by!

- Heidi

If I Had A Time Machine - Category Stories February GDT!!!

I'm so excited!  I'm the Guest Storyteller over on Category Stories this month!!!!  The prompt is:

If I had a time machine I'd give my kids the opportunity to meet and get to know their namesakes, my grandparents. 

Everything on this layout is from the Pink Ninja Addicts kit "Three Little Birds" except the stamps, microbeads, and thread.

March 2011 issue

Head on over to the Category Stories blog this month and show us what you'd do if you had a time machine.  You have all month to play along and one lucky winner will receive an awesome prize supplied by Bre from Category Stories!!

Have a great Monday!!

Heidi

It's Febuary 1st! Have you seen the new kits yet??!!

Two new kits to crow about today!!! 

Torendi's new kit is "Love Fool". 

This kit includes:


3 pieces of American Crafts Cardstock
2 pieces of Jillibean Soup Great North Beans Patterned Paper
1 13 x 7.5 inch sheet of E.A.D Designs Vinyl Love Hurts Rub-ons in Dark Red
1 Piece of Jillibean Soup Kraft Paper
2 stamps from the Shinzi Katoh NY Stamp Set (this month is the hot dog and condiments)
Shinzi Katoh NY Stamp Set storage box and 4 colors of chalk ink.
15 red tickets
1 yard of black and kraft twine from Ikea.
Black and white buttons

Isn't that just gorgeous??!!

Aaaand, the Pink Ninja Addicts have released their next fabulous kit "Mommy's Little Monster".  (Is the song in your head now??  It's been stuck in mine for a day now.  Not a bad thing.  One of my all-time faves!!  Reminds me of high school.) 

This is just chock full of fun.  The kit includes:

*ten pattern papers

*one speciality paper {the dinosaurs}
*one package of rub one from american crafts
*one package pearls and crystals from prima marketing
*one set of thickers alphabets from american crafts
*almost one yard ponchello {you know, that rad mesh material,,, youll see},,,
*one strip camo fabric
*almost one yard black sequins trim
*one yard green sequins trim
*one yard black beaded trim
*one yard blue beaded trim
*two korean bingo cards
*two strips of plastic grass accent
*two fimo friends hand made by ninja master nely
*one dinosaur flair from indie art fair
*one bowling pin
*four cute softie stars
*one cutie pie 3-D dino friend
*one feltie fabric creation by ninja master ally
*six chipboard embellishments from american crafts
*one hand made feltie friend by ninja master nely
*two clear star embellishments
*two hand made resin bottle cap by ninja master nely
*two hearts cabochons
*one blue flower cabochon

Check out the Addicts website to see closeups of all the goodies you get.  This kit is just STUFFED.

I can't wait to start playing along with both kits!!!!!  Woohoo!

- Heidi