Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful ~ HSSSC308

We have survived our so-called winter "snowpocalypse"...I think.  We were supposed to get close to a foot of snow over the weekend, but the worst of the storm missed us and we only ended up with a few inches.  We still have a few snowy days in our forecast this week, so we shall see.
The snowy days did give me a chance to spend some time in my craft room, which I'm always happy for.  This week's Hand Stamped Sentiments sketch challenge was one of the creations I worked on.  This sketch is so much fun!  

Inspired by our very own Elizabeth Price and daydreaming of warmer temps led me to this colorful creation using Flowering Desert.  Elizabeth used these colors and stamp set for her beautiful card and I absolutely LOVED it!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Granny Apple Green, Shaded Spruce, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink ~ Shaded Spruce, Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo, VersaMark

Stamp Set ~ Flowering Desert

Other Supplies ~ Corrugated Embossing Folder, Oval Framelits, White Embossing Powder, Basic Black Bakers Twine, Glitter Enamel Dots, Bitty Blooms Punch Pack

I have had so much fun with this stamp set!  Creating your own cactus is too much fun. The addition of the cute little flower from the Bitty Blooms Punch Pack is perfect for this stamp set too.  And this sentiment...it's the BEST!  Have you had a chance to ink this stamp set up yet?

Have a fantastic Tuesday!

Happy Stamping!

#tgifc198 Sketch Challenge ~ Love You To Pieces

Happy Friday stampers!  It has been a cold, snowy week here and it sounds like we have more snow coming...yuck!  That silly groundhog is causing trust issues with me! :-D 

We are under a week away from Valentine's Day and this week's TGIF Challenges sketch is perfect for creating a card for your Valentine.

I love this pattern from All My Love DSP!  I thought it would be fun to pair it up with Love You To Pieces stamp set and coordinating thinlits.  

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Flirt Flamingo, Whisper White, Powder Pink, All My Love DSP
Ink ~ Flirt Flamingo, Powder Pink

Stamp Set ~ Love You To Pieces

Other Supplies ~ Puzzle Pieces Thinlits, Starburst Punch, Silver Mini Sequin Trim, White Bakers Twine, Metallic Sequins

See the cute little puzzle piece banners beneath the puzzle pieces?  Aren't they fun?!? 

I'm crossing my fingers that my youngest remembers to bring his Valentine list home from school today so we can finish his Valentine's! Between missing two days of school this week and having too much fun in the snow, his mind is far away from remembering to check his mail box!  It's a good thing he's cute! :)

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend ahead of you!  

Happy Stamping!

Chosen Family

Hi Stampers!

Mr. Groundhog is proving to be a big, fluffy liar this year!  Just a few days after predicting an early spring, we have been hit with below freezing temps and SNOW!  Snow in February...GROSS!  I am so ready for the cold, gray weather to go away and the warm, sunny days to come back.  On top of the yucky weather, I'm home with a sick kiddo today :-(  While he's laying low, watching some of his favorite shows, I'm enjoying a little quiet time in my craft room!  I'll take it!

While I wait out our winter weather, I'll make the best of it with some spring-like creations.  Inspired by the amazing Artisan Design Team Member, Jennifer Picard, I cased her beautiful card using the Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Part Of My Story.  I love all of the sentiments in this set, especially the You're My Chosen Family stamp.  This sentiment is so true for so many special people in my life!  Stampin' Up! gave us some awesome products in this years Sale-A-Bration catalog, many of which I have used on today's card.

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Whisper White, Petal Pink, Lemon Lime Twist, Botanical Butterfly DSP

Ink ~ Memento, Petal Pink

Stamp Sets ~ Butterfly Gala, Part of My Story

Other Supplies ~ Butterfly Elements, Starburst Punch, Animal Friends Thinlits, Share What You Love Artisan Pearls, Gold Metallic Thread, Butterfly Duet Punch

This card is going out to my best friend, Erica, who moved away to Texas a few months ago.  She may not be related by blood, but she is most definitely my chosen family...my sister, who I miss so much!  I'm counting down the days until I get to see her in July!

I've got a little time left before I have to go pick up my older boys from school.  I think I'll have just enough time to squeeze in another card or two.  While I don't like any of my kids being sick, having a day off at home in the middle of the week isn't too bad. 

Happy Stamping!

Together We Make a Difference, Step by Step - Monday Montage

Welcome back to Monday Montage!!!  We are back once again another fabulous hop for you to enjoy!  Make sure you click on the links below so you don't miss any of the creations...we promise you will love them all! We have a few new and amazingly talented friends who have joined our hop this week, so you are in for a treat!

I've been training for the 2019 Big Climb in Seattle, which happens on Sunday, March 24th.  I'll be climbing my way up 69 flights of stairs in the fight against blood cancer.  This is my 3rd year participating in the event and my 5th year volunteering in the Scotts Firefighter Stair Climb, which my husband participates in FULL firefighter gear!  All funds raised for both of these events goes towards funding blood cancer research and support for services for patients through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  We have two special families in our lives that have been effected by Leukemia & Lymphoma, so this event is very near and dear to our hearts.  

I am well on my way towards my 2019 fundraising goal, thanks to the generous donations from family and friends.  The stamp set created by Million Dollar Sales Achiever, Janet Wakeland, is the absolute PERFECT set for my thank you cards this year.  The sentiment couldn't be more fitting for sending thanks to all who have helped support me this year with their donations.  

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Smoky Slate, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Brights DSP

Ink ~ Smoky Slate, Night of Navy, Memento, Stampin' Blends:  Smoky Slate, Granny Apple Green, Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Ivory

Stamp Set ~ Artfully Awared

Other Supplies ~ Night of Navy Bakers Twine, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Layering Oval Framelits

Next stop on the hop is my friend Cathy...I always love all of her awesome creations! Or if you want to hop backwards, you can hop on backwards to the amazingly talented Amy...her stamping style is amazing!  

Thanks you for stopping by today!

Happy Stamping!

We've added links to all of our home pages as well so you can hop along in any order you'd like!

Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs

Charlet Mallett - Painted Orange

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations

Freshly Brewed Friendship

Do you ever get overwhelmed with all of your ideas for cards and don't know where to start?  I've been stuck in that boat lately and decided to step back and go back to basics of stamps, ink and paper.  And an embossing folder, because I just can't be THAT basic :-)

Freshly Made Sketches is my go-to challenge site for amazing sketches to get me started.  I love that they are always clean and simple designs that you can add your own artistic flair to.

Part of my feeling overwhelmed was due to all of the new stamp sets from the Occasions Catalog that I've been trying to use while the catalog is active.  I do this so often and forget about all of the amazing products in the Annual Catalog, so I pulled out one of my favorite stamp sets and had some inky fun times!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Sahara Sand, Grapefruit Grove, Mint Macaron, Nature's Poem DSP

Ink ~ Grapefruit Grove, Mint Macaron, Soft Suede, Petal Pink, Tranquil Tide

Stamp Set ~ Coffee Cafe

Other Supplies ~ Polka Dot Basics, Coffee Cup Framelits

I wanted to add some bakers twine and sequins, but I took a deep breath and walked away.  Sometimes less is best, especially when you are trying to simplify your stamping!  I'm feeling a lot less overwhelmed and back in a happy, crafty state of mind...perfect Friday feeling!

Wishing you a happy Friday and a weekend of happy stamping!