FMS91: Sweet Essentials Butterflies

Cindy has a fantastic sketch for everyone this week at Freshly Made Sketches!   I decided to make a clean-and-simple card for mine, but added a bit of a twist by using black instead of the more traditional white.  I wanted to play along with Dynamic Duos, so the color choice came straight from there.  There's not much too it, but I kinda like it.  :)

Stamps:  Sweet Essentials

Ink:  Basic Black

Paper:  Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Gingham Garden DSP

Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones

Tools:  Big Shot, Stripes embossing folder, butterfly punches, scallop border punch

    

Laila had her birthday pictures yesterday and I'm curious to see how they will turn out.  She was making some weird faces and kept crawling away every time we tried to get her to pose.  I snapped this one with my phone as she was digging into her smash cake.   It's the first time she's really had any sugar, so she was sucking the icing off her fingers.  Thankfully she didn't get too much! 

Stampin' Up! Happy Day for CASE Study

I decided I need to do better about doing challenges so today I tried a new one called CASE Study!  It's awesome too and I will definitely be playing again.  I used some retied products and scraps for this one as I'm really trying to use up some DSP.   I know a lot of people don't like using retired things on their blogs but I have way too much stuff in my craft room that I love NOT to use it.   

Stamps:  Happy Day 

Ink:  Basic Gray

Paper:  Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, various retired DSP

Accessories:  Basic Pearls

Tools: Big Shot, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Beautiful Butterflies die, Tasteful Trim die, Little Leaves die

For Father's Day, I had some pictures taken and framed one for Jason.  I also made him a card with her footprint.  It was a simple gift, but we are pretty simple folks.  :)  We also went out for breakfast this morning so that was nice.  Laila did great and even found her a little boyfriend sitting behind her.  She just adores other kids. 

Beach Birthday Invitations!

Whew!  I finally finished Laila's birthday invitations!   We decided to keep the party small, so I didn't have to make too many thank goodness!   She's having a beach themed party, so my sweet friend Mindy was kind enough to send me this retired set to use for her invitations.  Thank goodness for our demo sisters, right?!   I mixed up a bunch of bright colors and I'm not totally sure it worked, but they are done and I managed to use up some retired stuff. 

Now if I can figure out all the stuff I need to get ready for her birthday pictures on Tuesday and then finish up her party decorations all will be good!

I took her to the mall yesterday to get some quick pictures in this cute dress.  I just loved it and knew I wanted some pictures before she outgrew it.  She looked so, so cute!  I just can't believe how big she's getting.  It's crazy how fast the time goes by...   Now today, it's been long, but you know what I mean.  ;)

FMS90: Too Kind

It's time for a new sketch at the fabulous Freshly Made Sketches!  Linda C. is our hostess this week and she gave us this gorgeous sketch to work with:

For my card I used my favorite new set and favorite new color combination.   Too Kind is really awesome.  If you don't have it on your wishlist, I totally recommend that you add it!  It's lovely and so easy too!   The new Color Coach has the combination of Smokey Slate, Pear Pizzazz, and Pool Party listed and I am a bit addicted to those.  Aren't they great together?!  Man do I love my Color Coach! 

Stamps:  Too Kind

Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Smoky Slate

Paper: Smoky Slate, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Gingham Garden DSP

Accessories:  Neutrals buttons (retired), Pool Party Baker's Twine (retired)

Laila LOVES books.  There's always 5 or 6 spread out around the living room and she is constantly flipping through them.  I love it!   I try to read a few to her every night and she cries and throws a fit when we finish lately.  That's good and bad I guess.  :)

Crazy Mixed Up Light Bulb

I wanted to play along with the sketch at Create with Connie and Mary this week but Jason got called out to work today and my stamping time was limited to naps.   Of course that meant that Laila took short naps.  ;)   I did run in and stamp once he got home and here's what I came up with.  I just had to have this stamp set and I love funny and cute stamps!  

Stamps:  Crazy Mixed-Up Love
Ink:  Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray
Paper:  Basic Gray, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Brights Coredinations and DSP stack
Accessories:  Brights button, White Baker's Twine
Tools:  Big Shot, 2 1/2 circle punch, Perfect Pennants die, sanding block, Stripes embossing folder

Laila's new favorite thing?  High Fives!!  :)  

VSN: Too Kind

Laila took a nap this morning that was actually a good one, no waking up crying, so I got to stamp a bit.   Splitcoast has a Virtual Stamp Weekend going on so I thought I'd try to play with some of those challenges.   The first one I did was to CASE a card of Lee's.   I chose this one and this is what I came up with.  I am really enjoying this stamp set!  It's so pretty and easy to do.   I'm so thankful that I bought it in wood mount!

Stamps:  Petite Pairs, Too Kind

Ink:  Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi

Paper:  Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi

Accessories:  Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Neutrals buttons (retired)

Laila loves this zebra!   She will put it in her mouth and crawl around with it.  lol 

Zoo Babies for Fab Friday

More new stuff!  Zoo Babies is my favorite set from the new catalog and one I couldn't wait to get my hands on.   I paired it the the new Dictionary background and the Alphabet Press embossing folder.  Aren't they fabulous together?!  I used the cute sketch at Fab Friday to make this lovely little card.  

Stamps:  Zoo Babies, Dictionary

Ink:  Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight

Paper: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight Coredinations, Whisper White

Tools:  Big Shot, Perfect Pennants die, Alphabet Press EF, 2 1/2 circle punch

Accessories:  Neutrals buttons (retired), White Baker's Twine

We bought Laila a tunnel the other day and it's been a hit...with the cats.  lol  She's crawled through it a few times, but they LOVE it.