she's a lady

I don't usually refer to myself in third person on my layouts. However, my mom took this photo of me last year and it feels a little surreal to me. I often just feel and live like a big kid but I look like such a LADY in this photo. I don't really think of myself as a lady. At 31, I guess it's time I do?

I followed the March sketch over at C'est Magnifique. I'm loving their challenges! Simple and wide open for interpretation. Anyway, the papers are from 5th Avenue by Melissa Frances. 

I found them at Blue Moon Scrapbooking.

I keep this little tray on my desk to catch odds and ends and rejects from my projects. 

I always go fishing in this when I start anything new.

I picked out these pieces.

I sit the items on a coaster and set aside while I begin. That way, I don't forget or lose track.

"she's a" are from Authentique. "lady" is from Nook and Pantry by Basic Grey. The little flower at the top was made by my sister Vivian. The pink rose on the left is from Recollections, a Michael's brand. The vine lookin' print thing with lines is a rub on from Fancy Pants.

The white rose is by Stephanie.

Most of my LOs are about my little guy so I really pile on the flowers if I'm doing something girly! The largest flower and the white rose are by Stephanie. The text print flower on the right is by Vivian. The other filler flowers are Primas. I used my foliage Spellbinders and coordinating Heartfelt Creations stamps for the first time today. Didn't quite turn out. If all else fails, distress and add Stickles. 

And that's exactly what I did!

A fun view of those pretty flowers.

Another Spellbinders die. Also used for the first time today. This cardstock is Bazzill Bling. I wish I could get more of this beautiful cream color!

This scalloped edge is fussy cut from one of the MF papers. There I go with my favorite Distress Ink topped with Stickles technique again.

I love to wear dresses in the summer but the following photos 

will help you understand my more natural state of existence.

A runner.

A clown.

i am SIX

Followed the My Mind's Eye sketch by Anam Stubbington. 

All of the papers are from Stella and Rose by MME.

These little clouds were on my desk, leftover from a previous project. I loved inking and then adding stickles, like making my own distress stickles.

The numbers are from Fly a Kite by MME. I used a Micron pen for journaling.

I love this chipboard piece from MME! The little stars are by American Crafts. 

The crocheted lace is also by MME.

The "6" is from the brown MME Lush collection. The two buttons are from Stella and Rose. My little guy (pictured) loves to craft along with me and generously offered me his stickers. I picked one "I am speed" and put it here. The navy blue technically doesn't match but 

my little guy was tickled that I used his sticker.

ENTERED IN THESE CHALLENGES:

My Mind's Eye Sketch Challenge 33

C'est Magnifique Number Challenge

Time to Celebrate!

I had so much fun playing along over at the Mind Mind's Eye blog last month that I decided to jump in again. Check it out for Anam Stubbington's sketch and for a chance to win!

These papers from one of the Lost and Found collections were one of my many impulse purchases. When I went fishing through my collection this morning for the perfect papers, these were an easy pick! I wanted a fun, vintage feel for my birthday time theme card. All of the papers, brads, and lace are from various MME collections. The sentiment is by Fiskars and the clock face stamp is Teresa Collins, 

topped with Crackle Accent.

Once I had the entire card assembled, I gave it a once over with some Wheatfields Glimmer Mist. It's a beautiful additional touch, but hard to photograph.

Thanks so much for visiting!

You should also know that after I finished this card, I made a run to Archiver's and bought more MME :)

Easter Bunny *Whimsy Stamps*

Your challenge at Whimsy Stamps this week is to forgo a sentiment!

I know, right?!! I just got into putting a sentiment on the front of all my cards.

Play along with us for your chance to win free digital stamps!

I followed Claudia's design to make this card. I love how she uses flowers. It takes all my energy to put flowers on my projects! I used papers by Anna Griffin.

This adorable image is a digi by Kathy (StampArt Designs) for Whimsy Stamps. I colored her with Prismacolor pencils and blended with OMS. I fussy the image and foam dotted to a series a mats, cut from Storybook/Cricut Expression.

I wish I made these. I'm just not into making flowers yet. So, I let my friends and my sister do all the work for me. The large, yellow carnation was made by my sister Vivian 

and the smaller roses were made by Stephanie. The pink trim is American Crafts.

A fun view. Oh, and check out the Stickles on the mat edge. 

I love to use Distress Ink first and then add Stickles!

And one more time.

I really appreciate this card because I did it on a MONDAY night. I work full time and crafting on a weeknight is extremely rare. I did get lazy and didn't add any green filler to my flowers, 

but I'm okay with that.

Thanks for looking!

CHALLENGES:
Clearly I Stamp- Anything Goes
Hotshot Craft- Ribbon

Winter Scene

I loved this design by Cheryl so I followed it for my card. Papers are from I Believe by Riddersholm. The sentiment is a digi from Whimsy Stamps.

This stamp is from Northwoods. I colored the image with 

Loew-Cornell pencils and accented with Stickles.

To Someone Special

Here I go with the wonky color schemes again...

Followed a sketch by Cardabilities. Papers are from My Mind's Eye, several different collections. Decorative punches from EK Success and Fiskars.

This stamp is from Stampin Up Flower Garden. Definitely one of my older and most favorite sets. I colored with Loew-Cornell pencils for the rustic, soft look. Accented with stickles. I fussy cut the image and mounted with foam dots.

Ribbon is from American Crafts. The sentiment is from the same SU set. 

I inked the edges and accented with Stickles. My sewing machine has gotten a lot love these days!

The butterfly punch is Fiskars. I folded the wings a bit for dimension, added bling and Stickles.

Thanks for stopping by!

happy thoughts your way *Whimsy Stamps New Release*

Join the New Release Blog Hop for a chance to win free stamps!

I'm getting bored with my current go-to techniques.

It's time for me to step up my game and try some new things. 

My idea of studying is to... well... lift someone else's fabulous work :)

I've been wanting to use more flowers and add more shabby chicness to my cards.

I spend a lot of time staring at Claudia Rosa's blog and this card was the subject of my studies today.

Papers are from an 8x8 paper pad called Romantique by Prima. I bought this pack from Blue Moon Scrapbooking. Awesome store and great customer service! So, I'm already doing something new here. I usually go for 12x12 and ignore everything else.

This digital stamp is by Lia for Whimsy Stamps, a new release for March 1st. I had to color her twice. I ruined her the first time with two much blue in the background. I colored her with Prismacolor pencils and blended with odorless mineral spirits. Claudia loves to add stitching to all of her stamped images. I considered and then decided to go for inking in pink distress ink and top with clear stickles. 

I love this look! I did stitch everything else with a nice cream colored thread.

I used Dana's tips for coloring the hair and skin.

This digital sentiment is also from Whimsy Stamps. I treated it with the same pink ink and stickles. 

I also brought over the little bow idea. I beat everything into submission with Glossy Accents.

I love flowers but they make me crazy- trying to figure out how to place them just right. This is definitely one of the reasons why I love watching Claudia's work. I started with roses from a vine made by Stephanie and accented with Martha Stewart pine branch punched pieces and little Prima flowers. I also have the bamboo twine (jewelry section at Michael's), bows, and the random button going on here. 

Love me some buttons.

Here is where I got especially excited. I loved Claudia's decorative border. I opened up my Paper Lace cartridge that I got for Christmas and picked a fun piece. 

It cut very nicely! 

I love it when I get motivated to use something new! Also, the clamshell was very easy to cut! 

Thank Goodness!

Exclamation!

A fun, dimensional view of the card.

THANKS TO CLAUDIA

-i gave my fairy some green ground (never dunnit before)

-used something other than 12x12 papers

-used my Cricut and a new cartridge

-easily added flowers

-got unglued with the stickles

-took the time to add stitching (i have been doing this more lately)

-oh, i almost forgot, i used various colors of solid cardstock to mat my papers (pink, blue, and green). 

i think i really enjoyed this more than anything!

Ain't gonna lie. I spent more than five hours on this card. It's 4 pm while I'm typing this up and I haven't run, showered, or brushed my teeth yet LOL