Monday, July 30, 2012

Blog Hopping with The Alley Way Stamps

I hope you are having fun on our blog hop for the new release at The Alley Way Stamps.  If you started at my blog, you really should start back at the beginning to see all the amazing creations - the charming little lion, the big top, the peanuts - you'll be smiling before you'e done!!


This release at The Alley Way Stamps is such a fun mix - by this point in our blog hop you have seen wonderful bright, fun and colorful cards.  Yesterday I made a cheerful little clown card.  But today I wanted to show you the soft side of TAWS - a soft and sweet baby shower card using Cover Ups.

Baby Love

I used this week's sketch from retrosketches.  I loved the way it let me use the wood image.  It's the perfect size to wrap the little Hershey's Treasures candy bars but I wanted to showcase it with its little heart.


The Cover Ups set is full of a variety of images - from pregnant ladies to cows (hmm...), from Halloween to Easter...such a useful set and all such cute little images.  There are a variety of fun candy wrappers too!

Next on your hop is the fabulous Lyndal!

Here's the blog hop announcement from The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) so you can be part of the fun!

Blog hop time with TAWS..
Something NEW!! One person will win ALL 3 NEW SETS!! YEP!! 
So if you want that person to be you.. all you have to do is comment on the hop! 
Here are ways you can win.. You can pick and choose which ones you want to do.. 
but the more you comment the more chances you have to win.. 


1-Comment on The Alley Way Stamps Blog
2-Comment on the DT girls blogs (below)
3-Post about it on facebook or your blog
4-Like us on Facebook
(leave a seperate comment for each that you do)
 You have until July 31st midnight TAWS time to leave comments.

Here are the DT Blogs to visit

Alison
Arielle
Audrey
Barb
Danielle
Jingle
Kim <=You are here
Lyndal
Tracy

  • Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Cover Ups
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and Pretty in Pink
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and Pretty in Pink
  • Accessories: Papertrey Ink Woodgrain Impression Plate, misc twine, Stampin' Up border punch
  • Challenges: retrosketches and Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes

Never, Never, Never Give Up

This is my second post today.
It's a quick scroll down to The Alley Way Stamps sneak peek!

My teenager is suffering from a serious case of teenager-itis and after a long and difficult talk last night, I wanted to have a card ready to go for him this morning.

There is a perfect digi download over at Word Art Wednesday - it's a Christian group that has weekly downloadable Word Art - Christian and inspirational.  I discovered them through Marlena at Marlena Is Faithfully Crafting - she has wonderful cards and also amazing faith stories to go with each card.

Never Give Up
I am still playing with Washi Tape for the Catered Crop Recipe challenge and I got the layout from clean&simple's current Fall To Layout.

  • Stamps: Word Art Wednesday download
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Soft Suede, Poppy Parade
  • Accessories: Woodgrain Washi Tape from Love My Tapes, striped red from Queen & Co., EK Success postage border punch, Tim Holtz embossing folder

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Clown for a Birthday

This is my first official day as a design team member for The Alley Way Stamps and I get to share a sneak peek of the new stamps for August.  (If you pop over to their blog you get to see other sneak peeks, PLUS if you leave a comment you could win a free set!)

I chose to use the new set Admit One (with a little help from some others)


Clown Birthday

Isn't he just charming?

I also used a pattern stamp from a new set called Cover Up to do the arrow across the bottom.  Plus the sentiment was pieced together from a variety of sets: Priceless JoyChatterbox and Bite Size.

I got my ideas today from a number of challenge:  Stampin' Royalty asked us to use buttons, the colors came from CAS-ual Fridays (if they forgive me for the red nose), the sketch from iSpy Sketches and it is Anything Goes week at Simon Says Stamp



  • Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Admit One, Cover Up, Priceless Joy, Chatterbox and Bite Size
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse dsp
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse and Kiwi Kiss, Memento black and copics
  • Accessories: Papertrey Ink Chartreuse and Hawaiian Shores buttons, unknown blue star button


Fresh Lime Ice with Berries

 
I don't like hot weather at all.  Anything above 90 degrees is pushing it for me.  This 100 degree heatwave we've been having has really been testing my limits.  However, in an effort to be positive and go with the flow, I've tried telling myself that I love the hot weather.  If you say it enough times it must be true, right?

When I'm wheeling my grocery cart across the blacktop in the middle of the day, with two kids hanging on me, I tell myself the heat feels wonderful.  After all, I love hot weather.
 
When I get in my car and the temperature gauge says 120F I tell myself it's good for my character.  You just gotta tough these things out sometimes, right?  When the kids start whining about the heat I tell them the same thing. I chuckle to myself because they love it when I tell them things like that.   
 
When I get home and it's time to carry in all the groceries (and the back of my shirt is already soaked with sweat) I tell myself I should just be thankful to have groceries to carry in the house. 


For the past two months I've tried convincing myself that I love the heat.  I was successful in my endeavor until this past Thursday.  On Thursday I was walking out of the grocery store and I literally reached my melting point.  It was crazy stupid hot and miserably humid.  I felt like laying down and having a temper tantrum just like my five year old.  Right then and there I decided I was going to quit lying to myself.  The fact is I just can't stand the heat.

So, for the rest of the summer I'm hiding inside.  The only reason I'm going outside is to check the mail or walk to my car.  On the off chance I'm forced to brave the great outdoors you will find me rewarding myself with something really cold like this super icy refreshing lime ice.  This lime ice stays really cold.  Almost too cold to eat.  It's the stuff of dreams on a hot summer day.

Fresh Lime Ice with Berries
Adapted from Mexican Everyday
by Rick Bayless
Serves 4-6 

5 to 6 large limes (or enough to make 3/4 cup lime juice)
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup corn syrup
2 to 3 cups fresh raspberries, blackberries or strawberries for garnish

Grate the zest (colored part only) of 2 of the limes and scrape into a large bowl.  (If the zest is in large pieces, finely chop it.)  Juice the limes, measure 3/4 cup and pour it in with the zest.  Add the sugar, corn syrup and 1-3/4 cups water.  Stir until the sugar dissolves.

Pour the mixture into the canister of your ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions.  The ice will have the best texture if you transfer it from the ice cream maker into a container and let it firm up for several hours in the freezer.  The ice is best eaten within 24 hours.  Scoop it into small dishes and sprinkle with the berries.

Alternatively, pour the mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, slide it into the freezer and "still-freeze" the mixture - stir it thoroughly after 45 minutes, then twice more at 15 minute intervals.  It's that easy,  (This is my preferred method for making any fruit ice.  I think the texture is so much better than using your ice cream maker).


Theme: Nieves (Icy Cold Treats)







changes...

I have a couple of cards to share today from one of Basic Grey's newer lines Paper Cottage, I love the soft muted colours and sentiments in this line, perfect for cards I think.



Before I go you may have noticed my blog make over. I am sooooooo excited about it, its exactly what I wanted. ( yellow  yellow and more yellow) Thankyou to the talented Emma Straface for my incredible new look. If you are looking for a fresh  new look for your blog I cannot recemmend her highly enough!

Photobucket

Hello Friend with Washi Tape

I have to write fast because my family is heading out to Thanksgiving dinner soon!!???

Yes, I live in the United States and yes, I do know that Thanksgiving is in November - most definitely not in July.

But my brother and his family have a girl from China visiting them for two weeks to experience America.  They have taken her to the mountains and waterparks and so much more.  They thought that having a full Thanksgiving dinner would be a great experience.  Thankfully, they invited my family!!!

It occurred to me that I should take a card for this girl to welcome her and say hello...


Hello Friend

This card plays along with two new-to-me challenges.  Did you know there is a site called Feline Playful that lists all the challenges every single day!  That's a lot of work.  I had a great time browsing and finding challenges that fit my style.  One that I found is Try Stampin' on Tuesday - really nice sketches.  


The other one that I found is called Catered Crop Recipes - the current challenge is to use Washi tape.  The challenge is sponsored by Chickydoddle which is an Etsy shop that has an amazing supply of tapes!

  • Stamps: Papertrey Ink Think Big #3
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, My Mind's Eye Indie Chic
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse
  • Accessories: MME Indie Chic Washi Tape, Stampin' Up Butterfly Embosslit and Indigo Baker's Twine, Martha Stewart butterfly punch (the small ones), misc gems colored with Copics

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Pink Saturday!


Yes I know I said Happy Birthday to our Beverly last Saturday...but apparently I shouldn't have...that was supposed to be this week...sigh...so...Happy Birthday Beverly....Stop on by and say hey at howsweetthesound...I am supposed to include some yellow here somehow! Because...get this...Beverly's favorite color is yellow! Gasp! I just cannot believe it! The lovely hostess of PINK Saturday's favorite color is yellow!?! What is this world coming to!?! SMH...
Anyway...I have spent this entire day on the computer...I had some work to do...I did accomplish it...but I think not as well as I wish...
I am working on a project with a teammate and, well, I feel as though she has done more...sigh...I hate that...
I went in a different direction and she wrote more...you know how it is...I keep checking to see what she says about what I wrote but nothing yet...sigh...


I woke up needing one of those! I call that the migraine sufferers candy...I usually give myself a chance to get somewhere without it but no go today...


It did work!
Then there was that ..


And then there was this little guy...You see it was just he and I all day today! My daughter was working and my husband was out playing...So when I got up and sat back down Bailey climbed up and took the place of my computer...and who am I to deny him? By the way, Bailey says..."I am a DOG!" Carry on...lol...
So I guess I feel as though my partner did a better job and that I need to make up for that:(
BOO

Poofy Cheeks

This week I am also linking up with athomewithbooks saturday-snapshot-

Dynamic Duos: Sweet Baby Jesus

I certainly can't say that I started out thinking I was going to do a Christmas card for the Dynamic Duos monochromatic brown challenge, but here it is...



Sweet Baby Jesus




I had two goals when I started the day...get my card done for Dynamic Duos and AFTER I played with the browns, I was going to treat myself to using my brand new Christmas stamps from Annabelle Stamps.  The day wasn't going my way - I had a lot of starts and stops with the browns - and I kept wanting to sneak in a Christmas card.  Finally, I gave up on the browns, pulled out the Christmas set, studied the baby Jesus and realized that he would be wrapped in raw linens - browns!!!  

I think it works!!

Check out all the other fantastic cards, then give it a try yourself.  We love looking at everybody's creations each week.  (And I have a bet with myself that we won't see any Christmas cards!!!  ETA - I just realized another design team member snuck in a Christmas card, I guess I'm not as creative as I thought!!)

  • Stamps: Annabelle Stamps Wise Men
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Early Espresso
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, copics
  • Accessories: Martha Stewart Extra Fine Crystal Glitter, Lil' Inker Designs Frame Impression Plate, Stampin' Up Espresso Quilted Ribbon and oval punch
  • Challenges: Submitting to Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes

Friday, July 27, 2012

Kim is in trouble!

amylouwho here!

In case you were wondering where Kim is, I kidnapped her.  That's right.  I brought her down here to the horrible heat and humidity.  And then I made her run.



I made her bring her sewing machine.


And some projects to work on.


And next I'm going to force her to go to the beach.

I'm such a slave driver.

Whatevs.  Maybe I'll let her go home after she cleans my house.

Snake, Rattle & Roll

It is my husband's birthday today and  I haven't had anything made for him - which was OK given that he's not back in town until 5 tonight.  My time on my own is coming to an end :(

The problem was that I really had no ideas either.  He's not a elegant/vintage/cutesy/retro/sweet kind of guy.  He is, however, a very clean and simple guy.  I can stick one little gem on a card and he'll wander by my craft desk and tell me it's too much, that I just ruined the card!!  So I kept my fingers crossed that the CAS-ual Fridays challenge would give me an idea.

Ta da!!  The challenge for the week is lime, aqua and navy which could definitely be a guy's card.  Then, I had in my head that I wanted to do something with The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) because I wanted to remind you to wander over to their blog and leave a comment because they are giving away free stamps each day!!   Well...TAWS has a snake stamp (no implications, honey) and the perfect sentiment for my hubby.


Snake, Rattle and Roll

This sentiment is going to get the biggest laugh.  You have to understand that my husband is a geologist.  He is passionate about the goings on of the earth - both ancient and current.  Never drive through the state of Wyoming with a geologist because you have to stop at each and every road cut in the middle of nowhere and study the layers.  

Less than two weeks before we were married, we were watching the World Series.  (I am going to seriously date myself here).  It was the game in San Francisco that, during warm-ups, the camera started to jiggle and then everything went dark.  (OK, it was 1989.)  As a geologist, my husband knew instantly what happened - an earthquake!!  And without any regard for the human impact of an earthquake but with utter delight over the shaking of the earth, my future husband danced around the living room singing "shake, rattle and roll"!  He'll NEVER live that down!

I tucked a few fun pennants behind the snake to keep it festive!  And I added just a strip of punched border.  That little strip is a big step for me.  I am such a geometric kind of gal, that strips should go the whole way - or better yet, matte the whole darn image - keep it regular!!  But it sure is fun to just have a hint of border!



I'm also submitting to the Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes.
  • Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Tropic Topic and Get the Point
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse, Kiwi Kiss, Papertrey Ink Hawaiian Shores, Memento black, copics
  • Accessories: EK Success border punch, Ranger Glossy Accents (on his eyes!)



Thursday, July 26, 2012

free printable: back to school

Have you shopped for school supplies yet?

paper--check.
pencils--check.
crayons--check.
chocolate--check.

What, no chocolate? It's an essential you know.

My brother and sister-in-law--who both teach fourth grade--asked me to design a wrapper for chocolate bars they could give their students at their teacher meet and greet. Here's what I came up with.


Fourth graders are at the age they like the "coolness factor" rather than cutesy, so I went for something that was still fun without being too grown-up. I designed these to fit around the 1.55 oz. Hershey bars. (The chocolate is great frozen and dipped in peanut butter by the way.) The bars are pretty inexpensive to buy in the full size packages and easy to find this time of year with it being "smores" season.

I asked Steve and Deanna if they would mind if I shared with the rest of my teacher friends. You could also have your child give one to their new teacher. Works both ways, you know. :) So here you go. The green and blue version is here, and the multi-colored version is here.

I'd recommend printing on a lightweight shiny paper as the colors will be more vibrant, but it still looked good on regular printer paper. Then just line up the front and adhere together on back with double stick tape. Super simple. I know I'm going to get asked, so the fonts I used are Sofia and  JF Ringmaster. Love them both.

Enjoy!

Kim

Thanks Much retrosketches!!

I was on a roll yesterday!  I got SO many cards done - and it was one of those glorious days that I liked every card that I made.  Unfortunately, I can't show you any of them until next week ;(  Although if you check out the Sweet 'n Sassy August Blog Hop announcement on the left column - the turkey is mine!

But...my success yesterday did inspire me to tackle what I thought was a very complicated sketch - this week's sketch from retrosketches.


Thanks Much retro sketches

This is a lot of layers for me - but I still love how it came together!!



I have two important things to share:

1. I have already announced that I was asked to be on the design team for The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) - yeah!  (The sentiment on today's card is a TAWS stamp.)  My first official post isn't until Monday but I didn't want you to miss out on prizes.  Sneak peeks of the August release started today on their blog - and this is very important - if you comment on the post, you get a chance to win a free stamp set.  And you can comment tomorrow and Monday for another free set.  THEN - there is a chance to win the entire release on Tuesday's blog hop!

2. On a totally different note, Jennifer Timko is doing a fundraiser on her blog for a very special little girl.  On today's and yesterday's posts, she has samples of the Stampin' Up set Moving Forward that is their annual Ronald McDonald House benefit stamp.  If you order the set through Jennifer in the next week - all proceeds are going to this little girl in need of a miracle.

  • Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Jibber Jabber
  • Paper: Recollections dsp (Michaels brand), Stampin' Up Taken with Teal, Peach Parfait, Bermuda Bay, green is a scrap
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Taken with Teal, Peach Parfait
  • Accessories: Papertrey Tag die, Label die, Stampin' Up leaf sizzlit, Martha Stewart doily and seam binding.
  • Challenges: Submitting for Anything Goes week at Simon Says Stamp



Wednesday, July 25, 2012

AMAZING....

 Just over 6 weeks ago I experienced the most incredible weekend at the Papercraft and Scrapbook Expo here in Brisbane repesenting Scrapbooking Memories magazine as one of the Masters for this year. I was so proud to teach and do two talks each day and was so excited to meet a few of the other Masters as well.
I couldn't wait to collect all my thoughts, photos and memories and using one of Heidi Swapp's memory files was perfect. It was also perfect timing to complete this project during the AMAZING week in The Art Of Observation class over at Big Picture Classes with Heidi Swapp.
I attached my folder to a piece of pattern paper so I can easily slip it into my album.
The Masters who were at the show stand proudly in front of the Masters gallery I think thats my favourite photo.

 The inside, on the left interactive components with lots of photos and on the right all the memorabilla from the weekend. I used a Hambly overlay to hold them all.

 A liitle match box mini...

 My projects proudly on display.

 teaching

 Catching up with the girls from Greatest View.


 my journalling and memorabillia.




CASology and a Sketch

I have needed a fun thank you card and as soon as I saw this week's CASology challenge (Cue Card = Fruit), I pulled out Sweet 'n Sassy's Punny Fruits and Veggies.  The sketch challenge at Splitcoaststampers is very basic so I knew my little peach would be a star!  (Truth be told, I started out with the jaunty little beet from the set until it occurred to me that a beet is a tubular vegetable - not a fruit!)


Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps


I'm thinking my choice of colors might have been influenced by the sketch diagram!!


  • Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Punny Fruits and Veggies
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Peach Parfait dsp
  • Ink: Memento black and copics
  • Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, Stampin' Up border punch, misc twine

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Clean&Simple's Fall To Layout hits 200!

Two hundred card sketches from clean & simple stamping!  Wow!  They call them Fall to Layouts and they are definitely that for me.  They have collected past sketches in PDF files and I always have them handy!!

I HAD to play along with the 200th.  But I am also on a mission to use the scraps that I have cleaned off my table while my men/boys are gone.  I did have about 20 punched circles which I have no memory of - luckily, this week's sketch includes circles!!


Thank You So Much



Here's to 200 more great sketches!!!
  • Stamps: Hero Arts Sending You Love (and matching die)
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze, Peach Parfait and misc dsp
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade
  • Accessories: Stampin' Up embossing folder, butterfly sizzlit, Pool Party baker's twine, Martha Stewart hydrangea punch