A Festive and Whimsical Sketch: Merry Penguins

I got an order from Mama Elephant and knew that I wanted to immediately use these penguins as part of the Festive Friday challenge to create a holiday project with a whimsical theme.  I love the Basic Grey 25th and Pine paper with its retro colors and feel, so I added a dash of that too.

I always struggle with penguins - they are supposed to be black!!!  But the colors of the paper led me in this grayish direction and I love how it turned out!
The stamp set comes with the penguins as separate stamps (and snowmen too!) and they can hold hands or there are multiple banners or chains of stars and hearts - lots of options.  The hearts in Mr. Penguin's hat is even an add-on.  
I had created the long panel then couldn't figure out what to do with it.  Seize the Sketch to the rescue with its simple flag!!

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Polar Pals, Winter Wonderland (the snowflakes)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Real Red, My Favorite Things Primitive White, Basic Grey 25th and Pine
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Hero Arts Wet Cement
• Accessories: Michaels brand gold pearls, My Favorite Things Fishtails, unknown twine

Wanna Sketch: You're Boo-Tastic!

Just a quick card for this morning - I got the cutest Halloween set from Mama Elephant.  It's called Bootastic and is full of charming little Halloween characters.  I was following Lisa's sketch at dahlhouse designs so I put two of the cute characters together holding the broom.

Speaking of two cute characters - check out my two characters at their first marching band show last night.  This is the first year for the little one - he's actually an 8th grader but is allowed to march in the high school band.  The big one kept looking away from me so no good picture of him - he's a marching fanatic!!

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Bootastic
• Paper: white
• Ink: Memento black, Copics
• Accessories: Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles, MME Enamel Dots

Fab Friday and Rockwell's Colors: Hang In There

On Sunday, I did the nectarine card for Jackie's challenge at Rockwell Designs to use the 2013 Pantone Spring Fashion Colors.  I got there to load it up and she had moved on to Lemon Zest.  But that is OK, because each of the colors goes until September 22 - you can go back and play with any of the colors.

I also had my eye on the sketch at Fab Friday and I thought it would work well with a Lemon Zest sun.  Plus, I hadn't cleaned my desk from yesterday's use of the charming critters from Mama Elephant's Up and Away and they just were not ready to be put away!!

I'm just happy I got to craft for a couple of days in a row.  My summer break from college courses was only two weeks so I have been back to a full-time schedule.  It's not so much that I don't have the time to craft, after all, many of you do it with full-time jobs and young children.  I just don't always have the brain power to craft.  I haven't had to read textbooks, do problems, study and write papers for a very, very long time.  I'm hoping my brain wakes up soon as the plan is to go back into the work world next summer after I graduate and I'm going to need the gears to be moving a little faster at that point.  I'm not consistently making it around to everybody's blogs to comment but please know that I am loving seeing what you do.  Even when I don't have the brain power to create a card, I can alwayts relax by looking at all of your beautiful creations!

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Up and Away
• Paper: Stampin' Up Summer Sun, Echo Park Dots and Stripes Candy Shoppe 6x6
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Spellbinders dies, Avery Elle Lemonade sequins, dot of Liquid Pearls on his tail

The Paper Players: Sending Smiles

I hadn't treated myself to "cute" stamps in a long time, but this set from Mama Elephant was a must!!


Check out the clouds that this sweetie is floating through!

I had so much fun making this card.  I realized that I don't color very often anymore but I LOVE it and need to do more!!
I also had a great sketch to work with.  The Paper Players had a tall panel and I knew it would perfectly!

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Up and Away
• Paper: Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana, Simple Stories I {heart} Summer dsp
• Ink: Memento black and copics
• Accessories: Taylored Expressions clouds impression plate, Mark Richards White Glitter Dome stickers