Grateful For You Card

Hi!

I have been on a Thank You card making kick lately and it's been fun!  I saved one to photograph for my blog before handing them out today :)  Here it is:

So, I used goodies from my stash for this one!  Everything is older except for the new embossing folder- I love these wide stripes!  It's from Heidi Swapp.  The label die is also newer- from the fall anyhow- and by Lawn Fawn.  I used the pretty Blossoming Buds stamp set from Paper Smooches to and stamped the flowers onto a tag cut out of watercolor paper.  I painted them in with my ink pads.  The papers are from an older October Afternoon 8x8 pad called Woodland Park- I still love these designs!

I hope you had a great holiday season!  My girls are excited to be getting back to school tomorrow.  I start next week- after CHA!!  I'll be working with Nina and a few other DT girls in the Waffle Flower Booth!  If you're heading there be sure to stop by and say hi! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Newton's Nook Designs First Inky Paws Challenge!

Good Morning!

I have a cute card to share with you today inspired by the first Inky Paws Challenge by Newton's Nook Designs!

Their first challenge is a sketch challenge and I chose to use the adorable Newton's Antics set with it:

After creating a card base with light gray cardstock, I added a panel of the floral paper from my 8x8 Travel Girl pad by October Afternoon.  I added a strip of orange and pink damask next and wrapped it with linen thread.  I cut a large circle out of natural white cardstock.  I stamped the kitty and my two sentiments onto the circle with Memento ink.  I colored the image using my Copic markers.  To finish off the design, I added a trio of buttons and adhered the circle to my card front using foam dimensional adhesive dots.

The sentiments on this are from the Winged Wishes set.  I love how easily they work together!

If you'd like to play along with us or just want to check out the sketch please pop over to the Newton's Nook Designs blog for more information!  They have also added a free digi image for you to play along with!  It's a cute one! :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Big Smile Layout

Hello!

Today I'm sharing my layout for the latest Inspired Blueprints sketch- #100! bt's a great sketch this week and I had lots of fun using it on this layout:

I scrapbooked some older photos of Zoey with this one- these are from her first roller coaster ride at the county fair!  She loved it!

I created my own kit at the beginning of summer and these papers and embellishments are from it.  Have you ever done that?  I love putting papers from different companies and lines together!  It is one of my favorite things about scrapbooking!

The letter stickers are by Jillibean Soup and Simple Stories.  I added them to a pretty October Afternoon label to create my title.

I added my journaling on a couple more of those fun labels surrounded by little journaling stickers from Simple Stories.  I think I have papers from Echo Park, Jillibean Soup, Jenni Bowlin, October Afternoon, Pebbles, Inc., Simple Stories, American Crafts, and Webster's Pages.  I told you I like to mix them up! :)

The team created some really great layouts with this sketch- pop over to the Inspired Blueprints blog to check them out!  Thanks Lis for another great sketch!!

-tessa

Teddies for Baby Card

Good morning!

Hope your day is off to a good start!  I'm posting early today- my favorite little two year old will be here later today and I know I won't have time!  It's also Thursday which has turned into my main house cleaning day- I know... you are all jealous!

Before I share my card, I wanted to remind you that today is the last day to comment and win on the Made with Love giveaways.  Please see this post  for all the information!  A lovely prize package from SRM Stickers is up for grabs on my blog and each of the other blog hop participants have their own giveaways! Pretty fun stuff!

Today I'm sharing a quick baby card I made using some fun Stampin' Up! stamps:

I used the teddy bear image from the Baby Bundle set.  I stamped them in a not-so-perfect-on-purpose line and watercolored them using Soft Suede ink.  I used Crumb Cake for his nose and ears.  Next I added the sentiment from the Friendly Phrases set.  The patterned papers are from the Cakewalk 8x8 pad by October Aftenoon.

This card was super quick and easy to put together!  I've been in that kind of mood lately- trying to get more done in less time.  The life of a busy mom! :)

Well, I hope you enjoy your day!  Thanks for popping by!

-tessa

Oh, Hello!

On my search for new challenges to play along with, I found the Retro Sketches site, a blog dedicated to card sketches.  I couldn't help but play along with this week's great sketch!  Here is what I made:

Goodies:
Stamps: Oh, Hello set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: Going Gray, Pear Pizazz, Regal Rose inks by Stampin Up!; Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Naturals White cardstock and First Edition DSP by Stampin' Up!; pink and gray patterns from Woodland collection by October Afternoon; pink cardstock by Bazzill
Accessories: Oval die set, Chantilly crochet trim, linen thread, Dazzling Diamonds by Stampin' Up!

I ordered the Oh, Hello bundle as soon as the Stampin' Up! Spring mini went live!  I am still kicking myself for not ordering the patterned papers right away... they are in my next order for sure!  I want soooo many goodies from the mini this year!

Isn't that sketch great?  I will definitely be checking Retro Sketches out again!

Well, since today is Friday, my hubby is home and we are going out to a fun lunch!  I think I'm going to talk him into Cheesecake Factory... one just opened in our town and we haven't tried it yet- I've heard their cheesecake is awesome!

Hope you have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Howdy Friend!

Hi There!  Hope your Monday is going well.  I thought I'd pop on really quick and share a card I made a little while ago with a western theme:

I know the stamps are from Stampin' Up! but I can't remember which sets I used.  The paper is from the Sasparilla line by October Afternoon.   Don't you love the bandanna paper?

I don't make a lot of western themed cards but I like how this one turned out! Maybe I'll try it again, soon!

Anyways, I'm going to keep this short- I have three little ones looking for help on homework today!  Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a great day!

-tessa

Birds on the Wire Card

Hi!
Yay!  It's Friday!!  My hubby is home with me today so we are going to go out for a yummy lunch and then prep our dining room for painting.  I am happy to be painting this weekend!  I also get to wish a happy birthday to my sweet little niece Seyla!  The girls are happy about the party! :)

Today I'm sharing a card I made awhile ago using the For the Birds stamp set by Stampin' Up!

This card is pretty cute in real life but now that I'm looking at the picture, it looks like these poor birds are yelling at each other!  Hee!  The little pink one looks hopping mad!  the patterned papers are from the Cakewalk collection by October Afternoon- perfect for springtime!

Well, I'm going to keep this short so I can get out the door early today!  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a  great weekend!

-tessa

Best Butterfly Friends

Good morning!

Hope your day is going well so far!  I have a fun springtime card to share with you today:

Goodies:

Stamps: Miss Caroline Favorites stamp set by My Mind's Eye
Ink: Regal Rose, Peach Parfait, Soft Suede, Early Espresso inks by Stampin' Up!
Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake cardstock by Stampin' Up!; patterned papers from Cakewalk Collection by October Afternoon
Accessories: Delicate Decorative brad by Jenni Bowlin Studio; Basic Rhinestones by Stampin' Up!

This stamp set has everything you'd want in a great stamp set... fun sentiment, woodgrain plank, pretty patterned butterflys... there are also doilies and flowers included!  Hee!  The sentiment was the reason it had to come home with me though- I love a friendly sentiment like that!

It has been so warm here lately that it feels like spring is just around the corner.  We are supposed to be up in the 60s again next week!  Crazy weather for this time of the year.  Not that I'm complaining... I'll take it over snow and ice any day!

Hope you are having a great Wednesday!

-tessa

Another Bicycle Card

Yes, another bicycle card... I really can't help it!  It is my favorite stamp! :) Here, I've colored it with a blend of Stampin' Up! markers and Copic markers:

Stamps: Bicycle by Hero Arts, Sweet Essentials set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Ink
Paper: Naturals White, Melon Mambo, and Peach Parfait cardstock by Stampin' Up!; pattern papers from Farm Girl and Make it Merry lines by October Afternoon
Accessories: Linen Thread by Stampin' Up!; Copic markers; Stampin' Up! markers

Denim patterned paper has become a favorite of mine.  I have a hard time passing it up when I see it at my scrapbook store.   It looks very pretty with bold, bright pops of color and it has an easy, casual feel to it.  

So what are you up to today?  I've got a little shopping to do and my favorite 2 year old coming to visit in the afternoon!  I am looking forward to silly little smiles and lots of giggles!

Well, I hope you enjoy your day and thank you for stopping by my blog!

-tessa

Everyday Gratitude Card

Well, it's Monday again!  Funny how it rolls around each week.  Monday is usually welcome in my book- I love a fresh start to the week- but this weekend was extra fun and it felt like it went by extra fast!  I wish it could have lasted a little longer!  :) 

Today I want to share a card that I had published over the summer in Paper Crafts Magazine's Card Creations  v9 Special Issue.  I am glad they picked it up because I really did love how it turned out.  It has a lot of my favorite elements together- colors, ribbon, brads, stamp set, and paper company... Here it is:

Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Day of Gratitude set
Ink: Basic Gray, Pool Party, More Mustard
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Basic Gray cardstock; Farmhouse collection by October Afternoon
Accessories: Victoria Crochet Trim, Linen Thread, Antique Brads

Nothing but stamping and fussy cutting on this card so pretty easy to recreate.  Sometimes the basics are all you need!  Today though, I'm going to play around with some fun techniques to try in my next class- I hope they turn out! :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Cute Summertime Card

Hello!

I thought I'd pop on and share a fun card I made back in January for the Paper Crafts Magazine July/August call. It didn't get picked up but I still love it!  I followed one of the Go-to Sketches that was featured in the magazine:

Goodies:

Patterned Papers: Sidewalks Collection by October Afternoon
Cardstock: Stampin' Up!, Bazzill Basics
Die: Waves Die by Lifestyle Crafts
Sticker: Sidewalks Collection by October Afternoon

I created the rays by die cutting the waves from two different colors of cardstock.  I cut them apart in a ray pattern and then pieced them back together.  The boat is hand cut to look like a paper boat. 

This one was a lot of fun to create!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Wonderful Teacher Card

Good Morning!

I was able to make a card last night based on the first sketch of Kelly Purkey's Sketch Book class going on now over at Studio Calico. I am in teacher card mode with Teachers Appreciation Day coming up and this one will be for someone very special! Here it is:

Goodies:

Stamps: Friendly Phrases- Stampin' Up!; Four Apples- Hero Arts
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Basic Black by Stmapin' Up!
Paper: Naturals Ivory cardstock- Stampin' Up!; Sidewalks Collection 8x8 pad by October Afternoon
Accessories: Mini Clothespins, Basic Rhinestones, Cherry Cobbler baker's twine, Decorative Label Punch, Itty Bitty Punch Pack- Stampin' Up!; Mini Kraft Bags- Canvas Corp.

I love these little mini kraft bags- aren't they cute with a gift card in them? I have 8 cards to make for the girls' teachers this year so I am trying to find some fun ways to include gift cards. I also downloaded a cute peechee type folder card from the Silhouette store to use for some of them so hopefully that will work out the way I want it to!

We are on spring break this week and we've done some fun things each day this week. Today is lunch at Chuck E. Cheese's and bike riding in the afternoon... I know I'll be worn out by bedtime!

Hope you are enjoying your day and thanks for stopping by to see my card!

-tessa

A Blue Posie Card

Hi there!

Hope you're enjoying your afternoon! We are having another wonderful spring day where I live which means I've been playing outside with two little ones all day! We just got back from picking up my oldest from school and finally, they all want to relax and watch a little movie... I'm OK with that! Hee! These kids really keep me going some days!

I had a great time this weekend- I cropped with some of my favorite people down at Scrapdoodles on Saturday and I have to say, it was one of my favorite marathon crops ever! Thanks for the fun times girls!! I was able to get lots done... 3 cards and a couple layouts, too! Today I'm sharing one of my cards- it was inspired by the Saturday Sketch Challenge over at Two Peas in a Bucket. I am really liking these challenges! Here is my card:

Goodies:

Stamps: Pebbles
Ink: Old Olive, Basic Black, Pacific Point- Stampin' Up!
Paper: Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Whisper White cardstock- Stampin' Up!; Sasparilla 8x8 pad- October Afternoon
Accessories: Crochet trim, Linen Thread, Scallop punch, Dazzling Details- Stampin' Up!

I am loving all the pretty blue papers in the Sasparilla line by October Afternoon. There are so many pretty prints! I was excited to put some of them together for this card. I also love the look of the posie stamp but I have to say... it was a pain to use! I use predominantly dye based inks and wanted to use markers to color the stamp in three different colors- not easy when using an acrylic stamp! I ended up having to color over the image to fill in the areas where the inks wouldn't stick. I know this wouldn't be a problem if I was using pigment inks but I haven't found pigment ink markers... Do you have any you like to use with acrylic stamps?

OK! Well the movie my kids put in was a good idea but they are ready to head outside again! lol! At least they will sleep good tonight!

Thanks for stopping by and if you get a chance, check out the great sketches at Two Peas!

-tessa

A Springtime Hello Card

Hello and happy Monday!

Did you have a good weekend? I spent the weekend with my family- we had a great time and I even got some crafting time in! Today is another story though... I've got a little girl home sick with the stomach bug. Yuck! I'm hopeful that it won't make the rounds through the whole house... I almost thought we made it through the winter without catching any bugs. It's been so mild this year and in VA where I live, it already feels like spring! Even my flowers think so- they've been up for a couple weeks now. With that springtime feeling in mind, I thought I'd share this card today:

Goodies:

cardstock- Stampin' Up!
patterned paper- October Afternoon Sidewalks Collection
sticker- October Afternoon Sidewalks Collection
stamp- Hooray Clear set by Studio Calico/Hero Arts

I love the look of the crazy patterned background. I've been gravitating towards patterns lately- lots of them! This line from October Afternoon is one of my favorites. I can't wait to see thier new lines in person! I have a feeling lots of my money will be going to them this spring! :)

Well, thank you for stopping by my blog today! I hope your day goes well!

-tessa

Friendly Bike Card

Hello!

Hope you are having a great day! I had a little time before dinner so I thought I'd pop on and blog for a bit! Today was my day off and it has been so nice and relaxing- I had a coffee date with my hubby, dropped off some goodies at the post office, and got caught up on all my favorite guilty pleasure shows! I missed the first hour of Downton Abbey on Sunday and wanted to watch it before it was on again. I also watched last week's Project Runway Allstars- I chose to watch Greys Anatomy instead but this week PRA won out! They have made some incredible things so far- very inspiring!

I'm sure most of you don't come for the chit chat so here is the card I wanted to share- it uses a favorite new stamp of mine from Hero Arts:

Goodies:

Stamp: Hero Arts
Markers: Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! and Bazzill Basics
Patterned Paper: October Afternoon Sidewalks 8x8 pad
Crochet Ribbon: Stampin' Up!
Rhinestones: Stampin' Up!
Letter Stickers: October Afternoon

I have been reaching for this Sidewalks 8x8 pad alot lately. I love the spring feel and the color scheme it has. The bike stamp is also new and has gotten a lot of love lately, too! It is so easy to color and really, you could leave it as is and it would look just as cute! I wish I had a bike with a basket full of flowers! Hee!

Well, I hope you have a great weekend! I am looking forward to some fun with my friends and my sweet niece's birthday party on Sunday- I can't wait!

Thanks for stopping by!

-tessa

School Girl Page

Good Morning!
I'm up early so I have time to post! We have lots going on this week so I haven't found much time to sit down at the computer. My girls started school this week- Zoey in 1st grade and Natalie in preschool. I only cried a little- how is it they get big so fast? Zoey loves her teacher and thinks it's cool that she's not the smallest one at school any more. Natalie is so excited that school is fun! She was really nervous about starting (it's her first time at preschool) and came home ready to go back so I think we're off to a good start! Here is a picture of them all ready to go yesterday- silly girls!

Since Back to School is fresh in my mind, I'm going to post a layout I did of Zoey's first day at preschool a few years ago:

I used products from last year's October Afternoon collections. The little Zz sticker is super old- my friend Dawnette gave me- Autumn Leaves maybe? I can't remember who made it... I am so glad I remembered having it though. It works well on this page!

I love how the layering turned out here. It's a perfect way to use up some of those scraps. I hand stitched around the frame- I haven't yet mastered my sewing machine but in this case, I wish I had- hand sewing this took a long time to do with all the layers!

Well, thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa