Curing My Blues With A Birthday Card

Hello!  How's your week going?  Mine is a slow one but it's going pretty well.  I'm glad tomorrow's Friday! 

I have a card to share today- it was inspired by Taheerah's Cure for the Monday Blues Challenge #7- Sunny Side Up:

I've been wanting to play along with this challenge since Taheera started it- I can't believe it's been 7 weeks already!  I'm glad I had time to play along!
*Edited to add* So I guess I'm still behind- lol!  I played along with last week instead of this week!  Oops!

Yesterday I had a few minutes to create after the girls went to bed and decided to get out a few of my new Lawn Fawn goodies- I used the Birthday Tags set for this one:

I was inspired by the colors, the woodgrain, and the white-on-white look from the original photo.  I started with a white card base and embossed the front with the Herringbone folder by Teresa Collins Designs for Craftwell.  Next, I stamped a woodgrain pattern onto kraft cardstock and sewed it to the card using my machine.  I stamped and diecut the tag and then added the sentiment and cupcake.  The cupcake was colored with Copics.  I added a little flower sequin from Lawn Fawn for fun!

I added a strip of washi and a strip of glitter paper to the card front and then added the tag.  Then I finished it off with the yellow patterned paper stamped with asterisks and the ribbon.

I had fun with this- new stamps, new challenge and a few of my old favorites mixed in too!  Thanks Taheerah for the inspiration!

-tessa

Big Banner Birthday Card

Hi there!  I'm so glad that Friday is here again!  My hubby and I snook out to a movie this morning after we dropped the girls off at school for a little Valentine's date!  Hee!  We had a fun time and Identity Thief was hilarious!

If you didn't stop by yesterday and would like a chance to win an awesome prize package from SRM Stickers, please pop over to my Made with Love post and leave a comment.  The giveaway will be closed on February 21st.

Well, today I have a birthday card to share with you:

The large banner was made with a fun Jenni Bowlin stamp I've had in my stash for awhile now.  I stamped them onto colored cardstock using Versamark and embossed them with white embossing powder.  The cupcake was made using the Create a Cupcake stamp and matching punch.  I added a sticker button with a twine bow to finish it off.  The sticker button as well as the sentiment are from the Walnut Grove stickers by Pebbles, Inc.

This one was a lot of fun to make- because of the heat embossing!  I just love watching the powder melt and turn shiny!  Hee!  I might have to get that out again tonight!

Well, I hope you have a great weekend!  I'm planning a fun card making day with my Stampin' Up! friends on Saturday and I can't wait!!

-tessa

Happy New Year!

I'm sure it will take a few weeks of writing it to get used to the idea that 2013 is here!  Hope you had a wonderful night last night, ringing it it- did you stay up?  We had our New Year's celebration at 10pm- after an evening filled with many games, ice cream sundaes, and a visit from our good friends.  The girls loved the count down and clinking their fancy glasses full of sparkling cider!

Now I am just thinking over some goals for myself in the new year.  I have one- an important one, too.  It is to find some direction.  I have been feeling a little lost lately, both on my blog and in my personal life.  It is weird how things change and you find yourself saying what was I doing again?  lol!  Luckily, no drama is a part of my reasons for being lost.  I think it has to do with my girls going to school full time.  I have been board at home ever since... I need to figure out what to do next.

As for my blog, I think I've been a little lost since I stopped being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  It has taken a long time for me to find my spot here- what stamps I like, what style I like, what I like to make... I am feeling much more confident going into this year that I will have something worthwhile to contribute to blog land!  I may not have a 'home' like I did with Stampin' Up! but I am feeling content in where I am now.

One thing I will be doing this year is learning some new skills.  I am planning to focus on something different every month and learning all I can in that field.  For January, I am focusing on family history research.  I have done a lot of my research all ready but I really want to focus on it and learn all I can through the internet.   When I go back to Seattle over the summer, I am planning to scan as many old pictures and documents as I can as well as record some of the stories my grandparents tell me.

I haven't made plans for each month but maybe later today I will make a little list of the things I'd like to learn  more about.

Well, after all those deep thoughts, I guess I should share a card!  I made this card yesterday with a new stamp set I received from my secret santa:

Goodies:

stamps: Picnic set by Basic Grey/ Hero Arts; Hey Day Sentiments by Studio Calico/ Hero Arts
ink: Memento ink in Tuxedo Black
paper: Naturals White, Basic Black cardstock by Stampin' Up!; pink cardstock by Bazzill Basics; patterned paper from Hip Hip Hooray line by Pebbles, Inc
accessories: Copic markers, Dazzling Details and Scallop edge punch by Stampin' Up!

I have been trying to practice my coloring more and here I used some new Copic markers I picked up over the weekend.  I am lucky to have a couple of friends who really know their stuff when it comes to Copics and I am hoping they will teach me all their tips and techniques!

A Blog Named Hero is challenging us this week to use something new and since I got this set for Christmas, I thought I'd link up!  If you have time be sure to check out their current challenge.

Well, I hope you are enjoying the first day of the new year and thank you for stopping by my blog today!  Sorry if reflections aren't your thing... I promise to not do it too often! :)

-tessa

Anniversary Cupcakes Card

Hi There! Is your week off to a good start? We are enjoying our last week of school finally! The girls and I are definitely ready for summer!

I've been doing a lot of scrapbooking lately and had my scraps from a page I did using Pebbles' Hip Hip Hooray line on my desk just begging to be made into a card- I LOVE the rainbow colored plaid paper! I paired it with the Create a Cupcake set by Stampin' Up! and came up with this:

Goodies:

Stamps: Create a Cupcake set, A Word for You set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi classic inks; Versafine Black Onyx
Paper: Whisper White, Dafodil Delight, Pink Pirouette, Pool Party cardstock by Stampin' Up!; darker pink cardstock by Bazzill Basics; Hip Hip Hooray collection by Pebbles, Inc.
Accessories: Cupcake Builder punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Pool Party Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones, White Signo gel pen, Dazzling Details (all by Stampin' Up!)

I've had the idea to do little lovey cupcakes for awhile and I'm glad to finally see it on paper- they are so cute! I also love the color pallet of this card- so bright and cheerful you can't help but smile! I have to thank Pebbles for that, hee!

Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day! Thanks for popping by to take a peek at my card!

-tessa