Star Studded Birthdays!

Another Post!  I can't believe I could squeeze another one in this morning, but I really miss creating.  It is my therapy.  After having 5 kids run around here yesterday I needed some therapy:)   I also needed some boy cards to replace my dwindling stock.  The only thing I have time for right now is the CAS style of card.  So I used the colors from the Color Throwdown and the sketch over at Cas-tastic Wednesday as my inspiration.

To me, stars and  boy cards just go together.  This is also for Stamptacular Sunday's Challenge to use stars and stripes.  The stripes are the wood grain and on the tiny tag there are stripes.  I had to make two cards because I couldn't bear to add more scraps to my already overflowing pile.  I also have to tell you about my "goof up."  You will have to click the picture to see better though.  On the card on the left there is an SU star brad that I decided to emboss with brown EP.  I got too much on and the star image was buried underneath.  I didn't know what to do so I smooshed it onto my tinfoil to try and give it some type of impression and when I pulled it away the top layer came off and this funny brownish cream color remained.  I kind of liked it.  Crazy stuff when you experiment.  I finally realized that I need to just stop worrying about wasting my supplies because they never get used.  I make a LOT of mistakes.  If it doesn't work out I just end up tossing it.  The alternative is that my stuff just sits there.  After 16 years of papercrafting I have a lot of stuff.  So use it or lose it.  That's my motto now.

I also have a favor to ask.  I am taking on a new project and I need EASY, QUICK, kid friendly recipes.  Something that is crock pot oriented or can be made in 30 minutes or less.  Kind of Rachel Ray-ish.  If you have a recipe that you make for quick, evening meals and would be willing to share I would be so grateful.  I would love things that are somewhat healthy.  As you may know, I 'm not a cook.  On my left sidebar is a way to email me.  I promise to give credit if you include your name.  THANK YOU!

One last thing.  I feel it is my duty to inform those who have entertained the thought of joining 4H as activity that it is not something to be taken lightly.  It's one of those things that no one ever tells you.  Kind of like when I had a baby.  No one told me that my boobs would never be the same.   Why didn't someone at least WARN me?  Not that it would have changed the fact that I would have children, but  I think it would have been nice to know.  I kind of feel like 4H is the same thing.  No one told me how INVOLVED it would be.  How a simple project would be so time consuming and would turn our fun family evenings into BATTLES.  Yes!  We fight about these projects.  A simple " building a flower box" project is NOT that.  It is pages and pages of activities before you even begin to build something.  If you decide to do 4H...ONLY PICK ONE PROJECT PER CHILD THE FIRST YEAR.  I can not stress this enough.  I think I have ruined my kid's on wanting to do 4H ever again. However, now  I feel like I have done a bit of good in the world today by passing that information along.  You have been warned!

Now I'm off to run kids to appointment and then come back to the dreaded 4H booklets. SIGH!  The Battle of Gettysburg was mild in comparison to the battle going on here to get these projects done.  (I'm joking!  I would NEVER put down the efforts and bravery of that battle)  Just so you know, my kid is ready to battle me though... a few more vacation pictures.

Have a great Thursday!

a big bold HEY!

Did I get your attention...lol??  I can't believe how much I have been able to do some crafting in the mornings.  My kids are enjoying just hanging out relaxing when they get up.  We had a fun day yesterday and a pool party later in the day today.  Wish me luck this weekend since I have agreed to a four boy sleepover in the pop up this weekend.  I think I must have been preoccupied when I agreed to that.  So, I've resorted to "Paper Therapy" beforehand.  Hopefully, that will provide me with lots of patience by Sunday:)

I've found a few websites lately that have helped me with summer crafts for the kids and for keeping the challenge blogs organized.  I've found some really fun challenges through The Daily Dare.  My first card uses a sketch from Twisted Sketches.  This site has sketch challenges for scrapbooking and cards.  The problem is that I didn't use any yellow.  Oops.  It was still a really fun sketch.  I used the colors from The Playdate Cafe and I think this is still a CAS card so I'm entering it into the CAS~tastic Wednesday challenge to use buttons.

I have another card that also using The Playdate Cafe colors.  I think this is one of my favorite color combos.

I made this card using a very special image.  You can read about this super sweet digital HERE.  I just LOVE it!  I decided to pair this image with a NEW challenge issued by Claudia and Company.   Lori Boyd is the creator of this and other stamps available through Claudia and Co. I used the sketch with a bit of altering.  I made this card for a little girl that I read about HERE.  I love that I can use an image I bought for a sick child and make a card to send to another sick child.  I hope you will check out both of these links.  The challenge at Stamp Something is HAPPY Something.  I think BOTH my cards are happy.

Feeling blessed that both my kids are healthy today...( even though they are running around screaming and driving me a bit nuts:)







What's In It?
Stamps: PTI Retro Backgrounds
Ink: versamark
Paper: scraps of rasp fizz, soft sky, white, Kraft
Other: crinkle ribbon, tulle, PTI buttons, swiss dots EF, twine, sewing machine

Stamps: Macie digital, PTI Up and Away sentiments
Ink: versafine black,
Paper: soft sky, kraft, white, rose red
Other: oval nestabilities, copics, EK Success border punch, PTI buttons, twine, scalloped scissors, PTI impression plate

Long Day = Short Post

I have a really quick post that I didn't get up before I left this morning.  Today is the Studio313 Hot Spot Challenge.  The challenge this week is to pick from the Top 10 Albums of all time and use those as your inspiration.   Please check out the blog for all the details.

 I chose Pink Floyd The Wall as my inspiration.  I used the Hey Sweet Thang digital package by Studio 313.  You can find this under the "In the Kitchen" section. 

This also uses the sketch from Clean and Simple this week (correction~  LAST week:) and Castastic Wednesday's touch of green.  It's just a touch, but it's there:)

 That's it for the MOST boring post ever.   Sorry, I'm tired and after only eating a "graduation" cookie today, my tummy hurts:(  I'm also a whiner.  Wahhh!

CAS Birthday

Hey Peeps!  Got a quick card today for the Cas-tastic Wednesday Challenge.  Ok, I cheated a bit because this was the CAS card I started for LAST week's Cas-tastic Challenge.  That was a one layer card and I just didn't like the way those clouds looked flat.  How fabulous that this same card could be used for this week's challenge to use a bit of green.  I used a set by PTI called, " Up,Up, Up and Away."  You know why I love this set????  Cause I had the same idea (for the most part) for a stamp set.  Oh I wish I knew how to make stamps:)  A pretty simple card and yet I still managed to color out of the lines...don't look too close, ok?

I will be back over the next few days with some cards to share.  I've been busy doing a tutorial.  I'll share more on that later.  Off to make dinner and head to a baseball game.....

BIG AND BOLD

I can't believe it's already Friday.  This time last week I was sitting on the beach watching the waves come crashing in as my kid's ran from that freezing ocean water. Brrr was it cold.  I remember as a kid not caring a bit.  Not now.  I stuck one toe in and said, "Whoa!  I'm heading back to my towel and drink:)

I wanted to thank everyone for the warm comments on my mood yesterday.  I am feeling better today and realize that my blog is supposed to be a happy place.  I reread my post yesterday and thought..."What a crab.  Who wants to read that?"  So today I have a cheery card to share instead of "Woe is me" stuff.

This just screams fun doesn't it?  Today is my momma's birthday.  Happy Birthday Mom!  Love you!  This is not for her though.  I made this for the challenge over at Studio 313 Hot Spot. 

The challenge this week focuses on using psychedelic prints in the home.  That's what appears to be hot in home furnishings at the moment.  So how can you translate that to your cards?  Think Bold, Bright colors.  I used the digital paper by Shawne called, Carnival Dots and Spots and Carnival Sloppy Stripe.  I created my pinwheels by printing on each side of my presentation paper.  Instant double sided DP!  Pinwheels are so easy to make.  Simply cut a square of double sided paper.  (mine are 2 3/4" and 3 1/2")  Cut up from each corner into the middle with scissors ( but not all the way or you will cut it apart).  Take one corner and fold it up to meet the center.  I then put a bit of glue to hold it.  Do this on all four corners and then pierce a hole in the center.  Attach with a brad.  You can attach this to a stick if you want it to move.  Mine are stationary.  If you need a picture as reference check THIS out.

I really hope you all can join us for this fun challenge.  You don't have to use Studio 313 Exclusive Creations, but if you've got them why not use them.  If you don't have any this is a great way to win some.  The winner of this challenge will receive $25 worth of free digi's.  That's a great deal!

I am also entering this into a few other challenges.

CCEE Stampers- nursery rhymes....The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round. Ok, this may not be a nursery rhyme, but it's a song I sang at nursery school.  My card is the Pinwheels on the Card Go Round and Round....Oh Wait...no they don't.  Hmmmm....I may be stretching here.  It's still fun.  I'm trying to be positive:D  Indulge me.
CAS-tastic Wednesday- A card with CIRCLES!
CAS challenge on Splitcoast using a sketch.  I modified the sketch a bit in true "Nikki" fashion:)

But WAIT!  There's more.....

This is the first card I made and wasn't really thrilled with it.  What I have come to realize is that many times when I post a card I don't care for many others do like it.  Then cards I really like won't get as many comments.  The lesson ( other than the fact that my taste apparently STINKS) is that we all have different views and this is a place of sharing...good and bad.  Having said that.  Tomorrow I will have another post and I think I may share some of the struggles I have had this week.  You never know how it may affect someone else.  I promise it won't be so crabby though.  Oh, I almost forgot...the card!

See you tomorrow!(Said with a SMILE)