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!

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)

Beautiful Bird

Hey There!  I know it has been quite on the blog.  I have only had 3 days to get things ready to go for our trip to NC.  My sister's wedding is this week.  I do have few things that will be preposted while I am gone.  I also need to draw a name for my PaperWorks blog candy.  I will do that when I get home.  So, if you have left a comment on that post you still have time.  I will draw the name when I get back on Monday.

In the meantime, here is a card I made using some scrap paper and a Studio 313 digital called, " Birdsong Serenade in Earth Tones."  You can find this file under the Nature section.  I enlarged the bird and colored him with Copics and Molasses Smooch.  I also printed one of the many beautiful sentiments.  I used paper from MME called  Little Boy Blue and Kiwi Kiss.  Everything is distressed with Vintage Photo ink.

Don't forget you still have time to join us for our second challenge over at the Studio 313 Hot Spot.  You just need to use a clear element on your card.  We hope you can join us.

I should be in NC today soaking up some sun and visiting we family.  Yeah!!!
Please pray for sun on Saturday.  It is supposed to thunderstorm and the wedding in on the beach.  Ugh!  Hopefully the storms are after 11 am.

I'll be back with a few more cards to share.

Rockin' Surfer

Hey!  I hope you can join us today over at the NEW Challenge Blog Studio 313 Hot Spot.

This is the challenge blog that lets you know the 411 on what's hot and then challenges you to apply it to your card making.  The "hot" thing right now is  chunky Lucite ( clear) Jewelry.  So we challenge you to use something clear on your cards.

I decided that the Surfer from Studio 313 would be perfect.  You can find this file under Seasonal- Summer.

I paired him with Ocean Waves Digital Paper  (under Bright section) and some vellum.  I added stardust stickles to the waves.  I also added some dew drops.  They ARE the chunky lucite of papercrafting.  I have to share some things I learned about them.  I only had pink dew drops....um...that doesn't work so well on a surfer dude card.  So I decided to try coloring them.  I used my Copics on the front and back.  VOILA!  It took the pink tint away and added a subtle blue.  I then decided to add sparkle behind them so I used stardust stickles to adhere them to the vellum.  Ummm.....no....stickles is not an adhesive.  I found this out when I picked the card up and all my little dew drops fell off the page.  So I glued them down with some jewelry glue.  I am sooo totally into this challenge.  JEWELRY glue:)  Ha!  Anyways, that is a little lesson for you  provided by me.  I created by wording using a die cut and vellum.  I then colored these with Copics.  Not sure I would do that again because the Copics wanted to smear on my card when I tried to adhere them.

I wanted to share that our trip to the circus last night was AMAZING!  My kids both had the BEST time.  If you have a chance to see, "The GREATEST show on Earth," GO!  Really, it is.  We have been to the circus once before and this was so much more spectacular.  It was like an actual show....music, singing, dancing, all the performances tied into a theme with a villan ( Mr. Gravity) who was so funny.  Magic...the works!  My daughter said it was her best birthday ever.  For a little under $15 a piece we had an incredibly memorable, MAGICAL evening.  So go....just don't buy the cotton candy.  It's almost as much as a ticket.  Yikes!  Eat before you go like we did.  I will have a few pictures next week.  Heading to Mi today after my hubby and I pop popcorn at school.  I will be back with a PWCO sketch on Sunday.

Til then my friends I leave you with this....Did you know that today is National No Phone Zone Day?  I pledged to not drive and text, talk on a cell.  Have you?  Save a life. Take the pledge.




Not convinced...watch a few clips here....


Stepping off my soapbox now:)

OMG!!!!!

My daughter turns 11 today.  Seriously, OMG!  Where did the time go?  We had to do a happy day at 7:20 this am since that is what time she was born.  It was happy for her, but I hate that she is getting so big.  I tell her all the time about holding her and dancing with her in the living room when she was just days old.  She looked up at me with her little crossed eyes and her mouth was in this perfect little "O" shape made by her sweet little rosebud lips.  It was like she was saying, "Oh, so your the one I've been nestled inside of all this time."  And I cried.  It was the distinct moment that I really understood true joy and unconditional love.  Now she is almost as tall as me.  She still likes me though.....well on most days. We haven't hit that stage yet.

We are going out for dinner tonight and then to the circus.  Doesn't that sound fun?  She already got her bday present...money for her own computer.  She is my little "geek"( said in the most loving way. ) I wish I was so into loving school when I was her age.  She is smarter than me.  I'm so proud of her.  So when I say "geek" I really do mean it in a loving way.  She is amazing! She is just very into learning and loves to type her own newspapers and stories.  I did get her a few books.  She doesn't know that:)  She would rather have books than almost anything else on Earth.

I made her this card using this sweet Joline image from MFT.  It reminds me of her.  So serious and serene.  This is just how she would look holding balloons on her bday.  She does have a much bigger smile though.  I used some digital paper by Studio 313 Exclusive Creations.  I printed them on regular cardstock as a full sheet for the gable box and on Presentation Paper in a 4X6 setting for the card.  Definitely prints more vibrant on the Presentation paper as an FYI to you.  I also printed out the happy birthday sentiment that comes from the Best Friend in the World File From Studio 313.  You can't see it well in the photo but the balloons have diamond glaze on them and the pink dots on the gable box have stickles. 

These are for a few challenges today:
Die Cuts R Us- double duty
Pile It On- Something sweet...that image is so sweet
ABC Design- 1 Die Cut, 2 stamps, 3 embellishments
JUGS- Template challenge

Here is another birthday card using the Modern Flowers in Black digital file by Studio 313.  I just used the leaves.  I added it to a strip of textured grey cardstock.  I was able to use up another scrap of my Amy Butler paper.  The letters are painted chipboard by Maya Road.  I hope that this showcases the Modern Flowers in a masculine way.  I really do hope since this is the card for the guy whose birthday party we are attending this weekend:)

Before I go I have to share some pics of my beautiful little girl through the years.  It's only 3 so don't leave just yet, ok?

Some of these are scanned so the quality isn't the best.  It's before I went digital.  This is my little girl at around 11 months.  She has always loved nature.  She also used to wear hats all the time.

She has always just loved her brother to death....see that death grip?  They are starting to fight more now, but they still do things together.

Here are the most recent.  We did a little photo shoot a few weeks ago.  She just looked so cute and yet grown up that I had to take some pictures.  Yes, I can count.  That is four...I snuck in one more.  Indulge me a little.  It's a tough day.

Hug your family today!

The Rarest CAS

Ok, so a CAS card isn't really rare.  Especially on this blog lately.  My mojo is creeping in slowly, but I've been working on stuff that I will show you later in the week.  It's CUTENESS I tell ya.  Stay tuned for that.  In the meantime I have this very simply, very quick card I made using Modern Flowers again.  That is my favorite file over at Studio 313 Exclusive Creations.  Well, my favorite for now.  You can find these digis under the Nature category.  You have a choice of 3 different colored files. 

I printed out the sentiment, cut it out with a Labels nestability ( don't ask me which one) and added dimensional tape to the back.  I mounted this on a white embossed panel and wrapped this fun tulle around to tie a bow.  Tulle is another fun new product I got recently.  SOOO CHEAP!  I then printed out the flower, cut it out and added a Rhinestone Brad to the center.  Voila!  Easy Peasy.

Sorry to be super quick today, but I've got some running around to do.  I should be back tomorrow.  See you then!

I Ruff You

I finally finished my newest card using Shawne's designs for Studio 313.  Actually, this is a dog that her 8 year old daughter drew.  An artist in the making:)   I paired it with just a sliver of some fun digital paper called Carnival Sloppy Stripe. You can find the digital paper under the Bright section and Harriet the Dog under Characters.  This also comes as a Card on a Sheet Template.  SO you just print, cut out and paste.  SO EASY!  I didn't do that this time, but I have a card my son did using it.

I also got the Martha Stewart version of a Scor Pal and used it to make the grid pattern on the back of the paper.  So much easier than using my Fiskar cutter.  The only thing I don't like about Martha's is that the scoring tool is so thin that it bends a bit and hurts my finger.  I may just try using my embossing tool.  Other than that, I got it for MUCH less than the Scor Pal and it comes with an envelope template.  How cool is that?!  Can't wait to try making my own envies.

  I want to show you that the Card on a Sheet template is so easy that even my 9 year old son could use it.  I accidentally printed the template out on regular copy paper.  I gave it to him and said, "See what you can make with the stuff on here."  This is what he came up with:

 

Isn't it cute?  I tied the bow for him and we hot glued it on together.

It's your turn now.  You have two weeks to enter in the first challenge ever on the NEW Studio 313 Challenge blog.

I have to share a bit about  my poor little man.  On Thursday he got his braces tightened.  They put a "chain" on his front teeth.  OW!  That is pretty painful for the first few days since the idea is to pull the four front teeth together in a quicker fashion.  So, yeah, that hurts.  On Friday I got a call from the school saying that Dalton had been pelted in the back of the head with a rather large rock while standing in line to go back into the school from recess.  The culprit is still unidentified.  So he had a LARGE goose egg on the back of his head.  He was fine.  You know how things happen in "three's?"   Well, I was a bit worried about what could happen next.  He had baseball practice that night and about 30 minutes into it he took a short throw right to the nose.  BLOOD EVERYWHERE!  Luckily it wasn't broken.  He went back to practice on Saturday.  We were concerned that he would be really afraid of the ball.  HE DID AWESOME!  He had the best practice I have ever seen from him.  I was so proud.  Then he ended up hitting a foul ball right at me.  I didn't get hit...this is the second time he has done this BTW.  I'm trying not to feel that it's intentional.  So, I didn't get hit, but the ball landed under me in the bleachers.  I went down the bleachers to get it and on the last step my ankle twisted and I fell right into the fence in front of me.  My husband came running over to help me.  He said my hair was everywhere, my sunglasses were crooked on my face.  I was fine...really.  Just my ego was hurt.  I think it was pretty apparent where Dalton gets his clutzy luck from....ME!  I was really hoping no one noticed, but the clang of the fence gave me away.  One of the boys actually apologized for me falling.  How sweet!  Ah!!! It's never a dull moment around here.

Hope you have a great Sunday!  I have many more Studio 313 creations to share this week.  See you tomorrow!

 

Has Anyone Seen My Mojo????

Seriously, I am having a rough period of not feeling too creative.  Luckily, I have several cards already created for the release of Studio 313 Exclusive Creations.  Here is a CAS creation using the super cute Best Friend in the World. You can find this file located under Characters.

I printed out the strip of DP and colored the flowers yellow to match this flower from my reject pile.    The sentiment is also from the same digital file and I topped it of with an extra little flower.  Easy card that I made in less than half an hour if that.  That is the awesome thing about Shawne's creations.  You can just piece them together and have a cute card in minutes.  She's a genius!

  I'm still working on my challenge card for the New Challenge Blog.  I'm on trial number 3.  I'll finish it up and have it up here tomorrow.

In the meantime, could you all blow a little mojo my way.  I've got a huge release coming up and  no ideas.  My head is empty.  Ok, family and friends would say this is nothing new. This time they may be right.

Off to exercise with my cute hubby:)

Have a great Saturday!

Exciting News

I finally have some exciting news that I can share today.  A few weeks ago my blog friend, Shawne, invited me to be on her Design Team for a digital store she was opening.  At first, I felt like I had a bit too much on my plate, but offered to make a few samples for her store gallery.  When she sent me the files, I immediately emailed her back and said, "Please!  I changed my mind.  Can I still be on your Design Team?!"  Really, the stuff is so cute and such a great concept that I had to be a part of it.  I have been busy creating with her stuff since then.  All files are in a transparent JPEG or PNG file so you have lots of ability to play around with them.

TODAY is the Grand Opening of her store and I am so excited for her and for YOU to see what's available.

Please make sure you check out all the amazing designs that Shawne has created at the store...then SHOP away ladies:)

Studio 313 Exclusive Creations

Not only has Shawne created a new store, but a new CHALLENGE BLOG to go with it.  She has issued a challenge today that will run through  April 30th.

A door prize will be drawn from comment's received on the challenge blog HERE at midnight tomorrow night for 25.00 dollars worth of digi's from the Studio 313 store.

The challenge is 

to use your favorite store page as inspiration on a card.That could mean the colors, the sketch you see with in the page, the theme.  Whatever strikes your fancy.  The challenge ends on April 30th.

You can find more details on Shawne's blog  HERE.

 What can you win???? 

One random winner will receive 3 free digi stamps or sets in stock now PLUS every new release for the next 3 months.


So what are you waiting for???  Go check out the store to pick your favorite page!  But wait!   Let me show you one card before you go....

 This uses TWO of my favorite "sets" of digis..... MODERN FLOWERS (in black) and BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD.  See!  Isn't that so awesome that you can even use them together???  Ok...now HURRY and go check out the new store!

  I'll be back tomorrow with another creation....

See you then!