sun!!!!!!!

 We have actually had some sun lately! I know I've been enjoying it! I spent a week on vacation and really enjoyed the heat that came along with the sun there. The sun in Alaska can be very deceiving some days. It's beautiful, then you walk outside and it's FREEZING! We have been at the park in sweatshirts instead of our winter coats (It's gotten up to 50 degrees). My parents think I'm crazy because that feels warm to me!  

The pictures for this layout are actually from last summer. We had a couple nice days that we took the deck chairs into the back yard and lounged. My littlest doesn't like grass.... she still won't touch it now - not much of a problem while living here though.

I pulled out some new Paper smooches DIES for this layout (along with stamps). I LOVE that they have dies now - it's much more convenient than fussy cutting everything (which I have done).  I used the Butterflies 2 die - I have the matching stamp set, but didn't pull it out for the layout. Each die cut butterfly has inked edges to make it stand out a little more. 

I played along with the "anything goes" challenge from a couple of weeks ago. It obviously wasn't done then, I just finished this up so I can apply for the Paper Smooches sparks design team!! 

Supplies

Stamps: PS Alphadot

Ink: Tsukineko

Paper: AC cardstock, Echo Park Everyday eclectic

HI

 I LOVE these little birdies, they are too cute - these were the birds in the set that convinced me to buy the set in the first place - I love how they have such long necks and legs!  The paper smooches sparks challenge this week is a designer drafts challenge - I love the sketches and love that I don't have to follow exactly what they have!  I paper pieced the bodies of the birds in matching paper with the rest of the card. I love the chevron trend going on right now!

Paper Smooches sparks has a design team call out right now too! Very exciting for me (I've applied for each one and keep trying because I love all the stamps and the challenges are GREAT)!!!

I used the Paper Smooches My Peeps set that I got from I Heart Papers along with the Basic Grey Kneehighs paper - I thought I was in love with this paper when I saw it online... then I saw it in person and WANT/NEED the 12x12 in this paper - I absolutely LOVE it!.

Supplies
Stamps: Paper Smooches My Peeps
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: BG Kneehighs

Fire field trip

I had a little time tonight to craft! It's been a couple weeks and I really miss it! We have been enjoying a LOT of sun lately, so haven't been home a whole lot (I LOVE bike riding in this weather!!!!!). 

I used some new to me paper on this layout from Simple Stories along with a lot of Unity stamps that haven't seen ink for a while. I am loving the challenges on the challenge blog. I will have a lot more time to craft as we are NOT moving this summer as was planned. My husband is going to a long school at the end of the summer, so we will be moving in December instead. 

Supplies
Stamps: Unity Frame this Alpha, All smiles (June 2011 KOTM), CKU giggles
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: AC Cardstock, Simple Stories 24/seven

get better

 I have a friend who recently had surgery. I needed to send her a card (now I  need to get her new address) and used the picture perfect challenge on the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge blog for my inspiration - I love the blue with the white (I added a little cork color to match the cupcake wrappers in the picture too)

I love the Space Cadet set from Paper smooches - who am I kidding... I love all the paper smooches sets - I have a "few" of them. 

Supplies
Stamps: PS Space Cadet
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: Simple stories 24/seven

target practice

Another fun sketch on the Jillibean soup blog. I found some time last night to play along with the sketch using some older Jillibean soup that I've been hoarding...

I pulled out some recent pictures of us at the shooting range. My 6 year old is shooting a gun with dad while the 1 year old and I are hanging out with our ear protection.


Supplies
Paper: Jillibean soup Navy salt soup staples, homemade 6 bean soup
Stamps: MFT Typewriter alphabet
Ink: Tsukineko

table dancer

My Minds Eye had a fun sketch on their blog - their blog challenge this month. I used up some older MME paper that I had in my stash - Happy Go Lucky. My daughter was on her little table for about 20 minutes dancing to a show on TV - it was hilarious, especially when she didn't notice that I took a bunch of pictures.

Supplies
Stamps: Paper Smooches Alphadot
Ink:  Tsukineko
Paper: MME Happy go lucky, AC cardstock

6th birthday

I finished up a layout with the pictures from dd's 6th birthday (almost a year ago). I have recently printed a bunch of photos, so I have a lot to choose from (more than the 100's I already had). I loved the sketch my friend Tessa had on her blog, so I used it (thanks Tessa!!)

I used a bunch of Bo Bunny double dot bold and bright paper that I got from I heart papers (I'm still looking for a new retailer of 12x12 paper that won't charge me a ton to ship to AK) - I used a 6x6 paper pad for my 12x12 layout.  The title and balloons are stamped - both were from the Paper smooches birthday sampler (that I got from I heart papers also)

Supplies
Stamps: Paper Smooches birthday sampler
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: AC cardstock, Bo bunny double dot bold and bright