black with two

I found another (new to me) challenge blog. It's Black with two - each month they have a challenge to use dominant black cardstock with 2 other colors - this month the colors were yellow and blue.

I loved the blue colors in these photos from a hike we took in St. Croix. We hiked down to a beach, picked up sea glass, explored, read maps, etc, then hiked back up to the cars. The boys enjoyed the hike and so did Abby and I. I pulled out some Jillibean soup paper that matched (almost) the blue in the photos. Right next to the blue Jillibean soup was some new Jillibean that I had just received in the mail that was yellow - perfect!

Supplies
Cardstock: Stampin Up
Pattern paper: Jillibean soup
Stickers: American Crafts
Ink: Tsukineko

Thanks!

I have been a HUGE slacker - any of my friends/family who have NOT received a thank you from a baby gift you sent... sorry! It's been an adjustment to have Ryan gone and have 2 girls (baby is finally on a sort-of schedule). I have had a little bit more time to craft and instead of always doing layouts, I did a few thank you cards recently (so you will receive a card soon!). I haven't even sent out the baby announcements that I have printed....

I used a little Jillibean soup - I had some out for a layout that I finished and used one small scrap from the layout and pulled out the 6x6 watermelon gazpacho pad to finish the layout (along with a journaling sprout). Love this Paper smooches sentiment also! Supplies
Stamps: Paper Smooches
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: Jillibean soup

online friends

These online friends are not just online friends now. I met these girls on SCS - we figured out during a chat that they lived close to my hometown and set up a time to meet the next time I visited my parents. What FUN - we did a little craft shopping (always fun) the first time we met. The second time, we went swimming. The third time, Renee and I went to lunch and did a little shopping! I love how I can meet people through crafting

I used the prompt from Scrap Fit's WWU#13 to use paper strips. I got out a MME paper pad and got cutting -the strips along the side are all different sizes/lengths.
Supplies
Paper: MME Stella and Rose Gertie
Ink: Tsukineko
Accessories: BG letter stickers

TTT #8 blog hop!!!!!!!

Welcome to the Triplicate Trials Tuesday blog hop!!!!! I found this challenge blog recently and have been having fun playing along! When they said that their fans could join along with the blog hop, I sent an email right away!

If you have arrived from Debbie's blog - you are on the right path!!!!

All the details!!!!!

WHERE: Triplicate Trials Tuesday Challenge Blog

WHAT: BLOG HOP!!!

WHO: Design Team Members and Triple T-ers (you know...Triplicate Trials Tuesday Fans)!

WHEN: September 6th - September 18th

PRIZES: Comment on all participating blogs AND create a project to win our GRAND PRIZE of TWO WILSON DESIGNS STAMP SETS of your choice! There will be ONE lucky grand prize winner. As an added bonus some of the Triple T Team will be offering blog candy on their blogs! Yaaay!

This is the challenge this time around - I LOVE that you get colors, a sketch and a theme EACH challenge!
Here is the line-up of blogs to hop around to - make sure you leave comments at all the blogs for your chance to WIN!

Tiffany Call owner of: http://www.bkfastattiffanys.blogspot.com/
Marie Otake owner of: http://www.ethansimprints.blogspot.com
Alberta Futch owner of: http://www.albertascloset.com/
Natasha owner of: http://www.craftingwithnatasha.blogspot.com
Caryn Kidwell owner of: http://www.thescorpiancrafter.blogspot.com/
Kate Blue owner of: http://www.kateblue.blogspot.com
Debby McGrath owner of: http://www.debblesdabbles.blogspot.com/
Lisa Foust owner of: http://www.islandhoppingfoustcrafts.blogspot.com (YOU ARE HERE)
Rochelle Washington owner of: http://www.twotearsinmybucket.blogspot.com/
Kelly Braund owner of: http://www.kellystamps.blogspot.com
Janice Coble owner of: http://www.twin2u2-scrapaddict.blogspot.com
Tenia Nelson owner of: http://jazzypaper.blogspot.com/


Here is my card using the challenge elements, as soon as I saw the theme/sketch, I KNEW I had the perfect stamp set for the card! I pulled out Unity's Eco Chic and dug through my paper stash and found some Basic Grey Life of the Party that was the perfect colors!
Now you'll want to hop along to Rochelle's blog! Thanks for visiting!

Supplies
Stamps: Unity Eco Chic
Paper: BG Life of the party
Ink: Tsukineko

Happy 5th birthday

Mistake #1 - making the card while Abby was awake.
Mistake #2 - doing 5 candles

She LOVES this card and I'm pretty sure I'll have to make a new one for her birthday this year, I have a feeling this one will disappear off my desk soon.

I played along with the MFT Guest Designer contest this month - rip and roll. Rolled paper and ripped paper (or other material). I stamped this cutie and colored/paper pieced her. Then added the rolled "candles" after distressing all the papers. Supplies
Stamps: MFT Hello cupcake, a la mode birthday girl (sentiment)
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: MME Six by Six Blink of an eye
Accessories: MFT open scallop strip die, copics

modeling

Abby has done some amateur modeling for my friend's etsy shop (J. Marie Designs - she has CUTE clothes!!!) and I got copies of the photos - I though Abby looked SO grown up in these photos - she LOVES this reversible dress!

I used the new Echo Park Happy days paper pack along with the stickers - I LOVE their collection packs (no thinking about if things match or not!). The layout uses a sketch from Sketchy Thursday and the new work-out from Scrap Fit - Salt and pepperSupplies
Paper: Echo park happy days
Ink: Tsukineko
Accessories: Happy days stickers

good bye

I found a sketch on Sassy Lil' Sketches that worked well with the photos I took of the girls with their daddy before he left on a deployment. This deployment has been harder than most - he left when Lexi was 6 weeks old - she's going to be SO different when he gets back! Abby got to start school and daddy is going to miss her 5th birthday.

I used some new paper that I got from I heart papers - the Kaisercraft Miss Nelly paper - I love ordering from I heart papers - I always get my stuff QUICK! Kate is getting a ton of new stuff from CHA lately, so I'm SURE I'll be ordering again soon.
Supplies
Stamps: Paper smooches alphadot, MFT sentiment set
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: SU kraft, Kaisercraft Miss Nelly
Accessories: MFT closed bracket border,