you = awesome!

 I did miss a week. I was working hard at doing the challenges on the Sparks blog every week, but last week was CRAZY - so it definitely didn't happen.

This week, the sparks challenge is a trend watch challenge - the trend is lace. I'm NOT a lace/ribbon girl. I have a bunch, it is just really hard for me to use it on a card/layout! I like VERY simple very few layers...  This card actually came together a lot quicker than I thought it would! 

I pulled out some adhesive lace that I got from I Heart Papers a while ago. My poor neglected supplies like to come out and play!!! I used some MME Cute & Paste (Flair) paper along with the Paper Smooches Many Thanks stamp set (I got both from I heart papers)

Supplies
Stamps: PS Many thanks
Paper: MME cut & paste Flair
Ink: Tsukineko
Accessories: Lace roll tape

Party time!!!!! (and a little chalk on the wall)

 I finished up the first layout the NIGHT that they layouts were due for the month of September (sketch 40) on Sketch N Scrap - didn't get around to posting it until now.... I had a lot of fun with the layout (and the memories) - the walls at our home in St Coix were PERFECT for sidewalk chalk, so we would draw all over them, then wash it all right off!


The second layout I finished up using sketch #42 from Sketch N Scrap - I LOVE how it turned out (and it's a more current layout - from 2 weeks ago!!!!). Living on an island is sometimes an adventure. We FLEW pizza over from Anchorage a couple days before her birthday so that the girls could decorate/make their own pizzas. They LOVED it! Yes... We FLEW papa murphy's take and bake pizzas and picked them up at the local airport - it's an adventure living here...

Supplies
Sidewalk Chalk
Paper: AC cardstock, EP so happy together
Stickers: EP so happy together

Party time
Paper: AC cardstock, Cosmo Cricket creative girl
Ink: Tsukineko
Stamps: PS birthday sampler, digits

i adore you

 Another crazy week here. One of these weeks I'll get back into my craft room nightly. This week I've had a sick kid (plus 80 mph winds overnight). Dd2 was perfectly fine on Wednesday morning, then fell asleep on me AT work.... woke up with a fever over 103. Freaky! We stayed home the next day and cuddled.

I did finish up a card for the Paper Smooches Sparks Picture perfect challenge this past week.  I used a newer set - Royal Cuteness along with a sentiment set - Good Gab.

Supplies
Stamps: PS Royal Cuteness, Good gab
Ink: Tsukineko, copics, copic spica glitter pen
Paper: Gina K kraft, scraps from pile

Royal Cuteness - PS sparks

 This set is absolute cuteness - I love it! I just got some new sets in the mail from I heart papers - Kate is quick on shipping (and I love that she doesn't charge extra for Alaska).  My card is for the Paper Smooches Sparks color challenge this week on the blog. I generally have  a hard time with color challenges, but this one came together quick - I love one layer cards. I got some new washi tape and found the perfect colors to go along with the challenge.

Definitely love the new sets coming out recently! Now I need to purge my paper..... We are moving in December and that is one of the heaviest things!

Supplies
Stamps: PS Royal Cuteness
Ink: Tsukineko, copics
Paper: AC cardstock
Accessories: Washi tape

with gratitude - PS sparks

My dad is up in AK visiting this week. He's been catching lots of fish and enjoying the nice (so far) weather we have had this week! It's been great having him here (he actually cooks fish - the girls LOVE that).

I had a little time at my craft table and put together another Thank you card. You can NEVER have too many thank you cards! I always seem to be needing them! I used a couple Paper smooches sets on this card - Many thanks (LOVE this sentiment set - it's ALL thank you sentiments) and Spring groves. Spring groves is a fun one to paper piece!

 This card follows the sketch (loosely) on the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge blog this week. My card was featured last week!!

supplies
Stamps: PS Many Thanks, spring groves
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: Graphic 45 steampunk spells

relay for life - layout

This layout was for a challenge that I missed the deadline by about a month.... I had it done, just didn't take a photo and post it at all. It was TOO crazy this summer around this deadline. 

The challenge was a sketch and color challenge. I actually like these colors together. I need to pull out my 12x12 Kraft paper more often - I like it as a background color! I pulled out some paper smooches stamps for my title. The stars are from Fresh Squeezed stamps - they were stamped on the pattern paper and fussy cut, then attached to the layout. 

Supplies
Stamps: FSS weather through, PS Graffiti
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: SU kraft, MME lost & Found 2 Breeze

Another thank you

I got back into my crafting area this week! It's been a rough couple weeks here. We got back from vacation, started school, caught up at work, got sick (I have a sinus infection that is making my whole head feel like it's going to explode), started soccer practice/games, crappy weather, nice weather, switched to a toddler bed when youngest climbed out of her crib - so now no naps at home... It's just been CRAZY!

 I'm ALWAYS needing thank you cards. Always! This one was created with the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge this week in mind. The trend watch is flowers -and I only have a few PS stamp sets with flowers.... I pulled out a bunch of sets for this card - the PS Green Acres, Many Thanks and Spring Groves were used on the card. It is a one layer card stamped/colored on Gina K white paper (I need to order more, but am holding out until I'm needing more than just one paper pack).

Supplies
Stamps: PS Green Acres, Many thanks, spring groves
Ink: Tsukineko, copics
Paper: Gina K

...and many more

 I'm BACK from my vacation. We went to visit family for 10 days after packing up and shipping my dh off for 4 months of a school. Needed to get of the island for a short time before school started up. I got to do some crafty (and clothes) shopping and had a great time enjoying the sun. We are back in Alaska enjoying the cooler weather

This Paper Smooches sparks challenge is a picture perfect challenge. I loved the "frame" look at framed the cupcake and sentiment on my card. This one will be the first picked for dd's friends when she digs though my pile... she loves polka dots (who doesn't?)

Supplies
Stamps: PS yummers, birthday sampler
Ink: Tsukineko, copics
Paper: Echo Park Here and Now
Accessories: Nestabilities

2nd Birthday - sketches in Thyme #120

I am LOVING this layout. It's one of my favorites that I've finished lately. I'm not sure what it is about it, but it was FUN creating this layout using the Sketches in Thyme #120.  I used some Echo Park 6x6 paper pads for this - I find that I use a lot more of the 6x6 (I like white space) than when I was using the 12x12 (and they are cheaper).

Getting back into the swing of work, school (starts today!!!), single parenting (while dh is at a school), soccer, just getting back from vacation and needing to empty suitcases is HARD. I've been back since Tuesday and it looks like my suitcases exploded in my bedroom. Hopefully I have time with dd in school tomorrow to get some stuff put away (and more laundry folded) after work with the little one.  I'm hoping to get some time to create this week!

Supplies
Stamps: PS Digits
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: EP Here and Now

squeal

I love this little pig. I'm entering (very last minute) to the Paper Smooches sparks challenge. Anything goes this week!  I've been a little MIA lately. My husband is getting ready to leave for 4 months, so we have been spending a LOT of time together as a family and getting him ready to go. 

I will be back (we are going on a vacation soon after he leaves). I do have some posts scheduled though. 

Supplies
Stamps: PS Green Acres
Ink: Tsukineko, copics
Paper: copic x-press

wish big

 I had a lot of fun with the color challenge this week on the Paper Smooches sparks blog this week. Loved these colors together and found them all in one paper pad (Pebbles Walnut Grove). I used the Space cadet stamp set along with the Birthday sampler set - I got both of the stamp sets at I heart papers (she ships quick to Alaska)

We have had a very busy summer here. My oldest has been in 2 camps with another coming up. We are leaving on vacation right after my husband leaves for a school and coming home 2 days before school starts up again.. The time has flown by! 

Supplies
Stamps: PS space cadet, birthday sampler
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: Pebbles walnut grove

cheer up - PS sparks

I LOVE these challenges! I really liked the sketch this week on the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge blog. A very clean and simple layout which is what I like! 

For my card, I pulled out some Kraft paper (I love Kraft) and the PS Cuteasaurus set. I fussy cut the dinosaur out of some scrap paper in my pile. 

I made this card last night after a 12 mile bike ride. I was riding out to the golf course and was on the way back when I passes some trees and saw a HUGE Kodiak Grizzly bear. Luckily I had music going (I don't wear headphones while riding my bike) and it scared it away. My legs were shaking the entire way home! A Grizzly Bear is not something you want to run into when you're on your bicycle alone! 

Supplies
Stamps: Cuteasaurus
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: Gina K Kraft
Accessories: Twinery buttercream twine

Oh Crab... i forgot - paper smooches sparks

 Another entry for the Paper smooches sparks OCEAN trend watch challenge this week. I LOVE this crab. I think crabs are CUTE - until their claws get into your vehicle tires (happened twice in St Croix in less than a year)....

I layered the kraft cardstock and it has a bit of ink sponged along the edge of the top - hoping it would look like sand...  The crabs are colored with different red copics and spectrum noir markers.

Supplies
Stamps: PS surf & turf, chubby chum pals
Ink: Tsukineko, copics, spectrum noir
Accessories: washi tape

fishies - PS sparks

 Another week, another card! This might be the 5th week IN A ROW I've joined in! I've gotten back into the groove of crafting (yay!!!!). The Trend watch challenge this week is inspired by an ocean picture. I love these little fish and had fun coloring them with my Spectrum Noir markers (I love my copics, but the spectrum noir might be the ones that come with me when we move in December). The paper is from Echo Park A perfect summer paper pad.

AND.... I have another ocean themed card that I'll be posting Saturday (: I was busy one night making cards and couldn't stop! 

Supplies
Stamps: Briny Blue
Ink: Tsukineko, spectrum noir
Paper: EP A perfect summer

Mojo Monday 300 - let's Celebrate!

I don't remember the last time I played along with Mojo Monday, but I've been trying to find/join in on a lot more challenges lately - and using a bunch of the sad lonely stamps that are on my shelves. I pulled out a brand new (to me) stamp set from Paper Smooches "Digits" along with the birthday sampler to create this quick 7th birthday card. My daughter has been getting invited to tons of parties lately and everyone is turning 7 (she will be in September).

I used some Basic Grey Kneehighs paper (I still think I might need some of this in 12x12) and used the Mojo Monday 300 sketch (loosely) to create this very simple quick card!

Supplies
Stamps: Paper smooches digits, birthday sampler
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: BG kneehighs
Accessories: Nesties

picture perfect

 This little pelican is SO cute! I loved seeing the live pelicans when we were in St. Croix, they were in the trees by the hotel we stayed in when we got there and when we left. They were all over that island and so fascinating to watch!

I used the picture perfect challenge on the Paper Smooches sparks challenge blog for my card. I loved the look of the different heights of the crayons in the picture, so I used the images from the PS Surf and Turf set to show the different heights on my card.

The pelican body was stamped on the Kraft cardstock, and on a piece of white paper. Then I fussy cut the white paper and colored the kraft pelican with copics.

Supplies
Stamps: PS Surf & Turf
Ink: Tsukineko, copics
Paper: copic x-press, Gina K kraft, EP
Accessories: Denim twine (twinery)

Thanks Jellyfish

 I think this is the 3rd week in a row that I've had time to join in on the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge - this week is another color challenge, I found some papers that worked with the challenge and pulled out my most recent Paper Smooches purchase for the card.

The Echo park A Perfect Summer matched very well with the PS Briny Blue stamp set. I just love the jellyfish! I stamped it on the blue paper and the yellow paper, then cut out the blue jellyfish to attach on top of the yellow. 

Supplies
Stamps: PS Briny Blue
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: Echo Park A Perfect summer

You're a life saver - PS sparks

Another week, another challenge. I love the sketch this week, it can be interpreted SO many different ways. It's been a while since I pulled out Kraft paper and I thought it would go great with the PS wicked nauticool set that I got from I Heart Papers.  I stamped the waves on the blue scrap paper and then cut it out for the card.  I'm definitely going with CAS this week!

Supplies
Stamps: PS Wicked Nauticool
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: AC blue, Gina K kraft

sharing - Page maps sketch challenge

I love stamping on my layouts. I've had a lot of fun lately doing more of my layouts and cards - getting my table cleaned off and ordering new pretty paper always makes me excited to create!

I used the sketch on the Page Maps Blog for my layout. I really am not a huge fan of single photo layouts, so I adjusted the sketch to fit both my photos. I used a Paper Smooches stamp set (Flap Happy and Alpha dot) to add some embellishments on my page.

Supplies
Stamps: PS Flap happy, alphadot
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: AC cardstock, MME Collectable Unforgettable
Accessories: Nesties, 

GOLD!

The Trend watch this week on the Paper Smooches sparks challenge blog is gold. I am not a huge gold fan normally, but remembered some gold mirror paper that I had in my stash and got to work. I used the butterflies 1 die (goes with the Flap Happy set) and cut the gold mirror paper out to put on my card. I got the dies and the stamp set from my favorite Paper smooches retailer - I Heart Papers (I "might" have ordered a couple more sets the other night - I can't resist new Paper smooches)

I also pulled out some new paper that I picked up on vacation - Fancy Pants park bench to match with the gold mirror paper.  I stamped the sentiment and my CAS card is DONE!

Supplies
Stamps: PS Flap Happy
Ink: Tsukineko
Paper: Fancy pants park bench
Accessories: PS Butterflies 1 die