ATS DT Challenge- 22- A Gift for You and High Hopes Stamps

This ATS design team challenge this week was to use ribbon. I have to say, I LOVE ribbon but I am not the best bow tier. I spent awhile online looking at tutorials. My new ATS sugarplums' Olivia and Chris came in on Tuesday so I had to use at least one of them on this challenge. Here is what I came up with:

This card really looks MUCH better in person. It looks like an actual present, which is what I was going for, and Olivia pops out (on dimensionals). Text stamps from Trendy Holiday Tags by TAC. The paper is from Daisy D's and is also more vivid IRL. I thought it was a great way to use the ribbon though...

I also ordered a couple of High Hopes Stamps. They have the cutest animal images! I ordered some dragon stamps because Nate's new bigboy bedroom is done in Dragons- reading, brushing teeth, etc. Here is a sample card made with my new stamp:

The coloring turned out great if I do say so myself :) I used Kohrinor colored pencils and OMS, and niji pearlescent watercolors on his wings and belly. I used my white gel pen to highlight his spikes and nails. This guy is just too cute!

I created 3 more things today but unfortunately, I can't post em. 2 are for Wingers projects and 1 is for the TAC design call. I am going to try and make one card/object a day for the next week to send to the TAC catalogue submission call. I hope to get something published.. esp. since it means FREE STAMPS!!

Another sick day...

Well, I stayed home again today. This virus turned sinus infection has been brutal. Sam, Nate and I have all been sick- Nate probably the one with the most energy which means Sam and I are exhausted :) We've managed to get him outside everyday though.
I did get to create some today, but not a whole lot. Nothing I can share yet- it's for a swap at paperwings. I am using the new TAC Artsy Owls and What a Hoot sets... they're gorgeous!
Well, back to work tomorrow.

Things to do this week:

1. plan with other teachers/myself for the next 2 weeks
2. stay until 7:30 on Wednesday night for Parent/Teacher Conferences
3. Watch the debate on Wednesday- or atleast part of it! Nothing is more infuriating than mudslinging from either side.
4. Send out invites to Nate's party
5. Go to the pumpkin patch
6. Finish swaps
7. Work on Winger Projects

Wow- that's a lot of stuff to do, isn't it? Well, here's to a great week! I am enjoying watching horror movies and gearing up for Halloween. I am also expecting an order from ATS- some shimmer watercolors, the new Christopher and Olivia Stamps, and a velvet puff pen :)

Nate play day and my clean craft space!

Nate in Grammy's Car, Chillin..

Well, my Mom came over and brought my nieces, Sadie and Maddie, and my cousin Taylor to play with Nate. Maddie and Taylor were down for the weekend visiting. Nate had fun playing outside (as usually). He spends at least 1-2 hrs each day outside just running around, picking up leaves from the driveway and throwing them in the grass. He is a nature buff already!

Nate being pulled by his cousin Taylor with Maddie behind him.
Nate being pulled by Maddie.

Nate hanging out on his play gym.

Nate enjoyed himself.. and showed his Redskin Pride! :) I also finished organizing my craft space yesterday and wanted to share some pics of it with you!

This is the view when you come down the basement stairs. I work primarily at the easel table and se the long table as well.

This is my new embelishment center and cd/stamp storage. I put my punches all across the top. Now that I cleaned up, I definitely feel more creative!

Hope you enjoy a peak into my life... we're busy all the time but I am so glad to have my crafting and my very happy son!! :) (and hubby and family too!)

ATS DT #21 Boo Bag and Nate's Boo Bash

Well, one of the challenges on the All That Scraps DT blog was to create a treat box/bag for halloween. I had these templates I'd never used that I bought from Target last Christmas so I pulled them out. I used a magnetic enclosure, by basic grey.

Trick or Treat Boo Bag- Stamps from Spooky, Spooky, Spooky and Sugarplum's Halloween by CC Designs; Bazzill Purple and Orange Cardstock, DP by EK Success; Palette Noir Ink; Black Stickles; 1" Circle Punch

You can see this is a cute little bag- you can easily fit 2 or 3 mini size candy bars inside! I will be making these for Nate's Halloween Boo Bash! Since, as you may know, Nate is on the Autism Spectrum, we do a gluten, casein, corn, soy free diet. This means that trick or treating is out- he can't eat anything and he isn't old enough to understand why. Therefore, we're having a party with some of his friends- a Boo Bash! Everyone will dress up and enjoy some gfcfsfcf goodies including Rice Caramel Pears, GFCF Hot Dogs and Tater Tots, and gfcf "ice cream". I think Nate will like it :) We'll make some crafts, dress up (Nate will be a pirate this year!), and maybe watch the Halloween Episodes of the Backyardigans :)

To invite everyone to this party on October 25, I made these invitations using CC Designs Spooky, Spooky, Spooky and Sugarplum's Halloween sets!

I use scared Lucky on the invitations for the littlest invitees and Sugarplum images for my older invites. Paper is retired from TAC (I miss it!), and the boo bash on the inside is also from a retired TAC set. You're Invited circle from CTMH, and Boil Bubble... stamp is from the $1 bin at Michaels. I used my MS corner punch to add a little more spookiness!

I'll share more decorations as we get closer. Right now, all three of us are still sick!

ATS DT Challenge 20- Whoo's 2!

I loved the sketch for this challenge. The ATS design team always keeps you on your toes! Anyway, my neighbor, Miss Megan, turned 2 today! I had to make a cutie patootie card since she is a cutie patootie! I hadn't inked this stamp set from Pink Cat Designs yet (you can purchase at ATS!) so now was the perfect time!

Whoo's 2

This was an A2 sized card that I turned into a bigger card because I ran out of a2 envelopes. I glittered up a plastic 2 from Heidi Grace Designs and used bazzill cardstock. Designer Paper is by K and Company Berry Sweet. I topped it off from a prima and some "dew drops". I hope Miss Megan likes it!

Sandpaper in my throat...

Ugh. I hate sinuses. Lynchburg has some of the worst pollen and ragweed counts. It's no wonder Nate needs his adnoids out. My throat feels like sandpaper. I've been eating cough drops to keep my sanity. My nose is stuffy now too...

Anyway, the new long on my blog has invigorated me! I'm excited, it's so beautiful! I also got 2 more gig of RAM for my laptop so it's like having a new computer too! It feels like Christmas :)

Nothing created today, but I forgot to post this card I sent to my niece who got a 100 on a test in her second grade class!

You're a Star!

Stamp is by CC Designs- Olivia's Birdies; Paper- Bazzill cardstock, The Grade School Pack by Die Cut with a View (including the A+ and You're a Star images!"

Miss Olivia is one of my favorite stamps. Her and her friend, Chris are just too cute. They remind me of Magnolia stamps but, I like her better. Christine at CC Designs draws some of the cutest images! Olivia was colored with prismacolor markers. Her shirt was paper pieced with Bazzill cardstock and her pants were paper pieced with paper from the stack. I love the paper stack.. some gorgeous school themed paper which suits me fine considering I teach :)

I have some stamp sets I desperately need to use including the Artsy Owl set from the new TAC fall supplement, and a couple of retired sets I purchased. I've also got the new Olivia and Christopher stamps coming from CC Designs, and a couple dragon's from High Hopes. I've been spending too much :(

I will share more with you soon, including updates to my crafting area!

Do you like?!

My great friend Holly who is a fantabulous artist made my new background and header for me. This is so me.. I love earthtones, sages, creams... it's awesome!!! THANKS HOLLY!! I will post a link to her blog later.

I will definitely post some crafting stuff this weekend. I am sick, Sam's sick and Nate's sick. All sinus/throat icky stuff. Nate will be getting his adnoids out soon too :( So we're in a busy place.

On top of all this, EI has cut services almost completely from being in the home. Plus, if you don't have insurance, you'd have to pay out of pocket for services. We're having a hard time advocated cause out of 200 families, only 3 are trying to pull together. These are tough times...

Hugs to all!