Sketch It Saturday

Happy Saturday morning! It's a rainy one here, but that's alright with me because I'll be doing lots to get ready for my first day of school on Monday. And that's where my mind was when I worked on this week's Unscripted sketch...a new cover for my plan book.

Incase I love it so much that I want to use it again next year I only wrote the year on a little sign the kids are holding. That was I can just change it out each year, though I know I'll change my mind! Here's the cover in the front of my binder I use, I just love the fun colors the binders come in now.....

We've got an expanded Unscripted Sketches team so be sure to check out everyone's work. Just click on their link on my sidebar. I haven't been on the computer to check blogs for an entire week so I'm going to do a bit of catching up. I can't imagine all the great works that have been created, and look forward to what you'll come up with this week with the Unscripted sketch.

Smiles,

paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Candy Lane dsp, Pixie Pink
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Stamps: Inkadinkadoo alphabet, All God's Children

We're growing....

Did you hear the news about Unscripted Sketches? Our DT just grew.....

Please welcome

Susan: http://www.stampinsusan.com
Irit: http://iritshalom.blogspot.com/
Alanna: http://www.damoses.blogspot.com
Kelly: http://lamaisondepapier.blogspot.com
Hollie: http://sweetmomiji.blogspot.com/
Marcy: http://theardentscrapper.blogspot.com/
Dawn: http://www.dawnscrafts.blogspot.com

So if you weren't completely blown away before, be sure to stop by every Saturday morning because WOW we've got some talent!

Smiles,

playing catch-up

I was on quite the roll with the week of Mojo Monday sketches but hit a wall on Thursday where my day ended at the dentist...I didn't get home until after 8! With my school schedule resuming this week I took today to play catch-up and did the final four sketches...here they are in reverse starting with today's wonderful sketch by Mary Fish.

I started with this one because it's my favorite. The color inspiration came from this week's Jazzy Inspiration to use white, gray, black and a 'pop' of green. The picture doesn't do the brads justice--they're green gems! I popped the black squares up with pop-up glue dots and did the rock 'n roll technique for the sentiment, first in Green Galore then in black.

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My second card is Saturday's sketch and I piled on the challenges:


Pile It On: Three's: three punches--fence, circle, bat(was word window and trimmed)
Inspiration: Cinema Saturday Challenge, Field of Dreams
Sketch: Mojo Monday turns 100, day 6

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For Friday's sketch I went simple, using some paper I picked up last Christmas and a bow that was lying around. The pink paper has a bit of glimmer to it, perfect with the sentiment.

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And last up is my Halloween card using the last of my scraps from this card. This was Thursday's sketch when all hope of completing each sketch on each day was lost!


I know I'll be scarce from blogland for the rest of August and most of September while I settle into the back to school routine. I never know who'll be more tired, me or the first graders!



Smiles,

Unscripted Apples

Happy Saturday morning! Now that I'm back into the swing of school and headed to workshops this week I really love Saturdays. It's also the day I get to share a new Unscripted Sketch and this week is no different.



I bought this SU set Give Thanks last fall and didn't get many chances to use it since snow was falling by the time I got it. It seemed only fitting to pair it with Washington Apple dsp! I had a blast coloring the bucket and apples with some colored pencils. I popped some apples up too but the picture does not do it justice.


One of my favorite things about fall is going apple picking with my friends from high school. We didn't go last year, so I'm getting especially excited for this year's event. Then we go back to someone's house and do lots of baking...yum! There I am hiding amid a sea of MacIntosh apples back in 2007.

I usually eat as many as I pick, but that's the best part about apple picking! Hope you take some time today or this week to play along with us. Be sure to check out all the DT's fabulous creations too!

Steph
Sharon
Sarah
Liz
Keri Lee
Jeryn
Jenny
BR-T
Aymee
April

Smiles,

Paper: Creamy Caramel, unknown olive, Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Washington Apple dsp

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Black Stazon

Stamp: Give Thanks (SU!)

Other: colored pencils, mini glue dots, paper snips

Mojo throwdown!

Another extremely productive day here in NH, and still pretty hot. It was cool enough to mow the lawn which was in desperate need of it! So after sweating all morning at the gym and outside, and then sweating at school all afternoon I cooled off with a card. Just one...I combined the Mojo Monday 100, Day 3 sketch with today's colors at Color Throwdown.

I love the new In Colors (thanks again Terri!) but have no ink to go with them. I found a piece of dsp (don't know which one!) that tied all the colors together though not the same. Is that cheating?

Time to make dinner and get some things ready for "school" tomorrow...even though there aren't kids yet and I'm not getting paid for this time, it's another busy day ahead of me!

Smiles,

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Whisper White, unknown dsp
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust
Stamp: Sweet 'n Sassy A True Friend
Other: Fiskars colonial edge scissors, paisley cuttlebug folder, brads, paper piercing tool, dimensionals

4 cards, 9 challenges!

Wow, I was in the card making groove today! After spending a sweating morning in my classroom, I got my hair cut and retreated to the AC and a cool basement. I've got four cards to share, and it culminates with a great card piled with challenges! Details are at the bottom.

First up is Mojo Monday, with a Tuesday sketch. This came together so quickly, except the flower because I didn't have the right color so I crocheted one while I relaxed on the couch.

Second is a special card that will be going to wounded marine, Ben. You can read more about it HERE and maybe help out too! I used the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge and took inspiration from Pals Paper Art. I loved the striped rug and thought a rainbow of color would go well!

I had fun playing along with the first sketch over at Get Sketchy. It took a lot of snipping with the leaves but I love fall cards and the leaves needed to be realistic.

Last is my Pile it On card which I did my best to pile on the challenges.

Pile It On: masculine (it has to go to a guy because a girl would notice my crooked green panel!)

Our Creative Corner: Christmas in August

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday: red, olive and black

Card Positioning Systems: sketch

Whimsy: use ribbon (which is hard to do on a masculine card!)

I'm exhausted now, and have got to get to some work for the classroom. Back into the sweltering classroom tomorrow morning!

Smiles,

Mojo Card

Paper: Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Pale Plum, Washington Apple dsp, unknown dsp

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Stamp: Feathered Hope (retired SU)

Other: ribbon, scallop edge punch, corner rounder, crocheted flower, brad

Feeling Blue card

Paper: Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue dsp, Basic Gray dsp, Real Red, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, YoYo Yellow, green, Razzleberry

Ink: Black

Stamps: Inkadinkadoo Friendly Advice

Other: markers

Falling Leaves card

Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, unknown dsp

Ink: Olive stazon

Stamps: Give Thanks (SU), sentiment unknown

Other: colored pencils

Pile It On card

Paper Whisper White, Basic Black, Old Olive, unknown red

Ink: Olive Stazon, Black Stazon, Real Red

Stamps (SU): Button Bear, Made From Scratch

Other: square punch, ribbon, white embossing powder

Mojo Monday

I don't even know the last time I did Mojo Monday ON a Monday but knowing there are a week of sketches to play with I cut out some time. Kinda like a last hurrah on my summer vaca!


I used my new Daisy Sizzlet that I got on sale last week rather than the scallop circle and found just the right button to go with the colors. I love it, but what do you think? Hopefully back tomorrow with more Mojo!


Smiles,

Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Creamy Caramel, dsp
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Stamp: Kind Thanks (SU!)
Other: Daisy Sizzlet, gingham ribbon, button, scallop punch

Hello

Saturday has arrived again and it's time for an Unscripted Sketches Sketch it Saturday!

My card is extremely CAS (1 stamp, 2 punches, scoring and a repurposed paper in the center!) and the sketch may say that to you when you check it out, or you may be like some of the other Unscripted DT and take it a bit further. Go check out their work and then head over to Unscripted....can't wait to see your take on this week's sketch!

Steph
Sharon
Sarah
Liz
Keri Lee
Jeryn
Jenny
BR-T
Aymee
April

It's a scorcher here in NH so I'm doing my best to stay inside and stay cool!

Smiles,

boo!

My mojo has been MIA, as have I, probably with the nearing of school. I'm working in my classroom a bit more, have meetings, and trying to do all those things I planned to do but haven't got to yet! Needless to say the cards haven't been making themselves. I was finally inspired when I got some paper in the mail from Kris of Kween Bee Kreations and went to the basement knowing exactly what I could make.

I ran the black panel through the Big Kick with a Christmas sizzix embossing plate but it came out crooked. So I turned it crooked a different direction and ran it through again. It gave it a cool look though you can't see it too well in the picture. I'm sure my nephews will love to get this in the mail come Halloween!

Smiles,


Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, dsp
Ink: Black Stazon, Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Button Bear Accessories (retired SU), Inkadinkado alphabet
Other: Sizzix embossing folder, ribbon, circle punch

A small pile

I wanted to play along with this week's Pile It On challenge, but the challenge was NO patterned paper. Hmmm....that left me without many challenges to go along!

I used the sketch from Pals Paper Arts second challenge and the colors were inspired by Our Creative Corner. They've got a beautiful harvest picture and though I used more blue than necessary I'm sure there were families harvesting the crop together. Three challenges isn't bad, but I was hoping to really pile it on! Without using patterned paper I tried to rough up the look by attacking my Kiwi Kiss with my Chocolate Chip ink pad. I'm not in love with it, but what do you think?

I've got to get ready for my day now, because I have a lunch date with my nephew. I dont' go on dates with 2 year olds often but his mom's headed to the dentist so I'm taking him to McDonald's for lunch and to play. I think I got the better end of that deal!

Smiles,

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Creamy Caramel, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Stamp (SU!): That's Nice

Other: twine, dimensionals

Steph's SWEET candy!

I haven't been home much lately to create, but hopefully I'll be back later with a card. In the meantime my fellow Unscripted DT member Steph is offering up more amazing blog candy. Check here for the details, and enter yourself.....just warning you though, I'm feeling a win in my bones today!

Smiles,

Smile

Happy Saturday morning! Having vacationed last week (and all summer come to think of it) I don't know what day it is. Thank goodness I have Unscripted Sketches to remind me! I made a tiny 3x3 card with this week's sketch--sometimes to stick in DH lunch just to make him smile. Those kid's quotes always make me smile!



Don't forget to scroll down to check out my Jazzy Inspirations guest designer creation. Then head over to Unscripted Sketches to play along with us. Maybe you can combine both challenges.....hmmmm. Happy crafting!



Smiles,


Paper: Whisper White, Brocade Blue, Apricot Appeal
Ink: Brocade Blue, Black Stazon
Stamps: Kids Quotes (Inkadinkadoo)
Other: 1" circle punch, pop dot

Jazz Cat guest designing

How excited was I to be chosen as the Jazz Cat of the Week for this card I made for a Jazzy Inspirations Challenge?!? And it means I get to be a guest designer today too!!! Here's the inspiration album:

And here's my card:

This week's sponsor was The Digi Shack so I got to play with some digi images for my card--a first for me. I had bookmarked some tips for digi images here awhile back. Following that advice I played with the hat image and sentiment in Word (where I'm comfy) and got two different hats by flipping the image 180 degrees and making it smaller. Wow, you can't do that with a stamp! The layout is from this week's Card Positioning Systems sketch.

I hope you get to play along at Jazzy Inspirations this week (maybe you'll be the Jazz Cat!) and if you need a sketch to work with just check out Unscripted Sketches. Enjoy the weekend!

Smiles,

Paper: Pacific Point, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango

Ink: black (computer printer)

Stamps: Digi Shack digi image and sentiment

Other: Cuttlebug folder (swiss dots), Sizzix embossing plate (stripes), colored pencils

Award, take 2!

Okay so my brain must still be on vacation. Or I was aniticipating the 15 inning game that I stayed up to watch....lack of sleep and I do not get along (see #3). When I posted my award from Hollie I forgot that I was supposed to share 7 things about myself that people might find interesting.....hmmmm. I'm so creative I just skipped that step. Luckily Tasha at Tasha's Design World also gave me this award so I'll list my 7 things now because I'm tired and don't think a card will be made today.

1. I met my husband working at a YMCA camp. He was my supervisor :-)

2. I teach first grade at the elementary school I attended. I took my first grade teacher's position when she retired.

3. I need 8 hours of sleep every night--I can't function otherwise. I'm quite jealous of all you who can stay up late to stamp!

4. Adam Sandler's sister is my dentist (is that about me?)

5. I was a vegetarian for about 3 years in high school and college but I'm too picky to stay healthy and let's face it, I love chicken tenders and a good burger!

6. Despite living in Red Sox Nation I LOVE the Yankees!!!! (It was a GOOD 15 inning game last night!)

7. I have never left this time zone--I'm always on Eastern Standard time.

So for now go check out Tasha's blog and leave her some love--she's always making beautiful cards!

Smiles,

Mojo coming out of the closet...

...Courtney's closet that is! I paired this week's Mojo Monday sketch with color inspiration from Libby's From Courtney's Closet challenge this week. I started with the flower pot and went with the colors of her cute kid's bathing suits and ran with it from there. My favorite part is that blue flower, which I colored twice and popped the second image up after I snipped it out, minus a few petals. While making this card I saw the need for me to get some Copics but those Crayola's and Stamp'n Write markers seem to have done the trick. What do you think?

Off to watch some baseball (Go Yanks!), but be sure to stop back tomorrow for my Unscripted Sketch sample AND my chance to be Guest Designer for Jazzy Inspirations!

Smiles,

Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, YoYo Yellow, Orchid Opulence

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore

Stamps: Petite Patterns (SU)

Other: digi image (unknown freebie), Melon Mambo ribbon, Making Memories Brads, circle cutter

Home from Maine

I'm back from Maine (we were on the coast near Rockland for those who were wondering) and fully recharged from all that r&r. No internet, not even a cell phone signal. My dad and I completed 2 puzzles in our 4 nights there and my mom and I found some seaglass and had fun antiquing too. She's posted a few pics of our trip here.

I had many nice surprises waiting for me in blogland when I got back. Lisa from Life According to Lisa gave me this sweet award:

Hollie over at Momiji's Madness left me this award too (and so did Tasha at Tasha's Design World):

Thanks so much to both of you!!! I'm feeling the love. Go visit their blogs when you get a chance, they're daily stops for me and are all great gals. I know I'm supposed to pick people but I had just shared the first award and everyone that I go to visit is beyond creative so if you haven't gotten either consider yourself awarded!!!!

On another note I also was the Jazz Cat of the Week over at Jazzy Inspirations for this card that I made.


I hope to have another card to share today (after pulling crabgrass with DH. blah!!!) but be sure to stop back tomorrow for my Jazzy Inspirations card and of course Unscripted Sketches Sketch it Saturday.

Smiles,

Grandmother's Flower Garden

While away, I thought I'd share another cross stitch project with you, from the same book this one came from.

This one hangs in my bedroom because it goes with the blocks on a quilt my mother gave us for a wedding gift.

My mom found the flower garden blocks at a yard sale many years ago and created a bright flower garden just for me and DH. My cat loves curling up in the sun on it, or hiding amid the pillows in his own little cave--just like on my blog header!

Smiles,

Maine

I'm off for a few days to wonderful Maine! I stole this picture from my mom just to give you a glimpse of the view I'll be enjoying.

No internet (no computer actually), so I'll have lots of time to work on puzzles, read and get back to some cross stitching or crocheting. In the front yard we may even play a bit of badmitton or croquet.

And because I'm not ashamed of my bathing suit I'll even share a picture from a past summer in Maine.....

Hahaha! I think that was the summer before fourth grade. I'm holding Fred the Fighting Fish who needed to be brought back home because he fought so hard he hurt himself. That summer I was the fishing queen--I caught 8 while my older brother only caught 3. Yeah! No fishing this year, just enjoying that view!

Smiles,

Unscripted Dreams

August already, where did summer go? All I know is I'm off to the fabulous state of Maine, though I'll be pretty much in the middle of nowhere and definitely have no internet. It will be nice to get away.

But it's also Saturday and I have an Unscripted Sketches card to share. This was an odd one for me because I made it once, took it apart to change a detail, made it, took it apart again, and then did a bit of ripping before putting it back together one final time. Hopefully the sketch won't throw you for a loop like that. I love the final look though, how about you?

I think the best think about this sketch was that I made it up with bits and pieces from my scrap table. The only pieces I cut anew were the white base and this beautfiul Papertrey Spring Moss paper that Terri sent me. I've never had Papertrey paper before, it is fabulous cardstock!

Be sure to check out all the DT's work with this sketch, just click on their names on my sidebar. I can't wait to see what you come up with when I get back from Maine--The way life should be!!!

Smiles,