Unscripted Sketches #217

So to start off with this week I was one of the top three for Challenge 216 on Unscripted Sketches. I was late on reading my email and just noticed it today when I was going through my stuff. So when I was on the challenge for this week, I took this sketch and made a fun stamped card.

retro sketches # 70

This week at retro sketches this was the sketch: 

It spoke to me that I needed to punch out a piece and build up from there. As I was looking through my stamps I found the party stamp which I though looked so cute over the punched out area. 

The Sweet Spot # 217

This week over at the Sweet Spot they have this awesome sketch that I knew right away the perfect stamp for. 

I took and stamped the large Thinking of you Stamp and cut it out.  

CCMC258 Color Challenge

Like I said before I am not a huge color challenge type of girl because I have no idea what to do but today with Create with Connie and Mary it was all about using some fun toned down colors that go perfectly with some of the new DSP that SU has out.

I took some Night of Navy card stock and than honey combed the whisper white card stock. I used pieces from the Gingham Garden DSP to do the bottom and than of course used one of my favorite punches to create the hello banner with the saleabration set.  The only thing is the ribbon which is a retired piece I found buried in my ribbon jar. I thought it added that final punch to it. 

Mojo Monday 299

I loved the idea of doing wither a round or square card as the challenge this week over at Mojo Monday. I wanted to play around with some ideas for a wedding card before I actually pulled paper out to make it so this design gave way to that.

I created a 6x6 card in MDS using the inspiration sketch:

I than created a mainly black and cream card with a small pop of color for the flower. I really like the card and think it will look good in paper form. 

The Sweet Stop # 216

I did something a tad different this week for my sketch challenge on the Sweet Spot because I created a digital card using SU's MDS program.

I built my card using the various layers inspired by this sketch:

Here is my fun and modern take on this fun sketch. This would be a great card to either print up or create with actual paper.

TSOT # 124

This week on Try Stampin on Tuesday (yes I know it it is Wednesday) had an interesting sketch. I was so sure if I liked it and sat on it till today. Than I thought why not use the new Washi tape I just got in the mail and well the card came together.

I used a retired SU stamp set - Cheers to You!! There is a new one very similar in the new catalog.

Here is the sketch:

Here is what i came up with. I turned the card and set the sentiment in the center of it. I had a fun time coloring all of the drinks which make me want to have one.  I guess that could make for some interesting card designs!!!

Buttons Buttons and more Buttons

If you know me loose buttons are not something I like to have around because I always want to gag because I think of them as a choking hazard. On shirts and clumps that is okay. I once saw a lamp created out of a mason jar and filled with buttons- I almost lost it.

So when Miss O came home from GS camp on Monday night after making Daisies from large and small buttons for SWAPS, I was dreading what she was about to ask- can I make more. The kid is so much like me in her crafting.

So I of course said yes and trekked to Wally World to purchase a bag of buttons. I actually was okay- I tried not thinking about it. So today after I fixed my headlight bulb, we went to work making COUNTLESS button daisies with both pin backs and hair clip backs.

Plus I made a simple lanyard from some ribbon I had. I just stitched it over a key ring and added on a clip for anything Miss O might have. The whole of the project took about 15 minutes,. It would have gone longer if I hadn't finally said no more button daisies.

So Miss O designed the colors of each and I hot glued them together. She has two for her lanyard, one for her hair, two for her shirt, and some extra ones just to have plus she made one for her brother who than instantly popped two buttons off to make it a car.

The full affect of her button daisies. 

To hold up her shirt

Her hair one

Her lanyard and pin ones. 

June Pinterest Party Projects

My friend Lisa who I have known for years did this month's Pinterest party and what a great job she has done.

We had awesome projects and for the first time failures for food.  One friend didn't even bring the dish because she was afraid people would get sick and after picking the cantaloupe out of the fruit salad coated with vanilla pudding, it was much better. This is what it is all about with trying things with Pinterest. Seeing what works and failures. We have all had them!

There were zero failures with the projects.

First we did some awesome terra cotta coasters

Than we created this fun frame and I need to find a picture to stick on. Other ideas were to create a menu board for the kitchen. 

We also created and decorated tea lights with punched scallops and washi tape.

Took a bog binder clip and monogramed it with a scallop punch and our initials.

Finally a magnetic frame for the fridge which we made a message pad center. 

All five of these projects were great and easy ones to make for gifts in the future. Lisa did a great job in picking and prepping all the stuff and I thank her for that. I am looking forward to our next party. 

retrosketches #69

This week's retrosketches was fun. I used scraps I had so that is why the interesting color choices.

colourQ 195

I am not a huge fan of color challenges but colourQ has converted me because of the great way the present it.

The only thing is my pool party flower looks greeny because I didn't clean my stamp good enough but I really like how it turned out. 

Unscripted Challenge 216

This challenge this week screamed 4th of July to me. I flipped the design and did a flag using SU card stock and layered on some washi tape I just got.

I stamped the star and layered that as well with the  coordinating colors.

Sketch sample:

Here is my creation. 

Macaroni Kid Column 6-23-13

Here is my column for this week:

http://leaguecity.macaronikid.com/article/515380/mommy-confessions

Happy 4th of July

Yes I know it is still  aways away but I have to say it is one of my favorites of the year. I love all the red, white and blue around. I also admit it to coming late into it being one of my favorite holidays. As a kid and childless adult, I was indifferent to it but once I had kids and see the joy as they watch parades and fireworks amazes me. We had one of the best times a few years ago at the fireworks. We took a picnic and just hung out as a family.

I had fun last year decorating for the holiday and reused some of the same decorations in different ways plus I added to it. Of course my white tree got the holiday treatment as well. It has been sitting there all sad looking since Easter waiting for decorations. I think I will do it up for Back to School in August so it doesn't have to wait till October for Halloween.

Lastly I can't forget my new wreath which turned out great. I had been looking for floral picks to stick in the wreath and only found the bow. Than when digging through my 4th stuff, I found exactly what I was looking for and was happy to already have it.

Everything is up including my fun placemats in the kitchen which I have to retrain them all not to use as well as the napkins because I am that nutty woman who has them for decoration only. Yeah I know-crazy!!!

4th of July Mesh Wreath

(I also switched my Bob's boxes to all face forward with the flag. )

Sketch Frenzy SFF022113

This week's Sketch Frenzy stumped me a bit. I liked it but wanted it to have a punch of some kind. Here is the sketch:

So here is my take after I thought about it for awhile.

clean and simple 246

This week's clean and simple sketch is so sweet looking. For me it screamed summer so why not a big lime popsicle for the art work.

Here is the sketch

 Here is my creation. I used all SU products for my card.

CCMC257

Another week of Creating with Connie and Mary Challenge. This was the sketch for this week:

What a fun design to play with. I looked through my stamps for inspiration and picked the 25 year Birthday set. You always need a birthday card.

Staying Home Vs. Working as a Mother

Recently Linda Heffernan wrote a column for the Huffington Post called “Why I regret Being aStay-at-Home-Mom” and it upset me because we as woman have a constant battle between working and staying home. I admire her for her candid take on how she feels that she failed at it and regrets that decision but it was upsetting that in the end she wasn't truly happy and didn't own her decision.

In the fours years since we decided to that I would stay home and I stress we, there has never been a moment I regretted the decision. I have asked many times to my husband if he wanted me to go back to lessen any burden on him and he has always replied that he is less burden knowing I am home and taking care of the kids. For him working is what he loves and it wasn't what I loved.

For me it wasn't a hard decision at all. I was in a job I hated and in a place where honestly I started not trusting my manager and some of my co-workers. Even though I did like them and had a fine relationship, I never felt true loyalty with them or even the company I worked for. I was doing the job of many but being paid for only one.

I was a big believer in not bringing it home with me and I chose to work in order to live rather than live to work which so many do. When it started coming home with me effecting my child and marriage, I knew I needed to make a change. I had passed up a job change already and figured that I needed to regroup and see what I wanted to do with my life rather than continue on with the path I was on.

I can't knock a woman who chooses to work and I know many of them find their purpose in doing it but for me my purpose is being home with the kids. This is my career now and to be honest I treat it that way. I tell my family that this is my work place and I have expectations from them in order to have things run smoothly in the house. I realize I now have way more hats on staying at home than I did when I worked but the difference is that I enjoy it and find it rewarding.

Being home with the kids for me is very rewarding and I find that who I m is way more defined now than it was working. Because this is my career now, the people I meet see all sides of me rather than just that working part. When I would see people I worked with out side of work with my child, they saw the real me. I get to now have the real me out and about all day every day.

The friendships I have made, I feel are more diverse and open than when I worked. I rather spend my time with people who have liked minded goals with their children and lives. I find that my overall marriage is way better because I now have the time to devote to it rather than it being last on the list when I worked with a child.

I don't blame the mom who chooses to work but when I see parents who devote all their time to work and children get neglected, it is bothersome. On the flip side, I also am angered by the stay at home mom, who sits around all day when nothing gets done around the house or with the kids. I have seen both as I have ventured through life. I know to the balance of it is so hard on both sides.

When I worked I tried so hard to make sure that I was there for my daughter and now that I am always around, I try to teach my kids to have some independence and not rely solely on me for their needs. It is a tightrope we all walk no matter which path we choose.

I wish in the United States we were not so geared to having it all because having it all isn't what it is all cracked up to be. When we were striving to have it all, we were miserable and now that we have took a step back and choose what is important, we are so much happier. It isn't about the big house or fancy trips with us but enjoying our lives. So many other countries focus on family first and I choose to do that as a parent.

I don't worry about when I go back for a salary because I will find something I will love. Until than I am working full time being an accountant, chef, organizational nut, and about anything that needs to get done. I am a true jill of all trades and I make sure my kids are aware of it.

For me I would regret not being to be with them as they grow up. My life is far more richer and fuller by not working than it ever was when I worked. I also know that this life isn't for everyone.  

MDS Beach Page

After I finished my MDS page for the challenge, I went back and created another page with more of the pictures i took when we went down to this past Saturday.

ColourQ #194

This week's colourQ inspired me to think beach and summer. The bright colors:

I used MDS to create this simple streamlined page. I love the picture so much of my son walking down the beach with his bucket and shovel in hand. He loved digging and attempting to a sand castle until the monster aka big sister smashed it down in play. 

Unscripted #215

I used this week's Unscripted Challenge for double duty- my card swap that happens next week. So I made 8 of these for it. All products are Stampin Up!

June's Paper Pumpkin

So Paper Pumpkin arrived at my house yesterday and I couldn't wait to dig into it. So here is the creation. I am looking forward to playing more with the stamps and the few extra stickers that came with it.

The Sweet Stop 215

This week's The Sweet Stop Challenge is a fun one. Here is the sketch:

I thought it would be a fun card to make and send to a friend. Now I have to decide who to send ti to. Because we all know it is fun to get a card in the mail!!!

Mojo Monday 298 Challenge

It is Monday again so another Mojo Monday sketch challenge to do. Here is this week's lovely sketch that was the inspiration. 

Sometimes I play around with the sketch but this week the card just spoke to me this way. With the 4th of July right around the corner and these also being some of my favorite colors to use.

Materials:

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Real Red, and Island Indigo

DSP: SU Gingham Garden

Stamps: Show and Tell 1