Friday, Friday, Friday...

...but man, does it feel like a Monday. I am dragging today. I am thinking that a double dose of coffee may just be in order just to keep me functioning!

It is the final day of the month and that means that this is your final chance to get the Unity July kit of the month. The best thing about signing up this month is that you will then get Stylin Stars for free and this kit rocks... and it is not just about the stars. There are some gorgeous circles in this kit too.

I made this card for DH for when he deploys in about 3 weeks. The circles are from Stylin Stars and the sentiment is from the July kom. I like the gold and black combo because I think that it gives it a great, but still elegant masculine feel.

Supplies Used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Stylin Stars

*Unity Stamp Co. July kom- A Pocket full of...

*Teresa Collins papers

*MM Vintage stick pin

*ribbon

*Marvy Uchida scallop circle punch

*Fiskars border punch

Still need a reason to sign up for the July kom? Well, August is just as cute!!! Here is another little sneaky peek for you (I made a card with this stamp on yesterday's post to give you a better idea of just how cute it is.) The full August reveal will be tomorrow as well as the contest to become a Guest DT member for Unity Stamp Co.... so be sure to check back!!!

We're a Hip-Hopping today!!!

Yes, we are still hip-hopping even though our numbers are diminished because the whole Unity Stamp Co. gang is working out in Florida for the Craft & Hobby Assoc. Show...

They may not be around, but we are still at the end of the month which means that we are gearing up for the full-reveal of the August kit of the month...YIPPEEE!!! We've had individual sneaks all week, but I have a feeling that you have had glimpses of a few more stamps from the kit from the dt today, haven't you? ;o)

******

For my cards today, I used the Hip Hop challenges that are posted over on the hip-hop forum.

Here is the first challenge...

Absense Makes the Heart Grow Fonder-

With part of our crew out of town this week, they have left a hole and we miss them so your challenge is to create a card with a bit of it missing. Create a card that has a window on the front.

My card features three of the stamps from the August kom. That big circle is actually a journaling block with lines. I just cut them out to create the window on the card.

The layout of the card is based upon the SCS sketch for this week (SC239).

I never make window cards, but I really love the way that this one turned out...I'm definitely going to have to make these more often. (sidenote: I just realized that the bright pink cardstock looks red on my screen...it's not...it is a bright Magenta pink.)

And here is a photo of the inside of the card....

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. August kom

*Prima paper

*watercolor pencils

*ultra fine glitter

*ribbon

*string

*Bazzill scallop cardstock

*Marvy Uchida scallop circle punches

*corner rounder

******

And here is the second challenge-

CHA-

With the Unity crew all in Florida for CHA, your challenge is to create a card using that acronym...

C is for coloring- color your stamped image

H is for holes- add in paper piercing on your card somewhere

A is for amore- make the card for someone you love

And the card that I created for this challenge. I used a sketch for this, but can't figure out who originally posted the sketch...it's one that I have clipped into a sketch book.

And this just happens to be another little sneak of the August kom...don't you just love that flying heart?!?! I colored it with watercolor pencils, but I think that you all probably have guessed that by now....LOL!

Another technique that I really just don't use...paper piercing, but I love the effect that it has!

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. August kom

*Basic Grey paper collection

*StazOn jet black inkpad

*Marvy Uchida scallop circle punch

*paper piercer

*corner rounder

*ribbon

*watercolor pencils

Now you need to hop on over to....

***Kimber's Adorable Blog***

August Sneak Peeks Day 3...

It's Day 3 of our Sneak Peek's of the August kom...are you getting excited yet?

I love these kits so much, I have honestly considered getting a second kit just to have on hand. You never know, something could happen to the first one that is too unspeakable to even think about and then I would be without my gorgeous kom's. Then what would I do? I really think that I need to start ordering 2 ... just in case....

It's a sickness, isn't it? lol, but I love it!!!

Isn't that the most gorgeous thing and it is actually 2 stamps...the birdie on the branch is one and then the quote is it's own stamp. Amazing versatility!

Our CHA/Unity challenge of the day came from Renee and it's a color challenge...Tangerine/Lime/Blue/Red/Yellow... Use all colors or a combo of a few

This is the card that I created. Fairly simple, but I really like it...great combo of colors that I NEVER would have put together on my own!

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. August kom

*October Afternoon paper collection

*Dream Street paper (orange)

*Fiskars border punch

*Bazzill Kraft cardstock

*large brads

*string

*corner rounder

Challenges and Sneak Peeks....

Like I mentioned yesterday, those of us still at home (i.e. not at CHA) decided to have a bit of fun on the Unity forum this week with some fun challenges. Not only are we doing challenges, but we are also showing a few sneak peeks of the August kit of the month from Unity Stamp Co.

Our first challenge of the week was done by Amber. She created this super-fun sketch....

Here is my take on it....

I layered a couple of the butterflies from the kit of the month incentive kit from last month, Bevy of Butterflies. I love this kit... so cute and fun and the sentiments in it simply ROCK!

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Bevy of Butterflies

*Making Memories paper and large brad

*Offray ribbon

*Fiskars border punch

*CTMH Blush inkpad

*StazOn Jet Black inkpad

*black brad

*corner rounder

******

Today's challenge is an inspiration challenge. This is an apron from Anthropologie...

I liked the layers of different ruffles so I tried to re-create that sort of look on my card using layers of patterned papers and different border punches.

hmmmmm, you say that you don't recognise those stamps as Unity stamps? That's because these are also your sneak-peek of the day of August's kom...don't you just love that camera?!? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these stamps!!! You all are going to love this kit!

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. August kom

*Cosmo Cricket paper (red)

*Foofala paper

*watercolor pencils

*circle punches

*corner rounder

*brads

*twill ribbon

*Bazzill Kraft paper

*Fiskars border punch

*******

And here are the 2 sneak peeks of the week so far from the August kom... you are DEFINITELY going to need this kit!!!

I'll be back tomorrow with more fun to share!

Scrapbooking Time...

I found a bit of time over the weekend to do a bit of scrapbooking. It's been a while and it took me some time to find my groove again.

I started this layout on Saturday night, took it to Ben and asked him what I should title it, and when he went to bed an hour later, it still looked exactly the same as what I had shown him an hour before. Needless to say, he told me to walk away and go to bed. That worked and I was able to get it finished yesterday morning.

The journaling says, "When Kat first saw this caterpiller in my parents backyard, she thought that it was fun... BUT then it started crawling toward her and she was sure that it was trying to eat her piggies. ~July, 2009"

I used my watercolor pencils to color the caterpiller and to provide the accent colors on the journaling block.

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Little Buggers

*Unity Stamp Co. Bevy of Butterflies

*Unity Stamp Co. Frame This Alpha

*Unity Stamp Co. March kom- Simple Life (journaling block)

*Bo Bunny paper (green)

*Basic Grey paper (yellow)

*Sassafras lass paper (scallop border)

*Martha Stewart border punch

*watercolor pencils

*StazOn jet black inkpad

*Stampin Up Take Note diecut

*flat backed gems

*corner rounder

*Bazzill kraft paper

***********

This second layout is a testament to my scrapbooking ability since Kat and I were having a day of it yesterday. I did this layout when I had hit the end of my rope with her and handed her off to Jacob and locked myself in my stamp room to relax...LOL! She was all of 2 yesterday (with me anyway... she did much better with anyone else.)

I love these butterflies from the Bevy of Butterflies kit that was available for Unity kom customers. They provide the simply perfect embellishment and the variety of sizes makes them so versatile!

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Bevy of Butterflies

*Unity Stamp Co. March kom- Simple Life

*Bo Bunny paper collection

*Bo Bunny brads

*ribbon

*CTMH Cocoa inkpad

*CTMH Sweet Leaf inkpad

*Bazzill Kraft paper

******

This week is a really fun week in the crafts-world. The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) show is happening down in Florida. The whole Unity Stamp Co. gang is there and I am so jealous and wishing that I could have made it, but we are going to keep things lively on the home front....

***sneak peeks of the August kom all week (check back later today)

*** and daily challenges from the DT that are home over on the Unity forum

(today Amber has an awesome sketch up!)

Customer Kit Happiness!!!

I have been playing a bit with the kit that you all, Unity Stamp Co. customers, put together and OMG! Y'all did an incredible job on this kit...I LOVE IT!!

I have a couple of simple little cards to share today that use this kit, HodgePodge of Happiness.

Supplies Used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Hodge Podge of Happiness

*Unity Stamp Co. Sentiments O' Simple

*Basic Grey Raspberry Lemonade papers

*Fiskars border punch

*watercolor pencils

*StazOn Jet Black inkpad

*****

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Hodge Podge of Happiness

*Basic Grey paper

*brads

*Fiskars border punch

*Marvy Uchida circle punches

*watercolor pencils

*StazOn Jet Black inkpad

*****

I LOVE THIS KIT!! There will definitely be more to come from me using it!!!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

A Hip Hop Haunting...

It's a Hauntingly Happy Hip-Hop Day!!!

Don't you love the new Unity Stamp Co. Halloween kit? I know that I am in love with that little candycorn tree! I just wish that I could find some candycorn right now to use it with... Maybe in another month or so...

So today, I just had to settle for playing with my normal papercrafts. First up, is a card that I started out making using yesterday's SCS sketch. It diverged a bit off the original design, but I really like the way that it turned out.

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Halloween Tree

*Scenic Route paper collection

*Martha Stewart border punch

*brads

*ribbon

*white uniball signo pen

*StazOn Jet black inkpad

*****

My second project is a layout. The photos were taken during October last year and there are pumpkins in the background and Kat is wearing a definite Halloween shirt, but I didn't want the layout to be about Halloween. The stamps are a good complement for the layout (I think anyway) for adding in a bit of that Halloween element without it being an in-your-face-Halloween layout.

Supplies Used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Frame This Alpha

*Unity Stamp Co. Halloween Tree

*Basic Grey paper (navy blue)

*Fancy Pants paper (orange, light blue and spotty)

*Cosmo Cricket paper (yellow)

*Lily Bee paper (background)

*Fiskars border punch

*buttons

*******

My final project is another card. This was the first card that I created with this kit as soon as I received it. It's very simple, but I think that the design works really well.

Supplies used

*Unity Stamp Co. Halloween Tree

*PinkPaislee paper (black)

*paper (orange)

*ribbon

*watercolor pencils

*StazOn Jet Black inkpad

*brads

*******

Now you need to hop on over to...

***Natalie's Blog***

Monday and getting back into the swing of things...

Happy Monday!!!

I have lots of little bits and bobs to share with you today.

First up are the fabrics for Kat's bed. Thank you for all your suggestions! I went to a quilting store while I was in Midland, The Quilting Patch, and they had exactly the type fabrics that I had in mind. Now to get the bedding to look exactly how I see it in my mind too...LOL!

I will share more as I go through the sewing process (which probably won't start in earnest until Ben leaves at the end of August.)

*****

I have also been playing with some of the weekly sketches and the new kit of the month promotion kit from Unity Stamp co, Stylin Stars. When you sign up for the kit of the month this month, you will get this gorgeous stars kit completely free. It's a fantastic deal!!!

This card is based upon this week's Mojo Monday sketch (I altered the basic layout with the strips just a tiny bit and changed it from 3 strips to 2) MOJO #96.

Supplies Used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Stylin Stars

*MM paper collection and ribbon

*Marvy Uchida Circle punches

*large black brads

******

This second card is based upon this week's CPS Sketch (#125.)

*Unity Stamp Co. Stylin Stars

*Unity Stamp Co. Feb kom (sentiment)

*Heather Bailey Autumn Leaves paper (yellow)

*MME papers

*Fiskars border punch

*Marvy Uchida circle punches

*corner rounder

*brads

*eyelet ribbon trim

*****

Today was the official first day of high school football practice for Jacob. Ben and he went and got his pads Friday. It sounds like it went well although he is concerned about his lack of skills so I think that we will all be drilling with him for a while. Jacob has never played any sort of football before so this is all new to all of us. I guess that I need to work on my throwing skills.

Finally a Winner and some photos...

Okay, I lied when I said "some" photos in the title...it's a LOT of photos, but just the tiniest fraction of the over 600 photos that I took from our week at home.

But first, I need to announce the winner of the Birdie Inspiration kit. Congratulations, Vicki!!!

Anonymous said...

What an amazing bed, I love the timeless beauty of whoever crafted this bed! As I mentioned on FB, it looks like it could have been a rope bed at one time! That's exciting! It reminds me of the Jenny Linn Style.
Suggestions: I love walking through JoAnn's cotton fabric isles because they have all their fabrics sorted by color and you should be able to pick out the aqua's and red fabrics that will catch your eye...I went on-line to a couple of fabric stores with no luck of spotting anything interesting for you. What a neat project you have ahead of you!

Have fun!!
Vicki Maloney

7:44 AM

And now for the photos....

My parents have a garden and Kat loved going out and picking the tomatoes every morning.

*****

Kat loved this little bear that she could swing in the backyard.

*****

Brownie the horse. Papa got her right on it and she LOVED it!

*****

All of the girls on Brownie...This is a photo by Kara. Aren't they all beautiful?

*****

Kat fell in love with Uncle Dan immediately. She even let him play with Flopsy which is super- high praise.

*****

We went out back the first morning that we were home and Kat was trying to get through the fence and to the tomatoes in the garden.

*****

I just think that these photos are darling!

******

My mom threw a tea party for all the girls! It was AMAZING!!! She had a dress-up boutique with everything that they could need. I am not sure who had more fun...them or her.

Nana letting them know about the proper etiquette for a tea party.

*****

The girls posing at the table for the paparazzi.

*****

Isn't she just the cutest in her outfit?

*****

Mom even had hats for the big girls.

*****

After the tea party, chilling out with a book. Kat didn't want to take off her outfit the rest of the day.

*****

Kat with her new best friend (notice the tulle skirt...it was a VERY girly week!)

*****

She kind of liked her Aunt Kara a bit too!

*****

Lounging in the backyard with Papa.

******

A different type of friend found in the backyard. She wasn't so sure that this little guy wasn't going to eat our piggies...LOL!

*****

altogether now....awwwwwww!

*****

I did a photo shoot with Kara and Dan's family with her camera. At the same time, Dave took this photo of Mia with my camera...I just love it!

******

Mia & Kat in their matching dresses that Aunt Kara bought them...aren't they so cute?!?!?

*****

Yes, the girl is a bit shoe-obsessed, but who can blame her. Those shoes are AWESOME....they were Aunt Alison's.

*****

Emily chasing the girls.

*****

awwwwww....

*****

Now Papa's going to "get them..."

*****

I love this photo of Kara and Mia...so sweet during the photo shoot!

*****

Mom & Dad have a sprinkler system that runs every other day during the night which means in the morning that there are puddles to splish splash in... See, we needed those rain boots!

*****

Papa doing a bit of splish-splashing with her too!

******

Self-portrait of the two of us.

*****

The last morning there, I was able to get the sun just right for some amazing shots. This one is again in our daily sojourn to the garden.

******

Swinging the bear again.

*****

Puddle jumping.

*****

While Kat & I were visiting my parents in Texas, the guys were on a high adventure Scout trip in New Mexico. They swung by my parents house for a quick 10 hour visit and to pick up the canoe that my parents have housed for the last 6 years for us. Kat was so excited to wake up and find them there. I was pretty happy to see them too...even for a little bit.

We had such a fun week. Thank you Mom & Dad!!!