Project Life July 2016

July was a big month full of activities before the twins returned to Indiana. I used the PL Kiwi core kit picking out the blue and green colored cards.

SSINK August 2016 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stylin’ Stampin’ INKspiration blog hop! This month we are creating ABC 123 cards. That's 1 stamp set, 2 pattern papers, and 3 embellishments. As you hop along, please be sure to comment and show some love on every blog! We are always excited to hear from our followers! You should have just left stop number 1 on the Stylin’ Stampin’ INKspiration Blog Hop – Diana @ Stampin' Fun with Diana. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn’t work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below.

Each card needed to have one stamp set, two paper patterns, and three embellishments. I decided to play off the beautiful patterns and colors of the Moroccan DSP. I didn't initially fall for this pack of paper, but I've found myself wanting to pick up and use it more and more lately. Yea for me not hoarding paper like I usually do. So I layered some of the patterned paper on top of coordinating cardstock. The middle was pretty empty, so I added this beautiful die cut butterfly. For my embellishments, I pulled out the Dapper Denim color for the washi tape and ribbon. And went tone-on-tone with the Emerald Envy enamel shapes.

Stamps: Happy Happenings
Inks: Early Espresso
Cardstock: Moroccan DSP; Early Espresso; Emerald Envy; Delightful Dijon; Cajun Craze
Accessories: Moroccan Washi Tape; Dapper Denim Ruched Ribbon; 2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes
Tools: Bold Butterfly Framelits; Lots of Labels Framelits

Blog Hop Participant List:

Currently...

Watching: J and I dove in The Shannara Chronicles. It's a bit ridiculous, but fun. It's our current go-to for something fun and not depressing.

Reading: Making my way through The Finishing School series by Gail Carriger for Read a Series in a Month challenge. I'm almost finished with the second book, Curtsies and Conspiracies.

Listening: Going on week 5 of roof repairs in our part of the neighborhood. Our building alone took three weeks (scared to know how damaged the roof really was). They've moved on to the next building down, but lots of noises from hammering and cutting tile. Plus, our building is next to get painted. So noise, lots of noise from about 8am to 5pm every Monday through Friday.

Making: I caught up Arthur's and the family PL albums last week. Moving on to the twins' albums this week. Hopefully I can get to prepping the baby's album before my due date.

Feeling: Pregnancy and life is really wearing on me this week.

Planning: Arthur's 3rd birthday party got moved up a month because of the baby coming. I'm starting to get in deep with party planning. Have an entire Pinterest board and Amazon list.

Loving: J went to the store the other night for pizza and ice cream. He came home with an ice cream cake. So incredibly good!

SSINKCS36: Love and Wishes

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a card using the sketch below.

I wanted to highlight one of the beautiful papers from the Affectionately Yours DSP pack, but which one? Looking at some of my other cards, I realized that I haven't really used the pattern below. I decided to play off the small flower image and create my own piece of DSP with images from Love and Affection and Friendly Wishes. I added a metallic doily and washi tape to finish my card.

Stamps: Love and Affection; Friendly Wishes
Inks: Watermelon Wonder; Night of Navy; Mint Macaron
Cardstock: Affectionately Yours DSP; Night of Navy; Mint Macaron; Watermelon Wonder
Accessories: Affectionately Yours Washi Tape; Metallic Foil Doilies
Tools:

Froggy Says Welcome

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a a punch art card. I found a great punch art tutorial on Pinterest to make frogs. My mind went immediately to a fun nature inspired baby card. As complicated as this frog looks, it was fairly easy to make. I did have to modify the eyes as I do not have owl builder punch shown in the tutorial. No big deal, I can make something of it. Overall, I love this little baby card.

Stamps: Foxy Friends; Happy Happenings
Inks: Peekaboo Peach; Pear Pizzazz; Soft Suede
Cardstock: Fruit Stand DSP; Pear Pizzazz; Daffodil Delight; Crumb Cake; Whisper White
Accessories:
Tools: Ovals Framelits; Fox Builder Punch; Hole Punch

SSINK Annual Catalog Swap Cards

Some of the SSINK Design Team did a little card swap to celebrate the launch of the new Stampin' Up Annual Catalog. I finally got my swap cards from our coordinator this past weekend. I love getting new designs from other demos. Everyone has a slightly different style, but every card is gorgeous! Check out the cards below:

Diana Eichfeld @ Stampin' Fun with Diana

Pamela Wu @ Stinky Tofu

Kim Ryden @ Stamping with Kim

Jennifer Gregorsky @ Jenny G Paper Crafts

Donna Smit @ Geek Squad Crafting

Jennifer Gregorsky @ Jenny G Paper Crafts

Sending a Floral Smile

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a sympathy card. I went a bit nontraditional with my sympathy card with bright colors and a positive sentiment.Unfortunately I've had cause to send this to a friend during a very difficult time in her life. After so many platitudes and "I'm sorry"s... I thought a more positive sentiment would be appropriate. I played with the new Affectionately Yours Embossing Folder, Affectionately Yours DSP, and Love and Affection Stamp Set. A bit of embossing and then stamping some floral details create the center piece of the card. I added some nice layers and a sentiment banner to finish it out.

Stamps: Love and Affection
Inks: Watermelon Wonder, Mint Macaron, Early Espresso
Cardstock: Affectionately Yours DSP; Crumb Cake; Mint Macaron; Daffodil Delight; Whisper White
Accessories:
Tools: Floral Affection Embossing Folder

August 2016 Crafting Goals

Prep the new baby's PL album -- Now that I have the album and kit, I can get this organized
July PL pages -- Always on the list
Catch up Arthur and twins' albums -- Slacking just a bit. Need to get back up-to-date.
Participate in a craft garage sale/post leftovers onto Craigslist -- I really really really want to get the for sale items cleaned out.
Plan out Arthur's birthday party crafts -- We've moved his party up a month (rather be pregnant than with a tiny newborn), so I need to get this started in August. He wants a Paw Patrol theme. I have some ideas for crafty projects, but need to nail down a specific plan and start executing.

A recap of last month's goals:

June PL Pages — Success!
Prep the new baby’s PL album — Fail. The core kit I ordered didn't arrive until the very end of the month.
July Open House Crop — Success!
Post retired/sale items on Craigslist —Fail. I never got around to posting, but I did reorganize and inventory everything to put out at the craft garage sale this month.

SSINKCC36: Rainbow of Butterflies

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a card using the colors below.

Probably my most used stamp set is Papillon Potpurri, but I haven't used it lately. Time to change that! I focused on a simple explosion of colors using the big swoop from the Work of Art set and coordinating butterflies. A simple sentiment completes this beautiful card.

Variations -- I went a little crazy making butterfly cards:

Stamps: Papillon Potpurri; Work of Art; Suite Sayings
Inks: Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizzazz, Peekaboo Peach, Dapper Denim, Pink Pirouette, Emerald Envy, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Flirty Flamingo, Cucumber Crush, Tempting Turquoise, Mint Macaron, Watermelon Wonder, Sweet Sugarplum, Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizzaz, Peekaboo Peach, Dapper Denim, Pink Pirouette, Emerald Envy, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Flirty Flamingo, Cucumber Crush, Tempting Turquoise, Mint Macaron, Watermelon Wonder, Sweet Sugarplum, Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky
Accessories: Elegant Butterfly Punch; Bitty Butterfly Punch
Tools:

Sunday Haul #15

July's stamp club order came early! Woohoo! I snagged:

Playful Backgrounds Stamp Set
Seaside Shore Stamp Set
Petal Burst Embossing Folder
Labeler Alphabet Stamp Set
Metallic Foil Doilies
Softly Falling Embossing Folder
2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes