February Crafting Goals

A recap of last month’s goals:

• December Daily Pages -- Fail. I just didn't get around to it. Hoping to tackle this soon...
• Finish (and send out) Holiday albums) -- Success! I managed to complete them and send before I left Indiana.
• Finish 2017 Memory Planner -- Fail. Too busy doing other projects.
• Layout 2018 Memory Planner -- Fail. Ditto.
• Reevaluate my ongoing and leftover projects -- 50% fail. I started this, but I know I need to pull everything out!
• Restart Stamp Club for January through June -- Success! I have three ladies ready to craft a few months.
• Rejoin the SSINK Design Team -- Success! I joined the team again and started posting cards. 
• Schedule January, February, and March events and classes -- Success! I have a rotation of craft classes, crop days, coffee and cards, and stamp clubs on the calendar.

February Goals:

• Lay out my Craft purchases for Feb, Mar, and April -- I want to make sure I purchase strategically throughout the rest of the Occasions Catalog and Annual Catalog (well, before preorder for the next AC begins).
• Evaluate my unfinished projects -- I wanted to do this in January, but never really got around to it. I need to pull everything out, notate my progress, prioritize, and get started completing!
• Complete one unfinished project -- See above
• Lay out and complete February and March SSINK cards -- I've got some cards done for February, but I love to work ahead. I want to get my cards for the next two months done before the retreat (Feb. 22nd)
• Print pictures for MP 2017 and December Daily 2017 -- I know that I need to print some pics for these two photos before tackling them. 

Foil Panel Birthday

Today's card is an awesome CASE from Martha Inchley @ Inch of Creativity. I loved the idea of the layered foil pieces on a clean white base. I changed up the sentiment and shapes, but the rest I kept the same. Such a great colorful card. 

Detail of the shiny foil

• Stamps: Thoughtful Banners
• Inks: Berry Burst
• Cardstock: Foil Frenzy DSP; Berry Burst; Soft Sky; Lemon Lime Twist; Tangerine Tango; Whisper White
• Accessories: In Color Bitty Bows
• Tools: Duet Banner Punch

Currently

Reading: The English Wife by Lauren Willig; It was my December Book of the Month selection, but I didn't get it until I came back from Indiana on the 10th. I'm about 1/3 of the way through it and loving this book!

Watching: J and I are watching S2 of People of Earth. So weird, but right up our alley.

Listening: Catching up on What Should I Read Next? podcast. I love the discussion of and recommendation of books. 

Making: I made blueberry scones for our playdate today. I love making (and eating) scones!

Feeling: Everyone is back to being healthy, I'm relatively rested, feeling okay right now.

Planning: The retreat is in less than a month! I'm so incredibly excited for a few days away to relax without my kids. I'm planning the last few bits of the logistics, buying non-perishables, and prepping a few other items. 

Loving: I've been sneaking in some more reading time every day. Loving the extra pages!

Sending a Valentine

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to homemade Valentine. I don't really make Valentines or Valentine cards, but I came as close as I could. I paired some of the new Occasions Catalog DSP, a fun die cut, and an Annual Catalog stamp set. I was going to add a another layer with our sentiment, but realized that I could just stamp directly onto the pattern paper. Perfect! From there, I stamped and die cut some cute butterflies. Love this card!

• Stamps: Lots of Love
• Inks: Rich Razzleberry; Calypso Coral; Melon Mambo; Powder Pink
• Cardstock: Painted with Love DSP; Rich Razzleberry; Melon Mambo; Powder Pink
• Accessories: Wink of Stella
• Tools: Bold Butterfly Framelits; Butterfly Thinlits

Sunday Haul #1

I haven't posted any of the supplies I got over the Christmas Break. That changes today. Look at all the goodies I got this week!

• Gold Foil
• Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Blends
• Bronze Stampin' Blends
• Ivory Stampin' Blends
• Party Pandas
• Magical Mates Framelits
• Magical Day Stamp Set

Balloons Galore!

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a card using our favorite Occasions Catalog DSP item. I love the bright colors and images in the Picture Perfect Party DSP stack! For today's card, I decided to keep it simple to highlight this fun piece of DSP! I added a simple strip of stamped Whisper White with a coordinating layer. As a final touch, I added some of the new awesome adhesive backed Tutti-Frutti Sequins.

• Stamps: Picture Perfect Birthday
• Inks: Berry Burst; Lemon Lime Twist; Pool Party; Peekaboo Peach
• Cardstock: Picture Perfect Party DSP; Lemon Lime Twist; Basic Black; Whisper White
• Accessories: Tutti-Frutti Adhesive Backed Sequins
• Tools: 

Holiday Albums 2017 Part 2

***Photo Dump Ahead***

Every year, I make my mother, grandmother, and mother-in-law scrapbooked Holiday albums celebrating that season. I ended up making three albums this year, but I somehow didn't take any photos of the album I sent to my mother-in-law. Each album is different in terms of papers and embellishments. Most of the photos stay the same. 

This particular album was made for my mother.

Riding with Van Gogh

Today's card is part of my die cuts class (January - March). I knew I wanted to build a bike for one of our cards. Once deciding on a color palette, I started adding accessories for my bike. I picked this great sentiment from the Just Add Text set to compliment my scene. As a final touch, I stamped some leaves and flowers. Love this cute card; it reminds me of spring. 

P.S. In my mind, the dog is named Van Gogh...

• Stamps: Bike Ride; Jar of Love; Just Add Text
• Inks: Rich Razzleberry; Calypso Coral; Old Olive; Daffodil Delight; Chocolate Chip; Crumb Cake
• Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry; Calypso Coral; Whisper White
• Accessories: 
• Tools: Build a Bike Framelits

Holiday Albums 2017 Part 1

***Photo Dump Ahead***

Every year, I make my mother, grandmother, and mother-in-law scrapbooked Holiday albums celebrating that season. I ended up making three albums this year, but I somehow didn't take any photos of the album I sent to my mother-in-law. Each album is different in terms of papers and embellishments. Most of the photos stay the same. 

The particular album below was intended to be given to my grandmother. Unfortunately, she passed away on January 2nd before it was completed. It is being sent to my grandfather who I know will enjoy it, but I am devastated that my grandmother never got to enjoy this one.

Painted Celebration

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a card using our favorite Sale-a-Bration item. For my card, I used two! As soon as I saw the SAB brochure, I knew that I needed to own the Amazing You Stamp Set and Celebrate You Thinlits immediately. They are cute on their own, but together they create such a lovely card. I started with my small piece of Whisper White and stamped some fun candles and sprinkles. I die the "celebrate" and then stamped the "let's" to to my placement correct. I layered the piece onto some Melon Mambo cardstock before layering onto some truly gorgeous paper from the Painted with Love Specialty Designer Series Paper pack. It's a little hard to tell in the photo, but the paper features strips of gold foil. This card is super shiny!

• Stamps: Amazing You; Picture Perfect Birthday
• Inks: Rich Razzleberry; Calypso Coral; Powder Pink; Melon Mambo; Daffodil Delight
• Cardstock: Painted with Love DSP; Gold Foil; Rich Razzleberry; Melon Mambo; Whisper White
• Accessories: 
• Tools: Celebrate You Thinlits