Happy Saturday! My favorite day of the week!
I had a awesome day yesterday! Just awesome. Words cannot even say. Despite the fact I did NO stamping, it was great.
The people from Make A Wish called, Santa is coming to our house for Cocoa and Cookies Tuesday night!
Jason stayed home from work, we shopped, had lunch, just a fun day. No crowds either.
I got our yearly Christmas ornaments. Alexa got a gorgeous Make a Wish one! We always use to buy one anyway-except now it has more meaning.
I FINISHED my Christmas shopping! YEAH!! I know I said I wanted to be done by the 1st, but given the week long Flu and stomach bug I think I am happy to be done today! I didn’t get Jason done, but I just go around store to store and have fun with his stuff-no stress shopping KWIM?
Today I will wrap our gifts, and make Jason mail out the Christmas cards (I forgot to bring them on Thanksgiving! To save on stamps! LOL! Tacky yes, but hey can’t blame a girl for trying and wanting to be early for some people)
Now I want to give all you who have more than ONE child a easy tip for making the wrapping process EASIER-I buy each child their own special wrapping paper.
For instance
Alexa has Disney Princess, Amber has Dora, and Noah has Sponge Bob.
What is the deal with that you ask? Well, no need to LABEL each gift when wrapping, and on Christmas morning no one is accidentally opening the others gifts! They know they each have X Character wrap and thats what they go for! Each one gets a gift, and on the count of three they are allowed to open at the same time! Works great! No fighting 😀 If they all get a gift that is the same we put a X on it-so we know to have them open it together. This year they each get a themed Dance Mat. So that will get the X.
OK OK there I went WAY into my blah blah blah.
I know you are here to see a card!
Here is the sketch
You know how much I LOVE penguins, and this new Little Penguins setis SO FLIPPIN CUTE! I love that its an all occasion penguin set. Finally! One I don’t feel strange using in JUNE! LOL!
To prove it-I used no “normal” penguin colors.
Think-chocolate chip, blush blossom, groovy guava, and old olive.
Is this not so cute? You know when I think penguins I ALWAYS think Black or Grey. So not the case. Here he is brown! And he is CUTE being brown, don’t you think?
I had alot of fun using these colors, especially with this image.
I really think I want to keep the FOCUS on helping you use those smaller images. Some are just WAY TOO CUTE, and go un-used. It’s sad that images like that don’t get the proper INKING time.
So todays sketch can help you use those images-unless you use a large one for the top panel-but still, really think about it. Ever have a little stamp you say “Oh is that not adorable. Too bad I won’t really ever use it” I know I HAVE!
Now is the time.
Here I am also going to share a couple more idea for you to FOCUS on the little images.
Happy Cupcake Day!
This cupcake image is from The icing on the cake set by MFT.
I used an acrylic frame by KI Memories (ice candy) to accent the little cake. I stamped the sentiment several times, in colors like in the frame using versamagic ink. The trio of sentiments leads you eye down to the tiny image as well. I thought this was REALLY cute, and colorful, yet SIMPLE.
Some people think SIMPLE is always easy to achieve-not so. It can be even harder sometimes. The important thing is do whatever makes YOU comfortable. Stay true to your won style. I feel my “style” has endless possibilities. I can be simple, then get all distressy if I want to! LOL!
OK I feel like I’m straying from my point, and you all know how good at that I am! LOL!
Next up!
This image is from the same MFT set.
Again I used an acrylic frame-this one is from Making Memories.
Its important to not take the focus off the image, and over do it. They are little images, and can get LOST. I kissed the image with a flower fromBoho Blossom.
I also use Behind The Scenes, to create the pattern at the top. The petals are colored with my Black Copic Glitter Pen. The satin ribbon was from the Target gift wrap section (15 yds for $2.99!!).
Well I really hope this post helps you find new possibilities for old little stamps. That you may see them in a whole new light. Not just for creating backgrounds or accents on your projects.
I so hope you get to try the sketch, and link it here so we can all see it! I also hope you try the challenge! If you go out and use those little images, let me know! I want to see how you made them the focus of your creation.
Till tomorrow. I HOPE to get that tutorial done, but we will see. I have family stuff first. If not it WILL be sometime this week. I, of course ,do have other samples to share!! So stay tuned.
24 Responses for "Saturday Sketch-Pretty Penguin"
YAH! I love coming to see the sketch each Saturday! I sure do hope to get some stamping done today. Like you, I didn’t do anything yesterday. Was super busy with school volunteer stuff then off Xmas shopping in the evening. Today, Chloe and I are going to do our tree, while Dad goes shopping on his own!
Your cards are awesome! I am going to TRY and do a simple but cute card like you did today. I adore those penguins and will definitely be needing those soon!!
Have a FAB day!
[…] larry50 had some great ideas on this topic.You can read a snippet of the post here.Well, no need to LABEL each gift when wrapping, and on Christmas morning no one is accidentally opening the others gifts! They know they each have X Character wrap and thats what they go for! Each one gets a gift, and on the count of … […]
Great advice on the gift wrap for each child! GREAT cards!!! Great colors! GREAT inspiration for all of us out here that think you are a GENIUS!!!
I’m so glad you all are over the illnesses, and that you got your shopping finished! You do so much, I don’t know how, but “more power to you”!!
Have a great weekend, it’s so nice to hear that you are having a GREAT DAY! I wish you many more of those in the coming weeks!!!
~~~hugs~~~
Diane
The gift wrapping idea is great, I’ll have to remember that when my kids are a bit older. Love your card samples! I will hopefully have time to play with the sketch tomorrow. Now, I am off to order my first Bellas!
Super cute cards, as always!
I have some little images, and I will try to incorporate them into a Christmas gifty thing. I have a billion to make this week.
cute cards Lauren! I needed some inspiration this morning and used the sketch for today! I have my card posted on my blog thanks for the great sketch!
It’s pure genius to have the penguin brown, it looks so cute and unexpected 😉 I like the pink outline a lot , it really makes him stand out! 🙂 (and pink & brown is always a good combo IMO!)
I have ordered that set for Naomi (made sure first she promised she would share it with me!!) I think it will be perfect for kids’ birthday when I never know what stamps to use!…
It’s great you had some time with your hubby yesterday. With kids and busy schedules it’s hard to have some quality time sometimes! 🙂
Darling cards, Lauren!! I’m so glad you’re feeling better too! Love your wrapping paper idea! Thanks for sharing!
I *love* the little penguin and I have go to go and buy the set. I love penguin stamps but I love when they have personality to them and this set does. Your card is adorable Lauren. I prefer to work with smaller stamps so I enjoyed looking at all 3 of your cards. All of them are very pretty.
Mary
That little penguin is the most adorable penguin I have ever seen. I really like him brown, could be because brown is my fav color. I know I am weird. The girls in my wedding even wore brown, my invites were chocolate chip, the menus ditto, and the favors were hershey bars. Maybe I should seek intervention. Anywhoo, I am going to try the blog challenge and I will post back. TFS.
Lauren ~ I love these cards, especially the penquin…I love penquins 🙂
Beautiful cards – the penguin is my favorite 🙂 – I do a simular thing when wrapping my immediatel family’s Christmas gifts. I either pick a specific color for each one or a pattern – such as snowmen for Drew, Santa paper for Evan, any type of paper with reindeer for DH. Now that their are two girl friends in the mix I’ve put off my wrapping until I decide what to do for their gifts. I do make a note to remind me who gets what pattern or color each year – just in case I forget 🙂
Glad you hear your shopping is done – want to work on my for me … pretty please?
Teresa
Love the gift wrap idea..very clever! I also just read the coolest idea in an old Family Fun magazine. A lady said that when her boys were young, Santa wrote them a letter, explaining that he was awfully busy & could use some help with the gift wrapping. So, the mom took twin sheets & sewed them together into a large bag. (She even sewed their names on each!) Then, on Christmas Eve, the boys put their empty bags under the tree & Santa fills them! No wrapping whatsoever!!! I think that might be genius & I’m thinking about trying it. She said the kids are so excited to come out Christmas morning & see their bags full! But, I’d have to make sure they only reached in & pulled out one gift at a time so they didn’t see everything at once!
I have to come up with something since my 7 yr old somehow remembered the wrapping paper from last year & asked me if there really was a Santa!!! Gulp…! I about died! So, either your idea or the big ole bag idea! Thanks!
These are all SO pretty Lauren!!! What a great idea for the presents. I only have one boy, so little confusion here on Christmas!!!!!
Here is my card. Since ther are so may in my family 4 kids 5 grandchildren, each has a big box with there names on them and all there presnts in side the box. I do not have that much room for the tree with all the gifts, so thats why I do it that way.
http://www.susanscornor.blogspot.com. Susan
That penguin is just adorable Lauren!!! Looks like a little baby penguin, how sweet! 🙂 Wish I had my shopping done!
I love all your cards, you are a great inspiration!!! I totally agree with you about the wrapping paper, I have 4 kids and have done the different colored wrapping paper for years!!!It just works yah know??!!happy holidays!
Oh my….I didn’t have time to do this today…good thing there is tomorrow 😉 LOL
I did make some of your boxes from last month, I think! Put some Hershey sticks in them….hehe!
I hope to get to try your sketch…that penguin is uber cute! Glad to hear you had such an awesome day yesterday 🙂 That wrapping paper thing is pret-ty smart there chickie…may just have to give that a try, even though Shan will likely be opening ALL of the presents this year 😉
HUGS!
Me
Hi Lauren –
Great cards. I’m glad you focused on smaller stamps. Like I was mentioning to you yesterday (?), I always seem to struggle with my smaller images and then, sadly, not use them very often.
Very nice sketch. I have to copied and hoping to try it out later tonight if I get a chance.
Great idea on the wrapping paper, too. Okay, I gotta run!
Hugs to you,
Renee
Finally got around to this today, I had to break inbetween all my gift making and do something for fun!
http://www.ebethonline.com/2007/12/09/happy-cupcake-day/
Thanks for a fun sketch!
A little late, but I got to play with your sketch!!! here it is…
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/743777?cat=500&ppuser=26226
Hey Lauren! Finally got to give the sketch a go….used it for todays CC on SCS…not really pleased with it….as the colours just weren’t ME…lol…but you can take a look here if you aren’t too scared! Hhahahah! Will do another one later 😉
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/744395?cat=500&ppuser=93708
[…] also loved how I did this card, using these colors, and the same set (different image). I now {heart} […]
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