that I have it all together? Seriously this week I don’t!

Im running around like a chicken with her head HALF off. If you could be in my brain for 2 seconds you’d be drop dead exhausted and confused! LOL! I swear. Not to mention the mojo is taking a BIG hit. Not good. I must sleep tonight.

I had this card done, and could not get my batteries charged on my camera. Then came time to photograph my work, and I forgot THIS card. So I had to go back and do it all over. Then I accidentally deleted it, then my photo software decided it didn’t like the file, so I couldn’t edit it-now here it sits, unedited but finally posted!

 You’re a hoot

I can’t tell you how much I am just LOVING birds, and owls these past few months! Its seriously crazy. If its a bird, or owl I must have it.

Anyway-this super cute Owl is NEW! from C.C. Designs 😀 It is called Hootin Good Time! This owl in particular is like my favorite! I just got it the other day and really have so many more idea! Check this out-to get a chance to win your set FREE!!!

The little branch is by Imaginisce I just LOVED it.

I’ll have another sample tomorrow with an image form another set from Christine that will be released May 4th!

I am having a fabulous birthday to be week. I got some great news that Ill share tomorrow. NO its not another design team or stamping gig, I swear. Its like a super birthday gift I never thought I’d get! LOL!

I FINALLY finished all my projects and most of the details for my classes at The Paper Tree!! I am living there on May 31st. From 10 am to 5 pm I will be there teaching.  I think Michelle knows my voice by now, after 600 phone calls, and me freaking out. She has been very supportive.

She is making up the list so I hope to share my schedule here once I can. I am also thinking of a children’s Father’s Day Class!! I’m REALLY excited about that one. I did the project today, now I need to make sure it all works like it is suppose to. Cross your fingers & toes please!!!

OK Im sure this is all getting old, it has just consumed me since I decided to take the plunge. That hardest part is over-WHEW!

Gosh do you feel like you are listening to Charlie Browns mother? Whawhahwhahwhahablahblah

OK back to do more work.

Noah is sick with some sort of stomach bug so Im holding buckets and typing in between! WOW! Its amazing what women can do. I think the definition of Mother is multi-tasking!!

Back to that!

Check back here tomorrow! Im hoping to get 2 peeks listed.

Lot’s of posting to do, so make sure you take it ALL in. I have several posts a day to share!  

Its great to be celebrating a “birthday” over the next few days that lead up to my very own birthday! Love it!  Here are some deets!

Happy Birthday Contest!Pink Cat is turning 3 on Sunday May 4^th and her friends the party chicks are having a little celebration. They want you to win the new Party Farm Animal stamps that will be released on Sunday. To enter this contest, count the number of party hats in this image and leave a comment with your count in the Happy Birthday Contest post on the Pink Cat Studio blog.Everyone who leaves a comment (AT THE PINK CAT STUDIO BLOG-NOT HERE!! ) will be entered into a draw to win the stamps. This contest will end on Friday May 2^nd at midnight EST and the winner will be announced on Sunday May 4^th.

Thanks for playing! Good luck

Now for a peeky!

Todays post includes the new Party Farm Animals set (to be released May 4th) and a new background sheet that is also getting released!

 Clebration chicks

How cute are these little chickies? I so LOVE them. I don’t think you can tell, but theya re all flocked. So they are not only adorable, but fuzzy!

This is Papertrey Ink lemon tart, and summer sunset linen ribbon.

Thanks for looking!

WHOA! Look out!! Its a peek at the New! Pink Cat Studio release! This is one of the MANY images from the Party Farm Animals set.

Melissa said we could pick ANY image we wanted to share today. Well I love this one because it gives a MAJOR peek, and the animals featured in the set. Since I hate waiting for things, so I figured you may enjoy seeing the UBER cute images 😀

 Stacks of Celebration

I absolutely LOVE it. I always loved when people made their farm animals stack on another, but I was always too lazy to bother with that! LOL! I loved this card. Its like the animals are falling off the mat they are on. Just totally crazy.

The papers are a variety of SEI. Love SEI!! I then took the co-ordinating animals sounds and stamped them next to its animal owner.

 I think this is one of the cutest animal sets I have ever seen. I know I squealed like a little piggy when I saw them! LOL!

I am so lovin Melissa and the girls on this team. What a way to help ring in my 30th birthday, than to begin to design for PCS. 

Make sure you check the Pink Cat Studio blog for a collection of samples daily through the 4th! I will post one here daily as well. There are some really cute things the girls have done with the sets. I really love looking at the many ideas so many people can get from the very same images. Its just crazy sometimes. That goes for every stamp from every company.

Till tomorrow-Ill have MORE PCS samples, and NEW! C.C. designs stuff too. So please check in again tomorrow!

Hello from under my work pile! LOL!

I am having a blast, and I LOVE being busy. Before anyone thought I got smothered under my work pile, I figured I better stop by and make an appearance! No worries, I’m OK. This is all a very GOOD kind of busy. I really live for this stuff and the challenges.

STILL finalizing my class options, writing up directions, and supplies for my first class. I was SO excited to hear many of you already called about booking your spot in a class with me! I so hope my projects meet your expectations!!

It will be so cool to finally meet so many of you in one day. YEAH!!

Well Thursday I have an article going live for Craft Critque. Make sure you check it out then! I will be sharing this frame with you!

 Grown with love

This is one of the gifts that I will be giving to my mom, for Mother’s Day! It is her favorite photo my family. It was taken on her sun porch. I decided to convert it to black & white, so it will match my AWESOME paper flower basket. The wood in the frame matches the furniture in her dining room, as well as the lavender color in her accessories as well.

My mom always planted Pansy’s when we were kids. They always remind me of her. When I found the Gingko leaf punch is used to create paper pansy’s I knew I had to get it.

Here is a closer view from the side

This is a special box frame that is made specifically to hold 3D items. I bought this at Walmart I believe. Or it could have been Michaels. Not sure. It was one of those things that it was on SALE and I KNEW I’d need it eventually! I think I’ve had it for about a year, just waiting for the PERFECT project.

Now close-up front view.

 I used stickles for the flower centers for MORE interest.

The basket is a stamp that is made to go WITH the punches!! Cool huh? This one is from Make an Impression, and can be found HERE. Talk about extending the mileage from your punches, and combining 2 great hobbies into ONE! LOVE IT.

For the basket-I stamped and embossed it with gold EP. Then I colored with my Copic’s. I went on to create the paper pansy’s. I used textured Bazzill cardstock, and my markers (as directed from a book) to create this real look.

 The sentiment is from Garden of Life

Well I hope you like it. More importantly I hope my mom LOVES it! LOL! I think she will. She has been at me to get her this photo for some time now.

Well its back to stamping for me. Thank you again for the support in my new ventures. You all are just the BEST!!!!

Tomorrow starts the Sneak Peeks!! YEAH!! I hate being on the other end of sneak peeks, because I need it yesterday, and having to wait is PURE torture!

 TTFN

(ta ta for now-as Tigger from Winnie The pooh would say!) I don’t know what compelled that, but I’m so going with it.

I AM alive! I always feel so missed an appreciated when I open my email to find so many people wondering where I am, because Im late posting. Makes a girl feel LOVED!!

MWAH!

I am here, just buried with deadlines. That is a good thing. In the meantime some eye-candy.

 Little Apple Tree

Well you *may* recognize this from the Lizzie Anne Designs newsletter, a few months back. I so love this set, In the Treetop, and it has really gone UNDER USED! If you don’t remember it, then pretend I never mentioned it! LOL!

I never got to post it, so its new to here!

The “apple’s” are my home made dew drops. I LOVED the look this had when I made it.

Many ask HOW I got my home made “dew drops” colored. Well I used my copic markers! You can also use Sharpie makers! Now you get a rainbow of colors with ONE purchase.

This card color combo is so fresh looking to me-teal, rose red, and river rock kind of colors.

On this card I used the kissing technique to get the leaves on my tree. The little bird is in the Spotz circle. The main layers are mounted onto vellum for a softer look. I love this clean and simple-yet layered layout.

Yes I do have some ROCKIN NEW!! stuff to share, but the last week of the month is INSANELY busy for me here! Always. I have release work to finish up (peeks for a few companies start on the 30th! YEAH), and so the many things I have done need to stay under wraps. I also get my PTI stuff which can cause me to get lost in a creative whirlwind for days! LOL! Plus Amber is finishing dance, my birthday is coming, which I am starting to get excited about-no idea why! Maybe because Jason said he will take me shopping!

After going to the stamp store I am considering a Cricket (thanks to Paulette for raving about it, maybe Ill just steal hers here & there! LOL!) Opinions on that welcome here PLEASE!!!

Then I have been designing my class projects!! Looks like I am going to TRY to do 3 different classes on May 31st!! Starting at like 10am! Ill keep you posted.

Many of you asked about mail order classes. I am going to have to look into that. Pretty cool idea.

Well thank you all for checking in and supporting me in all my endeavors! It means the world to me-seriously! I also cannot wait to meet so many of you at the classes. This is going to be so cool.

Till tomorrow!

First I want to thank each and every one of you for the encouragement re: teaching classes at the LSS. I have tossed this idea around and you are right! Life is too short! Why not give it a try? I decided YES!!! I am going to try teaching a class at The Paper Tree in Manchester NH.

Now I need to brainstorm some fabulous template for the first Scor-Pal class ! I will call Michelle today and give her my YES! I think I will do my first class on May 31st. If she has it open. Details to follow. I will defintely take the advice of you all, and post info about each one. I know I have a zillion questions for her, she will most likely go insane with me. I’m really excited.

Thanks to Paulette, not only is she my enabler friend,  she was there as what we called my manager! LOL! She is on the outside looking in, and sees things I may not. She was very encouraging and I so appreciated that. Little does she know Im going to have to make her take my classes, for honest feedback! LOL!

OK onto today’s post.

On a sad note-speaking of Scor-Pal, my dear friend (and owner/creator of Scor-Pal) Diana, lost her fur baby Denver. Denver was a Jack Russell, Llaso Apso cross. She was 14. That is a long time to have a dog, then lose it. Just heartbreaking.

I always make cards for NOTHING, and finally wanted to make one with meaning and purpose.

I felt compelled to make her a sympathy card, but I had never made a DOG sympathy card before, so was a little un-sure what to do.

Diana had shared a photo of her with me, and I decided it would be perfect to include in the card.

 Goodbye Denver

This is a little peek at one of the new MFT set’s, that will release on May 4th called Friends Furever. I used the dog bone tag image. Kim at MFT gave me special permission to post this early (thank you Kim). I also used essential sentiments for the Deep Sympathy on the dog bone.

Now this set isn’t a “sad” set, its is actually a very cute set (wait till you see the other images), but I was able to get so much versatility from it. Nothing a little sponging can’t handle.

This paper is by Basic Grey-the Mellow collection. I used an EK success paw punch, and positioned everything so you can see some of the dogs on the paper through them. The AC thickers “D” is for her initial.

All in all I hope this doesn’t make her sad. I made it truly from my heart, to let her now I was thinking of her. I hope it inspires you to create something for such an occasion if you need to. I think a photo is always a great thing to be able to include with this sort of thing. This is the CLOSEST I get to scrapping!

I have a jillion things to get done for releases (YEAH!!that is a good complaint), so wish me much MOJO! I am going to need it.

Till tomorrow.

Who is there?

Oppourtunity.

Oppourtunity who?

For you! Can I come in?

Well you are probably wondering what the heck I am talking about. Read on please!

Paulette and I went to The Paper Tree today! What fun we had.  That store has some fabulous stuff. Elzybells, A Muse, and Cat’s Pajama’s to name a few. We won’t get into the paper and ribbon! WOW!! I felt right at home.

After we enabled some woman to buy certain stamps, and aScor-Pal , we sat and chatted with the owner Michelle for at least an hour. She said she liked me, and my excitement for this. WOW! I guess I must be a walking billboard for this hobby I love so much. I just can’t hide it. She asked me if I wanted to teach classes at her store in Manchester NH!! Whenever I want, I set my own hours! I can do whatever projects I want. I just need to think about it, and schedule a date!

Let me say she was SUPER nice to talk to. We really hit it off.

Now many of you know I use to be a Stampin’Up! Demo. I have NO problem talking and teaching people, large groups, no problem. If anything I can’t shut up. I enjoy people getting excited about this whole hobby. So here lies my dilemma.

ANSWER ME THESE QUESTIONS!

Should I open the door?  Should I take the plunge and attempt a class? My first one would be a project I design, using the Scor-Pal! I love that thing.

Do you live in the area?

 Would you attend one of my classes if you could?

My issue is failure. I don’t want to jump and not know where I am jumping too. I also don’t like wasting my time.

If you would like to take a class with me, feel free to tell me what you want to learn! I can do ANYTHING!! BE HONEST!!! I can take it.

I really think its a good opportunity, that I can do on my own schedule! I’m thinking of hosting several classes one Sat. a month! I can spare that. It would also help me earn some $$$ for stuff for our family.

Don’t worry I’m not dropping any DT work, or stopping my blog! I Love doing everything I am now.  This is just bonus where fun and having a “job” I may love collide.

What are your thoughts? Should I go for it?

Thanks for the input!!

Lauren

Oh GOSH! This is officially the last week of me being in my 20’s. YIKES! I have SO much to share today. Shocker, I know, I am always so long winded. Sorry.

I did not do well accomplishing my goal to look HOT! Instead Im NOT! LOL! That is OK. I have a year right? ;D My birthday is next Saturday. Should be fun. We are going to Newick’s for dinner, with some of our friends. I will FINALLY get some Lobster. So NOT in season. We live near Maine which has THE BEST lobster-ever! We aren’t traveling there though, just to Concord NH. Since my darling hubby HATES seafood, I rarely get to have any. I told him this is my birthday, my choice! I don’t think I have had lobster since we have been together. That is a long time. It better be

 de-lic-ious :

1. Highly pleasing or agreeable to the senses, especially of taste or smell.
2. Very pleasant; delightful: a delicious revenge.

Speaking of Birthday’s………………

Who’s got Pink eye?

 That would be Pink (Cat Studio) Eye Candy (aka sneak peek), and Blog Candy too!! Stay here for the peek, go here for your chance at the blog candy-to win your FREE set!!

Don’t you just love Melissa’s interactive party icon? I so wish I could figure that stuff out. You should have seen me trying to figure out HOW to load this thing. In reality VERY easy, now I know. But it took me Eon’s.

I think I am going to be going back to school this summer. I looked into some things, and I am possibly taking a computer/graphic arts course. Cool huh? I won’t be so computer challenged after-all!! I may even get the knack, and knock your socks off! LOL! I’ll keep you posted.

Anyway-you aren’t going to want to miss her next release. WAY CUTE! If you like cutesy (which we all know I do) then you will LOVE this new set.

It was so sweet of Melissa to let me share a little peek at this new set, here with you today. Since I only used a snippet of one of the MANY images, and I so LOVED this sketch and felt I HAD to use it 😀 She said OK!

So here it is-with your sketch! (click to enlarge that if you like)

How cute huh? Now you get to see a part of why Im so excited.

NOTE: The candles and sentiment are from Lizzie Anne’s-Happy Birthday set. It just went SO WELL, that I had to use it. I was inspired by my American Crafts ribbon, with this design. Lovin the colors of this, let me tell you.

Aqua Mist, Navy, Pumpkin, Summer Sunset

This is the Sketch Take #2

You may recognize this sample from yesterday’s blog hop! That was fun! I did my best to “hop” and still be there for the family. I’m in awe of the amazing things you all created with the challenge! WOW!!

Anyway-the above sample was inspired by my Sketch above! I think it adds a fun twist. It’s a layout that you can make as simple or complex as you want. I love the options this invites. I am a simpler kind of girl most often. Feel free to try one, or both! Send us a link here so we can all see your take on it. I can’t wait to see what you do!!

I am off to enjoy the day! My bestest shopping enabler friend Paulette and I are off to what sounds like an AMAZING new stamp store in Manchester called The Paper Tree!! Can’t wait to see what yummies they have in store for us!! I love finding new places to shop. WE are not a good pair. We just make each other buy everything. She isn’t the one who will tell you that you DONT need it, and put it back. She is the devil on your shoulder saying YES! Buy it! You deserve it! You will make wonderful things with it! -SERIOUSLY!

Be back tomorrow-with a full report! (Jason skips the reading of my blog on the weekends LOL!) Plus my birthday is next week and I don’t have any obvious must have’s (shocking I know), so he is all for letting me just shop. Fun stuff. 

Speaking of shopping………………

ENABLER ALERT!!

Punch Bunch Punches & the Paper Garden book are HERE! Don’t miss them! You have seen that I {heart} them. I even have an article on each, to be published on Craft Critique this May!!

If you have something you want, just email Christine and she will add it to the next order. I just ordered the Lily petals, balloon, oak leaf, sun punch AND the tool kit to add to my slowly growing collection. Didn’t have the tool kit yet!!

Oh and FANTASY FILM is here too in 10 colors. I got a few more of those too.

LASTLY, I went to Michaels and Martha Stewart had so many new amazing punches. Yes, you will see them all on my creations soon I am sure. Just and FYI, that she has some MUST have’s.

OK I’m out of energy. SOOOOOOO, your “homework” for today-try the sketch, link it, and I’ll be back tomorrow.

Lauren

Let the FUN begin!

Papertrey Ink is hosting a MONTHLY Blog Hop, on the 25th of every month! Details HERE!

This month’s challenge from Nichole:

I’ve always loved the combination of multiple patterns in small bits & pieces.  For your challenge this
month I am providing you with a special document I designed just for you!  I have created several small
squares of our new Father Knows Best papers for you print at home.  (This is especially nice for those
of you who may not have tried our patterned papers before!)  Your challenge is to use this “Paper
Pieces” sheet creatively.  Whether that means leaving it whole, cutting it into strips or punching out
shapes.  Mix & match patterns and have fun experimenting.  I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
-Registration will close at 12am EST on March 23rd  for bloggers wanting to participate.                                   Download the Father Knows Best Patterned Paper HERE

———————————————————————————————-

 I thought of using EVERY square, then I quickly ditched that idea when I got a brain cramp! Yes, that is what I call my mental creative block, if and when I over think something. I had 2 idea’s I was able to execute, using a total of 7 squares.

So I hope you like my interpretation of the challenge.

Here is #1-using 4 of the squares 😀

 Fun in the sun flower

I loved the rich summery colors this whole combo had-summer sunrise & chocolate chip. I kept thinking Retro Style Sunflowers! I was REALLY inspired by the images outlined in the deep brown-like the leaves pattern, and the retro squares.

I made my 4 blocks layer first. I stamped the open flower image from Beautiful Blooms, in brown StazOn, onto the acetate layer. Loving my white Maya Road blooms, I found one that matched and layered it BEHIND the acetate! I used a mini EK Success punch-also matched (score!!!) for the center, and secured them together with a copper brad. LOVE IT!

I added the sentiment from Simple Little Things anniversary set-cause I love the font, and never have enough thank you’s!

Leave a comment,  Ill pick a random winner to mail this to, left blank, so you can use it as you wish.

Next up

Miss you-3 more squares

Now I got to use 3 more squares! I wish it had been more, but I really wanted this VERY clean looking.

This is the card you can make, if you need a million! LOL! It was SO easy, and took UNDER 4 minutes-I kid you not. That includes coming up with the whole “idea/layout”. Not too bad. Plus its a step up from a single layer. You could obviously REALLY simplify this, even using one layer and one sqaure.

I just punched my butterflies from the paper FIRST, then punched out the squares. Layered on choc. chip squares, with dimensionals, and layered on my white base. That was layered on Choc. chip, sentiment in corner-DONE.

I like that the butterfly appears to be flying away. Just so cool. I LOVE all thing butterfly, so this is my kind of card.

Well I am dying to see what you all came up with. I’m off to “blog hop”

Come back tomorrow for the random.org winner of the card, and my Saturday Sketch!

Till then.

Cowboy Up-definition by Urban Dictionary:

 Billy Buckaroo

Don’t you all LOVE the Billy set? Seriously he is just so adorable. I love him. He has made BOY cards not only fun, but something I’m looking forward to.

It is time I Cowboy Up with the Blogger’s Challenge group I belong to. Sadly it had been a couple of week’s since I posted with the challenge. Life got busy and I had other things going on, so it was hard to participate, AND some I just plain ole didn’t like! LOL! I swore this week I would participate. No matter what. So I did!

You can find links to the other Blog Challenge members on my sidebar. I know like a ba-jillion more people have joined, and I haven’t really updated it-SORRY :C But check out the other player’s!

We were challenged to use a Color Challenge of chocolate chip, brocade blue, so saffron, and certain celery. I thought-OK I can do that. I often don’t do well with color challenges. I feel very limited. On this, I rebelled a bit, and threw in a real red bandana around his neck! LOL! I only used a saffron for his hair. I then added a larger amount with the star (which is outlined with my ATyou glitter pen), and a masculine sort of floral panel. The flowers have that gray-ish blue sort of center to them. I kind of liked that unexpected element.

I found this super cute burlap sack of Bubble Gum nugget’s at Michaels, and thought it would be the cutest little thing to accompany this card!

So that is that.

If you got Billy and made something with him, post us a link so we can all drool!

CONTEST ALERT!! Click HERE! Enter to win the New Pink Cat Release 😀

I’ll be back tonight 5 pm EST with my Papertrey Blog Hop Challenge! So Ya’ll come back now, ya hear! LOL! I know-shut up Lauren.

See ya later.