Ready, Set, Create - April/May Issue

if you don't already subscribe to Ready, Set, Create E-zine, you're missing out! Here are the highlights and sponsors from the April/May issue - and this doesn't include all the digital sponsors as well as other fantastic articles by the other Creative Team Members!!!!



My featured article: Sketchy Thursdays


Sponsor: Crafter's Workshop


Sponsor: SRM Stickers



Sponsor: PK Glitz


Sponsor: London Tierney Buttons


Sponsor: Dies Direct



Sponsor: 3 Bugs in a Rug

this week I did a card

I have had this cup colored for a few days and knew it needed to go on a card. then I looked at the newest sketch for Sketchy Thursdays!!! doh! that's where I'll use it! so here it is - my card using the sketch for April 1st.

{paper: Shabby Green Door/Ribbon: offray/Stamps: Unity Stamp Co./markers: Copics/lace: from stash/button: from stash}

Easter cuties.

photos taken at Woodward Park, Tulsa, OK. We headed out after our breakfast and made it home in time to make dinner. Good thing - the kids were outside all day with squirt guns and by the time they came in I couldn't see any signs of their skin!!! LOL











the last 2 are my favorites. We only took about 65 photos. That's good for us actually! lol But there were TONS of people at the park so getting shots without strangers in the background was a bit of a challenge. and Hailee started crying because we wanted her to smile and she "can't smile with the sun in her eyes!!!!!!!!". Love the drama of an 8 year old. :) this last shot - my favorite - the smile is there because after the tears I told her to pic a spot that would allow her to smile without the sun in her eyes....notice the absence of flowers all around the kids????? sigh. but, I'll still scrap it! just need to get some printer ink!

therapy

scrapping this picture was therapeutic. I was not happy with Hailee cutting her hair and was in denial as to how she looks. But seeing how happy she is with it - and seeing her in this picture made me change my outlook.

yes, she now looks more like an 8 year old. I think that was part of my problem. I can't handle my kids growing up! and this one...whew...she's a handful and I know it's going to be even more challenging as she gets older....the reason? we're too alike! she's got her dad's problem with hoarding everything - but she hoards the same things I do - but she doesn't organize so it drives me nuts. I find myself telling her "you don't need more pens" as I'm sneaking them into a shopping cart for myself! I am trying to deal with her turning into a young girl instead of staying a little girl. It's not easy. I don't accept change very easily! lol I thought I did but have been told otherwise. and I'm losing control! control of her! she is having to make her own decisions. make her own mistakes. learn from them. I want to protect her from all of it but I know I can't. I always catch myself wondering how my mom survived because I keep myself up so many nights worrying about my kids. that can't be healthy!

so - I decided to scrap this page with a positive outlook - make it a good thing! for her as well as myself. there's still a small part of me deep inside hoping she hates her hair and decides to grow it back out - but if not I'll accept the shorter hair, the bigger girl, the happier girl, and go on my way to watching her grow and mature. but remember - she's only 8 and she's only getting so much control! she is NOT ready to grow up all the way yet!!!! :)

{kraft cardstock; sassafras paper; American crafts letters; taylored expressions stamps; heidi swapp heart; various buttons; papertrey ink twine}

get scrapping!!!!!

June/July 2010 Page Calls
Beach and/or Pool themes

Weddings

Fourth of July

Vacations

Bright colors on white backgrounds
Dad
Layouts of any theme
Cards of any theme
Altered items of any theme
Hybrids of any theme

SUBMISSION FORM
Email:
Project title:
By:
Supplies:



Deadline: May 10, 2010 MST at midnight

Please copy and paste the short submission form into an email to Jen@readysetcreate.com. Do not abbreviate supplies or manufacturers, use bullets, tab over, or use all lower or uppercase letters.

If your work is selected you will be notified, and receive a free downloadable copy of the issue your work appears in

Submissions must not be included in any online galleries, blogs, or stores until at least 30 days after the issue your work appears in has been released.

www.readysetcreate.com

2 things to share today

first up is my layout for the 3/25/10 Sketchy Thursday challenge. I rotated it - made it 8.5x11 - and of course used only 1 photo! lol but I loved the inspiration AS ALWAYS!!!!

{kraft cardstock: bazzill/patterned paper: shabby green door /foam letters: american crafts/round tiny letters: Jenni Bowlin/twill colored with my R24 copic marker/pins: Making Memories}

Second: my daughter's artwork. She drew and colored this about a month ago or so - but it still amazes me. She does NOT get her drawing ability from me - it's from my mom or Kelly!


I do feel a little sorry for the poor ladybug getting ready to become lunch for the frog! lol

well that's all for today - I'll share some of Braden's artwork soon - you'll see that he DOES get his drawing ability from me :) LOL

have a great weekend ya'll!

my CRAZY card

I had SO much fun coloring this gal...she just makes me smile!


{paper: my mind's eye/stamp: unity/letters: making memories, jenni bowlin (they are applied to pop-dots)/pens: copic/vintage seam binding: caramelos/pins: making memories, fancy pants/embossing folder: cuttlebug}

aak! another post!

I made a card. 2 things in one day because I felt like it. go me. LOL

this card has some accidental distressing - because I really stink at rubons LOL but I added some ink and made it all ...flow...

{rubons, stamps and gems: tpc studios/cardstock: AC and paper reflections/ribbon: offray/pins: maya road/ink:ranger}

more for Sketchy Thursdays

It felt SO good to do a layout today - it's what I needed. Sanding. Distressing. Stamping. Coloring. aaaaah. and the whole time I had the new Gary Allan album playing in the background. aaaaah.

{kraft cardstock: bazzill/journal circle spot: maya road/foam 2: dollar store, Mrs. Elizabeth's/flowers: K & Company/border stamp: tpc studios/pens: copic b21 and b24/butterfly lace: scarlet lime/all the distress ink used: ranger}

ink & mist

today I played with my copic pens, glimmer mist, and colored ink pads! The stamping was fun, of course, and they're stamps that were given to me at Christmas! fun to finally use them! the mist went a bit wild - but it's different and adds a little bit of "something" that finished it off and made the white less......white. LOL

been busy

I feel I've been so busy lately - but can't find proof! lol I've made a few cards, finished up all of my design team work, started some new work-out videos, been doing REALLY good at keeping this house clean (go me!), and yet all I can remember is facebook! lol I may have to delete my account and find a new way to spend my spare time - but why would I want to??? lol if everything is getting done I see no reason to quit.

here are 2 cards that I can share now. April 1st I can share other stuff in my flikr account - so check back there if you're interested.


this was a simple thank you card made with the newest set from The Stamps of Life. Love thank you sets and this is no exception!!!!


this is a digital stamp that I received from one of the RSC sponsors a few issues back - really trying to get the hang of my copic markers and had fun coloring this one - still need practice, she's not supposed to have Auburn hair....but I'll get better because I love to color! see that yummy MME paper behind it? it's GLITTERY!!!! love it!

copics!

I received some yummy copics in the mail today from my dad and step-mom for my birthday! yay! I made this card - I have got to practice so I can do more than just a flower - but anyway I like the card!

ANOTHER sketch layout! (2/25/10)

I'm really having fun with Sketchy Thursdays - I've added the link to the sidebar so if you want to check them out just click there!

this is "build". Braden spent the entire day building - legos, blocks, and tinker-toys. I photographed his plane because I thought it was so inventive of him!

{cardstock: bazzill, wausau/patterned paper: october afternoon/tickets: tim holtz/star: heidi swapp/embossing folder: provocraft/eyelets: spare parts/twine: papertrey ink/stamps: recollections}

Valentine Photos.

Hailee asked for all of us to go to her Valentine party at school. I, of course, was already going - but she gave Darren the face he can't resist so along he went with Braden right behind. Not sure why she wanted us there, she only said a few words to us LOL. But here's her haul after she got home. Not bad -


Poor Braden - not sure why HE didn't get a box full of love, too! We just keep reminding him "next year" hoping he'll be satisfied with that answer.



I didn't get a photo of the kids with their Valentine lollipops that I "decorated" with my custom wrapping before they tore into them - just know they looked cute! lol but, my roses I did photograph! The pictures don't do the colors justice - the pink, orange, and yellow are just BEAUTIFUL!!! thank you, honey dear!!!!!

better than winning...

Sketchy Thursdays post today revealed the winner of the awesome kit - it wasn't me. BUT my layout was chosen as one of the favorites! How awesome is that? and they had almost 70 entries this week! I'm really honored and flattered.

Thanks girls!!!!

Early Bird.

I pulled out the YUMMY papers from Cosmo Cricket today. Early Bird is a gorgeous collection with fun colors and fantastic patterns! I'm not going to put it away yet - I have more plans for it! but I had to get a card done, and here is the one I made.

{Cosmo Cricket papers, Fiskars punches, Vintage seam binding and lace, button and pins, Studio G stamps, Stampin' Up ink, Papertrey Ink twine}

a new layout.

I made this layout just because I wanted to. No sketch. No sponsor product. No deadline. and it was FUN! In a magazine or on a blog I saw someone layer paper strips - that's not new to me, but layering paper strips cut from the same paper is....and I have to say, I like it!

This is Markie, Kimmie's son. The picture came in our Christmas card and I knew right away I would scrap it....Less than 2 months later i did it!

I also did the same thing on a card, but for that one I used sponsor product so you won't see it until April 1st!!!! Talk about getting a head start!!!

Happy Tuesday ♥

another challenge post

yes, I did another creative thing today! I finished the layout for the Sketchy Thursday sketch - and rather quickly considering it's only Saturday! lol

and you can tell I used a sketch because I used 3 photos - and I never...repeat NEVER...use that many unless I'm required! lol

{Scrapworks Magpie Paper, Making Memories silver clip, Office Depot white clip, American Crafts chipboard letter, Dymo labeler, lots of Ranger Ink, sharpies, Copic YG97 to color the 'b'}

I am glad I scrapped these photos together - it was a fun day last February and Braden worked hard to get that rock thrown into the water!

SRM Challenge

I found a blog that I love - it's for SRM Stickers! Well right now they have a challenge for you to use stickers and the color orange! I have lots of orange to work with, but the stickers limited me - but I used the yummy LYB paper and stickers (photo corner, sentiment, and chipboard are all stickers) and created this card - sorry for the bad image - it's a dreary day!

Snow and Ice!

images from today - ice pictures taken right as the snow started around 10am - then the kids in the snow at about 3 1/2". Last measurement was 5" but it's still falling here at almost midnight! Darren has to go do some snow removal tomorrow so I'll remind him to get a final measurement.






yep, Ollie the Wonder Pug played outside with the kids the entire time....around 45 minutes I believe.

April/May Calls!!!!

Page Calls are up at Ready, Set, Create!!!!

Sketchy Thursday

Okay - just so you know...I hardly ever do sketches. But Kimmie pushed me because...well, I needed the push. So I did the sketch for 1/21/10 and this is what I came up with.

{Crate Paper - Zoom Collection; Tim Holtz Grungeboard Star, inked with Ranger ink; Heidi Swapp Acrylic Star; American Crafts Chipboard letters}

I have to say thanks to Kimmie for the post, and to Diana at Sketchy Thursdays for the inspiration! It was her sketch this time.

for a friend.

tomorrow, my friend, Carrie, has a birthday. so I made her this card.




I used all 4 of my Copic Sketch markers! lol I need more colors, obviously, but don't tell Kimmie that - we've had a bit of a heated discussion over these markers and I don't want any more fuel in the fire! BUT - I do need more colors because I can't color my bee holding a flower with just greens and browns! lol but, now this is my opinion, I do think this dragonfly came out rather nicely! I also smeared on some glue and sprinkled a bit of glitter over her to make her *sparkly* for my dear Carrie!! The dashes were done by me and my little 8 year old thought it was the "most awesome part"! LOL

Happy Birthday, Carrie!

starting to upload pictures

okay - I promised pictures so here they are.

We started our vacation at Darren's mom and step-dad's house. We had lots of fun at the Seattle Aquarium and looking around downtown, going to see the lights at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens, and just visiting.


this gal was seriously posing for all the cameras!


Lincoln Logs are a family affair


look! Darren and I did go along for the trip!



Our next stop was at my dad and step mom's - and all of my siblings and their families were there - that made 12 of us under one roof! and it was SO nice. we all got along, got to know more about each other, and had a lot of fun. Christmas Eve was spent with the traditions I remember and love - Great Grandma and Uncle Arne and Jill came, too. Then of course Christmas morning was a blast! I don't know if my kids had more fun passing out presents or opening them! The next day we went bowling at a little, seriously little, hole in the wall bowling alley in Snoqualmie - it was fun - our group pretty much took over! then we went to the falls! I hadn't been there since Hailee was a baby! Too bad it was so cold....

and let's not forget all the fussing, and loving, and cuddling that little baby Addie received! I think Braden was in awe of her cuteness!






does it get ANY cuter than this? Aunt Briana & Uncle Parker bought all the kids matching pj's and I think they looked like little elves!!!

Tyler, the baby of the siblings, Neil and his beautiful, PREGNANT wife Jen (they just found out they are having a BOY!!!)


my chef. He was a bit spoiled. Grandma and Grandpa let him "play" with the oven! So with apron on he "cooked" dinner.

I love the look on Briana's face here - pure excitement! (Tyler next to her, Parker on the right)


She was quite the little helper - she prepared the relish tray for Christmas Eve.

I'm in love. Really. How can you not be? LOOK AT THIS BABY!!!!! My niece, Sigrid...aka Addie.
and here we all our at the end of Christmas Eve. What a great family we have.


okay - I think that's good for now. I'll edit the pictures from the other 2 houses we visited and get those posted here soon. Right now I have a 3 year old boy demanding some attention!

we're back!

we got home on Sunday the 3rd.......what a WONDERFUL trip and visit.

photo's and more details to come....rest is needed :)