HSS 176

Hi stampers and here's the last post of 2013!  And it's been a while...I know...I know.  Hang in there with me!  Not only are we in the midst of all the holiday craziness (and we had more gatherings than normal this year it seems) but our lives are totally hectic with trying to sell our house and find a new one!  So far no luck on our house and no luck finding a new one.  Along with all the other stuff that's going on I just haven't had the time or energy to stamp or if I have one I run out of the other, lol!  Ever feel like that???  Anyway, I'm still here and hopefully I'll be picking things back up soon!  Probably just in time to pack it all up and move, right???  :-)

So, since it's Tuesday we get to ring OUT the old year and ring IN the new year with a challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  This week is an inspiration photo:

Now, I suppose you could say I used the photo pretty loosely but again, my mojo has taken Christmas break :-)  I loved the brown and pink so I went with it and I got a cameo for Christmas so I wanted to use on of the shapes I had cut out.  The birds look like a heart so the word love was perfect!

How cool is that banner?  I'm still learning the software and the machine but it's so fun!

Now, make sure to check out the rest of the inspiration from the design team and play along with us!

Happy new year and happy stamping!

HSS 157

Hi stampers and happy Tuesday!  It's time for another challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  And thank goodness otherwise I'm not sure I'd get to stamp at all if not for a challenge!

Geesh!  Time is seriously getting away from me with all the crazy going on and the holidays!  I thought I'd have plenty of time to stamp today...until I realized I was supposed to sub a strength class at the Y in the middle of the day.  So, I didn't get any stamping done in the morning since it takes me a while to get going (hehe) and then I needed to clean up because we are having a realtor open house tomorrow!  And then after I taught and had to do a little extra cardio on my own (hehe) by the time I got cleaned up it was time to go brave the Wal Mart for groceries!  UGH!  It was nuts and pretty much exhausted me, lol!  So, at least I finally got my card finished (I did manage to start it this morning).  The best laid plans, right???  And now tomorrow's another busy day and with having to clear out of the house and all AND I'm going to go hang out with my mom overnight and maybe do some shopping and more importantly have a baking day!  I seriously have like 6 kinds of cookies I want to make...and I don't even like cookies that much, lol!  It just sounds fun and Christmasy!  At least my step-dad and hubby should benefit ;-)  I'm not sure my mom knows what she's in for though after she had the idea and then I started looking at ideas on Pinterest.....and so then Wednesday is probably out too since I won't come home until later.  I'm pretty sure my hubby is ready to get rid of me so he can make a mess and brew some beer which is his new hobby!  Mmmmm cookies and beer, lol!

Ok, anyway you probably want to see the card, huh?  I have to say I kind of loved this sketch and the card! Yay!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Christmas tagables (photopolymer)
Paper:  Whisper white, crumb cake, old olive, cherry cobbler, season of style DSP, silver glimmer
Ink:  Old olive
Accessories:  Pop & Place tags, merry minis punch pack, houndstooth embossing folder

I'm really enjoying the tags on cards as much as actual tags!  And I had fun trying to figure out how to use that particular stamp on a card and not a tag since it's more suited to a tag.  I think it works pretty well here and makes a cute card.

Ok, so now that I've chatted your ear off, make sure to go check out the rest of the HSS teams creations!  They are all fabulous!  And don't forget to play along with us even though it's a crazy time of the year!

Happy stamping!

Fab Friday 33

Hi stampers and happy Friday!  It's time for a new challenge at Fab Friday and our last one before the new year.  We will take a little break and pick back up fresh in February.  So, this week is a sketch:

I have to say since I've been struggling with my creativity I had a hard time with this card and I don't love it.  Not at all.  BUT I got it done and it is what it is.  It looked cute as I was putting it together but once I got it all adhered it didn't work as well.  Oh well!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Christmas messages
Paper:  Crumb cake, whisper white, champaign glimmer paper, season of style DSP
Ink:  Real red, whisper white craft
Accessories:  Pennant punch (SAB), circle punch, framelits, gold baker's twine, chevron ribbon

I tried to put a few sneak peeks on here but they didn't really work out.  But there is a cute little pennant punch coming for SAB that you can get for FREE and the gold baker's twine and chevron ribbon from the occasions mini.  The baker's twine is really very vanilla-ish and not white.  Not sure how I feel about that yet.....

Anyway, I hope that you play along and like your card :-)

Happy stamping!

The dog ate my cards

....not really but it's the only good excuse I can come up with for my absence :-)  Hi stampers!  So just being honest here I have almost completely lost my stamping mojo.  Between talking about our move and getting our house ready to put on the market, the holidays and just all the other junk going on in life I haven't spent much time in my room.  Add the fact that it's FREEZING here and I really don't want to do ANY activity that's not on the couch with 15 blankets :-)

I seriously feel like I have ZERO ideas so I haven't been forcing it.  BUT for the past two nights I made myself sit down in there because one, I got SAB and occasions goodies AND we flip flopped our family and living rooms to stage the house better for showings and I HATE my new family room, lol!  It's not small and cozy and it's freaking COLD with a gigantic window that faces west!!!!  Anyway, while I made some cards I hate some of them but some of them are ok and the one I'm sharing today although I don't LOVE it I was thrilled to think of the idea.  Like it totally just popped in my head!  Which is odd right now.  I stare and stare at sketches which can usually get me going but not so much lately!  So anyway, I'm going to try to both stamp more and share more.  I think I did much better when I worked and was pressed for time since I knew if I didn't get it done when I had the time it wouldn't get done.  Now....I just say oh I'll do it later, lol!!!!

Ok, so since I got some new goodies I wanted to combine stuff from the holiday catalog and the occasions and I had the genius idea to put Santa in a polaroid!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps: Santa's list
Paper:  Whisper white, crumb cake, old olive, polka dot parade DSP
Ink:  Real red
Accessories:  Framelits

So last night I didn't think I liked it all that much but I like it better today I think.  And I was totally surprised when I popped the die cut out because it embosses it too!  Very cool!   But I must admit it did take me a minute to realize the die cut was stuck in the die after I cut.  I was like, where is it????  LOL! So there's a tip for that one....look IN the die, hehe!

I'm finding it really hard to figure out wether to use new mini stuff or holiday stuff!  Decisions, decisions!!!!!  So, maybe I can find more ways to combine them!!!  Ok, I'm off to the gym then hopefully home to stamp!!!

Happy stamping!

HSS 174

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday!  I know, I know...it's been forever but I'm TELLING you life is super crazy right now!  We have a LOT going on!  We had the holiday of course where we hosted my mom and step-dad for a few days so they kept me busy.

Right now, I'm posting from a hotel room where we are looking for possible ideas of places to live.  If I haven't mentioned it my hubby has quit his job and is in the process of looking at some options for a new one so obviously you see that I've got a good excuse, right? :-)  So....I had to rely on MDS for this week's Hand Stamped Sentiment challenge!

I love MDS for this reason!  It's totally portable so you can do projects on the fly so to speak as well as scrapbook things pretty much wherever you are!  So I came up with a cute and quick little Christmas card!

It's super simple but super cute I think!  Now, make sure to check out the HSS site and play along!

I promise to get in my stamp room this week and share (unless something ELSE crazy comes up, lol)!

And please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this stressful and crazy time!!!!!  There are lots of things going on and with the holidays it's just nuts!  ME, the Christmas freak hasn't even gotten the tree up yet!  Yeesh!  And I HATE moving with a passion so this should be fun!  I'd rather clean toilets with a toothbrush and that's saying something because I'm kind of freaked out of toilets too!  ;-)

Happy stamping!