Hi-ya Peeps

Sometimes you never know how good you've got it until you leave. I thought I was doing what was best for me by leaving a job I've held for seven years because it was time...time to grow, time to do what I went to school for, time for a change. So I left. And it was ok. Just ok. The new gig wasn't for me. I had the opportunity to obtain my old job again and I didn't let it pass up. I was welcomed with open arms by the ladies I left and by the ladies who covered for me for two months. Thank you, peeps at work, thank you for welcoming me back. Thank you for bringing me back to the land of normal.

Peeps. Those marshmallowy, much too sweet, brightly colored sugar-coated candies that emerge for the Easter holiday. After noticing some Peeps peeking out in the corner of the inspiration board at Off the Wall Craftiness and staring at Critters in the 'Burbs, my only critter set that I could use for The Lawnscaping Challenge, Calling All Critters, I knew what I wanted to do! I know it's an unconventional Easter card, and a non-cutesy Critter card, but I liked that I found another way to use my stamps.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) OfficeMax, (Teal) SU
Patterned Paper: (Papyrus) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Critters in the Burbs) Lawn Fawn, (Fillable Frames #2) PTI
Ink: (Bashful Blue Pigment) SU, (Onyx Black) Versafine, (Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain Distress) Ranger
Other: (Teal Marker) SU, (Black Pen) Pilot, (Natural Twine) May Arts, (Rubon Letters) Making Memories

Stranded

My car stalled right in the middle of the county highway. After rolling to the side and calling my husband to rescue me, I sat there waiting. And waiting. After a few minutes I noticed a bluebird just sitting there on the telephone wire above me. Watching. And waiting with me. He never flew away, he never seemed to move. He just watched and waited. As soon as my husband rolled up behind me, the hues of blue fly away. I knew in my heart that the bluebird was sent by someone to be my protector those long thirty or so minutes.

This is just one of the many reasons why bluebirds will always be special to me...

The Lawnscaping Challenge is all about a splash of color. Having gone through a recent personal rough patch in regards to work, etc., I remembered the power of the bluebird and created this card. Instead of the black tones, I reached for the cream and brown, with a pop of blue.

The inspiration for the general design and neutral color theme came from the challenge at Scrapbooker's Paradise.

On a side note: I really like that I can use challenges as inspiration points, and appreciate it when they help to recall why I make cards. Thank you to all those wonderful crafters who put so much time and talent into running the challenge blogs.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max, (Teal) Bazzill
Patterned Paper: (Basics White) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Critters in the Burbs, Sophie's Sentiments) LawnFawn
Ink: (Walnut Stain and Antique Linen Distress) Ranger
Other: (Natural Burlap String) May Arts, (Glossy Accents) Ranger, (Woodgrain Embossing Folder) Craft Expressions, (Tag Punch) McGill

Swimming Things

Me: Cole, tell me about my card.
Cole: Me? Ok. Ummm. There's swimming things, and I like it mama. It's like the, and I like the, the thank you, I like the writing on that. I like the cuttin' of the swimming things. I like the color of the white. Umm, I like the white lines there, it looks cool in the water like the water is poppin' up. Umm, I'll tell you something kind of funny. The swimming things. I like the beaks. It's like they are one colors of the other. Like that color should have been on that one and that one should have been on the third one. Ok, I'm done.
Me: Thanks Cole.

The Lawnscaping Challenge #4 is all about Paper Piecing, so affectionately explained (later than sooner) by my seven year old son in the conversation above. The fabulous prize this time around is a Guest Designer Spot for the next challenge, and a Fly Free Stamp Set by Lawn Fawn! The deadline to link up your paper pieced cards featuring Lawn Fawn Stamps is Wednesday, March 2nd. Can't wait to see what you come up with! Guest designing for the Lawnscaping Challenge has been so much fun, Laurel is an amazing and supportive design team coordinator with a ton of great ideas up her sleeve. Thank you for the honor, I {heart} Lawnscaping Challenges.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max
Patterned Paper: Daisy D's
Stamps: (Swimsuit Season, Sophie's Sentiments) LawnFawn
Ink: (Onyx Black) Versafine
Embellishments: (Black Enamel Accents) Ranger
Tools: (Corner Chomper) WR Memory Keepers

Doin' a Bit of Lawnscaping

For The Lawnscaping Challenge that is! I'm so very honored to be guest designing for this new, upcoming challenge featuring all things Lawn Fawn! In tune with the holiday coming shortly, this time around the challenge is all about love, to be interpreted in any way you wish!

Now I wish I would have had these adorable stamps, or even these, but I chose to go with this set and this sentiment set to represent love on my "old school" office anniversary card. A bit of distressing, coloring, paper piecing and glossy accents helped me achieve look.

 
Here's the skinny on the challenge: Use any Lawn Fawn Stamp to represent your interpretation of Love and upload your cards to the Lawnscaping Challenge site by February 16th. The winner receives their choice of any Lawn Fawn set. (Wow, I wish I could be in the running for this one!)

Thank you again, Laurel, and The Lawnscaping Challenge Team, for having me as a guest designer this month. And I would be remiss if I didn't give a quick shout out to Erin as well, for sending me my first LawnFawn set! Thank you!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific, (Pink) SU
Patterned Paper: (Yellow Text from Twitterpated Collection) Pebbles, (Pink Grid) SU
Stamps: (Just My Type, Sophie's Sentiments) Lawn Fawn
Ink: (Onyx Black) Versafine, (Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger
Other: (Enamel Accents) Ranger, (Colored Pencils) PrismaColor, (Labels 4 Nestabiltiies) Spellbinders, (Black Floss)

Two'fer

I remember the days when my youngest baby's grins were toothless, and my oldest and I would wait and wait for his "toofers" to come in, as he called them. Long enough time ago, now he's a bit sassy and him and his mouth full of pearly whites says things like: I "arm" going to do it myself and "we gonna go water "sishin".

But I digress with those fond memories.... Today I have two cards to show you for two challenges, thus a "two-fer".

This first card is a CASE of this card by Kelly Marie for the new Lawnscaping Challenge! I kept the layout and even the patterned paper the same, but switched out the sentiment and image. The phone has a wire cord and enamel buttons. Thanks to this challenge, I learned a lot of tips from Kelly's video that she posted about the CASEd card.

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This next card is a CASE from Carly's at Paper in Bloom for the latest Waltzingmouse Stamps Release Party Contest. I really liked how Carly incorporated a fabric medium so I tried my hand at some cut canvas that I distressed with ink. I was also inspired by the layering of the stamped rose that some members did for Claire's Birthday Blog Hop, so I included that technique to my card as well.

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Supplies Used: Thinking of You
Cardstock: (So Saffron, Buckaroo Blue) SU, (Vintage Cream) PTI
Patterned Paper: (Thrift Shop Collection) October Afternoon
Stamps: (Just My Type, Sophie's Sentiments) Lawn Fawn
Ink: (Onyx Black) Versafine, (Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger, (Taken with Teal Pigment) SU
Other: (Black Enamel Accents) Ranger, (Yellow Marker) Copic, (Black Wire) Making Memories


Supplies Used: Birthday Wishes
Cardstock: (Vintage Cream) PTI, (Naturals Ivory) SU
Patterned Paper: (Wanted Collection) Cosmo Cricket
Stamps: (Roses in Bloom, Teeny Trees) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Ink: (Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Antique Linen Distress) Ranger, (Taken with Teal Pigment) SU
Embellishments: (Designer Chipboard Button) SRF, (Handmade Dictionary Button), (Canvas) Maya Road, (Natural Burlap String) May Arts
Other: (Yellow Marker) Copic
Tools: (Petite Scallop Circle Nestabilties) Spellbinders, (Tag Punch) McGill

Vintage Snow

Vintage snow. It's the kind that comes with the first substantial snow fall of the winter. It's the snow that transforms into a glittery sheet of wonderful. It's the kind that remains untouched for three months by little boys, big dogs, snowplows or a wave of a warm weathered day. Yes, that's vintage snow.

I really wanted to play along with the first ever Lawnscaping Challenge and decided on a birthday card because I have yet to acquire the cute Lawn Fawn Critters in the Snow or Frosties set. I combined vintage with snow by pairing painted and stickled chipboard candles with lace and the cute sentiment from Sophie's Sentiments. I'm also really trying to use different supplies and try out different styles in this new year. The sketch for this layout came from Get Sketchy! Love the possibilities of it too! Thought I'd take a chance and brave the sub zero degree weather to photograph the card in some of the above said snow.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Natural White) SU
Stamps: (Sophie's Sentiments) LawnFawn
Ink:(Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Distress) Ranger
Other: (Anique Linen Distress and Frosted Lace Stickles) Ranger, (Lace), (Chipboard-thanks Natalie!), (Ivory Burlap String) May Arts