Fall Wish

I really love Fall...the colors, the smell, the crispness of the air.  We had a totally Fall weekend this weekend and it was fantastic!  Got a date night with my Hubby to finally celebrate out Anniversary, went to a couple soccer games, visited a corn maze at night, sat by a bonfire, and went pumpkin picking (hay ride and all).  


So it is no wonder that with all of those Fall activities, I wanted to play with the Color It Autumn set from Paper Makeup Stamps.  This set is great for coloring...or not coloring like I did!  I did some masking to layer the images on a piece of Solar White Classic Linen from Paper Temptress.  Gives the card a lovely texture...which is easier to see in the detail shot.  My other panels were dressed up with Copper Ore Glimmer cardstock and Nero Incandescent cardstock...both are some of my favorites from Paper Temptress!  

The layout for the card is from the SCS Sketch Challenge #355 and the color combination came from the Color Throwndown #164 Challenge.  I dyed white taffeta ribbon with my Rich Razzleberry marker and added some olive pearls for some added detail.


This will be my last official card (and Company Blog Post) with Paper Temptress as my Design Team term is up.  I have so enjoyed representing Paper Temptress and have fallen in love with the cardstock.  I know I will be back for more!  Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!


The Engineering Details
Stamps - Color It Autumn, Celebration Sentiments (Paper Makeup Stamps); Paper - Olive Basis 80#, Copper Ore Glimmer, Nero Incandescent, Solar White Classic Linen (Paper Temptress); Ink - Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie (SU!), Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Accessories - white taffeta ribbon (SU!), edge punch (Friskars), Corner Rounder Punch (SU!), Olive Pearls (Oriental Trading), dimensionals

Bewitched & Belated

So you would think that someone such as myself that makes cards a lot would always be on time in sending said cards.  Well...that would be wrong! I am notoriously late in sending cards...I have no idea why.  I have the cards...sometimes the cards I make are for a specific person...so why is it that they cannot make it in an envelope and out to the mailbox?  It is truly one of life's mysteries!


So this sentiment and witch from Hambo Stamps spoke to me!  See now I can have a Halloween type card for a belated birthday sometime in October...that is that I am not so late that I am into November!  The witch is called Witch's Brew and the sentiment is called Bewitched.  I watercolored the witch and gave her concoction and her hair a great sparkle with some orange stickles (you can see it better in the detail shot).


The layout for the card comes from the SCS Sketch Challenge #354 and the color choices fit in perfectly for the Hambo Hoedown Challenge #37 which was introduced today!  Make sure to check out the Hoedown and play along so you can get the next free digi!!

Now it is time to be off getting dinner ready for the night's activities.  Having children is exhausting sometimes trying to keep up with everything...but it is a good exhausting!  Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!


The Engineering Details
Stamps - Witch's Brew, Bewitched (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Perfect Plum, Pumpkin Pie, Cast-a-Spell (SU!), watercolor paper; Ink - Perfect Plum, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Crumb Cake (SU!), Brilliance Graphite Black, Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Accessories - Corner Rounder Punch (SU!), Edge Punch (Friskars), Orange Stickles (Ranger), Sparkle Black Ribbon (JoAnns), Sparkle Black Faux Brads (Recollections), dimensionals, aquabrush

A Monster of a Father's Day

School is finally winding down here and summer is starting to get into full swing!  I think my son's school is one of the last to get out for some reason this year.  I am pretty excited for summer.  I will be taking care of a couple extra kids two days a week, so I think that will be fun, especially since my son and the girl get along famously! I actually have decided to have theme weeks throughout the summer.  I will be sharing them here in case anyone is wondering what I am talking about...I will hopefully even let you know ahead of time so you could join in on the fun!  


But in teh meantime, let me share with you the Father's Day card I made for my wonderful husband.  The adorable monsters (called Me and Pops) are from Paper Makeup Stamps and I have been wanting to ink this one up for awhile!  Just love it!  The layout is from the SCS Sketch Challenge #337 and the colors were taken from the Color Throwdown Challenge #146.  


Well off to work on my Father's Day project...have a great night and thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Me & Pops (Paper Makeup Stamps), So Many Sayings (SU!); Paper - Kiwi Kiss, Early Espresso, Crushed Curry Textured (SU!), Green at Heart Paper Pad (Basic Grey), watercolor paper; Ink - Kiwi Kiss, Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry (SU!), Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Accessories - Brown & White Baker's Twine (unknown), aquabrush, dimensionals

Let Freedom Ring

I separated this post from my last post...it felt weird putting a card with my Mini Dessert Burgers. So since I did all of my chit-chat in that post, I will get right to the card.

My brother is currently on a 365 day assignment in Qatar (did I spell that right?). While he is not on the front lines or immediate harm's way, he is still sacrificing for his country in my opinion and this is the closest he has been to the "action". He and his wife have to live apart for a year...this is considered a short assignment, so spouses are not allowed. That would just plain suck! Anyway, my son and I put together a care package for him filled with cookies, pictures, artwork, and just the utmost of fabulousness to send to him. This is the card that I included in the package. And would you believe, my brother even told me how much he liked the card and is displaying it on his desk! I felt extremely honored!

The paper, no idea the manufacturer, is from JoAnns...it is the cheap thin stuff, but I liked the print and colors. The stamped images are from the Studio G dollar acrylic stamp sets. I picked up like 3 of them the last time I was there! Everything is fairly basic here. I used the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge #229 for the layout. I must be getting tired because I cannot think of anything else to say. So with that, I will close...should probably get to work on my daughter's thank you cards...ugh!

The Engineering Details

Stamps - Studio G; Paper - Bravo Burgundy, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla, Patterned paper from JoAnns; Ink - Night of Navy, Very Vanilla Craft, Bravo Burgundy Marker, Night of Navy Marker; Accessories - Star brads (Oriental Trading), Burgundy Hemp twine (?), dimensionals

Baptisms All Around

This weekend is Baptism central for us! On Saturday we have my brother-in-law and his daughters (ages 10 and 13) being baptised and on Sunday we have my husband's brothers 4 month old son being baptised! Holy baptism, Batman! That was a weird thing to say, but it is totally what I keep thinking regarding this weekend! So needless to say I needed a few cards for all of this. Oh and we are also celebrating my son's (as if he needs ANOTHER celebration) and two of my nephew's birthdays as well...a couple more cards to add to this mix! I did get all of the cards made..except for the baby baptism...still need to do that one. But at this point I am just hoping my children are able to attend all of the events. Both are sick...Eli seems to be the worse off. We were struggling to keep anything in his stomach today...poor little guy! Hopefully a night's rest will help him get better.

So for the cards that I made...each one used a different sketch challenge. I swear I haven't done a card without a sketch in forever...not sure I know how anymore. I probably should make that a challenge some week...actually make up my own card without any sketch or color challenges. Anyway, starting with the oldest sketch challenge, Mojo Sketch Challenge #77. I used the Verve Stamps Notes of Prayer set (actually used this set for all of my cards in this post). The circle element I think ended up being a bit too big, but I LOVE this cross...so I just went with it! This is also used some of the retired Bali Breeze DSP from Stampin' Up!. I really like the color fade effect I did around the cross...just kind of gave it the extra something. Basically the card was then finished off with some of the Ice Rhinestone Brads from SU!. This may have been kept a smidge too simple, but when you are working on three baptism cards in one night, you just let that go!

This card was based on a SCS sketch Challenge, SC #218, and used a Color Challenge, #209. The color combo was for Rose Red, Always Artichoke and Basic Black...great color combination! Using the same cross stamp again and pairing it with the flower from Verve Stamps Beautiful You stamp set, this card was born. I did part from the Sketch though by removing a panel they had in at the bottom of the main image. I just could not get it to work to my satisfaction...so it went far, far away! I also found some old half pearls that my husband's grandmother gave me...God Bless her...she will randomly give me old "crafty" type things that she has had can no longer can use (due to eyesight and dexterity). Sometimes there is something good in all of it! Nothing much else with this card...but I thought it turned out good.

The last baptism card is for my brother-in-law. Man if you thought masculine birthday cards were a challenge, try masculine baptism cards! I chose to try the Mojo Sketch Challenge #78 for this one. I decided I wanted the cross to look somewhat "burned" into the faux wood background (created just by dragging various brown shades on Kraft paper). I love the silver accents then on the cross...the cross is my favorite part of this card! I used the distressed stripes cuttlebug embossing folder to give some textured background to the Going Gray pieces...then sponged with Basic Gray. I anchored my cross feature with some brads I got through Oriental Trading that look like little screw heads.

Well I should be off to bed now...never know if the kids are going to sleep through the night in their current state of sickness. Eli was up for a bit last night removing the contents of his stomach in more ways than one! Sorry way too much info! Anyway, it is late and I hope that this post didn't ramble too much!

Thanks for stopping by my engineering world!

Pacific Garden Breezes Bird

Look at me! I managed to get a couple of cards done over the weekend! This is a very late birthday card for my brother-in-law...kind of forgot about his birthday. My Palm planner reminders don't work very well if I don't look at my calendar for awhile! Huh, imagine that!!



For this card I utilized two challenges: SCS Color Challenge #203 and SCS Sketch Challenge #213. The color combination of Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, and Garden Green was a nice combo for a male birthday. I used the little bird from Pun Fun (love him, but I really do need to find some good new masculine images) and paper pieced him to color him.



I kept the card very simple with just brads and some paper piercing (reverse style...where you pierce from the back side). It was kind of refreshing to keep the card so simple...although I kept thinking I should add something while I was making it. In the end, I feel it worked.



That is all for now. Have a great week! Thanks for visiting!



The Engineering Details

Stamps - Pun Fun; Paper - Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Garden Green, Basic Black, Whisper White; Ink - Basic Black, Garden Green Marker; Accessories - Corner Rounder, Black Brads, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, dimensionals

Francesca Prayers Card

Hopefully most of you have now seen my Blog Candy for a Cause II. I am completely floored by the amount of generosity out there. I have had to update the post 3 times so far to add more blog candy being donated by some of the sweetest ladies! So if you haven't seen the post yet...check it out. While you are doing so, say a little prayer for Francesca.

Last week, I made up a basket of snacks, homemade bread, a book, a blanket made by the Piecemakers group at my church, and a little santa hat that was taken to Maureen and Ronny (Francesca's parents) by Maureen's sister. With that package, I included this card. I have a hard time making cards for difficult situations...I want it to be pretty, but yet somewhat subdued. So this was kept fairly simple...although the paper piecing took a bit...with the inside just saying "our prayers are with you". The card was based off of the SCS Sketch Challenge #205. As you can see I paper pieced the flower from the Verve Stamps set called "Beautiful You" with the same patterned paper that I used for the background. Some diamond stickles to the center and I felt it was complete.

I will be making another card for Francesca, Maureen, and Ronny to give to them when I give them all of the cards that are being sent my way. Please join me!!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Beautiful You (Verve Stamps), Notes of Prayer (Verve Stamps); Paper - Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Pretty in Pink DSP; Ink - Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip marker; Accessories - ribbon (Michaels), Diamond Stickles, dimensionals

Masculine Giraffe

How about a more masculine card? I needed a couple of male birthday cards, so I once again turned to my trusty SCS challenges to help me get started.

I utilized the Sketch Challenge #186 and the Color Challenge #176 (Very Vanilla, Soft Sky, River Rock). Since I do not own the Soft Sky or River Rock ink pads, I had to add some Chocolate Chip into the mix...tried not to add too much, so I wouldn't deviate from the 3 main colors.

I also realized that I am really lacking a good guy stamp set, so I had to turn to one of my favorites, In the Wild. Can't wait to see what the new catalog has in store for me...when is it going to come?!! Anyway, the giraffe was stamped in Chocolate Chip and layered a lot. I crumbled some Soft Sky paper and attached it with pewter brads. To give the bottom River Rock layer a little interest, I stamped the Sanded background with Versamark. The ticket corner punch and some reverse paper piercing finished it off. I always have a hard time with "guy" cards, but I was quite pleased with this one!

All is well in our home. I was the "Song Lady" at my church's Vacation Bible School. My son basically learned all of the songs prior to VBS starting, so he was my little "helper" when I had to teach the songs to the kids. It was fun. Adilane is doing great as well...she is just such a happy and easy going baby...we truly are blessed. So I will leave you with this adorable picture of her that I took over the weekend!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - In the Wild (retired), Sanded, Birthday Whimsy (retired); Paper - Very Vanilla, River Rock, Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip; Ink - Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Versamark; Accessories - Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Pewter Brads, Ticket Corner Punch

Swirly Anniversary

Last week when I found a little stamping time, this was the second card that I did. I actually found a little time this week as well, so I will have another card to show soon...yeah me!

Utilizing the wonderful tools of sketch challenges and color challenges, I created this card for my sister's anniversary (and I made a second one for a friend's anniversary as well...what the heck, the supplies were all out already!). I love, LOVE, sketch and color challenges because it takes so much of the time of designing a card out of the way, so I can get them done quicker...and when you are only able to work in that 1 hour or so of overlapping nap time, quick is good. So I used Sketch Challenge #185 and Color Challenge #177 (Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Groovy Guava or Cameo Coral). I forgot that I actually had like 2 sheets of Groovy Guava and went with Cameo Coral...oops!

I embossed the couple with Crystal Clear embossing powder and then bleached them. The bleaching came out very vanilla colored, so I took the liberty to add Very Vanilla to the mix. I used my Swirls embossing folder for my cuttlebug (so love this thing!) and applied some Very Vanilla ink across the top.

That is all for now...I should have my card I made this week up in a couple of days. I am so proud that I am actually finding some time to stamp...it makes me happy!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Summer by the Sea; Paper - Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla; Ink - Versamark, Very Vanilla; Accesories - Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder, Antique Brass brads, dimensionals, Crystal Clear embossing powder, bleach