Fab Friday - Lost and Found!

I made this card over a week ago, during the same late-night stamp session that I made this card. But then I put it in an envelope and set it aside -- and completely LOST it! I looked everywhere! Or so I thought. Turns out it was sitting underneath a bag I took with me to a Demonstrator meeting at the beginning of the month. Don't ask me how it got there, because heaven knows I haven't got a clue! Pretty much the story of my life. Who knew you could lose so many things in a 2-room apartment!

So, from the "Lost and Found" files of Michelle's Living Room, here's an adorably pastel baby card I made for the Fab Friday 11 Challenge:

A close-up of the banner, since it's a little hard to read.
And isn't that itty bitty bow adorable?
(I'm rather proud of myself for tying it so tiny!)

I love the pastel colors in this card, and the polka dot DSP is just perfect for a baby card!

Here's the Fab Friday Sketch (so you can see that I pretty much just copied it exactly... including the "frillies" from an Edgelits on top of the green mat layer.) But that's what is so great about these sketch challenges -- they give you some fantastic layouts to work with!

In other news, I've fallen completely behind on my Month of Letters Challenge mailings. So I apologize to all of those who are still waiting on a card in the mail -- I will send them, and soon! These last few weeks have just seen a LOT of changes and unexpectedness, so some things have had to take a back burner. But don't worry! I'll be back to normal very soon (I hope!).

Are any of you doing the Letter Month challenge? How's it going for you? Better than I'm doing, I hope!

Happy Stamping!

FMS72—For My Co-Worker's Birthday

Last week at work, we celebrated 3 birthdays! One of them was my friend Emily, who sits right next to me, so of course I had to make her a card! I made this last week (after my filler "Pinspiration" post) and then spent the entire weekend being lazy! So I'm just now getting around to posting it—just in time for the Freshly Made Sketches deadline!

This week's FMS challenge (FMS72) was a fun sketch with lots of potential. Here's what I came up with based on their sketch:

I love the elements of sparkle on the card—the rhinestone on the heart and the Dazzling Details on the candle flame—they give it that "something extra" it needs to make this a really special card!

Also, the colors on this picture didn't come through quite right. The banner and the background are actually Crumb Cake, not this kind-of-icky gray-brown it's showing up as (at least on my computer)!

Some "Pinspiration" for You

Hey, everyone. Sorry I've been slacking off this week with posting new cards (or anything, really). I feel like I was on a roll! And then this week hit. Things at work got hectic, and I had an interview for a second job (both are part-time, in addition to Stampin' Up!), so things at my apartment have been less than ideal for creativity.

But tonight I'm on a mission! I have 3 friends' birthdays coming up in the next week, and at least 3 more in the week after that, so I need to get down to business and STAMP! I'll probably pull up a sketch challenge - like Seize the Birthday or Freshly Made Sketches or Retro Sketches - to get my juices flowing. Then I'll put on a good chick flick and get down to work! So if you don't see a post from me tomorrow with at least one birthday card -- Call me out on it!!

In the mean time, enjoy these bits of inspiration (or "Pin"spiration, as it may be) from my Stampin' Up! Pinterest board (which you can follow HERE). And be sure to check out our Birthday Bash Blog Hop for even more birthday inspiration!

from Sleepy In Seattle

from Stamping & Sharing by Stephanie

As Promised - A Doctor Who Card

It's February! Which means it's now time for the Month of Letters Challenge! Today I mailed two cards - one to my brother, and one to my friend. The one for my brother is this card that I made for his wedding (back in early December.... wow, I'm on top of things, huh?)

The second is a card I made more recently with Sale-a-Bration products. I mentioned a few days ago that I had used the new Feeling Sentimental stamp set to make a Doctor Who-themed card. But I didn't want to share it quite yet because it's a surprise for my friend for Letter Month. Well, now that it's in the mail I can show you!

Isn't it great? I wasn't sure what phrase to use with the T.A.R.D.I.S. image, and then Julie found this great saying that is just perfect! "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it isn't the end." Considering the time-travel theme of the whole show, it seemed like a fitting greeting.

I really love the artwork in this set. It looks like a print of an old sketch, especially when you stamp it in the super-black StazOn ink like I did here. The StazOn is also great for watercoloring (which I also did here), since the ink doesn't smear. Trying to find the right shade of blue was a bit tricky, but I think the Midnight Muse was a pretty good fit.

And with this, I've officially kicked of Letter Month! So I get this shiny new badge for my efforts.

Card Details:
Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla CS; Newsprint DSP
Ink: black StazOn, Midnight Muse
Tools: Oval Framelits dies (from the Spring Catalog -- check it out in the sidebar!)
Accessories: Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, square punch (for cutting end of banner)
Stamp Sets: Feeling Sentimental (from the Sale-a-Bration catalog -- earn it for free!), Pursuit of Happiness

"Birthday Bash" Blog Hop! (And 2 challenges)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Does anyone else think of that old Frosty the Snowman cartoon every time you hear someone shout "Happy Birthday"? No? Just me, then.

Anyway, Welcome to our third monthly Blog Hop! Our theme this month is "Birthday Bash," and we're showing you some fun projects relating to everything birthday. I was stoked for this theme, because it gave me a chance to prep for all the upcoming birthday celebrations.

Be sure to check out all the fantastic blogs in our hop!

Hop Forward: Kris Kilkenny

Hop Back: Julie Davidse

Inspired by this week's Clean and Simple sketch challenge (FTL225), this is what I came up with:

The sketch had banners where I have the circles, but I've been doing so many banners lately that I wanted to change things up. Some great DSP and a fun Edgelits for the zigzag border, and I ended up with a pretty cute and simple birthday card (if I do say so myself).

I also stamped a quick, decorative circle behind the greeting. I stamped it in clear VersaMark ink and used clear embossing powder (heat embossing). So I linked up to this week's Late Night Stamping challenge to "Heat Things Up," too.

But a card wasn't enough! So I made a coordinating little gift bag to go with it.

Using the same colors and DSP, I made this cute bag topper in under 10 minutes (and that was while watching TV, so it was probably only 5 minutes of work). Quick, cute, and filled with candy -- the best kind of gift to make!

So there you go! A quick, easy card and gift. Go check out the rest of our hop, then get stamping to create your own fabulous birthday creations!

Hop Forward: Kris Kilkenny

Hop Back: Julie Davidse