{ Card Patterns #12, Reader Weekend at Caardvarks }

I wanted to post this before the deadline tomorrow! Card Patterns #12. I thought this Birdcages stamp from Impression Obsession was perfect for the sketch. It is one stamp that I stamped and cut apart. It's new and I love it! The sentiment is from Anytime Sentiments. I colored the birds with Prismacolor pencils. The paper is SEI.

*** Don't forget the Reader Weekend at Caardvarks. We're celebrating May Day weekend, May 1-3rd, by spotlighting our readers. We'll showcase reader cards and projects all weekend long. Think of it as a great big show -n- tell event to thank you, our readers, for your support and participation for the past two years. Your submissions will be published at Caardvarks!

*** The May kit at CupCards {to go} goes on sale tomorrow, May 1.

{ CPS #113, Project 365 Week 17 }

After three days of cleaning my room I finally created something. It was really hard to resist the temptation while sorting paper and embellishments...finding things I forgot about. It feels great to be able to see my desk after so long. I made two cards today and cleaned up after each...I will see how long I can keep that up. I hope that I can. It is so much easier to clean little messes than big ones. How do you keep up? Do you have any tricks or secrets... Let me know.

I created this card for CPS #113. I received this cute little paper, by My Little Shoebox, in a box of goodies from Stephanie Howell. I drew the clouds myself. I cut some from patterned paper and they were way too big, so I made my own.

I still need to vacuum and sort some boxes so I better get going before I pass out. Have a great night.

Project 365 - week 17.

4.20 - Alex had a play date with Chloe. He had so much fun painting in the back yard. 4.21 - I took him for a walk in the park. It was so hot, 87 degrees! To my surprise, he kept his hat on. 4.22 - first time at McDonald's. 4.23 - "I think I'll spread some of this pasta in my hair!" It was all over. I had to wash his hair after lunch. 4.24 - "Time to sweep the patio again, mom." 4.25 - just taking a break, for now. He loves to climb on top of it. 4.26 - out for lunch. He loves to eat everything!

{ CPS #112 and a sneak peek }

I thought the stamp, Stars & Stripes Pennants, from Impression Obsession would be perfect for CPS#112. It is not available for purchase, yet, but it will be soon. It is in our new Summer Supplement catalog. I stamped it on vellum and paper and I love how that looks. The papers and stickers are Scenic Route and flowers are Making Memories.

Here is a sneak peek form CupCards {to go} May kit! I think this is my favorite kit, yet!! I love the colors and all the fun embellishments. Be on a lookout May 1!

{ 2 Sketches 4 You, Project 365 - Week 16 }

I think I am in love with this color combination and Laura's sketch 24. I had fun making this card with these adorable stamps from Impression Obsession. I used Six Dandelions, Love Birds and Sweet Day sentiment stamp. I stamped the Love Birds on white cardstock and cut them out. I adhered them using foam adhesive. I wanted the birds to sit on this "flower branch" that I made out of Making Memories flowers and Petal Flourish stamp. The patterned paper is Making Memories (pink) and Pink Paislee (yellow), Making Memories journal note (green) and flowers.

Project 365 - week 16.

4.13 - not too enthusiastic about the Peep. He did not like how it felt in his hand.

4.14 - he used to be freaked out by the vacuum. Now he knows how to turn it on and loves to help me. 4.15 - Bluebonnet Trails in Ennis. 4.16 - temporary photo until my husband comes home and gives me all the photos from this day. He took Alex outside with the Easter eggs to throw them around before they went into the trash. 4.17 - he spilled milk all over his shirt, but will not separate from this vacuum attachment. 4.18 - he likes to play and throw the statue rabbits I have on the patio. 4.19 - hmmmm, I think he blends in with the crocodile..

{ Caardvarks: Trees A Crowd }

My first Caardvarks challenge starts today!!!

The challenge: create a *NEW* Tree-themed card. Challenge ends at midnight on April 30th. Post a link to your creation at Caardvarks blog.

The sponsor: Taylored Expressions

The prize: this adorable stamp set, Branching Out!

For my card I used Butterfly Tree, Small Ebroidered Butterfly and sentiment from Impression Obsession. They are brand new from the 2009 Summer Supplement. I stamped a separate image and cut three butterflies out to add to the tree for dimension. I did add a little glitter to the dimensional butterflies. They are colored with watercolor pencils.

For more Tree-themed inspiration you have to head to Caardvarks and see the rest of the amazing creations from our design team.

We're celebrating May Day weekend, May 1-3rd, by spotlighting our readers. We'll showcase reader cards and projects all weekend long. Think of it as a great big show -n- tell event to thank you, our readers, for your support and participation for the past two years. Your submissions will be published at Caardvarks! You can read about the details ------> HERE.

{ 2 Sketches 4 You, Project 365 - Week 15 }

Hi there! Can you believe that I took a week off, I can't. Not sure where the week went, but we were busy here with different activities like coloring eggs, baking and decorating cookies, Easter egg hunt, cleaning.... I hope you had a great Easter weekend. Did you do anything fun?

When I saw Kazan's sketch 24 I knew I wanted to incorporate this awesome flower that I received from Stephanie Howell. It is a pretty simple card with Graphic 45 patterned paper, Jenni Bowlin label sticker, buttons and journal tag and Making Memories alphabet stickers.

Did you notice the little Caardvarks logo on the sidebar? I was asked to join the talented Caardvarks design team. My first challenge starts April 20. You still have time to participate in the April 5 challenge -- create a card that "speaks" fantasy to you. Check out the beautiful creations by Caardvarks team ==> here.

Project 365 - week 15.

4.6 - no explanation needed. How does he think of these things?

4.7 - mommy bought a new snack cup (anti-spill) that a little hand can get into. Very frustrating at first, but he is a fast learner. 4.8 - a visit to the Dallas Arboretum. Last minute decision and a great one. The weather was perfect. Alex enjoyed running around the flowers, snack cup in hand. 4.9 - he was having so much fun laughing at daddy's elephant noises during lunch and he was trying to do the same thing. 4.10 - coloring eggs. Alex enjoyed throwing and braking the eggs. 4.11 - his first egg hunt. We did practice for couple of days hiding and collecting eggs in the house. He was so excited to see the eggs outside and knew exactly what to do. 4.12 - Easter morning.

{ 2 Sketches 4 You, Project 365 - week 14 }

I have been doing really good by having some sort of schedule on my blog. Tuesday was my project 365 photo post...just couldn't make it. I decided to go out with a friend for a drink. I wasn't going to watch Bedtime Stories when I returned, but I am glad I did, cute movie. After that, I just wanted to rest.

Here is my card for Laura's sketch 23. When I was looking for a basket, all over the place, for Alex's egg hunt that is coming up, I had a really hard time. All the Easter/Spring stuff is coming down and July 4th/Summer stuff is coming out. I did find this DCWV paper on sale, Green Stack. I have been wanting it for a while and couldn't pass it up. I used October Afternoon stamps, Prima flower and Maya Road sheer.

Project 365 - week 14.

3.30 - just resting.

3.31 - playing. 4.1 - getting a haircut. Really scary. He got over it pretty fast. 4.2 - he learned how to blow bubbles. This went on every time he took a drink. We laughed so much. 4.3 - mail delivery. He loves to go out with daddy to get mail. He opens the mailbox and then carries the mail in. It makes him so happy. 4.4 - at the park with daddy. 4.5 - I think he is addicted to the slide. Loves to go up and down.

{ April Flowers at Embellish-Online.com }

Flowers are the theme for this month and we have so many new Prima flowers and paper in the store. For my projects I mixed Flirty Little Secrets collection from Prima with Basic Grey Marrakech. Check out the gallery to see what we have been up to. If you go shopping be sure to type the keyword GLITTER in the VOUCHER box at checkout to save 20% off everything. How about this Newsboy Clear stamp by Prima. I stamped the bottom of my card and then stamped some on cardstock to make my own patterned paper. I used Fiskars shape template to cut the scallop strip from the stamped paper.