Fourteen years ago today....

... I became a mom. :)

That's right, my oldest son turned fourteen today. I cannot believe it! Where has the time gone?

So, in honour of his birthday, I'm sharing the card that I made for him (I'll be giving it to him tonight) and the layout I made of his party last Saturday.

First up, the card...

I made the card using one of the sketches for the Studio Calico's NSD challenges:

I also made it for the NSD By the Numbers Challenge as well. I used Crate Paper patterned paper and Papertrey Ink cardstock (vintage cream), stamps (Stylish Sentiments: Birthday) and dies (Get a Handle on it, Tag Sale #5). The numbers are Pink Paislee that I inked with my A Muse Studio Slate ink to change them from brown to grey.

For my card, I used this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Beyond paper with impression plates. I took some orange hockey tape and adhered it to come cardstock, which I ran through my Big Shot with my Simple Stripes IP. It's subtle, but you can see the stripes on the banner (on the right).

I also used one of the sketches for the Studio Calico's NSD challenges to create my layout.

Once again, I used Crate Paper patterned paper and the MIM technique with the same orange hockey tape. I also diecut my letters from the hockey tape using my PTI Headline Alphabet dies.

I used my new PTI Big Ticket Basics stamps and dies.

As well as my PTI star border die.

Thanks for looking!

Five patterned papers

I'm continuing to play along with the Studio Calico's NSD challenges this week. Today, I'm sharing a layout and a card that I made for the challenge to use 5 different patterned papers.

First up is my layout. I used Fancy Pants Trendsetter patterned paper and stickers.

Here's a close-up of my journaling and embellishment cluster. I cut the clock from some FP patterned paper. Behind that, I stamped the compass from PTI's Road Trip stamp set. I added a Freckled Fawn wooden word and some My Mind's Eye enamel dots.

I cut my title on my Silhouette. I circled the "8" above it with a stamp from PTI's Big Ticket Basics (because Sage is eight).

For my card, I used patterned paper from the same line. I also used some PTI rustic white cardstock, on which I stamped a sentiment from Happy Day. I diecut the patterned paper with Friends Til the End dies and stamped the coordinating flower and leaf stamps. I added a Teresa Collins brad to finish it off.

Thanks for looking!

Using buttons...

I'm here to post a layout and a card that I made for another Studio Calico's NSD challenges-- a challenge to use buttons.

For my layout, I used some American Craft patterned paper that I got in a Studio Calico kit, as well as some Studio Calico patterned paper (yellow), some SC cut files (love and the feather) and a couple of the printables that SC provided for the crop. I added some Papertrey ink buttons and twine. (I'm also entering this layout into the challenge to mix in a digital element (the printables)).

And for my card, I used another sheet of AC patterned paper that came in a SC kit. I stamped on the patterned paper using versamark and my PTI Lace Bouquet stamp set, which I heat embossed with white. I diecut one of the PTI Bountiful Banners dies, stamped on it with Sweet Blush ink and then stamped my sentiment using Happy from Happy Day and Mother's Day from Pretty Peonies. I also added my PTI buttons for the challenge.

Thanks for looking!

Mixed media attempts

When I was checking out  Studio Calico's NSD challenges, I noticed that the first one posted was "mixed media." This has never been something that I've been particularly drawn to, but I decided to play along with the challenge, if for nothing else than to get me out of my box a little.

Well, let me tell you, I found it quite challenging.

I tried to think of a technique that I could use with paint and remembered seeing a few designers paint their patterned paper with white paint to lighten it. So I found a sheet of Studio Calico patterned paper and went to find some white paint.... of which I had none. No worries, I thought, I'll use cream. Yeah, it didn't really have the effect I wanted and when I put it with my photos, it didn't go well at all. So I added some light grey paint, which helped a little.

Since I was struggling with my layout so much, I decided to use one of the Studio Calico NSD sketches, Sketch #3, by Susan Weinroth.

For my layout, I also used American Crafts cardstock & thickers, a Mama Elephant stamp (from Smitten), a Flair button and a Freckled Fawn wooden word (that I coloured red with pure poppy ink.)

I also played along with this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Beyond paper with impression plates. I took some aluminum foil and ran it through my Big Shot with my PTI Hexagon Cover Plate.

For my card, I used the same mixed media technique and painted another piece of Studio Calico patterned paper with cream paint. I trimmed it and adhered it to a PTI vintage cream background and added some stitching. I diecut some yellow Studio Calico patterned paper with my PTI Happy Day die, on which I stamped a sentiment from Stylish Sentiments: Birthdays.

I also stamped two feathers (from Mama Elephant's Smitten stamp set) and cut them out by hand. To finish it off, I added some Ellen Hutson sequins.

Thanks for looking!

One sketch, two cards

I was pretty excited last night to see that Studio Calico had posted their NSD challenges early. I decided to play along and made two cards for Jonah and Sage using on of the NSD sketches, this one by Maile Belles:

Here's the card that I made for Jonah, using Studio Calico patterned paper, My Mind's Eye enamel dots and Papertrey ink cardstock, stamp (from Boy Basics: Game On) and die (from Get a Handle on It).

And I made a matching one for Sage, using the same supplies, but the grey polka dot paper is Papertrey Ink.

The cards are to encourage them today and cheer them on as they test for their poom belts in taekwondo. We're leaving shortly for the test.... I'm starting to feel nervous!

Thanks for looking!