Thursday, August 30, 2012

An Engagement with The Paper Players


Hello!  It's almost the weekend and a long weekend at that!  Next Tuesday is the start of school and I have two little boys (and one mommy) who are rather excited about the start of school.  I must say I'm very happy my boys like school and are happy to go!  We are enjoying our week's vacation though.  Yesterday was the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) in Downtown Toronto.  My boys rode the subway for the first time.  They were super excited.  Jacob wasn't really into the dinosaurs and really just wanted to get back to the subway (or hubway as he calls it!).

Today's card was a customer request.  My friend needed an engagement card - with lots of red!  I must say I'm in a creative funk.  I am finding a lot of folks are these days.  When I see the picture of this card I realize that I should have embossed the red rectangles as well.  I tried various combinations and didn't want the red to be too overpowering.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red, Silver
Ink: Versamark
Stamps: I Heart Hearts, Love and Laughter
Other: Basic Pearls, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Heart to Heart Punch, Silver Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a fabulous day!
Jen

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Freshly Made Sketches #50


Hello!
I hope you're enjoying your week!  We are on "vacation" this week.  Maybe more of a "Stay-cation".  We are doing little day trips here and there and coming home each night to sleep in our own beds!  Today was a trip to the Halton County Radial Railway (Museum).  It is a Streetcar museum near us and the boys LOVED it!  What a great day trip for us.  We got to take a street car trip to an old street car that had been converted to an ice cream shop!  Fantastic!

Anyhow, today is Wednesday!  New sketch for us over at Freshly Made Sketches!  You NEED to go and check the blog and see the fabulous cards the Design Team has created for you!  What a talented group of ladies (most of whom are named Jen!).

Lesley brought us a fabulous sketch this week!  I loved it - there weren't any circles (sorry Jen M!).  I knew right away I wanted a fall card.  We were driving today and noticed the trees are already starting to turn colour around here...fall is sadly on it's way!

Okay so my card...sorry...I LOVE those leaves!  The Autumn Accents die is fabulous and it's great because it can be used without the coordinating stamp set!  The Orchard Harvest DSP is my new favourite and the colours remind me of a perfect fall day!  I also love the look of the Early Espresso Core'dinations cardstock paired with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Early Espresso (Core'dinations), Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
DSP: Orchard Harvest
Stamps: Apothecary Art
Ink: early Espresso
Other: Autumn Accents Die, Woodgrain, Perfect Polka Dot and Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folders, Basic Pearls, Bronze Button, Linen Thread, Dimensionals

Here's a little picture of my cuties standing on the tracks at the museum today!  

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful day!

Jen

Friday, August 24, 2012

Create with Connie and Mary Sympathy


Hello!
I trust you're as ready for the weekend as I am!  It's been an interesting week here at the Brum house!  Needless to say we're excited for next week and to have Daddy home with us.  We have some exciting day trips planned that should keep the boys good and entertained!  Stay tuned for the photo highlights!

Today's card was a hard one to make.  A friend of mine lost her dad a week ago in a terrible motorcycle accident.  I wanted to make a sympathy card for her and her family to let them know that we are thinking and praying for them.

I started with this week's Create with Connie and Mary Challenge sketch.  It was a great sketch and it worked perfectly for what I had in mind for a card.  I really love the Very Vanilla and Soft Suede combination. I use it often for sympathy cards.  I love the French Foliage stamp set as well and find it perfect for this type of card.  I used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder for the background and the piece of soft suede.  It just needed a little something extra.  I included a butterfly and some pearls...of course!



Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Stamps: French Foliage, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso
Other: Basic Pearls, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Word Window Punch, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Dimensionals


One more picture of the cute birthday boy on his birthday with new Angry Birds Lunch Box...all ready for Junior Kindergarten!


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #49


Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  We're halfway through the week.  Yesterday was Jacob's 4th birthday and we had a great day together.  We ended our evening playing with the neighbours and eating chocolate cupcakes!  My little 4 year old went to bed awfully tired!

Wednesday's are great days in the blogging world because Freshly Made Sketches comes out with their new sketch!  This week our sketch is courtesy of the fabulous and lovely Jen Mitchell!



I saw those circles on Jen's sketch and started to sweat!  You all know how I feel about circles.  Then while laying in bed not sleeping one night I realized that those circles would look much better as cute butterflies...and so the card was born!

I totally love the Patio Party DSP and since it already has butterflies on it how could I not add some more?!

Hop on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out the other fabulous creations the design team have made for you!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals
DSP: Patio Party
Stamps: Apothecary Art
Ink: Midnight Muse
Other: Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Basic Rhinestones, Chevron Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful day!

Jen

Monday, August 20, 2012

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday!


Hello!
Hope you're having a great start to your week!  We had a great day today!  Playdates at the park and swimming lessons in a VERY warm pool!  Jacob has turned into a fish and there's nothing stopping him now!  Tomorrow (Tuesday) is a VERY special day at our house!  Tomorrow is my baby's 4th birthday!  I can't believe Jacob will be 4!  Those years have sure gone by fast.  He has changed so much and is now growing up so quickly!  We are heading out to a playdate with his best friend Caitlin this morning then onto lunch at McDonald's....it was his choice...not mine!  Dinner will be tacos - his absolute favourite!

Okay...enough of me and my baby!  Today I decided to tackle this week's Merry Monday challenge.  I'm totally bummed I missed last week's challenge so I needed to get this card made today!  This card took me forever to do...it started out looking very different...honestly...sometimes I wonder about how my brain works!  I think this card looks a bit better in person than it does in jpeg!

I love the lacy brocade embossing folder and couldn't help but use it!  Of course I also had to throw at least one pearl in there!  I also got my hands on the new Stampin' Up! sanding block...must say it's way better than stealing sandpaper from my husband's workshop!!!


Supplies;
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer
Stamps: Mixed Medley, Bright Hopes
Ink: Versarmark, Early Espresso
Other: Scalloped Circle Punches, circle punch, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Basic Pearls


Here is a picture of my pumpkin 30 minutes after he was born (6 weeks early)...not the healthiest baby.
Below is a picture of Jacob this past weekend with a fabulous Angry birds card my mom made for him!


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Quint-essentially for you!


Hello!
Hope you had a great weekend and are ready to tackle the week!  I am looking forward to an exciting weekend - and the birthday of a very special little boy!!!

Today's card is for this week's Create with Connie and Mary challenge.  This week was a colour challenge and they picked some of my favourite colours!  Who doesn't love Midnight Muse, Daffodil Delight and Gumball Green?  Seriously?!  I'm in love!

I used the sketch from this week's Clean and Simple Cards challenge on Splitscoast Stampers since I thought it would work perfectly with the three colours!  

I used the Quint-Essential Flower and then combined it with the new Hostess Set from the Holiday Catalogue - Mixed Medley!  I just love those little scalloped circles!!! 


Supplies:
Cardstock: Midnight Muse, Whisper White
DSP: Midnight Muse DSP Pack
Stamps: Quint-Essential Flower, Mixed Medley
Ink: Midnight Muse, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green
Other:  Daffodil Delight Ribbon, Dimensionals, Scalloped Circle Punches (2 3/8", 1 3/4" and 1 1/4"),  3/4 " Circle Punch, Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder


Here's a picture of my littlest sweetheart setting up his train set!  He was so excited!  He couldn't wait for Daddy to get home to help him tear open the box.  Needless to say the train didn't fit on the dining room table so it ended up on my living room floor!



Saturday, August 18, 2012

BOO!


Hello!
How is your weekend going?  We've had a busy weekend so far!  My parents stopped in for a quick visit so we can celebrate Jacob's birthday a few days early.  We had a blast.  Another visit to the train station!  This is the world's greatest free entertainment for my boys!!!  They love watching the trains go by.

I got a Stampin' Up! order in the mail yesterday and finally got my hands on the Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP and the Googly Ghouls stamp set!  How could I not use it?!  I needed a sketch to start with though as I was feeling a tad uncreative today...I think a loss of Mojo is going around.  I checked out the new sketch from Retro Sketches.   I thought it would work perfectly.  My little Frankenstein has been embossed with black embossing powder...he needed a little something extra!  I purchased the Googly Ghouls bundle and love the little self adhesive googly eyes!  They are so cute!



Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
DSP: Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP
Stamps: Googly Ghouls
Ink: Basic Black, Versamark
Other: Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Black Button, Googly Eyes, Bitty Banners Framelits, Dimensionals, Black Embossing Folder


Here's a picture of my family (minus my husband who was taking the picture!) at the train station!  The boys were so excited to see the arrival of the Amtrak train!  The conductor was kind of enough to toot the horn for my super excited little boys!  They were in train heaven!



 Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day!
Jen


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Dynamic Duos Flowers


Hello!
How's your week going?  I just did another night of boot camp and I'm feeling the burn...oh and I'm seriously tired!
Today the boys had swimming lessons and my youngest who has never been a lover of the pool decided that going underwater, floating and trying to swim was fantastic so he spent more time under the water than on top!  This a HUGE step for this little guy.  I am one happy mom tonight!

Okay so I "whipped" up a card for the Dynamic Duos challenge this week.  Okay it wasn't whipping...it took me forever since I had helpers!!!

The Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink combo threw me for a bit of a loop since I'm not a subtles personality girl BUT once I added in some black I felt a bit better!  Okay I ruffled my ribbon again...I love ruffled ribbon.  I just can't help it!  I used some SU pink rhinestones that I had left in my stash!  I kinda think I need to add a button...or something...


Supplies:
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Basic Black. Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners, Mixed Bunch
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
Other: Rhinestones, Two Step Bird Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits, Certainly Celery Ribbon, Lady Brocade Embossing Folder

Thanks for stopping by!
Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches #48


Hello and Happy Wednesday!
I hope you're having a good week so far.  We had a rainy day here yesterday which meant that we were kinda stuck inside but Caleb had a friend over and the kids were occupied!  At least for a while!

We all know that Wednesday's mean that there is a new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week's sketch is brought to us by the fabulous Tui Nathan!  I must confess I got the idea for my card from Ann Schach when I saw her Paper Players card this week!  I love the Open Sea and since my dad's birthday is approaching next week I thought this might work perfectly!

I used the colours from this week's The Paper Players challenge.  They just worked perfectly with the stamp set.  Sorry Ann this card looks so much like yours!

Please stop on by both blogs and check out what the design teams have created!  You won't be disappointed!



Supplies:
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy
DSP: Nautical Expedition (Retired)
Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy, Versamark
Other: White Embossing Powder, Silver Brads, Dimensionals

This is a photo of a little visitor we had to our backyard on Monday.  A little baby bunny.  It was so cute!  Our neighbour had the nest/burrow in their yard and there were 4 babies.  One of the babies managed to somehow find his or her way into our bunny proof backyard!  He is adorable though!


Thanks for stopping by!
Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Monday, August 13, 2012

CAS-ual Friday's and Lego!


Hello!
How is your week starting out?  We had an errand day today which usually doesn't go over too well with two little boys.  Tonight though we opted for cheap entertainment and went to the GO-Train station (our local commuter train into Toronto) to watch the trains.  I have two little boys who LOVE trains on my hands so they were in train heaven!

Today's card is for this week's CAS-ual Friday's Challenge.  This week's challenge to create a clean and simple square card.  I'm not too sure my card is too clean and simple but it was really simple to make!  This is for a friend of mine how's precious little boy is turning 4 in September!  He loves all things Lego (oh and Cars too!).  I wanted to stick with a "4" theme on the card hence the 4 Lego blocks (that has 4 knobs on them)!  




These blocks are 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" and I used a 3/4" punch to create the circles.  The mini block inside the card is a 3/4" square with mini 1/4" circles on it!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point
Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Basic Black
Other: 3/4" circle punch, 1/4" circle punch, Timeless Type Sizzlit, Bitty Banners Framelits, Dimensionals


These pictures are from the fun fly on Sunday.  This is my husband's new crop duster (air tractor). Nothing runs like a Deere you know!  Caleb likes to "help" his dad fly...he's too cute!  I'm so glad he likes to be with his dad!  The air tractor looks great with smoke!




Thanks for stopping by!  We'll see you tomorrow with the Freshly Made Sketches card for the week!

Have a great day!
Jen

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Out of This World!


Hello!  Hope you had a great weekend!  We had a fun time this weekend.  The boys went mini golfing Saturday morning before the torrential rains hit then Saturday night they decided to have a boys party - s'mores on the BBQ and sleeping in the tent in the backyard.  It started out as a great party!  The s'mores were delicious (though they had a grill taste to them!) but the tenting...well...a bunch of guys decided to have a party just as the boys were going to bed, the wind was rustling the tend and Caleb thought there was someone outside so needless to say they all ended up inside and in their beds!  It was a good try though!

Today's card was made for my youngest monkey who turns 4 in 8 days!  How can that be possible?!  He can't be 4 yet!  I started with the sketch over at "Create with Connie and Mary" blog!  I really wanted to try this new Blast Off Stamp set since my boys totally love space!  I needed some bright colours to make it kid friendly and boyish!  Who doesn't love Gumball Green and Midnight Muse?!

There are some very fabulous cards over at the challenge so please, go ahead and check it out!  It will be worth the trip!



Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Whisper White
DSP: Polka Dot Parade
Stamps: Blast Off
Ink: Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Pumpkin Pie, Versamark
Other: Silver Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Chevron Embossing Folder, Stripes Embossing Folder



Here are a few photos from the boy's party!  The fabulous s'mores!  My husband doesn't look too impressed (he just doesn't like have his picture taken)!  The bottom picture is the boys settling into the tent!  Hilarious!  They look so happy in there....!



Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day!
Jen

Friday, August 10, 2012

Black and Red Birthday


Hello!
It's the weekend!  Are you excited?  Does anyone have any big plans?  We don't quite know what's going on but it will be an exciting weekend for sure!  The boys are having a "Boys Party" on Saturday night.  They are going to be camping in the backyard.  They will set up the tent and sleep out there...hope they have fun with the skunks and raccoons...maybe even a possum or two!  I'll update you on Sunday!

Today's card did not turn out the way I wanted.  I'm a little disappointed.  I'm really not sure what I had in mind but this isn't it.  Alas...that happens and we just make the best of it.  I used the MOJO Monday sketch as a starting point then picked some of my favourite colours (Black, red and crumb cake) and combined that with the SU-Only Challenges of using DSP in a creative way and voila!  This is what we ended up with.

Sometimes things don't turn out the way we had hoped!  I originally made the card and didn't emboss the background.  The card looked too plain...then I used the Fancy Fan EF and realized after I put it all together that the two embossing folders don't really go together!!!  My flower is made with the Blossom Punch (I punched out three) then scrunching them up and separating the layers slightly.  I added a Boho Blossom flower in the centre followed by a flower button from the Neutrals pack!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black. Whisper White, Crumb Cake
DSP: Brights DSP Stack (Real Red)
Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Flower Button, Thread, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Bitty Banners Framelits, Dimensionals, Paper Piercer, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Chevron Embossing Folder, Mini Clip, Blossom Punch, Boho Blossom Punch, Window Framelit

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful day!

Jen


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #47


Hello!
Happy Wednesday! We have made it halfway through the week!  Yesterday was my first day back to reality after vacation.  I think I prefer vacation!!!  I had to take my D-SLR camera into the doctor yesterday and am waiting to hear back from him what the verdict is.  I'm trying to remain optimistic but I have a sneaking suspicion that I may need to start saving my pennies!

Today, being Wednesday, means that it is time for a new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches!  Today's sketch is courtesy of the amazing Jen Timko.  Jen chose a fabulous sketch - without many circles!  I knew immediately that I wanted to use my new ornament stamps and dies.  I am trying to get ahead on the Christmas cards and this sketch was perfect!  Thanks Jen!!!   The design team has created some masterpieces so head on over to the blog and check them out!


I think Gumball Green and Cherry Cobbler are the perfect Christmas colours so I went to town!  The ornament is embossed in the new Gumball Green embossing powder.  I just love it!  I added a few pearls - just because I personally think every card needs a pearl or jewel!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
DSP: Be of Good Cheer
Stamps: Petite Pairs, Ornament Keepsakes
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Versamark
Other: Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Gumball Green Embossing Powder, Holiday Ornament Framelites, Bitty Banners Framelits, Embossing Folder (I completely forget the name....sorry - it's retired)

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day!

Jen



Monday, August 6, 2012

Retro Sketches Apples


Hello!  I can't believe that the long weekend is over!  At least here in Canada we had a long weekend and it was a nice one!  We are now back at home in Burlington and settling into the routine here!  Tomorrow should be an interesting day.  The boys are already asking to go back to Grannie and Papa's house!  Heaven help me!

Today's card is for the Retro Sketches challenge.  I saw online somewhere people who were making cards for their kids teacher's for September.  I figured that might not be a bad idea!  Get in good early!!!  Jacob's teacher and I are already friends so maybe I should be buttering up Caleb's new teachers!

I used the Perfectly Preserved again....but NOT the jar (you should all be proud of me!).  I threw in some buttons to mix it up a little!  I do love being able to stamp and cut out those shapes so easily with the framelits dies!  I wanted to keep this card clean and simple...just so that if I wanted to replicate it a few times it wouldn't take me forever!


Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
DSP: Brights DSP Stack
Stamps: Perfectly Preserved, Tea Shoppe (Sentiment)
Ink: Basic Black. Real Red, Gumball Green
Other: Cannery Set Framelits, Brights Buttons, Dimensionals, Floss


Today's cute photos (okay, so they're cute to me!) are from today's hike to Hilton Falls.  The falls aren't really falls at this time of the year but there was more water than I expected!  It was a great family outing and the boys had a blast!  







Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back tomorrow (or Wednesday morning) with this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge card!

Have a great day!
Jen

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Sunday Stamps Challenge #11


Hello!
Happy Sunday!  I can't believe it's Sunday already.  Our vacation at my mom and dad's is coming to a close today and we are heading back home.  Caleb is devastated.  He wants to stay here for the rest of the summer.  I am rather dreading packing him into the van to take him home.  I know he'll be fine once he's home but it's a long drive to get there!

Today is Sunday so that means it's another round of the Sunday Stamps challenge.  If you haven't had an opportunity to check this challenge out, head over to their blog and give the challenge a chance this week!   I am honoured to be a guest designer again this week.  I must say, I really do enjoying designing!  It's a colour challenge week at Sunday Stamps and this week's colours are Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point and Old Olive.  I must admit these colours had me challenged for a while but I managed to pull through and figure it all out!  At least I think I have!


I love the new Polka Dot Parade DSP from SU.  It makes me happy!  I thought it would work perfectly with this card.  I wanted to keep with the circle theme and used my new 1 1/4" scalloped punch and a Cuttlebug embossing folder that my mom had!  The Itty Bitty Banners stamp set embossed with white embossing powder sealed the deal!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Old Olive, Whisper White
DSP: Polka Dot Parade
Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Versamark
Other: White Embossing Powder, Bitty Banners Framelits Die, Embossing Folder, 1 1/4" Scalloped Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Square Punch, Dimensionals, Button, Floss


Here are a couple of pictures of my little Olympians!   We had our Olympics party on Thursday morning.  The boys had a hoot!  My mom did such an amazing job of planning this little party for them complete with torches and a parade!  They were in Olympic heaven!  They are already talking about next year's party...I think I'll wait to tell them the Summer Olympics only happen every 4 years...



Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #46


Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  We had a crazy storm here yesterday and I wondered if this post would even work!  We spent the morning at the beach again yesterday!  The boys love playing in the sand and the water.  Tomorrow morning will be our Olympics party...not sure what will be on tap for today!

The new Holiday Catalogue is available for everyone TODAY!  I'll try and have a link directly to the catalogue up shortly or you can just click on my "Shop 24-7" link to the right and see all the fun new products that are now available!

Today's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge sketch comes from the talented (and hopefully well rested after her vacation) Lesley Croghan!  When I first saw it I thought the Top Note sketch would be easy but then I found it a little more challenging.  I decided to do another fall card and use the new Wonderfall stamp set and corresponding Bigz die (both available TODAY!).  Oh, not to mention my favourite Orchard Harvest DSP (also available today).  

I cut my Top Note out of the new Core'dinations Early Espresso cardstock (also available today!) and then sanded off some of that top layer to show the inside colour off!  It's so fun...I can't stop using it!  Of course I had to emboss the background with the woodgrain...I'm sorry!  I just LOVE the new stuff!


Supplies:
Cardstock: Early Espresso Core'dinations, More Mustard, Crumb Cake, Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla
DSP: Orchard Harvest
Stamps: Wonderfall, Apothecary Art (sentiment)
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Early Espresso
Other: Top Note Die, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Bitty Banners Framelits Die, Edgelits Die, Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder, Woodgrain Textured Embossing Folder


This is a picture of the storm and the branches that came down!  We were without power for a few hours but it was restored rather quickly!



The other night we had to walk down my parents street to get the mail...Caleb rode his bike and Jacob decided that he would push the wheelbarrow all the way there and back...hilarious!  Didn't quite make it back but thankfully the wheelbarrow is light!


Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful day!

Jen