My Princess....

It's been nearly a month since we celebrated my daughter's birthday. She's anxiously been awaiting mommy's updated blog with her cake pictures. (Remember, I'm that dorky mom who makes her kids' cakes from scratch....and usually, they look totally and completely homemade -- dork that I am, I actually kind of like that charming quality.) She wanted a "Barbie" cake and we needed to be princesses, so her little girlfriends wore tiaras that we made and painted nails, along with a few other fun things.

I still can't believe she is FIVE!!!! I don't really remember what it was like before she was in our lives -- she is our oldest, our first, and completely our guinea pig (poor girl). I know I expect so much of her, and maybe sometimes too much, but I also know she's completely capable (I mean, for goodness sakes, she was reading books at 4 and playing the piano by ear before that). She is everything I ever dreamed my daughter would be -- smart, funny, helpful (sometimes too much so, but I'll take what I can get!), kind, thoughtful, sweet....the list can go on and on. And boy does this girl love GOD! She sings it at the top of her lungs with no worries like most of the rest of the world. I envy her passion and enthusiasm and fearlessness. And, like any mother I know, I swear she has taught me more than I could ever dream of teaching her.

You are special, little one, and I'm so lucky to be your mommy! Dream big, because I know, without a doubt, that whatever you reach for, you will make yours. My prayers for you are endless -- happiness, love, faith, comfort, peace, and more than I can explain. I LOVE YOU!

Swap time!

It's that time of the month again -- SWAP TIME! The upcoming May Stamp of the Month has to be one of my all time favorites -- as a card-maker, it will be one I turn to time and time again (as I already have), and as a scrapbooker...well, the possibilities are just endless! It has a sentiment for nearly every occasion I can think of. So, as always, you can check it out here and let me know if you think it's a MUST HAVE for your collection!

In the card above, I used the rock'n'roll technique on the "You are My Hero" image from the stamp set, Just Like You. I had Father's Day in mind when I bought this set in January. And then came this awesome SOTM. I used Twilight ink to stamp "Father's Day" on the twill ribbon, and used Chocolate ink to stamp "Sending my love" on the chocolate cardstock. It was fast, simple, and perhaps the most masculine card I've made in a while, if not ever!

Stamps: Say it In Style (May 08 SOTM), Just Like You
Ink/Paper: Chocolate, Twilight, White Daisy
B&T Paper: Good Times
Accessories: Twill Ribbon
*All CTMH, of course!!!

Baby, baby, baby!

My sister-in-law (and brother-in-law) is expecting baby #1 at the end of May, and part of my shower contribution was the invitations. (I'm sure it's hard to believe that I'd want to do that.) They do not know what they're having, which is always exciting, so we decided to go with a nice soft green and chocolate. (Rachel...and I....and okay, lots of other people....well, we just love chocolate, so this HAD to be part of the shower!)

Here is what I came up with:

Stamps: Baby Steps (CTMH)

Paper/Ink: Key Lime, Chocolate, White Daisy CS

Accessories: Chocolate Polka Dot ribbon from HL (sorry CTMH -- I didn't have enough of my cocoa ribbon rounds!!!!)

Tools used: Blending Pen, Colluzzle, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, my computer (to do the inside of the invitation)

The inside reads: "They're expecting a baby, a new bundle of joy, A very special gift, be it a girl or a boy."

This card was inspired, again, by Lisa. She always has amazing ideas -- thanks, Lisa!!

Hope you're having a very blessed Sunday, and that you're week will be off to a great start tomorrow!
-Alyssa

Just a few cards....

I was asked by a friend of mine to lead the card-making session at her church women's retreat tomorrow and Saturday. What an honor! The theme is the Chocolate Boutique (can I say YUM?!?!?), and they picked out the adorable papers used in the two cards I designed. The stamps, of course, are CTMH.

Special thanks goes to Lisa (check out her blog at http://www.lisascreativecorner.blogspot.com/) for inspiring the first card. It uses the May Stamp of the Month (which is available in just a few weeks). You can see it here: http://www.closetomyheart.com/stamp_of_the_month_08_05_may.aspx

The second card uses the CTMH stamp sets of Say it in Style (MAY SOTM again), Solo "H", and Celebrate Life.

Hope you all have a lovely Thursday!

-Alyssa

A Challenge...

My SBS group decided to start holding challenges, and the first one was to use something we've never used before. Perfect timing! I've been needing to create some pieces with the upcoming Stamp of the Month for April (Express Postage), and this encouraged me to get past the creative block I've had with this particular set! I love this set -- loved it the first time I saw it! But I had NO idea what to do with it once it came. So the result is what you see above.

I random stamped the white daisy paper with the round circle from Express Postage in Twilight, Lilac Mist and Petal. I matted it on 3x3 Petal CS, created the band with Petal and Twilight, distressed, and added White Daisy grosgrain ribbon. Then I stamped the circle again Twilight, and added the sentiment in Twilight and a pewter brad. I cut it out, matted it on Twilight, and voila!

I also created a bookmark using one of CTMH's creative clips. These are really easy to work with, and are great accents for scrapbook layouts or cards. And now it's a bookmarks! I used a scallop circle punch on Petal and Amethyst CS, and then stamped the circle and sentiment in Petal on the Amethyst CS. I added a white daisy grosgrain ribbon for a little embellishment.

So what do you think? You can see this set here: http://www.closetomyheart.com/stamp_of_the_month_08_04_apr.aspx

I know there are a few of you who have tagged me recently -- I have not forgotten! I plan to hit those this weekend!

I'm BAAACK!

I'm BAAAACK! I know it's been a while. Ever heard the saying, "When it rains, it pours?" That pretty much happened. Nothing major...just so many things all at once. Sick kids, sick mommy, sick computer. (On that note, let me take a moment to remind you to back up your hard drive. We were LUCKY....we only lost a few pictures, and none were worth being upset about. Thank goodness!) And thanks to all who wrote to check in on me -- it was so thoughtful and really made me feel, well, kind of important. (I know that sounds silly, but you moms all know what I mean!)I'm hoping (praying like crazy, actually) that we are past the yuckies and can get back into life full steam ahead!

The picture above is of me with my two oldest kiddos -- Samantha and Hudson. We took all 3 kids to see Playhouse Disney Live when it came to town -- so much fun! This picture was taken just before the show started.

I hope this post finds you feeling well and looking forward to spring -- it's been a very long winter for our family. It seems as though someone has been sick with something since Thanksgiving. I wish I was exaggerating. And I've personally been catching everything, which is very unusual. I'm so sorry I've been such an absentee blogger! I have been so tired at the end of the days after chasing after my little ones that I've had little energy to do anything but dishes, laundry, and sleep. And sometimes none of those were even happening! But we've had 3 glorious days of weather this week, and took full advantage to air out our house and sweep those germs on their way!

And I've been busy creating (FINALLY -- oh my goodness, I was going through withdrawal!) I participated in something out of the box for me -- a monochromatic card swap. I designed cards for the blue, pink, and red groups. I love the way the blue and pink cards turned out, but red turned out to be much more challenging than I anticipated. So here goes nothing....

Stamp Sets: Angel Whispers, Simple Beauty (March SOTM); Ink/Paper: Blush, Baby Pink, and Hollyhock; Accessories: White Daisy grosgrain ribbon, scalloped circle punches

Stamp Sets: Star Struck, Sans Alphabet, Delightful Alphabet; Ink/Cardstock: Outdoor Denim, Crystal Blue, Twilight, White Daisy; Accessories: Pewter brads, corner rounder (by EK Success, I think)

Stamp Set: Soul Mates; Ink/Cardstock: Cranberry, Barn Red, Garnet, white daisy; Accessories: Cuttlebug, Cranberry grosgrain ribbon

Tomorrow, the kids and I are headed to at least one, maybe two Easter Egg hunts! I'm very excited -- they are all at that age where it will be fun but not "dumb" yet! Thankfully! And I already have a layout done just waiting for pictures!

Happy Friday!

Endless Love

Just a quick 3x3 card I made a while back -- this is CTMH's February Stamp of the Month. Click here: http://www.closetomyheart.com/stamp_of_the_month.aspx to see it. Thanks to Marjorie over at Mommy Scraps who (somewhere a little while ago) posted a tip on take close-up pictures. It really helped!

Check back later today -- I plan to post the layout we did at my club on Tuesday night.

Happy Thursday!

Stamps: Endless Love

Colors: Hollyhock, Blush, White Daisy and Chocolate

Accessories: Prisma Glitter, white daisy grosgrain ribbon