Hand Stamped By Lacey

High Hopes Challenge #34 - Sketch Challenge

Before I get started, I wanted to mention that Ansley (my 6 year old daughter) finally has a card posted on her blog! We have been so busy lately, I haven't been able to help her upload it. She also made a card for the Crafty Monkey's Challenge this week. So hopefully I will be able to get that posted this week.

Onto this week's High Hopes Challenge...it is a wonderful sketch designed by the ubber talented Nikki aka Bunny-Zoes blog. By the way, did you hear she was opening her own on-line store?

Anyway, here is her sketch...

Here is my card...

I used Crissy's Snuggle Bear from the lastest High Hopes release. Isn't she so adorable?! And she was so much fun to color. That teddy bear is just so cute!

I also used some new stuff on this card. The card base is Mango Mamba...one of the new In-Colors from Stampin' Up!! Isn't it awesome? And the Designer Paper is also a SU Sneak Peek called Razzleberry Lemonade!!! :-) *big smile*!! I just love the color combo in this fun DP.

The swirls around the image are from the Wings of Friendship SU set that I peeked the other day. I really love how it works well to frame out an image. Here's the inside of the card with better views of the new DP...

I am not going to tell you how long this card took to make. Mainly because I kept getting interrupted. But mostly because I wasn't sure which new in-color I was going to use as the card base!! I also had some issues with the sewing...the bobbin thread ran out half way through!! I hate when that happens. I've had my sewing machine put away with the house on the market so I didn't think to check it before I started this card.

Back to the challenge...if you would like to play along, link your card to the challenge post to be entered into the drawing for some free stamps! And if you upload your card to SCS, make sure to use keyword HHC34.

Don't forget to check out all of the other awesome DT cards!! Links are in my sidebar.

AND...don't forget about my candy here.

I'll leave you with a closer view of Crissy...

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Stamping!

~Lacey

Ansley...Guest DT and Soccer

Ansley was asked to be a Guest Designer for Crafty Monkeys this week. The challenge is called "Touchy Feely"...add texture to you cards.

Here is the card Ansley made...

Click on the pictures for a larger view.

She originally started with a different image. I thought she could color something and the color would come through the fun flock...but I forgot about the details...like the eyes!! So, she had to scrap that idea and she picked out an image that could remain white for the fun flock.

I picked out some of my ribbon with different texture and she chose the butterfly one. I helped her add the fun flock and chunky glitter...only because I didn't want her to make a huge mess!! I also had to help her with the background stamp since it's too large for her little hands. But besides that, it was her design. Oh, I also threaded the fibers through the button for her. But she chose what she wanted to use and where to put them.

You can check out her card on her blog Little Stamper.

Today was also her first soccer game of the season. They played really well. Our community changed sports organizations so this was our first time with the new structure. The team is only 6 year olds and older 5 year olds. Unfortunately, with the new structure, Ryan missed the cut off so he can't play. We ended up with 6 girls and only 2 boys on the team! Yikes! They also reduced the size of the field and the goal, and they are not allowed to have goaltenders. I was told that is so the kids learn to shoot straight into the goal better. Who knows.

Oh, it got quite hot today! At the start of the game, it was 72 and by the end of the game, it was 78 with no clouds in the sky. Florida sun can be pretty strong...she probably need sunblock!

Here is Ansley on the sideline with one of her friends (McKenzie...her daddy is the coach)....

She's still a little sick...I wasn't sure she was going to be able to play today. But she did fine. However, all of the pictures (except this one) her mouth is open...poor girl can't breathe through her nose!!

Here is her goal...she is blocked by the red team, but she is behind #44...

Check out all of the red jersey's that's couldn't stop her!!

Here is the team lining up to shake hands with the red team. Scott (my husband) is the assistant coach (in the Tennessee shirt)...

Ansley is one of the better players on the team. There are some promising players (like the first one in line). But I want to point out that Ansley is the smallest player on the team!!

If you ask the other team's coach, we lost 3-2. But that is because someone on our team kicked the ball into our owl goal while trying to take it away from the other team. Doesn't count in my book! LOL

Well, I am off to finish my card for the High Hopes Challenge tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Stamping!

~Lacey

Ansley's card for a friend

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that my 6 year old daughter Ansley absolutely LOVES to make cards with me. Unfortunately, she wants to do it everyday, all the time...now!! LOL Which means she is always into MY stuff!!

However, it's been awhile since she was able to play along with one of the Crafty Monkey Challenges. So when I got a new Whiff of Joy stamp last week, I let her make a card for her friend.

It's a pretty basic card layout. But she insisted on doing it her way. I stamped the image for her (just because I was in a hurry and didn't want to deal with it). She colored it in, then we picked out some papers to match. She also insisted on using some of my new primas (the pink one with the swirls).

The Crafty Monkey Challenge was to use "something new". This qualifies since she even got to use them (the stamp and prima) before me!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Lacey

It's snowing in Florida...

Oh...it's been a BUSY week!! I had something to do EVERY night this week from Christmas Concerts at School, Christmas parties for friends, school (staff), and my Bible Study...plus gymnastics, the kid's craft, and stamp club!! I am wiped out and I'm not done yet!! I am sorry I haven't posted as much, but that is why!

I was finally able to make a new card yesterday, but wasn't able to take a picture and post it until this morning. I ended up using the SCS Color Challenge CC196 (Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, and Taken with Teal) although that is not what I started with! I colored this image to go with Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding DP, but when it was done, the image was too large so the paper was covered up too much. I started putting things together and ended up with Baja Breeze and Riding Hood Red and that's when I remembered the color challenge so I added some Taken with Teal.

I used Crystal Snowlady from High Hopes Rubber Stamps for the image. I did something a little different this time...I embossed the image in silver instead of black...I thought it made her a little more "Crystal"! I watercolored her with Twinkling H2Os and sponged a little soft sky and kiwi kiss in the background (it shows up better in real life), inked up the edges with Chocolate Chip and distressed the edges. Then I added some Martha Stewart "Mica Flake Glitter" to create snow. That's the only snow we get in Florida!!

I used Baja Breeze for the 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" card base and stamped some snowflakes from SU In the Spotlight (retired hostess set from a few catalogs ago) in the background using Baja Breeze, then I inked up the edges with Baja to add a little depth. I added a strip of "Taken With Teal" CS punched with Fiscars "Threading Water" border punch and added some Riding Hood Red/Very Vanilla Stripped Ribbon from SU. I punched out a snowflake using SU Snow Blossom Punch, added stickles, a Making Memories pewter brad, and a red prima.

Here is a close up of Crystal...

Of course, Ansley saw my card this morning and wanted to make one, too. She basically did everything herself except the scalloped border and adding the ribbon. She wasn't strong enough to punch the scallop herself and couldn't get the adhesive on the ribbon. But besides that, it's all her (Oh, I made the prima... I was going to put 2 on my card, but decided it was too busy so I left it on my desk and gave it to Ansley this morning for her card)...

Ansley's card is a standard A2 size. I think Ansley is going to give this card to Nana and Papa (Scott's parents) since we are hoping to see some snow for Christmas when we visit them in Tennessee.

Oh, check out this cake Jo made using HH Wee Three Kings (which happens to be my blog banner)!! What a wonderful idea!!

I hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday Season. Thanks for stopping by!

~Lacey

High Hopes Blog Challenge #9

It's time for another High Hopes Blog challenge. This week's challenge is a Sketch Challenge by Ila. I also created this card for the "Ways to Use it" Challenge on SCS this week WT193 which is "Pearls".

Here is my card...

I tried different lighting from the one posted on the High Hopes Blog, so I am hoping this is a better photo.

Anyway, I used Christmas Kitty Fun for the main image embossed in black. Then I watercolored it using Twinkling H2Os...so much fun to work with!! I just wish the pictures were better to show the twinkling. I used some DaisyD's DP that I got from a local scrapbook store called "Sugarplum Dots" and "Sugarplum Stripes" and a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" card base of Riding Hood Red.

To tie in the pearls, I added some half pearls from SU Pretties Kit and added some dangling pearls and crystals (also from the Pretties Kit) using Linen Thread. Oh, the image was die cut from the SU Top Note. Since I can't seem to make a card without some sort of simmer lately, I added stickles to the outside layer and Liquid Applique to the hat.

Here is a close up of the image. The one kitty is a little blurry, but I think it shows some of the shimmer from the H2Os in the green...

Of course, Ansley wanted to make one too...

Last week I promised that I would pick a blog that participated in challenge #8 and showcase it today. Since only 3 people participated and linked here, I am going to link all 3 of their blogs...

6 Wacky Women

Sketching Stamper

Tray's Spot

If you want to participate with the challenge this week, make sure you link your card here and next sunday I will link all of the blogs who participated (you must link you blog in the comment section of this post in order to be listed on my blog). Of course, make sure you link it on the High Hopes Blog as well so you can be eligable for the blog candy. And if you link your card on SCS or Paper Craft Planet, make sure to use keyword HHC9. I hope you can play along!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Lacey

High Hopes Blog Challenge...and my birthday!!

Edited to stay at the top of the list until the Birthday Candy is over on friday, Nov 21st...please scroll down for newer posts.

It's time for another High Hopes Blog Challenge (and it's my birthday today...but we'll get to that in a minute). This week's challenge is hosted by Michelle Mommy Time and the challenge is "Buttons and Brads".

I used SCS Color Challenge #192: Certainly Celery, Pacific Blue, and Basic Gray for the color combo...

This was my first attempt at Twinkling H2O's, I bought some for my birthday! I love them, but the camera doesn't love them...it doesn't pick up the twinkling too well.

I embossed Sitting Princess and Unicorn in black (masking the princess), then I watercoloring using H2O's. I cut out the image with the largest Scalloped Circle Nestability, but before taking it out of the Nestie die, I sponged Pacific Blue and Certainly Celery around the edges.

I used some My Mind's Eye Everyday Tango DP as a background mat (the design went perfectly with the color challenge). I added two ribbons, then sewed the layer onto the Basic Gray 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" card base.

I added some glitter brads, some primas, and some buttons to finish it off.

Ansley wanted to make one, too (I helped her with the masking)...

Her card doesn't exactly meet the challenge since she didn't use any brads. She colored using Crayola Twistable pencils and added stickles to the unicorn's horn. I helped her sponge around the edges. The flowers were cut from Hello Kitty Flower Sizzix die.

Now it's your turn. Make a card using this week's challenge (Buttons AND Brads) and post your card on the Challenge Post on the High Hopes Blog for a chance to win some free stamps! And if you post your card on any public galleries, please use keyword HHC8.

I am also going to do something a little new. During the time that I am a High Hopes Guest Diva (through the end of January), if you participate with the HH blog challenge using a High Hopes stamp and link your project in the comment section on my blog, I will pick a random number and post that card on my blog the following sunday.

Now onto my birthday!! Today I turn 37! Yikes...I am getting so much closer to the big 40!! So I have some blog candy to celebrate my birthday along with going over 30,000 hits on my blog!! Wow, it just seems like yesterday that I hit the 10,000 mark, and now I have tripled that!!

I will be giving away some High Hopes stamps: HH Lenny's Love me Nots, Special Tweet sentiment (both that are part of the HH November project of the month), a SU Tag Corner punch, SU A Little Bit of Happiness (retired hostess set),  Lemon Flower Soft (not shown in the picture), along with some ribbon, primas, another HH stamp and other assorted "stuff"!!!

Now, in order to be entered into the drawing, link this candy on your blog (if you have one) and leave me a comment on this post. If you don't have a blog, you can still enter to win. Or, participate with the blog challenge and link it here. I will pick a winner for the blog candy on friday, Nov 21st. One entry per person, duplicate entries will be not be counted for the draw.

* Note, this is NOT the spot for the High Hopes Blog Hop!! Keep hopping!!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Lacey

Your Word...

I've had this Wiff of Joy stamp for awhile now, but haven't had the chance to ink it up. I needed a good "teenage girl" stamp, and I thought Melinda Reading Book was great for a card for my niece (Melinda sort of looks like Laney).

I used Wiff of Joy Sketch Challenge #7...

I know I'm late with the challenge, but I really loved this sketch.

Anyway, I thought Melinda (being an Angel and all) looked like she was reading the Bible. So, I added a cross from the signature stamp from "On Eagle's Wings" from Our Daily Bread Designs.

I embossed Melinda in black, then watercolored her using Stampin' Up inks and markers. I added a pink glow around her with Pink Pirouette and highlights with a white gel pen (you can see the flash bouning off the black embossing). 

The Designer Paper is from My Mind's Eye Everyday Tango pad. I added stickles around the layers and on her wings and the flower. The sentiment was printed on the computer...

On the inside I added some DP scraps to carry the theme...

This card actually is not the card for my niece. I haven't ordered the large square envelopes yet. So since I needed to mail my niece's card, I made one with the same design in a normal A2 size.

This is Laney's card...

I added stiching around the edges, some swirls around the image (not really happy with them), and removed the sentiment and brads so it would fit.

The inside is a money holder card...

I sewed the DP flap on to create a pocket to hold money.

Here are the 2 cards together...

The larger card on the left actually looks smaller, but it's just because it's a "tent card" (open on the bottom) so it looks shorter when standing; it's actually 5 1/2" x 5 1/2".

Now, of course, Ansley HAD to make a card as well...

Ansley copied my card and decided to add her own cross to her book!! LOL

Now onto Day 3 of The Purpose Driven Life. This chapter is called "What Drives Your Life?"

This chapter discusses some common things that drive our lives such as guilt, resentment and anger, fear, materialism, and the need for approval.

Rick Warren (the author) says "knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life"...quoting the bible, 'I know what I am planning for you...I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.'" Jeremiah 29:11 (New Century Version).

He says "Knowing your purpose focuses your life....motivates your life...and prepares you for eternity."

Day Three: Thinking about my Purpose

Point to Ponder: Living on purpose is the path to Peace.

Verse to Remember: "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpse firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3 (Today's English Version).

Question to Consider: What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?

If you are following along with this study, I hope the study blesses your life and I encourage you to get the book and read it...my little summaries don't even scratch the surface compared to reading the book.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Lacey

Birthday time...and more candy!!

Nikki's daughter has her own blog for the little crafters called Crafty Monkey with challenges weekly. Ansley loves to stamp with mommy, we were able to participate this week for this week's challenge...to create a Birthday card.

We used Amy's Friday Sketch #35 for the layout. Ansley stamped Fairy Princess in black (I am so proud of her stamping...no wiggling). She chose the color scheme (red and pink) and we chose the papers together. Then she colored her image with her Crayola Twistable Pencils (the red is a marker). I showed her the sketch and where to place things, but she added adhesive and put it together.

Here's a close up of her image...

I needed to make a birthday card as well. While browing Katharina's blog, I saw a link to Claire's blog. Claire's son has Aspbergers Syndrome and his birthday is coming up. She is asking for Birthday Cards for her son since his condition doesn't allow him to have birthday parties or many friends. So I thought the new High Hopes Huggable Hank would make a great boy's birthday card. I pair it up with Wavy Balloon, Heart Balloon, and Round Balloon for this simple birthday card.

For this card, I used Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #40 (I turned it on it's side so the balloons could work as the "bubble" piece). I embossed Huggable Hank in black then watercolored him using SU ink (Kiwi Kiss and Pacific Blue) and highlighted areas with my Signo white gel pen. I used Only Orange on the background and balloons and added a swirl border and balloon strings with a Black Stampin' Write Marker.

Here's a close up of the image...

The card is a regular A2 size since I knew I was going to mail it. The card base is Kiwi Kiss with Old Olive sponged around the sides. The DP is from My Mind's Eye "Everyday Tango" pack (120 sheets).

No on to the candy....it's time for another High Hopes Blog Hop Candy. Find the list of Diva's to the left to find the Diva with the goods...Good luck!

Don't forget that the High Hopes Blog is now offering some candy for those who participate with the weekly challenges...this week...a Christmas Card with non-traditional colors.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Lacey