Life's A Breeze

Ahhhh,....another rainy day in FL! We have had about 20 inches in the last week! I am sooo over this.

So here is a nice sunny and cheery card to block out the icky weather we are having! I am lovin' these new Beachies from ATS!!

The sentiment is another one from Amy R's Beach Sentiments. This stamp set is very versatile. I really like all of the sentiment sets she come out with.

This little Emma is so cute in her polka-dot suit! I tried something new with her hair and really like how it turned out. Also, I tried a little something different with her skin coloring. Emma was cut out and layered onto an oval that I airbrushed with my copic airbrush system. One of my markers was a little too juicy and it splattered, so maybe it was 'lightly sprinkling' on the beach? LOL! I finally broke down and had to buy that cute 'beachy' EK success border punch. I airbrushed it to look like sand. The DP is some Karen Foster I picked up at my LSS recently. I used So Saffron, Baja Breeze, and Gina K. 80 #. I used my CB tiny bubbles embossing folder, SU Word Window Punch, SU Linen Thread, Oval Nesties and a sewing machine to finish it off.

Here are the Copics I used:

We have a busy evening tonight - my 13 yo dd has her last band performance tonight and my 5 yo ds has his Kindergarten play tonight. It is a play about bugs and he is a firefly! Hopefully, I will snap some good pics to post!

Hope you are staying dry!
~Tori

SU Swatch Ring

SU Swatch Ring w/Copic Colors

I have been meaning to post this for a while, but keep forgetting. This is my new best friend:(well, next to my Copics and my new Airbrush System!...)

This was super easy to make and saves me loads of time when matching to patterned papers.

I punched one of each of the current and retired SU papers, using the SU scallop punch. I have the retired In Colors from the last few years. I used a Crop-A-Dile to punch holes in the papers. I labeled the color name on everthing and then put them in 'rainbow' order.

On the back, I added the corresponding Copic color. Here is a chart from SCS with matches. Here is another one from Paper Canoes. (I hope she does not mind if I link to her site - she is so uber-talented!) I have not compared the two to see if they match exactly, but you can pick which one you like. I ordered some PTI paper and I will add it to the ring once I have a chance. I think I will keep it separate from the SU colors.

It's not fancy, but it is very useful!

Hope you found this helpful!

~Tori

Bathing Beauty Emma

Good Tuesday Evening to you!

Things are finally calming down here now that the kids are back in school!! My little one had his 1 month post-surgery check-up today and his hearing has gone back to normal after putting the tubes in his ears! He had a hearing test before his surgery and had some hearing loss, though no speech delay or issues. So far, he has been very healthy post surgery (with the exception of the stomach virus) - no asthma flare-ups, no allergy issues, no URI's!! YAY! It appears to be a success and we have been able to cut way back on all of his meds!!

So on to the card now....

This is the digi image of Bathing Beauty Emma from ATS. Unfortunately, Emma used too much fake tanning lotion on her face and ended up with a little orange-ish tint! LOL!

(I still need to perfect my 'tanned' look.)

I used my Copic Airbrush system to create the background of sand and sky. It was cut out with my deckled nesties and layered onto Glorious Green paper. I layered the colored and cut out image of Emma onto the background using foam tape. The card base is Pumpkin Pie and was embossed with the CB Spots & Dots folder. I layered some Scenic Route DP onto some Summer Sun paper. The sentiment is from Amy R's Beach Sentiments set. I used the SU oval punches to layer it. I got this beautiful ribbon from my LSS, but I think it is May Arts.

Here are the copics I used and a breakdown of where I used them:

Have a great evening!

TFL, ~Tori

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!

I want to say a special Thank You to all the Service Men and Women that have risked their lives for our freedom. I am so proud of my father who served in the Air Force and is a Vietnam Vet and of my nephew, Sean, who currently serves in the Marine Corps!

We had a fabulous weekend! We had friends in from out of town to visit and eventhough it was wet part of the weekend, the sun finally came out and we got in the pool today! We also took the kids to see Night at the Museum - Battle at the Smithsonian. It was a nice break to get the 6 kids out of the house for a bit. The rest of the time, we spent battling each other at Guitar Hero (that would be the Mom's & Dad's!) My trip to Disney with my daughter's band was a total wash as it rained most of the day very hard! The kids still had a great time and did not mind running between each ride in the rain. I could not wait to get home and get dry!

Anyhoo, on to the card....I finally had time to pull out my new Copic Airbrush system and test it out!! I {heart} this thing! I can see so many awesome uses for it!

This beach cutie is from the new "Beachies" set from ATS. I bought the digi stamps. The seniment is from Amy R's new Beach Sentiments set also available at ATS. The sketch came from Card Positioning Systems CPS116 Sketch. I decided not to use a Bella for this sketch, because I already had this in mind. ( I sort of goofed and flipped it around!)

She was colored using Copics, masked and then I used some Y15 to airbrush around her. I really like how it turned out!! I really like these colors together. I scrounged my last piece of Only Orange until my next SU order comes for this card. The yellow is Bazzill, the green is Old Olive and the DP is Scenic Route. I used Nesties to layer the image and sentiment and used the spots and dots CB embossing folder and used some buttons and linen thread to complete the look.

Here are the copics I used:
That's all for tonight! I am tired since we stayed up late all weekend, so I am crashing early tonight!
~Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome to the Zoo!

Happy Tuesday, Y'all!

It has been raining like crazy here in N. Fl for 2 days now! I have had to drain my pool twice and had to shock it tonight, since it is already turning green - eek! Oh well, we needed rain, and now my house is much cleaner!! We are having company this weekend, so I have a ton to do to get ready. Now most of it is done - Yay!

I have been struggling to make this 3x3 card for at least a week now! Not sure why something so small gave me so much trouble!

This cute little lion is from SU Ink's new set Welcome to the Zoo. He was stamped multiple times, colored with copics, cut out and layered with foam tape. The background was created on Whisper White. I masked off the sun and sponged Soft Sky and then used the 'negative' portion of the mask to create the sun using More Mustard and Summer Sun inks. The ground Mr. Lion is standing on is Close to Cocoa which was run through my cuttlebug with the tiny bubbles embossing folder. The card base is More Mustard, which was run through with the distressed stripes embossing folder. The Martha Stewart ferns were punched in Old Olive and the EK Success leaves were punched using Kiwi Kiss paper.

Here is a close-up of the layering:

Here are the copics I used:
Have a good night! Hopefully we won't lose power like we did last night. I am just hoping that it is over by Friday since I am chaperoning my daughter's band trip to Disney - 150 six, seventh and eight graders stuck in the rain does not sound fun - nor does me stuck in the rain all day! LOL!
Thanks for stopping by!
~Tori

Hello Sunshine!

Happy Wednesday, Y'all!

I am trying to turn over a new leaf and start working out again. I went this morning and I am already starting to pay for it!! My knees and calves are sore!! Oh well, no pain - no gain, right? I am really going to try to get in a routine, because I feel so much better when I do!

I loved CC218 so much, I had to make another card using those colors!

I am just in love with these new Pink Cat Studio stamps! This little mermaid is adorable. I colored her with my Copics and added some Eucalyptus Stickles on her scales and some Orange Stickles on the starfish in her hair. I cut it out using my new Deckled Rectangle Nestie and then sponged some Cool Caribbean around the edges. I layered her onto Summer Sun paper that I cut using nesties, ran through with my swirl CB folder and then sponged on some Desert Sand ink from CTMH. I layered this onto Kiwi Kiss that was run through with the dots CB folder and also sponged with Desert Sun as well as some VersaMark Dazzle ink in Champagne for some shimmer. The card base & tag are Only Orange which also got sponged with Desert Sun.

Here is a close-up of her shimmers:

I think I did a better job making her look a little tan. She's not quite so pasty this time! I still need to practice more shading, etc.

Here are the Copics used:

Supplies: Stamps - Lily @ the Beach - Pink Cat Studio; Ink - Memento, Cool Caribbean (SU), Desert Sun (CTMH), Versa Mark Dazzle Champagne; Paper - Whisper White, Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, Only Orange; Accessories - Tag punch - SU, Nesties, Ribbon - Offray, Copics, Stickles - Eucalyptus & Orange, Dew Drops, Sponges, CB folders - Swirl & Dots

Have a great day!

~Tori

Fun In the Sun Lily

Happy Tuesday Y'all!

The weather is icky today - over-cast and looking like the bottom will drop out any minute, so I decided to play along with CC218 at SCS since the colors are bright and cheery! The sketch came from LPS's Monday sketch challenge. I just got these Lily at the Beach stamps yesterday in the mail and could not wait to rip them open and get inky with them!

The color challenge was Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss and Only Orange -

I was little skeptical and then saw a few samples and decided I LOVED it!

This is a great sketch too and one I am sure I will use over and over.

I colored her with my Copics, masked her and then sponged Desert Sand (CTMH) and Cool Caribbean. I used a SU Scallop punch to create the cloudy background. Used my trusty oval nesties to punch and layer - really wish I came up with the idea for these!! The two background blocks were run through my CB with the Swirls and dots folders. I then, added some orange stickles to all of the swirls. I stamped the sentiment, cut out and popped up and of course, added some more stickles! A beachy-girl can still have bling, right? ATS carries this awesome ribbon by May Arts - you have to see this stuff in person to see how shimmery, etc. it is! The colors are just beautiful.

I still need to learn how to create a 'tanned' look with my copics - Lily looks a bit pasty to be a total beach babe - any color suggestions, youtube links, tutorials on this would be greatly appreciated!

Here are the copics I used:

Thanks and have a great rest of the day!

~Tori

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope everyone is having a relaxing one!

My first post is of a recipe page I made for a Drink Recipe Swap that some local friends put together.

Yum-O - Strawberry Daicquiri's!

No stamping on this one, just good ol' scrappin'. The font is QK Spicy Chicken, the DP is Out & About by MME (look for lots of cards using this, since I have a lot of left over!!) The cardstock base is Bazzill, the recipe is printed on Very Vanilla and the font CS is Cameo Coral (SU). I inked all of the edges in Chocolate Chip and added some primas and bling to round it out!

Here is the recipe:

1/4 small can Frozen Pink Lemonade

4 oz Rum

1- 10 oz package frozen strawberries

Ice

Combine all ingredients except ice in blender. Process until smooth.

Add several ice cubes at a time. Process until smooth.

Add more ice cubes and process until slushy. May be stored in the freezer.

Here is a Mother's Day card that I made for my Mom.

These stamps are both Hero Arts - the flower is from a background stamp - Outline Flowers. I used some of the retired Afternoon Tea DP from SU. The flower was stamped with Memento ink, colored with R00, R02, R05 and G21 Copics. I added Eucalyptus stickles over the center and popped it up using pop dots. I ran the green sheet through my CB using a leaf folder and then cut out the leaf (got the idea from Faith Hofrichter "Markie's Mom"). The card base is Groovy Guava and was ran through with a different CB folder. I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip, cut it out with the deckled rectangles nesties, sponged Choc Chip around the edges and added some Wild Wasabi ribbon.

Here is the Mother's Day cards I sent to my Mother In-Law and Grandmother In-Law.

This was my first attempt at using Flower Soft. I think it turned out pretty cute. The stamp is from Penny Black. I colored the stamp with SU markers Chocolate Chip & Pretty Pink and then sponged certainly celery and bashful blue for the ground and sky. I added pink flower soft over the pretty in pink. I inked the sentiment from Great Impressions in Choc Chip and stamped onto Regal Rose paper and ran some Whisper White CS through my CB. The ribbon is from Creative Impressions.

Have a wonderful day!

~Tori

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

Happy Cinco de Mayo...well one day late. I did not get this posted last night like I anticipated. It has been a crazy week so far involving a 13th birthday, an almost broken toe and a very long wait in the ER!

My dd turned 13 yesterday...acckk! I am not ready to be the parent of a teenager!! She had a birthday party this past weekend and that is where the toe situation came in... The girls were running around and someone stepped down on her foot - OUCH! The good news is that it is a very deep tissue bruise and not broken. She also has a fist-size bruise on the top of her foot.

No onto the 'fun' ER story. On Monday, my little one woke up with a stomach virus (this is the same one that just had surgery 12 days ago). I decided to take him to the dr. because he was not acting normal. I took him in and she sent him to the ER for IV fluids and a chest x-ray b/c he was really dehyrated and had crackles in his chest (he has asthma) and his vitals were 'off'. Well, we got to the Pediatric ER at 11:45 am and sat in the waiting room (with a ton of people wearing masks) until 6:15 pm - yes, almost 7 hours. My peds called that we were on our way and also called throughout the day to try to get us moved up. I was so angry, it took them an hour and a half to triage him. It was the worst experience I have ever had at any hospital. He finally got hooked up to an IV around 7 PM and we finally got home around 10 PM. There is such a panic from the Swine Flu and I understand that the ER staffers are very overwhelmed, but I wish they could have been a little more compassionate. I actually had a few of the triage nurses be really rude to me for asking where I was on the list (after sittng there for 5 hours) and also for asking for ice chips for my son. I was very polite at all times, eventhough I was frustrated and worried about my son. I just did not feel like I deserved that treatment. I am still a little worn out from the whole experience. He is doing fine now, running around and acting totally normal.

I do have to give a special 'Thank You" to my fellow blogger and neighbor, Dee - she made a whole pan of yummy homemade mac and cheese for the rest of my family who was at home during the whole ordeal. She ROCKS! :)

Anywho, onto the card!

This little fashionista Anya reminds me of my daughter, so I thought it would be perfect for her birthday card. I colored her with my copics, sponged the edges with Rose Red and layered on Tempting Turquoise. The DP is from the Magnolia stack from MME. I covered the chipboard number with MME DP, used my craft knife to cut out and then spritzed with Hollyberry Glimmer Mist. I adhered them to a scallop punched circle (SU) and added some Rose Red ribbon. The white trim is from Basic Grey, I think.

Here is the inside of the card:
The flower is a Prima I have had forever! I used a McGill punch to create the word window. The sentiment is from Amy R's Birthday Sentiments set from ATS.

Here are the copics I used:

Sorry for the 'book'! LOL! Have a great day!

~Tori

Blog Candy Winner!!

Sorry I am late picking the winner, it has been a busy and exhausting day!! My dd turns 13 (eeekk) on Tuesday and she is having a swimming party tomorrow. I have been cleaning, etc all day! Anywho, I am about to call it a night!

I really enjoyed hearing about what cakes you like best - mine is chocolate with chocolate icing - YUM-O! The Pioneer Woman has an awesome recipe here for one. If you have never been to her site, you are in for a treat!! Go check it out and see what I mean - It is an awesome blog!

The Winner of the Blog Candy is: #8 Janette!!

Please email me your address, etc at vhemingway2006 at hotmail dot com and I will mail your goodies out!

G'nite!

~Tori