Crafty Engineering

"Green Eggs and"...Hambo Blog Hop

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the “Green Eggs and….Hambo!” Blog Hop sponsored by Hambo Stamps! The Bacon Bits are here to help you start your New Year’s reading list off right with a little book title laughter and fun. If you arrived here from Jen N’s blog, you are in the right place. If not, you will want to start back at the beginning at the Hambo blog – TALK TO THE HAM. We don’t want you to miss anything!

My book may not be on your reading list, but more on your kids reading list. Let's see if you can guess it from this: "Today your are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!...I am what I am! That's a great thing to be! If I say so myself, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!". So do you got it? "Happy Birthday to You" by Dr. Seuss is my chosen book and I thought that Bear and Rabbit should be hear to help get the party started...they even brought presents!! My card uses an old Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #219 for my layout. The Bear and Rabbit image were stamped on watercolor paper and watercolored with an aquabrush.

A little surprise is hiding on one of the blogs today, so be sure to leave some comment love as you “hoof it” around the hop. One lucky commenter on the mystery hop spot will be in hog heaven and win a prize from Hambo Stamps!

We love comments anytime, but the deadline for prize entries is Tuesday, January 31 at 5 PM CST. Our current team will be retiring that day, and we will be welcoming a new Design Team AND celebrating the Hambo Hoedown’s ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY on February 1st. Blog Hop winners will be announced at the Hoedown on the 1st.

Next up on the hop is Libby. You will love what she has to show you today! Below is the Blog Hop List in case you get lost. Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

Talk to the Ham

Pat

Andrea <-You're Here!

Libby

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Bear and Rabbit, Get This Party Started Sentiment (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake (SU!), Green at Heart Paper Pad (Basic Grey), watercolor paper; Ink - Brilliance Graphite Black, Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry (SU!); Accessories - Circles, Labels 14 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Pink Rhinsteones (Bazzill Basics), aquabrush, dimensionals

Don't Waste a Mime

2012-01-24T21:29:00.001-05:00

Seriously, I want to just fast forward a couple of weeks at the least so I don't have to actually experience this move! Everyone keeps asking me how the packing is going and I honestly cannot tell. There are boxes everywhere, but rooms that I have not touched (like the kids rooms which I am saving till last). This is the week for kitchen stuff and kid stuff, so maybe after that I will feel like I am doing better. Ugh!

Breaking from my packing routine, I thought I would share a fun card using one of my favorite Hambo Stamps, the Mime! He just cracks me up! Then the sentiment to go with it, is just perfect! The layout is from an old Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #214. The sparkly black paper is from the Incandescent line at Paper Temptress.

Alright I have stopped packing long enough...off I go again...then again I am actually kind of tired...maybe it is just bedtime. Either way, thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Mime, Thing to Waste Sentiment (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Yoyo Yellow (SU!), Nero Incandescent (Paper Temptress), watercolor paper; Ink - Yoyo Yellow, Whisper White Craft (SU!), Brilliance Graphite Black, Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Accessories - white and black embossing powder, Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Photo Corner Punch (SU!), Sparkle Black Dots (Imaginensce), aquabrush, dimensionals

Don't Let the Dog Eat Your Homework

2012-01-22T16:33:00.001-05:00

We finally got some snow this winter! Normally we would have had lots of snow by now, but so far this winter we have had very little. It will be gone tomorrow though as it is suppose to rain...such a weird winter! Anyway, the kids, my husband, and I took advantage of a free day (yeah we are suppose to be packing, but oh well!) in which their was snow and went sledding...and snow angels...and snowball fights. It was a blast!

Did you all check out the Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge Blog?? Hambo is the sponsor right now and we are showing off the new Bailey Digi, which just so happens to be based on a real puppy named Bailey. So make sure you join in!!

I made this card school related as part of a submission to Paper Crafts. No luck this time, but I still thought it was cute!

The inside of the card ties the notebook paper to the paper pieced dog. I wish I liked my handwriting...I tried so many times to write this on the notebook paper on the front, but hated my handwriting each time! Oh well!

Well now I really am off to pack some more boxes. Less than 2 weeks left in our current house! Eeek! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Bailey Digi (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake (SU!), Basics White Paper Pad (Basic Grey); Ink - None; Accessories - Alphabet Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Black and white twine (Unknown), Binding Edge Punch (EK Success), dimensionals

Sending a Smile

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

So I am joining in on the Hambo Hoedown this week. Love me some Hoedown once in awhile! Just saying it make me feel like square dancing! This week is a special week...Hambo Hoedown is in honor of Send a Smile 4 Kids which is a fabulous group that collects handmade cards to be used at Children's Hospitals to try and cheer up the patients.

The challenge for Hambo Hoedown #49 is "Anything Goes"...can't be any easier than that! And if you participated last week and sent a pic of your card, you got the adorable Bailey Digi (shown on my card). The little bailey dog is so sweet and is sure to brighten anyone's day! If you didn't participate, you can still purchase the Bailey digi at the Hambo Store.

I used the latest Sketch for You to Try for January for my layout. I printed bailey out on watercolor paper and watercolored him/her from there. With trying to get a bunch of cards done before I pack up my craft area, I kept the design very simple...but I kind of like it too!

Anyway, please join in on the Hoedown and check out the Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge Blog...they will have a new challenge on January 21 that is sponsored by Hambo Stamps. So get to it and help Send a Smile to someone that needs it!

Thanks for checking out my kind of enginnering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Bailey Digi (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Real Red, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip (SU!), watercolor paper, heart pattern paper (unknown); Ink - Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Old Olive (SU!); Accessories - Red Rhinestones (Me & My Big Ideas), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), dimensionals, aquabrush

Be Mime

2012-01-17T21:36:00.002-05:00

Wow where have I been...it is already mid-January! Oh yeah...I have been under boxes, boxes, and more boxes. See, my husband and I are buying a new house (close at the end of the month), so we are packing, packing, fixing, and more packing. It amazes me how much stuff we have collected over the years. Maybe it is not a lot until you have to pack it all up! Ugh! Anyway, that is the main reason for my absence. This is my last month with Hambo Stamps, so I have a slew to show you before the months ends...hopefully I get them all in!

First up is one of the stamps that I wanted since joining the Hambo Stamps team...the Mime. The Mime by himself is great, but pair him with the sentiments and he is simply awesome! For this card I used the SCS Inspiration Challenge #318 which showed a loopy frame with hearts in the corner. Ok so I went with very direct inspiration!

A couple of wonderful Hambo Stamps notes: there is a call out for the next Design Team...but you have to hurry cuz it ends tomorrow! You can find out all of the details HERE. Also (ending tomorrow) is the sign-up for the "Green Eggs and...Hambo" Design Team and Customer Blog Hop which will take place on January 27. Check out the info for that HERE. I hope you will join along as it should be a great time!

Now off to go pack some more...oh wait I actually still have to still keep doing laundry and ironing too while we are packing. Have I ever said how much I love said with much sarcasm) moving?! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Mime, Be Mime Sentiment (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Going Gray, Real Red, Basic Black (SU!), watercolor paper; Ink - Brilliance Graphite Black, Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Real Red (SU!); Accessories - Apron Border Die (The Cat's Pajamas), aquabrush, dimensionals

A Year in Review

2011-12-31T09:34:00.000-05:00

I have always wanted to do this every year, but it finally took a fellow crafty person (and Hambo Stamps design team mate) to encourage me to do so. Karin from With and "i" for Paper is hosting a Year in Review Blog Hop with a chance to win a prize for participating! So join along and create a blog post of your Review of your Crafty Year...you need to have it linked up HERE by tonight (yup I am late in getting my post up!). So here are my favorites from this year:

January - Tied Up in Love (Billy and Bianca Love Bunnies by Paper Makeup Stamps)

February - Leaf Pile Scrapbook Page

March - Wipeout Cake (for more views of it, check out the post HERE)

April - Whoo's Having a Birthday (Webster the Owl by Paper Makeup Stamps)

May - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Cake (for more views of it, check out the post HERE)

June - A Monster of a Father's Day (Me & Pops by Paper Makeup Stamps)

July - Dancing in the Rain (Emma Silhouette by Paper Makeup Stamps)

August - Party Time Spike (Spike by Paper Makeup Stamps)

September - Sympathy Butterfly (Everyday Miracles by Sweet n' Sassy Stamps, Beautiful You by Verve Stamps, Papers from Paper Temptress)

October - Football Monster (Football Fan by Paper Makeup Stamps)

November - Just a Hare Late (Roller Bunny by Hambo Stamps)

December - Adore Him (Manger by Hambo Stamps)

Hope you enjoyed my Crafty year in review (with a couple of cakes too). Don't forget to join in for a chance to win a prize! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering and Happy New Year!!

A Christmas Card...Just a Wee Bit Late

2011-12-29T13:16:00.001-05:00

Nothing like posting a Christmas card after Christmas...but that is pretty much how I am rolling right now. I swear I need to get myself organized. Things are still a wee bit crazy right now so I think that organization this might be waiting until we move into our new house! Yup that has been the big thing going on...we are in the process of buying a house. Probably shouldn't be announcing this until we sign on the dotted line, but I am just too excited.

So due to my lack of organization, here is a late Christmas card. It was made for the SCS Clean and Simple challenge #149...and I actually posted it to SCS on the first day, just really late posting here! Oh well! The adorable stamps and sentiments are from Hambo Stamps. I actually managed to keep it simple too with just some select coloring.

Alright off to get some cleaning and planning done for our annual New Year's Eve party...most likely last one in our current house! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

Snow Globe of Joyful Carolers

2011-12-23T21:22:00.001-05:00

Figured I better get in the couple of Christmas related cards I have made prior to Christmas actually being here. Did it come faster for anyone else like it did for me? I feel like I am just barely getting everything done in time this year...like I am walking a fine line of not making it. Ugh! Next year I will plan further ahead...yup I said it...think I say it every year...maybe this time I mean it!

The snow globe idea for this card came from the SCS Technique Lover's Challenge #356 (to make a snow globe) and the adorable Snowman Carolers from Hambo Stamps just seemed to be a perfect fit! I did actually use a window sheet to make the globe part look a little more like glass...not sure it really added too much to the card or not. You can see it in the other shot of the card.

Not much else to say...thinking about all of the other stuff I need to do tonight and tomorrow. One more Christmas card to go, so until then, thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Snowman Carolers, Joy Filled Sentiment (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Certainly Celery, Pacific Point, Rose Red, Whisper White (SU!), window sheet; Ink - Certainly Celery, Pacific Point, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie (SU!), Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Accessories - Circle Nestabilities, Fancy Tags Trio (Spellbinders), Corner Rounder (SU!), Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder (Provo), dimensionals

Get Your Merry On

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

So do any of you do the Elf on a Shelf thing? I was so planning on getting one and doing it this year and still haven't gotten around to it. Not sure I will attempt it this year or not. I guess there is still time right?! I am certain that our Elf would be of the mischievous type...just cuz that is so much more fun!!

This adorable Elf totally reminds me of the Elf on a Shelf. The Elf and sentiment are from Hambo Stamps. My layout for the card comes from the current Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #218. I went for the traditional Christmas colors...funny story...in my head I was following the SCS Color Challenge #352, but after I finished my card I remembered it was suppose to be Vanilla not White! Oh well!! It has been awhile since I have made a card, so I am feeling a bit rusty!

I have a confession too...I have decided not to make my Christmas Cards this year! I know a shocker and it still bothers me in all honesty. I designed a photo layout for cards, so I did do something creative! But alas all of the traveling in November really messed me up for December and time just keeps escaping me! Oh well...it was bound to happen one of these years right?

I will be fitting a little bit of creating time before Christmas so there is still some to come. Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Elf, Get Merry Sentiment (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi Pattern Paper (SU!), watercolor paper; Ink - Real Red, Wild Wasabi (SU!), Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Accessories - Scallop Circle Punch (SU!), Circle and Labels 8 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), gold twine (unknown), Signo white gel pen, Red Rhinestones (Me & My Big Ideas), Gold and Clear Star Gelly Roll Pens, dimensionals

A PMS Winter

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Brrr...it is getting cold outside and that white stuff keeps showing up on the ground. We haven't accumulated any snow yet, but we have a had a couple of mornings where it looks so pretty outside...it just melts by the end of the day! Guess that is not all bad.

To celebrate the start of winter, Paper Makeup Stamps is having a Blog Hop. So hop along with us (the link list is below) and get some PMS winter inspiration!

I went back to an oldie (ok I think it is only a year old)...Moody for Presents! I colored the stamp directly with markers. The card layout is from the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #137 and the Christmasy color combo is the current SCS Color Challenge #352.

Now don't forget to check out what all of the other artists have in store for you!

And don't forget about the Paper Makeup Stamps Rubber Closeout Sale...you can get 45% off all rubber stamps using the code CLOSEOUT45. Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Moody for Presents, Season's Greetings (Paper Makeup Stamps); Paper - Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso (SU!); Ink - Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso (SU!); Accessories - Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder (Provo); Scallop Border Punch, Ticket Corner Punch (SU!); Tags Trio (Spellbinders); sparkle red ribbon (JoAnn's), dimensionals

iBday

2011-12-01T14:59:00.000-05:00

I love online shopping! I almost done with my kids Christmas shopping just from online shopping one night. Something about relaxing in your pjs, looking for cheap prices, and knocking out quite a bit of shopping in one night makes me happy! Do you do a lot of online shopping? I can't really do clothes though online...I need to see them, feel them. I still have lots of brick and mortar stores to hit before I am done, but it feels good to finally have a jump-start on my Christmas shopping!

This card has nothing to do with online shopping, but I love it nonetheless. It too was submitted a while back for Paper Crafts Magazine and actually uses one of the Paper Crafts sketches from the big sketch call they had (but I didn't make it in time for that call). Anyway it uses one of my favorite Monsters from Paper Makeup Stamps: Eye Pod. The sentiment was printed by me (no stamp).

Did you hear that Paper Makeup Stamps is retiring all of their rubber? They are going to an all digi company. So if you want some of the awesome Paper Makeup images in rubber form, you can get them for 45% off with the code CLOSEOUT45! You can read all of the details on the PMS Blog and then go fill your cart at Paper Makeup Stamps!

Until my next late post, thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Eye Pod (Paper Makeup Stamps); Paper - Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake (SU!), Rockstar Mat Stack (DCWV); Ink - Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Accessories - paper distresser (Tim Holtz), Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), dimensionals, aquabrush

Muddy Pig

2011-11-30T10:06:00.000-05:00

I feel like I am still catching up! Now that I think about it, I am not sure how much I shared on here...my husband is a stickler about not announcing publicly when we go on vacation for obvious reasons. But that means I have no idea if you even knew I was gone! November has been a complete blur...we went on a 9 day kid-free vacation to Nicaragua (I will have to post about it later because it was amazing!), then we were home for a few days, then we went to Great Wolf Lodge which is an indoor waterpark resort up in Traverse City, Michigan, then we were home for a few days, then we went to my parents for Thanksgiving for a couple of days (and had to deal with my son getting the 24 hr flu on Thanksgiving!), and now I still feel like I am catching up! So in my efforts of catching up, I realized I am behind on some design team requirements...so get ready for some posts!

We will start off with a card that I submitted to Paper Crafts Magazine (wasn't accepted obviously since I am posting it) for Mother's Day. I am not usually not this early, so don't get any ideas that I have actually changed! I used the sketch that was part of the call for my layout. The cutie muddy pig and perfectly matching sentiment are from Hambo Stamps. I had some other ideas to make with this cute pig, but ran out of time...maybe some day!

Are you ready for some more...be back later, the dirty dishes appear to have actually piled high enough to form a dirty dish figure that is calling my name. A little creepy, so I best take care of that! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Mud Pig, Happy Mudder's Day Sentiment (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White (SU!), pattern paper (Basic Grey); Ink - Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsuineko); Accessories - Pink Pearls (Oriental Trading), Brown micro-check ribbon (Offray), Labels 8 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Crest border punch (Friskars), dimensionals

Always a Hare Late

2011-11-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

I think I have mentioned it before, but I am perpetually late for sending cards for birthdays. I actually remember one time I sent one early, completely forgot that I sent it, and then sent a late one because I am always late. Funniest part was I sent the exact same card both times! It just happen to be one of the few times I made duplicate cards.

So in honor of always being a "hare" late in sending cards out, I chose to work with this adorable Roller Bunny and the great sentiment "Just a hare late..." from Hambo Stamps. I used and old Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #125 for my layout and kind of stumbled upon my color combo. I have the Basics White Paper Pad by Basic Grey and the notebook, grid, lined paper in there speaks to my engineering side, so I decided that I would use that. Then I just liked how the Kiwi Kiss popped against the Gray (Black) and White. I paper pieced the airplane with the same lined paper and I added some white fluff to his tail cuz' a bunny has to have a fluffy tail!

Now if only I could not be a "hare" late in starting my Christmas cards! I am always working on them around the middle of December barely getting them out before Christmas! Here is to looking ahead and getting started without putting it off! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Roller Bunny, Hare Late (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray (SU!), Basics White Paper Pad (Basic Grey), watercolor paper; Ink - Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette (SU!); Accessories - Sparkle self-adhesive Black brads (Recollections), white Fluff (Stampendous), Black and white bakers twine (unknown), Circle and Big Scalloped Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), dimensionals, aquabrush

Time to Party for a Surprise Birthday Blog Hop

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Timbo, the man behind the pen (Pig Pen?) at Hambo Stamps!

The Bacon Bits are surprising Tim with a little birthday fun today and we would love to have you join us in celebrating! If you arrived from Melissa's blog, you are in the right place. If you just happened by, be sure to start at Karin's blog for the whole story and to have a chance at winning the birthday prize!

A little story for you:
Jose the Cow's Adventure Getting to the Party: Jose the cow worked on an Eco-lodge in Nicaragua where he happily worked to help sustain the resort. Upon hearing about Timbo's birthday though, he knew he would have to find a way to make it to the party. First he knew he had to dress properly for such a festive occasion, so he asked his farmer friend, Julio, to find him a fabulous tie. Then Jose set out on his trip to Timbo's birthday party. He had to pass by the Howler monkeys that howled "have a great time Jose", then the toucans that squawked "Have a safe trip!", and then the sloths that didn't say much of anything (well at least not until Jose had already passed by...they are slow after all!). He found the zip-line and clipped himself in so he could fly through the rainforest...it is much faster to travel that way after all! He had to make sure he picked up his hooves as he passed over the very active volcanoes...and plug his nose because the smell of sulfur is stinky! He finally found his way to the airport and boarded a plane to the Unites States of America. By the time he reached the party he was ready for a drink and a party! Happy Birthday Timbo!!

Now off to Judy's Blog (can't wait to see what happens with her animal!), where you can see what happens next at Timbo's Birthday Bash! If you get lost, here is the order of birthday fun:

Karin

Stephanie

Jessica

Michele

Libby

Melissa

Andrea

Judy

Talk to the Ham

Thanks for stopping by to help celebrate Tim's birthday! Don't forget to leave some "hogwash" in the comments section and thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Farm Cow Digi (Hambo Stamps), computer generated sentiment; Paper - Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Whisper White (SU!), pattern paper (BoBunny); Ink - Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Blush Blossom (SU!); Accessories - Apron Border Die (The Cat's Pajamas), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), dimensionals, blender pen

Snow One Should Miss a Blog Hop

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

It is that special time again...time for a Paper Makeup Stamps Blog Hop! I love the new release Blog Hops...the sight of new stamps just make me happy!!

You should be arriving from Michelle's Blog (didn't she do an awesome job?!), but if you didn't make sure you jump back to the beginning at the PMS Blog so you don't miss a thing!

I get to show you another new Color Kid, Snowflake (I used the digi version). Isn't she just the cutest cutting out a snowflake? Makes me want to cut out snowflakes with my kids...although I will have to remember HOW to cut out snowflakes again!

I had some leftover snowflake pattern paper by Jillibean Soup from last year at Christmas time and used that for my color combo. I used an older Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #79 for my layout.

So now you should be off to go visit Lisa M's Blog (you will love what she has in store for you...as usual!). Don't forget to join us at the Release Party tonight at 9 pm EST in the PMS Forum...you are sure to have lots of laughs, fun, and a chance to win some prizes too! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Color Kid Snowflake (Paper Makeup Stamps); Paper - Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso (SU!), Snowflake pattern paper (Jillibean Soup), watercolor paper; Ink - Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake, Blush Blossom (SU!); Accessories - Labels 5 Nestabililties (Spellbinders), Stardust Stickles (Ranger), Dotted Ribbon (SU!), aquabrush

Sneak Peek by a Mad Crafter

2011-11-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

I get the opportunity to show off one of the great sets that is being released this month at Paper Makeup Stamps. This one is all about gift giving and how to label that gift! It is filled with gift giving labels and a bunch of solid images. So if you give handmade gifts...this is right up your alley!

The "Mad Crafter" sentiment really spoke to me as I do all of my stamping after the kids are in bed, so it is not that uncommon for me to be crafting after midnight! I don't have any handmade gifts on hand right now and I truly didn't have time to make something, so I simply made a tag that I could later attach to a handmade gift.

I used the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #213 for my layout and used some scraps of pattern paper. Remember organza ribbon...nobody uses it anymore...but I still have a lot...so I used it here!

Make sure to check out the PMS Blog to see what the other Design Team members came up with using this set. Don't forget to then join us tomorrow at the PMS Blog for a Blog Hop in the morning and then for the Release Party at 9 om EST on the PMS Forum! You are sure to have lots of fun! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Handmade Set Digi (Paper Makeup Stamps); Paper - Rich Razzleberry (SU!), So Sophie Collection Pattern paper (Bo Bunny); Ink - None; Accessories - Circle and Big Scalloped Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Corner Rounder Punch (SU!), Organza Ribbon (Offray), dimensionals

Gift Wrapping Some Sneak Peeks

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

Can you believe that there are only a little over 50 days left until Christmas? Ahhhh! But then again, I probably wouldn't have it any other way than to cram everything into the last two months. I actually probably cram most of it into the last 25 days...I just don't do well with working ahead.

This little Gift Wrapper (part of the new Color Kids collection at Paper Makeup Stamps) is a Sneak Peek at the upcoming Release from Paper Makeup Stamps! There are some great stamps in this release...I think I say that every release, but it is true!

Anyway the Gift Wrapper would be perfect for Christmas, or totally not Christmas like I did here. I used an old Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #134 for my layout and picked out my colors from the pattern paper I used.

Make sure to check out the other Sneak Peeks for the day and all of the Sneak Peeks leading up to the November 7th Blog Hop at the PMS Blog. Then join us for a fun Release Party in the PMS Forum on the 7th at 9 pm EST! I have one more sneak peek for you, so until then, thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Gift Wrapper Digi (Paper Makeup Stamps); Paper - Melon Mambo Textured, Pretty in Pink, Garden Green (SU!), Sultry Paper Pad (Basic Grey), watercolor paper; Ink - Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Kiwi Kiss, Blush Blossom (SU!); Accessories - Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Pink Rhinestones (Darice), Hot Pink Satin Ribbon (Offray), Corner Rounder Punch (SU!), dimensionals, aquabrush

Running Pretty

2011-11-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

So do you write To Do lists so you can get the satisfaction of crossing the tasks off? I totally do! My husband is currently teasing me because I actually typed out my To Do list this time. But there was just so many things that had to get done, it just helped me organize everything and get it out of my head. I hate that feeling of having too much stuff running around my mind, so once I put it down on paper I feel like I can now let it go because I wrote it down. Now I still have to complete the task, but I don't have to think about it anymore.

So to check one of my tasks off, I get to show off one of the stamps that I just had to have when I saw it: Ham on the Run by Hambo Stamps. To make it even better, they have an awesome Fractured Funnies sentiment that just cracks me up to go with it. I used the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #132 for my layout and the colors come from the Color Throwdown Challenge #165. I left it very simple...remember that long To Do list I have mentioned?! Anyway, I watercolored my naked pig with Cameo Coral ink.

The rest of the Fractured Funnies sentiment, I Feel Pretty, is on the inside of the card. True confession time...I have some experience with running naked during my college years. There was a tradition at the University of Michigan called the Naked Mile and I may have participated once or twice! So I couldn't help the feeling that the inside should read "Oh wait that was me!". I am confident that will be what my friend receiving this will think too! Ok true confession time is over now...onto regular blog posts without embarassing stories!

Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Ham on the Run, I Feel Pretty (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Old Olive, Rainbow Sherbert DP (SU!), watercolor paper; Ink - Cameo Coral (SU!), Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Accessories - Circle and Big Scallop Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Olive pearls (Oriental Trading), dimensionals

Post Halloween

2011-11-01T13:21:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween! Ok I meant to put this up yesterday, actually on Halloween, but didn't get around to it. I hope everyone had a fun filled evening. My kids had a blast, but my daughter is still tired today, so hopefully a nap will be in her near future!

I had grand plans to make something super cute for my kids teachers for Halloween and ended up having to scale WAY back due to a 60 (not even kidding) or so item To Do List that needs to be completed before our vacation coming up! So I went with some little Milk Carton containers with little bags of candy corn inside. Nothing major, but it is the thought that counts right?!

The stamp used is the Black Cat stamp from Hambo Stamps. And now that I have pictures of my son in his costime, you see why I need to remember this stamp for whenever I make a Halloween 2011 scrapbook page...probably need to do Halloween 2008, 2009, and 2010 first though! No time for specifics today, so just let me know if you are dying to know what I used.

My mother made the kids costumes and did an absolutely amazing job! They were so stinkin' cute, I told my daughter when I dressed her up for her Halloween parade last week that I might die of cuteness on Halloween night when they are both dressed up. So she proceeded to remind me that I was going to die on Halloween...always leaving off the "of cuteness" part! Pretty funny but a little creepy at the same time!

My only contribution to the kids costumes was to make kitty collars for them. I love how they turned out...just decorated some chipboard and attached it to a d-ring I sewed onto a nylon strap. Had to include a little bell too, because I just love when kitties had bells on their collars!

Now onto November and all that comes with it...but first I need to get my To Do list done so I can enjoy our vacation!! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

New Hambo Stamps

2011-10-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

There is something new in my house and it is brand-spanking new Hambo Stamps!

I am so excited to be able to share a little something from the new release with you today! This is an adorable Penguin Skating and a fun sentiment that works for any type of bird!

I used the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #131 for my layout. The penguin was stamped on watercolor paper and watercolored with ink pads. Plus I added a little silver gel pen on the skates...which you can see better in the detail shot.

The other "Bacon Bits" have also created a little something to celebrate the new stamps, so make sure to check them out by hopping to Talk to the Ham and then hopping on from there! Or you can jump to see what all of the new stamps are by visiting Hambo Stamps...I just know you are going to love them! As an extra treat, if you place an order with one of the new stamps included, they are going to throw in a free surprise stamp! So don't delay...it is only until October 31.

Since I know I won't be posting until after Halloween...Happy Halloween! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering.

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Penguin Skating, Happy Bird-Day (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Pretty in Pink, Tempting Turquoise (SU!), Heavenly White 100# (Paper Temptress), watercolor paper; Ink - Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Pretty in Pink, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron (SU!); Accessories - Pink Satin ribbon (Offray), Cuttlebug SNowflakes embossing folder (Provo), lace (unknown), dimensionals

Fall Wish

2011-10-24T09:11:00.001-04:00

I really love Fall...the colors, the smell, the crispness of the air. We had a totally Fall weekend this weekend and it was fantastic! Got a date night with my Hubby to finally celebrate out Anniversary, went to a couple soccer games, visited a corn maze at night, sat by a bonfire, and went pumpkin picking (hay ride and all).

So it is no wonder that with all of those Fall activities, I wanted to play with the Color It Autumn set from Paper Makeup Stamps. This set is great for coloring...or not coloring like I did! I did some masking to layer the images on a piece of Solar White Classic Linen from Paper Temptress. Gives the card a lovely texture...which is easier to see in the detail shot. My other panels were dressed up with Copper Ore Glimmer cardstock and Nero Incandescent cardstock...both are some of my favorites from Paper Temptress!

The layout for the card is from the SCS Sketch Challenge #355 and the color combination came from the Color Throwndown #164 Challenge. I dyed white taffeta ribbon with my Rich Razzleberry marker and added some olive pearls for some added detail.

This will be my last official card (and Company Blog Post) with Paper Temptress as my Design Team term is up. I have so enjoyed representing Paper Temptress and have fallen in love with the cardstock. I know I will be back for more! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Color It Autumn, Celebration Sentiments (Paper Makeup Stamps); Paper - Olive Basis 80#, Copper Ore Glimmer, Nero Incandescent, Solar White Classic Linen (Paper Temptress); Ink - Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie (SU!), Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Accessories - white taffeta ribbon (SU!), edge punch (Friskars), Corner Rounder Punch (SU!), Olive Pearls (Oriental Trading), dimensionals

What an Accomplishment

2011-10-22T21:49:00.001-04:00

Last weekend my husband ran a Half Marathon as part of the Detroit Marathon. I am always inspired by how many people get out there and run 13.1 miles (or the even crazier people running the 26.2 miles). I walked a half marathon last year and no matter how you look at it, it is a huge accomplishment.

This card is not at all related to that beyond the "Accomplishment" part. I obviously did not give this to my husband, but it would be perfect for a young or teenage girl whom may have made a small of large accomplishment.

The School Girl Fairy is from Paper Makeup Stamps...there is a matching School Boy Fairy too! I stamped her in Chocolate Chip ink on some pattern paper from Basic Grey that looks like notepaper. I did some very fancy crumpling (haha), binder punch the edge, and then went over the image with a aquabrush to bleed the image. Then I colored in portions of the image with some chalks. I think it is a pretty cool look!

Well I hope that you can accomplish something today (big or small)! I cheer for just checking something off of my To Do List (which is enormous right now as we prepare for a trip without children!!). Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - School Girl Fairy, What an Accomplishment Sentiment (Paper Makeup Stamps); Paper - Rose Red, Garden Green (SU!), White Basics Paper Pad (Basic Grey), Other Pattern Paper (Basic Grey); Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!); Accessories - Labels 8 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Binding Edge Punch (EK Success), Hemp Twine, aquabrush, Stampin' Pastels (SU!), dimensionals

You Have Been Booed!

2011-10-22T15:15:00.001-04:00

Does your neighborhood Boo or Ghost houses? Ours did it a few years back, but that was it. Well last night our house got "Boo"ed...funny part was that the family that "Boo"ed us didn't get the satisfaction of watching us find our package. See our doorbell does not work and they tried a few times to no avail to get the doorbell to ring, finally gave up and sent me an email to let me know that we had a package on our front porch! Funnier part is that our dog made no indication that there was somebody outside of our house trying to ring our non-functioning doorbell...but then again he is 11, so I can't expect the same guard dog type of activity he once gave us!

So in honor of being "Boo"ed, I made a Boo card to "Boo" you!! Might have to give this to the house that we Boo...although there is no ghost on it, so I will have to think about that. Anyway, this uses an adorable image from Hambo Stamps called Black Cat. I love how he is peeking out from behind the pumpkin...kind of like he is saying Boo! My son is going to be a black cat for Halloween, so whenever I get around to a scrapbook page of this Halloween, I will have to use this on it...kind of perfect.

Anyway, I decided to make it a cloudy night for my Black Cat, by sponging ink over a scalloped circle to create a cloudy sky. The paper is the Iridescent Cryogen White from Paper Temptress, so it has a nice sparkle for my cloudy night sky. Then I put a fringed layer overtop to be the grass that the pumpkin is sitting on...but remember it is dark, so you can see the color of the grass...right?...or does it not make sense to have Navy grass? I paper pieced the pumpkin and filled in the cat eyes and pumpkin face with a white gel pen and then colored over that with my desired color. It sorta of works...the water-based markers kind of pick up the gel pen, so I have to do a couple of coats with drying in between. I punched out the moon with a circle punch and hand-cut my cloud (not very well I might add!). Also my layout is from the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #130.

I am late in posting this card (meant to post it on Thursday), but there is a Awesome Sale going on at Hambo Stamps...its HOGtoberfest (didn't ya know?!)!! You can get 30% off ALL regular-priced items site wide!! But hurry because it only lasts till Wednesday, October 26!! Enjoy and thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Black Cat (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Night of Navy, Textured Crushed Curry, Green Galore (SU!), Iridescent Cryogen White (Paper Temptress), Orange Dots (BoBunny); Ink - Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Green Galore marker, Crushed Curry marker, Chocolate Chip marker (SU!); Accessories - 1" Circle Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Scallop Circle Punch (SU!), Vinyl Leather Letters (), Black Rhinestones (Darice), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), dimensionals, white gel pen, Sharpie black marker

Bewitched & Belated

2011-10-12T17:05:00.004-04:00

So you would think that someone such as myself that makes cards a lot would always be on time in sending said cards. Well...that would be wrong! I am notoriously late in sending cards...I have no idea why. I have the cards...sometimes the cards I make are for a specific person...so why is it that they cannot make it in an envelope and out to the mailbox? It is truly one of life's mysteries!

So this sentiment and witch from Hambo Stamps spoke to me! See now I can have a Halloween type card for a belated birthday sometime in October...that is that I am not so late that I am into November! The witch is called Witch's Brew and the sentiment is called Bewitched. I watercolored the witch and gave her concoction and her hair a great sparkle with some orange stickles (you can see it better in the detail shot).

The layout for the card comes from the SCS Sketch Challenge #354 and the color choices fit in perfectly for the Hambo Hoedown Challenge #37 which was introduced today! Make sure to check out the Hoedown and play along so you can get the next free digi!!

Now it is time to be off getting dinner ready for the night's activities. Having children is exhausting sometimes trying to keep up with everything...but it is a good exhausting! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

The Engineering Details
Stamps - Witch's Brew, Bewitched (Hambo Stamps); Paper - Perfect Plum, Pumpkin Pie, Cast-a-Spell (SU!), watercolor paper; Ink - Perfect Plum, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Crumb Cake (SU!), Brilliance Graphite Black, Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Accessories - Corner Rounder Punch (SU!), Edge Punch (Friskars), Orange Stickles (Ranger), Sparkle Black Ribbon (JoAnns), Sparkle Black Faux Brads (Recollections), dimensionals, aquabrush

It's a Monster Mash with a Little Football!

2011-10-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Alright so I am not feeling especially chatty right now...a cold has been making its way through my family and apparently it might be my turn. Ugh! I was really hoping I was going to escape this one. Unfortunately, my poor daughter has gotten all of them!! So I will keep this short and sweet.

Today is the Monster Mash Blog Hop with Paper Makeup Stamps! A chance for the design team and some customers to showcase one of my favorite lines, the Monsters! You can use the following Link List to follow along and marvel at everyone's awesome creations:

As for me, I used the Football Fan Monster. My layout is from the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #209. The monster had to wear Maize and Blue in honor of my Michigan Wolverines! Then I created my little football field...which I love how it turned out!

So make sure to hop along to all of the blogs so you don't miss a thing. And while you are seeing all of these awesome monsters, take note of the ones you like, head to the Paper Makeup Stamps Store and put them in a cart. The Monsters are on 15% off for one week using the promo code: MONSTERHOP...a perfect time to stock up if I do say so myself! Thanks for checking out my kind of engineering!

Engineering Details
Stamps - Football Fan Monster (Paper Makeup Stamps); Paper - Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Early Espresso (SU!), Summer Grass (Pebbles Inc), watercolor paper; Ink - Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette, Night of Navy, Crushed Curry (SU!); Accessories - Blue and yellow twine (unknown), Argyle Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Provo), white gel pen, Edge Distresser, Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), dimensionals