Cherry Blossoms

I have a confessions...I really like Cherry Blossom time. I like that right before the Bradford Pears bloom, then the Cherry Blossom trees bloom and they are gorgeous. Where I live they have like a two week festival for it so that means there are cherry blossom trees everywhere. I love it!! We usually go to at least one event or one day of the festival every year since we moved here. If you ever come let me know and we can check out together. So the point of my ramble...this past weekend when my nephew, Liam was in town we took him to Central City Park for the fair and to see the Sea Lions.

I really don't have any pictures of the Sea Lions because this is the first year they were here. For the past say 4 years they have had tigers, which don't get me wrong are wonderful and majestic creatures, but they got kinda old to see every year. When you go to see the Sea Lions right now it's jam packed, you're doing really good to get anywhere near. I did get a couple of pics like of Liam's "tattoo" and of him on the ferris wheel with me.

This brings me to my next topic, Ashley challenged us to a new shop, alliebeans, for this week for the etsy challenge and you'll guess what they had in the shop...no come on guess? Ok, I'll wait. Oh you already guessed...I know it was easy. That's right something cherry blossom, so you know I had to do it.

Stamp: Unity Stamp Co - Feb KOM Endings & Beginnings, Hey Chick; Ink: Versafine Black; Paper: Archivers Pink & Red, Digital Paper printed on GA Pacific White, GA Pacific White; Other: SU Marker, Stickles, SU Punch, Misc Ribbon

WoW

I have, well for me a huge announcement, and I am super excited and honored and it's been hard for me not to say anything. Ashley asked me to be a Guest Designer for the EtsyInspired Design Team. This is my very first design team (well other than the one I created) so I'm uber excited. She finds the most wonderful stores to inspire us every week that she posts on Saturday. Here's my very first submission on the Design Team.

This week's challenge was to be inspired by Scrap n Scribe.
She makes some adorable hairbows. I was inspired by the prevalent polka dots and the big flowers she uses. This is what I made.

Stamps: My Favorite Things - An Owl for All Seasons; Paper: SU Certainly Celery, DP ?, GA Pacific White; Ink: Palette Charcoal; Other: Primas, clear eP, American Crafts ribbon, Copics, Horizontal Slot Punch

I'm Giddy!!

Ok, I did something tonight that I've never done.  I played with Polyshrink.  It was so much fun that I'm afraid that it might become addictive.

I got the idea to dig it out and try it because of Ashley's weekly Etsy challenge.  This week's store is Dragonfly Fine Designs.  I was thinking about using her Diaper & Wipe Carrier as my inspiration.  However then I got to thinking I wanted to do something besides make a card.  And since I've been making jewelry this last week (I know I haven't shown it to you yet but I will shortly.  I don't want the people I'm giving it to to see it yet)

Anyway now I'll stop babbling long enough to show you what I  did.  Granted it did take me a few tries before I got it all figured out.  I used Unity Stamp Co - Delectable Delights with Stazon Ink which I then colored in with Copics.  Big thing to do is to make sure that you sand the polyshrink before you use it or the ink won't color in that well.  Also, for me when I went over the Stazon lines with the coloring it wanted to lift it off so I learned to avoid them like the plague, unless I wanted to go over it on purpose.

 

Ok, here's a close up if you want to check it out.

Etsy Challenge

Ashley's Etsy Inspiration this week is based on the store Mercy's Mark.  From what I can see their store looks really nice.  I'm thinking I might actually buy stuff from there later unless I really get special and win the challenge two weeks in a row.  That's right you heard me correctly, I WON LAST WEEK!!

This week I decided to think outside the box.  And I copied the layout of Mercy's Mark wallets for my inspiration.  So let me know what you think.

{Just to prove that it opens and the pockets work}

Stamps: Unity Stamp Co - November KOM; Ink: Palette Noir; Paper: Misc DP, Beige Bazzill, Other: Copics, Paper Piercer, Black Pen, Basic Grey Magnets, May Arts Ribbon