Celebrating Monday

Monday, Monday. Can't trust that day.

Actually, it's been a pretty great day - with one little hiccup at the park this morning. So, we are 30 minutes into our walk... [we = newborn and I, 30 minutes = 30 minutes away from our car] when the dear babe decides to wail. [wail = red faced, squinting eyes, mouth wide screaming]

What are my options? really?

So... after ensuring that he was safe and dry, I turned around.

And turned the iPod UP.

You will be relieved to know - though not as relieved as I was - that he was dead asleep in about 10 minutes. Poor, poor kiddo.


But during our morning nap, I was able to complete the Mojo Monday sketch challenge. I liked this sketch a lot. It was a fun one. The flashcards are from an earlier Etsy purchase...

Now, I must feed myself before the afternoon nap has come and gone and it is time, yet again, to feed the Bob [as in Marley and the "wailers"]. :)

If you stop by, say hello and let me know what you think. Love meeting the blogosphere. :)

Owls!

What a super day! Play date this morning... LOVE grown-up time. Coffee, breakfast tacos, grown-ups... and nobody said, "EEEWW gross! Does he do that all the time??" When the babe spit up his entire bottle down my back. No, instead, I was given support and accolades for remembering to bring a change of clothes with me. Ahh... empathy. :) And, tonight off to my grandparent's for dinner. No cooking and more love. Perfect!

So, here is the latest inspiration from the Etsy Inspired Challenge Blog. Super cute, huh?! Check out the shop by Vivikas if you have a chance.

These little owls were the inspiration behind my little owl tag. I guess I shouldn't call it little since I made it "jumbo." The tag is 5 1/2 inches high. I love it. And... bonus! I listed these tags in my Etsy shop yesterday afternoon, and this morning they were front page. My first ever front pager. Too fun!

ps... I'm looking for papercrafters to interview for the blog. If you are interested, email me at thepaperstop@gmail.com. Looking forward to getting to know you better.

Blast Off!

Ah, Monday! Time for another Mojo Monday sketch challenge. Here is this week's super cute sketch. I love it. In fact, I love it so much, I might I have to create another one and actually use a star next time. I love stars. :)

My take sticks with the star theme, but I was too excited to use these new "spacey" stamps. I've seen some alien stamps floating around the blogosphere lately, and I've been a little jealous, so when I ran into these at the craft store, of course, I had to have them. (Does that sentence abuse commas or what?!?) I borrowed some of my Rudolf noses to embellish the little Martian.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by. Let me know what you think. I can't wait to see all of your creations!

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas??? But, what happened to Halloween?

Busy Morning!

After bath time, my aunt came over for a scrapbooking date. Well... really, it was a hold the baby while I scrapbook date, but whatever. We had a ton of fun. (By the way, it is WAY too cold for bath time. How are we going to survive the winter??)

Then, I created this Christmas card for two challenges. The sketch is from Mojo Monday and the colors are from Color Throwdown. The snowman stamp is new and I think he is just too sweet. Doesn't he just scream "Joy?"


And, this afternoon, my first Etsy Christmas presents arrived. Yes, I know, I'm starting Christmas a bit early... but according to my usual schedule, I'm late. I used to (pre-baby) have all of my shopping done by Thanksgiving, wrapping done soon after that. Things have slowed down a bit this year for obvious and adorable reasons. I can show you a picture, but you would really have to smell them to appreciate them. I bought two yummy soaps from Bathing in Luxury. Shown is the honey scent, um yum, but I also purchased the pumpkin pie... Yummy smells and beautifully packaged. Plus, they came with samples, so I can dive in. :)

So Much to Share!

So, on Friday, I asked the hubby, "Is it Friday? Oh, thank goodness."

His response was, "What do you care?" I guess he figures that since I'm on maternity leave, everyday is Saturday for me.

So, he was surprised (for some reason!) when I said, "Because if it is Friday, then tomorrow, I get help."

Lot's to share today...

I've been combining challenges this weekend to catch-up. First, for Pink Elephant sketch, I took this week's sketch and flipped it on it's side. I added some twine for one of this week's 365 Cards challenges. Here is what I came up with.

This is my first Friday Sketchers challenge. I was excited to use my new "gracias" stamp for it. I think it is the cutest. I added some paisley papers for 365 Cards.

Finally, I created this card for the Finally Friday challenge by Kristina Werner at Two Peas. I chose colors from the Color Throwdown. I was really NOT happy with this pomegranate colored paper when I started, but I think that the striped papers in the background really tie it together.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)

Crafting... with newborn in lap

So... I'm a new mother. And, I only have two hands. And, I need four hands for just the baby. But, even though my sweet pea is only three weeks old, I am already missing that creative part of me. The part that isn't mom or wife or teacher. So, I'm using every free moment to play with paper. If the baby is sleeping, I'm working on one project or another. (Yes, I've heard all that advice about sleeping when the baby is sleeping.) If the baby isn't sleeping, I'm desperately trying to wield the glue dots in one hand and baby in the other. I think you will appreciate my latest Christmas card all the more if you know that it was completed entirely (with the exception of cutting out the oval) with one hand. Granted, I did give it my right hand, and the poor babe was stuck with the far less capable left. Even now, I am typing with one hand. (Mrs. Martinez, my seventh grade typing teacher would have a fit!)

May I present to you, the one-handed "Be Merry" card for Mercy's Tuesday sketch challenge.

Now, I have some spit-up to manage that is definitely going to require two hands. ;)

Wish Birthday Card for 365 Cards

Today's sketch for the 365 Cards Challenge seemed super busy to me... and I guess that my card turned out super busy, too. I think the large graphic letters anchor it, though. I love that it is a birthday card... Strangely, I need the most birthday cards, and I make them far less frequently than any other kind of card.

"hello" Dragonfly, Color Throwdown #64

My first challenge in a while... a newborn provides one with the best kind of distraction. I am finding a moment here and there to dabble in paper again. Here is my first card in a while. It was inspired by this week's Color Throwdown. I created a set of 8 available on Etsy: http://thepaperstop.Etsy.com.