The Sweet Life

Well, that was it. That was the last weekend of the summer. Hope you enjoyed it. It was nice for me as far as the weather is concerned. It finally cooled down. I just cannot hang with those temperatures in the 100's. It's just so unnecessary. Blecchh! And while the official start of fall will be nice when it gets here, my season is winter. Most people think I'm nuts for that, but living in California, we don't really get 'winter'. Sure, it gets cold, but man, winter in Michigan...now that's cold. I've done that and I'll take a California winter over that any day. Besides, you can always layer clothes when it gets cold. When it's hot, taking off all your clothes still doesn't cool you down. Not that I would ever subject anyone to that sight. I'm just sayin'. So bring on the cooler weather. Jeans & cute sweaters & boots. I love it. Sunshine paired with cool, crisp weather. But I also love the rain and the holidays. Our traditional Christmas 49er game at the 'Stick. Not to mention the bamillion Christmas cards & gifts that I do every year. Ok, let me quit fantasizing. After all, it's still early September and it's probably going to be 90 degrees today.

Stamps: Cupcakes (Hampton Art), Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Paper: white & Hibiscus Burst (PTI), Accessories: corner punch, Copics:

Big Ol' Candles

I know. You probably thought that I'd surely follow up what seems to be a popular card (for me, anyway) with something amazing. I mean isn't that why it's been sitting up at the top of my blog for days & days? Well, it's been sitting there cuz I haven't been able to make anything since that chair-ish one (ha, still funny). Not that I haven't had time, just nothing has been coming to me. I did make this one card (but not this card) that I thought was ok. It sat on my desk for a bit and then when I went to photograph it, I noticed that the ink had smudged. I totally blame my kids. I have no idea what happened, so I thought I'd just spread the blame around evenly. No one has fessed up, so what's a girl to do? I just figure it was an accident or maybe they didn't know (suckerrr)...they're always sitting at my desk, looking through my projects, writing on my scrap pad. And I wasn't in love with the card. If it were something I spent hours on, torturing myself to get just right, there would have been an investigation. An inquisition. Bloodhounds. Rolling heads. All that. But no, it was just a card. Anyway, I needed a couple of cards, so I whipped up a few simple ones to get my mojo flowing, cuz I've got some big birthdays coming up. Somebody's turning sweet 16. No, no pressure...

Stamps: Birthday Brackets (Stampendous), Cupcakes (Hampton Art), Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Paper: white & Plum Pudding (PTI), Accessories: Crystal effects on the flames (SU!), Copics:

Chair-ish. Ha!

Have you ever seen something you like, but you're not sure why you like it or what you'd do with it if you had it? That's this stamp set. See, I'm one of those Papertrey Ink fanatics. When Nichole starts her sneak peeks on the 5th of every month (right around the corner!), I'm there, even though you only get to see one little black & white image from an upcoming set. The real excitement starts on the 10th, when you get to see actual projects made with the sets. yes, i know how sad this sounds to the non-stamper. but i'm ok with that. Anyway, most of the time I secretly hope I won't like every set coming out, cuz who can afford that? This month is the exception. Christmas stamps are coming and those are my favorite! again, sad and again, ok. So, the month On My Couch came out, I saw the little sneak peek and was so relieved I laughed. Furniture? Yeah, that's one I'll use every day. Phew! Then the designer, Lisa Johnson, started making samples with it and the more I looked at it, the more I had to have it. I still have no idea why. Maybe I loved the idea of coloring the couch & chairs. Or maybe it was the sentiments (chair-ish. i must be 5, cuz that cracks me up. although, a 5 year old wouldn't really get that...). Whatever. I just know that sometimes stuff just doesn't make sense, but if it makes you happy, isn't that all that really matters?

Stamps: On My Couch & Polka Dot Basics (PTI), Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Enchanted Evening (PTI), Paper: white & Enchanted Evening (PTI), Accessories: Copics:

Happy Birthday Dana

Hmmm. Turns out I can make a card without Copics and still enjoy making it. I just love the look of white ink on dark colored paper. It's always so striking to me. And as simple as this card is, it took a couple of tries to get the flower in just the right spot. You know how persnickety I can be about such things. So what we have here is another simple card that makes me very happy. Lots of times, when I finish a card, I like it, take a million couple pictures of it, look at it for a couple of days if I haven't given it away, blog about it and then realize something I would've changed. Ok, I usually have an idea before I blog a card, but if I've finished it and it took some serious time, I won't do it over. Yep. Lazy. You got me. But if it can easily be fixed, I'll fix it. This card, I actually like just the way it is. And I've already given it to Dana, so it's really too late. But if I were to make it again (which I'd only do if I needed an emergency card), I'd probably make it the same. So there you have it. Simple satisfaction. I don't get that a lot.

Stamps: Friends til the End & Birthday Basics (PTI), Ink: Fresh Snow (PTI), Paper: white & Scarlet Jewel (PTI), Accessories: Scralet Jewel satin ribbon (yep, you guessed it, PTI)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

So here's the guy card I was stressin' on (once again!). While making it, I realized what a super dork I can be. When I first saw this Vintage Picnic set from PTI, I thought, "oooh, how cute! I'm sure I can find a million ways to use that!" And since I've gotten it, I've tried to use it on every card I've made. It's quite sad, really. If I could've found a way to use it on 10 year old Kayla's card, I would have. I just couldn't make it work. So, of course, when I started making my dad's birthday card, I totally forgot that I had already told myself I should use the little envelopes on it. Why, you ask? He's a mailman. Get it? Clever girl, I know. In fact, best darn mailman in Vegas. Don't believe me? Check this out:



The mailman is my dad. You can't see him clearly, but trust me, it's him. I'm not sure why the quality is so bad or where the good version went, but there he is, workin' Christmas packages!

So anyway, when I started his card, I got stuck. Hmmm, golly gee, what image should I use for his card? I sat there for the longest time before it hit me and the earlier stroke of genius returned. Phew! And then I wasn't sure it would all go together, but Darien thought the text background on the kraft paper really went with the envelopes. She thought I was quite clever. Yep, that does seem to be the consensus! Anyway, I want to wish my daddy a super happy birthday, even though he doesn't read my blog & wouldn't know how to get to it anyway. Not computer savvy in the least. No, really. Hey, that makes the snail mail thing even more appropriate. Whew! The girl is on a roll!!!

Me & my daddy earlier this month in Vegas. Isn't he the cutest?

Stamps: Background Basics: Text Style & Vintage Picnic (PTI), Ink: Fresh Snow & Enchanted Evening (PTI), Memento Tuxedo Black, Paper: white, kraft & Enchanted Evening (PTI), Accessories: Nestabilities & Copics:

Happy Birthday Kayla!

So before I could make this card for Kayla, I had to figure out what I could do so that it would match the handy box I was going to make to put her CD in. First, her favorite color is orange. I have to be honest and say I wasn't in the mood for that kind of challenge. I don't even have orange stuff. You know me, I fear that color. I thought some bright patterned paper would work for both things, so I broke out the polka dots. I love this paper. Now, she's turning 10, so finding an image that she wouldn't think is babyish was also a challenge. But Tia knows her inside and out and approved of the Huggabugg, so we had a winner. The rest of it just came together. I didn't want that 'Happy Birthday' to feel lonely down there, so I stuck some pearls underneath and colored them with my awesome Copics. I do occasionally make cards without them, but that's not nearly as much fun!

I put her box together, made sure it matched, and sent them off with Tia to Kayla's birthday party. I've had this template for a while, but never had a chance to use it until now. It was so easy it's ridiculous. I love these things!

Yes, that's a Jonas Brothers CD peeking out from inside the box. I just wanted you to see how it opens. I'm so bad at photographing these things, but you get the idea. The ribbons hold it closed and you just slide it to open the box. Easy peasy.

Stamps: Huggabugg (Stamping Bella), Birthday Basics (PTI), Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Raspberry Fizz (PTI), Paper: white, Raspberry Fizz & Raspberry Fizz Mix paper (PTI), Accessories: Music Makeover Template (PTI), Nestabilities, flat back pearls (Kaiser), Raspberry Fizz satin ribbon (PTI), white sheer ribbon (Michael's), Copics:

Vintage Picnic

Happy Monday! Yeah, I don't really believe in those, but I'm throwin' it out there for those of you that do. I'm writing this on Sunday night, so there's still a hint of optimism in me. Actually, if all my girls stay healthy & out of the ER, that would make it a happy Monday. So, the card. I realized while making this that most of the time I never know where I'm going with a card when I start. I knew I was going to use this image and what colors I was going to use. The rest just kind of evolves. I got lucky that I had enough room to make the image a circle, since I decided to do that after I colored it all in. Not that it would have been the end of the world if I had to color it over, but I would've probably changed something since I hate doing the exact same thing twice. And this card is for a September birthday, so I'm waaay ahead of the game and just so proud of myself. Of course, I still have 3 birthdays in August I'm not even close to being ready for, but why worry about such things? The closest one is...wow, 5 days away. Guess I should get to work on that since it's for a guy and you all know how much I looove making cards for guys.

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, Vintage Picnic & Vintage Picnic Sentiments (PTI), Ink: Versafine Onyx Black & Versamark, Paper: white & Hibiscus Burst (PTI), Certaily Celery (SU!), Accessories: clear embossing ink (PTI), Copics:

ER Drama & Happy Birthday Kaleb!

Man, what a week! I've got 2 of the 3 girls registered for school. Yes, it's back to school time and you know what that means. Hospital visits! Yes, friends, that's how we McKeevers start the school year. We can't stop now...it's tradition. <--- That right there is just a little refresher for you in case you forgot, or brand spankin' news, in case you're new to the blog. So what kind of ailment have ya got for us this year, Chuck? Why, we've got an ER visit for Darien due to chest pains! Which is a real added bonus, since Tia went to the ER just last week in Las Vegas for the exact same thing. Now keep in mind, Darien doesn't like to just be limited to just before school starts. And it's never anything normal. My kids are medical anomalies. Did you know that you can get a pinched nerve in your neck that can make you so sensitive to light that you feel like your head will explode if you're not in complete darkness? True story. Did you know that a possible side effect of immunizations is strange zapping throughout your body? Maybe true. The day after Darien got her shots (MMR & chicken pox for those of you taking note), she started having weird zaps all over her body for 3 days. Since she didn't have a taser surgically implanted inside of her body, the best explanation they had was, "maybe it was the shots". Golly. All those years of school and sometimes they still come up with nothin'. So, today's outcome was "non cardiac chest wall pain. But we have no idea what caused it." To be fair, they said it could be muscular or it could be viral. Well, that makes it much better. I should say that I'm glad we have insurance and we can be seen at times like these, and I'm glad that it's "it should pass" instead of "it's a pulmonary embolism" or something horrible. But jeez. Don't kids get regular, old fashioned colds anymore?

Ok, on to the cards. My brother's birthday is Saturday and this year I thought I'd do something different. Well, it's still a card, so it's not that different, but I haven't done this before. This is not a stamp. It's a line drawing that I found online that I printed out and colored in. As soon as I saw these drawings, I knew I would use one of them for his card. So, I did the green one first and Darien's reaction was less than enthusiastic. Well! I liked it, but wanted to see what it looked like in red. So I printed it out again, a little bigger this time and this is what I got. I'm sending him the red one, so I guess the green one gets added to the collection. The pictures could be a little better (trust me, the flowers are so pretty IRL), but I took them at night so I could have something to show you. Again, you're welcome. Now, go have a healthy day!

Supplies: Paper: white, Pure Poppy & Smokey Shadow (PTI), Handsome Hunter (SU!), and of course, my trusty Copics!

Vegas & Happy Birthday Kristina

Ok, ok, I know. Very naughty blogger. But I have a good excuse this time. Well, ok, it's the same excuse. I didn't have anything to post. But I couldn't work on cards to make to post cuz I was in Las Vegas again. See? Needed a little down time before all the craziness started up again. And as soon as we got back, it began. The schools started calling with their "back to school" messages. Aaarrrrggghhh! Not yet! We still have 2 weeks to go. Slooooww it down, people. Sheesh! Don't they know I have like, a bamillion cards to make and can't be bothered with registration and school supplies just yet? Priorities! Anyway, so here's a little picture of all of us in Vegas. You wanna see the whole shebang, you have to be on facebook. (Don't worry, it's not that exciting)

Trying not to melt in front of the Bellagio. Stinkin' water show wasn't even gonna start for another 90 minutes. They were doing some work on it. We left.

Ok, try as I might, I could not get a decent picture of this card. I don't think it makes any difference to you, but I sure care. Her hair is brown, not all auburn-y. And the ribbon does sorta match the lightest purple in her dress. Stinkin' lighting. Eh. Whatev. It's the best I could do since I had to come home from Vegas Friday, make the card yesterday morning, photograph it & then take it to the birthday girl. Phew! And I did all this, for you. Well, I went to Vegas for me and I made the card for Kristina...but I took the picture for you! You're welcome.

Stamps: Dahlia (The Greeting Farm), Pretty Princess (SU!), Around & About Sentiments (PTI), Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Lavender Moon (PTI), Paper: white & Plum Pudding (PTI), Accessories: Lavender Moon satin ribbon (PTI), Inkssentials white pen, Nestabilities, Copics:

Greetings Earthling

So many different ways to go with this set and I chose awwwwww. Aren't these just the cutest little aliens you've ever seen? Not like there's tons of cute aliens walkin' around, but still. And I just can't believe it's August already. The girls go back to school on the 24th, which is only 3 weeks away. And for us, that's only 1 more week of nothing. Then it's registration for all 3 schools, volleyball camp, volleyball tryouts and trying to find green shirts for Krista's new school uniform this year. Let me just say, black or navy polo shirts would have been sooo much easier to find. Then there's the fact that I have 9 birthdays in August and have, um, yeah, NO cards made for those. Not to mention the fact that back to school time is usually when I start thinking about Christmas cards. I do know what I'm doing for half of my cards. I haven't found stamps for the other half yet. I'm on the hunt for inspiration. So as you can see, I've got tons to do and yet here I sit, typing this. Man, I've got some work to do.

Stamps: Greetings Earthling (SU!), Polka Dot Basics (PTI), Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Fresh Snow (PTI), Paper: PTI white, Green Galore (SU!), Accessories: Copics