hoping your day is as wonderful as you.

I found a new sketch blog and I was on a roll making cards this week. I used sketch #135 from the Atlantic Hearts sketch blog to make this card:

supplies
embossing powder: Sparkle N Sprinkle (Mojito;Ocean; Mesmerized)
ink: Versafine (onyx black)
stamps: Simon Says Stamp! (Handwritten Greetings); Prima Marketing (4x6 hex net)
jewels: Studio Calico

Stitch Fix #8

I received my eighth Fix this week and as always was excited to see what I got. My Fixes have been really great since I've stuck with the same stylist and really given detailed feedback.

Look by M Chloe Houndstooth infinity scarf $28

 I liked the neutral colors of this scarf, but I am just really not a scarf person.

Just Black Faye skinny jean in grey size 6 $88

Loved the fit of these skinny jeans. How is it when I go shopping I can't find anything that fits, but every pair of jeans Stitch Fix has sent me have been fantastic?! These are grey and I returned them because I have like 4 pair of black skinny jeans + 6 pair of black leggings and these were just too similar.

Pixley  Martina slub knit open cardigan in black size small $48

 Fit was perfect on this but I have one similar, although I thought the pockets were a nice bonus.

41Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 sleeve popover blouse - olive - size small $58

Loved this shirt so much I didn't wanna take it off. Olive isn't a color I would have picked for myself... but it works.

Fun2Fun Danika split neck beaded blouse - white - size small $54

This is so pretty but completely see through. I grabbed a light pink tank that was nearby and tried it on underneath, just to figure out if I wanted to keep it or not. I'm keeping it. It's pretty and I don't wear white much because I'm so messy so I don't have anything like this in my closet.

So I think I usually keep two or three items per fix and I am guessing I average around $200/Fix. I don't get them on a set schedule, just whenever I feel like it. If you're interested in trying it, please click on my REFERRAL link.

blog hop winner!

Thanks to everyone who played along in our blog hop! The grand prize winner was announced at Stick It Down today and I also have a winner for the Christmas themed prize package... Jennifer!

I also have a Paper Wings Productions Christmas stamp set to send to one lucky random winner. I used random.org and the winner is... Denise!

Congratulations to you both! Please send your mailing address to ashley_hamman@yahoo.com

Paper Wings Productions: Warm Winter Wishes

I'm on the Paper Wings Productions blog, The Aviary, today sharing a winter card I made using a couple of their newest stamp sets.

I used the Winter Wonderland stamp set and to make a hat and scarf for my penguin. I had to stamp the wolf image and then fussy cut the scarf. I colored the hat and scarf with Copic markers and then I stamped the sentiment using the Say It Winter Greetings stamp set.

I used some Stampin' UP silver embossing powder to create snowflakes. I used the Sparkle red rubber cling stamp set to stamp my "snowflakes" and then I heat embossed them.

Here's my finished card:

Stay warm! :)


supplies
patterned paper: Pink Paislee (Merry & Bright 6x6 pad)
stamps: Paper Wings Productions (Say It Winter Greetings; Winter Wonderland; Sparkle;)
ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)
embossing powder: Stampin UP! (shimmering silver)
Copic markers: BG 10; YG03;
die: Mama Elephant

memory.

I'm playing along with Stuck?! Sketches Nov 15 sketch challenge this month. Here's my page:

supplies
kraft doilies: Maya Road
chipboard hearts: Pink Paislee
gold rub ons: Chic Tags (Good Tidings)
gold metal hearts: Teresa Collins
puffy stars: twine + ink

living.

I have the Thursday Scraplift challenge up on the Scrapping Turtle forum - Turtle Soup. I chose Jackie P's layout to lift:

Here's my page:

I dug into my stash for these patterned papers - the embellishments too! This is from the Bengals/Chiefs game at the beginning of October.

supplies
stamps: Paper Trey Ink (Faux Ribbon); Studio Calico (Aloha add on kit)
ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black; Tangelo)
label stickers: Kelly Purkey; Studio Calico
chipboard hearts: Pink Paislee
puffy sticker: Skipping 5
patterned paper: Studio Calico (orange 12x12); Glitz Design (zebra print); Bella Blvd (circle); 
enamel shapes: Teresa Collins 

Stick It Down November blog hop!

Welcome to Stick It Down's November blog hop! Several of our design team members have created projects to share with you along the hop. If you've never participated in a blog hop before, you'll just hop from blog to blog to visit each designer's page and project. You'll leave a comment at each stop along the hop. The hop will end right back here where you started, where you can comment to let us know you've completed the hop and you're entered to win the grand prize. You have until Monday November 23 at 11:59pm to complete the hop. The winner will be announced on or before November 25.

We have several prize packages and one grand prize lined up! Paper Wings Productions is generously sponsoring our blog hop and is offering a $25 gift certificate to the online store!

Paper Wings Productions is owned by Carrie Edelmann Avery. All of the PWP stamps are produced in the USA and are made using the highest quality of materials. You can check out the PWP online store to see the red rubber cling and the clear photopolymer stamps!

Are you ready to get started? Here is the order of the hop, just in case you get lost:

Marci

Irmeline

Loreto

Hanne

Amanda

Terri Ann

Ronna

Ali

Ashley
Katy
 Stick It Down 

I chose to do a single page layout and since our theme is Christmas, I dug out the photo I used for our Christmas cards last year. No, it hadn't been scrapbooked yet! THIS is the sketch I chose:

Here's my page:

I converted this sketch to 8.5 x 11 and used one larger photo. I made my tree embellishments using heat embossing and the Winter Wood Cuts red rubber cling stamp set. My other branch embellishments come from heat embossing with the Build a Wreath and the Winter Woodland stamp sets. I tucked a die cut label under the photo, added couple of small embellishments, and then stamped 'love' from the Say It Winter Greetings stamp set.

We sure hope you're enjoying our blog hop! Head on to Katy's blog now!

I'm also having a giveaway of my own and I'm using Rafflecopter to make it easy to enter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

supplies
stamps: Paper Wings Productions (Say It Winter Greetings; Build a Wreath; Winter Wonderland; Winter Wood Cuts)
embossing powder: Sparkle N Sprinkle (Mojito; Coffee)
ink: Memento (Tuxedo black)
enamel stickers: Amy Tangerine

Stitch Fix #7.

Fix #7 showed up this week! I never know what to expect when I get these boxes because the times I open them and think I'll hate everything, I like everything. So this time, I did like everything, but the fit was off on a couple of things. Here's what I got.

Market & Spruce Sawyer Space dye Dolman sleeve knit top size medium $58

Liverpool Anita skinny pant size 6 $78

Loved this top. Kept it. Also liked the pants, but they were a little long and they had a saggy crotch. Had to return them.

Loveappella Howella knit top size medium $48

 

I liked this top. I'm not sure if it was the fit or the material, but it kept bunching up and looking funky. I had to return it.

Fate Rowen faux leather quilted vest size medium $78

 

I debated keeping this one. It's gold and I don't wear gold. But I love the navy color and I love the fit and I don't have anything like this. Plus, everyone on Instagram said I can mix my metals.

Papermoon Keline lace shoulder knit top size medium $54

 

 This was way too big. Obviously.

If you're interested in trying it out, please use my referral link.

Paper Wings Productions: winter tags.

I have two winter themed tags on the Paper Wings Productions blog today. I'd love for you to stop by!

supplies
stamps: Paper Wings Productions (Winter Wood Cuts cling stamp set; Winter Wood Cuts cling stamp set; Winter Wood Cuts cling stamp set)
embossing powder: American Crafts ZiNG! white opaque finish
ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black); Tim Holtz Distress ink (Peeled Paint; Shabby Shutters; Forest Moss)

epic adventure.

This was done for a challenge at Paper Issues online crop this weekend to use orange on a project. When I think orange, I think Bengals. I documented my trip to Pittsburgh last weekend for the Bengals/Steelers game. Here's my page:

supplies
stamps: Studio Calico; Sweet Stamp Shop (Love Across the Miles); Kelly Purkey (Kelly's Destination); The Alley Way Stamps (Star of the Show); Mama Elephant (Wanderlust);
ink: Hero Arts (Just Rust mid-tone); VersaFine (onyx black); Memento (Tuxedo Black);
chipboard stickers, enamel dew drops, label stickers, paper clips: Freckled Fawn
labels: Chic Tags (Autumn Days)
vellum hearts: Studio Calico Seven Paper 
 

fur baby.

Paper Issues is having an online crop this weekend with tons of challenges.This layout was made for the negative space challenge. I used a lot of the Bella Blvd Riley collection - this is seriously one of my favorite pet themed collections ever.

I fostered these three babies in July for a couple of weeks while they gained weight. They were so much fun.

the time I was a Bengals fan in Steeler's Nation.

This summer my friend Jake and I talked about traveling to Pittsburgh the weekend the Bengals played the Steelers and this past weekend, we made it happen. We left Friday evening when I got off work and it's about a six hour drive. We got to the hotel around 3AM. We had originally planned to leave Saturday morning so we only had the hotel room for one night. When we got to the hotel to check in for Friday night, we were hoping they had a room. To our surprise, they just checked us in early! We didn't have to pay for an extra night. Kudos to the Wyndham Grand! Right then I knew this trip was going to be awesome.

Saturday morning we woke up, had breakfast at the hotel, and walked over to the casino. Rivers Casino is right next to Heinz Field. It was really windy but the sun was shining and the walk along the river was gorgeous with all of the colors of the trees.

The stadium actually reminded me a lot of Paul Brown stadium. Right along the river, the bridge right there, the design was really similar. Anyway, bypassed the stadium and hit the casino. Jake won and I don't gamble but I played roulette with his money and lost. The pit boss gave us a $20 drink credit that I didn't have to do anything for so I count that as a win. We left the casino and tried to do a stadium tour, but they're over until April.

Saturday evening we tried to hit as much night life as we could. We stayed the longest at NOLA on the Square. I loved this bar. It was Halloween so every where we went, our wait staff was dressed up. Saturday evening we went up to Mt Washington and tried to have dinner. We ordered our drinks and Jake was informed they would only serve him one drink because he appeared "inebriated." So we just left.

We went back to the hotel and I crashed. They're still adjusting my thyroid meds so I'm always tired. Sunday we woke up and checked out of the hotel. Valet took about an hour to find my car because I need a new battery in my keyless entry fob. That was fun. We had breakfast/brunch at Primanti Brothers and it was amazing. The sandwiches were huge.

Next, we headed to the stadium....

that guy got mouthy at the end of the game - sore loser

I'm not gonna lie. I was nervous about this game. The Steelers aren't as tough as they used to be but the Bengals just have this thing with games that are prime time or highly amped up. and it isn't a good thing. Thank you Jesus we were able to pull this one out. Would you believe in our entire section we were the only two Bengals fans?! That almost never happens. What are the chances?

Our seats were pretty awesome. I've never had end zone seats before but the view was great for the most part. It was difficult to see when they were near the opposite end zone but I also need my contact prescription updated so that may just be me ;)

Steelers fans were leaving way before the game was over. I heckled them a little bit. Couldn't help myself. For the most part, the fans were nice, which was surprising. The couple that sat on either side of us we actually talked and joked with quite a bit. Other than that, no one gave us a hard time for cheering which is a sharp contrast to the time at Lucas Oil where I was told to "shut the fuck up" for cheering at a touchdown. Of course there were some guys a few rows behind us that started yelling that the refs were paid and all the calls were in favor of Cincinnati and all that crap. I guess when your team sucks you think of any excuse.

Then this happened: