Whiff of Joy Fall Kit and Blog Hop

WOJ Fall Kit now available to pre-order until August 7th. Click on the banner on my sidebar and it will take you to the site for some great shopping plus top-notch service from Katharina. Also pop by Katharina's site for a chance to enter and win her blog candy. What is it you might ask: 2 Fall Stamp Kits - how awesome is that!!

Here are the details for the upcoming Anniversary Blog Hop and Party. You don't want to miss all the fun and surprises Katharina has scheduled.

Big Hugs,
Maria

A Baby Boy!

This card is to welcome little Max - big smooches - into our family. My hubbie's cousin had his first baby and he is soooo adorable!

Image is by Stamping Bella, cardstock SU and the DP is called Baby Boy Chit Chat by Cloud Nine. Found this DP at JoAnn's across the border. Buttons and ribbon are from my stash. Stamped the Stamping Bella image with Memento Tuxedo Black on Wausau bright white cs from Wal-Mart and coloured with my Copics. In the background of card is another cute DP by Cloud Nine, called Baby Boy Ribbet, which I used on the inside of the card.

Here's a close-up showing how I've popped the baby and star. I gave the star some glitter with Stickles for an added effect and of course bling. I had a difficult time making a boy card but I'm really really happy with how this one turned out.

Here's a pic of the Copics I used.

Happy Monday,
Maria

Baby Shower

We have a few babies joining the family this year so here's a card I made for a baby shower the girls and I are attending Sunday. My girls just love a party and anything and everything to do with babies. Of course, I will be inundated with all the usual baby questions on the 2 and half hour drive to Mississauga. My daughters have already each asked those very special questions every mother dreams about and can't wait to answer - LOL! At four-and-a-half, my eldest asked, How did I get out of your tummy? And when I finally came up with a good enough answer to that one, a year later my second asked, How did I get in there? Well, this was the one question I was not prepared to discuss or answer for a 5 yr-old - oh my!

Pictures didn't turn out so great today because I'm in a rush. This is the first attempt at shading the background of my Stamping Bella image with a dauber and ink. Can you believe this was my 5th try - good thing I stamped out 7 images. I started with blue distressed ink but my girls quickly said NO. Then the shading was too dark or blotchy....etc. So I tried my Certainly Celery SU ink pads, which matches the cardstock and DP perfectly, and I think it turned out pretty good. I definitely need to practice this technique more. I know a lot of you have the Copic airbrush system but I'm hoping not to NEED - lol - to buy it so I'm doing it the old-fashioned way.

Here's a peek at the inside. Again not a great pic because it looks nicer in the real light. Next time I promise to post a longer message with more details and a list Copic colours used but I've got to get packing for the trip right now as my little angels are waking up.

Enjoy your weekend,
Maria

Blog Candy Alert

Chrissy, the amazing High Hopes artist extraordinaire, is having a blog candy extravaganza with 7 winners. Pop on over to check out her amazing artwork and fabulous colouring. Once you visit you will be hooked. You'll also be treated to a few sneak peeks of High Hopes' upcoming new release, which is scheduled for this Saturday, July 11.

Have a great day,
Maria