the.amanda.sewell

Happy FRIDAY!  YAY!  I just love this stamp and had so much fun making this card!  I came across some flowers in my Prima stash and they were perfect . . . they had a ghostly quality to them because they were sheer. The layout came out of my head this time (rare) . . . I just turned the strip of spider web paper I had and decided that it could work on an angle.  Then I just stitched and added brads and flowers, etc.   Stamps:  Hattie (Kraftin Kimmie), 2009 Halloween Tags (Papertrey Ink)   Paper :  Eerie (Basic Grey), Lily Kate (Basic Grey), Grey (Prism Papers - NLA), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)   Accessories :  Fabric Fancies (Prima Marketing), Purple Got Flowers paper flowers (Prima), black brads (The Paper Studio - Hobby Lobby), Sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Coats & Clark), copic markers.

The layout for this card came by way of google.  I googled (is that even a legit word?) for card sketches and browsed until I found one I thought would work for the image I had.  The sketch came from Patricia Hays blog " Thinking of Inking " - Freshly Made Sketch #36.  I think it worked perfectly for this card . . . it was just what I was looking for.  Here is the sketch and finished card:   Stamps :  Mitzi the Mummy (Kraftin' Kimmie), Spooky Sweets Vol. 1 (Papertrey Ink)   Paper :  Old Olive (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Eerie Collection (Basic Grey)   Ink :  Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)   Accessories :  Black and White Polka dot ribbon (Michaels Inc.), Sewing machine (Singer), Black thread (Singer), copic markers.

In my quest to find some Halloween images that I adore (because I am literally obsessed with this right now), I came across Kraftin' Kimmie stamps and fell in LOVE!  I found that they sold them at 7kidscollegefund . . . which just happens to be located in Phoenix, so I placed my order and picked them up a couple days later (because I was SO eager to get them and couldn't wait for them to be shipped to me) and I have been having SO much fun playing with them. This card is my least favorite of the four I made this week.  I like it, it is just missing some pizzazz...maybe if I play with the stamp some more I will come up with something more magical.  Anyway, thanks for stopping by for a visit!  Have a great Wednesday! P.S.  I also adore this set called Mimi Halloween (Penny Black) . . . does anyone know where I can buy it for not super expensive shipping?  If you do, please let me know in the comments because I am obsessing over it but I refuse to pay so much shipping for

Today we decided to go on a little adventure.  We have been discovering the cool things about Arizona lately.  Today took us about an hour and a half north of Phoenix.  I figured if it is a national monument it has to be pretty cool right?  It turned out to be super neat.  My kids were not excited to go and leave their DS and other toys at home, but on the way home after they all said they really enjoyed the trip.  As usual, I took a gazillion pictures . . . enjoy!  Here is a link to some information about the site:   Montezuma Castle Pretty view on the drive up - Sunset Point Rest Area Kids checking out the view - Sunset Point Rest Area Sunset Point Rest Area - M still sleeping My fam with Montezuma Castle in behind them Montezuma Castle - so amazing!   Walking down the path . . . love these sillies Mr. Squirrel has made Montezuma Castle ruins his home . . .  Cool lizard we saw A big creepy black beetle we saw on our walk throu

I made this for dessert tonight and it was totally yummy!  I loved the hint of lemon with the combination of strawberries and peaches!  Absolutely delicious! Peach Strawberry Cobbler with Buttery Lemon Crust Ingredients For fruit 1 1/4 pounds firm but ripe peaches (about 5), peeled, pitted, cut into 1-inch-thick wedges 12 ounces strawberries (about 3 cups), hulled 1/3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch For topping 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder Pinch of salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 cup sugar 1 large egg yolk 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Vanilla ice cream Preparation: Make fruit: Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 8-inch square baking dish. Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Let stand until sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Transfer to prepared dish. Make topping: Mix flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar

This vacation put the mini in mini-vacation . . . we left Saturday morning early (okay, basically at midnight) and drove straight through to Disneyland . . . got to the parking garage at 6 am and were there for magic morning park open for California Adventure at 7 am.  We got to be at the front really close when they did the countdown, which was fun.  Once inside the park, it was a mass exodus to Cars Land (as I figured it would be).  The older two wanted to do Radiator Springs Racers again, so they went.  The littles and I went on the other two rides in Cars Land.  Mater was still fun as ever, but they made Luigi's Casa Della Tires even more lame by not allowing you to hold a ball at the start of the ride, so you have to try and catch them or pick them up which is pretty much impossible.  It's completely LAME now!  Major let down.  At least there was no wait time.   After that, the littles wanted to go on Little Mermaid, so we did.  Then we met up with t

I designed this card to use the Card Positioning Systems most recent sketch (CPS276).  I just love this cute little set by Claire Keay.  I decided that I wanted the stripes to have a little something extra, so I added the paper pieced polka dots. I made the wings sparkly using silver pearl Liquid Pearls by Ranger.  I just put a tiny dot on the center of each wing and then used my finger to spread it to the edges.  I love how it turned out.  The shiny paper, which is really quite similar, I purchased at Recollections (when that store existed).  Ha!  Hubby suggested the ribbon and I think that worked out really well! Stamps :  Claire Keay Just Bee Yourself (My Favorite Things)   Paper :Yellow (Core'dinations), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah),    Ink :  Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)   Accessories:  Tiny Brads (The Paper Studio - Hobby Lobby), Liquid Pearls - Silver Pearl (Ranger), White Organdy (Hobby Lobby), Copic ciao markers, sewing machine (Singer), white thread

Happy Birthday to you!  Happy Birthday to you!  Happy Birthday dear reader!  Happy Birthday to you!    And many more . . . I have no idea who has a birthday today, but just thought I would sing to you!  If it is your birthday, I hope you will take some time to stamp something cute and treat yourself to something yummy!  Happy Birthday yesterday to my mother in law, Karen!  And happy birthday month to Jen Del Muro over at iheart2stamp ! This card features the August sketch from iheart2stamp !   I just loved playing with this sketch!  The papers and everything just seemed to fall right into place! Stamps :  Pure Innocence Birthday Girl (My Favorite Things)   Paper: Lemonade 6x6 Paper Pad (Basic Grey), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah)   Ink :  Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)   Accessories:  Sewing Machine (Singer), Dienamics Sentiment Strips (My Favorite Things), Button Brads (The Paper Studio- Hobby Lobby), white thread, copic ciao markers

  I can't believe it is that time of year again already . . . time is zipping by.  It is weird that they have to go back to school when it is still over 100F outside.  E and J headed back to school today.  They are getting so grown up!  E is in 4th grade now and J is in 3rd.  I hope they like their new teachers.  E has a male teacher, she is really excited about this and J is jealous.  E's class also has ipads in their classroom and she is excited for that too!  I am nervous for them both, but I know they have matured over the summer and will do well! 

"A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition" - William Arthur Ward I had fun making another autumn card.  I figure if I keep pumping out autumn here on the blog, mother nature will hear my cries here in the hot desert and give us a little more autumn.  Loving the monsoon season but really would just prefer cooler temperatures, crisp leaves, the smell of apple crisp in the oven, etc... These Pure Innocence images are so addictive.  I just LOVE to color and they make it so easy and fun! Anyway, hope your week is going well for you so far . . . here in AZ, the kids go back to school so early, so my kids are back and things are so calm and quiet here now.   Stamps :  Sunflower Girl - Pure Innocence (My Favorite Things)   Paper :  Tan (Core'dinations), Harvest Flower (Heidi Grace Designs), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah)   Ink :  Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)   Accessories :  Sewing machine (Singer), white thread, Tiny round brads (Spare Parts - The Pa

Well, wouldn't you know it, my stamps came a day earlier than expected (yesterday), which was a great surprise because I SO wanted to create some First Day of School teacher gifts . . . because teachers have a hard job . . . maybe even harder than moms sometimes.   SO, I decided this year to try to make monthly teacher gifts for my kids teachers to help them feel appreciated!  We will see if I am able to keep up with that plan . . .  Here are the little chocolate boxes I made for Monday.  I used scraps from my drawers.  The little boxes I found at Target dollar spot today while I was there shopping with the fab 4 (which not even joking is SO CRAZY).  Really, I am lucky I survived.  I seriously despise shopping with kids, everyone always looks at me like I am a freak show, and if I am completely honest, I kind of am . . . haha!  We managed to get all the critical school supplies though, so except for back packs, we are set.  I will work on finding some of those this weekend