New Stamps! and a NEW design team!

Check out the blog post {www.silaika.com} for information on my new stamp line & my design team (The Fabulous Four)!

There will be more sneak peeks tomorrow during the Gina K. Illustrator Blog hop!

Closing this blog

I am going to be closing this blog and changing everything over to a new blog. It is unfortunate, but freckledandfun.co is much too close to my old blog name (freckledandfun.com), which has been taken over as an adult site. This new blog will be easy access at

http://www.silaika.com
which will redirect you to my blog at http://silaika.blogspot.com

I am sorry for the inconvenience!





Enjoy every single moment of today!!!!!!

Took a bit of a {musical} break!

I can hardly believe it has been a month and a half since I last posted. There have been so many things going on in our lives that the blog has taken a back burner - which is okay! I have been focusing my time on Todd and the kids! Besides snow skiing (despite our warm winter temps, there was some white stuff on the mountain), swimming six days a week, religion and daily homework, three of the kids were heavily involved in the local school productions.

This past January, Xavier and Isabella were asked by their music teacher to audition for the musical at our high school. Xavier was selected as Winthrop (the son/brother of the leading two lady characters) and Isabella was given the role of daughter of one of the school board members/pick-a-little ladies. We named her character Rosie Dunlap! There were several practices a week and the experience was so amazing for the entire family. I was able to get watch these children (mine and the high school kids) perform this amazing play. The high school kids treated my children with such love and respect and the faculty were just over the top. The performances took place last week (Wednesday, Thur, Fri & Sat). It was the good kind of exhausting.

Here are some of my favorite shots!


This is Xavier and Lauren - keep an eye out for this girl - her voice rivals any diva but she is so sweet and kind!

Dan was the understudy to the leading man, he was the student musical director and played one of the school board members/barbershop quartet. He took Bella under his wing and made her feel like she was the most important kid on the stage.

Here is Xavier with Bria - his stage mom. She was so wonderful to him and I think his antics off stage made her realize how tough being a mom really is! LOL!

Here is Kevin (Harold Hill) and Bella dancing and singing 76 Trombones. Kevin was INCREDIBLE! He had so many lines and songs to learn. He was so professional and down to earth! I expect to see him on Broadway!

Karen is involved in Seussical, Jr. at the middle school. That play is this week! She is a zebra and water. I am sure that the performance will be over the top. Right now I am nursing blisters from my hot glue gun - I made bow ties and cuffs for the jungle animals to transform into circus animals. I seriously have blisters!



On Sunday, Bella has her first communion. I still have to plan a party! YIKES!

Needless to say - life has been busy - wonderful, but busy!







Enjoy every single moment of today!!!!!!

Hope & Love! A wonderful weekend!

This is the third year that I have co-chaired an event called the Hope & Love Ball for Hannah's Hope Fund. This year we hit it out of the park with our Mardi Gras Masquerade theme! People had so much fun. Check out the Times Union photos {here}. I was also interviewed by the local news: {YNN: Hope & Love Ball}... Our local community has rallied behind this family and the results have been so incredible! Here we are right before the Ball - the kids come to the event dressed up and then go home and have a nice quiet evening. Todd, Xavier & I stay for the event!



We are blessed to have FotoMagic come to the event and donate their time to making really fun magnets. This year, the kids grabbed some props and got silly!


It was another incredible night - we raised a bunch of money - ate delicious food and 370+ strong stood silently as Dr. Steven Gray gave us the wonderful and inspirational update on his progress! Just days after the meeting with the FDA, the crowd learned that the delivery system for a GAN cure is mere months away from possibly happening.


Here is my amazing husband (with whom I co-chaired the event) and my son Xavier, who escorted Hannah to the Ball.


How could we possibly top that night - well, watching our beloved New York Giants come back and win the Super Bowl made the weekend one of the most memorable we have ever shared as a family!




We were up singing Frank Sinatra's "New York, NY" and Queen's "We are the Champions" in the back yard at about 11:00 at night!




Enjoy every single moment of today!!!!!!

Papertrey Ink Anniversary Festivities! {plus a freebie}

I cannot believe that it is February again! This is a very exciting time for Papertrey ink as they enter their fifth year in the business! Each year seems to top the previous! Thank you all so very much for your support and love - both for my stamping and my family. We have endured so much that my blessings jar is overflowing!

Today, the Papertrey Stamp Designers are supposed to be sharing our favorite stamp set with you. As a mom to six, there is no real way for me to choose a *favorite*. Like my spectacular six, each of my stamp sets is unique and fun in its own way. It's so hard to choose a favorite stamp set. Last year I had several sets come out and the year was quite a whirlwind for me - with Todd and Karen's traumatic injuries - and life in general. As their healing started to plateau and I got back into crafting, the time I felt most creative was when I was working with Lock and Key. I created in *THE ZONE* and it seems that every single time I took that set out - magic was unlocked (pardon the pun). If you want to see my favorite Lock & Key posts, click {here}.



Now onto the freebie! The image I created is perfect for you to make those last minute Valentines! Super cute - print it on Red, Kraft, Pink, Purple - just about anything and whip up some cards in no time!

Here is my super simple valentine with the freebie!



Click {HERE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD}...and be sure to stop by all the other Stamp Designer blogs to see what they have listed as their *favorites*....

Nichole Heady
Lizzie Jones
Dawn McVey
Erin Lincoln
Heather Nichols
Lexi Daly
Lisa Johnson
Maile Belles
Melissa Bickford
Tiffany Pastor

I really hope that you will take the time to create something from the freebie sheet that Nichole has created! Be sure to enter the contest too! Just create something fun with the images and add it to the contest {here}

Please feel free to let me know which of my sets was YOUR favorite!








paper: rasberry, black and white
ink: printer, copics
misc: ribbon, glitter pen & punches


Enjoy every single moment of today!!!!!!

Lock & Key Release Day!

So it is the 15th of December and your cart is empty! The new Papertrey Ink release time is now 10pm EST. That will be the NEW Product Release Time. Go to Papertrey Ink tonight and order your Christmas goodies!

Here is a full view of the Lock & Key Set.





And for $5, you can also own the die for the Lock & Key set! I am telling you, it makes your life *SO* much easier! Well, your stamping life!




Each and every month I release a stamp set, I am intrigued with the designs shown by Nichole's design team. This month is INCREDIBLE! Some are detailed, some are so simple, yet exquisite! Stop by each and every blog to see the way these ladies used Lock & Key.

• Ashley Cannon Newell
• Betsy Veldman
• Danielle Flanders
• Jess Witty
• Erin Lincoln
• Maile Belles
• Nichole Heady
• Dawn McVey
• Debbie Olson
• Heather Nichols
• Melissa Phillilps
• Michelle Wooderson

Thank you so much for your comments, your support and love during this release! Happy Holidays!


Enjoy every single moment of today!!!!!!

Introducing: Lock & Key, Day Six

Oh the possibilities! Skeleton keys for weddings are SO hot right now!

{photo credit}


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Clean and simple - white on white - cream on cream - with a hint of white is clearly so perfect for weddings!


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{photo credit}


Now it is easy and economical to create personalized place cards, favors & items for your wedding using the Lock & Key stamp set, a little paper, ribbon and some imagination!

I created a tag, which the guests can use to write advice to the newlyweds, a save the date card and a table place card. I also made a keepsake for the couple, using some alcohol inks and a little ribbon, adhesive pearls and ribbon.

Aren't these cute Save The Date reminders? Just type out the information on the back!
So simple, yet so elegant! A little paper, some pearls, ribbon and rustic thread and you have an inexpensive way to begin your personalized wedding ensemble!





Next is a simple, yet elegant way to create your own place cards for your wedding: Simply print out the table number and then stamp the key on the back (I used the key with the heart). I die cut the lock and added a pearl to the corner. I also used the leafy vine die and cut the die in half and distressed it with ink, gluing it atop the place card.





An inexpensive and fun way to create memories from your wedding, have each guest write a piece of advice on a tag and collect them in a basket. Once you get back from the Honeymoon, read through the advice and place them in a scrapbook.


Simple die cut lock, tied on with some rustic thread. A little pearl for elegance!

The key is die cut and sponged, as is the edge of the tag!


Finally, here is the ornament:

I die cut the key and lock and made a "our first house" ornament for the couple to place on their first Christmas tree as husband and wife. A little gem on the key, some distressing and some rustic thread.


Some adhesive pearls make this ornament so elegant! The sentiment, printed on cardstock is adhered to the front of the ornament! The unique pattern which the alcohol inks create on ceramic is so beautiful and elegant!

It looks so pretty on the tree!


What do you think? I hope you enjoyed these ideas!









All supplies Papertrey Ink, unless otherwise noted!
wedding ensemble:

stamps: Lock & Key (available 12/15/11 at Papertrey Ink)
ink: sweet blush, berry sorbet
paper: cream, sweet blush
misc: sweet blush ribbon, rustic thread, adhesive pearls (purchased at Michael's), Lock & Key die, leafy vine die

Ornament:
paper: cream, sweet blush
ink: sweet blush (on key & lock), adirondack alcohol inks (on ornament), adhesive pearls, sweet blush ribbon, rustic thread

stop by the other designer blogs to see what they have going on!


Nichole,
Dawn
Heather
Melissa &
Lisa are all blogging about the latest PTI goodies!




Enjoy every single moment of today!!!!!!