Laural's Passion 4 Paper

A PTI Christmas

2011-10-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Good Morning everyone. Hope your weekend is starting on a pleasant note. I've been up since 5 this morning and just could not go back to sleep so I decided to get up, do dishes, fold laundry, and enjoy a relaxing cup of tea before my kids get up.

Since I had the time, I thought I would share some christmas cards that I made last year but just didn't have time to share on my blog. It's nothing new but thought it might help anybody whose having some creative block such as I am this week as I am still exhausted. These were all made using the PTI set "A Wreath for all Seasons" Very versatile set and worth the money! Love it and use it a lot.

Non-Traditional

Traditional

One Layer Card: Fast and Easy!

Anyhow, hope you all have a wonderful weekend and fabulously frightful Halloween on Monday. We'll be busy decorating the house today since we didn't have time to do it last weekend...But nothing gets done until I visit Maureen's new home for the first time. I'm looking forward to our small visit...it's been a while.

Happy 7th

2011-10-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

I was so inspired by this verve sketch that I had to make another card for my son's 7th birthday. That sketch makes it easy to use up some of that chipboard I seem to have laying around. I definitely have more than I need. Don't you just love when a sketch works so well you could make it over and over. The only drawback for this sketch is the somewhat finicky circle cutting.

I fell in love with the fun colours of the this patterned paper. I believe it's an October Afternoon collection. It's usually hard to come up with masculine cards since my stamp collection for that category is somewhat limited. The "Happy" sentiment from the Waltzing Mouse may be a little too feminine but I thought I could pass it off as more boho LOL. The happy birthday sentiment might be a little too slanted but whatever....it's still a fun card.

Disneyland Haunted Mansion at Halloween

Anyhow we're back from Disneyland and we all had a blast. It was a large group of us, 6 kids and 8 adults, making it easy to keep an eye on all of them. We were able to separate and make the most of our time. It was so awesome to see everything done up for halloween...I can only imagine what it looks like at Christmas. Has anyone ever been during that time? Would I do it all again?...I'm much too exhausted right now to even think about that. I must say that any family outing or wait in line in the future will be a peice of cake. In the end, the memories made were magical and I was so surprised at how well the kids travelled.

What magical place have you travelled with your family and what made it so special? I'd have to say that one of our most memorable trips still has has to be the Vancouver aquarium only a few hours away. The kids were just so excited to see the wonders of the ocean.

Happy Birthday Mom

2011-10-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Wherever you are, whoever you're with, whatever you're doing, I still love you and wish you all the happiness in the world.

It's my mom's birthday this week and I'm sure that she thinks I don't remember or don't care as I'm so busy with my own life. But I don't. As you may be able to tell my mother and I aren't very close. We use to be, but life happens and we started to need each other less and less. But whatever life brings between us it doesn't stop the fact that I love her and I am thankful for her efforts in raising me. Being a mother now I can appreciate the sacrifices that were made and the emotional roller coaster that comes from having a daughter of my own.

Anyhow, this card was inspired by another October Viva la Verve sketch. It's not one of my best accomplishments but I do like the cupcake. I layered it and frosted it with glitter. I wanted to use a darker pink background with lighter ribbon but I also wanted to be able to stamp a sentiment. Thinking back now I could have done that a white embossed the sentiment. I'm starting to get back into my grove and I'm liking it. It really is nice to find the time for this. I'll try to find more time to surf the blogs and see what else I've missed while I've been gone. I've noticed a couple of my other blog friends are currently on hiatus as well and it kind of makes me sad :(

Have a fantabulous day!!!

Is it Really?

2011-10-13T22:35:00.000-07:00

Is it really that time of the year again? In a couple of weeks it will be Halloween and then Thanksgiving (in the US) and the next thing you know it's Christmas and New Years. I don't know about you but I always find that the next few months fly by. I remember before I went back to work, I used to have all my holiday shopping done by now. This year and last...not so much. The same goes for having my holiday cards made. And I can't bring myself to buy them when I have all that crafty goodness packed away in my cupboards.

So heres my first card of the season, inspired by the October Viva la Verve sketch. I've made another card for this sketch but it will have to wait.

Tomorrow we are on our way to Disneyland. The one nice thing about being back at work is having a little bit of money to put aside for special things like this. That and I traded in a bunch of travel points that we had been collecting for 8 years. We are headed there with friends and neighbors and very much looking to our first family holiday. I'm hoping for a fabulous family adventure, but wonder if I'll need to be put in a padded cell once we arrive home. LOL

Take care everyone and have a fantastic weekend!

Grateful for Time

2011-10-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a long time hasn't it. Almost a year since my last post and how I've missed it. I've decided that I need to make time for me and what better way but in my craft time. I really do need that time for my sanity. And I do miss the support of this wonderful crafting community.

For my first attempt and getting comfortable with things I decided on the latest Mojo Monday sketch which just happens to be contest week. I decided on a thanksgiving theme as tomorrow is our Canadian Thanksgiving. I'm off to dinner tonight with the in-laws. Anyhow I hope find some kind of inspiration and wish you all my fellow Canadians a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving and to everybody else enjoy a lovely week ahead.

Cheers,
Laural

Just the Ticket

2010-12-07T22:09:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone...it's been a while hasn't it? I did have plans to be on here more often but life just happens. I have been busy these last few weeks but still managed to make 35 christmas cards. And they're all in the mail! Phew!

Anyhow...on with the show! I'm so excited to show this creation I made last night. As I was looking through my stash of craft goodies, I was thinking about how much I'd love to find a unique way of making a fireplace and I happened upon the PTI set "Just the Ticket" and that's exactly what it was. When positioned just right those tickets made perfect bricks for a fireplace. What do you think? I did a ribbon treatment for the 'mantle' and 'hung' those lovely PTI die cut stockings. It's odd that the first time I use that stamp set it would be for a Christmas card. I'm going to try something with the ticket strip die. Hopefully I'll be able to share that with you in a more timely fashion.

Tomorrow I'm heading out of town with my daughter as she has a scheduled ultrasound for her tummy. She's had multiple issues these past couple of months and now we're having to run a multitude of tests. Sick kids cause so much worry! My son has been home with a high fever these last couple of days and I felt guilty for not being at home with him. It's such a strange and sad feeling knowing that last year at this time I was at home full time with kids being able take care of them while they were sick and able to answer all the doctor's questions because I knew my kids so well. Now...not so much. We are fortunate that we have family daycare so I don't necessarily have to miss work. Hubby did stay at home today though and that made me feel much more comfortable not being at home.

That's my life for now and I'm looking forward to the Christmas holidays. If I'm not around before then have a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2011

Like a Kid in a Candy Shop

2010-11-15T20:55:00.000-08:00

My new craft room is pretty much the same thing. And my favourite thing right now is my jars of scrap ribbon and buttons. Just looking at all those colourful goodies gives me plenty of inspiration. I need all the inspiration I can get right now because I need to get those Christmas cards done! I'm half way there.

My desk looks out the window facing the cul-de-sac where my kids spend the majority of the time playing with the neighbourhood kids. That will probably be less of the time now that the weather's getting chillier and wetter. We're expecting snow later this week. I don't enjoy the roads but appreciate that snow gets rid of the gloominess.

Anyhow I also have an extra table for a few friends or kids to spend some crafty time with me. The tables also handy to spread out my materials and get creative. Now I just need a handy peg board to pin up some challenges.

Operation Sunshine

2010-11-13T23:05:00.000-08:00

This year my daughter started Grade 2!!! No longer my baby girl and turning into a little lady. Unfortunately the cattiness of little girls has begun along with the hurt feelings. It's a whole new learning experience filled with growing and my hope that there's something positive to learn from it all. The goal of this project is for my daughter to give the girls in her classroom a book mark that would remind them what she appreciates most about them....spread a little sunshine. A way of showing appreciation for their individuality even if she doesn't always agree with them.

The idea for this project comes from something my daughter's preschool teachers made for her. Each child made a picture and told each classmate which virtue (patient, kind, friendly, compassionate, etc) they saw most in them. Those pictures were collected and then the teacher made a laminated book out of them. I still catch T. looking at her book. It's her feel good book. And how good would it feel to get a genuine positive remark from someone you thought didn't like you or appreciate you?

Elements used in this are pretty simple...my only goal besides using up scraps was to create unique bookmarks, not one is the same. Different buttons, ribbon, and stamp placement. The pictures still aren't the greatest but I have to get batter lamps for my quickly put together light box. It will all have to do for now.

Hope you see feel a little sunshine in your life today. Have a wonderful day.

Never Forget. Always Hope.

2010-11-10T22:50:00.000-08:00

My middle son made this beautiful poppy at Beavers (aka Scouts)

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands with throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields

If you managed to read the entire poem or recite it by memory, I encourage you to take the time to consider how this poem still resonates in our lives today. To me it's not just a time to remember those that fought for our freedom but also for remembering those who fought a brave fight with Cancer, MS, ALS, Parkinson's, etc. I also think about those who continue to carry the torch. Our brave soldiers signing up for the unknown, those who run or bike marathons to raise money for medical research, and the families that are left to fill the whole that's been left from loosing a loved one.

Have a beautiful & thoughtful Remembrance Day.

Ghoolishly Late

2010-11-07T22:32:00.000-08:00

Wow, I actually have something to post and keeping with the theme of the last few months...I'm late!!! yes Halloween has come and gone but I did manage to find time to make these labels for the pencils my kids gave to their classmates. I did the same thing last year. This time there were 44 to do and I only made a few the same. I practiced different techniques like sponging, background stamping and using those punches I've collected. Nothing fancy but I just had to post the fact that I FOUND TIME and I haven't disappeared from the face of the earth!

Thankfully, I'm now down to one job and hope to find time to make my Christmas cards before time runs out. Most likely they'll be late but that just makes me consistent doesn't it? Thanks so much to all my blog friends that have stayed in touch with me blog or no blog and to those of you who followed me post or no post. I can't wait to start seeing all of your holiday creations. 'Tis the season you know?!

Please forgive the picture quality. I haven't found the perfect set up for taking pictures in the new house plus I'm working during the day now so it gives me limited time to take those pictures.

Today I'm grateful for having the kids living in an awesome neighborhood where they can play with other kids their age from dawn until dusk. I'm also thankful for the fact that the temperature today sunny and warm. Much more like September weather rather November.

Have a fabulous week. Happy Crafting.

CAS-tastic Fun

2010-08-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

Well I'm a few days late to actually enter these cards into the challenge but the point is that I found a little time to get crafty. It happened this past Sunday and Monday and I thought what better way than to start at the CAS-tastic Challenge site. The challenge was to CASE the design team and I chose Deb Neerman's card because of her fantastic and easy layout. It was a good place to start getting back into the crafty groove. I managed to make not just one but TWO cards!!! and I broke out the sewing machine since I don't have to worry about packing it away for house showings {insert big smiley face and sigh}.

For my first card I folded my new October Afternoon pattern paper and sewed it all down then added some Martha Stewart Decorative Tape I found on Discount at Micheals. That decorative tape may come in very handy. The yellow paper flower is from the dollar bin and how can you not smile at yellow.

I was surprised to learn during this sewing session that you can sew tissue paper...very carefully. The second card I folded blue tissue paper (courtesy of the Verve) and sewed three lines vertically to make it stay together. What do you think? Unfortunately when I went to take the picture I had wet hands and managed to touch the one and only place I had ink. Please ignore the smudge =)

Today I am so thankful for my wonderful blogging friends. When I wrote my last post I thought for sure I would loose some viewers but nope I actually gained one (thanks Julie). Thanks so much to all of you just for stopping by or dropping me a line. I miss all of you.

I will be back this weekend with another card (yes, I made three!) and a little shout out for a few friends that I think deserve a small pat on the back...even if it is only from me.

I'm Alive...but not awake

2010-08-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Just a quick little blurb to let you all know that I am healthy and happy although I am very tired working 2 jobs and getting the house ready to move next month. We managed to sell our house last week!! Such a relief and now we can get on with our lives. And the bonus is I don't have to worry so much about keeping the house spotless while I'm working.

Unfortunately with all that is going on I just don't have time to dedicate to my craft. I haven't picked up a stamp set in over two weeks! Sad but true. I have, however, gone camping with the family over the BC long weekend. That is nothing short of a miracle as I despise camping. The kids love it! So while it was a long weekend, it really wasn't much of a break and I feel like I could really use another long weekend. Here's a picture of my family having lunch...yes that's my hubby in the background doing the cooking. =)

That's all I have time for, for now. I don't know when I'll be on here next and I will completely understand if you stop following my boring blog as all I have to discuss right now is work. I do hope you'll drop me an email if you think of me. I'm so glad to have met some really amazing people in blogland and wish you all the very best.

Today I'm grateful for selling our house! What are you grateful for?

EBTKS + Embellish = Fabulous

2010-07-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! Today's day at work went very well and I'm happy to say it won't keep me up at night with worry. Lots to learn but the ladies I work with are really fabulous and patient.

This card was made for three challenges: EBTKS, CAS-tastic, and Embellish. The current CAS-tastic challenge was to use three of several techniques on one card. I chose image stamping, paper piercing, and inked edges. This card really was simple but it packs a punch with those colours and paper piecing and piercing.

For the piercing bit I stamped and cut the leaf image, placed it on my cardstock and pierced the outline. It give's a much more subtle affect than paper piecing or stamping but still defines the image. Neat hey? Those terrific patterned papers are from the October Afternoon Fly a Kite collection. Love it! I bought it for my birthday a month ago and finally got it in the mail last friday. Haven't had much time to play around with it but I'll try to make some time this weekend.

Tomorrow I'll be working a full day and won't be home for dinner but fortunately for me (or probably more so for my hubby) my mother-in-law plans to have dinner ready for him when he gets home. Today I'm grateful for a supportive family...what are you grateful for? You might be grateful to hear about Ann's Blog Anniversary giveaway. Just head on over to check out her wonderful CAS creations and a chance to win! You won't be disappointed.

Elements:

Paper: Kraft, Fly a Kite dp (October Afternoon)

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Small Ric Rac die (PTI), Hawaiian Shores button (PTI), paper piercer, dimensionals, large corner rounder

Stamps: Feel the Sun (Verve), Signature sentiments (PTI)

Courage is the Key

2010-07-19T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I managed to get a couple of cards done this weekend and both of them are for the current Kitchen Sink Sketch Challenge. I have even a couple more ideas for this sketch that's how inspiring I found it.

Anyhow, the card I'll share with you today kind of ties in with the courage I'm having to find in myself as I enter the work force again after 7 years! Today I had my second day at my bookkeeping job and man I feel so overwhelmed with all the things I'm worried I'll forget. Tomorrow I start my regular 9 to 3 job as an Accounts Receivable clerk and and I'm on pins and needles waiting to meet my new co-workers. I'm anxious to know how well I'll jive and how long it will take me to get in the swing of things again. If there's one thing I can say I'm not afraid of learning and I'm determined enough to do it right.

The sentiment of this card I had to make myself and the line actually came from a Barbie song on my daughter's ipod. It's funny where we tend to find our inspiration isn't it? It holds so true though, without courage we fail to see the possibilities in life. I know I should have used the printer to make the sentiment instead of using a combo of stamps and freehand but I didn't want to fiddle around with the layout (plus I did the ribbon ruffles first and couldn't exactly run it through the printer.)

Well I hope you have a fabulous day and thanks so much for stopping by. Today I'm grateful for my family's health and strength during stressful times. What are you grateful for?

Elements

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Bermuda Bay

Ink: Black, Bermuda Bay

Accessories: Nesties Labels 1, Black Gingham ribbon, Black grossgrain ribbon

Stamps: Key to My Heart (PCD), Fanciful swirls font (Hero Arts)

Sketch Challenges and a News Update

2010-07-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone! I've got a couple more sketches done for the Practicing Creativity Challenges that end today. And I've got some news since so much has been happening in my life these last couple of months.

Anyhow let's start with the first card. For this sketch there was no doubt that I was going to use the PCD Look Up Set! It's my all time favourite set and pair it with the clouds "You're Dandy" and you have one fun card. My favourite parts of this card are button basket and the sentiment panel made up of Cosmo Cricket ledger paper, PTI ric rac and PCD banner stamp. The sentiment was made from the Fanciful Swirls font from Hero Arts.

Now for my second fun card but this time for boys, I used up some of my Cogsmo (Cosmo Cricket) pattern paper and some hand stitching to bring a little something original to the card. Things were simplified by using the border paper for the horizontal lines and a tag for that focus panel. I used three different types of stitches and different fonts for the printing. Happy Birthday sentiment is from the PCD set "You're Dandy" and the Friend sentiment was made using the fanciful swirl font from Hero Arts.

Now for my news! I've managed to find a job willing to give me the hours that will work nicely for my family at least during the school year. So I'll be going back to work for 30 hours a week starting next week as well as a bookkeeping side job on the weekend. I will be very busy for the next little while and in September we move into our new house so I will also be preparing for that. We haven't sold this house yet but it will happen and in the meantime we don't have the money worries now that I'll be back at work. I don't know how much time I'm going to have to do what I love but I hope you will all keep in touch by email if you haven't seen much of me. I still want to try and get at least one post done per week but at this point in time I have no idea how I'll adjust to the new routine. One foot in front of the other.

My daughter broke my heart the other night while I was tucking her into bed. She's very upset that I'll be going back to work. I tried to explain that with the extra money we may be able to get to Disneyland sooner. She's been asking to go for the last 6 months since 2 of her friends have already been. And her response "Mommy I love you more than Disneyland and I want you to stay home." What could I really say? It brought a tear to my eye that's for sure. It just goes to show that our kids would rather have our time and attention than anything material.

Practicing Creativity with Iris Folding

2010-07-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

I finally found some time last night to play around with those sketch challenges Courtney has going on her blog. There are four sketches and up for grabs is a $50 gift certificate for Practicing Creativity Designs (PCD). Wouldn't that be handy? I'd be able to add the last three stamp releases to my collection....and buy some May Arts ribbon as well.

Anyhow with this box sketch I was inspired to give Iris folding a try. It's not very hard once you figure out a couple of tricks like the fact that you might need wider strips to start the pattern (at least if it's a larger pattern). Also if it's thicker pattern paper you're using then you can't do as many layers as you might want to. I'm proud of this card not only because I tried something different but because I managed to incorporate three different papers from three different manufacturers and I think it turned out wonderfully.

I have no idea why I came up with something for Saint Patrick's day but I came across my PTI Luck of the Irish set which I hadn't used yet and I was feeling pretty LUCKY. Of course because this was a PCD challenge I had to incorporate one of Courtney's sets. I used the For the Love of Dots to frame my art work. There's always room for a little PCD =)

Elements

Paper: Very Vanilla, River Rock, Early Bird dp (Cosmo), Nook & Pantry dp (BG), Kaisercraft dp

Ink: Always Artichoke

Accessories: cutting blade, iris folding pattern, foam tape, 1 1/4" circle punch

Stamps: Luck of the Irish (PTI), For the Love of Dots (PCD)

Celebrate Canada

2010-07-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

While this wasn't meant to be a Canada card I figure the Celebrate sentiment fits perfectly for the day.. I don't like buying stamp sets that I will only use once a year (except for Christmas) so I don't have any patriotic stamps. I like those sets that cover a bunch of a holidays in one set. Maybe next year I might break down and buy a small set as I am very envious of the card Maureen made with her new set.

The inspiration came from this weeks Cinema Saturday Challenge. It has been a long time since playing along with those lovely ladies and I miss them. Life is just so crazy right now so if inspiration doesn't just pop out at me I tend to pass on the Challenge. Well this week I was inspired more by the colours and using pennants than the actual movie, which I must admit that I haven't seen. Sankari and Lynne provided some wonderful inspiration in their project as well so I just went along with the homemade feel and bright colours.

The pennants come from my favourite Practicing Creativity set: Look Up! Courtney's revealing a new set this week and she usually has a give away so you might want to pop over there. Anyhow, the pennants were stamped on a neutral cotton fabric and then cut. Hand stitching is done with linen thread around the top red panel and buttons and Kraft paper were used to create even more of a home made feel.

Today I'm Grateful for.....having such a peaceful and safe country to live in. What are you thankful for?

Elements

Paper: Kraft, Real Red, Garden Variety dp (Cosmo Cricket)

Ink: Staz On black ink, Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Bayou Blue, Basic Black

Accessories: Fabric, linen thread, PTI buttons (Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart, New Leaf)

Stamps: Look Up and For the Love of Dots (PCD)

Heartfelt Thanks

2010-06-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! Happy Wednesday! I thought I would find time to post something yesterday but it just didn't happen. Meetings and more pounding the pavement for a job. It's amazing how much the process of finding a job has changed since the last time I had to apply for the job (more than seven years ago). I wouldn't call it 'pounding the pavement' so much as 'surfing the net' because most of the time the application process tends to be done on-line. I must say I'm glad to be getting back into the job search now rather than another couple of years. Who knows how much technology will have changed the process by then!

Anyhow, here's my card for this weeks CardPatterns sketch and Curtain Call colour challenge. I took an original approach to those scallops and stamped them with the circles from PTI Polkadot Background Basics I. Then I created an inviting scene with the On My Couch set and chose a Verve Thanks sentiment stamp to complete a bright and to cheerful Thank You. I have to say I really like the little punches of red and the Lattice Textured Expressions (SU!) circles underneath the buttons. What do you think?

Must go get ready for a night of camping coming up. I'm not much of an outdoorsy person but I'm making a compromise for my kids. Anyhow I hope your weeks ends even better than it started. And Happy Canada Day tomorrow to my fellow Canadians =)

Elements

Paper: Whisper White, Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Summer Picnic dp (SU!)

Ink: Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Pure Poppy buttons (PTI), linen thread, lattice textured expressions ef (SU!), 3/4" circle punch

Stamps: On my couch (PTI), Polka dot background basics I (PTI), Heartfelt Thanks (Verve)

Make You Smile =)

2010-06-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I thought I'd try and make you smile after my dreary last post. This is for the current CAS-tastic challenge to use yellow, blue and a neutral of your choice. I chose white for a bright and dreamy like look. What do you think? The butterflies are made from the left over paper from the SU! Princess party pack. I love So Saffron but I don't have very much of that colour so I'm making do with scraps right now. It works really well the Tempting Turquoise (also from my scrap bin).

I got a chance to play with the sun rays from one of my favourite Practicing Creativity stamp sets "You're dandy" I also took a chance and used acrylic paint and a pattern tracer to outline the rays. I really like the affect....it's not too much but adds to the texture and colour. The layout inspiration came from the current fall-to-layout sketch on the Clean and Simple blog. Thanks for the inspiration ladies!

Hope you are all having a fabulous week. I managed to make four cards this weekends so, unless things get really crazy around here I should be back everyday with something new. Happy Crafting.

Elements:

Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron dp

Ink: Whisper White Craft, Tempting Turquoise Craft

Accessories: Yellow acrylic paint, MS butterfly punch, Beautiful Butterflies die, pattern tracing wheel

Stamps: You're Dandy (PCD), Everyday Button Bits (PTI)

Glitter

2010-06-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?

Have you ever looked fear in the face and said 'I just don't care'?

While I was trying to be inspired to create something the other night, I was listening to Glitter in the Air by P!nk. Now there's a lady who can really write a song and sing it! Anyhow the top lines are what inspired me. I decided I wanted to play with glitter. I had hoped to enter it in the last Play Date Cafe challenge but I just didn't have enough time to post it.

The black glitter is a strong contrast to the turquoise and encouraging sentiments. But that kind of represents all the mixed feelings I'm having with all the recent major changes in my life. Without struggles I can't become stronger. And I am so thankful to have a very loving and supportive family surrounding me. I also have the most amazing friends. The ones like you who read my babble and remind me to keep my chin up. The friends who call me to encourage me and listen to me. My husband and I are just amazed by the amount of support we have found in our friends.

I was going to create something tonight but I think I'm just going to go to bed and get lost in a book. What's on your reading list this summer?

Need a Lift?

2010-06-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

I know lately I sure have and my friends have been there for me. I am just so blessed by the amount of support that we've received in the last month. It has been more than a week since I last posted and let me tell you it has been a busy one. I've been sending out resumes and had my first interview in seven years and it went really well. I was really thinking I would be on my work tomorrow but, unfortunately for me, the company had a better candidate. The supervisor was kind enough to keep my resume on file just in case something came up and she is even willing to send my name on to any other employer she knows who needs an administrative assistant or bookkeeper. How cool is that?

Despite all the outpouring of support from friends and family, my husband and I are becoming quite discouraged with the sale of our house. So on top of not being able to get this job and not selling the house our fears are mounting. It just goes to prove that you can make as many plans as you like but God is going to come along and make plans of his own. In the meantime I'll keep applying for jobs and keeping the house clean for showings.

The cards I have for you today were ones that I sent for the last Embellish Magazine publication call but that too wasn't meant to be. The good news is that now I have something to share with you, dear blog friends. The black thread in the first card was meant to be the bicycle tire spokes. I've seen the PTI Everyday Button Bits Bike done in Tandem before I just don't recall where. Nothing new there but I liked the wheels and the colour balance in this card. In the bottom card I created my favourite balloon scene and use a black button and thread for the basket.

Anyhow, thanks so much for following my blog even though I haven't been giving much inspiration or encouraging comments for you. I will have another card to share with you Thursday or Friday. Please check back. I trust that this post finds you all healthy and happy. Happy Crafting!

EDIT June 26 ~ I decided to take Karen's advice and enter the bike card for the I WANT TO RIDE MY BIKE CHALLENGE IN THE MOXIE FAB WORLD.

Grateful for You

2010-06-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

Today's card come from the inspiring EBTKS sketch challenge and pictures I took of the fresh flowers I have in my house. I must say the one thing I've been enjoying about trying to sell the house is the weekly flower arrangements. A month later and I've gotten a little smarter and started buying potted plants like Orchids and Cyclamen.

During our last girls craft night I was telling Maureen of how I was inspired to recreate these roses with paper. I needed something lighter than cardstock but stronger than tissue, then she showed me her little collection of crepe paper that she so graciously shared with me =) And here are the results. I went out of my comfort zone for this card as I don't do a lot of distressing and soft colours. Would it qualify for shabby chic? I know the ledger paper has become popular or as usual it just going out of style once I think to use it. It came from the Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend collection. The fabric brad is from the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses collection. I'd have to say that my favourite little detail about this card is the light green flourish I paired with the sentiment.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you were encouraged to find inspiration in something around your house. Happy Crafting

Elements

Paper: Very Vanilla, Boyfriend dp (Cosmo Cricket), Old Olive dp (SU!), crepe paper

Ink: Soft Suede, Old Olive

Accessories: Sizzix flower die, brad (Basic Grey)

Stamps: Delightful Dahlia (PTI), Signature Greetings (PTI), Blessings (Verve)

A Little Bit of...

2010-06-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

PTI in my life, A little bit of PCD by my side,

A little bit of paper's all I need, A little bit of Beauty's all I see.

With all the sunny weather we've been having around here it put me in mind of Lou Bega's Mambo number 5. I remember the summer that was popular, shortly after my grad, does that age me?

Anyhow, here's my entry for the current Play Date Cafe colour challenge. Not only did I love the colours but Practicing Creativity Designs is sponsoring the challenge and up for grabs is the latest set Barefoot Summer. I'm already creating scenes in my head with that set.

For this creation I used PCD For the Love of Dots set for the background stamping. I also used my new PTI anniversary set and On my Couch Dies. I don't have the label die for the anniversary label stamp but it fits nicely into the petite oval nestabilities.

Anyhow I have to run, I'll add more info as soon as I have the time. I've got a couple of viewings for our house so I should be cleaning my floors. Have a fantastic week everyone!

CAS-tastic Buttons!

2010-06-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love them? And who doesn't have them? I seem to have collected them over the months and I'd have to say my favourite colour is the shiny Pure Poppy ones from PTI. It's been a while since I've worked with red and oh how I've missed it!

The current CAS-tastic challenge is to use buttons and what better way to make a Clean and Simple card than a one-layer. I don't know about you but I find one-layer cards to be very challenging. They aren't hard it's just that whenever you mess up you have to start all over again...and I've determined that I'm really not a great stamper. I know I'm being fussy but I definitely need to get gridded acrylic blocs.

Not much to say about my cards, except maybe that I really like them. I realize the yellow buttoned card isn't a true one-layer card but I got tired of putting the paper in the scrap pile =) Oh and my good news note for today is having my card featured on the WPlus9 Colour challenge. Between my recent nods on CAS-tastic and WPlus9 I'm on top of the world! Thanks so much ladies for your encouragement.

Hope you have a very fantastic weekend and that the weather is beautiful!

Birthday Wishes Elements

Paper: White cs (PTI)

Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

Accessories: Pure Poppy buttons (PTI)

Stamps: Round & Round (PTI)

Live Laugh Love Elements

Paper: White cs (PTI), Kraft

Ink: Always Artichoke, Soft Suede

Accessories: Lemon Tart buttons (PTI), yellow brads (MM), large corner rounder

Stamps: Round & Round (PTI)

Bring Your Own Sunshine

2010-06-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's as easy as smiling when you don't feel like it. Do you ever find that smiling is the one physical act of happiness that can actually convince the rest of your body that you are happy? It doesn't always have to be your brain telling you that you're happy and allowed to smile. This verve sentiment reminds me of that. Even as I was rushing the kids out the door and out to school I thought of this quote and added my smile. My husband always says "Smile, it makes people wonder what your up to" my reply is usually "It's easy for you to do because you're almost always contemplating world domination" and other things that men spend the majority of their time thinking about...or so I'm told.

Anyhow, I've digressed almost too much and will now tell you about my card. My inspiration came from this Card Pattern's sketch, the current Embellish colours, and some new PTI goodies that I ordered back in April before having bought our new house. My 'supplier' of all that is PTI dropped them off last night and it was nice having some new materials to work with including the new anniversary set. That was a nice surprise since I wasn't planning on having a new stamp set for quite some time. Thanks for supporting my habit Maureen =) I'm hoping to sell the house soon so I can treat myself to a few goodies, starting with Courtney's new set at Practicing Creativity Designs. The tree in that set is one of my favourites.

I'm feeling particularly chatty today so please forgive the long post. Hope you are having a fabulous Thursday and if I don't chat soon have a wonderful weekend.

Elements

Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Raspberry Tart dsp (SU!)

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Crushed Curry, Cameo Coral

Accessories: Rick rack die (PTI), 1" circle punch, linen thread, lemon tart buttons (PTI), brown ruffle ribbon (SU! Flirty collection), foam tape

Stamps: Feel the Sun (Verve), Round & Round (PTI)

Nothing But Happiness

2010-06-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

Wow hey? My second post for this week!!! Yesterday we had another house viewing so I was feeling a bit hopeful and found a little time last night to get this card started. I went to bed early so I didn't finish but I did this morning. The house is clean, I've sent out a couple job applications and it's raining cats and dogs outside so I figured I deserved a bit of play time.

This card was made using the current Sketch Girl challenge along with the latest Embellish magazine colours. I don't use a lot of Coral but this colour combo was enticing. The Embellish also gave me a chance to brake out my favourite Labels 1 nestibilities and Top Note die. I embellished with some cotton floss, unique Papertrey buttons and polka dots. This was one of those cards where I had no idea what I was doing until it was done. I just went with the flow and let inspiration be my guide. I'm very happy with the results and hope you enjoy it as well.

Thanks so much for popping by. I hope you have a fabulous day. Happy Crafting.

Elements

Paper: Kraft, Cameo Coral, Early Espresso, Whisper White, SU! dsp

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Accessories: Labels 1 Nesties, Top Note die (SU!), DMC floss in brown and yellow, Lemon Tart Buttons (PTI), foam tape

Stamps: Polkadot Basic Background I (PTI), Blessings (Verve)

Simple Gifts

2010-06-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

It will be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bed we shall not be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come round right.

~Joseph Bracket 1848~

Simple was what came to mind when trying to create this card for the current CAS-tastic challenge which is to make the sentiment your focal point. The simple theme also brought me to one of my favourite songs I listen to with my kids. Do you have Jewel's Lullaby album? It's on my top ten simply for her renditions of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Forever and a Day". My ipod is set to this music when trying to find some tranquility in a noisy house. While this song was originally written in a Shaker community it has made it's way into the hymnals of contemporary Christian denominations. And apparently even Weezer has included their rendition in two of their albums. How's that for popular even 162 years after it was written?

Anyhow, back to the simple theme, I used one border punch, one label die, one stamp, and some canvas letter stickers. Oh and I added a few clear buttons painted with nail polish for the latest EBTKS challenge. If you're not someone that uses buttons very often nail polish is a great thing to use because it covers any colour so that the embellishment can better match your project. No need to collect a million buttons in various colours (like I have) and save yourself some money with something you may already have laying around your house. The label die was made using the woodgrain packaging from the Making Memories canvas stickers so I even managed to recycle.

Thank you friends for leaving all your kind words even though I haven't been hangin' around blogland lately. I've been really busy getting my resume together looking for a part-time job and I'm also in the process of registering back at school to finish up that Bachelor's degree. So with all the stress of trying to sell the house, job hunting, school, and home I just haven't had the time for inspiration. When I do find some down time I've usually got my nose in a book. Right now I'm rediscovering the works of Farley Mowat in "The Dog that Wouldn't be". It's light, humorous and enjoyable.

Elements

Paper: Kraft, Groovy Guava

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Stamps: For the Love of Dots (PCD)

Dear Friend

2010-05-31T21:41:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are enjoying a fabulous new week ahead. We are quite busy around here. My daughter was sick this weekend, the deal fell through on our house, and the kids had their piano recital. This week we will busy once again showing the house (at least we hope so) and getting my daughter ready for her dance concert which takes up 4 days of the week between practices and rehearsals and the actual shows. Hopefully this time around she'll actually stay up on the stage. When she was three she became known as the little run away crab. She's a couple years older now so that should help.

Anyhow, here's a couple of cards that I made for the Paper Crafts Go-to-sketch Challenge #3 using the Embellish colours. I also have another attempt at that fall-to-layout sketch I did in my last post. I used the same colours but no butterfly. For all three pieces I used acrylic paint and my pattern tracing wheel as shown on the Paper Crafts Connection blog. Pretty neat hey? And it is so much fun. For the green painting I even got to mix paint together (3 parts dark green with 1 part yellow). And the black was so fun because it showed up so well on the craft that I did two cards with it!

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a peak and/or leaving me some love =) I do hope you have a very wonderful week and if I don't respond to your lovely comments or I've missed some of your latest and greatest creations I'm very sorry and hope to catch up when things settle down around here.

Here are some close up shots and if you have any questions about the materials used feel free to ask and I will try to get back to you asap.

Sky's the Limit

2010-05-28T15:47:00.000-07:00

I just had to play along with the latest Embellish colour challenge. Ashley's colour choices are always so classy and the ladies that play along are so very talented. I learn something new with each challenge. I loved this colour challenge so much that I'm actually in the process of creating yet another card but without the butterfly.

This card is also to fulfill this weeks CAS-tastic challenge requirements to add a little bit of green. I also used last weeks Fall-to-layout sketch to help bring the colours together. The Kraft butterfly was made using my PTI Polkadot background basics I with Old Olive ink. I also sponged the edges of each butterfly with black ink to give the layers more definition. The rhinestones weren't adhered exactly where I would have like them but once they were there they were stuck for good.

Hope you all have a fantastic and creative weekend. May the sun shine upon you. I'm going to try and relax a bit but I'm finding that my nerves are just a little shot with all this wait and see going on with the selling of our house. Have I told you yet that I hope never to have to do this again? LOL.

Steps:

1) Make A2 card from cs

2) Trim white cs and use embossing folder; mat to black cs; adhere to card

4) Die cut scallop border; stamp sentiment; adhere to card

5) Die cut butterflies; attach layers and button with floss; adhere to card

6) Adhere rhinestones to card

Elements

Paper: Kraft, Old Olive, Whisper White, black cs (PTI), sheet music

Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive

Accessories: Green button (Making Memories), black cotton floss (DMC), Beautiful Butterflies die (SU!), Perfect Polkadots ef (SU!), large scallop border die (PTI), green rhinestones (Kaisercraft)

Stamps: Look Up (PCD), Polkadot background basics I (PTI)

A Sunny Thank You

2010-05-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday everyone! Hope your week is going well and have fabulous plans for the weekend. We have none here. However, tonight my hubby is taking me out to a movie. We don't know which one yet but I'll let you know tomorrow.

This post is for that EBTKS sketch challenge that I'm posting late. Challenge tardiness is probably something I'll have to get use to once we start packing our things. I'm going to miss having a craft room for a few weeks. Anyhow, loved this sketch and thought of doing different textures but decided in the end to use different depths in dimension.

Foam tape has become one of my go to tools since that last Embellish Challenge. The white focus panel and the large polkadot paper are adhered with foam tape while there a couple of trims that are applied only with glue tape. I used up the little bits of scraps left over from the Scenic Route Ashville collection. I'm going to miss that paper. So cheerful and bright.

On the home from we had the house inspectors come this morning to look at our house. It took 3 hours and because I was babysitting the twins and my daughter was home sick this morning. I was unable to leave the house. It's hard to keep your nose out of things when you know they're scrutinizing everything about the house. I seriously never want to have to do this again.

Steps:

1) Make card from cs

2) Trim different pattern papers in different widths

3) Trim focal panel and stamp sentiment.

4) Mat different papers to cs with glue tape and foam tape.

5) Adhere embellishments

Elements

Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Bridgeport (SEI), Ashville (Scenic Route), Bazzill cs

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: Paper flowers (Recollections), Brads (BG), Rhinestones, swiss dot ef

Stamps: Signature Greetings (PTI)

Let's Bury Your Troubles

2010-05-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

This is what I came up with for the fun Sketch Girl challenge. I really wanted to work with some of my new favourite Cosmo Cricket paper. Isn't Garden Variety so yummy? I was really inspired by one of the their lines in the border paper saying something like "Diggin' in the dirt helps bury your troubles." I decided to make an encouragement card based on this line. The cheerful bright paper was perfect for it!

I tried a number of techniques with this card and really took my time with it as I watched Valentine's Day. I really like how it turned out and I really enjoyed the movie. Usually when you get that many great celebrities together for a project they really don't put enough effort into the plot....but for this one the writing was fantastic and it all tied together so wonderfully.

Anyhow, I hope to be back tomorrow with the card I made for the latest Everything but the Kitchen Sink sketch challenge which I was late in posting so it didn't make the time cut. I really liked the sketch and I really liked how mine turned out too so I'm still going to share.

Key to My Happiness

2010-05-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Today I get to show you my card for this weeks Viva la Verve sketch challenge and another favourite room in my house. Besides the sketch we were meant to find inspiration in our craft rooms. Well my inspiration came purely by the fact of how much happiness my little space brings to me everyday. It's the place where I can express myself and loose myself, a space in all my house that I can call mine. It is a key to my happiness (besides the love and support of my family of course :)

My craft room never use to look so well organized and tidy but since we've been trying to sell our house I've had to minimize the clutter. I also have a closet full of supplies right next to the desk. And a couple of boxes of stamps in the storage room and about 6 pizza boxes of paper organized under the guest bed in the same room.

Steps

1) Make A2 card from CS

2) Trim designer papers and attach ribbon; adhere to card

3) Die cut oval; stamp image and sentiment; attach ribbon loops to oval; adhere with foam tape to card

4) Attach buttons to card with glue dots.

Elements

Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Raspberry Tart dsp (SU!), Cupid (Bo Bunny)

Ink: Rose Red, Basic Black

Accessories: New leaf twill ribbon (PTI), Rose Red grosgrain (SU!), White Satin ribbon (Practicing Creativity), yellow and green satin ribbon (chatterbox), Raspberry Fizz (PTI), New leaf buttons (PTI), oval nestie (Spellbinders), foam tape (dollar store)

Stamps: Key to My Heart (Practicing Creativity), Whimsical words (SU!)

Practicing One Layer Creativity

2010-05-23T16:11:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. Right now I'm at my mom's visiting for the weekend but I thought I would share with you a few one-layer cards I made for the current CAS-tastic challenge. And yes I used Practicing Creativity stamps again. Hope your not sick of them...I'm not...now that I have all my big bulky block stamps packed away, my PCD stamps are getting a lot of use. The only stamps I need but not necessarily the only stamps I want :)

My first card is just a simple celebration card for any occasion really, using Look Up and For the Love of Dots. The next cards I used orange ink on orange paper with the Dandy sunrays and the Verve Plain Jane I bought specifically to go with those rays. These cards aren't anything amazing but it was fun to play with just stamps.

Now for some exciting news at least for my family. We've had an offer on our house and will be signing the paper today and hopefully everything will go smoothly and the subjects will be removed by the end of the next week. Now it's just another waiting game. I hope that I never have to sell our home again. The waiting game is just too much for my nerves to bare.

More exciting news for me was my random win at Off the Wall for this card. I can't wait to get my package of brads. I have been very blessed this week haven't I? Hope you week is blessed as well.

Celebrate Elements

Paper: Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Crushed Curry

Stamps: You're Dandy, For the Love of Dots (Practicing Creativity Designs)

Sunshine Elements

Paper: Apricot Appeal (left), Summer Sunrise (PTI)

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Groovy Guava, Really Rust, Basic Black, black pen

Stamps: You're Dandy, Look Up (PCD), Plain Jane sentiment (Verve)

Happy Birthday Stella

2010-05-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick card I made this afternoon for the current Wee Memories challenge to use pink. They've got some of my Favourite SEI paper up for grabs. I also need a girls birthday card for my friend's daughter's 3rd birthday. Normally I use the star punches for boy cards but I thought I would give it a go and make those stars girly. The stars were randomly attached and with varying dimension. You'll be able to see that better in the bottom picture. I also used the pattern tracer to the top and bottom of the card. I really like the craft and pink together.

Anyhow I hope you have a fabulous weekend. I'm hoping to take off to Kelowna in the morning. We were suppose to head down today but my mom ended up sick and didn't get as much done around her house as she wanted to before we arrive. Hopefully we will be able to get there tomorrow and the kids will be able to help plant her garden. They love planting the veggies and flowers.

Steps:

1) Make A2 card from CS

2) Punch out small and large stars in random designer paper

3) Attach those stars randomly using foam tape and glue stick

4) Stamp sentiment

5) Use pattern tracer on top and bottom of card.

Elements

Paper: Kraft cs, Very Vanilla, close to cocoa, Pink Pirouette, pattern paper (Bo Bunny, SU!, Chatterbox), parchment paper

Ink: Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Small and large star punch (SU!), pattern tracer, foam tape

Stamps: Delightful Dahlia (PTI)

Hey Friend

2010-05-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

It's another post in less than 24 hours! If you missed my earlier post I would be delighted if you scrolled down or click here. Here's something I made for the current Card Positioning Systems sketch. As soon as I saw it I thought buttons and then framing a scene. Which is what I did using my favourite Look Up set by practicing creativity! I also got a chance to try that sponged cloud technique that I've been admiring for a while. It's such a fun and subtle way to make your clouds. What do you think? Have you tried it?

The silver cord (my silver lining LOL) wrapped around the buttons was a little tricky because you don't want to wrap it too tight or it will move the buttons. The big balloon is paper pieced of course, it's my favourite thing about this set that would be difficult to do with other balloon sets.

Steps:

1) Cut A2 card from CS

2) trim white focus panel

3) make clouds using scallop circle punch and sponge

4) paper piece balloons and position onto card

5) stamp sentiment and balloon baskets; adhere panel to card; adhere balloons to card

6) add buttons and wrap silver cord around

Elements

Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White, Summer Sunrise (PTI), Baby boy dsp (SU!)

Ink: Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, versamark, Basic Black

Accessories: Lemon Tart buttons (PTI), silver cord (SU!), scallop circle punch, foam tape, sponge

Stamps: Key to My Heart, Look Up (Practicing Creativity)

Happy Bird-day

2010-05-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

I've got some exciting news to share and I hope you don't mind. I made the top 5 at CAS-tastic challenge blog for this card. My friend who gave me that PCD set should be very proud that her gift inspired a project that turned to gold :) Not surprising though because every time she's called a winner it has reached the top. I keep hoping she'll forsee me winning the lottery or even better, selling my house.

Anyhow the first card I want to share with you is this card I made for the Viva la Verve challenge based on this sketch and craft room picture for inspiration. I threw in the bird to meet the requirements for the current Off The Wall Challenge. This weeks sponsor is Eyelet Outlet who is giving away $30 worth of brads you should pop over and see the cute owl brads Kim used for her sample...so cute!

I decided to dip into the remnants of my Twitterpatted stash. It's been a while since I used it and I will be very sad when it's all gone. Very simple card and nothing fancy. I really like that blue in the craft room picture and then the stripes of the paper reminded me of all the colours of paper on the shelves and the magazine rack. Bright, cheerful, and organized just the way I want my new craft room to be.

Steps:

1) Cut 6.5" x 3.25" card out of cs

2) Trim cs to fit face of card and adhere

3) Trim cs and punch border; adhere to card

4) Stamp sentiment

5) Trim cloud paper and adhere

6) Trim animal print paper and mat to cs; adhere to card

7) Rub bird on to white paper; punch with 1 3/8" circle punch

8) Punch scallop circle and attach circle with bird; adhere to card with foam tape.

Elements:

Paper: Whisper White, Ridinghood Red, Bermuda Bay, Twitterpatted (Imaginisce)

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, scallop border punch, rub-on (Imaginisce)

Stamps: Picture This (SU!)

Couch Potato

2010-05-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

Isn't that what you wish you could be sometimes? I know some days my husband comes home exhausted from a stressful day and the first thing he would love to do is lay down on the couch and channel surf. He doesn't actually watch tv because for some reason he finds it comforting to flick through the channels. Anyhow when he comes home the tv stays off (most of the time) and instead he visits with the kids and helps me with finishing dinner. This card is kind of like a permission slip to relax after a long day of work. I plan on leaving this for him on friday since I'll be gone with the kids for the weekend and he'll have all the time in the world to watch tv and putter around the house. I wonder if he'll ever take the kids away for the weekend? Probably not but I've promised my mother that I would take the kids to her place for a visit.

This card was created using the Sweet Shop Sketch #56 and the Wplus9 colour challenge. I also got a chance to ink up the big dots in my new Practicing Creativity set. I found making getting all those dots in different colours a challenge and that one was my fourth try. I really should go to Courtney's blog and watch the tutorial. I could have probable saved myself a bunch of time (and paper).

Anyhow, I hope you have a wonderful week and I hope to be able to share a couple more cards towards the end of it. I managed to finish 5 cards this weekend! I love it when I'm inspired!

Steps:

1) cut square card out of cs

2) Trim yellow square cs and mat on dark blue cs

3) Trim white cs; stamp dots; clear emboss yellow dots; adhere to yellow cs

4) Stamp sentiment; attache ribbon; adhere panel to card

5) Punch 1 3/4" yellow circle and mat to 1 7/8" circle; adhere to card with foam tape

6) Stamp couch on white cs and cut; adhere to circle

Elements:

Paper: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Barely Banana, So Saffron dp, Whisper White

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, So Saffron craft ink

Accessories: Bashful Blue stripe ribbon, clear embossing powder, 1 3/4" circle punch, circle scissor

Stamps: For the love of Dots (PCD), On my Couch (PTI)

Irish Blessings

2010-05-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

This last week marked 6 months since the passing of my husband's cousin. Un-fortunately the passing of time isn't making things any easier for my husband's aunt. She says it's only making it harder. Maybe because this is the longest she's ever gone without seeing her son. This verse from the new Verve Blessings set came to mind as I think it would be something that her son would have wished for his parents.

"May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind always be at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

Coincidentally, I ended up watching Leap Year while creating this card for the current CardPatterns and Embellish challenges. I must have been feeling my Irish roots on Saturday night. The rich country side of Ireland was an inspiration in itself. IMO the movie was cute but nothing amazing. The verse panel is applied with foam tape for added dimension. I tried something new for the ribbon treatment and it wasn't on purpose. I just happened to run out of ribbon and decided it didn't look half bad the way it was. What do you think?

Steps

1) Cut card out of CS

2) Trim CS 3 3/4" x 5 1/4"; stamp sentiment; tie ribbon around; attach 1" circles to the border; and attach to card

3) Stamp verse; trim and mat to cs; attach with foam tape

4) attach rhinestones

Elements:

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, Whisper White

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, green rhinestones, 1" circle punch

Stamps: Blessings (Verve)

Thanks Teacher

2010-05-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! We are having our first relaxing day in a couple of weeks so I thought I would share a card I made for my daughters teachers using one of Mercy's Tuesday Sketch. It's hard to believe that school will be over in just a month or so. I really am looking forward to the summer. It will be nice not to have to drive the kids to school and activities and in August we will be living within a 5 minute walk of the water park and come September I'll be able to walk both my Son and Daughter to school. I'm so excited!!!

Don't you just love the bold and fun colours of the Boyfriend collection by Cosmo Cricket? It's one of my faves but I don't use it quite as much as I should. I'm always waiting for the perfect inspiration to use it. The great thing about not buying anything right now is getting the chance to use up the stuff I do have....I do however miss having some of the newer stuff that looks like it would be so much fun to play with. But then I remind myself that the manufacturers are always going to be coming out with even more wonderful stuff and that the collections I really like right now might be on sale when I get around to buying them. It makes my supplies a little dated but I'm not doing this to be published so it doesn't really matter does it? When I post my cards I like to think I've inspired my blog friends to create with something they've already got stashed away.

How often do you buy supplies? Do you buy the whole collection or do you just buy the pieces that you really love? Taking a look at my inventory I'm going to buy only bits and pieces otherwise it just gets hoarded.

Steps:

1) Cut card out of white cardstock (CS)

2) Trim base colour CS to 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"; adhere to card

3) Trim designer paper in three equal strips and adhere to CS.

4) Trim blue cs; punch ticket corners; add faux stitching with marker and adhere to card

5) Cut circle; stamp sentiment and stars; adhere to card with foam tape

6) Punch small star and adhere to sentiment panel.

Elements

Paper: Whisper White, More Mustard, Blue Bayou, The Boyfriend dp (Cosmo Cricket)

Ink: Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Old Olive

Accessories: Ticket Corner punch, circle scissors, small star punch, black marker

Stamps: Best Teacher (Imaginisce), Starstruck (SU!)

Celebrate Friendship

2010-05-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday friends! It's finally here, although I had a really wonderful week. A couple of days ago I surprisingly received For the Love of Dots in the mail and had to contact Courtney from Practicing Creativity Designs to make sure there wasn't a mistake because I know I didn't order that set. Not that I didn't want it but I can't be buying anymore supplies right now while things are so up in the air with the house move etc. (you never know what kind of expenses you're going to have).

Well it turns out that one of my most supportive blog friends (who wishes to remain anonymous) wanted to show a small gesture of thanks and congrats. Little did she know it was a HUGE gesture, so huge in fact that I had to restrain myself from shedding happy tears....my husband would have been worried that stamps could really make me that happy. Practicing Creativity happens to be my big IT thing right now and I love their versatility. Apparently my fabulous friend likes what I create with them too, so last night I had a bit of time to play and hope to bring some inspiration her way. It amazes me so much that this virtual world of blog land could put me in contact with such a wonderful group of ladies...not because of the tangible gifts that we receive but because of the encouragement and support system that we find in one another! What a blessing and I am so grateful!

So these cards are to Celebrate Friendship. The first card covers a couple of challenges. The Embellish dimension challenge and the CAS-Tastic challenge: to use circles. I used the current fall-to-layout sketch and foam tape to adhere the stripe of circles. The buttons add even more dimension. I don't know how CAS-tastic it is considering it has a few layers but it does use a lot of white space and straight lines.

The second card (at the very bottom of this post) was the first card I created using the same layout but in a circle. It was meant more as a warm up to get use to the colours and stamps. I thought I would included it as well since it's not a bad card, it's just nothing special. A good masculine birthday card maybe?

Celebration Buttons

Steps:

1) make card from card stock

2) trim white panel and mat to CS

3) stamp circles; trim and mat to CS; adhere to card with foam tape

4) stamp top line circle and sentiment on white panel

5) Adhere buttons

Elements:

Paper: Spring Moss (PTI), Ocean Tides (PTI), Chocolate chip, Whisper White

Ink: Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Buttons in Spring Moss and Tara cotta tile (PTI), brown buttons (BG), foam tape

Stamps: For the Love of Dots (PCD)

Celebrate in Circles

Paper: Spring moss (PTI), Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Circle Coluzzle tool

Stamps: For the Love of Dots (PCD)

Sketch Girl Flower Power

2010-05-10T21:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Here's what I came up with for the latest Sketch Girl challenge. I hope you don't mind but the card took a life of it's own and I had modify the sketch a little bit.

First I picked out the fabulously colourful pattern paper then decided to accent with the canvas sticker letters that Jessica sent me a couple of weeks ago. I didn't want to do plain squares and my sewing machine was packed away so I came up with the rounded corners. I then remembered those mod flowers I've seen on other blogs in recent months. Not really very original is it? but those cheerful papers really make it pop. I decided to put the sentiment circle right in the middle to make that flower. A sketch really is just a starting point isn't it? A place to gather inspiration? And the end result is your take on that inspiration.

For greater details I also added the pattern tracer texture around the card base another fantastic gift from Jessica. It's an inexpensive tool but adds such nice texture without overdoing it. Those canvas stickers also do a fantastic job of adding texture.

With this post I also wanted to let you know about Ann's Blog candy giveaway: A $25 gift certificate to PAPERTREY INC.!! Yes PTI! All you have to do is leave her a comment letting her know what your plans are for this summer....oh and you might want to look over her fabulous work. I call her the Queen of CAS (Clean and Simple). Her designs are so simple you often think "why didn't I think of that?" but she knows exactly how to put wonderful in her cards with only 3 letters W-O-W!

Steps:

1) Make 5.25" card of cardstock (CS)

2) Cut four 2.25" squares of CS; round two opposing corners

3) Cut four 2" squares of pattern paper; round two opposing corners; adhere to CS squares

4) Adhere squares to card to form petals

5) Punch 1 3/4"circle; cut 2" circle with coluzzle; adhere circles

6) Punch 1/4 circles and adhere around circle

7) Adhere letters to circle; adhere to card

8) Use pattern tracer to frame flower.

Elements:

Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade dp (SU!), Kraft, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry Fizz (PTI)

Accessories: Canvas letter stickers (Making Memories), Pattern tracer, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1/4" circle punch, large corner rounder punch, coluzzle circle tool.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink ~ Envelopes

2010-05-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

The challenge this time over EBTKS was to use envelopes. My idea isn't at all original as I picked up the idea over at Splitcoast. The instructions to make this very handy gift bag are really super easy and fast. I used the Snowburst stamp set as confetti and I got a chance to ink up my new Verve Blessings set which I bought with the Verve Gift Certificate I won during their last release contests. Unfortunately the only envelope I had had writing on the back (small blessings that it was the back) but this was only a test to see how simple it could be.

Sorry the picture isn't the greatest. I was in a hurry this morning before I cleaned off the front deck and got the remainder of our garbage and clutter out of our house before we list for sale. I thought this challenge was the perfect opportunity to share with you my favourite room in my lovely home. It just happens to be the Kitchen.

I love my kitchen...it has served me well and I actually don't even enjoy cooking. It's big with lots of counter space and storage, a view of the back yard and the view of the city in the front. I can visit with our friends while I'm busy cooking or cleaning. As the kids have been growing up I have been able to watch them in the living room while I am busy in the kitchen. Even as I write this I am sitting at the island while they watch Sleeping Beauty. You're probably wondering why we would think about selling if we love our house so much but it comes right down to space. Despite a huge kitchen our house isn't big enough to house THREE future teenagers and I want us to feel comfortable enough that they can bring their friends over as well. If we had just stuck to the plan of only 2 kids we wouldn't have a need to move but God blessed us with bigger and better plans.

Anyhow, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY and have a wonderful sunday!

Steps:

1) Follow instructions from Splitcoast for the Bag-A-Lope

Elements:

Paper: White envelope, Whisper white

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Rose Red, Versamark, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Black embossing powder (SU!), Scallop dot border punch (MS), dollar bin ribbon

Stamps: Snowburst (SU!), Blessings (Verve)

Hey Friends, We're Moving

2010-05-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

That is my big announcement and what I've been so busy getting ready for this past week. For the past few years my husband and I have been casually looking for a house near my daughters school. Now that the kids are getting bigger the idea of getting our house ready to sell doesn't seem so daunting and we decided to start seriously looking. We've been through many houses over the years coming across only one a few years ago that really met our criteria (we are very picky). We passed up the opportunity because we just weren't ready to take the plunge and we had certain family members that were not supportive. Now that we've finally come across the next best thing we made an offer and hope to move by the end of July. But if it doesn't work out that way it wasn't meant to and my current house will be really really clean!!!

Anyhow, the moving postcard was meant for the Etsy Inspired Challenge with the inspirational store being Isabell's Umbrella. The owner's goal is to renew the lost art of written correspondence by creating fun stationary to share. My goal was to create a one layer announcement that I could fill in and send out in the mail. As will probably be the case in the future, I'm late in posting this but still thought I would share with my friends.

Hope you are all having a fabulous week. And I hope to share my favourite room in my house with you on Sunday. Take care friends.

Count Your Blessings

2010-05-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! It's been a while hasn't it? I feel completely out of tune in both blog land and my creativity has taken a back seat. Which is really too bad because I was on a roll. Oh well, life happens and there is only so much of me to go around. It's a long story and one I'll share with my post tomorrow for the Etsy Inspired challenge. Hopefully I finish that.

Anyhow I just wanted to share a card I made last week using a Go-To-Sketch for Betsy Veldman's first Go-to Gal Designer challenge. Of course I'm late posting it but I thought I would share it anyhow since it uses two things I don't use very often: Sheet music and vellum. The Kamloops Symphony was having a used book sale and I picked up so old hymn books and even sheet music for Foot Loose! How cool is that? Well for this sketch I decided to make a vellum bird flying carrying two hearts with the hymn Count Your Blessings in the background (it's one of my favourite songs). The card doesn't have a sentiment but could be used for many occasions.

So sorry that I haven't been able to keep up with all of those wonderful challenges going on right now or to follow all of your lovely blogs and creative ideas. I miss all of you....and to a couple of my blog friends who I promised a little surprise to...it's still coming just be patient with me.

I thought I'd also share with you how I take my pictures. As some of you know I don't have a light box and while I was planning on making one time has suddenly become an issue. My set up is simple and I still manage with decent pictures throughout the year. I've got huge windows in the front of my house. Lots of light but still shaded from the sun. So I use my sturdy coffee table and shears that have become useful for something. (I really don't like them but they are there until my MIL is no longer). The only downfall is that it still doesn't work for really overcast days which is why I need that light box.

Steps:

1) Make card out of CS

2) Trim, ink edges of sheet music and adhere to card

3) Draw bird parts on vellum and cut; erase pencil marks

4) Sponge bird in bashful blue, ink edges with Soft Suede.

5) Adhere bird to card

6) Draw bird eyes and adhere beak

7) Thread button and adhere to card

8) Die cut 6 hearts same size and glue 3 together for 3D effect

9) Adhere linen thread to hearts and wrap thread around button

10) Adhere hearts to card.

Elements:

Paper: Bashful Blue, Sheet Music, vellum, Real Red, Summer Sunrise (PTI)

Ink: Soft Suede, Bashful Blue, Brown marker

Accessories: Pure Poppy Button (PTI), linen thread (DMC), heart nesties, bird paper pattern (Scrapbooks etc.)

Remember Paper Lunch Bags?

2010-04-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

I remember my dad writing loving notes in big black sharpi on my paper lunch bags. Looking back now it is fond memory but back then, especially in high school, I thought my dad was one big geek and it was embarrassing. At least Mom had the decency to tuck a little note inside my lunch. In the end though it was nice reminder that I was loved and appreciated.

I was browsing the featured Etsy shop Bee Things for the current Etsy Inpired Challenge, I came across these adorable graphic monkey paper bags. I knew then exactly what I wanted to do. Something for my kids except much cooler than black sharpie. I think it's even something I could give my son (at least in kindergarden or grade one minus the ribbon). I decided to stick with the graphic feel of Bee Things shop and created a sun with those fabulous Practicing Creativity rays. I'm very excited with how this came out. I know that it looks simple to do (and it is) but I was holding my breath and praying every time I stamped those rays. I didn't want to have to start all over again.

Thanks for checking out a decorated paper bag. If this is your first visit today, I would be delighted if you were inspired by my earlier post by scrolling down or clicking here.

Steps:

1) Trim 4 inch square Cardstock (CS); stamp rays; mat with cs; attach ribbon and adhere to bag

2) Trim 3 inch square cs; stamp rays; mat with cs; attach ribbon and adhere to bag

3) Trim 2 inch square cs; stamp rays and sentiment; mat with cs; adhere to bag with dimensionals

4) Thread ribbon through library clip and time; attach to bag.

Elements:

Paper: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

Ink: Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive (2nd ink), basic black

Accessories: stripe ribbon (May Arts, PCD), polka dot ribbon (unknown)

Stamps: You're Dandy, Look Up (PCD)

Let Your Sun Shine

2010-04-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon friends! Hope the day is bringing you many blessings. Currently I am blessed with a quiet house. 2 kids are eating lunch and one is sleeping. Silence really is golden...

Anyhow here's a card that I made for the current Viva la Verve challenges inspired by the picture I included on the right. Today I'm trying something knew and adding directions for the card I made. Not that they aren't straight forward but it's good practice for when I submit my creations for publishing. Also what may seem straight forward for me might not be for someone else.

Thanks so much for spending some time here with me and I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Steps:

1) Make card from Cardstock (CS) A2 size

2) Punch border on CS; trim and adhere to card

3) Trim pattern paper and adhere to card

4) Mat pattern paper on CS; adhere to card

5) Cut square from CS; stamp sentiment; mat with CS and adhere to card

6) Thread buttons and adhere with glue dots.

Elements

Paper: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, floral dp (Chatterbox), Ashville dp (Scenic route)

Ink: Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Scallop Trim border punch (SU!), linen thread, Hawaiian shores buttons (PTI)

Stamps: Feel the Sun (Verve)

Mad Hatter Tea Party! HOTP Prize

2010-04-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

Now what would the Mad Hatter say about a tea party? That's what I was thinking as I created the card for the current challenge over at Off the Wall Craftiness. The prize the week is a bundle of supplies from Hot Off the Press. I've included a picture for you to entice. There are currently only 4 entries (including mine) so you have a very good chance of winning. All you have to do is make a card using the inspirational colours from the photo. It doesn't have to be fancy.

Mine's was CAS inspired. I didn't want to get into layers and pattern paper. I wanted the colours to speak for themselves. As I went to stamp my tea cups I decided to do something topsy turvy with the cups Kind of like the Mad Hatter himself. Then it occurred to me exactly what the Mad Hatter would say as he finished sipping his cup of tea. "(Slurp) Ahh, Delightful and delicious to the very last drop!" Then I added the drops spilling out of the cups and my hand printing to the inside of the card. I prefer using stamps since I have such unsteady hands....but I had nothing else to use. The line is slightly slanted but it will do for now. The little clip in the top right isn't actually part of the card. I just needed something nice to keep the card together so I didn't get such a shadow through the Label cutout.

Can't wait to see what you create with that inspiring photo. Happy Crafting.

PS. This is my second post of the day so if you have little bit more time please scroll down for another challenge at Wee Memories sponsored by Simon Says.

Paper: White cs (PTI)

Ink: Green Galore Craft, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Black pen

Accessories: Labels 1 nestie, clear embossing powder

Stamps: Delightful and Delicious (Verve), Just Dandy (Practicing Creativity)

Verve April Week #2 ~ Someone Special

2010-04-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

I meant to post this card last night but I was surprised to see the changes to uploading pics and I was to tired to try and comprehend. So I logged out and went to bed. Now here I am, cup of coffee in hand, and able to attempt this post and little ticked that blogger has added another step for posting and sharing.

Anyhow, on with the show. The picture to the right was the inspiration for this card. I was really caught up with the colours (especially that light green) and the floral rug and cushions. There was also a hint of blue in the background in the vases. This card really doesn't have anything special but the layout and a the fabulous Fancy Pants paper (Celebrate). I also got a chance to use a new SU! colour I received in the mail with my last Stampin' Magazine. (My demonstratorship officially ends on Friday). The colour is Early Espresso and while very similar to Chocolate Chip it's darker and works better with different colours like yellow and green.

While I made this card for the Viva la Verve Challenges, I also kept in mind the current challenge over at Wee Memories which was to add flowers to our project. The sponsor this week is: Simon Says. I was going to add those paper flowers that it seems everyone has been trying but I really didn't like how big they turned out and opted for the felt flowers that worked perfect with the colours.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you're having a fantastic week. The weather has been really gloomy in the mornings here so I'll be happy if I get a chance to take pictures of my finished card for the Off the Wall Craftiness. They have a sweet prize as well.

Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresson, Melon Mambo, Lime green cs (bazzill orange peel), Celebrate dp (Fancy Pants)

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Felt Fusion Flowers (SU!), brads, pink rhinestones, oval nesties.

Stamps: Feel the Sun.

Taking the Scenic Route

2010-04-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! How's your Monday going? The nice thing about Monday's is that there are 4 more days in the week for it to get better. And your reward for perseverance is the weekend. Who am I kidding?...I loathe Mondays too! Are your weekdays just a count down to the weekend? It's like the weekend is the destination and the Weekdays our journey....one big scenic route one that is too often taken for granted. My crafting can get like that....I'm so focused on the end product that I don't spend as much time focusing on the steps that got it there in the first place.

This card for the Sketch Girl Challenge and Embellish challenge was a journey for me. I stamped and stamped and stamped this scene until I got it exactly as I wanted it. First, I played with the stamps then finally got to a 'prototype' scene and then did it for real keeping and getting rid of techniques or elements that I used in the draft.

The Embellishment colours are very vivid and I thought I could shy away from it and pick toned down hues or I could just go for and pick the brightest colours I have. So much fun working with those Dandy sun rays. I haven't met a Practicing Creativity Set I haven't liked. Since January I haven't run out of ideas on how to use them. I haven't gotten the latest set "For The Love of Dots" yet having a stricter budget but it's definitely on the wish list. I was going to add bling and sparkles to the sun but it really took away from the natural scene I created. There is embossing for the clouds, the raised dandelion, and the sentiment. I've got an angled shot here that shows it much better. Lots of dimensionals and paper piecing for some detail. At the risk of sounding proud, I'd have to say this is one of my favourites. Probably because of the amount of thought and work that went into it.

I realize that black and kraft weren't in the colour selection but white really was too bright and I just couldn't bring my self to make pink, blue, yellow or green dandies. The selection colours are the main focus of my project though and I'm willing to bend the rules just a bit to make a better piece.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my work. Happy Crafting!!

Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Pacific Point, Crushed Curry, Razzleberry Lemonade dp (SU!), Night Light Louie dp (Oct. Afternoon)

Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White Craft, Crushed Curry, Garden Green, Versamark

Accessories: dimensionals, black embossing powder, white embossing powder, 1 3/4 circle punch (SU!), 1" circle punch (EK success)

Stamps: You're Dandy (Practicing Creativity Designs)

Recapturing Old Wonders ~Edited

2010-04-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! Until tomorrow morning, when I can properly right and take better pictures, this post is going to be short. This is an entry for the Second challenge at Wee Memories and there's a whole lot of May Arts ribbon up for grabs. Anyhow, here's what I came up with from the beautiful image and some wonderful gifts from my talented friend Jessica.

I'll be back soon to update you on all the ins and outs. Sorry for the rush!

EDIT April 24th: Okay so now I finally have some time to finish this post and add some better pictures. I had Wee memories inspiration picture on my desk all week but with all the Verve fun I put it aside waiting for just the right ideas and materials to come together.

Well yesterday I received a package from Jessica from Recapturing Wonders (hence my post title). About a month ago I saw her using a pattern tracer on her cards and wanted to do the same but for all my trying to the right one (don't want the straight blade) I couldn't find it so she decided to do the sweetest thing and send me one. Such a sweet gesture to begin with but then she sent a few more goodies on top of it all!!! That girl just made me feel so special and I hope to pay that feeling forward very soon.

Anyhow one of the items in the package was Making Memories Funky Vintage ribbon....exactly what I needed for the challenge! I decided to use the 2S4Y sketch and flip it. I decided to make a Mother's Day card for my grandmother since she would probably like something with a vintage feel.

I inked the edges of the card base with Soft Suede and and ran the pattern tracer around the edges. It's hard to pick up so you might have to click on a picture to get a better idea. I also got a chance to play around with the Delightful Dahlia set from PTI. I embossed the small flower on the Blush Blossom with White Pearl Translucent embossing powder. That stuff is amazing and I like it better than clear embossing powder! It's got a nice pearly sheen but still takes on the colour of the ink (I used versamark) or paper underneath.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Paper: Kraft, Blush Blossom, Very Vanilla

Ink: Soft Suede, Versamark

Accessories: Ribbon (Making Memories), White Pearl Translucent embossing powder, felt fusion flowers (SU!), Wild Wasabi brad (SU!), Rhinestones, pearls, labels 3 Nestibilities, pattern tracer

Stamps: Delightful Dahlia (PTI)

Last One!

2010-04-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

Here's my final card for the Verve Beach Party Release Challenge! By finished all 5 challenges I have a chance to win the entire Release!!! Wouldn't that be wild?? Plus if I finish my half done card downstairs using the Delightful and Delicious I have a chance to win a $25 gift certificate. That would be sweet! The deadline is tomorrow and I have to load up all the cards to my splitcoast gallery.

Anyhow on with the card. I was searching through all my paper on my computer (I have most of my collections pictured and organized on my laptop to save me time and they don't get forgotten in the mix). I came across this fantastic cheerful Fancy Pants collection called CELEBRATE that I have yet to cut into. It's been in my boxes for well over a year. How disgraceful is that? I was really drawn to the bright stripes and polka dots. By using my Verve Feel the Sun set it gave me a chance to paper piece and I also decided to do some more paper folding for texture. This time I distressed the edges of the folded paper. The last interesting dimension to this project is the Scribbles 3D paint added to the center of the flower.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my multiple posts this week. I'm so proud to have finished all the challenges and I thank you very kindly for encouraging me and letting me share. Enjoy the beauty of the rest of your day! I'm off to phone my hubby to see how his day is going.

Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Celebrate dp (Fancy Pants)

Ink: Ruby Red, Wild Wasabi

Accessories: Scribbles 3D Paint, dimensionals

Stamps: Feel the Sun

Hello Friend

2010-04-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

How are you this wonderful day? Mine started out a little rocky...the boys were up at 6:30 this morning and my dh was a tad grouchy (partly from being woken up early and also dreading the fact of being in the office by himself today). Now that the kids are at school, hubby is at work and my little guy has a couple of playmates here to keep him entertained, I'm able to enjoy a nice cup of java (my second cup to be honest).

While reading the Verve Beach Party challenge rules, I noticed that I have to create 5 separate cards so I can't combine challenges. Luckily I was inspired to create this little beauty for the colour challenge. I know all those bright colours can get scary but one you start playing with them you really come to love them. It also helped having that Hawaiin Shores felt scallop already cut and lying on my desk to inspire me. I also used a few other textures that I don't normally used. The white fiber string has been sitting in my embellishment box waiting for a home and the orange prima flowers I've only used once before. Also chipboard isn't something I reach for everyday. Why do I have all this if I never use it you ask? Because you never know when it will inspire you. Having said that there really is no reason to buy more and yet I still do! On the plus side, I like to share...whether it's with my kids or my crafty friends.

Have a fantastic day and thanks so much for taking a peak. Happy Crafting!

Paper: Delightful (Fancy Pants), Certainly Celery stripe (SU! princess party pack), Whisper White

Ink: Whisper White Craft, Basic Black

Accessories: Chipboard letters (Maya Road), Orange Flowers (Prima), Hawaiian Shore felt (PTI), large scallop border die (PTI), white fiber string (Unknown), Hawaiian shores button (PTI), Labels 1 Nesties (Spellbinders)

Stamps: You're Dandy (Practicing Creativity Designs)

Don't You Know?....You're Dandy

2010-04-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Well lucky for me my order from Practicing Creativity arrived on Monday....just in time to get my mojo running again.

Right now I'm just focusing on getting those Verve challenges done and the PTI blog hop is happening soon too. Only two more days and I do have to make 6 cards and I'm only half done. For tthis very subtle and sweet card, I used the fourth Verve Beach Party Sketch challenge. Isn't it Dandy? I wonder where that saying came from? Better question is when? Anyone have any ideas?

Anyhow, I really don't have anything interesting to tell you today. Am I boring or what? Oh well, if you you have been entertained hopefully you've been inspired. Please scroll down to see my latest...this is my third post in 24 hours.

Paper: Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, retired dp (SU!)

Ink: Going Gray craft

Accessories: Tab punch (SU!), pearls, Scallop border punch (SU!), Wild Wasabi ribbon, Fiskars shape cutter, clear embossing powder.

Stamps: You're Dandy (Practicing Creativity Designs)

In Your Heart Forever

2010-04-20T22:21:00.000-07:00

Well here's my entry for the third Verve Beach Party sketch challenge. I saw the sketch I thought the Hundred Hearts set would work really well. It has some big verses and lovely heart images. Add in some paper folding and paper piercing, some sponging and bling and you have one sweet card. I used Soft Suede to soften the edges

Hope you are all having a wonderful Wednesday. This is a busy day for me. I have to take my daughter to the doctor first thing this morning (nothing life threatening), then she has her music class this afternoon and her school spring drama production. They are doing a version of Sleeping Beauty and my daughter is super excited since it's one of her favourite fairy tales, right up there with Cinderella.

Anyhow that's it for now. I've included a few angles to look at. I'll be back later this afternoon with another project made with You're Dandy from Practicing Creativity.

Paper: Very Vanilla, Cupid (Pink Paislee), Love Bandit (BoBunny)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Soft Suede

Accessories: Rhinestones, dimensionals

Stamps: Hundred Hearts (Verve)

Verve Beach Party

2010-04-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

It's that time again...Verve Release Week! Along with it comes chances to win gift certificates and the whole release!!! Wouldn't that be cool? For this card I used combined 2 challenges into 1 to save myself some time. I hope that's allowed. I also didn't have any Verve stamps (I only have 3 sets) that inspired me with this sketch so I turned to some fun PTI.

I did this one piece by piece. I made up all the panels but had no idea what I was going to do with the card base. White was too plain so I decided to spruce it up a bit with Polkadot Basics, Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise. The blue button is the new PTI Hawaiian Shore vintage buttons and the green and orange buttons are from my moms sewing stash. A whipstitch was added to the bottom of the focal panel rather than at the top and I thought I'd try something simple for the ribbon treatment. The sun was created using the scallop circle punch and swirl embossing folder.

The goal of this card was to make something cheerful and get back into my groove after the disappointment of my last card.

Thanks so much for stopping by and thanks to all my friends for their encouraging and supportive comments. I'll be back tomorrow morning with another card that includes some paper folding and sponging. Have a fabulous evening.

Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sunrise (PTI)

Ink: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories: Black DMC thread, small corner rounder punch, Scallop dot border punch (MS), swirl ef (CB), Scallops circle punch, Orange Zest grosgrain ribbon (PTI), Hawaiian shores button (PTI), misc buttons
Stamps: Polkadots Basics I (PTI), Everyday Button Bits (PTI), Mixed Messages (PTI)

Postcard from Paris

2010-04-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had really big expectations of a project but were disappointed in the execution? That's what this card is for me. When I saw the sketch over at Everything But the Kitchen Sink I knew I wanted to think outside of the box and not follow the sketch literally. With that in mind I envisioned an invisible border for that round curve. At first I thought of city skyline silhouette but trying to find the right image (for free) was hard. Anyone know of any great free clipart sites? I came across this image of the Eiffel Tower and thought why not give it a try. So I've done the best with what I had and it was nice to try something new even if I'm not crazy about it. I might just try that sketch again.

This also falls under the requirements for the Off the Wall Challenge #3: A travel theme. It reminds me of when I was in Paris in 2000. I can't believe it was a decade ago! Unfortunatele the third floor of the Tower was closed for the mayors Gala so I only got as high as the second floor but the fantastic part was the fireworks!!! What an amazing view for fireworks!

First I printed the image on to PTI white paper then I sponged the moon on using a 1 3/4" circle template and a small piece of a plain kitchen sponge (unused of course). I added the stickles stars and water coloured the bushes. Then I added the green border that reminded me of the neat and elegant fencing they have around the parks of paris. I stopped there and then went to look at the card this morning and decided to sponge in a night time sky using Soft Suede and Not Quite Navy.

My last note of the day is a special thank you to Нети for thinking of me and passing on this award. She's fellow Cinema Saturday competitor from Bulgaria. I've decided not to pass it on but I would be happy to list 5 things that you probably don't know about me and 10 things that make me happy.

5 Things about Me:

My parents seperated when I was in my mid 20's. This experience drew me to the conclusion that it doesn't matter how old children are, they are still very much affected by their parents decisions.
I don't go to church as often as I should but I have a firm belief that God is present and in control in my life.
I don't have many friends but those that I have I love dearly.
My guilty tv pleasures include reruns of Buffy, Angel, and Roswell.
Since having kids of my own I find it really difficult to watch the news.

10 Things that Make Me Happy:

Listening to my kids converse with each other. Sometimes it's hilarious.
Watching my kids play especially make belief. It's amazing what runs through their precious minds.
When dh shares his work day with me.
When hubby gets up on Sunday mornings with the kids. It gives me a chance to sleep in and coffee is made when I get up.
Watching my kids sleep.
Long snuggles with my kids in bed or on the couch.
Winter....short days with cold excuses to stay indoors and enjoy a good book or stay in my craft studio.
Sunshine
Music
Making new friends.

Anyhow, thanks for stopping by. I hope it wasn't too long for you and that you aren't as disappointed in this creation I as I am. Hope your week is fabulous.

Remember to Look UP...

2010-04-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

or at least ahead because you'll miss everything when you're looking at your feet!

This week Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge presents Disney Pixar's UP! The added challenge was to use balloons. Only one set for this creation came my mind: Look Up by Practicing Creativity. I'll tell you the truth, I've never seen this movie but I've heard how wonderful it is. From what I've read the plot focus' on letting go and moving on. One of the popular quotes was "Adventure is Out There!" And I've always thought that hot air balloons were adventurous and magical. I haven't been on one but maybe that's where the magic lies...the imagining of what it would feel like to fly.

For this card I also used the sketch from Card Positioning Systems. The side bar was screaming for big buttons but not any buttons....Purple buttons! I've been waiting for just the right project for these fantastic buttons from my daughters old shirt. They were so large that they actually fit some really nice bling in the center. Purple is actually one of my favourite colours but it's one I rarely use in my crafting projects and I have no idea why. Maybe because it's not a popular colour for most people. So if you're one of those people who doesn't care for purple I hope you can still enjoy it. I think I broke it up with enough neutrals that it's not too much.

The balloon is paper pieced with three different shades of Purple: Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, and Pale Plum. I added some black cross stitches to the focus panel and some faux stitching to the Kraft Panel.

This is my second post of the day so if you missed my first you can find it here. Thanks for stopping by. I'm now off to get dinner going and get the swim gear ready for our weekly family trip to the pool.

Paper: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Kraft

Ink: Basic Black, Pale Plum

Accessories: Purple buttons, Rhinestones (Doodlebug), Black pen, Black thread

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2010-04-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

Mine doesn't. I don't have a green thumb and I haven't the patience to watch my garden grow. The joke in our family is that you don't give me a living flower or plant...you buy them cut because they're meant to dry up and die. My husband and my mom on the other hand are completely different and they enjoy seeing the results they get from digging in the dirt. I dig in the dirt only to save money on the grocery bill in the summer and I pick the fruit trees to enjoy their sweetness in the winter.

Last year I took the kids to my moms place on the May long weekend to plant help plant her garden and this year they want to do it again so it seems that this will become a yearly tradition. It's one that I'm very happy to take part in even if it is just to take pictures and watch their little faces of wonder. We usually go back to my moms towards the end of summer and the kids get to see how big the veggies and flowers have gotten since they planted the seeds.

This card was made using the latest CardPatterns Sketch and Garden Variety pattern paper from Cosmo Cricket. I made this card as a thank you to my mom for her patience in teaching the kids how to enjoy digging in the dirt and appreciating the miracle of God's creation.

Thanks so much for taking a peek and enjoy the rest of your day.

Paper: Garden Variety (cosmo cricket), Ridinghood Red, White (PTI)
Accessories: Large corner rounder punch, Garden Variety stickers (Cosmo), Lemon tart buttons (PTI), Linen thread

Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge #2

2010-04-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of coming across a new challenge and thought I would give it a go. Love the colours and the bridal theme. The best part of all is the prize up for grabs: May Arts Ribbon! Have you had the pleasure of working with it? With this project I used the May Arts ribbon I bought from Practicing Creativity Designs a while back. Sadly they were out of this soft, easy to work with ribbon, when I put in my last order and I've used up everything I had for this big beautiful bow.

My goal for this project was to focus on that beautiful blue colour and the softness of the bridal theme. The flower is layers of PTI Aqua Mist, parchment paper, the same linen ribbon, and silver fiber paper. The Aqua Mist paper edges were distressed using my finger nails and then rolled up into a ball and flattened again to give it more dimension (like a real flower). This is a new technique for me and I'm really happy the way it turned out. For further texture the parchment paper flower was run through my cuttlebug embossing folder as well as the white panel. Swiss dots can dress up almost anything! As for the bow, the ribbon was too wide but it was thin enough to fold in half and tie without being too bulky. Those bows are getting easier to make and this ribbon is ideal. It's got the same easy to tie quality of organza but all the possibilities of being opaque.

Ideally I would have liked to add a bit more black for more contrast but when I was done I was too worried about overdoing it and making it look too busy. The white panel should probably have been attached to a black panel. I also took the time to try and get some new angles on my project. I am so not a photographer but if I want my viewers to see my art in the best possible light I should probably improve my photographing skills. This weekend I'm hoping to make my lightbox so that I can take photos at night and next winter. Right now I'm lucky because it's been so beautiful I can just go out to the front porch and shoot the pics there.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that you've been inspired to try out this new challenge that ends tomorrow night. Happy Crafting.

Paper: Aqua Mist (PTI), Whisper White, Silver Fiber, Parchment

Ink: Basic Black

Stamps: Signature Greetings (PTI)

Accessories: Large corner rounder punch, Perfect polkadots ef (SU!), Swirls ef (cuttlebug), May Arts Seafoam Linen ribbon (Practicing Creativity), Black rhinestone (Doodlebug), Flower Layers die (Sizzix)

Let's Get this Party Started!!!

2010-04-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

Good Evening my fellow bloggers? How was your Monday? Mine was pretty relaxed since it was an in-service day at my daughter's school and I didn't need to leave the house for anything. I got some Laundry done, a workout in, and even a shower!!! Not that I usually stink but showers aren't an everyday occurrence for me unless I workout. And hey if I do stink I'm usually in my studio not bothering anyone! LOL.

Anyhow here's what I came up with the last time I was stinkin' up my studio! I managed to come out with something fun and stylin' for the current Embellish Magazine challenge. I struggle with layouts so FTL85 came in handy. I used the Argyle stamps from Practicing Creativity's Key to My Heart Set. I didn't get the seems exactly right so I added some gold stickles. Hope that doesn't break the rules of the challenge. The challenge was to make something that reflects party and sparkles do that well don't they? I used the SU! Snowburst set as Fireworks...again the gold sparkles helped reflect that. The celebrate sentiment is from PTI Signature Greetings (I just masked out the "Your Day" part)

This card would make a great one for a New Year's Eve party or a Grad party. And I think it could pass for unisex. What do you think? It makes me want to paarrrrty!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week. I'm off with the family to look at another house. It looks promising....

Paper: Whisper White, Kraft, Black (PTI)

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red

Stamps: Key to My Heart (Practicing Creativity), Snowburst (SU!), Signature Greetings (PTI)

Accessories: Scallop border punch, Gold Stickles, large corner rounder punch, Basic Black grosgrain ribbon

Have You Heard?...

2010-04-11T21:26:00.000-07:00

Courtney from Practicing Creativity (PC) is looking for a 3 member design team! It could be you! I know I'm just creating competition for myself but hey I don't have much experience under my belt anyway and I'm hoping that Courtney finds the right team to take her venture to new heights.

So with my PC stamps and the current Embellish Magazine challenge colours sitting on my desk I was debating what I wanted to do with them. What can you do with red, black, white and kraft without making it look tacky? Elegant wedding card maybe? One of my good college friends is getting married in August and red happens to be the wedding colour. What could I do with the Key to My Heart set that I haven't done yet? Well here you have it.

On the white panel I lightly penciled in four squares 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" and stamped the X pattern using the scroll stamp. I don't even think I've used that stamp yet. Be sure to use Staz On ink....it makes the erasing of the pencil marks much easier. Then I stamped in the small red hearts. Unfortunately the stamp set didn't have the right sentiment for a wedding card so I had to dig into my stamp box. The large scallop is made with the PTI die. The fantastic thing about this die is that it doesn't matter what side of the paper you cut, both sides have the same smooth cut. No good or bad side.

Anyhow, I hope you've been inspired to show off some of your Creativity to Courtney. Have a fabulous Monday and be sure to check back to see my actual entry for the Embellish Challenge. This was just a warm up.

Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Black (PTI)

Ink: Staz On Black, Real Red, Basic Black

Stamps: Key to My Heart (Practicing Creativity), Whimsical Words (SU!)

Accessories: Real Red satin ribbon, Large scallop die (PTI)

Mother's Day Mojo

2010-04-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday everyone! Are you enjoying your weekend? We are enjoying a beautiful sunny saturday and it's very quiet with only the two boys at home today. I may even go for a little nap this afternoon since I was up until 1 this morning trying to get this mojo sketch just right and in the end it didn't happen. That's what happens when I try to mold my favourite things together that don't necessarily work together. I wanted to use my new PTI set, Basic Grey Wisteria paper and the mojo sketch. I'm not saying they didn't work at all definitely not as well as I envisioned. At the very least I have some nice Mother's Day cards for my mother and grandmother.

I do like the top one more for it's stitching, extra layer, and bling. I like the bottom one for a more simple feel with the texture plate on the background rather than stamping. Oh well I can't say I didn't try.

Thanks so much for hoping by. Hope you learned something by my efforts. Have a fabulous day.

Dear Grandmother

Paper: Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper white, Wisteria dp (BG)

Ink: Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke, Elegant eggplant craft

Stamps: Delightful Dahlia, Polkadot Background I (PTI)

Accessories: Rhinestones, ticket corner punch, clear embossing powder, Petite Oval Nestibility, sewing machine, dimensionals

Love You Mom

Paper: Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper white, Wisteria dp (BG)

Ink: Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke, Elegant eggplant craft

Stamps: Delightful Dahlia (PTI)

Accessories: Brads (BG), ticket corner punch, clear embossing powder, Petite Oval Nestibility, Perfet Details Texturz plate, dimensionals.

Fun with Buttons

2010-04-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Hope you have all been having a fabulous week. We had a freak snow storm this morning. It has stopped snowing and hailing and now it's starting warm up a little. No snow left on the ground thank goodness but it was awfully scary taking the kids to school with slushy west coast snow on the road and no snow tires. Unfortunately I don't know if our apricot tree is going to produce much fruit this year. It started blooming only a few days ago. I guess we'll find out this summer.

Anyhow....on with the card. This was my practice run for the Embellish Magazine publication call. I find it takes me a couple of cards to get into the colours. I decided to use TESC107 as a starting point. A fun sketch for fun colours right? I used black cotton thread to chain all the buttons together. I tried to go with a more whimsical approach to that; any button threaded every which way I could think of. These colours were perfect for a birthday card with a paper pieced cupcake. I think I got the colour balance right? What I like most about this card is the black zigzag stitching. The pink panel might be missing something?...

Hopefully I'll have more to show you this weekend. Happy Crafting.

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, whisper white, Razzleberry lemonade dsp (SU!)

Ink: Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, yellow marker

Accessories: Lemon Tart buttons (PTI), Black dmc thread. circle scissor, sewing machine, dimensional

Stamps: Birthday Best (SU!), Whimsical Words (SU!)

Forever Sisters

2010-04-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday everyone! Hope you had wonderful Easter weekend among family and friends. We had a very relaxing weekend around here. On Sunday we went for an Egg hunt at the wildlife park with my dad and then we went to dh's parents place for a wonderful meal. My grandma, uncle and cousin dropped by for a visit as well. This weekend I also managed to get my fair share of cards done and I've done up a few for the new Embellish Magazine publication call. I'm going to finally risk rejection and submit a couple for publication. This is a big stepping stone for me.

Anyhow, here's a card that I made for the current Cinema Saturday challenge: Sense and Sensibility. The added challenge was to create a CAS card....something I really don't do often enough. Off to the Clean and Simple sketch blog I went and then rummaged through my paper. I tried something with the Look Up set from Practicing Creativity that I've been meaning to do since I got it. I stamped and cut the medium sized balloon image to make flower petals. What do you think? Pretty handy since I have only a couple of flower sets. Ideally I wanted the card to POP with an orange background but then I decided to leave the colours soft and gentle like the cinematography in the movie. This card makes me laugh because it's a pretty way of telling my sister that she drives me crazy but I love her anyhow.

Sense and Sensibility is one of my favourites and I can so relate to it. Just call me Elinor, the older more sensible of the sisters and my younger sister could very easily pass as Marianne. My sister is often dramatic and sensitive. We are so opposite that many times we can have a hard time understanding each other and it doesn't help matters that I've had 8 more years of life experiences than she has. And it's funny how the things that often annoy me, I usually admire about her the most. I came across this sisterly quote and had to laugh. I don't think you need a sister to understand that fine line between affection and annoyance. Anyone who has ever loved can probably understand that....but, for me, having siblings made me understand it sooner :)

I'm posting a couple of samples of other things you can do with the Look Up set...just in case you haven't thought of about these options or you have but haven't gotten around to trying it out yourself to see how it looks. The flowers are made of the smaller balloons and the stars are made from the banner flags. I have to say this is one of the most versatile sets I own. I can think of more things to do with this little set than I can with a pile of wood mounted stamp sets I own.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulously awesome day!

Paper: Lemon Tart (PTI), Whisper White, Old Olive dsp

Ink: Bashful Blue

Stamps: Look Up (Practicing creativity)

Accessories: Lemon tart button (PTI), large corner rounder punch, blue rhinestones, linen thread, computer and printer.

With Appreciation

2010-03-31T21:19:00.000-07:00

So I've had the last Sketch Challenge at EBTKS sitting on my desk for the last couple of weeks. I've had an idea forming in my head for ages but for whatever reason I didn't find the time to put it together in time. Bummer because Kelly Marie was giving away a couple of her cute new stamp sets. But I wanted to finish this idea and show Kelley Eubanks that she came up with an awesome sketch. Not that she checks my blog but just in case LOL ;)

Since this is an appreciation card it also works for the new Sisterhood of Crafters latest challenge. Looking back now I should have formed the hills on scrap paper and then trimmed to the height that I wanted. They are a little too tall but it was too late after they were taped to the card base I really like the faux stitched border and the zen feeling of all that green. The Mixed Messages (PTI) sentiment came in handy because it gives a greeting without taking away from the focal scene.

To go with this appreciation theme I want to thank all of my blog followers and friends. You inspire and encourage me everyday and I am extremely thankful for that. I do want to send a special thanks out to my most loyal blog friends who always make sure to find time to check out my creations and I find it so amazing that they look at my rookie projects when they are so unbelievably talented. I am going to list them in alphabetical order so that no measure of importance can be made because they are all equally special to me.

1) Courtney

2) Jessica

3) Karen

4) Maureen

5) Melisa Unfortunately she doesn't have a blog but you can find her wonderful creations on Splitcoast

6) Tanis

If you find the time be sure to check out these ladies fabulous blogs. They all have wonderful and different designs and writing styles. Now thanks to all of you for stopping by and I hope you've been inspired to show your appreciation!

Sugar and Spice

2010-03-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, I've managed to combine three challenges for this one and I managed to make a birthday card for my daughters friend. It's going to be her first sleepover. I'm okay with it and she's totally cool with it. We're use to her spending the night at her grandparents and it's also nice knowing that her aunt lives just down the street just in case she doesn't want to sleep at her friends for the whole night. You never know right?

Anyhow, I hope it doesn't bother you that I've smudged the photo of my daughter and her friend. I know it's less esthetically pleasing to the eye but I'm not entirely comfy about posting pictures of my kids and I'm certainly not comfortable posting pictures of other peoples kids. So I hope you can get past that element to enjoy all the others.

Now down to business. It all started with seeing the current challenge and sponsor over at Everything But The Kitchen Sink. The challenge was to use string and the sponsor is The DigiChick. I had just been talking (aka emailing) my new blog friend Karen B. about using digital. She gave it a try and I hadn't so I thought what a perfect opportunity for me to try. As I was browsing DigiChick's $2 tuesday specials I came across Sugar and Spice paper and elements packs. Fabulous!!! Now I actually had something to work with the current Cinema Saturday presentation of Julie and Julia something to do with cooking.

I know you're probably thinking why a birthday card? But like Sugar and Spice my daughter and her friend are also a dynamic duo. And like most little girls they both have lots of sugar and spice in their personalities. One has more sugar and the other has even more spice.

The last part of my challenge puzzle was to pick a sketch and what better sketch to use than Karen Sweet Sunday Sketch. So everything is digital except for the linen thread, buttons and Sage Shadow cs in the background. The focus panel was cut, distressed and inked with Soft Suede. I cut out the flower and did the same distressing and inking. I can really see how handy these digital files can be when when working with photos or wanting to reuse the same embellishments. Oh yeah and if you run out of your favourite dp....just print some more. I know it will be a lot more handy when I can figure out how to layer on photoshop but for today's work I think it was all worth. The only drawback is the learning curve and I'm not sure I have enough time to devote to it.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you've been inspired. Have a fabulous week.

March Viva La Verve #5

2010-03-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

This week we got to choose our own kitchen inspiration for the sketch challenge. I chose this lovely blue, white, and brown number with lovely subtle yellow and orange accents. This kitchen is very much my style. Nice and classy clean lines without the urban feel. I really like the brown tile work.

Once the kitchen was chosen I chose the purpose of the card. I chose a nice encouraging card for my little sunshine girl and what better stamp set to use than "Feel the Sun". The sentiment reads "Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own SUNSHINE" Isn't that the truth? Smile and the world smiles back :) Ribbon was used for the tab part of the sketch and I decided to use cotton floss for the vertical panel for a lighter feel. This cotton floss matches the Summer Sunrise paper almost exactly. The center flower and leaves are cut out from left over paper from the SU! Princess Part Kit.

Well there's the last of March Viva la Verve challenges. I'll need to post 'em all on splitcoast now. Hope you are all having a fabulous day. I'm also posting a small picture of the new tote bag I came across at Winners today. I was so excited to see the Raspberry Fizz Matt and Nat bag for such an awesome price!!! It wasn't just calling my name it was screaming it!!! I apologize for the poor picture quality but we've had a horrible foggy and rainy morning so far.

Paper: White, Chocolate Chip, Scenic Route dp, SU! dp, Summer Sunrise (PTI)

Ink: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Bordering Blue

Accessories: MS border punch, orange cotton floss, Yellow ribbon

Stamps: Feel the Sun (Verve)

March Viva La Verve #4

2010-03-27T22:13:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! If you came here for the PTI blog hop project please just scroll down. I'm sorry I didn't put a direct link...I'll be sure to do it next month.

This is my project for the Viva La Verve Week #4 (Just in case you didn't see the post title) LOL. I knew as soon as I saw the long stripes in the sketch I wanted to stitch them in. I decided to flip the sketch so that there was less stitching required because it can be very time intensive. The apron pictured below is the one that I used for my inspiration on colour combo, polka dots, and flowers.

I apologize if I haven't been the best blog friend lately. I can't believe I only had two posts last week! This was one of those weeks that proved Life Happens!! Monday I went to register my son at the school that my daughter has been attending for the last two years only to be told that I couldn't because we didn't reside in the catchment area and they've decided to get really strict with it since there have been a lot of school closures. The funny thing was that it took many phone calls to countless people to find out exactly what our catchment school was. Nobody knew because we fall in a grey zone. Our neighborhood school is a school of choice (not our choice) and it's catchment area is city wide. To make a long story short we've been busy doing our best to see that our kids can attend the same school that we have come to know and love. (I've become known to the principals as the mom from "Smith" Street. I wonder if that is a good thing?) Since we have yet another son to register into the school we are considering to move within that small catchment area...so we've been house hunting, although we are going to put it off for a little while longer. Whatever will be, will be.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you've been inspired to use some stitching.

Paper: Bazzil White, PTI White, Whisper White, SU! dp (polka dots), Raspberry Tart dp (SU!), Pink Pirouette, Rose Red

Ink: Rose Red

Accessories: Pink cotton floss, scallop border punch, pearls

Stamps: Fell the Sun, Celebration of Thanks (Verve)

Over The Rainbow

2010-03-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

Good morning, good day, and good evening! Hope you are all having a wonderful week and finding much inspiration on this month's PTI Blog Hop featuring buttons. I new exactly what I wanted to do and I so enjoyed making this card since I LOVE BUTTONS!!! Anyhow I'm not going to bore you with details as you have lots of other posts to catch up on.

I'll just give you the recipe, some pictures and hope you'll visit again. Have fun hopping and hope you've been inspired.

Paper: White cs (PTI), whisper white, Real Red
Ink: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, basic black
Accessories: Buttons Lemon Tart, New Leaf, Plum pudding (PTI), Basic grey buttons, black cotton thread
Stamps: Polkadot backgrounds (PTI), Everyday button Bits (PTI)

Playing with Ribbon

2010-03-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

On Friday I got my order from Practicing Creativity and I was surprised with some bonus pink ribbon. Now normally I don't work with the wide stuff and you might be able to tell by the fact that my bow isn't perfect but it was really nice to be able to practice and I think all in all it came out pretty good. The ribbon is amazing and of course with it's pinkness I was inspired to make a baby girl card. It's just a really simple layout with some ribbon detail.

Next I have a card that I made with some of that gorgeous turquoise linen ribbon. I love it! It's so soft and flexible. I was going to make a bow but I decided to try something different. I made 'clouds' with it by weaving it in and out of three 1/8" holes. I cut the ends and then purposely frayed them.

I kept wanting to cut them shorter and shorter but then I was reminded of a lesson a learned in Kindergarden. When I was five we were suppose to make these caterpillars by cutting circles (free hand) out of different coloured paper. Well I got frustrated because my circles weren't perfect and I kept cutting and cutting hoping to turn out that perfect circle and I was left with the tiniest caterpillar in the class. Lesson learned: sometimes you need to stop even if it's not perfect or you'll have nothing left. So the truth is that all the important lessons we learn in life were in fact learned in Kindergarden.

Anyhow, on with the card. This is a 4 x 4 card I made using scraps to place in my daughter's lunch for a bit of a pick me up when she needs it. The Basic Grey Lemonade paper is cheerful and the hot air balloon is magical. I'm going through a bit of a hot air balloon craze...how about you, what your favourite "It" item right now?

Little Bundle

Paper: Chatterbox dp, Kraft (SU!), Very vanilla

Ink: Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Pink May Arts ribbon (Practicing Creativity), certainly celery grosgrain ribbon, scallop circle punch, EK success border punch,

Stamps: Punches Three (SU!)

Sky's the Limit

Paper: Lemonade dp (BG), Whisper White

Ink: Close to cocoa, Purely Pomegranate

Accessories: Blue Linen MayArts Ribbon (Practicing Creativity), scallop border punch (SU!)

Stamps: Look Up (Practicing Creativity)

Practicing Creativity with CardPatterns

2010-03-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

I just finished making this card for the Card Patterns Sketch #55 using my new goodies from Practicing Creativity. This card took way longer to finish than I was anticipating as I had too many fun options and colour combinations that I could use!

I picked out my all time favourite Cosmo Cricket paper (Early Bird) to go with my new favourite red ribbon (Practicing creativity) and started cutting and shaping that balloon to exactly the way I wanted it. Then I worked everything else around my "masterpiece". The scene is created using the rest of the Look Up set and the sentiment comes from the Everyday Button Bits set from PTI. I love acrylic stamps for the fact that you can distort them to fit your layout. Ideally I should have flipped the sketch so that the sentiment was on the left side and the word 'lift' would be at the top but not much can be done once the card is finished and I had already spent way too much time on it.

This card will be perfect for a friend of mine that is going through of a bit of a rough patch. I think she just needs to be reminded that she has friends.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic weekend.

Paper: Kraft, Kiwi Kiss, Blue Bayou, Early Bird dp (Cosmo)
Ink: Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Real Red
Accessories: Red faux suede ruffle Ribbon (Practicing Creativity)
Stamps: Look Up (Practicing Creativity), Everyday Button Bits (PTI)

Cinema Saturday Presents: Dear Frankie

2010-03-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

Yeah I know, I said I was going to take a break but last night I found inspiration to make an altered board book for the current Cinema Saturday challenge. The movie is "Dear Frankie" Have you seen that one? It's one of my favourite Gerard Butler films...I actually think it's his best role. Even better than his role as Gerry in P.S. I Love You! If you haven't seen Dear Frankie you really should. It will pull at your heart strings (in a good way).

Anyhow, the part of the movie I was thinking about is the many times that the Lizzie has moved with her mother and son to protect Frankie. It got me thinking about what makes a home and what it really comes down to is LOVE. I was then inspired to make a little mini board album of my family and the home we've made. This is just the cover of it and it will be filled as I find the time.

The added challenge was to use a little bit of map. Now I realize that the movie took place in Scotland and I've used a map of Ireland. I happened to have the map scanned for a St. Patrick's Day project (that didn't get made). I just want to clarify that I do NOT believe that Ireland and Scotland are the same thing. I don't want to offend anyone :)

The map was printed on white print paper in sepia tones to soften it up a bit. There is map in the chimney, the roof and the 3D heart flowers. It was my first time making those flowers and not as perfect as I'd like them...but I like the effect. I made the curved door by slipping the top of a 1 1/4" kraft strip into my 1 3/4" circle punch and cutting the top. The sentiment is my own but certainly it has been said before and that was printed using a Word document. There's quite a bit of sponging, detail and love put into this little project.

Well that's that! Hope you enjoyed something other than a card. My first love (when it comes to paper crafts) is altered projects, unfortunately they take up more time to finish than I have time for. Have a fantastic day and thanks for dropping by.

Paper: Close to Cocoa, Barely Banana, Kraft, white printer paper, Groovy Guava, Rose Red

Ink: Close to cocoa, always artichoke

Accessories: Crayola house board book, Fiskars heart punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, scallop border punch, sponge, map on printing paper, pearl

Stamps: Hundred Hearts (Verve), Everyday button bits (PTI)

Curtain Call #21

2010-03-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

Well in honour of St. Patricks day I'm posting a card that at least has the right colours. I don't have any embellies or stamps that honour the occasion but that will all change with my next PTI order :) This card uses the colours from the Curtain Call Colour Challenge Act 21 and the Fall-to-layout #82.

The butterfly was stamped on Certainly Celery using Always Artichoke Ink. I used the Signature Greetings sentiment (PTI) because it fit the best and I like it better than the typical "Happy Birthday". There's a little bit of bling just to dress it up a little. This card is nothing fancy but I do like the layered border and I'm happy with my stamp placement. This week I'm taking another bit of a creative break right now. I've got to get caught up on all my housework after having a sick family this last week and there are some scrapbook pages that I want to work on.

Anyhow, Happpy St. Patrick's Day! Love and peace to all of you. Happy Crafting!

Paper: White (PTI), Barely Banana, Certainly Celery

Ink: Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery marker

Accessories: Always Artichoke ribbon, bling, scallop border punch (EK success)

Stamps: Priceless (SU!), Signature Greetings (PTI)

March Viva La Verve #3

2010-03-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this card is totally out of my comfort range but I just went with it. I'm still not sure I completely "love" it but it works for a masculine anything card and those are always nice to have around.

I'm really enjoying playing around with Viva la Verve sketch and inspiration challenges. The sketches are always great and the inspiration is an added challenge that helping me to broaden my creative chops. Unfortunately, I only have 2 verve sets and they don't always work with the sketch. As it was, I had to flip the sketch around. I was inspired by the kitchen with the blue and stainless steel accents. A kitchen I believe my husband would be totally into if we were redoing our kitchen (again) A fairly basic and easy card and fast too if you took out the white embossing step.

There you go, a fairly simple card and fast too if you took out the white embossing step on the bike. If anything, I hope it inspires you for those difficult male cards. Thanks for looking and have a fabulous night.

Paper: Kraft cs, Basic Black, Brilliant Blue, silver fiber paper
Ink: white craft, basic black
Accessories: White embossing powder, black marker, 1/4" circle punch, blue buttons (BG), swirl ef (CB)
Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (PTI)

Dreaming of Summer

2010-03-15T13:53:00.000-07:00

Last night I dipped into my Basic Grey Lemonade Stand dp and my Perfect Day Stampin' Up! rub-ons. Yeah, I know I know, we haven't even hit spring yet and it even managed to snow here on Friday. But after having the kids home for spring break I was beginning to day dream about the wonderful summer break we will have (hopefully not sick). I can not wait for sunny warm skies, flowers and fresh fruit!

For this card I took my first try at a Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge. Because of all the bright and busy colours I decided to leave much of the Kraft card base visible and I used a rub on for the bottom border. The flower was made using the Perfect Day rub-ons and cutting them out on different papers and layering them. I think this will be perfect for spring or summer birthday wishes.

Paper: Kraft cs, Lemonade Stand dp (BG)

Accessories: A Perfect Day rub-ons (SU!), pewter build-a-brad, 1 1/4" and 1/2" circle punch.

Another March Birthday

2010-03-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

How many March babies are out there?? For me, there are at least 7 birthdays to make cards for. Today my friends birthday happens to land on the same day as my sisters. On Friday I managed to make a special card for girlfriend of mine who has some of the same passions as I do.

The latest Sketch Girl challenge came in very handy. It was a fairly simple sketch which is always nice because it makes it easier to 'dress up' using some hand stitching, buttons and satin ribbon. Surprisingly the entire card was made from paper in my scrap bin! Had to add some shamrock paper in honour of St. Patricks day. Imagine, I actually don't have any St. Paddy's day stamps or embellishments.

I also have another card that I made pictured below using the same sketch but I didn't like how it turned out. I thought I would share anyways just in case it might inspire you to perfect it.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you are happy and healthy. I'm feeling much better today which is good since I have a feeling my dh will be spending much of the day in bed with this horrible virus. I hope to get the chance to get out of the house today and get some much needed groceries :) Happy Crafting friends.

Paper: Barely Banana, Old Olive, Earth Love dp (Cosmo), Whisper White.

Ink: Old Olive, Perfect Plum

Accessories: Purple floss, scallop border punch (SU!), Buttons in Lemon tart, Plum pudding, and New Leaf (PTI), yellow satin ribbon (chatterbox), linen thread, dimensionals

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits and Signature Greetings (PTI)

FTL 80 Birthday Boy

2010-03-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

Lots of birthdays this month so I've been busy making more birthday card and one of them had to have a masculine vibe for my dad.

A very basic card but I think the colour combo works well and the diamond background stamp (Practicing Creativity) adds a little something. Buttons always make a card more fun and interesting. No frills, no ribbon or bling so I think that makes it masculine enough.

Here on the home front we are still recovering. I actually ended up back in bed with a fever this morning and not feeling well at all. My lovely mother-in-law came by to take my laundry home with her so that it was one less thing I had to worry about and my dear hubby has put on a lovely pot of soup for dinner. How blessed am I??? The only downer is that we were suppose to have my son's birthday party with extended family tonight but of course because we haven't been feeling well no one wants to risk it...nor would some of us have any fun feeling the way we have.

Paper: Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Lemon tart button (PTI), Brown button (BG), Blue designer button (SU!), linen thread

Stamps: Key to my Heart (Practicing Creativity), Sincere Salutations (SU!), Everyday Button Bits (PTI)

March Viva La Verve #2

2010-03-11T17:04:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post for my second Viva La Verve sketch challenge of the month. I was inspired by the turquoise and red of this kitchen with black and white accents. The background on the turquoise panel was an experiment using the lined portion of the argyle stamp from Key to My Heart (Practicing Crativity). I really like how it came out with all those criss cross lines. And it was so easy!!! I find making the true argyle print a little bit nerve racking. I'm such a perfectionist when it comes to making those line match up. The heart is from the Hundred Hearts Verve set and the sentiment is from SU! Simply Said set. It was hard to find a sentiment that fit on that tiny panel.

Anyhow, I'm still not feeling well today and my hubby is home sick now too. That's good thing for me because it was very nice to take a nap this morning to make it through the rest of my day. Hopefully the kids will be in bed early again tonight. Last night two of them were asleep by 5:30 pm!

Hope you are all doing well and looking forward to the weekend. I'm just praying for a healthy one. I've been stuck at home since Saturday and it sure would be nice to get out of the house...even if it is for the groceries.

Paper: Black and White cs, Tempting Turquoise, Summer picnic dp (SU!)
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red
Accessories: Real Red Satin Ribbon
Stamps: Key to My Heart (Practicing Creativity), Hundred Hearts (Verve), Simply Said (SU!)

From My Couch to Yours

2010-03-10T09:49:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone! How's the middle of the week for you? Mine?...well I thought this cold was gone but it came back with a vengeance for me this morning straight to my sinuses. Luckily the kids are recovering well. Hopefully, like the week, this is just the climax and then I can actually get some things done around here.

Here's the results I got a few nights ago for the newest Card Patterns sketch. I really liked this unique sketch and these longer cards seem to take less time to layout and embellish.

The paper is from My Mind's Eye and it matched perfectly with my SU! Flower Burst embosslit. The Flower was turned more into a funky button by punching two holes into it and threading linen thread through and tying. The couch was stamped in black ink on More Mustard and adhered with dimensionals. With the colours and less focus on the flowers I think it could also be used for a masculine card. Either way it's a fabulous card to give to a friend or even your significant other :)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are having a wonderful day. Happy crafting!

Paper: MME dp, Going Gray, More Mustard, Very Vanilla

Ink: Basic Black

Accessorries: Flower Burst embosslit, linen thread, 1/16" hole punch, dimensionals

Stamps: On My Couch (PTI)

Sweet Sunday Birthday Boy

2010-03-09T12:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my littlest man's 3rd Birthday! Officially no more babies or toddlers in this house :( Here's the cute card that I made him. I had bought the paper and felties knowing exactly what I would do with them. My pet name for my son is Little Monster because he is just that. He's a very busy boy who doesn't like to sleep or sit still and he's into everything. He's a very curious and vivacious boy. Also very charismatic and honest which gets him out of heaps of trouble

About a month a go he hit one of the little girls I babysit for and of course I put him in a time out to think about things. Once I was done consoling the little girl and making sure she wasn't seriously hurt, I went to my son to have a little chat. I asked him "Why did you hit her?" and his response "I can't tell you." Of course I prodded and asked why he couldn't tell me. His exact final response: "Because I have no reason." And the way he said it, so sincerely with his hands in the air and shrug....it was all I could do not to laugh!!!

Anyhow, lets get to the card. I used Karen's lovely Sweet Sunday Sketch because it had that fabulously large focus panel to stick the monsters to. The October Afternoon dp I stumbled on when searching an online sale. It was too cute not to and the wonderful part is that it matches Pacific Point which I never use and have a few sheets still waiting to be used. I added some cross-stitching, swiss dot, and trimmed edging. Isn't it cute???

Thankfully we are all feeling better around here. No more fevers!!! Hope you are all healthy and happy. Happy crafting!

Paper: Old Olive, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla, Night light louie dp (October Afternoon)

Ink: computer.

Accessories: Felt monsters (saffarass), orange cotton floss, pinking sheers, perfect polkadots ef.

Verve CAS and Colour Challenge

2010-03-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

To help me combine both March Verve Release challenges, I got the chance to use Fall to Layout #81. What better place to find a CAS sketch than at Clean and Simple Stamping? And I loved this sketch!!! In order to meet the flower requirement of the Verve CAS challenge I used die cuts (I didn't have very many flower stamps that would work well). And to make the sketch more my own I added some faux stitching around the edges. (That part made me a little nervous as I didn't want to have to scrap it and start again). I didn't have a verve stamp that fit nicely in the sentiment area so I found an alternative.

I have to admit that the colour combo scared me a little. A little too retro, but I think once I got the hang of it, the colours made a really striking combination! I'm going to have to try these colours again! Meanwhile, I've got to get a move on dinner and laundry! Have a fantastic evening.

Paper: White (PTI), Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, So Saffron (from the SU! Princess Party Kit)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: 1 1/4" and 1" circle punch, cuttlebug flower die
Stamp: Whimsical Wishes

Verve Sketch, Tag, and Recycle challenges

2010-03-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

Since four people in this household are ill (including me), it's all about combining challenges this weekend. So I combined as many March Verve release challenges as I could hoping to win a $25 gift certificate. I made the tags from some scraps using my cuttlebug. The Heartfelt Thanks tag could be used as a bookmark or around a wine bottle. The top is made from Nestibilities Label 1 dies. Very handy!! and it was so easy. It's not embellished but I didn't want to cover up that lovely retro looking paper! The flower was made by folding my piece of paper and placing it in such a way on the flower layer die that it cut a card rather than two separate flowers. This tag is meant more for a tiny card on a gift bag.

My next project is a card that combines the sketch challenge and the recycle challenge. I found the sketch tricky and in the end I didn't love what I came up with but I did get to use one of my favourite stamp sets. The textured white paper is actually a coffee cup sleeve that I found wrapped around a coffee I had bought just before my daughters music lesson. That lesson is from 4 until 5 which is around the time that I hit a wall and my energy levels are drained. The nice thing about those evening is that my hubby is home before me and starts getting dinner ready....plus I get that hot cup of coffee. Anyhow, I really liked this cup sleeve not only because of the texture but because it was off-white rather than kraft or brown! So it's been in my scrap bin for a couple of weeks now. I'll have to stash some more :)

Thanks so much for stopping by to see what I've made. Hope your week is wonderful. We're suppose to be enjoying spring break this week but right now we are just focusing of feeling better. Thankfully we don't have to be anywhere this week and no one's missing any school.

Tags

Paper: Chocolate chip, Groovy Guava, Nook & Pantry dp (BG), Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Nesties Labels 1, Flower Layers sizzix die, brown satin ribbon, linen thread, lemon tart button (PTI), large corner rounder punch

Stamps: Celebration of Thanks (Verve)

Coffee Success

Paper: White (PTI), Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Nook & Pantry dp (BG), Whisper white

Ink: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Circle scissors, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punch, lemon tart twill (PTI), coffee sleeve

Stamps: Delightful and Delicious (Verve)

Love is a Verb

2010-03-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

I am so proud to introduce my first card as a guest designer for Cinema Saturday. This is a challenge that I hold dear to my heart because it goes beyond thinking of colour combos and layouts. It takes it a step farther to find that sentimental element that makes my creation more meaningful not just for me but for the recipient of my creation.

This weeks movie challenge is Dan in Real Life! Dan’s an advice columnist on relationships but has a hard time keeping it real with his own relationships. I must admit that I found the movie hard to watch only because it’s so true to life and awkward. Life really is awkward isn’t it? There’s no script for us to read off of, we only move forward with what we've learned through experience. On some level, I’m sure anyone could relate with Dan.

As awkward as the movie was, it had a great script. Some of the lines were fantastic! For example:

“Instead of telling our young people to plan ahead, we should tell them to plan to be surprised.”

“Life... is full of disappointments”

Cara Burns: You don't have to worry because when it comes to sex, Marty is the one that wants to wait.

Dan Burns: What part of that sentence is supposed to give me comfort?

As a mother, that line cracks me up and scares me all at the same time. But I digress; the line I chose to focus on was the one about LOVE.

“Love is not a feeling, Mr. Burns. It's an ability.” There’s a point in the movie where Dan talks to Marie about this and Marie points out that Dan’s daughter is gifted because she has a strong ability to love Dan. This dialogue got my wheels turning.

There are many days when I don’t feel very loving. In fact, there are days, when I think I’d rather be out digging ditches than at home with my kids trying to ‘survive’. I argue with them (as calmly as I can of course :) because I love them and I’m trying to point them in the right direction. I listen to them (or at least try to) when they have something on their mind. I encourage them to keep practicing their reading or spelling or music lessons because I see how their accomplishments give them confidence. I persist and I dig deeper inside myself to find patience, kindness, and forgiveness because I love them. After that long thought, I remembered that it’s not only me. My hubby does the same.

He can be so patient with them in areas that I am not. He is able to teach them certain things that I don’t think to teach them. Since I’m human and not perfect, he’s takes over the loving and nurturing when I’m completely tapped out. It was with these fond thoughts of my dh that I decided to make him a Father’s Day card. He may not say the ‘L’ word often but the kids could never doubt his love for them through his actions.

On another side thought, this movie made me realize that I am blessed because I am able to love. It’s so hard to believe (and so sad) that there are people out there who are unable to love. While loving my children might not always give me warm fuzzies and goosebumps, it is reassuring and rewarding to see them learning how to love.

A great big Thank You to Brooke and Sankari for giving me this opportunity. And Thanks to all of you for stopping by. If you haven't done this challenge I think you might be seriously surprised at what can be inspired through your interpretation of a movie. I can't wait to see what you create! Happy crafting.

Sorry this is late but there was an issue with blogger or my scheduled posting time.

Paper: Blue Bayou, So Saffron dp, Barely Banana, whisper white, SU! dp in old olive (various)

Accessories: fiskars heart punch, MS border punch, small corner rounder, New Leaf buttons (PTI), green half pearls.

March Viva La Verve #1

2010-03-05T12:43:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon friends! Happy Friday!! Are you enjoying the festivities and challenges for Verves release party? I know I will be. I always inspiring to see something new (even if I can't buy it all). Last night I managed to come up with this card. I was very surprised because I've been struggling all week to make something I really liked. This week I learned two very important lessons when it comes to this craft. Firstly, I should always start with a challenge that inspires me the most regardless of the "due date". Secondly, too many ideas can be just as bad if not worse than having none. Having too many makes it hard for me to commit to anything! My six year old daughter was the one who ended up encouraging me to stick with one of my ideas when I became discouraged. The end results were better than I was expecting and you'll see that card tomorrow for the Cinema Saturday Challenge. What do you do when you're stuck in a creative rut? I'd love to hear your helpful hints :)

Anyhow, on with the card. I chose to use the shabby cottage kitchen picture. I liked the creams and neutrals with a very small hint of mellow colour (I chose Blush Blossom). For the distressed country feeling I sanded the swiss dot panel and the two panels I made using the Hundred Hearts stamp set. (Those hearts are the main reason I bought that set). The edges were distressed using my scissors (no fancy tools) and I lightly sponged over the swiss dot and panel edges. I couldn't decide on what coloured ribbon I wanted to use so I used both :) Now my favourite part of this card is the butterfly made out of the same fabric I used for my first Mojo Card this week. I like how the beading turned out for the body and antennae. This is just one of those projects where everything fell nicely into place and it was relaxing to create. I'm also happy to have something pretty to enter the EBTKS fabric challenge.

Thanks so much for popping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Blush Blossom,

Ink: Soft Suede

Accessories: Beautiful Butterflies die, fabric, glass beads, very vanilla ribbon, Chatterbox kit ribbon, wire, Perfect Polkadot ef

Stamps: Hundred Hearts (Verve)