Happy Valentine's Day!

Woohoo, Canada won gold in men's ski freestyle!!!  I was so happy for Alexandre Bilodeau and it was so sweet to see his brother so excited for his win.  I've spent most of the day watching the olympics skiing and speed skating events.  I'm not usually really into the Olympics but after watching the opening ceremonies I felt compelled to watch when I could.

Anyhow, here's a card I made inspired by the stamp set Keys to My Heart by Practicing Creativity.  I day dreamed the stamped horizontal strips and it all just snowballed from there.  I really wanted to use this set again before Valentine's day comes to an end (although I know I'll use the argyle stamps throughout the year).  I used red for my main colour so it falls under the latest Crazy for Challenges #24.

I hope you all have a wonderful night spent with your loved ones (today and always).  I heart U my friends :P

Paper: White CS, Black CS, Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Real Red satin ribbon
Stamps: Keys to My Heart (Practicing Creativity)

Valentine's Mojo

I'm amazed at the number of challenges I've been able to complete this week since the kids are back to their usual routine.  It was wonderful having them all tucked into bed by 7:30 last night!  That being said I think we are all ready for the weekend.  The kids are very tired.

Here's my card that I made for two challenges.  Mojo Monday sketch and Crazy 4 Challenges to use polka-dots.  Being inspired by this card by Mercy Kerin, I pulled out my Night and Day dp and decided to make a black and white card with a touch of Melon Mambo for Valentine's Day.

The scallop circle was made using my circle scissors and small corner rounder punch.  Not an easy task with black paper.  It could have been a bit bigger but I wasn't willing to start over again.  I decided to use a bit of gray cs to lighten it up a little bit. I was very happy with the ribbon as it was my first time trying this technique.  The pink heart was inked with Melon Mambo and then with versamark so that it could be clear embossed, cut and mounted with dimensionals.  The sentiment was a bit trickier because I didn't have a valentines stamp that fit the spot so I used the alternative "Thankful Thoughts" stamp from the Grateful Greetings stamp set to fill the space.

Paper:  White, Whisper White, Basic Black, Going Grey, Night and Dark dp,

Ink:  Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Versamark

Accessories:  Bling, scallop edge punch, circle scissors, small corner rounder punch, Melon Mambo ribbon

Stamps:  Simply Said, Grateful Greetings

Love my Scraps...

better yet I love my friends paper scraps even more.  A few weeks ago I gave my blog friend Maureen some Cosmo Cricket paper knowing she would do something wonderful with the Ever After collection especially since at the time it was sitting in my paper bins (that's right BINS) waiting to be used. As some of you may know, I'm a paper hoarder.  I like a little bit of everything!  I like sheets sold separately because I don't always like every print in a collection and double sided papers are better that way I have yet another option.  I like options...sometimes it gets me into creative bloc trouble but c'est la vie! I could think of worse calamities....now having no dp would terrify me.

Okay, back on story telling track....I gave the paper to Maureen and she sent me this lovely thank you card and several these lattice die cuts (she knew I didn't have the die yet) in amazing colours and I hope that she used her scraps to make them (those dies take up so much paper).  I'm so grateful that she sent these die cuts because I'm really interested in knowing how much I'd use it.

So, for Crazy 4 Challenges #12 , I chose to use the Wild Wasabi textured lattice die.  I brought it all together with scraps of paper in my scrap bin, the butterfly die (love it),  a "Hard to Say" sentiment, and a button.  What do you think?  It was a really easy card to make and I love the cheerful colours.

This little scrap swap has put me in the giving mood.  Tomorrow, in celebration of my first guest designer post,  I'll also be posting my Blog Candy that I will be giving away December 5th.  All you'll need to do for a chance to win is leave a comment on that post and your numbered comment may be randomly chosen.

To friends we like to share with!  Cheers!

Paper:  SU! Wild Wasabi, Tangarine Tango, Bashful Blue, Whisper White NSU dp
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie
Accessories:  SU! Lattice and Butterfly die cuts
Stamp:  Hard To Say

Delight in Life ~ Hepburn Style

I'm so excited to show you this card.  It's something like I've never created before and I couldn't have done it without the inspiration from 3 challenges, my Top Note die, and my new nestibilities.  The first challenge was the Crazy 4 Challenges to use acetate as an element and I was particularly drawn to this card's layout idea.  I have a bunch of acetate around but never think to reach for it!  The next challenge was a sketch from Card Patterns .  This sketch was really cool and could be incorporated well with the polkadot acetate from the SU! Night and Day specialty dp I planned on using.

Next I went in search of just the right paper and came across the bold but elegant black and white dp in my scrap bin.  I was instantly reminded of the card Maureen  had just done as a guest designer for Cinema Saturday.  Her card is just gorgeous and uses the Tiffany blue colour to give it the Audrey Hepburn flair.  I decided I would take my first stab at the Cinema Saturday challenge .  The challenge is inspired by the Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck classic "Roman Holiday" and the added challenge was to incorporate pearls.

I wanted to create a card with style that reflected Hepburn's flair.  It's pretty hard to nail that flair the way she always could.  I used scallops to represent the arches of the roman colosseum and I used my Labels 1 nestibilities instead of straight edge squares to emphasize the architecture seen throughout Rome.  The hard part was deciding which stamp to use.  And I finally decided on one of my favourites and I think captures Princess Ann's purpose for escaping her royal obligations during her trip in Rome.  While exploring Rome she got to spend the day doing all the things she always wanted to do.

So in the end I came up with this 6.5" x 5" card that I'm very pleased with.  Originally I had just 2 large black pearl on the top left corner instead of the Melon Mambo ribbon.  My husband who has always given me positive feedback was not as fond of it...even for a girly card.  He said it was too bold and black.  So I decided to added a little bit more girly to it by using the ribbon instead and I am now doubting the wow factor I thought I had with this card.  Oh well.  It was fun to try something new and I'm proud of myself for finding a way to incorporate three challenges into one creation.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that I've done something here thats inspired you.  Have a fabulous week.

Ghostly Greetings 3 in 1

Yes, I know, Halloween is over and my calendar does indeed say November but there were at least two challenges left to do that had inspired a ghostly card and I thru in a Get Sketchy Challenge  for good measure. (that and the sketch worked perfectly).  So here are the Challenges:

1) Everything But the Kitchen Sink .  The challenge was to incorporate toilet paper in a project...that's right toilet paper and you should just check out some of the ingenious ideas that those ladies have come up with.  All week last week my preschooler was coming home with these ghosts made out of kleenex and he decided to use a box of it to make his own at home.  By the end of week I was pretty tired of finding these little guys all around my house.  Who would have thought it would be the catalyst for my next creation?

2) Crazy 4 Challenges .  The challenge was to make a spooky halloween card.  These ghosts may be more cute than spooky but it still fit the theme.

3) Get Sketchy Challenge #12 .  My version of the sketch is a way more simplified version than most but once I got those ghosts on my 5x5 card there wasn't room for multiple layers and embellishments.

The ghosts are made by covering half a square of TP with a whole square and tying with gingham ribbon.  I then ran the ends of the ghosts over my black ink to give them a darker, scarier look and then I added eyes with my marker.  I also used my marker on the die cut sticker to doodle the Ghostly Greetings sentiment.  What do you think?  Any ideas on how I could have jazzed it up a bit without making it too busy?

Beautiful Bling

Another Good Morning to you!  Some weeks I even amaze myself by the amount I can create when I'm inspired.  How many posts this week?  5?  God has graciously blessed me with time this week. This card was inspired by two things:  the Crazy 4 Challenges Sketch and the colours from the sweater of a little girl I saw walking to school.  Now I see how artists tend to observe their surroundings to find a muse. I don't think I've ever used Garden Green before and I use Certainly Celery very infrequently but I LOVE Rich Razzleberry. I tend to stick with colours from the Rich Regals or Earth Elements.    What about you?  Do you like soft pastels, earth tones,  bright or rich?  What's your favourite colour?  (It doesn't have to be SU!, in fact I would love to be introduced to other brilliant colours.)

Paper: Garden Green, Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla CS

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Non SU! Buttons and Bling, SU! 5 Petal punch, small corner punch, embossing folder, dimensionals.

Stamps:  A Beautiful Thing

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Today was a busy day.  My mom came last night to visit and she brought with her all the trimmings to make a fantastic turkey dinner today.  She cooked it all and my hubby helped me clean up (I must admit that he did the majority of the work while I was visiting my mom and little sister).  Tomorrow my dad and brother are coming by for a visit and I may just head up to my dad's place tonight for a relaxing visit while the kids are in bed.  I'm very thankful for my family, my children, but most of all I'm thankful for hope.  Hope in my future, hope in my kids future, hope that there are always good times (big or small) to be remembered.  It's all good as long as we love and are loved.  God has graciously provided for my family and lately my family has been blessed beyond the basic needs.  It's these times that I feel guilty for having so much when there are people who are struggling and feeling hopeless.

My post today fulfills two challenges.  The Mojo 107 sketch and the current Crazy 4 Challenges to make a thanksgiving card.  I also tried french knots with floss for a new technique.  I should have stitched through both the Vanilla and the Chocolate chip layer just so it would lay better...but I figure this was good for my first try.  If you want to see cards using beautiful french knots you should hop over to Maile's blog .  She hasn't done them in a while but I highly recommend you search for them.

Anyhow,  I hope that my fellow Canadians are enjoying their turkey dinners and that my friends south of the border are looking forward to their holiday with friends and family.  Peace be with you all this day and the next.

Paper:  Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Very vanilla, Gold fiber cs,  dp

Ink:  Really Rust, Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Chocolate chip satin ribbon, circle scissor, floss, rhinestones.

Stamps:  Grateful Greetings, Priceless

Not SEW happy :(

Uuugh {frustrated grimace} My sewing machine was a little sick yesterday while I was trying to sew this card.  The thread kept breaking. I tried re-threading my machine, releasing tension, etc....but nothings seemed to work. It all turned out great for me except that stitching.

This card incorporates three challenges: Crazy 4 Challenges , Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketches , and my own personal footware inspired challenge.

The Colours I chose were Blue Bayou, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla and Gold.  The Gold textured paper and dp I picked up from that Big Box Store that shall not be named {wink}.  I think I'm going to have to pick up for of that gold paper.  It's so rich and soft.  I'll be using the dp for my next mojo challenge.  It is such beautiful paper and can be taken in larger doses.  I also used champagne paint shimmer in the center of the stamped flowers.

Thanks for popping by for a visit and I encourage you to try out all the challenges yourself.  The girls over at Crazy4Challenges and Sweet Sunday Sketches are all very supportive and so talented.  I hope you are all having a fabulous week and enjoying some fabulous fall weather.  I love taking long, deep breaths in the cool, crisp air.  It's refreshing and relaxing especially as the crazy stress back to school stuff turns into the crazy holiday season stuff.

Paper:  Blue Bayou, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Gold, floral dp

Ink:  Blue Bayou

Accessories:  Sewing, gold flower brads, Champagne Paint Shimmer

Stamps:  For all you do

Conspiracy of Love

Here's my take on another beautiful sketch by Cindy over at Crazy 4 Challenges.  Again, my picture doesn't do the card any justice because I haven't gotten around to making that light box yet. I think it's pretty just the same.  With this sketch I decided to showcase the Serene Snowflakes with white shimmer paint on dark paper.  It shows up beautifully.  And yes those are eyelets!!!  I don't know about you but I don't use eyelets much these days. I have so many that I collected before I discovered the simplicity of brads.

I hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday.  My daughter is at school and I think the little guy might even have a nap today.  It could be just a quiet afternoon with me and my preschooler.  Thanks for stopping by and leaving me with such encouraging comments.  I truly appreciate it.

Conspiracy of Love
Paper:  White linen CS, SU!  Night of navy,  Bashful Blue
Ink:  Not Quite Navy
Accessories:  Snowflake eyelets, white shimmer paint, bashful blue stripped grosgrain ribbon
Stamp set: Serene Snowflakes, Grateful Greetings.

Crazy 4 Christmas!!!

Wow! Two posts in one day, isn't that amazing? And this one is a double whammy because Cindy over at Crazy 4 Challenges came up with this amazing yet simple sketch so I was able to make two in an hour yesterday.

I used my scraps of paper that I had left over from prepping for my first workshop. The white demask design is flocked and it is from the Christmas Cocoa specialty paper collection in the Holiday Mini. I also pulled out the Champagne Shimmer paint to add some power to that serene snowflake and an antique gold brad. Looking at it now I could probably add a greeting up at the top left corner.

After I finished that card I decided to try again except this time not to take the sketch so literally and give it my own interpretation. I decided to flip the sketch and add ribbon instead of brads and change up the paper from the collection. I also applied shimmer paint because I was just having too much fun.

So what do you think do you like the image horizontal or vertical? Ribbon or brads? Flocked or not? There are so many different things that you can do with this sketch. I have a feeling I'll be using this sketch on a regular basis. (Hope you don't mind Cindy).

It's amazing that we are still enjoying some really hot weather here in BC, Canada. It reminds me of the year my daughter was born. It was the very end of September and all she was wearing was a diaper because it was so hot. I can't believe my baby is going to be six years old on Sunday. We are having a princess tea party. We're going to make princess crowns, decorate our own cupcakes and then sit down and have a tea party.

I hope that you are enjoying a wonderful week and fabulous weather. Thanks so much for dropping by. Tomorrow I'll be posting my card for the current Mojo Sketch.

Paper:  Soft Suede (again), Kraft, Real Red, Christmas Cocoa dp
Ink:  Soft Suede, Champagne shimmer paint.
Accessories:  Red brads, Sleigh Bells Twill ribbon , ticket corner punch, antique gold brad
Stamp set: Serene snowflakes

Delightful Night

I don't know about you but I'm having a very nice evening in my craft room. I'm getting a chance to look through things that I haven't been able to get to all week...like this Crazy 4 Challenges sketch. Unfortunately I missed the Get Sketchy challenge :-( I promising myself to finish GS#6 by the end of the weekend before I forget about it. Even for this Crazy 4 Challenges #2 I'm cutting it real close. I may even be too late but oh well, I got to work out a new Halloween card which generally have me stumped for ideas.

Because I don't have a distressing tool I used my scissors to distress the edges of my cardstock and paper.  I also distressed the popped up pumpkin.  I think it turned out quite well.  The sentiment is of course from the Grateful Greetings set I keep mentioning. The pumpkins are from the retired Carved and Candlelit set which is really too bad because it has a lot of versatility for Halloween and Thanksgiving/Harvest.  The dp is the Night & Day specialty paper .  This paper is also versatile if you like working with black and white because the paper pattern isn't specifically for halloween.

I'm going to go and brainstorm some more ideas. Take care my friends, have a fabulous weekend and hope to hear from you soon.

Crazy for Challenges #1

Finally, I got this card done. This is the card I had to walk away from because I was too tired to give it 100% and it probably shows. But it's done! It's late but it's done. I discovered the Crazy for Challenges (CFC) through the many blogs that I follow so thanks, ladies, for sharing. It looks like they are going to have some great challenges to share and as you know I like to start things from the beginning so that was a bonus.

Now this card did not turn out at all like I had thought it would. Originally I had wanted a rhinestone circle around the outer circle but it got messed up when I went to apply the rhinestone circle. And of course I didn't have more rhinestones to try again! Then I saw my rhinestone cupcake and have been waiting for the opportunity to use it. The scallop circle is made using my circle scissors and small corner rounder punch. I don't have a scallop circle die...yet! It's amazing how many tools you seem to 'need' for this craft! Does the list never end? Which tool do you use the most and couldn't live without? So the scallop circle is somewhat flawed but I think the rhinestones help to deflect the imperfections and this card still passes as a totally giveable card!

Sunday blessings to you and yours. Enjoy the last day of your weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Paper:  White CS, Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede dsp ,
Accessories: Certainly celery ribbon, tag corner punch, 1/8 circle punch,  circle scissors, corner rounder punch. NSU Bling cupcake
Stamp: Sincere Salutations