Two Cards; One Post....Paper Smooches SPARKS Picture Perfect Challenge and MUSE #23

Whew, but it's uncharacteristically warm here; actually, silly hot is more apt and I do not cope well in the heat.  I melt - and then have a melt down.  Not pretty.  And that probably explains why my husband was only too (as in extremely *too*) happy to head off on a bike ride of exponential length,while I stayed home, in the relative cool of our home.  We don't have air conditioning because we rarely experience temperatures of this nature (28C/80 today, with a forecast of 36C/97F by Wednesday. Seriously!), but at least I'm not out - as I was yesterday - feeling like a solar panel soaking up the rays.  Of course, since I'm 'trapped' inside (by design, of course.  Win-win for both of us), I needed to bide my time doing something productive (grocery shopping, laundry and cleaning, while done, don't really count as 'productive' - although the shiny floors and sparkling bathrooms offer some sense of achievement).

Productive #1: Posting my niece's Happy 40 Months Old mini-album this morning
Productive #2: Creating and posting my PS Sparks challenge card
Productive #3: Posting my MUSE Challenge card, even though...well, you'll see.

Let's start with Productive #2:  Paper Smooches SPARKS Picture Perfect Challenge:

An almost 'stymied me' photo, but I persevered, drawing inspiration from the neutral colours, the sense of flow in the crayon arrangement, the black lettering, and "flesh."  As well, my sister-in-law called today to share news that our 16 year old niece won some pretty impressive awards at her high school this past week, so something congratulations-themed also entered into the reckoning...

Here's my simple card, with 'neutral' Flap Happy die-cut and stamped butterflies, the 'way to go' sentiment from Sentiment Sampler, chevrons I cut to replicate the crayons' tips, and for a dash of colour, some pink, because 'flesh' can be rosy-pink, too!

I think it's girly-enough to send to her...and so I will, tomorrow!

Moving on to Productive #3: posting my MUSE Challenge #23 card.  Anita's inspiration is just so lovely - simple lines and sentiments, bright colours, sparkle and that perfectly placed white space.

I won't lament how I find white space challenging *shoulder slump*; rather, I'll share my solution for 'sort of' getting around it:  make a smaller card! Score!! My card is 4 X 4 - and I've tried to capture the key elements from Anita's card: a bit of coloured base in the tag; simple lines, coloured circles, a couple of sequins, and a sentiment. (A set of note cards with this design has come to mind...maybe a down-the-road gift)

That's it for now!  I really should sit outside for a bit...absorb some Vitamin D...

Thanks so much for dropping by; please let me know you did! Your comments add such sparkle to my day!!