Beautiful Blooms Birthday (x 2)...Uniko Studio Challenge #8: Hello Spring, Time Out Challenge #3, The Pink Elephant #245, Muse #62, The Poppy Sketch #1

Saturday evening, and in just a short while, I'll be tackling my pizza prep tasks. Fresh dough and tomato sauce made this morning (my 'main' contributions), with some pepperoni, mushrooms and cheese waiting their respective slicing and shredding. Once that's done, my husband takes over to perform the magic. I can't remember when last we had home-made pizza night - before our road trip, or even longer. We are soooo due!

We  had a wintry day; snowy this morning, and now, windy, cloudy and cool. Perfect day for staying inside, except for quick jaunts to the local library (had to snoop the book sale), the 'new' grocery story (rebranded from a Sobey's to a Save-On-Foods - remarkably the same, but given it was a three day turnover, that's to be expected.  Good thing 'green' is the common colour for both companies...), and the old grocery story (prices much better, just sayin').  Before and after, we know what I was doing; my husband was in his 'craft zone', tinkering away on various bikes in his fleet. He's aiming to ride tomorrow, so hopefully the weather will cooperate.  Speaking of wishing for warmer weather...my sister and her husband are heading to Hawaii tomorrow morning, for two wondrous weeks.  Despite my best efforts at begging and whining, apparently I am not going with them...sighhh... Oh well, given that I'm not much for air travel, perhaps it's for the best. Still, Hawaii in spring - beautiful.  Wait, Hawaii any time - beautiful!!

Because so many of us are caught up in the land of "busy", I'll share two cards this post, both featuring my new Uniko Beautiful Blooms stamps and dies (I. am. in . love!), and "maybe' a wee butterfly (also a love object!).

First card is heading to Uniko Studio Challenge #8: Hello Spring, where we were invited to use one, some or all of the following beautiful colours:

My card features two colours - soft blue and green. I didn't have matching patterned paper for my frame, so I inked up the Beautiful Bloom stamp to make my own. Since it's a birthday card, I'm also entering it into the new TIME OUT Challenge #3 (without the masculine twist).  

Here's #1:

Stop with one card using those gorgeous blooms? No way! My next card - also heading to Time Out #3, as well as The Pink Elephant #245, with this photo as inspiration (isn't the music notes chair the perfect background for this stunning bouquet?) 

Muse #62, where Vicki's beautiful card - shown below -  also sparked ideas. Isn't hers simply amazinb!!

My layout, somewhat similar to my first card, but with some added features, was drawn from The Poppy Sketch #1, by the oh-so-talented Laura Davis.  

You'll see I switched up the banner for a butterfly, and used a scalloped frame, with an 'under-skirt layer' for the main panel. I came as close as I could with the colours, sooooo, fingers crossed I've met the requirements.

Here's #2: 

NOTE:  So honoured and grateful that this card was selected as an "unforgettable" at The Pink Elephant. THANK YOU!!

That's all for now...off to pizza prep!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments make my day!