Happy Fall...ATSM #115~ Photo Challenge

Hello.. Another two weeks have zipped by, and I'm here today joining my design team at Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #15 to share inspiration drawn from this lovely fall photo...

A simple rendition of the leaves and the pumpkins (or gourds, as the case may be) for my key images, created with a little sponging followed by a little die-cutting, followed by a little more sponging.   Although I did have a  fancier 'vision' of what I wanted to create as compared to what I did wind up with, I'm okay with my 'fall cluster'. Best part: finding out that these Clearly Besotted dies are incredibly cute even without their stamp companions.

Head on over to ATSM #15 to see the impressive cards from the rest of the design team, then harness your mojo and share your photo inspired card in the gallery.  This week's winner will receving 5 digis from our sponsor:

http://www.whimsystamps.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13_38

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Thanks a Latte...Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Screech....racing in quickly to share my card for Chaitali's Coffee Lovers Bloghop (we had a MARVELOUS weekend, returning home late yesterday. off to work today, and rushing home to get a card done before the linky closes...).  As you can tell, I'm in hectic mode!  Perhaps too much coffee today *grin*

Amazing, talented and sweet Chaitali and her group of coffee-lovers - all amazing, talented and sweet, too - are providing us with immense inspiration for coffee themed cards, the opportunity to share our own creations AND win prizes, to boot!  Gotta love it!!

My card is a bit on the 'masculine' side, I think...

To Chaitali, her team and everyone in the gallery (which at this moment is sitting an a jaw-dropping 254 entries!!), THANK YOU!!  Now, off to gaze, admire, ooh and ahhh for a bit more....

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

A cup of coffee...or two...Inkspirational Challenge #66~Beverages/Drinks

Happy Saturday, all!  I'm thrilled to be back with my ever-so talented design team members. as well as our fabulous guest designer, Mary, from  Mary V, for Inkspirational Challenge #66, which I had the honour of choosing...

At the time when I selected this challenge-theme, I had no idea that Monday, Sept. 29th was "National Coffee Day". My inspiration was pretty basic: a sheet of coffee themed cardstock that needed attention, as well as my coffee cup and rosette dies.  Two simple creations for you: a coffee envelope and mini coffee card.  The cardstock is very happy at finally making its debut...

With your beverage of choice in hand, enjoy a wander over to Inkspirational Challenges #66, visit the designers ~

Guest Designer, Mary V

Marina

Shauna

Sandie

Nonni

Yvonne

Kim

Pia

~ who I know would love to hear from you, then bring out your beverage/drink themed stamps and dies, and join the gallery.  We will be inviting a top pick/s from this challenge to be a Guest Designer.  I'd be thrilled if it were 'you'!  

A little side note:  If you opt to create a coffee-themed card, keep it 'secret' until Sept. 29, when you can join in at Chaitali's Coffee Lovers' Bloghop, held in conjunction with National Coffee Day.  She's dialed in to hostess a wonderfully fun hop, complete with great prizes to be won, too!

Guess I'll have to make another coffee card and play along *grin*

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Merry Dots...Merry Monday #127 {Christmas Bingo!}, Freshly Made Sketches #155, Keep It Simple! # 49~No Stamps, My Perfect Life~Festive 48 - Week 37

Hello all...Aunty C here, reporting for duty! My husband and I are playing hooky from work tomorrow (yes, our bosses know and gave us permission, so technically, not hooky, but I like to pretend...), and heading north to visit my family!  Ms. T and Mr. C time is #1 on the agenda, as you can well predict.

I'll also be officiating at a cyclo-cross race on Saturday; my husband has just returned from a three day epic bike trip, so he won't be officiating at all, but plans to race on Sunday, energy-level depending. A belated birthday celebration for my mom is on for Saturday evening.  Ms. T has a 'surprise party' totally planned (even though it's at my parents' place...): she and I are in charge of the cake (she's going to teach me how to use sprinkles), and everyone else - Mr. C, her mom and dad, Grammy and Grampy, Poppa (my dad) and Uncle Andy (my sister and bil are on holidays) are in charge of balloons.  Of course they are!  If Bacia (my mom) happens to 'see' us getting things ready, we're supposed to run, hide (not sure where, although behind the drapes might work...), then jump out and shout "SURPRISE!!"

Sounds like an easy-to-excute plan to me...I'll be sure to zip away from the bike race as soon possible, so as not to miss my cake-decorating tutoring.

In the midst of giddy excitement, I've made a card using some NBUS:  Merry Dots, by Memory Box and my first EVER My Favourite Things (sorry...Favorites is spelled wrong...must upkeep my Canadian spelling *grin*) die-namics die, Dispersed Dots. Headed down the Christmas card route, creating a card for Merry Monday#127~Bingo Game, using the first column of 'sparkle, die cut and red',

and Freshly Made Sketch #155

"Mental gymnastics" required for the tag; I'm sure an easier way exists! The red is my shimmery Joy paper, as is the grey of the snowflakes and background dots; hard to photograph, but in real life, it glimmers prettily.

Since no stamps were used, I'm heading off to Keep it Simple #49~No Stamps

I'm also joining Marina's My Perfect Life Festive 48-Week 37 blog...so far I have three Christmas cards as compared to her 37!  Better get crackin'...

Off to do some packing...

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day.

Feathered Note...CASE Study #209, TIME OUT #14~Home Sweet Home, STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Sketch #20

Hello!!  Hope you're having a lovely autumn day!

Dashing in during a break at work (much needed, I might add *grin*) with a card I for three challenges:

CASE Study #209, featuring the exponentially gorgeous card by Debby Hughes as inspiration:

STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Sketch #20, where strips/stripes call to us

TIME OUT #14~Home Sweet Home, with the charming box of inspiring words

I stamped and embossed two pairs of the feathers from my STAMPlorations set, then added a third, on vellum, to 'fit' the sketch.  The embossing powder is new - from Lindy's Stamp Gang - and it has a most lovely glimmer when it catches the light. Midnight Bronze....

I didn't realize my rather 'plain Jane' card would wind up next to Virginia's stunning beauty in the STAMPlorations gallery.  Virginia's is AWESOME, and mine is just kinda cute....*grin*

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Happy Birthday STAMPloration Flowers...MUSE #85, AAA Cards~Game 21 CREATE with Fussy Cuts

I'm back...

Our hike to Boom Lake this afternoon was marvelous!  Weather, scenery, company...perfect.  Once home, I delved into making a card, as during our hike, pings and pongs were forming...

The *plan* was to create a card for MUSE #85

as Marion's gorgeous flowers sparked inspiration to use yet another of my STAMPlorations blooms. The goal: a one-layer card; practice masking; use Prismacolour pencils and give gamsol a first try.

The 'actual' plan wound up as a fussy cut pair of flowers (coloured and gamsoled...yayyy...but I need gamsol-proper-procedure practice for sure!), on a panel.  Why? Because after arranging, masking and colouring my flowers, Ms. Brilliant realized nary a leaf was in sight.  I tried adding a couple...and promptly took out the scissors and began with the fussy. I should have taken Darnell's advice from one of her recent post: "Sometimes it's better to leaf well enough alone"  Gahhh...

While the card didn't turn out as I'd envisioned (the leaves I finally wound up using should be brighter, methinks), the fussy cutting now means my creation fits into the current challenge over at AAA Cards #21~CREATE with Fussy Cuts.  A minus....and a plus. It all balances out. Sort of.

Also heading over to Seize the Birthday - always a welcoming place to play!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Happy Fall x 2...Simply Create Too #70~Fall/Autumn, 4 Crafty Chicks #212~Fall, The Pink Elephant #268~Embossing, Freshly Made Sketches #154

Whooshed back for post 3...

Cheery Lynn leaf dies + a variety of fall/autumn challenges = happy me!!

Here's the list of galleries I'm entering:
The Pink Elephant #268~Embossing (card 1)

Freshly Made Sketches  #154 (Card 2)

4 Crafty Chicks #212~Fall  and Simply Create Too #70~Fall/Autumn (both cards)

My first card features a trio of leaves that I sponged, smooshed into Versamark, sprinkled with clear embossing powder, heat set, then planted atop a new leafy embossing folder.  Shimmery...

NOTE:  Totally chuffed and honoured to be selected as TPE winner with this embossed card. THANK YOU!

For my second, I sponged a wee panel, added a gold maple leaf, and a strip of brown and...purple. Yes, weird colour choice, but it sort of works. My inspiration was the striped sweater my colleague was wearing on Friday: gold, rust, light green...and purple. It looked amazing on her, especially since it wasn't a run-of-the-mill combination.  Not sure if it translates well on my card, but in real life it 'seems' to work. If I add 'birthday' to the sentiment, perhaps that lends it guy-card potential....

We're planning to hike to Boom Lake (once it warms up a bit...still a chill in the air, but temps ae supposed to climb to 26C/79F later...), which will be a first for me. I'm intrigued by the description of a trail, winding through "a picturesque forest, with snow-capped mountains rearing over the treetops, that opens up onto a beautiful, large, alpine lake sitting directly at timberline and right below the jagged edge of the continental divide."  Off to get my hiking duds on...

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Shiny Pink...as in SHINY...FUSION Shiny Pink, A Blog Named Hero #52~Papers, Please

I'm back...

The team over at FUSION have a wonderfully Shiny Pink challenge for us

...and what a perfect opportunity to use some new 'holographic' *Joy* paper I picked up a couple weeks back. I still plan to review my shopping experience soon, especially since another trip to Edmonton is on tap for this weekend! Woo hooo...Aunty C time on the horizon!!

Put your shades on....

I tilted it for a second photo, in hopes to capture more of the holograhic coolness (and you should see the other colours/images in the collection...oh wait...you will, eventually *grin*)

I'm also entering into A Blog Named Hero #52~Papers, Please.

My niece and nephew go to a LOT of birthday parties, so I think one of their little girl friends might quite like this...or perhaps one of their day-care teachers...

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Tags (and a shaker) X 2...Clearly Besotted Challenge #13 - Autumn / Halloween Theme, Tag, You're It #6, Words 2 Scrap By #9~To Every Thing There Is a Season, Simon Says~TAG IT

Hello...and here it is, Sunday morning, already.  First: letting you know that I'm jumping in with a series of card-catch-ups, as my planning for posting last week was poorly scheduled.  In a nutshell, my week, up until yesterday, went along the lines of:

Work...work...grrrr at technology...work...craft...craft...toss epics fails away...craft...take photos in a panic...craft...more photos...post-procrastinate...work....craft...bike race officiating (fabulous weather, but holy-moley, windy out, Batman! I'm rosy-cheeked and nosed)...take more photos...

All that disorganization sees me now in a dither, trying to put which cards with which challenges, correctly. Honestly, I need an intervention...

So, since I have a series planned, best to get started before I'm interrupted by something (or someone...I hear my husband coming downstairs, and I know he's game for a hike today. Oh, the perils of being married to an athlete, whose energy appears boundless...).

I made two tags - well, technically one is a shaker tag, and second-technically, they're both 'tag cards' - inspired by two challenges:  Clearly Besotted #13 - Autumn/Halloween and Tag, You're It #6.

The first, the shaker tag card, is for CB only, and features my "Boo To You" set...

My second tag card is my 'attempt' to create something 'fall themed' for Stephanie's challenge, which was all the more difficult because I don't have any Clearly Besotted Fall themed products. So,  I adapted...and yes, you are seeing distress markers once again (darn things keep pestering me!),  We won't discuss how many times I coloured, huffed and stamped the butterfly before getting an image that worked (sort of).  I used the 'layout' of Karin's gorgeous tag over at Tag, You're It #6:

The wee leaves are from the 'retiring' Nuts For You set (on sale, so if you need a squirrel in your stash, go shop now!), and the butterfly from the Elegant Butterfly collection.  Butterflies come in 'fall colours'...or so I've decided *grin*

I'm also entering them at a new-to-me challenge: Words 2 Scrap By #9~To Every Thing There Is A Season, which I discovered through my sweet friends, Darnell and Greta, as well as to Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~TAG IT! 

Here's my two-some...

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Apple Thanks...CASE Study #208

Once again, hello...and a quick share for CASE Study #208

where this lovely burlap bag and colourful apple tags are sheer delight.

After all my efforts at water-colour backgrounds, painting and splatters, time for a different approach.

Here's my take on the inspiration...really super simple....

and all I have to say is...tee heee!! This little gaffer makes me happy, happy, happy!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Christmas Candles Peace and Merry & Bright...Addicted to Stamps and More # #113, STAMPlorations September Challenge~Stamps and Markers. My Perfect Life~Festive 48~#36, NBUS #2

Hello! Welcome to my post for Addicted to Stamps and More #113~Holidays challenge.

I'm excited, and a bit nervous, to share my cards with you (yes, still on the 'twofer' kick). The excited part = one lovely stamp  used two ways. The nail-biting part, an 'attempted' new background technique in the second card. Fingers crossed you'll like them...

With the unexpected, wild snow storm of last week (it's melted, thankfully), little wonder that my thoughts turned to Christmas as my initial holiday-inspiration; add the arrival of new STAMPlorations Christmas- themed stamp and my decision was pretty much sealed.

Both cards showcase the oh-so-pretty Christmas candle image, coloured with distress markers (yes...yes, I did!) and in the case of the first, joined by a new Memory Box word die...

The second features my 'attempt' at replicating backgrounds inspired by Loll, at Stamping with Loll. This was likely trial #576, and after a bit of staring (and glaring) at it, I decided, what the hey, let's do something with it.  So, something I did...

The background is too blotchy, but I'm kind of getting the hang of what to do to improve.  Or so I hope!

Head on over to the ATSM blog to see what the DT has created just. for. you!  Hopefully, you'll join us in the gallery with your own holiday-themed card.  The winner will receive 3 digis from this week's sponsor:

I'm also adding my cards to the following challenges

STAMPlorations September Challenge~Stamps and Markers (I did use a bit of water, but only distress markers; no inks allowed *grin*)

My Perfect Life 48~Week 36, where the talented and ambitious Marina is challenging herself to create one Christmas card per week, until Dec. 1, at which time she'll have 48. We're invited to join her, so my two 'first' cards of the season are headed that way.

Of course, since pretty much everything on my cards is NBUS, I'm sharing at the awesome Darnell's NBUS #2 Challenge,  She's offering an optional challenge:

1.  Christmas

2.  Make two cards using the same stamp.

3.  Both of the above.

4.  None of the above.

Obviously, I'm going with #1, 2 and 3...yayyy!!!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEV!!!

It’s a most wonderful day of the year: the birthday of our sparkling, lovely Bev, of Happy Dance fame.  I'm excited to join Darnell and Ardyth, the masterminds behind this wonderful event.

As many of us know, Bev is a darling in our crafting community, with cards that delight, a personality that invites and welcomes, and comments that encourage, motivate and inspire.  She’s touched and enriched many of our lives; she is, in a word, a gem.

We also know that Bev is the Queen of Party Organization and Event Planner Extraordinaire, having played hostess on many occasions to bring special sparkle to someone’s celebration.  Today, I’m going to channel my ‘inner Bev,’ with some party shindigs that, hopefully, will bring a smile to her face. 

I decided to go for a ‘fall’ theme to mark our sweet friend’s day, and, in true Bev-fashion, I’ll invite us all to a toasty, cozy party spot, in this so pretty cabin...   

where we'll gather round the fireplace, and sip on some spirits warm, tasty beverages....(The recipe looks mighty tasty...)

We'll dine on a home-make autumn pizza...

or two...

then dive into a yummy floral decorated chocolate cake.

After dining, we'll endow our sweet gal with a variety of gifts...a basket filled with pretty fall flowers...

some delicately scented leaf-adorned candles...

and a gorgeous fall-coloured necklace and earrings duo...

Of course, I've made a card for Bev, and in keeping with the theme, I decided to stamp and paint her a bright, sparkly sunflower. (STAMPlorations flower, and the 'frame' is a repetitive stamping of the sunflower...) 

I love sunflowers; they radiate warmth and happiness with their vibrant colour and cheery faces. Sunflowers and Bev: the connection is clear to me, and I hope it is to you, and her, too.  You make me absolutely joyous, Bev. You are a 'sunflower' in my life!

As you've wished to many of us, I wish, in turn to you: 

Sending hugs for your birthday and best wishes today and always.  You've touched my life and the lives of many of us our here; you've enriched us all.  May God bless and keep you all the days of your life!  

Hugs~c

Hope you'll join in the birthday celebration, over at Ardyth's place!!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!