Coffee Happy... Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Hello....

A BIG shout out to Amy and Chaitali for investing their time, energy and abundant creativity to bring us the awesome, amazing and, already, wildly popular, Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

Sponsors, prizes, oodles of inspiration...you name it; this challenge has it! Just check out the awesome graphic below for an idea of just how AH-MAZING this coffee hop truly is. After that, head to the gallery: only Day 1 and already 185 entries (186 if I get mine in immediately!)

The gallery's open until Friday, March 6th, so we have time to play, play and play!  Thanks so much, Amy and Chaitali; you girls rock!

Here's my opening card...a new drip textures stencil, my much-loved coffee die, a new W&W happy in red foil and ta dahhhh....I love coffee!  

Before I send you hopping along, I want to share the a link to the Brewed Daily:  What does your coffee say about your personality? infographic.  Super cool...

I drink my coffee black, which according to the infographic survey, that means I'm

• straightforward
• likes to keep things simple
• quiet, but moody (oh yeah....they've got that right *grin*)
• minimalist

Yes, quite accurate, in the grand scheme! Check out the link to see if your 'brew' is 'you'.

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

Hugs, 

Elephants and Umbrellas...Inkspirational Challenge #77, ColourQ #281, CASology #135~Mini

Hello,

Today, it's word prompt time over at Inspirational Challenge #77

Sprinkle...such a pleasant sounding word that evokes all kinds of images, ideas and impressions.  A sprinkle of rain, a sprinkling of sugar, sprinkles as decoration, a little sprinkly splash, the name of a darling pet...possibilities galore!

This week, we're joined by sweet, talented Beate / Stempelomi, a passionate designer for the past 10 years.  Her sprinkle-inspired card: pure delight!  Please do visit Beate at her blog, as well as my DT members:   Sandie, Marina, Shauna, Yvonne, Nonni, Pia, and Kim.  Leaving them a sprinkle of love will make their day!

I have two 'mini-image' cards to share for this challenge:

First is my wee elephant, with a little trunk sprinkle...

His colours were inspired by ColourQ #281:

Second, is my wee umbrella-in-the-rain card. My basement attempts at photography don't capture the 'blue' of the stenciled rain and sponged cloud very well, so I'll be giving this another go in the daylight. Hopefully, the sun will be shining...

I'm sharing both over at CASology #135:

Please share your sprinkles of creativity with us in the Inkspirational Gallery!  We will be choosing a top pick/s from this challenge and inviting one entrant to join us as a Guest Designer.

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

Hugs,

 

Donuts and Butterflies...The Paper Players #233~Sketch from Sandy, Curtain Call~Donut Delight, STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Sketch Challenge #28

Hello all...

Truly a fly-in, fly out post, to share two cards...

Here's the first, with a  butterfly (yes...another one), and my new wood grain stamp, embossed in white, followed with a sponge-fest..

NOTE: Honored and thrilled to be Shannon's choice for a "Cut Above"! Thank you ever so much!

The Paper Players #233~Sketch from Sandy

And, just for a little something different....SURPRISE!  Water-coloured donuts...yayyy!! (Gahhh...missed the link-up by *this much*! Silly me!!)

This no-calories card is off to Curtain Call~Donut Delight

and STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Sketch Challenge #28

ETA: Also adding to STAMPlorations Anything Goes Challenge (thanks for the reminder, Becca!)

Another late work evening for my husband (big biathlon events begin tomorrow), so dashing off to deal with dinner duties...

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

Hugs,

Special Day Butterfly...Just Us Girls #281~Colour Week, Always Playing with Paper #25

Hello,

Whirlwind week happening, and because time is of the essence, I'll save up chatter for *very* soon!

Yes, more butterflies...'nuff said! Thank you for indulging me in my obsession...

Another 'drab' photo, as we've been having a run of dull days, with few peeks of blue skies.  In real life, the pastel/lightness of the pink and grey, paired with the navy sentiment is quite fetching.

Given the colour commentary, my challenge entry is fairly easy to predict:

Just Us Girls #381~Colour Week (want. those. cushions!)

I was also inspired by Lesley's Challenge #25 sketch, although I did make a few, ahem...adjustments...which I hope are okay...

Off to make supper for an arriving-home-late husband...

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

Happy Butterfly Birthday...Addicted to Stamps and More #133, Uniko #18~Birthday, Fusion~Orange, Teal and Brown, TPE #287~Anything Goes

Hello!

Welcome to Addicted to Stamps and More #133 , where we're inviting you to design a holiday-inspired card...Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, birthdays...all sorts of possibilities!  

You've been well warned that my butterfly affliction has returned full-force, so I have for you today...yep, another butterfly card. I strolled outside my comfort zone to water-colour this new Uniko English Garden butterfly with my rather neglected Twinkling H2Os.  Please don't look too closely; my 'blending' needs much more practice (the whole 'let the water do the work' formula eclipses me. Apparently, I have 'control-issues' *grin*). Eleventy-twelve attempts, until I finally arrived at a presentable butterfly, that well..I quite like. In fact, I also quite liked re-visiting my Twinkling paints...but we won't get too carried away using them (of that you can be assured. As for butterflies, those are heavy on the menu...)

Please be sure to check out the fabulous holiday inspiration cards my team-mates have designed; inspiration guaranteed!  Added incentive:  the winner for this challenge will win a  $10 gift certificate from wonderful Shery, of Stamplorations fame. 

See: even more reason to showcase your creativity in the ATSM gallery!

My card is heading off to:
Uniko #18~Birthday

Fusion~Orange, Teal and Brown (closed before I arrived...and my orange looks yellow, but it truly is orange)

TPE #287~Anything Goes

Looking forward to seeing you in the ATSM gallery!

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

Butterfly Birthdays x 2...Happy Little Stamper February Sketch Challenge, ShowCASe Your Style#9~Birthday, Winnie and Walter~Join in to Win, Simply Create Too #79~Anything Goes, Less is More #212~Things with Wings, Colour Q #280

Hi again,

"Just enough time" before I begin my salad making duties to share two cards that were inspired by Happy Little Stamper February Sketch Challenge.  I was 'this close' to not trying, and then my new Uniko butterflies, paired with some new stencils, pinged a pong (thank you, sweet Bev, for coining this most fabulous phrase!

I made this card first, and then,

after a stroll through some other challenges, I hit upon ColourQ #280, which reminded me that I have Blackberry Bliss ink (and paper) in my stash! Woo hooo....and so, another butterfly metamorphosis. The other two colours are as close as I could get; the  'happy' is a Winnie and Walter cut-away, using gold foil...

 One of these cards will be winging its way to our darling, sweet, amazing Anita, who celebrated her birthday last week. She'll have to wait to see which it is *grin*

I'm sharing my cards at:

Winnie and Walter~Join in to Win ('happy cutaway...which makes me SO happy!)

Simply Create Too #79~Anything Goes

ShowCASe Your Style #9~Birthday

Less Is More #212~Things with Wings

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

Hugs...

Fabulous Birthday Butterfly...CASology #134: MONOCHROME, AAA Cards~#33 "Orange U Glad UR CAS", TPE #286~Happy Birthday, Ella

Hello, my wonderful friends!

 Whew...what a week! We traveled 6 hours west to see my husband's family on Friday, returning Monday. After a 'take a breath' day on Tuesday, I headed north on the bus, to spend time with my mom, and my husband arrived Friday evening, to chauffeur me home on Saturday. Travel-weary and exhausted, but oh my, such wonderful visits!

Days with mom went far too quickly!  My sister-in-law, with the kiddos in tow, picked me up, so I was mega-watt smiling from the get-go! While Ms. T was off to ballet, Mr. C and I played, watched TV, helped Bacia make supper and all-around had fun. Once Ms. T and my sister-in-law came back, everything escalated: more fun, more playing, more cuddles! We spent time with them at their place on Thursday evening; moments to delight in, laugh at and all-around treasure.  During the days, mom and I tended to yet more tasks (with more in the wings for down the road), and generally just 'hung out' together.  Of course,  leaving was tough, but...I'll be heading back later in March.  Actually, mom has a busy week ahead of her, that began today, where she was off to see a theater performance of "Mike, the Knight," with my brother and the kids. I'm looking forward to an update when I call this evening.  Her brother (the youngest of seven) and sister-in-law are coming through the city, enroute to see another brother, so she'll have company for a couple of days, likely on Tuesday. She seems to be doing 'alright-ish'...steps forward and backwards, as is natural.  And, to all of you who have passed along hugs to her, be they in comments, or notes, or cards: she's asked me to report that you've touched her deeply!  THANK YOU for caring about my mom, and for keeping her - and me (so blessed) - in your thoughts and prayers! Great big squishy virtual hugs to all of you!

Anyway, during 'take-a-breath' Tuesday, I started tinkering about with some new butterflies (I warned you *grin* They are sooooooo back!  Obsessing!). Yesterday and today, the metamorphosis began...and so, a couple few butterfly cards to share with you here and in a following post (or two...because yet again, I'm knocking on gallery doors, hoping I make the entry dates. Talk about being scattered...). 

Please welcome my newest 'butterfly crush' from Clearly Besotted.  I love x love x love this; another product that just so easily becomes the star of the show...

I'm entering this to CASology #34~Monochrome (although this might be more ombre...Gahhh!)

AAA Cards #33 "Orange U Glad UR CAS"

The Pink Elephant #286~Happy Birthday, Ella!  HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY, TPE!!

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

Hugs,

Beary Special Valentine...CAS(E) this Sketch #110, TPE #285~By My Valentine, 4 Crafty Chicks #233~Valentine, Simon Wednesday Challenge~All Creatures Great and Small, A Blog Named Hero~Small Scale

Hello - and belated HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to all my sweet friends!

Friday afternoon, we headed west - through fog and rain, which had me sketched out, particularly through Rogers Pass - to visit my husband's family in Kelowna for the long weekend, and to celebrate a combination of a late Christmas, Valentine's Day and an early birthday.  So marvelous to visit with my mother-in-law, as well as my husband's sister (her birthday was the 'early' event), her husband and their lovely 17 year old daughter.  My mother-in law gave me a gift certificate to the local scrapbook store here *rubbing my hands gleefully* More goodies joining my collection!

We had a delicious supper, opened gifts and then, when my husband's niece arrived, after her shift at a nearby retirement home, we feasted on a most decadent chocolate cake. Oh yes: remember the 'new' used car we bought recently? Well, that purchase meant we have three cars, soooo...my gift to my niece was to tell her that I want to give her my beloved Grand Am.  She was in complete shock, and let me just say, my heart is exponentially happy that she's absolutely thrilled. My car will be well loved by this young woman, and as much as I'm sad to 'give up' my baby, I know it will enjoy living in a much warmer climate, receiving the TLC it deserves. Our next task will be figuring out how to get it from our place to Kelowna fairly soon. We'll be plotting and scheming plans over the next short while.

Anyway, before I head off for a walk into the blue skies and warm temperatures, I'm sharing a Valentine card tI made before we left:  My teddy was coloured with prismacolour pencils and the red panel is embossed with polka dots.  Bringing this to my sweet niece when I head north - hopefully -  later in the week.

My layout inspiration comes from CAS(E) this Sketch #110

and I'm also joining the galleries at The Pink Elephant #285~Be My Valentine

4 Crafty Chicks #233~Valentine

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~All Creatures Great and Small

A Blog Named Hero~Small Scale (hope my teddy and little hearts are 'small scale' enough to fit the challenge)

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

Hugs...

Spring Butterflies...Inkspirational Challenge #76 ~Photo Inspiration, The Card Concept #28~Romantic Roses, Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge~Embossing, Winnie and Walter~Join in to Win, CAS-ual Fridays #136~Must Love Watercolour

Hello...and welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #76, where we're inviting you to design a card inspired by this gorgeous photo!  Be it the colors, the theme, the woman, the blooms, the trees, or the whole scene, we are excited to see what catches your eye!

Speaking of gorgeous photos, check  out who our Guest Designer is...

Yes *fist pump*...our marvelous, exponentially awesome, creative and witty, Darnell!  Her card is a work of art; her blog, a guarantee to put a smile - of the mega-watt, beaming kind - on your face! Please be sure to leave her some love when  you head over to visit, and do include my fabulous team-mates in your journey as well:

Marina

Shauna

Sandie

Yvonne

Nonni

Pia

Kim

Okay, before you go any further, just to give your fair warning.. it's baaaaccckkk! Yes, my beloved butterfly 'affliction'  has returned in FULL force! I 'may' have added to my butterfly collection recently, however, today's butterfly is not a newcomer...just one of my many favourites brought out to play.   Not only are the winged friends back, but, I even ventured so far as to bring out my distress inks and give them a wee test-run to see if our compatibility is improving.  Jury is still out...

I drew inspiration for my pearlized water-coloured  butterflies (I tried to use some of Dawn's techniques from WPlus9...practice needed), paired with the wonderful Spring die from Winnie and Walter and birch tree embossing folder, from the trees, as well as the colours (pale pink of the blossoms, tans/greys of the woman's dress and skin tones).

I didn't add occasion sentiments to the 'spring' because...well, I liked them as they were. Once I have a person and occasion in mind, perhaps I'll add a deep brown and white embossed sentiment...label style.  Then again, maybe a 'just because' Spring card is alright, too.

Hope you enjoyed my 'translations' of the photo; I'm looking forward to seeing your dazzling interpretations in the gallery.  The winner will be invited as a Guest Designer for a future challenge. I'd love if it were YOU!

I'm also sharing my card at:
The Card Concept #28~Romantic Roses

Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge~Embossing

Winnie and Walter~Join in to Win

ETA: Also adding (Feb. 15th) my water-coloured butterflies to CAS-ual Fridays #136~Must Love Watercolour

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

Hugs,