Friday, July 31, 2015

It's Your Special Day...Inkspirational Challenge #88~Photo Inspiration. Simply Create Too #91~Anything Goes, Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes

Hello!

Welcome to Inspirational Challenge #88, where our talented guest designer - Lucille - and my creative team-mates - PiaShaunaMarinaSandieNonniYvonneKim - invited you to draw inspiration from this idyllic beach scene:


My card is a hybrid of the photo's 'details' - the sky and the layout - and the 'concept' - in that going to an alluring beach, to sit under a palm tree in a comfy basket-seat swing - involves travel. With those aspects fueling my muse, here's what I came up with:

I created a cloud stencil using speech bubble dies (just snip the 'pokey' bit off and voila...clouds), used a map from one of my husband's maps (shhh...), a tag from Reverse Confetti and a sentiment from Clearly Besotted. As for the helicopter (also Clearly Besotted)...well, that just happened *grin*  One needs to get to an exotic island paradise somehow, right?

As you can see with my card , and those of our GD and design team, the photo offers plenty of angles to explore!  What catches your eye?  Let us know by joining us in the gallery. The winner will be invited as a Guest Designer for a future challenge.

Also sharing at Simply Create too #91~ Anything Goes and Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes


We have three days of bike-race officiating ahead of us, for the most popular event in our province - the Tour de Bowness.  Long hours, plenty of driving, plenty of action.  While part of me is excited, part of me is also exhausted (and feeling ever so badly about falling behind in commenting!).  Good thing I have plenty of Danish Kringle, from my dear friend, Bev, to fortify me, in both body and spirit! Yummo!!

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


Coffee...Enjoy!...CAS-ual Fridays #141~Embossing, The Paper Players #255~Sandie's Sketch Challenge, Simply Create Too #91~Anything Goes

Hello,

After my long post yesterday, I'm going with 'brief' today. Of course, the fact that two challenges are closing pretty much immediately makes that more of a necessity than a choice *grin*

My card today was inspired by five things:
CAS-ual Fridays #141~Embossing,


The Paper Players #255-Sandie's Sketch Challenge (which I 'adapted" a bit...oops)


and two newcomers to my collection: a TH embossing folder, which I've had for a while, making its debut, along with some brand-spanking new TH mini coffee-themed images.  This is one of four in the collection. Chameleon pens again, with a not-original-colour theme that I borrowed from the stamps' packaging. Hey...it looked good there, so I figured I'd try it out myself. Final touch: a die cut Enjoy....which I hope you do!


I'm also sharing at Simply Create Too #91~Anything Goes

Aiming for some crafting today - apparently I have a 'must make cards now' build-up that needs some release!  That, and the fact that we'll be at bike races allllll weekend, so craft-zone time will be limited. Hope you're engaging in some creative expressions today, too!

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

Birthday 'Gator...Tag You're It Challenge #27, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

Hello,



Time for Tag You're It Challenge #27 to begin...and check out the absolutely darling delight that Anja created to dazzle and inspire us! That little turtle is fabulous - and how impressive is her die-cutting...and colouring....and stenciling...and sponging?  Talk about ever so many idea-sparking possibilities!


As you can tell, I'm smitten with Anja's tag, so I set out to case hers, with a twist.  Introducing my Paper Smooches 'gator, who's smiling not only because he's wishing someone a 'Happy Birthday' , but because he's happy about sporting a 'reasonable' green-and-brown suit coloured with Chameleon pens.


Making this card/tag was quite fun, especially since I only had to toss a couple messed up 'gators before I created "the one."

Please be sure to scope out what my amazing teammatesErinDonnaJeanne, and Kara Lynne -  and our talented guest designer, Betty,  have created...then join us in the gallery! YOU could be one of our guest designers!

I'm also heading to Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

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




Thursday, July 30, 2015

Dream Come True...and Winnie & Walter Rerun: The Big, the Bold and Fun, 4 Crafty Chicks #257~Anything Goes, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

Hello!

Remember that 'second' road trip I mentioned in a previous post?  Well, now that I'm home (we arrived at midnight today), I'm sooooo excited to share the details...

Last Wednesday (seems like so long ago!), my husband and I flew to Ottawa (I quelled my fear of air travel reasonably well...sort of) where he spent two days working and I spent two days wandering the city I was born in - and left at age four - oh, so many years ago.  On Friday, he picked up the vehicle we were driving home - a 15-passenger van with a trailer, that was partially loaded with bike gear belonging to athletes from Alberta, who had been competing in Eastern Canada - and Saturday, we added to the mix with a bunch of supplies from the office that is being relocated from Ottawa to Canmore.  Once we packed in as much as we could, I nestled into the passenger seat, and he, in the driver's. We Ottawa a 'see you later' and settled in for the long, long road trip home that took us To Windsor, Ontario, into the US and, late last night, back home.  Five days...many hours of driving...gorgeous surroundings, but urban and rural...some 'scary' moments (the crazy winds in South Dakota, between Fargo and Minot, that saw us hunkered down in a gas station parking lot for two hours Tuesday evening. The gusts, paired with seeing a truck/trailer overturn in front of us, made that an easy decision!)...plenty of bonding time...and opportunity for another dream come true!

When I first learned of the trip - and my husband's plan to return via the US - I knew this was 'the' chance to meet one of the sweetest, most precious, most darling gems in this blog-iverse: Bev, of Happy Dance fame! No way were we going 'that far' without making this happen - and thanks to my marvelous husband, who altered our otherwise tight return schedule - it did!  You can imagine my excitement when, in response to my 'wanna meet' email, she responded with an enthusiastic "yes"; you can imagine my excitement when we pulled into Racine the evening before our 'date', knowing she was but minutes, rather than the span of a country, away; you can imagine my excitement when I heard her voice answer my 'local' phone call to let her know we'd arrived; you can imagine the excitement that kept me awake most of the night.  Morning couldn't come quickly enough...

You know those scenes, where a couple runs toward one another, arms  outstretched, locking into a warm embrace?  That was us!  I don't think the van/trailer was even fully stopped before I was out, running towards Bev who was running my direction.  We met in a happy-dance hug that was perfect...just absolutely 'meant-to-be' perfect!

For the next far-too-short three hours, I spent glorious time, basking in the warm, open, genuine, sparkling, hilarious, witty, down-to-earth beauty - both inside and out - that is Bev.  We covered a lot of ground during our chat: from our card-making passion, to craft shopping (including our 'what was I thinking" anecdotes), to kids, to 'histories', to husbands, to...well, to everything and anything in-between!  Old friends, comfortable and delighting in one another's company, catching up: that captures my experience to a 't'. We already love her from her blogs, but in real life...WOW!  If you were to be in her presence, guaranteed you'd fall for her even more, exactly the way I did!

My husband took a photo of us, so you can see how gorgeous Bev is! That smile of hers lights up a room and it sure is infectious, as you can see by mine!


Not only did she delight and enthrall me with her companionship, but she came bearing gifts: not one, but two Danish Kringles from the town's renowned O&H Bakery! Oh my...these flaky, almond-laden pastries (how Bev knew I'm an almond fan is beyond me! Love almonds!) are decadent, ultra-fabulous, "yes, I'll gladly take another slice" delights!   Let's just say: only one Kringle made its way home *grin*!


Side story: when we crossed the border back into Canada, one of the border guard's questions was, "Did you receive any gifts while you were out of the country?"  My husband didn't a miss a beat, responding with, "Yes, my wife's friend from Racine gave us two Kringles."  The guard didn't know what that was; he does now!  He declined a taste, but I know he was tempted!

Meeting Bev, "for real" has enriched my life.  We left far, far too early; we could have talked for hours....for days! Guess that means I'll need to plan another visit...soon!  And until then, I'll tuck this special memory into that special place where I can pull out this treasured time spent with a treasured friend whenever I need a sparkle added to my days, which will be often!

Happy sighhhh...

Okay, now for my card that was partially done before we left and that I wrapped up this morning (I forgot to set my clock back...I 'thought" it was 7am, but it was 6am...oh well, couldn't sleep anyway...) for Winnie &Walter's, The Big, the Bold and Fun Re-Run Challenge

I Chameleon-coloured (we are going to become pals, those pens and I!) several of the multifaceted stars from the True set, die cut them into various sizes, and paired them with the Shine sentiment. 


I'm also heading to:



Unpacking, Kringle-bibbling, laundry, Kringle-nibbling, some crafting...three days of bike-racing coming up Saturday-Monday (long weekend) so more traveling, then off to see my mom and family next Wednesday for about a week! Excited!!

I'm still aiming to catch up on comments, so do stay tuned!

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






Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Floral Happy...Addicted to Stamps and More #155~Photo Inspiration

Hello!

July is passing all too quickly, especially with all the 'hither and yon' travels my husband and I have been on. We're on one of our treks right now...and since we're ready to head off to yet another destination, I'll be brief...

Today, my design team and I invite you to join us at Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #155,


A while back, I flirted with the idea of investing in Copics - oodles of them. And then I looked at the price...ummm, yep, nope. So, I picked up my Chameleon pens and told them, quite clearly, that we were going to learn to work and play together.  It will take a while, but I plan to figure these markers out; hopefully, you'll bear with me as I do.  Today's card is one of my experiments...

The lovely florals in the image gave rise to my decision to create a little floral arrangement of my own with my new, lovely Deepti's Blooming Buds (Dee's Artsy Impressions, available at STAMPlorations).  Here they are - Chameleon pen coloured - with a Happy sentiment (mainly because I *am* happy with the results).


Please be sure to visit me team-mates' creations; dazzle and delight guaranteed! And as added incentive to join us, here's the prize that awaits *you*..

                                                       http://www.bugaboostamps.com/ (7 digis)

See you in the gallery!

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

Hugs,

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Scribbly Circles Enjoy...MUSE #125, Little Tangles Challenge #58-die-Cutting

Hello!

Yet again, I'm nearly at the 11th hour, 59 minutes and 59 seconds of posting a card that I've had done for over a week! Seriously, I need an organization-nanny...

My card was sparked by the inspiration card created by sweet and talented Anita over at Muse #125:


I'm showcasing an "old" PTI set, but a new-comer to my collection:  scribbly circles.  Anita's colours and layout caught my eye....


NOTE:  So honoured and thrilled to be selected as a Featured Member at Muse..  THANK YOU!

I'm also heading over to Little Tangles #58~Die Cutting


My husband and I are in the midst of Road Trip #2, which partially explains my disjoint posting and slow-poke commenting. Stay tuned for more details...

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


Friday, July 24, 2015

Gear Butterfly Celebrate - Tag, You're It Challenge #26 (Reminder Post), Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes, City Crafters Challenge Blog #271~Hemp orTwine

Hello!

If you 'happen' to visit (hint, hint) over at Tag, You're It Challenge #26, you'd be dazzled and delighted by the  tag created by my team-mate, Marybeth, which I know you'll find as sweet, charming and inspiring as I do, especially since it has a butterfly on it! Resist making a tag with a butterfly on it? Not possible...so  I did!


My 'reminder' tag for this challenge draws inspiration from, obviously, Marybeth's butterfly, the back-tag polka-dot pattern and the sentiment placement....


Hope you'll find time to join us in the gallery here. I'm excited to see how Marybeth's tag inspired you!

My tag is also heading off to:

Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes


City Crafters Challenge Blog #271-~Hemp orTwine

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

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Big Bloom Birthday....Muse #124

Hello!

We're back from a week-long road trip and before we head off again (very soon), I *had* to squeeze in a card for Muse #124, where Ardyth dazzled us with this smile-making field of sweet daisies.  Way toooo darling!


Not crafting for several days sees me feeling rather rusty, but Ardyth certainly sparked design-inspiration, as well as sending me a-rummaging through my Paper Smooches collection that really does deserve much more TLC!  I found a rarely used Big Bloom die, a Reflections set and a Sentiment Sampler...put them all together and the result looks rather like this....


From Ardyth's card I drew the colours, the 'technique' - the flower elements are all sponged with Distress Inks - and, obviously, the floral image.

Squeaking in last minute, so I won't chit-chat this time...

I'm still in the  midst of catching up with comments on the awesome cards appearing in my Feedly, so stay tuned...you're definitely on my list, my dear, wonderful and oh-so-patient friends!

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


Friday, July 17, 2015

Happy...Inkspirational Challenge #87~Anything Goes with Kraft, Simon Says Monday Challenge~Anything Goes, Winnie & Walter~Join in to Win

Hello!

Today, my fabulous design team - PiaMarinaSandieKimShaunaYvonne - and I, along with our amazing, talented guest designer -  Bobby - welcome you to  Inkspirational Challenge #87



Kraft and colour...oh, the possibilities - and you'll see a marvelous range when you scope out the creativity of my teammates and Bobby.  Please go for a visit and leave them some love; guaranteed you'll make their day brighter!

Another simple card, featuring W&W products (triangle screening and happy cutaway), and  inking a la the style of Jennifer McGuire.


Hope I've inspired  you to 'get your kraft on' and join us in the gallery! The lucky winner will be invited as a Guest Designer for a future challenge.  I'd love if it were *you*!

Also sharing my card at:



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

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Snowman and Bunny...Addicted to Stamps and More #153~Holiday, City Crafter Challenge #270~Woodland Animals

Hello!

Welcome to 
Addicted to Stamps and More #153~Holiday where my fabulous design team and I are inviting you to showcase cards that are holiday themed. 

My card is simply...well, simple! Being in the zone of hectic for the last while had me asking Kylie for a 'challenge miss', because Mr. Mojo has vacated the premises.  At the last minute, however, I remembered my as-yet-unused Purple Onion stamps I ordered last Christmas, so out came this snowman and bunny set...and so, too, did my new 12-set of Ziggies.  First 'public' showcase of both.

Technically, this is not quite a holiday card - no sentiment - but considering the several attempts at colouring with the markers that this took, I wasn't going to chance something 'crooked' or 'splotchy' from happening.  Let's pretend the sentiment is...oh, *Snowman-y Hugs*, or *Merry Christmas* or *Warm Winter Hugs*...

Please head over to see what my talented team-mates have created that are full-on holiday-themed (as compared to mine that's flirting on the edge).  Maybe I'll add a sentiment later.  For now, I'm just happy my water-colour attempts are okay-ish.  And that bunny...way tooooooooo cute, hugging that darling heart-toting, carrot-nose-sporting, striped-scarf-and-hat-accessoried, Wink of Stella sparkly snowman....


Now, bring out your holiday-themed card/project and play along! The prize to entice you...

Prize - 3 images up to $10
http://stitchybearstamps.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index

See you in the gallery!!

I'm also joining City Crafters Challenge Blog #270~Woodland Animals (my little bunny is a woodland critter)


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

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Foxy Birthday...MUSE Challenge #123, TIME OUT Challenge 35~Nature, with the Optional Twist of Animals, Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes

Hello!

I'm jumping in with a quick post today, before heading to a bike race, where my only duty is to be a 'fan of cycling'! What a treat not to traipse along with clipboard and stopwatch in hand, not to have to worry about who's being lapped, not to have to try to catch jersey numbers as riders zip across the finish. All I need do: watch, cheer, applaud...simple stuff.  Yayyyy...

Over at Muse Challenge #123, talented and brilliant, Joan Bardee (seriously, she is a 'must follow' for her amazing cards and oh-so-engaging posts!) has tempted us with this sweet cherries number:


Drawing colours, image placement and design from her card, and pairing it with TIME OUT Challenge #35~Nature with the Optional Twist of Animals, here's what happened...


Tee hee...isn't that little fox a cutie?  He's perched atop a panel inked with my new MFT Linen background stamp, a die cut row of PS hearts, and a sentiment banner from Clearly Besotted.

NOTE: So very honoured and delighted to be a Top 3 Featured Member at MUSE. THANK YOU!!

I'm also joining the gallery at:
Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes



Wishing you a wonderful Sunday and I'm out the door...

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

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

*Belated* HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Darnell and THANK YOU, Taunya....Lacy Scrolls x 2...CAS(E) this Sketch #130, Virginia's View Challenge #16~100% Stamped, Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes

Hello,

A two-part post, with two cards, for two AH-MAZING people who have brought joy and love into my life:

I am a *naughty, naughty* friend! I missed our lovely, wonderful, sweet Darnell's birthday by SIX days *hanging my head in shame*.  BUT.. I am here now with a 'relatively' good reason for my tardiness.  New goodies I'd been anxiously been awaiting for over the past couple-three weeks -   arrived later than I anticipated - yep, placing the blame squarely on that situation - and then came the learning curve of figuring them out.  The combination of time and 'd-uh' (not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to some images...and we won't even discuss water-colouring)  results in the story of why I'm behind (add a weekend's worth of bike races to the mix, too).  Hopefully, you won't mind too much, my friend!

So, today, July 8th, I'm 're-celebrating' Darnell's birthday.  You are, indeed, a most dear, precious, special friend.  In this wonderful community, you've touched ever so many lives, through your engaging, hilarious posts, your delightfully creative cards and your always warm, sweet comments.  My life has been enriched in having you in it, especially back in December...you offered a shoulder to lean on and ears to listen. For the gift of your friendship I truly am incredibly grateful, incredibly blessed!  Still, you can give me a good 'talking too' about being un-punctual!  I shall stand in the corner and then, write lines.

The stamp sets I'm using joined my collection as the result of a win from darling Daisies Girl, Taunya Butler.  Because of her exponential generosity, Altenew's Lacy Scrolls and Label Love have come to live at my house.  Thank you ever, ever, ever so much  Taunya!

Before I made Darnell's card, I made eleventy-twelve a couple practice cards until one turned out that I was pleased with.  I'm proud to be sending  this to Taunya, a lovely gem, avid supporter of my blog (and the blogs of many others) and an all-around sweetheart. Oh...and her cards are sheer fun and fabulous delights!  Taunya, you have brought much beauty and sunshine to my days - with your enthusiastic comments, beautiful cards and valued friendship.  For all that, and more,  I'm immensely grateful!


After a bit more practice, a change in colours and slight shift in design, Darnell's card emerged...


Whew...after figuring out how to add some depth and dimension to the images (I relied on Jennifer McGuire, of course), I'm rather pleased with the results.  I hope you, Darnell, and you, Taunya, will like the cards I made...

I'm sharing one or both in the following galleries:
CAS(E) this Sketch #130


Virginia's View Challenge #16~Focus on Stamping - my flowers are stamped with Memento Dew Drops, then highlight coloured with white and yellow Prismacolour pencils. I totally understand if this doesn't fit your challenge, Virginia, but crossing fingers it does...)





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