Foxy Hello...The Card Concept #40~Forest Friends, Share Joy Challenge #4~Sketch + Clean and Simple

Hello..the last day of September. Already!

Last year, we implemented a new student information data system in our district and oh my stars! Talk about a steep learning curve!  Through all the disarray and yes, chaos (technology is amazing...when it works), we had a guiding light: an admin assistant, Bobbi, from a neighbouring school board, whose expertise helped us over and over and over to navigate some turbulent waters.  I can't count the number of times I made *HELP ME* calls, which were but one batch of the many she received over the year from the other admin assistants in our several schools. She came to my rescue - in person or with instructions patiently given over the phone or by remotely taking over my computer and just 'getting it done' - every. single. time.

My card - inspired by Share Joy Challenge #4~Sketch + Clean and Simple, featuring Taylored Expression's Little Bits Fox and Hello die,

is heading to Bobbi...a hello to a wonderful colleague and an incredibly sweet individual!

I'm also sharing (Clean and Layered) at The Card Concept #40~Forest Friends

Wishing you a most marvelous Wednesday; thank you for visiting!

Hugs,

Freshly Made Coffee....Freshly Made Sketches #205, Fall Coffee Lovers' Blog Hop

Hello,

Let's begin our Monday morning with a cup of coffee....

Inspiration from Freshly Made Sketches #205

and, of course, the Fall Coffee Lovers' Blog Hop that is absolutely steaming with entries! Tooooo awesome!

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Dreams Do Come True...Muse #134, Addicted to CAS #73~Dream, TIME OUT Challenge #40~Case Tracey

Hello again.

Another quick post!

Simple math to explain how I arrived at my card:

Muse #134, showcasing Anita's gorgeous embossed and water-coloured circles +

TIME OUT Challenge #40~Case Tracey, with a stunning card that is sponging and floral vellum luscious +

Addicted to CAS #73~Dream, which happens to be in a sentiment that needs some TLC

- (minus) having no circles to emboss or flowers to create from vellum + a 'thank you, but no thank you' to water-colouring (we are still soooooo on the outs!) + some *adapting*  = my card.

A STAMPlorations circle stencil, sponged with distress inks (inspired by Anita, of course), with a vellum butterfly (my translation of Tracy's flowers) and a 'dream' sentiment from Neat & Tangled...

Apologies for the annoying shadows on the butterfly...it is vellum, with a pretty shimmery silver foil paper body...

NOTE: Thrilled and delighted to be one of three Honorable Mentions at MUSE.  THANK YOU!

Thank you, Anita, Tracey and the Addicted to CAS team:  no way would I have arrived at this card on my own! I like it...really x really like it!

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

Fangtastic Day....Mojo Monday #416, Chouxchoux Paper Art Challenge #1~Halloween, CAS-ology Week #165~Circles

Hello!

Speed-posting!  I'm literally 10 minutes from the gallery closing over at Mojo Monday #416!  Eeek!

Speaking of *eeeek*...here's my cutie patootie vampire and his spider friend, surrounded by starry circles, a row of hugs-and-kisses and a 'Have a fangtastic day' sentiment tag...

He'll be visiting over at Lori's Chouxchoux Paper Challenge #1~Halloween/Fall

as well as at CASology #165~Circles (even though I suspect he's breaking the CAS rules somewhat!)

I've had a rather crafty weekend...be back *very* soon with a couple more cards...

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

Leafy Thanks...Inkspirational Challenges #92~Picture Inspiration, AAA Cards #48~Autumn Colours, Addicted to CAS #72~Leaves, Uniko Challenge #25~Autumn/Fall, Simon Says Monday Challenge~Use a Stamp

Hello,

End of September and Fall's presence surrounds us in the rich autumn palette of the leaves, the crispness of the air, the donning of cozy sweaters, leggings, boots.   Rather romantic...and so, too, is the picture inspiration (Emma Block) the DT and I are inviting you to draw inspiration from for Inkspirational Challenges #92

What draws your eye? The trees and their heart-shaped leaves (which I just now noticed!), the leafy path, the sweet dalmation, tugging on his leash, the little girl and her puppy companion, the entranced-with-one-another couple, the shades of blue/grey or reds/orange?  So many entry points...

Please welcome our talented Guest Designer, Jen (aka Magic Flying Boots), with a card that truly is magical!  Once again, my teammates have dazzled me with their interpretations; they'd love if you strolled over for a visit: Marina, Shauna, Sandie, Yvonne, Nonni, Kim, Pia.

Late last fall, the lovely STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves joined my collection, and this card marks their debut. I chose the three patterned images, coloured them randomly (or so I thought) with distress markers (I was drawn to the leaves from the photo), gave them a 'huff and a puff' (no water-colour or spritzing...tooooo scary!. I think more puffing was needed to blend the colours more), and stamped them around my Uniko sentiment.  I'm not well-versed in creating this type of background, but because I love what others create, I figured I'd give it a go. I'm 'okay' with the result, but next time, I'm aspiring to design a card like this one by Jeanne.  The circle sentiment: swoon-inducing! Anyway...mine's a 'starting' point and oh, how pretty those leaf images are to 'colour' and to stamp...

What features of the picture will you share with us?  I'm excited to find out! See you in the gallery and remember: the winner will be invited to join us as a guest designer in a future challenge.

I'm also heading to:

AAA Cards #48~Autumn Colours

Addicted to CAS #72~Leaves

Uniko Challenge #25~Autumn/Fall

Simon Says Monday Challenge~Use a Stamp

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

Hugs,

Fall Coffee Lovers' Blog Hop...

Hello,

Once again, the amazing Amy Tsuruta, and with her dynamic duo - Kimberly and Chaitali - are uniting the fabulous card-making community for a Fall Coffee Lovers' Blog Hop

Prizes are beyond outstanding; inspiration is 'galore' and beyond; and the allure of hot fall-themed beverages - stamps, dies and 'for real' -  is simply too tempting to resist. This hop truly is a magical place to play...

Since we have a whole lot o'hopping to do, I'll be quick:  two notecards, featuring Tim Hotz coffee themed images, coloured with Chameleon pens.  No sentiments...just some 'warm' on a card....

Okay, off to hop...Hope you'll join me!!

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

Hugs,

Leaf Thanks...Tag You're It Challenge #31

 Hello!

Welcome to Tag, You're It! Challenge #31, where my incredibly talented DT and I are inviting you to draw inspiration from this gorgeous, shimmery, classy leaf tag designed by our sweet, creative Jeanne:

Isn't that leaf stunning, with the red/gold combination, set against the vibrant orange?  The pop of blue in the button and string...oh my!  Jeanne's eye for colour pairings is absolutely amazing!

Want to see more *amazing*?  Then, head over to gaze at the fabulous interpretations created by our talented guest designer, Michele Henderson, and my team mates: Anja, Erin, Donna, Kara Lynne, Tracey and Marybeth.

My card is *not* a shimmery gold/red translation; rather, I brought out my much neglected distress inks and markers to sponge up a leaf die cut.  A few sequins (which I don't use often, as you tell by my wonky placement),  a Your Next Stamp sentiment and...voila!  The journey into the fall crafting season begins....

Hope to see your tag in the gallery!

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

Batty for You...Addicted to Stamps and More #163~Holiday, CAS(E) this Sketch #141, Chouxchoux Paper Art Challenge #1~Halloween/Fall

Hello,

Today, my DT and I welcome you to Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #163~Holiday.  While Halloween is technically not a holiday, this year it falls on a Saturday, so I'm proclaiming it as such *grin* and sharing with you two cards, featuring my new CB Fright Night stamps/dies and a last year's Memory box spider web die.  Inspiration for my layout - with a 'magnification' adaptation, of course - come from CAS(E) this Sketch #141

First up, sporting a not-too-scary wing span, a cute fanged-smile and an outpouring of 'love' is my sweet little bat...

Second, my cross-eyed ghost, popping out from behind the tree, with his two companions, with Happy Halloween wishes....

Hopefully these aren't too scary for my niece's kindergarten teachers.  And oh, do I have ideas for little cards for her classmates (all 31 of them) and my nephew's daycare pals (20 some...).  Halloween stamps and dies are just so much fun!

Please visit the marvelous holiday-themed inspiration over at Addicted to Stamps and More, then join us with a design of your own.  As added incentive, one lucky winner will receive a....

How awesome would that be!  Kylie's stamps are AH-MAZING! Check them out here (I'm rather partial to the butterflies...and the sentiments...oh, and the numbers *grin*.

I'm also heading over to a new-to-me challenge - that definitely appears inviting and welcoming -  over at Chouxchoux Paper Art Challenge #1~Halloween/Fall

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

                                                       

Celebrate and Thank You...Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #327~Lace, Simon Wednesday Challenge~Die Crazy, The Card Concept #39~Daisies

Hello,

My clipboard and stopwatch are packed; I'm bundled in several layers of warm clothes (including gloves), I have my 'big girl pants' on and, in a matter of minutes, I'll be heading east, down the highway (on my own...my husband is staying in town as he has work-related meetings today) to be an official at a cyclo-cross race in the 'big city' about 75 minutes away.  Last I checked, 215 riders were registered (they race in 'ability' level categories, in varying lengths of time, from 40 minutes for the new riders to 60 for the 'elite' men).  A busy day in store. Tomorrow, the same thing, except the race is here and my husband will be the 'chief' for the event, which means I have to 'do as he tells me.' Uh huh....and I do. At least as far as races go *grin*

So, before I embark on my trek, two cards to share, both inspired by Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #327~Lace.  Aren't these cupcakes classy?

Alas, I have nothing truly 'lacy' in my collection, so I zoomed in on the photo to see what other images I could focus on and also paid close attention to the variety of lovely interpretations offered by the DT..  I finally settled on using a delicate touch stenciled background (flourishes taking the place of lace) and, in the first, a silver tag with a pink daisy, as a nod to the whisper of black/silver seen in the cupcake liners and the slight hue of pink that the close-up reveal.

After making that one, it dawned on me that I have a 'lace-ish' butterfly, so I changed up the background ink to soft blue - again seen in the photo - and shimmery silver butterfly (it looks black, but it's not) with a vellum undercoat.  

The pink clean & layered daisy card will go to the gallery at The Card Concept #39~Daisies

and both will join Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Die Crazy

That's it...I'd best skedaddle!  Have a marvelous Saturday!

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

Hugs,

Let's Chill and Cheer...CAS(E) this Sketch #140, NBUS Challenge #5, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Die Crazy

Hello!

The air is chilly; the leaves are burnished with red-orange hues and swirling in piles on the ground;the larch trees are wearing gowns of golden needles; new snow has appeared on the mountain peaks, and even though the signs of Fall are abundant and clear, I am NOT ready to give up summer just yet! Nope!

Two cards today, for CAS(E) this Sketch #140, and as is my way, I've made some *ahem* adaptations...slight adaptations...

Ta dahhhh...still hanging on to summer, my friends, with a couple more of my NBUS Penguins in Paradise.  I hope the 'beach scenes' I stamped with my various brush strokes images for these cutie-patooties fits the bill with the sketch...

Because this is their first time on stage, my waddlers are heading over to awesome Darnell's NBUS Challenge #5

 and, because there's die-cuts aplenty, we're also off to Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Die Crazy.

I so appreciate you indulging me in holding on to summer..

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

Spooky Treats...MUSE #132

Hello,

Yes, I'm back...and I'll be quick after my previous post's chit-chat.

Over at MUSE #132, talented, brilliant and witty Joan tempted us with this sentiment-starring-role gem that truly lifts my spirits every time I see it (and trust me, it's received plenty of views!)"

No set similar to hers resides in my collection, but I did my best to come 'close'...okay, close-ish.  I'll be embarking soon on my Halloween-cards only diet for the next while, so I figured this would be a good warm-up...

NOTE: Thrilled and honoured to be one of the Honourable Mentions over at MUSE! THANK YOU!

Pretty straight-forward:  my Spooky treats sentiments, paired with Taylored Expressions Little Bit Halloween images and some colourful Halloween-starred paper from Doodlebug.

Thank you for the inspiration, Joan (and I'm going to check out that set you used right now!).

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