After several days of 'hectic', all in very good ways - and a few in fantastic ways (birthday party on the weekend for my darling niece and nephew, plus a weekend with Mom) - I finally got my act somewhat together and created a card for the following challenges: Just Us Girls #333~Flowers,
Less Is More Colour Week~Citrus and CAS(E) this Sketch #162
Several new polychromos pencils have joined my initial collection of 36 (*palm smack on forehead* should have purchased the entire kit 'n kaboodle of 120 from the outset...but I wasn't sure I'd love them. Turns out I do. Big Love), so a few had an opportunity to play....as did my 'texture' MB stencil. Wonderful Michele's sweet Happy Birds card, using the speech bubble, was especially inspiring...(and, my friend, should you be reading this, I'll be catching up on your gallery of *awwww* and AWE, very soon!)
Simple card; heart-warming message.
Before I go, here's a photo of the birthday cakes my sister-in-law designed for my niece and nephew, who turn 6 and 4, respectively, this month. She carved out the center of the white-icing cake and when she cut in...an explosion of M&Ms! The kiddos were thrilled, as were the big kiddos, standing by! Can you say: SUGAR RUSH!
My niece and I had our first 'just us two' shopping date...way tooooo much fun! When I asked her earlier in the week what she'd like for a birthday gift, her first response was "Surprise me." Eventually, we narrowed things down: I could buy her any kind of dress I wanted, as long as it had flowers all over it (so much for 'any kind I wanted' *grin*), books and jewelry. So...that's what we shopped for, with her net birthday package containing, three dresses, one of which has flowers all over, three books and one little sparkly guitar charm. Happy niece = Happy Aunty c! Bonus: everything was on super sale! SCORE!! A shopping trip with Mr. C is still on the radar for later this month...I'd best get well-rested before that happens. He's energy personified!
Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!
Gorgeous card Carol! Happy birthday to the kiddos. Your shopping date sounded like heaps of fun xx
ReplyDeleteLove your card! Beautifully colored flower, fun die, and that stenciled background is perfect for it! I can imagine your niece and nephew loving those fun cakes!
ReplyDeletebeautiful card, love the coloring.
ReplyDeleteYum to the cake!!
Amazing is right!! The coloring is outstanding : ) I give your SIL and A+++ for the sweet cakes she designed as well. How adorable to hide a surprise inside the cake!! I want her to be MY SIL!! : )
ReplyDeletePatti
Oh it sounds like your birthday party weekend was just the ticket! Those little ones are so lucky to have you for their Auntie...shopping, flowery dresses, books, and an extra special birthday cake or two! Sounds delightful! And speaking of delightful...that card is simply amazing! Such a pretty bloom, and beautifully colored too. Love it! Bev
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, those cakes!!! But fabulous though they are, your card is even more impressive. I love the background effect and the speech bubble sitting on it. Also, great colouring! All in all, brilliant!
ReplyDeleteYour card is so pretty! I love that you used a speech bubble for that gorgeous image. The blending is stunning. Thanks for playing with us at JUGS!
ReplyDeleteLovely card Carol and very unusual too. i like your use of the speech bubble and your stencil. The cakes look yummy...bet they went down a treat.and talking of treats sounds like you had as much fun as your niece on your shopping trip! Enjoy your weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous card... the shading looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much
Chrissie
"Less is More"
Lovely! Just gorgeous with the color against the white. Thanks for joining in at JUGS!
ReplyDeleteIf my visit brings you joy, your post fills me with joy as well. What a lovely, lovely visit! So fun hearing about your shopping with your niece. Loved caveat to whatever dress you wanted to get her. (big grin). Finding super sales makes it even sweeter. Those cakes look scrumptious! Would have loved to have seen their expression at the explosion of M&Ms! Finally, LOVE your card. Your coloring looks fantastic! Hugs!!! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat card, lovely image and lovely colouring. Karen x
ReplyDeleteOh my SUCH a beautiful card design Carol!! LOVE that stunning floral image and your colors! :) The cakes looks absolutely stunning and I bet they were delicious too!! YUM!! Thanks for sharing and making me hungry again!! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteOh, your card is so pretty, Carol! I love your take on the sketch!
ReplyDeleteAnd those cakes are so fun!
Your card is so beautiful....love the design and your lovely flower. Thanks for playing along with us at Just Us Girls!
ReplyDeleteNow THAT card is classy! I really love that and WOW...what incredible cakes!! It's like combining a pinata with food...I love the sugar explosion...hahaha. A very talented family is yours. :)
ReplyDeleteA fantastic card. Love the randomness of the splatter-like background against the beautiful shading on the flower. Very elegant. Your sister-in-law's cakes look yummy too!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for joining us at Less is More.
Sharon xx
What a fun card Carol! I am so loving that image and speech bubble. I still can't believe that your coloring was done with pencils, I swear it looks like copic coloring! It's so smooth and blended so nicely. I'm still speechless! lol I love the cakes your SIL made, how fun are they?!! And I bet the kiddo's love them too. Then to learn that there was an explosion of M&M's, wow! What a treat...and sugar rush...but isn't that what birthdays should be?!! Glad your little sweetie enjoyed her shopping adventures with her Auntie C. I bet the Mr. can't wait for his either. How fun for all involved! And what a fabulous Auntie they have too. Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteFabulous card, my friend. Beautiful coloring!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning card - just beautiful! Very brave to serve up so much sugar to the kids but those cakes look like so much fun...it was definitely worth the risk :) Great to see you over at Less Is More!
ReplyDeleteYour card is beautiful, Carol, but your SIL's cakes stole the show! I can see she is artistic, too! And clever, too! I'm so glad you had such a memorable time with your all-girl niece and the promise of an equally memorable time coming up with your all-boy nephew!! Hugs, Darnell
ReplyDeleteWhat a great card! I love that layout fantastic! Thanks so much for playing along with Just Us GIrls this week!
ReplyDeleteReally wonderful, c ... hey, I miss you!! xx
ReplyDelete=]
Wow! The blending on your flower is gorgeous!! What a beautiful card! So glad your busy-ness was all good! Hope the littles had a wonderful birthday! ((Hugs))
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteAnd look at those cakes!...Yum!
You card is fabulous but those cakes look simply amazing. I am sure they were as yummy as they look on your blog. Happy Birthday to your sweet nephew and niece.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled you had such an amazing weekend, Carol. Your card coloring is wonderful, and those cakes look delicious.
ReplyDeleteMon Amie ...I think your card is pretty amazing!!! Love that wonderful flower and the splattered bg and the speech bubble is such a great idea!!! So lovely!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!!
Hugz
Forgot to say that I would have loved to be there when the M&M's started tumbling from the very yummy looking cake!!!! Such SWEET cakes - so beautifully decorated!!!
ReplyDeleteHugz
Great take on the sketch Carol and beautiful colouring. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful birthday cakes. Wow! Happy birthday to your littles. Your card is stunning. Brilliant idea to use that large speech bubble, and I love the subtle shading on your flower.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty card! The shading on that flower is gorgeous and those cakes look yummy!
ReplyDeleteYour card is gorgeous, but that cake - I wanna sink my teeth into it!
ReplyDeleteSweet card, Carol & oh what incredible cakes! I can just imagine you & your darling niece on that shopping trip--how wonderful!
ReplyDeleteFabulous card, Carol ... the shading on that sweet bloom is lovely ... and of course, I love the mon amie sentiment! Happy Birthday to the littles ... awesome cakes ... wonderful shopping trip! Hugs, Anita :)
ReplyDeleteFab shading Carol and lovely citrus colours on your card.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for joining us this week
Anne
"Less is More"
I'm glad you enjoyed the special birthday family time, Carol, and especially time with your mom. Tell her Hi from me next time you talk! Your card is really beautiful! I'm glad to hear you are still liking those pencils and you sure are doing well with them. I bought the set of 60 and hope that will be enough. Of course, right now they are a "set of zero" if I don't use them!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, wow to those cakes! Even your brother has the good sense to marry someone artistic! These are fabulous! But now, ahem, where's a photo of Mr. C? I searched and I can't find one and you know, Aunty, that's not fair ... ! Hugs, Darnell