Butterflies...(of course!)...Muse Challenge #172~Jenni Murray, CASology Week #204~Row, CAS(E) this Sketch #178

Hello,

Quick post from me this morning...and be warned:  butterflies are back! Major back (and we're not just talking about today *grin*)

I'm completely smitten by and crushing over the inspiration card Jenni created for Muse Challenge #172:

Clean, simple, butterflies...three butterflies. Resist? Not likely!

I used one of my umpteen hundred epic failure water-colour backgrounds to transform into die cut butterflies...(Marie, if you're reading, I've *finally* learned to keep the messes!).

which, when I arranged them also fit into CASology Week #204~Row.

I couldn't stop at just one card, so here's yet another for CAS(E) this Sketch #178

Okay...off to work. Done at noon...you'll hear me cheering!

So glad you spent part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!

High Five....CASology Week #203~Congratulations

Hello,

My husband is on his way home (yayyyyy!) from Colorado Springs today, with a goal to arrive at some point tomorrow evening.  Before he started his trek north, he had to complete two written exams (1 hour and 3 hours) and one oral exam (half an hour of intense questions) on the cycling course he was taking. He's exhausted, but the opportunity to learn from high-ranking racing officials has him quite stoked. As for his exams: no results for a while. He thinks he didn't do well, and I disagree *grin* which is why this week's CASology Week #203~Congratulations challenge provided a perfect opportunity to make him a card, with my NBUS CAS-ual Fridays Woot Woot set (discontinued):

Of course, I have to keep it hidden for a bit...but I know he aced these tests...

NOTE: Honoured and thrilled to receive Honourable Mention at CASology! Thank you, Deidre!!

Lest you're shaking your head, wondering why I selected "girly-ish" colours, my answer is found in this: an image of what his cycling jersey looks like...

See...pinks, purples, blues, and some black.  Given he wears this when he races, it's only logical to assume he *must* like the colours, right? I mean, he did buy the stuff.  Anyway, colour choices defended (sort of).

I'm glad he's coming home...it was weird officiating bike races over the past two days (I'm exhausted, too), without him around. Looking forward to catching him up on the nitty-gritty of the events...

Counting down the days (and hours...seriously!) 'til school is done!  Three and a half....happy me!  And then, we're off on our road trip to Whitefish, Montana, a new destination.  Lots to get done between now and then, but immensely excited!

I'm so glad you spent part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Celebrate!!..The Paper Players Challenge #300~Clean and Simple Celebration, CAS(E) this Sketch #177

Hello,

A quick before-work post for The Paper Players Challenge #300~Clean and Simple Celebration.  Three hundred challenges is an AMAZING milestone!!

Fireworks stamps I don't have, so I went with what came closest (well, in my mind they did *grin*): my Clearly Besotted Sunburst (sun bursts = fire bursts in some fashion, right?).  I based my colours on those in the inspiration photo: blues, purples, and whispers of black and gold. My layout was

was inspired by CAS(E) this Sketch #177.

Congratulations, Paper Players team!  Wishing you another 300 x 300 challenges more! Thank you for being such an inviting, inspiring place to play!

I'm so glad you spent part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Exciting News...Serendipity Design Team!

Hello,

I'm unsealing my lips *smack*, then bursting out with a SQUEEEALLLL (now echoing through the mountains and valleys, rolling along the prairies) accompanied by wild happy dancing, because...I've been invited to join the Serendipity Stamps Design Team!!

Eeeeeeeeeee!  I'm thrilled, honoured and yes, effusively excited to share this news!  I'm still pinching myself, as I can't believe this is 'real'.  Dream come true! Serendipity in the truest sense of the word!  Guess what else: the amazingly talented, witty, fun Patti, from Stationery Styles, is coming on board, too *fist pump*

To Mary, Jeanne and the rest of the team - MaryBeth Lopez, Jenny Gropp, Miriam Napier, Vickie Zimmer, Julie Warner, Karen Amidon -  I'm tickled pink to be 'playing' alongside you. And what better way to express my appreciation and show exactly 'how' tickled pink I am than with this: a very 'bubbly' thanks card, made with the oh-so-fabulous Serendipity Thanks die I recently received...                                                                                          

A wonderful bold You Made My Day sentiment also came my way; delightfully fitting for this occasion. Because it's so pretty, I've done my best to make it the star of the stage here...

and here.  Isn't this sentiment spectacular?!  Yes, my day...many days, actually...have been 'made'!

Once again, I am deeply touched by this new opportunity; another "Thanks" and "You Made My Day" (x a zillion) to Mary, Jeanne and the team.

To all my wonderful blogging friends: YOUR incredible encouragement and support have played a key role in this happening!  I'm here because of YOU!  Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart!

I hope you'll bear with me as I navigate my way along this new, exciting path.  July 1st is my 'official' launch. I'm a mixture of nerves and excitement; knowing awesome people are all around makes everything good. Really, marvelously good!!

Thank you for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!

  

Coffee?...Addicted to Stamps and More #199~CAS, Summer Coffee Lovers' Blog Hop

Hello,

Ready for some CAS fun? Hope so, because that's what my fabulous DT and I are offering for you over at Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #199...

I have a trio of cards that, after I figured out what I wanted to make (all inspired in some fashion by various DT members at STAMPLorations) took about 15 minutes each.  Simply simple...

A rainbow-y two cups o' java....

A rainbow jumble of retro-coffee pots (which is rather like the one my husband and I use. We don't have a coffee maker, so our must-have beverage is made using a a glass carafe, Melitta filters, coffee grounds, boiling water. Pretty old school, actually, but I love my coffee hot!)....(Oh yes: I don't consider this one to be CAS...not enough white space...)

A rainbow-inked (are you detecting a theme here *grin*) stencil...

Of course, I'm heading off the amazing Summer Coffee Lovers' Blog Hop

and, because I've used entirely STAMPlorations products, I'm also off to STAMPLorations~Anything Goes Challenge.

and STAMPlorations June 2016 CAS Challenge

Your turn!  What CAS-ilicious creations will you dazzle us with this week?

Looking forward to finding out!  See you in the gallery!

I'm so glad you spent part of your day with me; you visit brings me immense joy!

What's Growing On?...CASology Week 202~Masculine, TIME OUT Challenge #59~Masculine with optional twist of mixed media

Hello,

We've just returned from one incredibly challenging bike race that where my husband competed and I officiated: 118km with 110 of those on gravel, including nasty ascents and steep descents! Glad he was the one on a bike and I, in a car, following various sized groups of the 115 competitors. Wildly applauding that the majority finished, upright and in tremendously good spirits.

Following quickly on the heels of this little' jaunt' is my husband's trek to Colorado Springs (yes, you read that right...lucky guy!) tomorrow through to next Monday to attend Elite National Commissaire course. While I don't envy him the classes and exam, I'm jealous that I can't tag along. Work! 'Nuff said.  Guess I'll just have to craft oodles while he's away...

Before I tackle laundry, help him pack and perform my home-made pizza sous chef duties, I'm sneaking in my *very* CAS card for CASology Week 202~Masculine

and TIME OUT Challenge #59~'Masculine with optional twist of mixed media' (how sweet that the challenge instructions are in pink! Makes me smile!)

Voila...about as easy-peasy as it gets.

I'm so glad you spent part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!

  

Playing with Altenew's Beautiful Day...Inkspirational Challenges #111~Masking

Hello,

Hope you've had a wonderful week. Mine...busy! Classes ended; marking assignments did not...but I'm getting closer.  Time for the 'end-of-school' countdown to begin; as of Monday, 9 more work days to go! The last day - June 30th - we're planning to head to Whitefish, Montana for my husband to compete in the Kootenai GranFondo. I am sooooo excited! Road trip!

Anyway...time to welcome you to  Inkspirational Challenge #111, were our sweet team-mate Kim's designer choice is...ta dahhhh....

Our wonderful Guest Designer, Lisa, will dazzle you with her take on this challenge, as well my creatively expressive DT: Nonni, Sandie, Shauna, Marina, Kim, Yvonne. Please visit and sprinkle them with love!

Prior to prepping for this challenge, my masking was pretty sporadic, especially since I'm such a dies-a-holic;  I do, however, have an *ahem* obsession with my new Altenew stamps, sooooo...out came Beautiful Day for this challenge.  I wound up making four of the first card and six of the second (varied the sentiments), which will be heading off to my sister-in-law, who is making 'card gift sets' for my niece's three kindergarten teachers and my nephew's two daycare teacher (I'm so thrilled that she loves my cards! Most awesome sister-in-law EVER!).  Of course, I cased these from the Altenew showcases, adding my own teensy touches (or rather....lack of touches).  Let's just say: Too. Much. Fun.  I {heart} masking!

Your turn!  How will *masking* inspire you?  

Looking forward to seeing your Masked Marvels in the gallery!

Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!

Hello, Sunshine...CASology Week 201~Sunshine, Muse Challenge #169, CAS Mix Up June Challenge~Stamping, Die-cuts and Your Choice, HLS June Anything Goes with Dies Challenge, Simon Says Work It Wednesday~Sunshine

Hello,

Back from the weekend's worth of bike races....tired (up at 5:30 both mornings to be at the sign on/start lines well in advance...) but so glad the event was a success!  A week to recuperate and back at 'er next Sunday. This time, my husband will be racing...and I'm the chief official.  He'd best be on his best behaviour *girn*

My card, made last Friday before we left, is inspired by two challenges. First is CASology Week #201~Sunshine

The second - and yes, I'm stretching the connections, as usual...is Muse Challenge #169, where our sweet Michele Ferguson is biding farewell as a member of the DT. I'm sad...very sad...that she's leaving, as she has been a marvelous source of inspiration, however...she can't go far! I know where to find her!

Michele shared this card as her muse for this week

      

           

which, in turn, was a case of her first Muse card, below.  She accentuated the negative and positive possibilities of dies...

sooooooo...that's what I decided to do.  I drew my colour inspiration from her original card (isn't that a darling little heart) and from the second, focused on one key image and something we can "see through".  She went with a heart and vellum envelope in those categories...and I went with...well, let's leave the image to do the talking....

My Michele-inspired Muse design:

NOTE: Honoured and thrilled to receive an Honourable Mention at CASology Week 201!  THANK YOU so much, Judy!!

NOTE:  Honoured and thrilled to be selected as a CAS Mix Up June Card Challenge Outstanding Entry. THANK YOU!

NOTE: Honoured and thrilled to be selected as a HLS Anything Goes with Dies Challenge Favourite! THANK YOU!!!

Told you it was a bit of a stretch but, since vellum and I have 'relationship issues,' I had to come up with something.  Michele, you have been a ray of Muse sunshine for me! I'll miss you!  Hope my fancy-schmancy sunglasses make YOU smile!

I'm also joining:

CAS Mix Up June Challenge. My glasses = the die cut; the 'sun' is a stamped image (MFT Distress Patterns), and my 'choice' is embossing and water-colouring (Zig markers). I recycled a section of a 'botched up' embossed roses panel, (from my attempts at creating this card) for my jazzy sunglasses, In hindsight, I should have kept all the messed up pieces I've made...snippets come in handy!

HLS June Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Simon Says Work It Wednesday~Sunshine

Time to help with supper...then off to bed! My Grade 12 students write their Diploma exam in English tomorrow; need to be 'sharp' so I can assure them they'll do just fine....

I'm so glad you spent part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!

Cymbals Bunny Just a Note...Tag, You're It Inspiration Challenge #49, CASometry Challenge 2~Make Five: Stage 3

Hello,

Two weeks have passed by and it's time (drum roll...) for

Inspiration Challenge #49, where my amazing (and so sweet and supportive) DT and I invite you to draw inspiration from Anja's gorgeous tag.  Butterfly (swoon!), embossing, inking, die cut leaves...what catches your eye (*everything*, right?)?

My card is a 'departure' from Anja's in some ways (no butterfly...I know! Crazy!), but I have drawn inspiration from several of her elements:

• embossing, although mine is with a folder
• colours - blues and greens
• "splatter" -  hers are shimmery; mine are water-based AND I added a crystal at the top of the tag
• a focal image - her butterfly, my cymbal-crashing bunny (I googled the name for the sound cymbals made and apparently, crash it is....who knew?)

I'm marching my little hare over to CASometry Challenge #2~Make Five: Stage 3. Two more to go to fulfill that challenge.

After you visit my wonderful team's creations - and hopefully spoil them with some sweet words of love - create a tag and join us!  Looking forward to seeing your Anja-inspired tag in the gallery!

Thank you for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!

Roses Hello...Addicted to Stamps and More #197, Inspired by All the Little Things #18, CAS-ual Fridays #149~Florals

Hello,

Another week has rushed by, which mean I, along with my fabulous DT, invite you to join us for Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #197

Here's your opportunity to bring out your colouring toys - markers, pencils, crayons, paints, sponges, what-have you - and 'make your mark' on a card/tag/project.  We're sponsored by

Blog: http://www.adayfordaisies.blogspot.ca

who are offering a sweet $12.00 gift certificate to the lucky winner! Incentive, right? Right!

You will sooooooo not guess what I've done for my inspiration card *grin*  First, I drew my design/colours from the vibrant, gorgeous bouquet and dress palette over at Inspired By All the Little Things #18

 

Second, I hitched up my 'big girl pants' and went full-throttle with using...are you ready...my ZIG MARKERS!  I did so!  Astonishing, right! I've had these for quite a while, have had epic failure after epic failure, but finally...F.I.N.A.L.L.Y...I have a 'something' to show for my efforts (that, and the fact that I need to plant a tree, given how much paper I've recycled over all these trial runs).  

My card is not fantastic by any stretch, but....it's an accomplishment!  MFT Background Roses, embossed, coloured with Zigs (I only have 12), a wee (very wee) blending with water, a dark blue background panel, W&W hello and...ta dahhhh! Rather vibrant, but...that's what I was aiming for (I guess *grin*). Whew...not sure when a Zig-venture will happen again (this one was exhausting!), but...we'll see.  More (white only) water-colour paper on my shopping list...

Okay, turning the stage over to you!  

How will YOU make YOUR mark?  

Looking forward to seeing your gorgeous creations in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

CAS-ual Fridays #149~Florals

On another note: for quite a while, I've been using Michael's Recollection #110 card-stock for my card bases and panels. It *was* a nice shade of white, sturdy and solid. Note *was*. Recently, I bought a new package (actually, I'm a dodo..I bought two packages...but I had coupons!), and oh. my. stars! Something has changed! The white is stark - almost a grey/white - and the heavy weight I've so come to rely on seems less so.  Has anyone else noticed the change?  Guess I'll be doing some trips to Michael's whenever we travel...hopefully, the 'good ol' reliable' can be found!

I'm so glad you spent part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!