You are Amazing...STAMPlorations Theme and Sketch Challenge, STAMPlorations September CAS Card Challenge, STAMPlorations Anything Goes Challenge, Cards in Envy~Goodbye Summer; Hello Fall, TIME OUT Challenge #67

Hello,

Just a quick post - chat free (I hear those sighs of relief *grin*) - to share my card for

STAMPlorations Theme and Sketch Challenge

STAMPlorations September CAS Card Challenge

Festive Berries, Abandoned Coral, Barn Door...I 'hope' they come across as monochromatic...and pink is there, too.....

Also sharing at:

STAMPlorations Anything Goes Challenge

Cards in Envy~Goodbye Summer; Hello Fall

TIME OUT Challenge #67:

                                  Theme of Breast Cancer Awareness and/or Friendship.  

  Optional Technique Twist:  embossing and/or use pink

And I'm off....can you believe it's October 1st tomorrow?  

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

Coffee!...Tag, You're It Challenge #57, 2016 Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Hello,

On this TGIF morning, I'm delighted to join my fabulous team-mates to invite you to Tag, You're It Challenge #57, where we're drawing inspiration from this fabulous coffee-themed tag created by our incredibly talented and wonderfully witty featured designer, Richard Breaks.  In addition, we also have Raquel Stienecker, the winner of Challenge #55, joining us as our Guest Designer.

Richard Breaks

Guest Featured Designer 

A most striking tag in every way, from the expertly coloured coffee, to the clever sentiment, to the background of shimmery coffee beans, to the 'supporting cast' of the bag of coffee. Love it! Totally!

My tag is 'finally' a chance to play with my new-to-me Simon Says Stamps coffee mug and heart die, paired with a coffee die cut from Your Next Stamps.  Patterned paper through and through!  I've drawn from Richard's theme, colours and, obviously, coffee bag prop, in my design.

For more amazing inspiration, head over to see what my team-mates have done...oh, and bring a cup of coffee with you...you'll be there for a while, gazing and admiring their stellar creativity.

Donna

Erin

Jeanne

Kara Lynne

Anja

Zipping my tag over to the 2016 Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Hopefully I can get a card done and in before the link closes this evening...

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

This Is Halloween!!...12 Kits Of Occasions Guest Designer (So honoured!!!)

Hello,

If, by chance, earlier this month you heard a distant, rumbling echo and a slight tremor of the earth, in all likelihood, it was me, embarking on a resounding episode of ecstatic glee that involved cheering thunderously and happy dancing vigorously upon receiving a note from my friend, Jeanne, asking if I'd like to participate in September's 12 Kits of Occasions~This Is Halloween.

My response is obvious: Heck, YES!!!  What an honour!  I thought the invitation was thrilling, in and of itself, however, you should have seen my reaction when her kit arrived! Oh! My! Stars!  My Halloween-loving heart is still racing wildly at all the awesome goodies she sent to me AND to her team AND to the winner of the previous Kit post AND to a couple more guest designers!  She rendered me speechless, which is quite the feat!

All the juicy, delightful details about 12 Kits of Occasions can be found on the original blog, so I won't repeat them here. I will, however, share a photo of the kit's contents! Check. it. out!  Do you see why I'm so stoked? Jack o'Lanterns galore, masquerade masks, cutie-patootie 'scary' creatures, incredibly patterned papers, bits o'bling and so much more! A 'special' treat was also part of the package: an apple caramel lollipop! Tempted as I was to eat it, I resisted the impulse - barely - and created a treat package for it. By the time you read this, thought, the lolly will be long gone. My sweet tooth will be smiling!

Several of my projects were made with "Trick-or-Treaters" in mind, so you'll be seeing 'tags for bags' aplenty...

Let's go....Happy Halloween!

I used my new 'coffin' shaped die (more about that down the road) for the first two projects
to showcase the cute mummy and pretty patterned papers.

Haunted house shaker...

Can't believe I made this, given I'm the Queen of Bird Terror! It's homage to the hippo-sized

ravens that squawk..I mean, talk, in dulcet tones (HA! NOT!) ...around our place.

A "creepy wreath", some scary ghosts (they are stinkin' cute!) and googly eyes...

Spider and cat shaker...

and its cousin, the ghost shaker...

Here they are together.

The background panel? The gorgeous wrapping paper that housed out goodies! Sooo pretty!

Had to use it...and I think it goes well with the mask and bling.

Another little tag...

The finale (for this episode, anyway) the 'sweet treat' caramel apple lollipop

 tucked into a tag pocket....

My creations are but a snapshot of this beautiful kit's possibilities. I know the team and the other two guest designers - Nora and Richard -  have exercised major ingenuity in putting together some fantastic Halloween eye-candy. You can see samples of their talents at 12 Kits of Occasions blog or, if you want the full-meal deal immediately (I sure do), you can hop using the list below. Be sure to leave a comment for your chance to play along with them next month!

Marybeth - It's Time For Paper

Joyce - Cards By The Sea

Kim - Cupcakes Cards & Kim

Jessica - The Paper Parade

Jeanne - A Kept Life

Sharron - On Papillon Wings

Tracey McNeely - In My Creative Opinion

Lindsey Larsen - Occasional Crafting
Michele Ferguson - I Card Everyone

Lisa Elton - My Paper Tales

Michelle Leone - Pretty Periwinkles

Nancy Penir - Artful Notions

THANK YOU x a kazillion, Jeanne, for the marvelous kit and this incredibly special opportunity to play alongside you and the team on this *Occasion*.  Looking forward to showcasing more the kit's goodies in the days to come.  I'm plotting and scheming plans for that sparkly spider web...and sweet RC and PTI images...

Stay tuned!!

Also sharing at Lori Hariston's 2016 Halloween Challenge

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #318~Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~Anything Goes

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

Hark the Herald Angels Sing...Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #213~Holiday

Hello!

Time for my team and I to invite you to Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #213

I'm having "one of those weeks" that saw me nearly missing creating my DT card!  I need an organizer...badly!  Fortunately, just as panic was starting to settle in, I remembered my gorgeous Serendipity Angel die. As you can tell, the die was cut from gold mirror paper, which means photographing is a challenge (well, moreso than it generally is for me, given we have natural light for maybe an hour a day...typically when I'm at work...). In real life: a pretty shimmer.  The sentiment is from PTI...

Christmas CAS...

Please be sure to check out my team-mates' Holiday creations, then join us in the gallery with a design ofyour own.  See you there!!

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

Thank You and Beautiful Day...Inspired by all the Little Things Challenge #25, Altenew Ultimate Challenge Blog Hop, AAA Cards Game #74~Masking

Hello!

Hope your Monday is unfolding beautifully.  Today, we're basking in the warm of sunshine, with just a hint of autumn crispness in the breeze. A truly pretty fall day....

Today, I'm sharing to cards - or more specifically, two versions of the same card - for Inspired by all the Little Things Challenge #25

I've had Altenew's Peony Bouquet sitting in the 'use me please' basket for a while..and this photo provided incentive to do so.  The debut of my peony sees masking, a lot of stamping, and a smattering of splatters (which are faux splatters because I'm totally smitten with splatter stamps of late...as you have likely guessed by now):

The first card was the 'trial', with the outline images stamped in blank ink to make adding layers a bit easier to navigate. I hadn't originally intended to showcase it, but...after seeing it turn out quite well, I figured why not?

The second is the 'no line' result...which is what I was aiming for...

NOTE: Honoured and delighted to be selected as an Inspiring Standout over at Inspired by all the Little Things. THANK YOU, Tracey!

I drew inspiration from the 'layers' and colour of the photo's bloom, as well as the hint of purple  in the lower right. Another Altenew set that I adore!!

Also sharing at:

Altenew Ultimate Challenge Blog Hop

AAA Cards Game #74~Masking

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

Leafy Thanks....CASology Challenge #216~Frame, Cards In Envy~Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall, 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #317~Colours of Fall, Cards In Envy~Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall, Creative Corner Challenges~Autumn

Hello,

Hope your Sunday was marvelous! We did our hike, as I mentioned earlier, and while the scenery was stunning, the trails were a bog-fest.  Nearly 20km of muck...but considering the views (and the steak that will soon be on the barbeque...), all worth it!  At least I didn't face-plant in the mud...now that would have been embarrassing!

A quick share of my card for CASology Challenge #216~Frame

Isn't that a cool stamp (a gift from a win over at The Paper Players; thank you soooo much, Nance!)  I inked it up with an autumn palette of distress markers, gave it the ol' huff-and-puff and ta dahhhh... A 'thanks' sentiment framed by fall foliage and, just be be sure, framed 'for real' with kraft card-stock. A similarly stylized "Merry" and "Love" are also in the set...going to give those a go in the near future....

Speaking of autumn....our trek today took us into the larch trees! Oh, but they are glamourous, dressed in their gorgeous golden needles....

Also sharing at:

4  Crafty Chicks Challenge #317~Colours of Fall

Cards In Envy~Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

Creative Corner Challenges~Autumn

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

Party Time Card and Gift Envelope...Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #377~Party Time, Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #1~Celebrate, Cute Card Thursday Challenge #444~Party Time, Stamp Ink Paper Challenge #66~Anything But A Card, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Gift It

Hello!

Is your weekend zipping by as quickly as mine?  A couple more days tacked on to the weekend would be great; my 'to do' list is toooo long!  That said, we're off on a hike today; the sun's finally shining and despite the numerous tasks I should tend to, I 'need' some nature time.  Apparently, there's promise of a flank steak supper when we come home...totally all over that! My husband can be very persuasive....

Today, my fabulous team and I, along with our Surprise Sweetie, Michelle, invite you to PARTY with us over at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #377.  Check out the yummy cupcakes we're teasing you with this time! Banners, balloons, gummy fishes...seriously cute!

Source

Gerda Steiner Designs is our generous sponsor for this challenge; one lucky winner will receive a $20 gift certificate.  Yet another great reason to join us (the first being Cupcake Inspirations are just plain fun *grin*)!

I'm bringing a card AND a gift...well, technically, a little envelope 'with' a gift to the party.  Concord and 9th Eat Cake images appear on the card (I'm so smitten with this set!). The candles' colours and background stenciling were sparked by the photo colours...

Accompanying the card is my gift card envelope, sporting a little tag. The background tag was sponged with distress inks; the sentiment is from Concord and 9th's Lots of Blots...and there are, indeed, *lots* of blots in that set! Ideas percolating on how to use them...

Here's my party ensemble....

For more fabulous inspiration, check out my sweet teamies:

Birgit

Debbie

Deborah

Ek

Eva

Jen

Jennifer

Kamila

Naki

Nina

Sandy

PARTY TIME!

See you in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #1~Celebrate

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #444~Party Time

Stamp Ink Paper Challenge #66~Anything But A Card

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Gift It

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

Celebrate....Inkspirational Challenge #118~Glamour

Hello,

Are you ready for a new round of *INKspiration*?  Excellent! Today, we invite you Inkspirational Challenge #118, where the word prompt is Glamour. 

 

What kinds of captivating, enchanting, fascinating, alluring images are sparked when you think of 'glamour'?  Gowns and tuxedos?  Gorgeous attire? Elegant colours? Want some ideas to help you narrow the field? We have you covered....

For this challenge, we thrilled to be joined by incredibly talented Joyce as our guest designer, whose interpretation of glamour is...well, glamourous! Please be sure to gaze at and admire her card, along with those by my wonderful team-mates:   Shauna, Sandie, Pia, Nonni, Marina and Kim. Charming, all!

My card is a simple little number (although a challenge to photograph, given all the clouds enveloping us of late) featuring a colour combination that immediately comes to mind when I think of glamour: black, white and gold.

PTI Splits: Celebrate, inked in Delicata Gold, finally having a chance to play!

Your turn!

Looking forward to seeing your glamourous glamour 

creations in the Inkspirational Gallery!

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

Happy Birthday...FUSION Challenge~Birthday Bash (Sept. 22), Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #1~Celebrate

Hello!

Time for another awesome FUSION~Birthday Bash challenge, where we're inviting you to draw inspiration from the photo or the sketch or BOTH! I'm especially enamoured with the party decor of the photo...the bold black/white stripes contrasted with the pastel polka-dots, the tiered cake, the aqua cake plates, the treats...love. it. all!

Since I couldn't fit all the elements that inspired me on one card (well, I could have...epic jumbled mess that would have been!), I made three CAS creations that I hope will make you smile as brightly in seeing them as I was while creating them. All products are from Concord and 9th (my flames of loving their products continues to burn brightly....) Eat Cake, Love You, Mean It (the bigger polka-dots) and Painted Thank You (the wee black dots).

First, polka-dots and cake...

then stripes, shimmer gold card-stock stars, and a blue cake...

 (The cloudy weather didn't catch my black/white very well...grrr!)

followed by more stripes, shimmer teal card-stock stars and a pink cake. I love cake; can you tell?

Need more inspiration? Check out what my talented team has designed...dazzle (and maybe even more cake *grin*) guaranteed:

Becca Cruger
Betty J
Carol Mayne
Jeanne Jachna
Karren Johnson
Linda Callahan
Lyndal Higgins 
Michelle Leone

Michelle Lupton
Michelle Williams

Our previous challenge was a resounding success with outstanding
creativity shared. Let's keep the moment going strong!

Turning the stage over to you!
See you in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge#1~Celebrate (so thrilled to be playing along!!)

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