Plaid Octopi...Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #392~Plaid, Creative Corner Challenges~Very Funny

Hello,

Whew...Day 4 (out of 7) of marking diploma exams and already, my eyes are buggy and brain foggy! I. can. do. this! Fortunately, I have a fabulous group of colleagues as table-mates, so that makes the experience of marking essay after essay after essay rather enjoyable (well, as enjoyable as such a task can be *grin*).  The bonus: time with mom and the kiddos in the evenings! Yayyy...

Welcome to Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #392~Plaid.  Aren't these woodsy, rustic cupcakes amazing?

Source

This week's challenge is sponsored by Gerda Steiner Designs who are generously giving the winner a $15 Gift Certificate. Thank you!!

My plaid-themed cards are totally not woodsy or lumberjack-ish in any way! No sireee...went in a completely different direction! As you'll see, I've been 'octopied' in creating mini cards for my niece and nephew's classmates.  Here's a sampling of the 8 or so I've made of 'this' design (more to come!)...tee hee! Some colouring, some white gel pen dotting, some foam hearts and window die-cutting and a whole LOT of plaid!  Enjoy!

My team-mates have a fabulous plaid-a-palooza happening at the Cupcake Inspirations blog; please head over to be dazzled and delighted.  Afterward, bring out your plaids, be they papers or inks or what have you, and join us in the gallery!  See you there!


Also sharing at:

Creative Corner Challenges~Very Funny

Thank you for spending time with me today; your visit brings me joy!

Love...Inspired By All The Little Things Challenge #41 (Guest Designer)

Hello,

I'm so honoured to have been asked by my sweet, talented (and fellow Canadian *yayy*) friend, Tracey McNeely, from In My Creative Opinion fame, to guest design for Inspired By All The Little Things Challenge #41!  If the invitation alone wasn't enough to set my spirits soaring, the inspiration photo launched me into the stratosphere!  Perfect for my CAS-loving heart....

Speaking of hearts....that's precisely the direction I went! Please welcome my Concord and 9th Heart  Strings (again...complete besotted  with it!) a la shaker style. Using mini beads ensured I captured all the colours in the photo.  I'm thinking I need a set of those candles to match my card...

In addition to the thrill of designing alongside the Inspired By team - whose takes on this photo will leave you breathless - I also had opportunity to answer some interview questions.  If you've followed me for a while, you're already familiar with these 'bits and pieces'; if not, well...I hope you enjoy the snippets of who 'just me: c' is.

Thank you sooooo much, Tracey, for this wonderful opportunity!  Looking forward to seeing everyone's creations in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~ Anything Goes

Thank you for spending time with me today; your visit brings me joy!

Polka Dot Coffee Cup....Inkspirational Challenge #127~Designer Choice, Coffee Loving Cardmakers~CASEing DT Link Up Party #9 - Case A Designer

Hello,

Time for a new challenge which was chosen by our dear Yvonne  who is taking a break at the moment due to sad personal circumstances. We hope she'll be back with us soon.  Sending hugs galore to you, dear friend!

Yvonne's Inkspirational Challenge #127~Designer's Choice, which I know will see the gallery explode with creativity is....are you ready....

I love  polka dots; you love polka dots...we allllll love polka dots! The words alone make me smile!

Joining us this week is marvelously talented Jane, whose card is sheer delight. Please drop by her place and leave her some love! My wonderful team would also be thrilled to hear from you:

Sandie

Shauna

Marina 

Nonni

Pia

For my card, I headed over to Coffee Loving Cardmakers~CASEing DT Link Up Party #9 - Case A Designer, where I was inspired to *case* Cris' card (bottom right), with a couple of twists: kraft = kraft; snowflakes on her to-go cup = background panel of blue bokeh on mine; her little fox and bear images = my heart images; three panel layers = three panel layers...I hope I've come 'kind' of close...

Isn't that polka dot mug fantastic? A set of those in my kitchen? Yes, please!!

Just a quick note: I'm currently at my mom's (yayyy....), where I'm hard at work, marking diploma exams from 8am - 4:30pm. We started on Thursday and will be running straight through until Wednesday, Feb. 1st.  Long hours  (I'm not used to getting up at 5:30, then hoofing it out the door to catch the bus to the marking center...), but the evenings with mom and the kiddos...priceless!  The busy days are, already, seeing me falling behind in comments, so please accept my apologies!  I'll do my best to catch up once those 12,000 exams are marked (each one, four times...thank heavens there's about 150 of us tackling this task....).  In the meantime, know that I'm sending thought bubbles filled with *oohs and ahhs* your way!

Thank you so much for spending time with me today; your visit brings me joy!

Singing Bunny...Tag You're It Challenge #65 (Reminder Post)

Hello,

The question of the day:

Are you going to be our next Guest Designer at Tag You're It?

You still have time to join us at Tag, You're It Challenge #63 - where the team and I are delighted to have Karin Åkesdotter as our Guest Featured Artist.

Can you see the elements from Karin's tag that I mirrored in my reminder tag (I know...scary thought to consider how my mind works at times *grin*). Owl = bunny, who is sooooo sweet belting out his song; branch = lamp post; inked, snowy sky = inked snowy sky; red heart = red candle.

My tags wanted to be featured together, so here they are...

Please head over to the Tag, You're It reminder post, check out my design team's sweet creations, then join us in the gallery!  See you there!

Thank you for spending time with me today; your visit brings me joy!

Love in My Heart...Cards in Envy~Pink and Grey, Just Us Girls Challenge #376~ Trend Week (All Over Stamping)

Hello,

Soooo.....the invitation of the  Just Us Girls Challenge #376~Stamp All Over

combined with that at Cards in Envy~Pink and Grey, meant I had to accept!

NOTE:  So grateful to Annie and Marilyn from Cards In Envy, who selected my card as their In the Mailbox favourite! THANK YOU!

That's it...dashing off to supervise an exam....

Thanks for spending time with me today; your visit brings me joy!

Let Your Light Shine...FUSION Card Challenge (Jan. 19)

Hello,

WOW, WOW and WOW!  My design team and I were blown away by your response to FUSION's 3rd Anniversary Challenge, with 92 cards featured in the gallery! So impressive and soooo grateful for your support!  Hopefully, we can keep the trend going...and possibly even growing! Let's try, shall we?

Welcome to the new FUSION Card Challenge, with the lovely citrus palette of both the fruits and florals of the inspiration  photo and the open-to-possibilities-galore of the sketch.

Two cards today.  My intent was to combine both the sketch and colours, but oh my stars!  Nothing was gelling...then, suddenly, a 'light bulb' moment....literally.  Concord and 9th's Shine Brighter to the rescue. The bulbs are sponged with two shades of distress ink (I tried water-colouring first...fail. Not an epic one - which means I did see glimmers of  hope - but the results were not shareable. Trust me; icky-ish), with some surrounding splatters. The filaments and sockets are glossy accented, so they do have a shimmer in real life....

Because I wasn't 100% sure about Card 1, I created a back up. Yellow flowers make me smile....

For outstanding inspiration, please visit my teammates: 

Becca Cruger

Betty J

Carol Mayne (you are here)

Jeanne Jachna

Karren Johnson

Linda Callahan

Lyndal Higgins 

Michelle Leone

Michelle Lupton

Michelle Williams

For those of you new to FUSION challenges, and for those good friends returning: a quick outline/reminder of how things work: 

PROCEDURES:

1. Play with just the sketch challenge.

2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.

3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.

4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.

Your turn!

What sparks your creativity? Sketch? Photo? Both?

Looking forward to seeing how this FUSION challenge will inspire you!

Also sharing at:

Creatalicious Challenge #107~Anything Goes

Thank you for spending time with me today; your visit brings me joy!

Your Friendship Warms My Heart...Coffee Loving Cardmakers DT Link Up Party #9:Case a Designer, CAS on Sunday Challenge #99~Black, White and one Colour, The Paper Players Challenge #327~Black, White and ???

Hello,

I was on a bit of an organizing/cleaning spree over the weekend, and guess what I found (aside from one of my nephew's Hot Wheels cars, tucked under the couch cushions...a sign that cleaning needs to happen far more often! I have no idea how long it's been hidden!):  a brand-spanking new Avocado Arts Coffee stamp set!  I canNOT believe I haven't used it before and rest assured, the 'missed' attention is being addressed!

What better place for coffee-themed inspiration than over at Coffee Loving Cardmakers DT Link Up Party #9: Case Any Designers

Kerry's red/black/white card immediately caught my eye (feeling all Valentine-y these days!), so a few of my new coffee finds are making their debut....

Isn't that cup fabulous...and the hearts?  Swooning....Stay tuned to see more from this set...

Also sharing at:

CAS on Sunday Challenge #99~Black, White and one other Colour

The Paper Players Challenge #327~Black, White and ???

Thank you for spending time with me today; your visit brings me joy!

Celebrate....Serendipity Stamps January Blog Hop

Hello,

Welcome to the Serendipity Stamps January Blog Hop - the second one this month...yayyyy!

We're changing it up this year, shifting to two hops each month. The design team will be showing you the latest products and offering a chance for you to win some goodies from Serendipity Stamps. All you need to do is hop along and leave comments, which puts you in running for a $20 gift certificate.  Here's the hop list....

 Mary's Blog

Carol Mayne - you are here

Karen Amidon

Miriam Napier

Julie Warner

Vickie Zimmer

Marybeth Lopez

Background stamps seem to be gaining popularity in card-making...and did you know that Serendipity Stamps carries a variety of such designs?  Today, I'm showcasing the Summer Flower Pops Background, which is ever so detailed and ever so lovely!

For my first card, I embossed the image in white, then sponged over with three shades of pink distress inks.  Added a Celebrate Die and ta dahhh....

My second card sees the image sponged in three shades of blue distress inks and sporting the Wish Die.

Please head over to Serendipity Stamps Blog for more hop details. Oh yes, and there are awesome deals to be found! I'll give you hints as to two: Winter Fun Background and Winter Wear Background are both 50% off.  There's more...just sayin' *grin*

Next on the hop list: wonderfully talented Karen Amidon.

Thank you for spending time with me today;  your visit brings me joy!

Rainbow Love...Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #225~Photo Inspiration

Hello,

A warm, hearty welcome to the first challenge of 2017, with Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #225~Photo Inspiration. Gorgeous rainbow flower, sprinkled with the droplets of dew...oh my! The promise of new, sparkling, vibrant beginnings....

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm besotted with Concord & 9th's Heart Strings die and Heart Smiles stamp set. They called to be used yet again. For all of you,  my wonderful friends, a rainbow ink-blended heart (I love ink-blending!)....

My teammates have some wonderful designs inspired by this photo; please be sure to visit over at ATSM.  Afterwards, join us in the gallery! I know this lovely image will spark outstanding creativity from all of you...

Also sharing at:

CASology Challenge #232~Cut

Tuesday Throwdown #326~Favourite Medium (ink blending...love it)

Thank you so much for spending time with me today; your visit brings me joy!

Warm Winter Wishes....The Heart Desires Challenge #8, TIME OUT Challenge #74~Winter, Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #5~Try Something New

Hello,

My husband should be arriving home any minute now, having spent the weekend at biathlon events. *Someone* needs to get the kitchen counter (aka crafting zone) tidied up AND a card posted toute de suite!

Want to see what happened when I took Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #5~Try Something New,

mixed it with a sprinkling of The Heart Desires Challenge #8

and added a heaping helping of TIME OUT Challenge #74~Winter?

This....a little snowflake-y shaker, light-bulb-y shaker.  Experimenting with more "new to me" Concord and 9th products: Shine Brighter.

I'm off....wishing you a marvelous Sunday evening!

Thank you for spending time with me today; your visit brings me joy!

Whale You Be Mine? Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #390~Slate, Ballet, Gold

Hello,

We're in the midst of a chinook (aka: *ice-eater*), which is bringing warmer temperatures and blustery, gusty winds.  If this continues, as the forecast suggests, the snow will be disappearing quickly; until the next freeze-fest happens. Funny things, those chinooks...

Are your ready for another challenge? Excellent!  Welcome to Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #390, where Slate, Ballet and Gold are the featured colours. Talk about a pretty combination, especially on this starry, glittery cupcake...

Source

Lawn Fawn, our sponsor this week, is offering a stamp set and 6 x 6 paper pad to the challenge winner. Incentive indeed!

Two of my Lawn Fawn sweeties came out to play...

One ballet whale; one slate whale...and a gold shimmer paper heart and Delicata Gold Ink bubbles to join them.  An ocean romance...

Please visit the Cupcake Inspirations blog to see how my team-mates' colour-inspired designs. Hope you'll be inspired; hope you'll join us!

See you in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Creatalicious Challenge #107~Anything Goes

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

A Trio Inspired by Pretty Things....The Card Concept Challenge #64~Pretty Things, Happy Little Stampers January CAS Challenge~Stencil

Hello!

The dust bunnies are rapidly multiplying along the baseboards and behind doors, my teensy crafting zone (kitchen counter between the sink and fridge) is a mess, crafting stuff has spilled out on the kitchen table...The messages are clear: someone needs to tidy this place up! Where is my husband? *grin* Actually, I like cleaning (most of the time....), so that's on today's agenda.

Before I go, however, (and before I forget and links close....). a trio of clean and layered cards to share inspired by the loveliness at The Card Concept Challenge #64~Pretty Things

Be warned: I am totally, utterly and completely in LOVE with Concord and 9th's Heart Strings die and Heart Smiles stamp sets.  You'll be seeing a number of cards using these....a. number!  Valentine's Day is drawing near, after all....

Anyway, here's Card 1 (gold and shimmery pink)

and Card 2 (polka dots and shimmer gold card stock...

which you can see a bit better here...)

Card 3  is a nod to the flowers in the photo...peony stencil from STAMPlorations,  Hello from W&W and Delicata Gold Ink splatters.  Shimmers in real life...

Heading to Happy Little Stampers January CAS Challenge~Stencil with this one:

Also sharing at:

Get Creative Challenge #54~Anything Goes

STAMPlorations Anything Goes Challenge

My Time To Craft Challenge #337~Something New (my Concord and 9th products are brand new)

Okay, chore time! Have a fabulous day!

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