Boo Crew Cute...Inky Paws Challenge #3 (Newton's Nook Designs), Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: We're Going Dotty

A few weeks back, the talented, creative Kim (Joyful Creations with Kim) shared a charming series of cards (waiting while you take a peek) featuring a new-to-me stamp company, Newton’s Nook Designs.  A casual stroll over to that site, and that was it: smitten!  My visit just happened to coincide with their September release blog hop, and after a delightful round of oohing and ahhhing about the DTs blogs, leaving my oft-wordy comments as I journeyed, something fabulous happened:  I won a set of Boo Crew!   From the first peek of those adorable Halloween-costume clad critters, to welcoming them to my collection, they have been a daily smile maker! 

The stamp set arrived just shortly after Jen shared Inky Paws (love that name!) Challenge #3.

Previously, I've mentioned  that across the hall from me, a handful of remarkable people work with special needs students, and their interactions are nothing short of heart-warming and inspiring.  Magic does happen when these caring souls connect with the young folks.  So, my musing began: Halloween + new stamps + wonderful sketch + people who I so enjoy giving cards to = ideas sparked.  Two evenings of creation later, and I’m ready (as usual - nearly at the wire of entering!) to share my own Boo Crew set.

Time to let the pictures do the talking…

First on the runway:  Boo Crew Bear, sporting mummy-wear with a bit of flair; and since he's wearing polka-dots, he's heading off to Simon Says Wednesday's Challenge: We're Going Dotty  Little bear is water-coloured with distress markers, and nestled in a MCT frame and flower…

Second up, is Boo Crew Bunny, sporting a vampire cape and teeth, again water-coloured with distress markers.  A thought-bubble tells us exactly what he’s thinking…

 Third comes Boo Crew kitty, clad in a stunning white ghost costume, and tip-toeing through a wee spill of candies.  The purple arrow reveals that the mini-folder opens up (I have a teeny clothes peg holding it close for the photo shoot) – where sweet little messages can be written, like “boo”!

Finally, Boo Crew owl, having fun playing dress-up with a witch’s chapeau, with some shimmery gray paper in the background. The stitched double layer tag is from MCT, as is the sentiment burst. 

Here’s a couple photos of pairings…

And the group  together...

Jen – hope I did justice to the Boo Crew set – and THANK YOU  again for sending them my way. I'm excited to share these with the Educational Assistants later this month (if I can wait that long...)

Their debut accomplished, I have more plans for them next week, when I begin creating the “10 Day Countdown to Halloween" mini-calendar for my niece.   And the sweet doxxie – watch for her ‘big reveal’ coming soon…

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit adds sparkle to my day!

Give Thanks...Deconstructed Sketch #120, Simon Says: We're Going Dotty. 4 Crafty Chicks #162: Fall/Autumn

Another fall card to share, this time for:

Simon Says: We're Going Dotty, 4 Crafty Chicks #162: Fall/Autumn, and Deconstructed Sketch #120: 8

Quite amazing that I didn't really have a challenge in mind when I started this card, and then, ta dahhhh...three appear.  Too cool!  My NBUS WPLUS9 Pretty Patches: Pumpkins make their debut...more polka dots!! (stamped with distress markers and huffed upon - more 'cool')...

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit adds sparkle to my day

Grateful for You...Retrosketches #83

Friday eve; the week has flown by, and I’ve been trying my hand– as always – ata few challenges. With Canadian Thanksgiving but a week away, along with a trip to see my family, I’m in the mood for fall cards.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve decided ALL occasions warrant card-making-and-giving episodes, so I have a small fleet of Thanksgiving cards – some complete, some in the percolating stage – to bring with me when we go.  Hmmm…I wish Thanksgiving were later – November J would be nice – and then I could stretch out the autumn themes.  Maybe I will anyway...

Retrosketches #83 this week – fabulous sketch accompanied by delightful DT inspiration – caught my attention, but whoa…what “looked” easy most certainly was not!  

Whatever the math formula is for creating the ‘sort of envelope’ flap, I missed somewhere along the way.   And if one doesn’t exist, it should, because judging by the number of attempts I trashed, something was awry.  At least this time, I was smarter: practiced on recycle paper!!  Anyway…time invested resulted in a card I’m okay with, and that’s a good thing!

Simple Stories paper, and MCT sentiment...Now to decide whose plate I'll set it next to at Thanksgiving dinner next week...

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit adds sparkle to my day!

Happy 43 and 19 Months Old...Unscripted Sketches #224, Online Insider Class

Tomorrow, October 3^rd; a week Saturday, October 12^th.  Significance?  Happy 43 Months Old for my sweet niece, followed by Happy 19 Months Old, for my cutie-pie nephew!  And, for the 43^rd and 19^th time, Aunty C (me) has a little something to send them.  For those who are new my blog: I *celebrate* each month my niece and nephew’s birthdate…because it’s just what I do.  It’s a most perfect excuse to add more stuff to the craft collection.  I mean, what response can my husband possibly have when I say, “But it’s for the kidssssssss”?  Actually, he doesn’t question my shopping…yet…because he’s got bike stuff riding on the line J.

The kidlets are at the age where what she has, he wants, and vice versa (including hair accessories…my sister-in-law said my nephew wore barrettes to daycare the other day – embracing both his masculine and feminine sides, as we all do -  but when he’s pulling them out of his sister’s hair…messy!), so the cards I’ve made for them are based on a much neglected 12 X 12 package of EP Scoot (again, bought when I didn’t realize that the patterns on 12 X 12 are…well, big). 

My niece’s card layout was inspired by Seize the Sketch #4 (missed the entry for this card), 

as well as the Online Insider Class I attended recently. A ‘little package’ on the front tag was the ‘first’ inside – I wrote on the yellow tag -  as well as a journaling card and die cut “43’ for the inside.  She likes helicopters, as does my nephew; the paper choice serves double duty should some ‘exchange’ decisions take place (which she does…).  The helicopter sticker from the kit was tucked inside as an ‘extra’…

Unscripted Sketches #224 

inspired the layout for my nephew’s card, giving me a reason to bring out the mini folder die once again.  My note to him begins on the (crooked) lines inside, and carries into his train themed card,  with a companion train sticker.

We’re planning to visit my family for Thanksgiving the weekend of Oct. 12 – 14, so I’ll have a chance to celebrate the kids’ ‘month birthdays’ with them.  Aunty C is EX-CI-TED.  Very!!!

Happy Fall...Fusion #18, CASology 64: Harvest, CAS-ual Fridays 115: Fall Colours & a Leaf

Craft dash...whoops, I meant craft post dash (me? A card under 10 minutes? Nope!  A post under 10 minutes - that's even a challenge!!) to share a card that fits three challenges, with yes, some 'liberties' taken a wee bit.
First challenge entered: CASology Week 64: Harvest

Second challenge is CAS-ual Fridays #115, where theme is fall colours and a leaf (liberty #1 evident here)

Third challenge is FUSION 18 (along with  liberty #2)

My simple, although-it-took-me-significant-time-to-create-it card, featuring an I-don't-know-where-it's-from pumpkin stamp that I distress-marker-watercoloured, a MCT sentiment, EP paper and VERVE flags. (whoa...dash overload...)

Thanksgiving in Canada is Oct. 14th, and we're planning to head to visit my family (our last visit was waaaayyyy back in August. Tooo long!!) to share some time and, of course, a big turkey dinner with them.  Giving Thanksgiving cards (or Halloween ones, for that matter) isn't something we've ever done, but trust me, I'm doing my best to change that!!  A few fall-themed cards will be showing up here...I mean, isn't 'every' occasion a card making-and-giving occasion??  (BTW: tomorrow is Techie Day, just in case you have a special tech person who needs a reminder of how valuable they are...Two guys at work are getting wee gifts from me: they're amazing - and patient. Very!).

It's a crisp, cool, frost-on-the-windshield day...time to get ready for work.  Ta dahhhh....post in just over 11 minutes...getting closer to that 10 minute mark!  Have a great Wednesday!

Thanks so much for your visit; please let me know you dropped by!

Baby Boy Card...Wanna Sketch #9, Online Insider Class

I couldn't resist making a baby boy card after making one for Bev's new grand-daughter, so here it is...

Inspiration:  Lisa Arana's Wanna Sketch #9

and Online Insider Class.

Here's a closer look at the wee file-folder (and yes, you'll be see a lot of this darling die!!) that I left to flip open to write a note....

On a completely unrelated note:  my brother and his family were awakened at 3:00 am this morning, when a propane tank burst in the condo complex being built near their home, resulting in a three alarm blaze that consumed the entire development. Fifteen fire trucks - over 80 firefighters - deployed, with over  200 people evacuated by 3:30 am.  My brother delivered my sister-in-law and the kids  to her parents, then he returned to the scene to keep watch over their home, as best he could. Embers rained down the entire neighbourhood, and lots of secondary fires occurred in backyards. Fortunately, their home was spared and they're all safe, able to return.  Scary. Just plain scary.  I'm just thankful all is well...  

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit adds sparkle to my day.

"Naturally, She's Gorgeous" - Welcome Baby...Happy Dance, Wanna Sketch #9, Online Insider Class

Last week, our thoughtful, heart-as-big-as Everest,  wonderful Bev welcomed her 19^th grandchild into her life: a little girl, Avery Mae.   She is, as Bev noted, absolutely gorgeous, and I’ll wait while you go see for yourself….See, I told you so!

In honour of Miss Avery, I decided to try my hand at a baby card.  I think I made a couple baby cards back in my *early* crafting days (uh, yeah…that would be about 11 3/4 months ago….), relying on journaling cards cut from 12 X 12 sheets (I hadn’t fully realized the full spectrum of card-making goodies – and amazing people -  yet…), so this recent endeavour sees me a bit nervous.  Once I had my *baby girl* theme decided, the next step was finding a sketch:  Lisa Arana’s Wanna Sketch #9 fit the bill.  

Of course, I had to ‘twist and turn’ it a bit to use some of my NUBS – a mini file folder die (MCT) and baby die (SSS) – in place of a tag, as well as create an “inside” that I think is kind of cute. 

Welcome, sweet baby; Welcome Sweet Avery Mae…

The "inside' that has me all giddy is the wee file folder that can be dual-purposed:  use it like a file folder, flip it open and write a wee note inside. Alternatively, glue up the side, and you have a cute envelope to slide in a gift card or a note (maybe with baby's birth details, or the meaning of her/his name...).

Hope you like this, Grandma Bev, and hope Avery does too!  What a wonderful family she's been born into and  with your influence and encouragement, she's sure to be a creative young lass! 

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit adds sparkle to my day!