Florals x 2...CAS(E) this Sketch #114, Take It Make It Challenge March Anything Goes, The Paper Players #236~Florals, Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes

Hello, my friends...

Whooshing in like the gusty winds we're having today, with a quick note before donning my sous chef hat...

As I hinted at in my previous post, I'm smitten by CAS(E) this Sketch #114

and I have two more cards to prove this crush is for real...

Apologies for the pink tinge...grrr! After 30 some photo attempts, this is the best of the crop. I need a professional photographer!  

These are heading to galleries at:

Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes

Take It Make It Challenge: March~Anything Goes

The Paper Players #236~Florals

Dashing off to get supper started; so wonderful to have my husband back home; at least for this week...more traveling to come for both of us next.  

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Hugs,

Butterflies Note..TIME OUT #26~Photo Inspiraion, CAS(E) this Sketch #114

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY to the Time Out Team!  What a wonderful year of challenges you've given us, and a most warm, inviting place to play! Wishing you (and us!) many more years of inspiration; many more opportunities for us to spend time sharing and connecting in your gallery!

I'm nearly late to the party with my card and as much as I wanted to work with frames and striped/wood images, nothing was 'fruitifying' (my mom's word...love it!). Trust me: Mr. Recycle Bin is wearing a smug, my-tummy's-full smile!  So, I defaulted to my favourite images, used the colours from the TIME OUT #26 inspiration photo, (Chameleon markers once again)

coupled those with CAS(E) this Sketch #114 for my layout (shifted)

 and...voila:

Nothing fancy-schmancy with my butterflies, but I'm smitten with the 'cut-and-raised' panel (although sending my butterflies through my cuttlebug made me cringe...until I realigned them. Whew...all is good!).

I tried to replicated the frame colours from the inspiration photo; they're all present and accounted for, however, my dark blue/light blue don't contrast very well. Should have re-configured the colours. Oh well, lesson learned.

Two more cards are in the queue using this sketch format; evidently I'm smitten with it.  Photos yet to be taken, so you'll see those soon...

Hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Hugs,

Rose Thanks....As You See It Challenge #078~Sketch, Take It Make It March Challenge~Anything Goes, STAMPlorations~Anything Goes

Hello and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My Chameleon pens came out for another practice go-round with the oh-so-pretty rose from STAMPloration's Blossom Overture set.

My layout was inspired by the sketch at As You See It #078, however, I did make some adaptations (what me? Adapting? Ummm....yes...) because I'm pa-thet-ic with twine and ribbon, and therefore, knots and bows.  (As You See It  Team: if my card is too far removed from your sketch, I understand...consequences accepted).   Isn't the rose pretty (we're talking about *the rose* not my colouring *grin*)?  Do check out the other flowers in this set...excited to give them a whirl soon.

I'm also sharing this at:  Take It Make It March Challenge~Anything Goes (rose stamp and background script stamp)

STAMPlorations Anything Goes

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Hugs,

Guest Designer for The Pink Elephant #290 Colour Challenge~Pinch Me (Use Green), W&W~Join in to Win, STAMPlorations~Anything Goes, Little Tangles #54~Anything Goes

Hello!

Happy Monday and welcome once to my third guest designer appearance for The Pink Elephant Challenge #290~Colour Challenge

With today being St. Patrick's Day eve, the colour challenge this week is PINCH ME, aka: adding green to your card or project. 

My St. Patrick's Day collection is comprised of a teensy weensy, yet very cute, shamrock die. I didn't have a clue how to showcase it well (I suppose I could have die cut 25 out of foil paper and tried a shaker card...*could have* being the operative term); instead, I infused green into my cards in other ways.

My first card is another go at Jennifer McGuire's ink layering technique, this time using my new STAMPlorations ART-plorations Leaf Stencil. Green background, pigment ink, green ink, complemented with a shimmer paper butterfly and W&W Cutaway...

My second card features ink splotches from Neat and Tangles, and a W&W cutaway...

Please head over (or if you've already been, THANK YOU for coming my way) to see the creativity from

Joni

Kadie

Lori

Nance

Sheri

I know you'll be amazed and inspired!  Looking forward to seeing YOUR *Pinch Me* cards in the Pink Elephant  gallery!

My cards are off to: 

Addicted to CAS #59~Green

STAMPlorations Anything Goes (Leaf card)

Winnie & Walter~Join in to Win

Little Tangles #54~Anything Goes (Happy card)

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Hugs,

Sunny Floral Hello....Muse #108, Cure for the Monday Blues #46~Rise & Shine, STAMPlorations Flash Stencil Linky Party, Little Tangles #54~Anything Goes

Hello, my friends!

I hope you've all had a fabulous day, and that you've moving into a most enjoyable evening. I've been on my ownsome this week (my husband is at Biathlon Nationals, returning tomorrow) so I spent part of the day cleaning, part crafting and part afternoon-visiting some of my teacher friends at our guidance counselor's gorgeous home.  I'm rather 'socially inept', often preferring to stay home (family visits and bike races, though are all good...), because I'm quite introverted (yes, hard to believe based on my babbly blogs!) and awkward at gatherings. I'm soooo glad I put on my big girl pants and headed over, because I had such a delightful time!  Looking back, I've waved off so many social events, but with this one under my belt, who knows...Maybe I'll venture out - with my husband on my arm - to staff functions more often.

Right now, I'm cosy inside, watching the trees outside our patio doors being buffeted around by the wind. Yep...we're under a 'wind warning'.  I may be in Kansas by this time tomorrow...

Anyway, enough rambling!

You've likely seen Muse #108's stunning, classy, sunshiny card created by our incredibly talented, sweetheart of sweethearts, Michele Ferguson. Yellow, black, grey, a field of  ranunculi, with one spot-light coloured...sheer beauty.  Sighhh...See what I mean...gorgeous!

Inspired thusly, here's my take on Michele's card...yellows, a whisper of grey, some black...and the debut of my new STAMPlorations Bold Florals, paired with a W&W cutaway.

I nudged my panel over to the right edge, just to be daring *grin* and as a nod to Michele's perfect panel placement.

Hope I did your card proud, dear friend! I sure LOVE x LOVE yours!

I'm entering this spring-y little creation into:

Cure for the Monday Blues #465~ Rise and Shine

STAMPlorations Flash Stencil Linky Party

Little Tangles #54~Anything Goes

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Hugs,

She Art - Inkspirational Challenge #78~Designer's Choice, Happy Little Stampers March CAS Challenge~Sponging, STAMPlorations Anything Goes, A Blog Named Hero~Bright and Bold, Craft Stamper~Take It Make It March~Anything Goes, ShowCASe Your Style #10~Colour Challenge

Happy Pi Day!!

Hope everyone is enjoying a relaxing Saturday, filled with sunshine, blue skies, signs of Spring that are not teasers and PIE!  The local radio station (Calgary, CBC) conducted a 'pie contest' yesterday morning and of the 10 contestants (narrowed from a rather immense field), the winning pie - as chosen by a restaurant reviewer and chef - was a tourtiere.  I'm not a fan of meat pies (sorry...icky!), but I was pleased to hear that a rhubarb pie  was runner up. Yummm.  Anyway, you're not here for pie-chatter (though I bet I have you hankering for a piece...with ice cream...right now)...

Today, Inkspirational Challenge #78, as chosen by our wonderful, talented team-mate, Yvonne, is  'She Art':

Yvonne is incredibly talented and innovative with this style. As you'll see, so too is our amazing guest designer, Lyndal,  and the rest of my inspiring team- mates:  Sandie, Marina, Shauna, Yvonne, Nonni, Pia, and Kim.  To say you'll be wowed by their creativity is an understatement.

She Art is a style that I truly had no idea about until I did some much-needed research.  I found amazing artwork, but no way could I translate it 'properly,' as...well, I don't have any images of women in my collection! I know, I know....I did, for a brief second, think about using my restroom woman die, but...yeah, no! That would be just wrong...and I also thought about some fancy maneuvers with my fairy die. Nope. Uh-uh.  (Fairy-Frankensteined does not a good impression make - thanking my sister for the perspective when I ran my idea past her. How right she is!)

I returned (many times!) to the images/sites that showcased She Art and, finally, found another path:  even though much She Art is rife with funky, fabulous images of women, and multiple mixed media techniques, at its heart are underlying, uplifting messages.  Messages of encouragement, guidance, empowerment; messages of standing strong and exuding confidence.  

My card has the kind of messages I'd like my niece to hear, especially as she is growing up, so too is the world opening up for her.  It's 'immense' out there and I so want her to find her way to be who she is, and be proud, strong, confident.  I know she'll be awesome!

Please visit the incredible cards over at Inkspirational, and join us in creating your version of She Art.  The winner will be invited to guest design with us in a future challenge.

I'll see you in the gallery!

I'm also sharing at:

Happy Little Stampers March CAS Challenge~Sponging

A Blog Named Hero 

Craft Stamper Take It Make It March~Anything Goes

STAMPlorations Anything Goes

ShowCASe Your Style #10~Colour Challenge

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

Hugs,

Just Because Butterflies...Less Is More #214~Colour Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Things that Fly; Simon Says Monday Challenge~B is for...

Hello,

Pre-work power post to make sure my Chameleon-coloured Uniko image butterfly card makes it into some near-to-closing galleries.  I'm a far cry from mastering the Chameleon pens, but on small spaces, I'm 'getting them' a bit better.  Sort of...need to work on adjusting fusing times for better highlights, I see.

My yellow and green card is off to Less is More #214~Colour Challenge, as well as

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Things that Fly

Simon Says Monday Challenge~B is for...

Off to work...yayyy Friday; yayyy for early dismissal day!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!
Hugs,