You are Incredible...MUSE #159, CAS on Sunday Challenge #80~Flowers, AAA Cards #61~Stencilling

Hello,

Popping in quickly with my MUSE Challenge #159 card, inspired by Jenni Murray's lovely poppies here:

I imagine you're getting bored with my seemingly unending use of stencils but...alas, my collection is sorely lacking in stamp flower images.   I'll work on changing that (an improvement in the value of our CDN dollar would help immensely!). For now though...stencils it is...

I inked my STAMPlorations Happy Flower stencil with Abandoned Coral and Peeled Paint, then over-stamped the petals with a dotted stamp from Mixed Media Elements. A bit of blue background (Tim Holtz's Dot Fade) and...done.  As you can see, I drew inspiration from Jenni's flowers and colours...

Off to pack my bag, hitch up my big girl bloomers and head north...excited to see my family and, as always, a bit nervous to be making the drive on my own.  My husband is traveling east later in the week, returning via Edmonton Saturday evening, so I'll have company on the return trek. Hope all will be well...

Joining at:
CAS on Sunday Challenge #80~Flowers

STAMPlorations Anything Goes

AAA Cards Challenge #61~Stencilling

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

Believe in Yourself Butterflies...Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #354~Blush, Meringue, Sky, 4 Craft Chicks #292~Anything Goes, Creatalicious Challenge #88~Things with Wings

Hello,

I'm super excited to be joining with my teammates for Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #354

Source

for three reasons: the pretty colours, the fabulous inspiration photo and, most important, because this week we're sponsored by My Creative Time!  If it weren't for my discovery of Emma, her amazing products and her fantastic videos, I wouldn't be making cards today. She was my 'gateway' into this sport, my first *Muse*, and my first connection with this dynamic community.  I have plenty of MCT in my collection and I love it alllll!  Her blog is a vibrant, innovative source of inspiration. Please: if you have a chance, head  over to her place.  She is a GEM!

My card features three sets of some of favourite MCT products:
Pretty Butterflies & Dragonflies Dies
Script Type Backgrounds Stamp
You Matter Stamps

I used two of the 'watercolour' background stamps for my background (my secret is revealed *grin*), two of the butterfly dies - one to create the stitched outline and a second for the little insets, and a sentiment from You Matter.  The Spring palette makes me smile, and I hope it evokes a similar response for you!

Inspired to play along? I hope so, because guess what: Emma is generously giving THREE stamp sets to this week's winner!  I'd love if these would head your way!!

Bring out your blush, meringue and sky inks, papers, markers....whatever you have...and join us!

See you in the gallery!!

Also linking up at:

4 Crafty Chicks #292~Anything Goes

Creatalicious Challenges #88~Things with Wings

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

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

Just Because...April Fool's Day My Big Fat Boo Boo

Hello and Happy April!

Today, our wonderfully witty, hilarious and talented Darnell is hostessing the first 24-hour's only April Fool's Day Boo Boo Hop, where our oopsie-boopsie cards are the stars of the stage.  Brilliant, right? And talk about fun!!

While I typically feed my epic failures to my ravenous and portly Mr. Recycle Bin, a few cards have managed to 'squeak' past my vigilant eye, particularly those in my earlier days of crafting.  One that holds a special memory is this little number. I know...what *was* I thinking when I created that!! We won't discuss my rather feeble attempts at paper-pairing, or the odd-ball embossed panel or the loopy hearts or the *gasp* dreadful bows...

A lot of boo-boos already, right...but added to the tally is that it opened backwards and upside down.  Yep...and I didn't realize my error until I brought it - all rather proud of myself, I dare add - to my mom's, to show her how snazzy-dazzy my card-making was becoming.  Embarrassing!! My sister-in-law - mom to the highlights-of-my-life niece and nephew - happened to be visiting at the time, so the three of us had a great old guffaw at my 'design innovation.'  I fully intended to trash the creature before I left, but...I forgot...

Imagine my surprise when, about 2 months later, this VERY card landed in my mailbox.  My sweet sister-in-law had rescued the poor thing, turned it upside down (or would that be 'right side up? Whatever the case, she figured it out.) and wrote a note that melted my heart and brought tears of immense joy to my eyes.

Little did I know that my 'backwards and upside down and loopy-doopy card' would become this special treasure...

that, since it's arrival, has been pinned on my bulletin board in the kitchen, just to the right of my laptop, where I can see it Every. Single. Day.  (BTW: the 'bathing the boy' she makes reference to is this big old cloth doll my mom made.  When my niece was younger, we gave that doll 'pretend' baths  over and over and over...)

Here's how the card looks when you read the note inside...a bit of 'mental gymnastics' required!!

Love this 'booby' card...and especially LOVE my sister-in-law for seeing some 'magic' in it!

Okay, 'nuff from me...I'm off to hop to see what other beautiful blunders await at Darnell's place!  Hope you're enticed to bring one of your oopsies to the gallery!


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

Prickly Love...Addicted to Stamps and More #187~Make Your Mark, Share Joy Challenge #28~Sketch & CAS

Hello,

We're just back from having spent a wonderful sunny (with a scatter of showers one day) weekend at my mother-in-law's place. The flowers are already in bloom and the grass green; quite the contrast to our 'late start' Springs here at home. The Easter bunny brought  us chocolates (yayy...) and mom-in-law sent us home with an assortment of leftovers. In fact, I don't think we'll need to cook anything new for at least four days!

Today, my DT and I invite you to Addicted to Stamps and More #187

Bring our your markers, pencils, sponges, water-colours, crayons..challks; whatever you have to *make a mark* on your project.

My card, with a layout inspired by Share Joy Challenge #28~Sketch & CAS,

features one of  the images from my new Sweet Succulents stamp set (coloured with polychromos pencils) and stencil from My Favourite Things:

I need to make a batch of cards like this to give to my husband when I have 'one of those days' (or, weeks, as the case may be *grin*). Love these cactus-dudes..and excited that the dies will be heading my way soon! I can plant those little gems alllll over the place once that happens...

This week, our fabulous sponsor has generously provided 3 digital images for the winner. How's that for more incentive to play along?

Please head over to the ATSM challenge site to see yet more MYM inspiration from the team, then, with ideas sparked, create a card/project to share.

                                                               See you in the gallery!

ETA: I'm also joining the 'new challenge on the block' - Inspired by All the Little Things #8 -  featuring this marvelous succulent bouquet. LOVE it! (Thank you, Tracey!!)

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

Hello...and HAPPY EASTER!

May your day be filled with celebration and joy knowing that He is Risen! 

Today, my Cupcake team and I invite you to join us for this week's

Cupcake Inspirations #353, featuring...what else but BUNNIES!  Aren't these darling! The cookie shaped ears are brilliant...and those pink noses!

Source

Fresh Brewed Designs is our generous sponsor, who will be awarding the lucky winner 3 digis

They also provided images for the team to use, so I've brought this little cutie-pie out for a play:

Please visit the challenge site for more bunny inspiration, then have some fun with your own 'wascally wabbits'.

See you in the gallery!

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

When Clouds are Grey...Inkspirational Challenges #105~Photo Inspiration, Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #6, STAMPlorations CAS Card Challenge and Anything Goes Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Come Rain or Shine

Hello,

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend and that your Easter preparations are well in hand. Me: hoping that Mr. Bunny visits and leaves behind a chocolate morsel or twelve..

Today, over at Inkspirational Challenge #105, I along with our talented guest designer, Rae Ann, and my fabulous DT

Sandie

Pia

Marina

Shauna 
Kim

invite you to draw inspiration from this marvelous photo.

The greys, the black, the 'spotlight,' the pops of yellow, the reflection, the embrace, the *love*...I adore this image.  Oh, the possibilities...and given we're so close to a new month, we can add April showers to the mix!

A new MFT umbrella die came my way recently (I have plans for this gem!), so I paired it with some stenciled clouds from STAMPlorations and a sentiment from Verve, for this simple card that, I hope, would make somebody's 'storm' a bit easier to weather...

Please visit the Inkspirations site for some outstanding inspiration, then bring your artistry and creativity to light!  Looking forward to seeing you in the gallery!!

Also joining:

Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #6 using the diagonal line of showers, CAS and clouds

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Come Rain or Shine

CASology #190~Weather

STAMPlorations CAS Card Challenge and Anything Goes Challenge

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

Easter Bunnies....Just Us Girls Challenge #335~Colour Week, Uniko Challenge #30~Spring/Easter, The Male Room #31~Easter, Allsorts Challenge #335~Easter, Just Add Ink Challenge #303~Just Add E, Double D Challenge~Easter, Make My Monday~Something Fluffy

Hello,

Wednesday evening...Thursday work day...then Spring Break for TWO weeks! Yippee-skippy!  Easter weekend with my husband's family (aiming to leave Thursday pm), back here for a few days, then off to see my family...Yep, Very. Very. Excited!

Right now, I have a trio of bunnies, hopping down the bunny trail, to join a few challenges, starting with Just Us Girls Challenge #335~

and Uniko Challenge #30~Spring/Easter

Here's Bunny #1, from Uniko's newest release...Isn't that face, with the smile and freckles, sweet!

Of course, one bunny lead to two more: a blue one for Mr. Nephew and...

a purple one for Ms. Niece (who will, undoubtedly, wonder why I didn't add flowers. She is too funny!).  

Hope they arrive in time for Easter...I've included a 'rain cheque' treat note for when I visit. I'm thinking chocolate bunnies and eggs will be on both their radars!

Also sharing at:

The Male Room #31~Easter (blue bunny, since he's for my nephew)

Simon Wednesday Challenge~Cute and Cuddly

Allsorts Challenge #335~Easter

Make My Monday Challenge~Something Fluffy

Double D Challenge~Easter

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