Two Cards; One Post....Paper Smooches SPARKS Picture Perfect Challenge and MUSE #23

Whew, but it's uncharacteristically warm here; actually, silly hot is more apt and I do not cope well in the heat.  I melt - and then have a melt down.  Not pretty.  And that probably explains why my husband was only too (as in extremely *too*) happy to head off on a bike ride of exponential length,while I stayed home, in the relative cool of our home.  We don't have air conditioning because we rarely experience temperatures of this nature (28C/80 today, with a forecast of 36C/97F by Wednesday. Seriously!), but at least I'm not out - as I was yesterday - feeling like a solar panel soaking up the rays.  Of course, since I'm 'trapped' inside (by design, of course.  Win-win for both of us), I needed to bide my time doing something productive (grocery shopping, laundry and cleaning, while done, don't really count as 'productive' - although the shiny floors and sparkling bathrooms offer some sense of achievement).

Productive #1: Posting my niece's Happy 40 Months Old mini-album this morning
Productive #2: Creating and posting my PS Sparks challenge card
Productive #3: Posting my MUSE Challenge card, even though...well, you'll see.

Let's start with Productive #2:  Paper Smooches SPARKS Picture Perfect Challenge:

An almost 'stymied me' photo, but I persevered, drawing inspiration from the neutral colours, the sense of flow in the crayon arrangement, the black lettering, and "flesh."  As well, my sister-in-law called today to share news that our 16 year old niece won some pretty impressive awards at her high school this past week, so something congratulations-themed also entered into the reckoning...

Here's my simple card, with 'neutral' Flap Happy die-cut and stamped butterflies, the 'way to go' sentiment from Sentiment Sampler, chevrons I cut to replicate the crayons' tips, and for a dash of colour, some pink, because 'flesh' can be rosy-pink, too!

I think it's girly-enough to send to her...and so I will, tomorrow!

Moving on to Productive #3: posting my MUSE Challenge #23 card.  Anita's inspiration is just so lovely - simple lines and sentiments, bright colours, sparkle and that perfectly placed white space.

I won't lament how I find white space challenging *shoulder slump*; rather, I'll share my solution for 'sort of' getting around it:  make a smaller card! Score!! My card is 4 X 4 - and I've tried to capture the key elements from Anita's card: a bit of coloured base in the tag; simple lines, coloured circles, a couple of sequins, and a sentiment. (A set of note cards with this design has come to mind...maybe a down-the-road gift)

That's it for now!  I really should sit outside for a bit...absorb some Vitamin D...

Thanks so much for dropping by; please let me know you did! Your comments add such sparkle to my day!!

Happy 40 Months Old Mini Album + Tags...A Blog Named Hero Challenge #26 and Catered Crops So Shapely

One of the many perks of being an Aunt, living long-distance from my niece and nephew, is that I can do whatever my little heart desires to show them how much I love them.  Sometimes, that leads me down a path that is often silly, a bit wild, a bit 'out there.'  You've seen this 'theme' several times since I've started blogging, where I've shared the cards I've made to celebrate their Happy xxx Month Old days.

Next week, my niece turns 40 months old. 40!! Turnng 40 years old is a milestone birthday, and, exercising my unique leaps of logic, I decided that turning 40 months old is too; a happy day to be recognized with a 'special' something.  The inspiration for what I wanted to make percolated for several days, as I was inspired by the challenge at A Blog Named Hero: Challenge #26: Tags; it was the 'how' that had me in stall-mode.  Clock ticking, other cards being made...nothing 'yet' for my girl.  Then, in a trip to the Scor-pal blog, Virgina Nebel's post showing her charming mini-album with tags (with instructions! Double score!!) came into sight. Ideas emerging...A trip to my stash (6 steps from kitchen to desk. Long journey) to get the bought ages ago not yet used Carta Bella Alphabet Junction scrapbook set.  I bought this (and a couple others) prior to discovering that 12 X 12 patterns are a bit too big for cards - but it was on sale, and I figured I 'might' use the stickers at some point.  Well, that point arrived on Friday..and over the course of most of Friday afternoon and a good chunk of yesterday, I created and completed my "Happy 40 Months Old" project.

Lots of dies, lots of stamps, lots of the stickers from the kit (a first for me using these); and LOTS of FUN!!
Oh yes, a stroll over to Kim's blog to see this card has also inspired me to enter this into Catered Crops So Shapely challenge.

Here's the album and its tags (alert: photo dense):

"Cover" page (tag, label and butterflies are dies)

  

Inside of the album

Close up (sort of ) pages 1-2 (the ice cream cone, 40 and hearts are dies)

Close up, pages 3-4 (I made a "wordle" using word stickers from the kit.  

Frame, butterflies and butterfly trail are dies)

The three tags that go inside the 'pockets' of pages 2, 3, 4, 

(I was aiming for one more, but ran out of steam.  Tags, circle, hearts, postage frame, scalloped frame, caption banner and hearts are dies)

and here's the album, all ribboned up, ready to give to sweet Tessa

Whew!!!  Hope she likes it!  The best part - we're traveling to see my family on Thursday, so I get to deliver it to her in person! 

Today, I think I'll focus on 'smaller' projects...

Thanks so much for dropping in; please let me know you did.  Comments always welcome and appreciated, immensely!

One More Thanks...Retrosketches #69

*Cas* post this time. Promise! (Longer chat + card here - frantic catching up!)

Looking at all those pretty entries at Retrosketches #69 has me wondering if I should add my simple little creation. But I am - because my new die from PS wanted out of its package...

Here's the delightful sketch

followed by my "liberties taken" entry...

This is the 'new and improved' version (hard to believe!), but the other one - with blue "roses" rather than the petalled flowers - wasn't working for me.  Wanna see...

The roses weren't participating properly...grrrr!!  I'm glad I renovated!

Thanks for dropping in; your comments are welcome and appreciated, immensely!

Thanks a la "Pattern Play" Class...Unscripted Sketches #216

Whoosshh...last week our town was in the throes of destruction; this week, baby steps to recovery are appearing day by day.  Just yesterday, the Tran-Canada highway, closed to all but residents, opened to traffic, even though its down to two lanes from its usual four.  Long-weekend tourist traffic was certainly a motivator, however, I'm not sure that the usual crowded streets will appear this year, as so many people - usually arriving from Calgary, our nearest city - are still contending with their own local emergencies.  While I certainly don't want our tourist-destination businesses here and in Banff to suffer, sometimes a 'stay-cation' is perfectly fine.  That's exactly what's on our agenda this weekend - and I'm 1,000% fine with that because Tour de France starts tomorrow!  Woo hooo!! Twenty-one days of top-notch cycling!  I. Am Excited (oh, and my husband is too.  Maybe just a teensy bit more than me!).  Of course, the more he watches, the greater his motivation to race - and given that Bend OR's Cascade Classic is but 2 1/2 weeks away, that's a very good thing.  .

Anyway, I've been crafting up a storm the past few days, however, the fruits of my labours are looking a bit *meh* - not all, but some.  Perhaps I'm in recovery mode of some fashion, too, given that our week has been super hectic.  Work has been catch-up and keep-up; we headed into the city for an appointment I had - our usual 1 hour drive turned into 2 - each way; the appointment rattled my nerves (long story...won't bore you with details); I was a day ahead of myself beginning Wednesday...and now that Friday's here, I'm looking over my shoulder wondering where the time has gone!  Still, I've carried on with my card-making, and even if things have been a bit "miss and toss" the act of  'doing' has been rewarding!

This post's 'featured' card is my entry to Unscripted Sketches #216, and after a fair bit of "hmmm-ing" about whether or not I should give it a go, I remembered a lesson from the Pattern Play online course.  Kristina Werner shared a most scrumptious card to showcase this tip:  "Break up really large patterns and let them take center stage as the background, keeping the rest of the card very simple."  Her card involved patterned paper cut into strips - and when I saw US 216, the wheels began to turn.

The next little trigger was Gretchen's card that you can see here (I'll wait while you look), and since that rather zany paper is one I can call my own (it was in my 'stymied by this' stash), the decision was sealed.  Play time!!

Here's US #216

and here's my Pattern Play 'lesson' turned into action.  Be warned: this paper is bit 'hectic'- striking, but definitely hectic - so I fully understand if you glance and go.  Hopefully the black/white/pink 'solids' turn the volume down a bit...

Thanks so much for dropping by; please let me know your did! Your comments are welcome and appreciated, immensely!!

Flutter-Pink Thanks...FUSION #12

Quick post before rushing off to work, where we're packing up our office and moving to our new location.  So excited about packing boxes...and more boxes...and more...!!

FUSION challenges:  always inspiring, always challenging, and always a delight as I see the 'creative genius' others share.  This week's sketch+photo had me flummoxed - gnome? Owl? Vase? Camera? Flowers?  Stripes and triangular banners? Where to start, never mind where to finish!  As I watched pretty, unique cards appear on the site, ideas began to gel...

My card is really simple, inspired both by the FUSION #12 elements, and the card created by Kim over at Joyful Creations with Kim.  Her "Absolutely, flowered dp, and three little owls with their wee bits of bling" is such a winning combination (as are all of her cards, no matter what she uses!!), so...I've 'kind of ' cased her card with some of my newer products: the PS Thanks die, Flap Happy butterfly, and Vintage Bliss paper.  Nothing sparkly; only another attempt at white pigment ink.  Oh, and plenty of pink. Plenty!!

Here's FUSION #12:

And my Flutter-Pink Thanks

Thanks, Kim, for the added inspiration!!

I'm delighted you dropped by! Please let me know you did; your comments are always welcome and appreciated!  Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Sweet Ice Cream Wishes ...Seize the Birthday #19

First, to all of you who commented on my Thank You X 3 post yesterday -  THANK YOU x 4!!  Your thoughtful, heart-warming messages about our moat-surrounded, roughed up, bedraggled and water-logged town have cheered me up immensely!

This afternoon, I was inspired to sort through some of my 'slightly used, but somewhat neglected' stamps and dies, to see what 'ought' to have some play time.  If you follow the delightfully hilarious, always-uplifiting posts (brilliant - as in high-watt light-bulb brilliant!) and the oh-so-clever card creations by Darnell, you'll be familiar with her newly-coined acronym *NBUS* - "never before used schtuff."  She's been exploring her collection (vast, I might add), and giving center stage to products she hasn't used before!  Inspiring - and smart - especially because I have several NBUSes in my stash.  Today, however, they weren't on my radar; rather the "kind of before used' stuff was, so, if Darnell doesn't mind, I'm going to 'case' her NBUS to create KBUS.

Today's challenge was Jen Nelson's sketch at Seize the Birthday #19, and the KBUS I decided to use all come from My Creative Time.  Emma has some sweet stamps, dies and stamp-and-die combinations, and her blog is full-to-bursting with ideas galore (her videos are a delight!).  Meander off for a quick peak, and while you do, I'll grab a quick beverage (hmmmm, hmmmm).  See?  You'll certainly want to head back for a closer look.  My card features her Vintage Stitched Label Die and Stamps, Vintage Sentiments, and Celebrate Good Times.

Now, I'm a little out-of-practice using this 'stuff,' and if the linky wasn't near to closing, some renovations would be in order (#1 - change up the label to make it more 'lively'); however, with the clock ticking, I'll 'hand this in' on time!   It was grand to play with some of my KBUS...watch for more later in the week (I hope!!  That said, however, I confess - I put an order in with SSS yesterday, because I couldn't resist the 20% off.  Shopping is theraputic! That's my excuse, and I'm sticking with it!!)

Here's Jen's sketch:

and here's my 'Sweet Birthday Wishes"...

Thanks so much for dropping in; please let me know you did.  Your comments brighten my day, immensely!

Back Home and THANKS!...PS SPARKS + CAS(E) this Sketch #33

The past few days have been a wreaking of havoc in my town of Canmore, Alberta, due to the unexpected flooding of Cougar Creek that runs through it. Usually a gently flowing trickle - the result of snow melt from surrounding mountains - the creek - true to its name - transformed into a ferocious snarl of wild and crazy rapids that spread quickly and with unforeseen consequences.  Below is a photo of the creek bursting its banks, tearing away the foundations of nearby houses.

The highways surrounding us were also assaulted by the water; we were, in a nutshell, land-locked - a situation that continues even today.

Glued to news of the quickly changing scenario, on Thursday, I believed we’d be spared evacuation, but my optimism was short-lived when the fire-fighters arrived and told us we had to leave.  Panic for me, as I’m such a stay-at-home person – and I had no inkling of where I’d end up, beyond being shuttled by bus to the local high school on the other side of town.  Told to travel light, I grabbed the bare-essentials, and headed off to…wherever. 

After seeing the crowds at the school - predominately families who needed space more than I did - I decided to head to my office downtown, and squirrel away there.  And so I did, heading off into the rains pouring down with renewed vigor.   

Down the hall from my office is a small timing company; a group of three men who Andy, my husband, and I have come to know because they provide the timing infrastructure we use for bike races.  I passed by their office to say a quick hi, told them I was evacuated, and faster than you can blink an eye, the two young men who share a townhouse (and who we worked closely with at last weekend’s Banff Bike Fest – talk about perfect scheduling for that event!) – offered me a room at their place.  Ecstatic?  Only YES!!   Knights in shining armor rescuing a damsel matron in distress - the lore of fairy tales came true at that very moment! 

So, Thursday, Friday and until late Saturday, I was most blessed to be with these lads!  Their home was spacious, comfortable, safe and warm; their hospitality welcoming, thoughtful and heart-warming.  They listened to me prattle on about ‘whatever’ prattling I had stored up; they made me pizza (awesome!!); they gave me a ‘home’ when I was certainly in need.  To say I was spoiled and pampered is an understatement!  I’m not sure how we’ll repay them, but we’ll find a way!

In the midst of all this, my charming  husband abandoned his decision to race in Mt. Hood, OR (and that was a sacrifice, as this was the race's last running) and ‘try’ to come home – only to discover all roads closed.  Today, we finally heard word that he could return - and so we are united!

Even though I’m safe (blessing!) and home (blessing!), I’m exhausted! Compared to those 60-70 families who lost their homes, our little discomforts are mild!  The school districts have announced that the school year is officially over (we had one more week), and even though I still have to go to deal with my tasks, this is an excellent decision.   Writing exams really isn’t a priority, at this stage!   The road to recovery will be long, indeed, but the little steps are being made.

Hugs of exponentially huge proportions to you!  Wait, make that a double amount of said hugs!!

As you can imagine, a return to card-making was important - a chance for 'normalcy' - and forefront in my mind is making Thank you cards.  

My colour inspiration is from Paper Smooches SPARK Challenge: Cool Shades (hopefully you can see the four key shades in the patterned paper) and features the PS Thanks die, the notebook die, extended (thanks to Savannah's Virtual Smooches video!) and Chit Chat.

The layout - although I took some liberties with sizing -  is Jackie Rockwell's CAS(E) this Sketch #33. 

Here's my take:

 I'm sending this one 'virtually' to all of you who left notes on my blog, or sent me messages,  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU with all my ♥ for thinking about me. Your notes and concern over my well-being have touched me deeply.  I am blessed to have you in my life!