Trendy Leaves Note...STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Sketch Challenge #25, Anything Goes,and January Challenge-Stamps and Ink, Craft Stamper~Take A Stamp Challenge

Hello!

It's hard to believe that I've been with my mom for nearly a month, and what a month it's been!  My husband is coming tomorrow; I'll be packing my gear to head back with him on Sunday. It ain't going to be pretty, because someone is going to be shedding serious tears!! On the plus side, we're aiming to return next Friday, and trust me, I'll be counting down the 'sleeps' beginning Sunday night.  Back to work Monday morning...gahhhhhhhh!  Okay, enough about this topic.

Mom and I accomplished quite a few items from the must-do list. Highlight: new furnaces! Yayy! They were installed Wednesday/Thursday, by two servicemen who were absolute sweethearts: professional, polite and friendly.  We've had many encounters with incredibly compassionate people over the past couple of weeks; talk about blessings!

Moving on....Today's card, made pretty much last minute (apparently some things remain the same *grin*), was inspired by STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Sketch Challenge #25

 

Plenty of reckoning and figuring took place behind-the-scenes before I finally settled on giving my new Trendy Leaves stamps a go. In case my interpretation of the sketch isn't clear, here's my translation: the leaves = hearts; an embossed strip of birch trees = the band across the front panel; more paint chip paper (sorry...) = the borders. 

I'm also sharing at STAMPlorations' Anything Goes Challenge

and January Challenge~Stamps and Inks

I've also discovered a new place to play, thanks to wonderful and talented Shirley, from Shirley-bee's Stamping Stuff, whose lovely card here, lead to:

 

Craft Stamper~Take A Stamp Challenge

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

So Sweet of You...ATSM #127~Make Your Mark, STAMPlorations~Anything Goes

Hello!

Time to welcome 2015 with a new challenge: Addicted to Stamps and More #127~Make Your Mark.

I'm thrilled to be joining  my new and old team-mates here with this challenge that invites you to create a card using markers, pencils, paints, chalks, gelatos...essentially, anything that allows you to 'make your mark'.

My flirting with the Chameleon pens and STAMPlorations' Sugar Rush continues; also coming out to play is my new Reverse Confetti 'you' die from Tag Me, Too Confetti Cuts. This time, I have a no-calorie, double treat to share with you.  Do you see something else new? Yep, my card is sporting a shiny, special ATSM watermark, created by our sweet leader, Kylie.

As a little extra enticement to play along, we're being sponsored by generous, talented and creative Michele over at

who is offering the winner a $20 gift certificate. Awesome! See...no excuses not to play!

Run, very quickly, to your stash of  colouring/painting tools, and design a little something that I know will be dazzling and delightful.  I'm looking forward to checking out your creativity in the ATSM gallery!

I'm also adding my card (yes, another one, wonderful Shery, to STAMPlorations~Anything Goes challenge.

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

Thank You...As You See It~Challenge #069, MUSE #99

Hello!

My mom and I had a busy, somewhat adventurous week, with the highlight being a decision to install new furnaces on January 19th. So glad she listened to the furnace tech, who made quite clear that after 40 years, the furnaces  *needed* replacing.  Alas, the smaller furnace of the two, that warms the second storey, decided to cease and desist yesterday evening.  I left a message with the service rep this morning, telling of our plight; hopefully, we can bump the job to this week. I guess in the grand scheme, the timing of these malfunctions is 'good' in that I'm around to help, but honestly?  Yeesh.

Another highlight: thanks to the brilliance of Michele, of I Card Everyone fame, and her fabulous card here, I have resolved, for the time being, my white-cardstock only situation. Yayy! A trip to a nearby RONA store, straight to the paint section, and a few minutes later, a stack of colourful paint chip papers in  hand. Free! SCORE!! My selection also included chips that are single colour, 4.5" in size. Cheering...

So, with new 'card-stock' in hand, I've created a card inspired by Vicki's gorgeous creation, as you can see below, over at MUSE #99

and the sketch over at As You See It #069

My mobile crafting unit included my doily die, several tag and banner dies, my stitched circles and and some new Reverse Confetti stamps, so out they came and here's the result:

NOTE:  Honoured and delighted to be selected as a Top Pick at As You See It. THANK YOU immensely!

The chip paper = doily, circle and banner. Thank you, Michelle, for the coloured-paper solution! Happy me!

I started my post this morning, and just returned to it this early evening, after another day of outings (church, shopping, dropping her off to see my sister while I helped my brother and sister-in-law with the kiddos at an indoor nature park...). Update on the furnace: new arrivals rescheduled for Wednesday. Whew *brushing palm of hand across forehead*...hope this all works out!

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

Hugs...

Happy Winter Birthday...Curtain Call~Winter Wonder, Merry Monday #140~Snowflakes, Virginia's View #11~Clean Slate, Just Us Girls #274~Winter, Christmas Card Challenge #5

Hello...

We're waiting for a furnace guy to come our way (as mentioned in my previous post) and since he's not arrived yet, I'm sneaking in like a flash with another "I have only white card stock on hand' card!  This one is full-on Winnie & Walter...swoon-inducing products and incredible service. Check them out if you haven't already! *Winter* is several die-cuts layered (Seasons Cutaways) , and the snowflakes (Bigger Bang Flurries) are dewdrop-ink stamped with peanut brittle, toffee crunch (sugar theme continues *grin*), and grey flannel.

Firing my cards into the galleries at:

Curtain Call~Winter Wonder

Merry Monday #140~Snowflakes

Just Us Girls #374~Winter

Virginia's View Challenge #11~Clean Slate

and a new-to-me challenge (thank you Gail!): The Christmas Card Challenge #5

NOTE: Thrilled, honoured and delighted that my card received recognition as the Christmas Card Challenges winner. THANK YOU immensely!

NOTE: Delighted and thrilled to receive be an Honourable Mention selection over at Merry Monday. THANK YOU immensely!

Furnace guy arrived...

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

Flowers, Macarons and Donuts...Happy Little Stampers January Sketch Challenge, CAS(E) this Sketch #104

Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon

You come and go

You come and go

Loving would be easy if your colours were like my dream

Red, gold and green,

Brown, pink and blue--ooo-ooo-ooo

Okay, okay...I'm being goofy (I do, however, confess to loving this song...), but the song fits so well with my current dabblings with my Chameleon pens. I'm moving closer to 'liking them a lot,' however, that whole 'how long do I have before the 'fusion' runs out' still has me baffled. It's not as big an issue when colouring small images/sections. On larger chunks though...eeee! Speed colouring!  Fusion frenzy! The results, as you'll see on a couple cards, are...ummmm, somewhat erratic. I've also figured out that 'deeper' colours need much longer fusing than lighter (light bulb moment for me...likely obvious to most), especially the blues and purples. They seem to lose their 'fuse' quickly (I can relate *grin*)

My husband-packed mobile crafting unit (seriously, how sweet is that!), included my STAMPlorations stamps, which I'll be sharing here, some Walter and Winnie, and Reverse Confetti stamps/dies, a variety of Christmas goodies (which, given the Christmas challenges up and running, was a wise choice) and a smattering of my 'always use' dies.  Dewdrop inks came along, as did a couple embossing folders and my cuttlebug.  

What didn't join the group - and I'm doing relatively fine without - is coloured cardstock or patterned paper. Only white.  I'm finding using that solely a bit of a challenge, but given the Chameleon pens and inks, I can make 'colour' in other ways. If the roads weren't so sketchy, and the temperatures not so frigid, I'd venture across the city to see my 'local' scrapbook gal. Maybe on the weekend; maybe not. Until then...white it is. Hope you don't mind the 'same old, same old' for a while...

My first card, inspired by Happy Little Stampers January Sketch Challenge,

 features two STAMPlorations flowers, coloured quite simply (let's not talk about how many tries wound up in recycle...). 

My second card was sparked by CAS(E) this Sketch #104,

and an desire to stuff my face with sugary treats *grin*  SSTAMPlorations donuts - delicious!

My third card is 'just because'...prompted by a desire for sugar, sugar and sugar...

Isn't that a sweet row of macarons? Can you believe I've never eaten such a treat? Seriously! Where have I been!

All my cards are heading to STAMPlorations Anything Goes Challenge

Today, we have a furnace guy coming to give quotes on new furnaces (one of t my mom's furnaces has required two service calls during the past week...yeesh), a trip to the bank, and then nephew baby-sitting while Ms. T goes to her ballet lessons. Once she's done, both will be here (along with my wonderful sister-in-law).  Excited!!

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

You're Such Sweet Friends...Cure for the Monday Blues #37m STAMPlorations~Anything Goes, NBUS #3

Hello my wonderful friends,

I'm popping in with a quick post, as one of the challenges is closing in a very short time.

Back in October, I bought a set of Chameleon pens that I didn't have a clue about (please tell me I'm not the only one who buys something, THEN does the 'how to' research!), until last week. My first attempts at using them took place in my dad's hospital room. I rolled a tray to his bedside, and coloured and chatted...Can I just say, I will so miss his visits to my blog. He never publically commented "on" them, but I knew he saw every card I made. Hmmm...maybe now I'll visualize him looking over my shoulder as I craft and write my posts. Guess I ought to be on my best behaviour *grin*

The pens are, well...at this stage, I'm finding them interesting. Fuse and colour = instant blending, but the tricky part is figuring how much 'distance' I'm getting with the various fusing times. Sometimes it's a miss, with short-lived blending; other times it's a miss with too long before the blending happens. Sometimes it's a score...sort of. Bottom line: a learning challenge, and right now, I'm embracing it!  Much more practice required, for sure.

My husband packed all my STAMPlorations stamps in the mobile crafting unit he brought with me, so I decided to play with a brand new set: Sugar Rush.

This card will be one of many I'll be creating, then sending, to express my deepest gratitude for all of the warm, compassionate, supportive messages and comments I've received from so many of you.

I am so blessed to have you in my life.

Here it is:  a sundae on Sunday *grin*

We've received such lovely bouquets...had to use one as my background.

Zipping my card at sprint speed over at Cure for the Monday Blues #37, where I was inspired by Taheerah's cookie crush colours,

STAMPlorations Anything Goes Challenge

and ever fabulous, sweet, wonderful Darnell's NBUS #3 (pens and stamps are NBUS...but not any more!! Yayyy...)

Sugar Rush also features donuts, macarons, and another sundae...I'm going to 'taste' all of them today. Yummm!

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

Just a Note- and THANK YOU...Inkspirational Challenge #73~Word Prompt, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my wonderful friends!

My family and I want to express our heart-felt gratitude for all the prayers, compassion, notes and hugs sent our way during the past several days, when you learned of my father's life-threatening condition.

With deep sadness, I share with you that my father passed away on December 30th, which was my parents 56th Wedding Anniversary.  At the moment, I have no words to express my sorrow, but I will at some later point. Just know that I truly have drawn tremendous strength from your support in my efforts to be strong for my mom. I'll be staying with her for two more weeks, so my cards for the next while will be rather simple. My husband packed and delivered my mobile crafting unit when he came yesterday, knowing that spending time creating would provide me excellent therapy. How right he is.

Whew...thank you for indulging me with my news; time to shift gears to announce that today begins the first Inkspirational Challenge #73 for 2015, with this many-possibilities word prompt:

We're joined by amazing designer, Marika, who has created a smile-making, day-brightening card for us.  My team-mates will also dazzle you with their varied interpretations of "note", so please take some time to visit their blogs and leave them some love...

Marina

Sandie

Shauna

Nonni

Yvonne

Pia

Kim

My card is simple...a several-layered die cut CAS-ual Fridays' treble clef, a wee music stamp and one of my favourite sentiments from STAMPlorations.   How sweet that my husband included a note-themed die in the 'picks and chooses' he made for me!

Finding a photo-shoot spot at my mom's proved a bit challenging, so my apologies for the somewhat 'washed out' picture (umm..and maybe getting it finished earlier in the day would have helped, too. I have a good excuse: we went for a most delightful bit of 'healing': spending time with my niece and nephew, and as always, time kind of got away on us...)

(A new photo today, sharing some space with one of the beautiful bouquets we've received....)

I'm adding my card to the galleries at:
Virginia's View Challenge #11~Clean Slate

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

Looking forward to seeing your note-inspired gems over at Inkspirational.  The winner will be invited to Guest Design for a future challenge; I'd be thrilled if it were you.

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