Friday, May 13, 2016

Floral Birthday Butterfly...Tag You're It Challenge #47, Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog #55~Use A Die


Hello!

Ready to make some tags? Sure hope so, because for the next two weeks, my fantastic design team and I invite you to join us at Tag You're It Challenge #47, where we're inspired by this floral-and-flags butterfly gem created by our talented Jeanne:


So incredibly pretty!  Swooning!

For my tag/card, my new floral butterfly from Serendipity Stamps came out to play, dressed in "ombre" blue to reflect Jeanne's winged delight. The sponged tag colours and flower-embossed panel are drawn from the bottom and top portions of her tag, respectively (although my pink looks more...um, orchid-ish than hers...but it is pink. The ink lid said so!).  Sequins, sentiment tag, and voila...


Please visit the Tag You're It blog to see the rest of the gals' interpretations. *Awe-mazing*!  Then...

Your turn!
How will you be inspired by Jeanne's luscious layered butterfly-floral-and-flags tag? Hmmmm?
Looking forward to finding out! See you in the gallery!!

Also sharing at:
Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog #55~Use A Die


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



Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Flamingo Birthday...CAS(E) this Sketch #171

Hello,

In like a flash to share my card for CAS(E) this Sketch #171


Super simple....maybe too simple?  Even though I am petrified of birds (seriously terrified!), I do have a thing for flamingos...stamp-and-die cut ones, that is!


NOTE: Honoured and thrilled to be selected as a CTS Favourite.  THANK YOU!

Here's a story that adds to my bird phobia: the *ag-grouse-ive* grouse that's been holding hostage the trail that my husband and I so enjoy hiking/biking on (he bikes while I walk as quick as I can to keep up with him....painful!).  Mr. Grouse is seeking a mate, and when people come near his 'love zone,' he responds in full assault mode: wings back, head down and meaning business! I do NOT want to run the risk of being pecked; his feathers are already ruffled enough with his task.  We haven't heard if he's found a missus yet (he really needs to act more like a gentleman!), so no trail wandering for us until we know he's moved on. Scary dude!  And we won't even talk about the hippo-sized ravens....

Anyway...my pink flamingo is very friendly *grin*

Thank you for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!


Tuesday, May 10, 2016

World's #1 Dad...Addicted to Stamps and More #193~Holiday, Addicted to CAS Challenge #87~Plaid

Hello!

Time for my marvelous DT and I to welcome you to Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #193~Holiday.



For some odd reason, I had a heckuva time deciding on my direction for this challenge. Christmas, Halloween and Valentine's Day were just not calling - or even whispering - my name. Finally, I narrowed the field, choosing Father's Day, because that will be upon us in a blink of an eye.  Then, I couldn't figure out what to make, given my dad isn't with us any longer (sad face), BUT I was bound and determined to forge ahead.  We have 'another' dad in our family - my brother - so I pulled out some of my niece and nephew's favourite colours (which is justification for the maybe-no-so-much "typical' guy palette), which just happened to correspond with a sheet of plaid paper I have, and went to town with the sentiments *grin*


I'll give it to them to give to him...or maybe I'll just send it from me.  I rather like this jazzy number and my brother is an amazing, fantastic, five-star dad, too!

This week, we're sponsored by

who have some wonderful gifts for the winners.

Okey-dokey...Your turn!
Looking forward to seeing your holiday themed cards in the gallery!

Also sharing at:
Addicted to CAS Challenge #87~Plaid


Winnie & Walter~Join in to Win

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

 

Monday, May 9, 2016

Amazing Butterflies...Fusion~Sweet Orange Blossoms, Just Us Girls #342~Butterfly, STAMPlorations~Anything Goes, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Stencil It

Hello,

Hope your Monday was marvelous! Here, it's cool and a bit drizzly.  We need the rain, desperately. Actually, the firefighters in the nearly-burned out city nine hours north of us - Fort McMurray - need rain and cool temperatures, desperately. I'm not sure if you've seen/heard the news, but close to 100,000 people have been displaced due to a raging beast of a fire that flared up last week. So sad...On the plus side, they're resilient folks, those Fort Mac people, and already, they're preparing, when the word is given, to return, revitalize, re-emerge.  I wish them God-speed in getting their lives - their 'new' lives - started. May their journey 'home' be safe...secure...promising.

I have a card to share!

When I created my dragonflies card, as seen in my previous post, the butterflies from the same set were fluttering their wings for a chance to play, too.  And so they did!

My inspiration, as with the dragonflies, is FUSION~Sweet Orange Blossoms



See...
NOTE:  Thrilled and honoured to be selected as Chic of the Week over at Just Us Girls! THANK YOU!

I {heart} this Winged Things set! Thank you, Shirley, for designing it for me us *grin*

Also joining the galleries at
Just Us Girls #342~Word Week~Butterfly


Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Stencil It


STAMPlorations~Anything Goes


I so appreciate you spent part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!


Sunday, May 8, 2016

Marching Birthday Bunny...Muse Challenge #164, CASometry Challenge 2~Make Five, CASology#196~MOVE

Hello,

Happy Mother's Day to all my wonderful *mom* friends!  Hope this day sees you spoiled, pampered and treated to an outpouring of love from  your family!

We're off to the 'big' city today for a bit of shopping, so I'm dashing in quickly with my card inspired by our marvelous Michele's lilac delight over at Muse Challenge #164:

Isn't this ever so pretty?!  Alas, I don't have any lilac/vase stamps/dies, and the flower images I do have...well, I struggle with floral arrangements. Soooooo...I went in a different direction...giggle...


Told you!  My card does draw inspiration from Michele's gem, with the colours (grey, purple and green: check); the circle background (check) and an 'on your left' sentiment (check).  I know...perhaps a stretch but...Muse Michele moved me to create this...

Speaking of 'move', I'm sending my bunny off to CASology #196~Move


I'm also joining incredibly talented and sweet Anna's challenge: CASometry Challenge 2~Make Five, where over the next few weeks, we're invited to use the same stamp set to create five different cards. You'll be seeing more marching bunnies from me!!

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


Friday, May 6, 2016

Birthday Dragonflies...Inkspirational Challenge #108~Mint & Navy, FUSION~Sweet Orange Blossoms, Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #9, Seize the Birthday-Topping Option: Colouring, STAMPlorations May CAS Card Challenge~Anything Goes and Anything Goes Challenge

Hello,

A new month; a new challenge. For the next two weeks, my amazing DT (and a special welcome back to Yvonne!), along with our incredibly talented guest designer, TaeEun, invite you to join us at Inkspirational Challenge #108~Colour Challenge


Mint & Navy...Mint & Navy...I confess to initial cluelessness with this combination.  Then my  new Winged Things set (Bee's Knees, STAMPlorations) caught my eye and this happened...

Dragonflies, coloured with Polychromos navy and light green pencils, stenciling (Cracked Pistachio), a coat of Wink of Stella on the wings...Voila.  In fact, I liked the result so much, I made another, slightly different, which you'll see in an upcoming post.

Turning the challenge your direction!
How will Mint & Navy inspire you?
Looking forward to finding out when I visit the gallery!  See you there!

Also sharing at:
FUSION~Sweet Orange Blossoms


Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #9~Birthday, Sponging, White Space






and


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



Sunday, May 1, 2016

Quartet of Floral Butterflies...Guest Designer at Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog #55~Use A Die Cut

Hello,

I'm sure nobody was entirely surprised by the first part of my post title (and I hope no eye-ball rolling happened either *grin*), but the second part?  Did that catch your attention as a bit of a different direction?  Hope so!

Today, I am 120% honoured and thrilled to be the

for Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog #55~Use A Die Cut

What a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of the absolutely wonderful products over at Serendipity and support Mary and her amazing team in this challenge.  Of course, I went just a wee bit overboard but...when marvelous things come my way, I want to be sure my appreciation comes through loud and clear.  The quartet today feature Floral Butterfly Die and Celebrate Die paired with  Make A Wish and Hot Air Balloons stamps.

First up, a rainbow-inked card providing the background for the negatives of the butterfly (oh, so intricate, delicate and beautiful!) and celebrate dies.  


Second, how could I 'not' do a little stenciling?  Abandoned Coral, Fossilized Amber and Seedless Preserves in the background, with the butterfly (see...told you it's gorgeous!) inked with a heavy helping of Seedless Preserves.


Third: a sunset/sunrise palette..on the butterfly and...


in the aperture background.  A sentiment from the Hot Air Balloons stamps and some splatters finish it off.


Last, the butterfly simply as is, in all its floral-splendid glory...


(I wish I could take credit for that water-colour background, but you know how well 
water-colour and I do NOT get along! This is a "professional" card base from my stash.) 

Swooning...simply swooning over this incredible die...

I'd love to see you join in the challenge and the talented Serendipity DT has oodles of inspiration to spark your mojo. Be sure to hop along; there's a prize to be had!  


As well, here's the 50% off stamp of the month: Lemonade Pitcher.  Wouldn't you love to colour that in shades of lemon...or grapefruit...or strawberry...




Thank you to Jeanne and Mary for inviting me to be this month's Guest Designer!  Looking forward to seeing everyone's *Use A Die Cut* creations...

Also entering at:



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