*Cards In The Mail*

I received some cards in the last few days that I thought I would share....

First, I received my first card from the Canadian Card Exchange.... I used to play in this card exchange all the time but took a long long break... and decided to sign up again. The three month round started this month. Each month I send out two cards to players and receive two cards from two different participants each month.

This gel card came from Therese. Therese, you'll have to tell me how you created the background with the blues and greens.... so neat!

I also received this card, a birthday card, from Saundra H who is on the Creative Cuttlebuggers YahooGroup with me. Thank you so much!

And last, but not least.... while we were in Regina the family celebrate the three July birthdays (my sister Heather, my husband and myself) on our last day there. I was lucky and received one of the beautiful cards Mom has created recently using her Cuttlebug. Thanks Mom!

*One Last Post From Regina*

Here we are, our last full day in Regina. We will be hopping in the car on Tuesday morning to make the 8 hour drive home. As good as vacation is, it's always nice to get home... back to your routine. For me, I am most looking forward to getting back to my king sized bed... sleeping on a double when you're used to a king is tough! That king is going to feel like total luxury on Tuesday night!!

Again, I have no details on this card as the notes are at home in my stamp room. I guess I should have thought ahead, eh?

I can tell you that the patterned papers are by Magenta... it's actually one paper and I used each side of it. I know I followed a sketch challenge for this one.... hold one while I go look to see if I can find where it's from...

Did you miss me??? I found it.... I had a card saved as a favourite from Tobi's blog... this card was her week at doing the sketch challenge over at Splitcoast! This is SC225

I used one of my labels sets of Nestabilities in my Big shot and added a sentiment stamped in red ink by A*Muse. I added some black dots around the white label layer.

Thanks for popping by to visit!! Keep good thoughts for safe travels for us tomorrow!

*Quickie Birthday Card*

Happy Saturday everyone (and to my American readers, Happy 4th of July!). We have only a few days left of our visit to Mom's house for this summer.... amazing how quickly the time has passed! The craft room is almost to the point where Mom could sit down and craft in there... technically, I guess she could get busy in the room however there are still some things that need to find homes. Our plan for today is to take a load of stuff to one of the local donation bins and then to move the TV from the basement to the main floor living room and get the cable hooked up.

I created this card a few weeks ago, in a big hurry. My son was going to a birthday party and had decided he wanted to make a card. I was out the night before the party and told Matthew to make sure he worked on it before I got home. I got home, he was in bed, and there was no card. With no ideas in his head the next morning, he asked me for a card. Of course, I had nothing appropriate for a 12 year old boy and no idea what to do.

And then I thought about those wonderful Thickers I bought months ago and had ever opened.

This card came together quick quick quick... the hardest part was masking off the AMuse stamp so that the word "wishes" didn't get inked.

I have no idea who the patterned paper is by. I layered it on top of a piece of black and then on to a white card.

Easy and simple.... great for a 12 year old boy who would be all about the gift and not about the card!

*Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist*

The people over at Tattered Angels are taking pity on their top notch bottling crew and taking away the part of their job where they hand label approximately 10,000 bottles a week!!! Talk about carpal tunnel syndrome!

Glimmer Mist is still the same great product with a Fabulous NEW Look!

*Some Kinda Tired*

We arrived at my Mom's house safe and sound on Friday evening and since then, we have been *busy*! My Mom decided that she'd like to move her craft space from the basement to the main floor and since there was no way she could do it on her own, my sister and I (with a lot of help from my husband) have been busy little beavers over the last few days.

We started on Saturday by hauling out the old sofa bed (it was freakin' heavy) and clearing the rest of the furniture out of the room. We removed the closet system from the closet, the closet doors... took out the carpet.... and then we washed the walls (three times), filled and sanded holes and did two coats of new paint on the walls and ceiling. Bruce then got busy putting up shelves on two of the walls. We bought two tables from Costco and a wire shelving unit. We got all of that set up yesterday and started bringing in the "stuff" including 5 Iris carts and who knows what else! Mom will have a lot of work organizing her space now....

The next job for the three of us is to move the organ out of the living room (we are trying to sell it... Mom was on the local radio station this morning during their program where people call in to sell stuff) and we've had two calls from interested parties so far. We're hopeful. Once the organ is gone we want to move the larger TV up from the basement into the living room and get her set up so she can watch TV up here as well. There is a super small TV in the craft room, but if anyone else is here and wants to watch TV it would be nice to have a big one up here.

And I guess at some point we should tidy up the mess we've left behind in the basement. There is still a lot of craft stuff down there that will need to be sorted and either put away, sold or trashed. BIG job!

I created this card a while back and the information about it is sitting at home on my stamp table.... so I can't tell you everything about it.... I can tell you the patterned papers are by Imaginisce and the flowers are those Bridal flowers from Michaels coloured with my Copics. To create the black centres, I used my smalled single hole punch on black cardstock. Sneaky, eh? It looks like I used my D'vine Swirl folder and my Big Shot on the long skinny white piece and one of my EK Success border punches on the black strip behind the panel on the left side. And some black stitched ribbon too.

Now I am guessing this was a sketch of some sort.... I just went to look.... it's Mojo85.

Well, I guess I knew more about it than I thought LOL!

Enjoy this last day of June!!

*Sad News*

It is with sadness that I am here to report that my friend Domenica lost her Mom Deb (of Stampin' On the Mountain) passed away on June 29th. I had posted a while back with a request for cards to add a little sunshine to Deb during her illness. (see that post here)

Domenica wrote to me...
"You can let everyone know that my mom was resting comfortably when she passed away. She will not be having a funeral, as we will have a ceremony in her ashes when we scatter them in Hawaii next summer. She had a fresh Hawaiian lei on with beautiful plumeria flowers and she was surrounded with her 3 daughters. She was an amazing mother, grandmother and stamper. She will be missed."

*Oops. This is Cindy's Birthday Card*

I just realized that I messed up! I posted a card about a week ago that I thought I had sent to my friend Cindy for her birthday.... but I found my notes for this card and this is the one I made for her. I knew it was a card with one of the Hedgehogs, but I messed up.

Funny that Cindy didn't correct me LOL!

Anyway....

I don't remember where I saw this layout but once I had my Labels 3 Nestabilities, I had to give it a shot! I just love how the circle fits inside the purple label! And who knew that Lovely Lilac could be a pretty colour??! Not one of my favourites.

Items Used
*Cardstock: Staples White; Stampin' Up Lovely Lilac
*Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up!
*Image: Stampendous
*Ink: Copic Markers; Tuxedo Black Memento
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: bling baby!!

Today is Matthew's last day of school. He is some kind of excited to have an entire summer ahead of him without alarm clocks and classes. Alex wrote his last exam on Wednesday and supposed to be at school on Monday for the Awards Ceremony and to get his report card, however we are hopping in the car once Matthew is done at noon and heading off to my Moms house for a few days.

Ahhhhhh, summer vacation...... ahhhhhhhh

*Tracy's Christmas Card Challenge*

The 15th of the month has come and gone which means I had to create some Christmas cards last week for Tracy's monthly Christmas card challenge. This month we had to create 5 cards using a "different fold" so I chose the spring card. I have seen this card a few times, the first being a card my Mom had made.... and I found the directions for it on Splitcoast.

Nothing too exciting really.... not sure I love them either... American Crafts paper, a stamp by My Sentiments Exactly. I used Rocket Red Brilliance Ink on Whisper White cardstock, layered onto a slightly larger piece of black. I added some Christmas themed brads I've had for several years.

Cheers!

*Got Some Mail!*

I haven't had fun mail in a while so it was nice to get the mail today and find two cards for me!

The first card I opened came from a CST member, Susan Rapin.... my first birthday card of 2009! So much sparkle!! I'm all about the bling!

The second card was from Lorie Wolcale, a fellow CreativeCuttlebuggers member.... we both joined the June mingle on the list and had to create a red and white card to be sent to someone. You'll see the one I mailed out in a few days. Thanks so much Lorie!

*CalGals Challenge*

Here it is, the last Monday of the school year. Well, for Matthew anyway. Alex is supposed to head to school on the 29th to pick up his report card and for the final awards a'ssembly, but I think that's just dumb... Alex has exams until Wednesday and then he's done grade 8. Matthew has a full week that ends at noon on Friday... and that marks the end of grade 6. Amazing how fast time flies!!

A few months ago, Tracy thought it would be a good idea that we take turns bringing a challenge to our monthly CalGals gatherings. So far, we've had 3 sketch challenges. Merlie brought the latest one this past Friday night. I have no idea where she found the sketch, but this is my take on the sketch.

I stared out by grabbing a stamp I wanted to use and then found one small piece of this patterned paper to play with. I think my oval (and thus, my image) was a little too large for the sketch, but I still like the way it turned out.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up Basic Black; Staples brand white
*Patterned Paper: I have no idea, but it's got a neat shimmer to it!
*Images: Stampendous; A*Muse
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; VersaFine Black; Copic Markers
*Tools: Big Shot; Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Michael's "Bride" flowers (coloured with Copics); Kaiser Pearls

So far, only Merlie has posted herr creation based on this sketch... go visit and see what you think of what she created!

*Slow Mojo*

Happy Weekend everyone! Beautiful summer day here in Calgary, but it's the last one for a few days... cooler wet weather until Tuesday. Bummer.

Our new beautiful red washer and dryer arrived this afternoon... we bought the last years' model of the LG Steam. And yes, my king sized comforter fit! I'm kind of wishing we'd bought the pedastals... Bruce thinks he can build something so hopefully I can convince him to get busy on that sooner rather than later.

I had a great time visiting and laughing and playing with the Cal-Gals last night. We always seem to have a good time together.

This is one of the cards I created last night... I saw the colour combination while blog surfing and discovered it was the current Splitcoast Colour Challenge (CC223). I knew I had to try it. I paired it with Mojo91.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up Basic Black, Whisper White, Ruby Red, Baja Breeze
*Images: Stampin' Up Baroque Motifs; Lizzie Anne Say It In Script
*Ink: VersaFine Black; Stampin' Up Ruby Red; Copic Markers
*Tools: Big Shot; Nestabilities; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder
*Embellishments: black grosgrain ribbon; Michael's Bride flower (coloured with a Copic); Kaiser Pearls

I am really pleased with how this card turned out....

*A Little Hedgie*

Good Friday morning everyone... one more week of school left for the youngest one, and a few days of exams left for the older one, and then a summer of very very few alarm clock mornings! I am really looking forward to that... I don't mind mornings, but I hate getting up because the alarm clock tells me to!

More change around our house... I threw a load of bath towels into the washer yesterday morning and about the time the spin cycle should start, there was a noise that just wasn't right. I went to check and sure enough, no spin. I played around a bit, thought I would rinse the towels and wring them out by hand so I could put them in the dryer (they were still soapy) and discovered no agitator either. This is the washer we got when we built our house 13 years ago... top loader, bottom of the line. And the second time it's broken down.

Bruce and I decided it was time to move up in the world of laundry pairs and we went off to Trail Appliances (where they *really* know their stuff!!) and we left after purchasing last years model of the LG Steam laundry pair in a beautiful shade of red. They are large enough to fit our king size comforter which is a real bonus! We find out today if they will be delivered on Saturday or Monday... They sure will be pretty!! LOL

I created this card back at the end of April to send to my good friend Cindy for her birthday. She and I have a long history of being internet friends and even though she's quilting now instead of stamping, I still love her LOL! I do miss seeing her beautiful card creations though!

I can not, for the life of me, find the sticky note with the information about this card, but it shouldn't be too hard...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink; Staples white cardstock
*Image: Penny Black
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers
*Ribbon: May Arts

The CalGals are coming over tonight, and as always, I am looking forward to their visit. We always have a good time!

*A Winner*

Wow, only three people tried to help me out with ideas for painting the bedroom.... oh well... I put the three names in a hat and drew out TRACY! I will throw together a little sumthin' sumthin' for you for tonight!

Once the rooms are painted, I'll share some photos!

Cheers

*A Card And Some Candy*

Happy Wednesday everyone.... had quite the lightning storm yesterday in Calgary... not much for thunder with it, but lots of funky lightning and reports from all of the city of close calls. It rained and rained.... and made for a muddy walk at the dog park with Milo this morning.

Card first... then Candy...

This is one of those cards that keeps getting pushed down on the posting priority list because I keep wanting to post photos of the current challenges I have finished.

A few weeks ago I decided to head back into the MojoMonday archives to find a sketch I hadn't tried before, and I came up with this card for Mojo77.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White and Chocolate Chip
*Patterned Paper: Black River Designs
*Ink: Copic Markes
*Tools: Big Shot; Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Robins Nest Dew Drops, Michael's "Bride" flowers; bling

Now for the CANDY!!! Bruce and I ordered ourselves a headboard/footboard for our king sized bed as an anniversary gift to each other. It will arrive later in the summer. Before it arrives, we'd really like to paint our bedroom and master bath. But I have no idea what colour to go with. I'd like your help deciding on a colour for the bedroom and the bathroom (they don't have to be the same).

A little info on other colours going on in the house and bedroom.... all of the other rooms (other than the kids rooms) are warm tones... a dark chocolate in the living room/dining room; a peanut butter colour in the hallways; a deep cranberry in the family room; a muted mauve in the guest bathroom. Our bedroom furniture is a mixed bag, but the new bed and the bedside tables are an espresso colour (dark dark, almost black, but brown). Our sheets are burgundy and the comfortor is a dark blue. Bruce's Mom had made us a bed spread and matching valances several years ago and I'd love to keep the valances, but don't have to.... they are a rich suede with navy blue. We are both drawn to a darker shade of smoky blue for the bedroom but I think it will be too much blue. I'm also not sure if I want a warm hue or a cool hue in the bedroom.

The room faces NE and has two good sized windows. The room is large as well.... it's the room over a double garage.

Anyone who gives us input into our decision will be entered to win a little sumthin' sumthin' paper crafting related from me....

Contest ends on Friday morning so get your thinking caps on now!!!

*I'm All Cropped Out*

I had a great time at the Summer Scraptacular crop hosted by MondayNightClass.ca I met some nice ladies, had a blast with some people I already knew and even managed to make a whopping 8 cards in 17 hours (with breaks for food, photos and a half hour massage). I guess I am finally finding the way to pack to create away from home. I took more stuff than I needed (mostly cardstocks and papers) but wasn't thinking "I wish I had brought _____" other than realizing that it's tough to pick which Copics to take... I would have been better off bringing none or bringing them all.

I understand that the gals from MondayNightClass.ca are already working on the 2nd installment of the Jingle Bell Crop which will be held the first weekend in November.

This is not a card I created at the Scraptacular.... this is one I created a while back that has been repeatedly bumped for me to show challenge cards while the challenge is still current. I really like the colour combination of the pink, green and baby blue with a little black to make things pop.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black; white Staples cardstock
*Patterned Paper: Imaginisce
*Image: Inkadinkadoo Fancy That
*Inks: Memento Black; Copic markers
*Embellishments: Pebbles Candy Dots in black

Thanks for popping by to have a peek at what I've been up to.... I'm going to head back to my spot on the patio to read more of the new Nicholas Sparks book... it's called "The Lucky One". I'm really enjoying it!

Tonight perhaps I'll be in front of the TV watching the final few episodes of Army Wives Season 2 on DVD... We don't get that show in Canada but Shannon found it on a website a year ago and we both started watching online... and then poof, we weren't able to find the last few episodes. Shannon bought Season 1 and 2 from Amazon in the US and brought me Season 2 yesterday. If you have any way to see this show, it's worth it. One of my favourites, for sure!

*Feels Like Spring Again*

I am happy to report that the weather is finally back to "normal"... there is no snow in our forecast, no frost warnings... a bit of rain, a lot of sunshine and temperatures back to seasonal averages. Whew! I hope we don't get any more snow until sometime in November!

I have had the Card Positioning Systems blog in my Google Reader forever, but have never participated in one of their sketch challenges. I don't know why.... time? didn't appeal to me? didn't think of it? Who knows. The point is, I hadn't played before... until now! Monday I decided to get with it and do a card for their current challenge!

Go me!

LOL

I am very pleased with how this card turned out for CPS119. I like making tall skinny cards. And I have a thing for stripes and polka dots together.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Coredin'ations; Stampin' Up! Whisper White
*Patterned Paper: Black River Designs
*Ink: VersaFine black
*Stamps: Stampin' Up! Best Yet
*Tools: Big Shot; Labels 2 and circle Nestabilities
*Embellishments: dark brown grosgrain ribbon; aged copper brads; shimmer flowers from Michaels

I am looking forward to having lunch with Merlie and her darling girls this afternoon... at the girls' favourite restaurant. Yup, a feast at McDonalds is in my immediate future LOL!

*More Mojo*

I've said it before and I will probably say it again.... it is hard work coming up with titles for all of these darn blog posts!!!!! I guess they don't really matter all that much, but I still find them difficult to come up with.

So I apologize in advance if the blog post titles suck LOL!

I got to play for a little bit yesterday and created a card for MojoMonday Sketch #90. Taking photos of the card was fun as I wanted to do it outside and there was just enough of a teeny tiny breeze to make it difficult. I'd get the card set up, get the camera in place and woosh... a little breeze would knock it over. This happened again and again. I was taking photos of all the cards I've created in the last few days and I ended up with some photos of the cards standing up and some cards laying down. Not all perfect, but we'll deal with it LOL

I really wanted to use a piece of this patterned paper by AdornIt, but I'm not sure it was the right choice... Not a bad choice, just not the right choice. I had fun colouring the cupcake with my Copics and then coloured over it with my Copic Spicas (in brown and red) and then added clear Stickles to the swirls of the cupcake.

items used:
*Cardstock: Bazzill Bling; Stampin' Up Basic Black and Whisper White
*Patterned Paper: AdornIt/Carolee's Creations
*Images: Hero Arts Cupcakes; The Cat's Pajamas Smells Like Cake
*Ink: Memento Black on cupcake and coloured with Copic markers and Copic Spica glitter pens; VersaFine black for sentiment
*Tools: D'vine Swirl Cuttlebug Embossing Folder; Nestabilities; Big Shot
*Embellishments: Star Dust Stickles