*#1000!*

WOW!  Can you believe it?  This is post #1000 on my blog!

I know I can't believe it!

Be sure to read to the end, after the card and all it's information....  you may be rewarded if you do!

I created this card when catching up with the MojoMonday sketches again... and made it back at the beginning of the month when the CalGals gathered at Dianne's house to play

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Bashful Blue, Basic Black; PaperTreyInk White
*Patterned Paper:  Upsy Daisy Designs
*Images:  Stampin' Up! Well Scripted
*Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities; Corner Chomper
*Embellishments:  unknown white satin ribbon
*Challenges:  Mojo132


It's not spectacular, but it works.

So, now....  on to the really good stuff....  to celebrate 1000 posts by me (many cards, some just chit chat), I am offering up some blog candy.  Please leave a comment on this post letting me know what your favourite card that I've posted is and I'll enter your name in a draw to win a $25 (US) gift certificate to PaperTreyInk!

I will be closing the contest on Friday, May 7th... giving you one full week to get your entry in!

Please pass the word along that I'm giving away a prize!  I'd love to have lots of entries in the draw!

*Mother Nature.... Grrrrrr*

Well, Mother Nature has got her seasons mixed up again!

It's the end of April if I'm not mistaken... and the weather forecast for Calgary is not pretty.  The forecast calls for 25mm of rain today, changing to snow later today (although the rain is mixed with flakes right now) and up to 15cm of snow by tomorrow afternoon!

Yes, we need the moisture...  but not in the form of snow!

Sigh...

I think there will be socks on my feet again in the very near future.

I knew it was possible... it happens most years... but I still hate it!

I created this card, thinking I wanted to create something quick and easy... and this was quick and easy.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PaperTreyInk White; Stampin' Up! Cranberry Crisp
*Patterned Paper:  Magenta
*Images:  Verve; Impress Rubberstamps
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic markers
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities Labels 9
*Embellishments:  Kaiser Rhinestone

I haven't been crafting in several days...  and I'm not sure I miss it.  I moved my laptop to the family room on Sunday and didn't move it back down to my crafty space until this morning.  I have been crocheting up a storm the last few days.... I love to crochet!

I am hoping to make some cards today...  I wasted the first hour down here pricing the items I am selling at the paper crafting garage sale I'm hosting on May 8th.  There are six of us selling some of our stuff... if you're nearby please email me for the address!

*Stamp Out Breast Cancer*

Happy Monday everyone... I am here to give you all a heads up on a great event happening in Vancouver on May 15th and 16th.  This is the second year of this event run by Raya Latham of Impressed Paper Arts and I'm sure it's going to be wonderful!

I only wish I could have been more involved in the event this year.

Please check out their website to find out more information...  there are some big stamping names including Cathie Allan and Julie Ebersole involved in this great fundraising event!

*Hey Mother Nature*

I think Mother Nature is just plain ole mean!  Last week we were in the 20*C range, but this week it's been chilly again!  In fact, there were a few snowflakes falling yesterday!

But I am still in my flip flops... and will be unless there is snow on the ground.

I want spring to come and stay.... and pave the way for summer!

But, the funny thing is.... I'm sharing Christmas cards with you today!

I played the other day with Tracy's Christmas Card Challenge (find the link to her blog under CalGals in my sidebar) as well as the current MojoMonday Challenge.  Tracy's challenge was to use patterned paper as the focal point of the card as well as two different embellishments.

Here are the five finished cards....

And a close up of one of them...

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PaperTreyInk White; Bazzill Bling; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Patterned Paper:  Stamp It Australia
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities Labels 9; Stampin' Up! border punch
*Embellishments:  unknown brad; unknown ribbon
*Challenges:  Tracy's Christmas Card Challenge; Mojo135


I'm not sure I'm in love with the cards... but they aren't too bad!

Enjoy the weekend!

*Some Beautiful Weather*

WOW!!  We've had some beautiful sunny and warm weather here in Calgary the last few days!  Talk about totally enjoyable!  It's so hard to believe that it's only the end of April!  We have one more nice day forecast for tomorrow and then it turns cold and wet for a few days....  cold sucks, but wet is good... we need things to start greening up naturally!

I'm hoping to get a bit of creating done today... I am slowly running out of things to share with you all again!!!  It's been tough the last few days... I want to create but with news from my Mom's nurse that the symptoms she is showing right now are a sign that the disease is progressing and things are closer than we want them to be, my creative brain is overwhelmed by my emotional brain.

This is the card I made before I went off to see Mom for Easter... and I gave it to Mom for her birthday...  I got the idea from my friend Irene (I wish she had a blog!)

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Rose Red
*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up!
*Images:  PaperTreyInk Signature Greetings (on the inside that you can't see); Impress Rubberstamps
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Rose Red, Bashful Blue; VersaFine Onyx Black
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities
*Embellishments:  Michael's Bridal Flowers; Kaiser Pearls


This card opens by pulling the left and right sides away from each other... it's SO cool!  I will definitely make more cards like this.

*More Challenges*

Happy Saturday everyone!  A beautiful day in store for Calgary...  I've already been out with the husband and the dog for a walk at the off-leash dog park.  I enjoy the walk there and the fact that I can walk without holding the leash.  And Milo loves being able to run!

The card I am sharing today is for two different challenges...  Tuesday Morning Sketches and Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge.  The sketch was from Mercy's challenge and the TMS challenge was to use flowers, pastels and ribbon.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Brocade Blue
*Pattern Paper:  Memory Box
*Images:  Inkadinkadoo Dot Flourishes; TPC Studio Playful Expressions
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities
*Embellishments:  Michael's Bridal Flowers (coloured with Pretty in Pink ink); Kaiser Pearls; Stampin' Up! sheer ribbon
*Challenges:  Tuesday Morning Sketches #41; MTSC #69


I am very pleased with this card....  the only thing I don't like is the white ribbon... but I didn't have sheer cream ribbon.  It would have been better without the ribbon but I needed the ribbon for the one challenge.

Tonight our house will be filled with 15 year old boys, all here to celebrate Alex's birthday.  None of the friends host a traditional birthday party anymore...  it's just them "hanging", I provide pizza, pop, chips and cake.... and there's no presents.  I think that's a great idea!  Bruce and I will hang out in the basement watching some of our shows from this past week... and perhaps I'll get a bit of crafting in then too.

Enjoy your Saturday!

*A Quick Post*

Hey all... surprisingly enough, I'm not in much of a chatty mood this morning.  I could go on and on but honestly, I think I'm here to make you smile not bring you down...

So instead of chit chat, just a card for you to enjoy...

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PaperTreyInk White; Stampin' Up! Kraft, Melon Mambo
*Images:  PaperTreyInk Signaure Greetings
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo
*Tools:  Big Shot; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder; Stampin' Up! border punch
*Embellishments:  Michael's Bridal Flowers (coloured with Melon Mambo ink); Kaiser Pearl
*Challenge:  Mojo134


I wasn't sure about this sketch when I saw it, but I can't not do a MojoMonday Sketch!

Thanks for popping by...

*Come Shop In My Living Room!!*

I am once again hosting a Paper Crafting Garage Sale... this is our fourth time! Come see items from several different sellers (there are 7 of us, all with different items to sell, all with different styles!)... we will be selling items for you to use in your favourite paper crafting projects... stamps, inks, papers, ribbons, tools, embellishments, storage... So far we have 6 different sellers. DATE: Saturday May 8th TIME: 1-4pm PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A CASH ONLY SALE!! Please email me for information as to where my living room is....   And also bring some friends along with you when you come to shop!!!

*Windy Wednesday*

WOW!  Is that wind howling today!!  Apparently I need to thank the wind as I think it blew some really bad weather away from us.  About 20 minutes east of Calgary you'll find about 17" of heavy white snow on the ground.  Here in Calgary we have a light dusting in the grass, but nothing much.  There had been talk several days ago that we'd be hit with that storm system... so glad it missed us!

I hope it missed Alex up at Band Camp....  he's north and west of the city so I'm pretty sure they're experiencing pretty much the same weather as we have.

Was so strange to not have Alex around to celebrate his birthday yesterday... feels like such a non-event.  We will give him his presents tonight, Saturday he is having some friends over to "hang", and next week we will do a big family dinner at our favourite Mexican place.

Anyway... on to a card I created a few weeks ago...

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PaperTreyInk White
*Ink:  Copics (to colour the flowers)
*Tools:  Big Shot; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder; Nestabilities
*Embellishments:  Michael's Bridal Flowers; unknown ribbon; Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:  Mojo127


I had so much find with the white on white card I made that I thought I would do another... but then I saw this ribbon in my stash and had to add the pop of colour.

And really, a quick and easy card!

*Clean and Simple*

Happy Monday everyone....  surprisingly it wasn't as difficult to get out of bed this morning as it usually is on a Monday morning.  I'm not a fan of Mondays or of mornings.

We had a quiet, low key weekend.  It was nice to not be running about all weekend.  I had a great time with the CalGals on Friday night and loved the tour of Dianne's new house.  Her craft attic is a great space despite the sloped and dangerously low ceiling!  Poor Allison clocked herself so hard she was still suffering from a headache and sore neck on Saturday!

I only created one card on Friday night, but managed to make two on my own on Friday afternoon....one of which was using the sketch for the current Fall To Layout at Clean and Simple...

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Whisper White
*Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey Sultry
*Images:  PaperTreyInk Beautiful Blooms, Signature Greeting
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Rose Red
*Tools:  EK Success border punch
*Embellishments:  chocolate brown satin ribbon
*Challengs:  CAS FTL85

*I've Been Creating!*

I started creating late yesterday afternoon, right before our power went out for about 20 minutes.  I work in the basement and while there was still light coming through the basement window across the room, there wasn't enough light to finish the card.  So I had to leave it until this morning.

I not only finished that card this morning but I made another one as well!

And I have another sketch I want to work on this afternoon.

And tonight is CalGals... but at Dianne's house (see the link on the right to find her blog).  We get to go play in her new craft attic.  I have no idea what I am going to pack to play with tonight.  Some people seem to have such an easy time packing to craft away from home... I wish some of it would rub off on me.

Making it even more difficult is that there is not a real stair case to get to the craft attic...  it's attic stairs/ladder.  Yikes!  I am hoping to pack light!

Anyway... here is the card I started yesterday... created for the current Mojo sketch...

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink; PaperTreyInk White
*Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey Sultry
*Images:  Stampendous
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers
*Tools:  Big Shot; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder; Nestabilities
*Embellishments:  Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:  Mojo133


I'm pleased with how the card turned out...  and am glad to finally use some of the Sultry paper I bought in a 6X6 pad months and months and months ago (like more than a year!).

Happy Friday!

*Apparently I Took A Break*

I am so sorry for disappearing!!  While in Regina I was busy helping out Mom, spending time with my family and watching Lost.  I started watching Season 1 online a while back, have been watching Season 2 on DVD and am now part way through Season 3.  What a crazy show!  I think it's called "Lost" because it causes the viewers to be completely LOST!

At any rate, my apologies for not posting more while I was away!

I'm sharing with you a card I did for a Mingle on the CreativeCuttlebuggers YahooGroup I am on.  In March, the challenge was to do an all white card.  I have seen many all white cards and have always wanted to try one of these white on white cards so I signed up for the mingle to force me to finally do it...

And I'm so glad I did!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PaperTreyInk White
*Tools:  Big Shot; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder; Spellbinders Tulip Pendant


So few items used!  The hardest part of this card was trying to get a good photo of it.  I took a little time, tried a few spots in the yard, and settled on this one shot despite the shadow in the corner.

To add some dimension, I used foam tape on the top two layers.

Who knew white on white could have so much going for it?

I will definitely try it again!