*Have A Beautiful Day*

I love the sentiment on this card... "Have A Beautiful Day"... it can truly be used for so many different things including a birthday and a simple "hello".  To me, it's one of those "feel good" sentiments....  it just puts a smile on my face when I hear it.

I have finally gotten myself all caught up on the MojoMonday sketches that I missed out on with my crazy 2010. After this, I have two more to share with you and then I'll only be posting new ones.  I love that I have done all of them since I found the site, way back in week 68!  Today I am sharing week 164...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! So Saffron, Pear Pizazz
*Images: AMuse
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Peach Parfait, So Saffront
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Peach Parfait ribbon; Michael's Bridal Flowers; Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:  Mojo164


Maybe I should start to challenge myself to use some of the really old Mojo sketches too!  Hmmmmm, something to think about!

*Missed It*

I was disappointed this afternoon to realize that I missed a link deadline for the ColorQ Challenge.  Not that I love the card I created, but it's because I made the effort.  I finished the card on Friday and didn't get a chance to post yesterday as I was at a TaeKwon-Do tournament for most of the day and then out for dinner and the evening.

And honestly, I had no idea that the deadline was noon today.

I now have a sticky note hanging off my OttLight with the cut off days and times for a few of my favourite challenge sites.

A little too late to be included in the linky at ColorQ, but here's the card I created using their colours for this past week, along with the current Mojo sketch challenge.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White;  Stampin' Up! Cajun Crazy, Peach Parfait, Rich Razzleberry
*Images: Lizzie Anne Say It In Script
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Cajun Craze
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Peach Parfait ribbon
*Challenges:  Mojo175; ColorQ#69


Once I had the card put together, I wished I had stamped or embossed the Kraft layer to add a little depth and texture....  but alas, I didn't.  It's not terrible, but it's not going into the race for one of my favourites of 2011.

Thanks for coming to visit!

*Bright and Clean and Simple*

Well, the snow is falling, just as predicted.... time will tell how much snow we'll get over the next two days.

Wow am I looking forward to spring....  I am not a winter person.

I have spent the day in my craft cave, creating.  I created five cards today!  And I managed to get myself caught up on the challenges I had in my "to do" folder.  Woo hoo!

This is my creations for the Clean and Simple Fall To Layout #125.... I got the idea for the colour combination from the Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 66.  I'm not sure I love what I've done, but I don't hate it either...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Lavender Lace, Pretty in Pink, Cherry Cobbler, Bravo Burgundy
*Images: Inkadinkadoo Dot Flourishes; unknown sentiment
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Lavender Lace, Pretty in Pink, Cherry Cobbler, Bravo Burgundy
*Embellishments: Kaiser Rhinestones
*Challenges:  FTL125; Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 66


Please head over to the Clean and Simple blog and play along with us this week!

*Playing In Paradise*

The card I'm sharing today follows a new to me sketch from the people at Scrapbookers Paradise... they are a Calgary based business with two stores in Calgary, one in Lethbridge and one in Red Deer.  Their stores are always full of great ideas and wonderful products.  You'll find their blog (with their sketch) HERE.  I created it while the girls were here to play last week...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Pear Pizazz, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist
*Images: Stampin' Up! Pocket Silhouettes
*Ink: Brilliance Moonlight White
*Tools: Big Shot; Sizzix Plaid embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities;  Stampin' Up! border punch
*Challenges:  Playing in Paradise #4

*Mom's Memorial*

I am so sorry to have left you hanging over the last several days.  I ended up taking a quick trip to Saskatchewan to be at the funeral of the dad of a very good and very dear friend of mine.  I've known the family since the summer before I started kindergarten back in 1975!  My friend lost her sister four years ago and her Mom is suffering from Alzheimers so I wanted to be there to give her a hug cuz I can only imagine how alone she must feel.

I spent less than 24 hours there but managed a quick visit to the hospice and got to see Mom's name on the memorial wall... The hospice now has a memorial tree on either side of the hallway and Mom is one of the first ones on the new tree.

Mom's butterfly is just to the right of centre, near the middle.... 

just to the left of the bronze and silver leaves that are together.

This is a close up of Mom's butterfly.  

It brings tears to my eyes, but I am so happy that it's there!

Thank you to everyone who helped us raise more than $2500 to get Mom this beautiful butterfly!!

*Whoopie!!*

I'm very excited!!!  I was named as one of the ColourQ Courtiers this week for the card I created last week in their Colour Q Colour Challenge!!

Please go take a look at the beautiful cards that were chosen HERE!

This is the card I created for that challenge....  I will admit, I love it!

*That Was Quick*

WOW!  Weekends sure fly by!!!  I was not a happy camper when that alarm clock went off this morning LOL!

But I'm up... have gotten a few things squared away this morning and after I post on my blog plan on getting some work done since I avoided it all weekend.

So I should hurry up with this blog post....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Summer Sun, Cherry Cobbler
*Images: PTI Mega Mixed Messages
*Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 6; Martha Stewart border punch
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Pear Pizazz ribbon; Basic Grey buttons
*Challenges:  FTL124


I created this on Friday night while the CalGals were here.  I love the colours (although I'm not sure about the Summer Sun strip) and had a lot of fun playing with the buttons!  I think I'm going to need more buttons.

Enjoy your Monday!

*A Fun Night*

Despite there only being 3 of us last night, the CalGals had a good time... or at least I did and I'm assuming that Tracy and Merlie did too.

Sadly Allison had childcare issues, Dianne had to work and Shannon had a sick kiddo and a husband with a delayed flight home from a business trip.

It was kind of nice, I must admit, to not have to bring down chairs or move any furniture... my stamp space can fit four comfortably, but six is a little tight.

Not to mention that Merlie took up the  e n t i r e  long table all on her own!! LOL

Anyway, I managed to create three designs last night.... one will have to wait a bit as it's a surprise I did up on the request of a friend and I'd hate to the ruin the surprise for the people it's intended for.

I had hoped to get some carding done today but it didn't happen...  a late start, an offer to go to lunch and a trip to the mall got in the way.

I had a lot of fun creating this card earlier this week...  I was playing with the colours for the ColorQ challenge and wasn't liking it with any of the colours as the focal point... so I played around until I came up with this....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, So Saffron
*Images: Impress
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Poppy Parade
*Tools:   Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Michael's Bride flowers; Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:   Mojo172; ColorQ#68


I love this card... and I hope you do too!

*Now It's Friday!*

Yay!!!  It's Friday!!  This has been such a  l o n g  week!!!  I don't even know why it's been so long... just one of those weeks where Wednesday felt like Friday.

I've been working and not crafting much... hopefully that will change as some of the CalGals are coming over to play tonight.  I really need some cards in my stash to share with you!

I'm enjoying the colour challenge sites I've found over the last few weeks....  it gives me another push to create.

Today I'm sharing a card using a colours from the Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 65 -- you'll find the links for all the challenges I'm playing with lately in the right sidebar...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie
*Images: Verve
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Basic Grey buttons; Stickles; Stampin' Up! grosgrain ribbon
*Challenges:  Mojo174; CurtainCallColorChallenge Act65


I like the colours together however I think I would have prefer to have more white and less of the bright colours.  To make the colours of the buttons "pop" on the coloured cardstock, I added a circle of white cardstock behind each button, adhered to the button with Glossy Accents.

Thanks for stopping by!

*Isn't It Friday?? Sigh*

I don't know why, but this week feels like it is totally dragging along.  I can't believe it's only Wednesday.  Honestly, I feel like I've lived an entire week and this should be Friday!

My son, Alex, writes his first high school final exam today....  if only I could convince him to study for it LOL.  It's in his least favourite subject (Social Studies) but he's been doing well in that class this year.  He has three exams to write over a two week period...  one today and then nothing again until Monday.  He's enjoying lazy days on the computer.

I don't remember getting two weeks off during final exams....

I finished off the 2010 cards yesterday so we're on to cards from 2011.  My very good friend asked me to make birthday invitations for her daughter and this is what I came up with.  I used the same colour combination as this card.... and am in love with it!  I love how the colours look so different depending on how much of each you use.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Kiwi Kiss, Melon Mambo, Taken With Teal
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Taken With Teal, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango
*Tools: Big Shot; D'vine Swirl Cuttlebug folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities; Martha Stewart Cherish border punch
*Embellishments:  Michael's flowers; Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:  FTL117; ColorQ#67


The words are computer generated... the font is called Duchess.

I got a big hug from the birthday girl last night when I dropped these off at their house... I'm glad she liked them!

*Finally!!*

I am going to spend a minute talking about the weather (have you noticed I haven't in a very long time??!!)

I am thrilled that the warm up has begun... we have been in frigid temperatures for 10 days now and today we are to hit seasonal averages (just below freezing)... and by the end of the week we should be above freezing!

I am so happy to take a break from the -30C (-22F) weather (that's what it felt like outside with the wind).

I don't mind winter when the temperature is near seasonal averages.... but I sure tire of that extreme cold pretty damn quick!

I am finally getting to show you the last card I created in 2010...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Early Espresso, Marina Mist
*Images: Amuse
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools: Martha Stewart Cherish punches
*Embellishments: dark brown satin ribbon


I created this when the CalGals came to play in December... I loved Merlie's punches so much I had to run off to Michael's to buy my own!

Thanks for stopping by ... I hope you enjoy your day!

*Mojo Birthday Wishes*

Happy Monday everyone.  We had a pretty quiet weekend in our house which was probably a good thing with Bruce and I both getting over a cold and the weather being so cold!

I did venture out yesterday with my friend Chass and her daughter and our friend Denise to look at grad dresses...  there are so many lovely dresses out there!!!  And Tat was lucky as so many of them looked so stunning on her!  We went to two stores and the very last dress she planned to try on was the dress she fell in love with.  It is a beautiful dress and it looks so wonderful on her!

She's not wanting anyone to see her dress yet, so I won't be posting a photo... maybe she'll let me after her graduation in May.

I only have two more 2010 cards to share with you.  I need to get creating some more cards for 2011!! LOL

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Bazzill Bling
*Pattern Paper: Imaginisce
*Images: Penny Black
*Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
*Tools: Big Shot; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder; Corner Chomper
*Embellishments: Petaloo Flower; Prima Flower; Karen Foster brad
*Challenges:  Mojo169

*Busy Busy Card*

I can't believe the weekend is almost over...  sniff sniff... back to that damn alarm clock in the morning.

Alex is happy though... no classes for two weeks.... instead he has three final exams to write in the next two weeks.

I think Matthew is jealous!  LOL!

I don't remember getting two weeks off during exams.  Maybe we did, but I don't remember it!  I remember the exams though.... gah!

The card I'm sharing today looks awfully busy to me... not that I don't like it, but there sure is a lot going on!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Core'dinations; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Pattern Paper: Bo Bunny
*Images: Lizzie Anne Say It In Script
*Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black; Copics
*Tools: Big Shot; Daisy & Swirl Crafts-Too embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Michael's Bridal flowers (coloured with Copics); Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:  Mojo167


I wonder if it seems so busy because I've concentrated so much on those clean and simple designs lately...

*A Wedding Card*

Back in December, a good friend of mine asked me to please make a card for her to put with a gift for a wedding she was going to.

I knew I wanted something kind of classy... and I hope I came up with something kind of classy!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: unknown shimmer cardstock; Bazzill Bling;
*Images: The Stamp Barn
*Ink: VersaMagic with silver detail embossing powder
*Tools: Big Shot; D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder
*Embellishments: Kaiser Pearls; unknown ribbon
*Challenges:  Mojo168

*Clean and Simple Birthday Wishes*

Once I chose my patterned paper for this card, it came together so quickly.  I think that's what I love about the clean and simple layouts.

Sometimes I'm in the mood for a card that takes a while, sometimes I need to be able to something quick.  The Clean and Simple cards help me feel like I'm being creative when my creative juices are on vacation!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! So Saffron
*Images: Amuse
*Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
*Embellishments: Prima flower; Bazzill flower; Karen Foster brad
*Challenges:  FTL123


I hope you will head over to the Clean and Simple blog (the link is in my sidebar -->) and play along with us this week!

*Core'dinations Cardstock*

Core'dinations is giving people a chance to win some of their new release products....  click the link below to enter for your chance to win!
chttp://pages.email.darice.com/coredinations/p?eKey=4l4SjXc01FSBdtElF0XSgE

*Happy Friday!*

I love Fridays...

When I was working, I loved Fridays too.  It's not that I ever hated my job.  In fact, some of my jobs, I've loved.  Friday is the start of a few days without an alarm clock.  And that's what I love!

I hate days with alarm clocks!  Or at least days with early alarms.

I still have a few cards from 2010 to share with you all, but I actually played and created a current MojoMonday challenge and I wanted to post it "on time" instead of months late like I have been doing for the last several months.  I will intersperse the 2010 cards with 2011 cards for the next little while I think....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Kiwi Kiss, Taken With Teal
*Images: Inkadinkadoo
*Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo, Taken With Teal, Tangerine Tango
*Tools: Big Shot; Daisy & Swirl Crafts-Too embossing folder; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestablities Labels 14
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo ribbon; Michael's Bridal flowers; Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:  Mojo173; ColorQ#67


The ColorQ challenge is new to me.... I absolutely fell in love with these colours.  In fact, I've already made another card using this same colour combination!  Check them out!!

*Turning a Corner?*

I hate to jinx things, but I think I might be on the mend...  still coughing a bit but I feel better today than I have in more than a week.  And I'm coughing less.  I sure hope I've turned the corner on this cold.

A big thank you to everyone who's given advice on the cough.... last night I did a combination of Tylenol Cold PM (has a cough suppressant) and Otrivin nasal spray (did you know that a lot of night time coughing is caused by post nasal drip??!!) and I had a good nights' sleep with only a little coughing.  Nothing like in nights before.  I had really hoped that the Vicks on my feet covered with socks would work.... I love the smell of Vicks!

I'm almost done sharing the last cards from 2010....  after this one I think that there are four more.  I guess that means I need to make more than one design in a few hours of crafting eh?  I was finding it tough to think straight while sick so it was taking a while to get a card created.  Maybe I'll try to play for a bit today...

I really like how this card turned out... I love this image, really like my Copic talent in this instance.... and what's up with me and buttons??!!  I always thought I didn't like them and now I have a bunch on order!  Yikes!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler
*Images: Whippersnapper
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools: Big Shot; unknown embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities; Stampin' Up! border punch
*Embellishments: unknown button (coloured with a Copic)
*Challenges:  Mojo152


You like??

*Simple White Flowers*

Good evening everyone....  sorry to have not posted earlier but I was (finally) back to work at MondayNightClass.ca for a few hours today.  I was over at Christy's house working kits for February.  I ended up bowing out around 2pm as I was just too tired... and I brought some work home with me to finish up.

I had trouble falling asleep last night thanks to having to take daytime Tylenol Cold...  on my way home from Christy's I was smart and stopped to get more Tylenol Cold PM.  Hopefully tonight I will sleep better.

But I have a few minutes now while the oven heats up to post a card for you....  we're still finishing off cards I made in 2010.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red
*Images: Hampton Art; Impress
*Ink: Brilliance Moonlight White; VersaFine Onyx Black
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 4; Stampin' Up! border punch
*Embellishments: unknown ribbon
*Challenges:  Mojo151

*Go Away!*

Not you!

The cough.

It's still here.... and it's still making me miserable.

I tried the Vicks on the soles of my feet (with socks over top) last night and all it gave me was uncomfortable feet (I hate socks).

I didn't sleep well.  I got up at 7 and was back asleep by 8 this morning until 10 when the phone rang.  Since 10 I have showered and dressed (and made myself beautiful LOL), made icing and iced a birthday cake for tonight, peeled and cut potatoes and carrots, got cauliflower and broccoli ready to cook, and started the Yorkshire puddings.

My father in law had a birthday on the weekend and this is the first time we've all been available to do his birthday dinner... we're doing a nice roast beef with all of the trimmings.

I'm already exhausted.... what will I be like by the time dinner is over??

There might be a nap in my future.

But first I want to craft... I promised a friend I'd make her daughter's 13th birthday invitations and I haven't started yet.... I need to at least get an idea!!  That's on the agenda for today (I hope!)

Until I get those done, here's a card I made a month or so ago.... when I was taking a little break from Christmas designs...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi
*Images: Whippersnapper; Hero Arts
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities; unknown embossing folder
*Embellishments: unknown grosgrain ribbon
*Challenges:  Mojo146


I really like how you can sponge colour around a layer to make it look like there is another layer under there.... sometimes it's just what a layer needs to make it pop!

*A New (to me) Colour Challenge*

Despite feeling pretty nasty all day yesterday, I was feeling the need to create.  It took me a while, but I managed to finish one card.

I used the current Fall To Layout challenge over at the Clean and Simple blog (see the link in my sidebar) and couldn't decide on colours to use.  So I did a bit of blog surfing and discovered these colours on a few blogs and followed the links to the Curtain Call Color Challenge....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Pacific Point, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist
*Images: Amuse; Inkadinkadoo
*Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! Whisper White pigment
*Tools: Martha Stewart border punch
*Challenges:  FTL122; Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 64


I wasn't too sure about this layout but now that it's done, I really like it!  I was wanting to use flowers instead of balloons but I was creating a birthday card for my father in law and decided that balloons would make this more masculine than flowers would have.

Be sure to check out the Clean and Simple blog and play along in this week's challenge.... and check out the Curtain Call Color Challenge too!  I will be playing with them again too!

*I Just Realized....*

.... that I spend a lot of time talking about the weather on my blog.  I guess living in Calgary, we have lots of different weather related topics to talk about... too much rain, too much snow, too windy, too cold....  But seriously?  I think it's time for me to talk about something else LOL!

Ummmmmmmmm......

So.......

I'm still sick....  cough is still there and it's no longer a dry cough.... nose is stuffed.... and despite a good nights' sleep (10 hours!) I still feel exhausted.

Ummmmm........

And....

So.....

(so little to talk about without the weather LOL!)

On to the card!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist
*Images:  Verve
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools:  Big Shot; Sizzix embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 4
*Embellishments:  Kaiser Pearls; Stampin' Up! Grosgrain Ribbon
*Challenges:  Mojo144

*I Disappeared*

I am so sorry for popping back for a post and then disappearing again.  I started feeling like I was getting a cold during our travels home on Monday and it's turned into something kinda nasty... I am not at all stuffed up (although my ears are bugging me today) but I have a terrible dry cough that is driving me nuts!  Yesterday I had a headache so bad I could barely stand to be upright.  I am not sure if the cough caused the headache or what.  I got up in the morning, put on sweats and spent the day laying on the couch.  I am so glad that the headache is gone this morning but the cough is worse.

Bruce is off to the Dr as I type as he is pretty sure his cold has turned in to an ear infection.

So far, the kids appear to be healthy (although Alex is popping Advil after a trip to the orthodontist yesterday that resulted in stronger wires for more movement).

Might be a quiet weekend in our house!

Anyway... I am dressed and upright (at least I am this morning) and ready to share a card with you....

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin' Up! Ballet Blue, Basic Black, Bashful Blue
*Images:  Whippersnapper
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools:  Big Shot; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder; Quickutz Retro Diamonds embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 8
*Embellishments:  unknown button; Stampin' Up! black twine
*Challenges:  Mojo139

*Happy 2011!*

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm sorry for the lack of posts over the last few days, but the truth to why I had scheduled all of those Christmas cards is that we were away.

My oldest sister and her daughter and the four of us headed off on a 10 day Caribbean Cruise on the Serenade of the Seas and we had a wonderful time!  The weather was beautiful, the ship was wonderful.

We did a tropical Christmas in 2005 and all of us said we'd never do it again... but Christmas on a cruise ship is so much different... they really went all out with the decorations and music and food and activities.  And really, there is something so wonderful about sitting in your bathing suit enjoying the Caribbean sunshine on December 25th!

We arrived home yesterday afternoon, 12 hours later than scheduled and without any luggage....  that part kind of sucks LOL!

Anyway.... I still have a few non-Christmas cards that I created in 2010 that I will share with you over the next few days.... until I get back in to my craft room to play with designs for 2011!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
*Images:  Stampendous; Amuse
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools:  Big Shot; unknown embossing folder; Spellbinders Labels 15, Labels small
*Embellishments:  unknown satin ribbon; unknown brad
*Challenges:  Mojo140