*I Love New Stuff!*

I was so excited to get the new Heartfelt Creations Daisy Patch (and Posy Patch) stamps along with the dies (made by Spellbinders for Heartfelt Creations) that go with them!  Sadly, it took a few tries and finally a YouTube video to figure out how to make it all go together.

Just in time to play with the Use It Tuesday challenge to use flowers on a card... and to use a stamp that had never been inked.  Granted, it wasn't a stamp from deep in my stash, but I inked the stamps for the first time to create this card.  I also used the Sweet Stop Sketch for this week.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black
*Images: Heartfelt Creations Daisy Patch; AMuse
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; Versafine Onyx black
*Tools: Big Shot; D'vine Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder; Heartfelt Creations dies
*Embellishments: Pebbles Candy Dots; Christmas Red Stickles
*Challenges:  SSS110; UseItTuesday#8

*Happy Graduation*

And so it begins....

In our group of friends, we have kids that range in age from grade 1 to grade 12... we have kids currently in grade 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 6 and 1....  so we have 5 years in a row with graduation ceremonies!

This past week was the graduation ceremony for our friends daughter.  Last night was her graduation banquet and party and we were all invited over for a drink to see Tat in her beautiful gown before they left.

I decided to take her a little gift of some cupcakes from Crave and of course, had to take her a card.  I have nothing in the "graduation" genre of stamps so I used a computer generated graphic and took a saying I found on the internet and created the sentiment for the front of the card as well.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Early Espresso, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Real Red
*Images: computer generated
*Tools: Big Shot; D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! grosgrain ribbon
*Challenges:  Mojo192; ColourQ#86; CFC4


This card meets the requirements for three challenges... I used the Mojo Sketch with the ColourQ colours and is a graduation card for CAS-ual Friday.

And I'm just making it in time for some of the deadlines LOL!

*Teeny Tiny Wish*

Calgarians are happy that the rain stopped last night....  sadly the wind has replaced it, making it impossible for me to get a photo of this card outside this morning.

Instead, I took the photo by my big kitchen window where there is a lot of light coming in.  In the background you can see just a little bit of the stuff that my friends and I have set up for the papercrafting garage sale.  We have 7 big tables, the kitchen island, and 7 chairs full of items for sale!!!  Lots of stamps, some paper, punches galore..... and more!

Todays card is the current layout challenge on the Clean and Simple Cards blog.  Once I decided on the colours I wanted to use, this card went together so fast and easy!!!  I love the embossed background... you  might want to click on the photo to see it larger so you can see the detail in the embossing.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Real Red, Basic Black
*Images: Penny Black
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools: Big Shot; Quickutz Flowers embossing folder; ScorPal
*Embellishments: unknown grosgrain ribbon; twine from The Twinery; assorted buttons
*Challenges:  FTL142


I hope you'll play along with us this week!

*Papercrafting Garage Sale*

I am SO sorry for the late notice....  I kept meaning to post about the annual garage sale but I would think about it when I was nowhere near my computer....

Anyway... tomorrow (Saturday, May 28th) my crafty girlfriends and I are hosting our annual Papercrafting Garage Sale here at my house in NW Calgary... it's not in the garage cuz we like to be comfortable, (not to mention we're currently using the garage to store the ark we've been building after so much rain this week!).

From 1pm until 4pm you're invited to come shop in my living room (and dining room, and family room, and kitchen).... there are six of us with items for sale, everything from cardstock to ink to stamps to tools.

If you're interested, please EMAIL ME and I'll send you my address!

*Playing in Paradise #17*

Happy Friday everyone!  I am back with another challenge from the Scrapbookers Paradise Blog... this week, Allison challenged us with a card sketch.  I had some fun playing with a Martha Stewart punch I borrowed from a friend....

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin' Up! Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight
*Pattern Paper: unknown
*Tools: Big Shot; Sizzix Daisies die; Martha Stewart border punch; Bow Easy
*Embellishments: assorted buttons; Doodlebug Sugared brad; Stampin' Up! ribbon
*Challenges:  Playing in Paradise #17

*Kinda Masculine*

I will admit that I have a tough time making masculine cards.  It doesn't help that I don't really have any masculine images.  So when the challenge at the Sweet Stop this week had a twist that the card should be masculine, I had no idea what to do.

I found this old patterned paper that I bought years ago and thought that the colours would work well enough.  I searched high and low for a digital image to use on the card but my time was limited and my knowledge was limited so I gave up.  Instead I used masculine colours with a sentiment to create my card for the challenge.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI  White; Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
*Pattern Paper: Reminisce
*Images: Stampin' Up! Occasional Quotes
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Early Espresso
*Challenges:  SSS109


Not a fantabulous card.... definitely simple.... and hopefully masculine.

Enjoy your day!

*Bling Bling Bling*

Just a quickie from me this morning as I need to be out the door in a few minutes.... still chilly and still raining....  woot?

I had fun playing with a tonne of bling on this card....  be sure to click on the card to see a larger photo cuz there's a lot of stuff that sparkles on this card!!!  The use of a butterfly image was the challenge this week at Less Is More and CAS-ual Friday challenged us to use some bling!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Bazill Bling
*Images: Stampin' Up! Reason To Smile; Hampton Art
*Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black; fine line black pen
*Embellishments: assorted bling
*Challenges:  CFC3; LessIsMore#16

*Wet Wet Wet*

The weather in Calgary is going to make it tough to take photos of cards this week.  I made this on Saturday, went away for the day on Sunday, and came home to rain, rain and more rain!  There was a break in the rain coming from the sky so I grabbed that pretty glass plate and went out on the back deck to take a few photos.

Sure, I could take photos inside but I really do prefer the photos of cards taken with natural light and with it being *so* grey outside, I was worried that there wouldn't be enough light inside, even in a good window.

My apologies for leaving you waiting to see my take on the Fall To Sketch this week.... I hope you'll head over to the Clean and Simple blog (link on the left!) and play along with us this week!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Certainly Celery
*Pattern Paper: Stampin' Up!
*Images: Inkadinkadoo
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools: Stampin' Up! flower punch, scallop border punch
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! grosgrain ribbon; Doodlebug Sugared brad
*Challenges:  FTL141

*A Little Drab*

A beautiful sunny day in Calgary today.... the rains will start tomorrow apparently.  I think we should probably get a little yard work done today.... weeds pulled, figure out what survived the winter....  I haven't bought my flowers for the beds yet so we won't be planting this weekend.  Maybe next weekend.

After this card, I am out of cards to share with you.... and I won't be crafting today (well, maybe a little bit) and I'm heading up to Edmonton for the day tomorrow to visit my Uncle who's in the hospital.  Maybe there will be some crafting on Monday?  Definitely will be if it's raining LOL!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip, Peach Parfait, Basic Grey, Sahara Sand
*Images: PTI Mega Mixed Messages; unknown flower
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Peach Parfait
*Tools: Big Shot; D'vine Swirl embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Dew Drops; Stampin' Up! ribbon
*Challenges:  Mojo191; ColourQ#85


I'm not sure about the colours of this card... I had a really tough time with the ColourQ challenge this week...  it's not bad, just kind of bland.  Maybe I needed more orange to make things pop!


Enjoy your weekend!

*Last Minute*

Talk about last minute... I seriously had only a few minutes to get this card posted and linked over at the Less is More blog.... so I posted it with just the photo so I could ink it before collection closed.

This week the challenge at Less is More was to use embossing... it's hard to see but my sentiment is heat embossed....  

I love the simplicity of this card....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White
*Images: Hampton Art
*Ink: Brilliance Rocket Red
*Tools: heat tool
*Embellishments:  clear embossing powder; black fine line marker
*Challenges:  Less Is More #15

*Playing In Paradise #16*

This week, the Playing in Paradise challenge was to create a card using only black and white.  It's tough for me to not add a pop of colour!

I actually created two cards for this challenge and couldn't decided which one I should post... so I am sharing both with you.  One is white on black, one is black on white...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Images: PTI Signature Greetings; Verve
*Ink: (top card) VersaMagic  (bottom card) VersaFine Onyx Black
*Embellishments: (top card) white embossing powder, unknown bling
*Challenges:  Playing In Paradise #16


I hope you'll grab out your black and white and play along with us!

*Sparkly Live, Love, Laugh*

Good morning everyone....  a wet and rainy day in Calgary which meant I had to be creative to take a few photos of cards this morning (I really should have taken the photos yesterday when it was nice out!).  Instead I have a glass serving plate sitting on my very wet patio table.  It works!

I saw the sketch over at the Sweet Stop for this week and knew I had to play with it....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Bazill Bling
*Pattern Paper: Imaginisce
*Images: Hampton Art
*Ink: Brilliance Pocket Red
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Iridescent Ice embossing powder; unknown ribbon; unknown button; Frosted Lace Stickles
*Challenges: Use It Tuesday #7; SSS108


The Challenge at Use It Tuesday was to use bling in your creation.... the patterned paper was already sparkly with some of the strips glittered, but I added more glitter with Stickles.  I embossed the image with Iridescent Ice embossing powder and then added some Stickles for even more glimmer.  And of course, Bazill Bling cardstock has a wonderful shimmer all on it's own!

Thanks for popping in to say hi!

*CAS-ual Friday Card*

Have you checked out the CAS-ual Friday blog yet?  Tonight is the deadline for challenge #2 and a new challenge will be posted on Friday.  As the name suggests, this is a new challenge blog for Clean and Simple cards... which you know are my favourite!

This week the challenge is to use buttons and twine....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Blue Bayou
*Images: Hampton Art
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Blue Bayou
*Embellishments: twine from The Twinery; assorted buttons
*Challenges:  CAS-ual Friday #2

*Long Weekend Coming Up*

Is it me or does a Monday seem so much easier to deal with when you know it's a short week?  Both kids have the day off school on Friday, leading up to the May Long Weekend... which makes next week a short week too.  Gotta love it!

Any day without an alarm clock is a good day!

Had a great time with the CalGals on Friday night although we missed Shannon and Dianne.  I was smart and although I really wanted to craft on Friday afternoon I wouldn't allow myself to get creative....  the last time I did that I didn't do a darn thing while the girls were here to play.

This is one of the cards I created while they were here to play....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White
*Pattern Paper: My Mind's Eye
*Images: Heart Felt Creations Posy Patch Swirls; AMuse
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Challenges:  FTL140


I hope you'll head over to the Clean and Simple blog and play along with the sketch for this week!

*Beautiful Weekend*

It is sooooo nice to see a weather forecast that shows average or above average temperatures for an entire week!  I haven't had socks and shoes on in many many days... and I love wearing capris and flip flops!

Thanks for figuring it out Mother Nature... please keep up the good work!


I created this card earlier this week for a couple of challenges....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Kraft
*Images: Stampin' Up! Occasional Quotes
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Old Olive
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities; D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder
*Embellishments: assorted buttons; twine from The Twinery
*Challenges:  Mojo190; ColourQ#84

*Playing in Paradise #15*

Welcome to another Friday and another Challenge over at the Scrapbookers Paradise blog (see the link in my sidebar!).  Please note that the post over at Scrapbookers Paradise might not be up yet ... in case you didn't hear, there was a 20 hour period where you could only view blogs, not post or make comments.... this has obviously messed up several different challenge and personal blogs.

This week Carla is challenging all of us to use three different things from our paper crafting stash....  I dare you to use some of those things that have either become forgotten or things that you just can't imagine parting with.....

I used things that have been forgotten in my stash... things I had to have, but then put them away and forgot about them....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Embellishments: Dew Drops; unknown ribbon; Peel Off Sticker
*Challenges:  Playing in Paradise Challenge 15


My items from my stash were the three embellishments... I have a TONNE of Dew Drops and I hardly use them... I love the flowers I created with them....  the ribbon was one I had to have when I was working at the scrapbook store and then I couldn't bring myself to use it cuz I liked it so much.  And the sentiment is a Peel Off sticker... I buy them, put them in my stickers drawer and then forget about them!

I hope you'll play along!!

*White on White*

The challenge at Less is More this week is for a card that uses only white.  I knew it wouldn't be too difficult for me since I've done it before.  The one I made this time around isn't quite as busy as the one I did the first time...

The key to playing with white on white is to add textures to your layers to help make them stand out...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White
*Tools: Big Shot; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, unknown border Cuttlebug folder
*Embellishments: Michael's Bridal Flowers; Frosted Lace Stickles
*Challenges:  Less is More #14

*My First Time*

When the girls were here to stamp last month, Merlie showed up with a binder of sketches from The Sweet Stop... I flipped through them and saw some of the cards she was making and loved them.  I went searching for the blog but then kinda forgot about it...

Until I saw the sketch for this week.  My eye was completely drawn to the sketch for this week and I needed to play with it.

I really like this card... it was great to do something with so much colour since I've been doing a lot of white with a splash of colour lately.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz; Core'dinations
*Pattern Paper: Cosmo Cricket
*Images: PTI Signature Greetings
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities; Stampin' Up scallop border punch
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! brads; Kaiser pearls; Michael's Bridal flowers
*Challenges:  SSSC#107

*New Challenge Blog*

I was very excited to see a new clean and simple (CAS) challenge blog make it's debut on Friday... I hope you will head on over to CAS-ual Friday and play along.

The challenge for this week was to highlight text in your card.  I do not own any text images and I don't have a phone book or an old book or even an old magazine laying around for me to rip a page out... so instead I computer generated some text to use as my background....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Core'dinations
*Ink: Copic marker; black text marker
*Tools: computer generated text; Stampin' Up! flower punch
*Embellishments: unknown button
*Challenges: CFC1


Have a great day!

*I"m Sick Of Being Sick*

I don't remember feeling so dragged down by colds when I was younger.  But now??  Geesh.  The last several colds I've had have totally wiped me out.  I have had this cold since Monday I think and it just gets worse with every day.

Now, instead of a drippy nose, my nose is all plugged up.

Now, instead of a cough once in a while, I am aching because I am coughing so much.

And the ears are so freakin' itchy I want to shove a knife down there!!!!

And my eyes are so dry and sore....

GAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sure hope that today is the worst day and I'll be on the mend soon.  Who wants to be sick in May?

I'm spending a bit of time in my creative space this morning before heading off to volunteer at a retirement tea this afternoon...  So far I've created one card and I hope to make a few more....

This one I did on Thursday for this week's Fall To Layout....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Regal Rose
*Pattern Paper: Bo Bunny
*Images: Stampin' Up! All Holidays
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Apple Green grosgrain
*Challenges:  FTL139


This truly is a quick and easy sketch... I hope you'll play along with us this week!

*Bright Thanks*

I am really tired today.  I had hoped to spend the day creating as I have this card plus one more to share with you in my stash, but honestly, I am so tired it seems like too much work to even turn on the light above my desk.  I haven't been sleeping well with this darn cold and last night was no different... toss and turn and then wide awake more than an hour before my alarm.

Gah.

I wasn't too sure about these colours when I started creating this card... it's totally not me "me" but I do like how it turned out...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Tangerine Tango, Peach Parfait, Tempting Turquoise
*Images: PTI Signature Greetings; Amuse
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities; Stampin' Up! scallop border punch
*Embellishments: unknown gems; Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight ribbon; Michael's Bridal flowers
*Challenges:  Mojo188; ColourQ#83; Less Is More #13


Three challenges, one card... go me LOL!

*I Can Spill The Beans!*

Thankfully I only had to hold on to this secret for a few days.... I've been dying to share with all of you!

I had an email from Laura Fredrickson earlier this week, wondering if I was still interested in being a part of the Challenge Team for the Scrapbookers Paradise Blog.  I applied for this design team a few months ago but didn't make it.  I don't know the full reason why I was asked to join them now, but I decided I didn't care LOL!  I was  just excited to be asked!

Although I didn't have to play this week, I decided to jump in with both feet and get a card done.

The challenge this week is a colour challenge.... and let me tell you, it was a challenge for me!  I went through a lot of different ideas before I came up with this card....  it's not perfect, but at least it is something I kind of like! LOL

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Kraft, Sage Shadow, Cameo Coral
*Images: Hampton Art
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Cameo Coral, Apricot Appeal, Soft Sky
*Embellishments: Michael's Bridal flowers; Frosted Lace Stickles
*Challenges:  Playing In Paradise Challenge #14


I will be updating the links on my blog to include the rest of the design team and a badge for the Playing in Paradise challenges.... I really hope that you will head over to visit their blog and play along with us!  I'd love for them to see an increase in players this week thanks to the people who read my blog!!!

*I've Got A Secret*

Yup, I'm keeping something from you!  I have a secret that I will be able to share on Friday....  I'm a little excited about it!

Secrets are hard to keep sometimes.... but I figure I only have another day to keep my mouth shut....  I can do it LOL!!!

I'm rather pleased with how this card turned out, using a ColourQ challenge and a Mojo Monday sketch....  it took me a long time to put it together though....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Always Artichoke
*Images: Lizzie Anne Designs Floral Frenzy; Whippersnapper; Amuse
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze; Kiwi Kiss, Pear Pizzazz; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities, Labels 6; Stampin' Up! scallop border punch
*Embellishments: assorted buttons; twine from The Twinery
*Challenges:  Mojo189; ColourQ#82