*FTL173*

My apologies for not posting this sooner.  I made it with lots of time to post this week but didn't get around to taking a photo of it!  Bad bad Nancy.  I suddenly realized that the new challenge would be posted tomorrow so I thought I should get it up.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Cameo Coral
*Images: Inkadinkadoo Dot Flourishes; Hero Arts Essential Messages
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Pear Pizzazz, Cherry Cobbler
*Tools: Big Shot; Couture Creations Intrinsic embossing folder
*Embellishments: Prima Pearls
*Challenges: FTL173; ColourQ118


This card looked so much better in my head....  sigh

*FTL 172*

Happy Hump Day everyone....  the weather has turned to average temperatures here in Calgary.  A week ago we had a record for daytime high for the date and now we're looking at it getting worse over the next few days.  I sure hope we don't see record colds!!

Life is busy but good.... I am really missing my creative time.  My plan had been to play on Sunday but I woke up with a migraine, complete with nausea, and ended up doing absolutely nothing all day.  Big sad face.

I really like the sketch for this week over at the Clean and Simple blog (see the link my sidebar).... Some of the gals on the design team have made it simple, others have made it less simple.  Very versatile!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizazz, Chocolate Chip
*Images: Hero Arts
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities; Big Shot
*Embellishments: Michael's Bridal flower (coloured with Wisteria Wonder); Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:  FTL172; ColourQ105

*Sweet Stop Colour Q*

I cheated.... I spent some time on the weekend scheduling a few posts for the week....  I have a good reason, really....

Monday marked my first day back at work.... I accepted a full time job about a month ago and Monday was my first day.  I am writing this on Friday so I have no idea how the day went, but I'm going to go with "good" LOL! This is my first full time job outside the house in more than 16 years....  I'm excited and scared.... and am hopeful that life will sort itself out!

I created this card a while back using a ColourQ palette and a Sweet Stop Sketch challenge.... you can tell since there are flowers in the background LOL!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Soft Suede, Island Indigo, Bermuda Bay
*Images: Hampton Art
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities; crafts Too Daisy Delight embossing folder
*Embellishments: Michael's Bridal flower; assorted buttons; Twinery twine; Kaiser pearl
*Challenges:  SSS#122; ColourQ98

*Fall To Layout #163*

I am home today after spending the last two days at the Jingle Bell Crop... an annual event put on by MondayNightClass (where I've been working for the last year).  This was my last event as one of their staff members as I prepare to start a full time job in two weeks.  We worked hard this weekend and had a lot of fun too!   I packed a bag of crafty stuff and ended up not even taking it out of the car!

I ended the event in a big way.... while helping to mop the floors in the rec. centre, I managed to slip and fall on my back.  I was truly worried last night as everything hurt....  today it hurts, but not nearly as much as I feared it would.  More than anything, I am stiff.  I think I landed directly on the part of my back kinda between my shoulder blades... that area hurts the most.

I definitely went out with a bang LOL!

Anyway... here is my creation for this weeks sketch over at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog.... I have so many other ideas on what to do with this sketch!!!!  I love it!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White
*Images: Hero Arts Essential Messaegs
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz, Callypso Coral, Poppy Parade
*Embellishments: Michael's Bridal flowers; Kaiser pearls
*Challenges: FTL163; ColourQ103

*Just Because*

Finally, a chance to post a card that isn't for one of my design team commitments....  I don't have a lot of these in my stash and I fear it's only going to get worse soon...

I hope to make lots of great cards to share while I'm at the retreat in Ontario at the end of the month... but when I get home from Ontario I only have a few days before I'm heading back to the workforce!  I accepted a full time administrative position with an engineering consulting firm here in Calgary and I start work in November... this will be my first full time job since before Alex was born back in the spring of 1995!  I'm a little nervous and a lot excited.  My friend Tracy, one of the CalGals, also works at this company, as does the husband of Dianne, another CalGal!

Anyway... here's a card for you.... I love the fall colours...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Island Indigo
*Images: Stampin' Up! Baroque Motifs
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie
*Embellishments: twine from The Twinery; Kaiser Rhinestones
*Challenges:  ColourQ#99


I absolutely love this stamp set!

*Sweet Stop 119 and Colour Q 96*

Happy Thursday everyone....  been a quick week for me, which is a good thing.  I'm looking forward to a few days without the alarm clock again :-D

Not much to chit chat about so let's get on to the card...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up!Tempting Turquoise, Bashful Blue, Lucky Limeade, Basic Grey
*Images: Amuse; Stampin' Up! Best Yet
*Ink: Stampin Up! markers; Memento Tuxedo Black
*Tools: Big Shot;  Crafts Too polka dots embossing folder
*Embellishments: Kaiser pearl
*Challenges:  SSS119; ColourQ96

*Combining Challenges*

I'm finding myself lost for the second week in a row....   somehow I managed to miss Monday both weeks!  That means today feels like a Tuesday... but look at that!  It's Wednesday!

That's a good thing!

I had some fun playing with a ColourQ colour combination and a Sweet Stop Sketch...  turned out OK I think...

Items Used: *Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Pool Party
*Images: Inkadinkadoo Fancy That; Impress
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Tangerine Tango; Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: unknown buttons; unknown ribbon
*Challenges:  ColourQ#97; SSS120

*Fall To Layout #157*

I decided to use the current ColourQ challenge along with the sketch from the Clean and Simple blog this week. I took a little liberty with the sketch (as did our sketch master Natasha) and moved the thin strip from the right side of the card to the left... it just looked more balanced to me....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade
*Images: Impress
*Ink: Versamagic Perfect Plumeria, Spring Pansy
*Tools: Big Shot; Sizzix plaid embossing folder
*Embellishments: Doodlebug flocked brad; Petaloo flowers (coloured with the Versamagic inks)
*Challenges:  FTL157; ColourQ#101

*All By Myself*

For the first time since June, I am alone in my house.... and I'm enjoying the quiet!  Of course, my day started with a bunch of errands and running around, but I'm enjoying the rest of my day to myself.

I love how this card turned out.... totally not my usual colours but I think they work well.... I hope you like it too!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Early Espresso, Island Indigo; Pool Party
*Pattern Paper: Cosmo Cricket
*Images: Hampton Art *Ink: Stampin' Up! Soft Suede
*Embellishments: assorted buttons; unknown grosgrain; Frosted Lace Stickles
*Challenges:  Mojo201; ColourQ#95

*Fall To Layout #155*

This week, the Clean and Simple blog is playing along with the folks at ColourQ to celebrate their 100th Colour Combination.... the ColourQ challenge will be posted on Tuesday.... but if you want to play along a little early, I suggest you take a look at the CAS sketch (link in my sidebar) and have a peek at the 99 previous challenges over at the Colour! blog....

Items Used: 
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi
*Images: A Muse
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools: Big Shot; My Favorite Things open scallop die
*Embellishments: assorted buttons
*Challenges:  FTL155; ColourQ#46

*Welcome to Calgary*

You gotta just laugh at the weather in Calgary....  if you didn't you'd probably cry.  We spent the weekend with temperatures around 27C (that's about 81F) and it cooled off over night.  It is almost noon and we are currently a whopping 12C (that's 54F)...  and tomorrow we are back up to seasonal temperatures (22C/72F).

So I am going to go put on a sweater and head to the basement to create for the rest of the day.... but before I do that, here's a card for you!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red
*Pattern Paper: Cosmo Cricket
*Images: There She Goes Flowers of Happiness; PTI Mega Mixed Messages
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! Real Red; Copics
*Tools: Stampin' Up! circle punches
*Challenges:  SSS116; ColourQ93


This Sweet Stop Sketch confuses me every time I look at my card... it looks sideways... probably because of the sideways sentiment.  But still, I like it!

*A Teeny Tiny Wish....*

I really really really like the card that I am sharing with you today.  I'm not "in love" with it, but I really really like it!  While I love the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenges, sometimes I find them difficult since there are so many layers.  I'm finding the same thing with MojoMonday which was always my favourite sketch site.

I guess I'm really going through a long phase of clean and simple cards.

Even though there are a lot of layers in this card, I like the clean lines.... and love the outline of black on each layer.

Items Used: 
*Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango
*Images:  Penny Black
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black; Copics
*Tools: Big Shot; Bloom Dots & Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folders; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Michael's Bridal Flowers (coloured with Copics); unknown pearls
*Challenges:  ColourQ#92; SSS114

*Back In The Groove*

I am going to try VERY hard over the next few weeks to get back in the habit of blogging more often than just my design team posts.  I have cards to share, just never think to come and blog them.

I want to share with you.... I really do....  just sometimes blogging gets pushed to the side for a variety of reasons. It's not like I don't have the time, because I do.... I think that not blogging much last year with Mom being ill has transferred to me not blogging much this year either.  I should change that!

I created this card a while back following a Mojo Monday sketch and using some colours from a ColourQ challenge.

Items Used: *Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Grey, Bordering Blue, Cajun Craze, Bravo Burgundy
*Images: PTI Signature Greetings
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Bravo Burgundy
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities beaded circles; Stampin' Up! scallop border punch
*Embellishments: Prima flowers; Kaiser Pearls;
*Challenges:  Mojo195; ColourQ#89

*These Colours Scream Summer!*

Happy Saturday everyone... I hope you are going to be doing something you enjoy this weekend!!!  We spent this morning cleaning the house and now we have the entire weekend to relax and enjoy.  We have friends coming over to sit on the deck this evening.... sure hope it doesn't rain LOL!

I found some time this week to play with the current challenges over at MojoMonday and ColourQ.  And I'm even posting them in time for the deadlines!  Go me!

Items Used: *Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry
*Images: Stampin' Up! Occasional Quotes
*Ink:   Stampin' Up! Rich Razzleberry
*Tools: EK Success border punch; PTI flower dies
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Green Galore grosgrain ribbon
*Challenges:  Mojo200; ColourQ94


I am in love with this card.... love the layout, love the colours.... so pleased with how it turned out... and as I said in the title, these colours together just scream SUMMER to me!

*I'm So Sorry!!*

I am so sorry that I haven't been around more in the last few weeks.  I have had a lot going on in my world and in my mind and honestly, creating and blogging have been furthest from my mind.  I am working hard to get ahead on some of my Design Team challenges and will be able to create for me after a few more challenges get done.

Thankfully, I have a few minutes right now and a card that I can post!  Yay!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise
*Images: Stampin' Up! Best Yet
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Early Espresso
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder; EK Success border punch
*Embellishments: Early Espresso satin ribbon
*Challenges:   Mojo187; ColourQ#45

*Hello From Toronto*

Happy Sunday everyone!  I packed my bags and hopped on a plane yesterday and am in Toronto visiting my sister Heather.  My niece is graduating from college this coming week so I came out to see them and to attend Rachael's graduation.

After my flight landed yesterday, Heather and I went to Panera for a delicious lunch of baked potato soup in a bread bowl.  We then went off to the mall where I was on a quest to buy blush.  I got blush at her favourite store (Caryl Baker) and managed to get a mini-facial and make up application as well LOL!  We then had to hightail it to the house and change our clothes as I was Heather's date to her bowling banquet last night.  We ate a little, drank a little and danced a little.

We're not sure what our plans are for today... we're not being too ambitious yet as we're both still in our jammies!

I am having internet connection issues (it comes and goes... waiting to be able to talk to my hubby about it) so I hope to be able to get this to post....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Kraft, Cherry Cobbler
*Images: Stampin' Up! Best Yet
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Early Espresso
*Tools: Corner Chomper; Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Vanilla grosgrain
*Challenges:  Mojo194; ColourQ#88

*It's Cold Out There!*

OK, time to complain about the weather... the forecast for today, just last night on the 11pm news, was for 19* C (that's about 66*F) and afternoon thundershowers.  Instead, we woke up to grey and drizzle and at 1pm it's a whopping 7*C (45*F) outside!!!  WTF??!!!  I had to turn the furnace on as I was just too cold in the house, even with my heavy sweater on!

The good news about the weather is that I don't feel guilty spending the day in my creative space.... let's see if I manage to get creative.

I did manage to get a little creative last night... made two cards!  I'm not honestly sure I love either of them, but whatever....

This card using the current colours for the ColourQ challenge as well as the Casual Friday sketch challenge.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede
*Images: A*Muse
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Soft Suede
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities; Stampin' Up! scallop border punch
*Challenges:  ColourQ#87; CFC#5


The more I look at this card, the more I wish I had sent the one white layer (right under the sentiment) through my Big Shot with an embossing folder....  Otherwise I'm OK with this card... the mostly white with a few blasts of colour was the look I was going for.... didn't get it perfect, but I will try again!

Thanks for popping by!

*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!

*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!

*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