*Time Out #289*

We have a winged things challenge at Time Out Challenges... I can't wait to see your favourite winged things!

I had a few things I could choose from... and I almost went with something different... but I landed on this design with those gorgeous Pinkfresh washi tape butterflies.  Butterflies are special to me as I believe that when one comes near me, it is my Mom (who passed away in 2010) saying "hello".

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; Ellen Hutson Essential Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #289; The Paper Players #738

*Time Out Challenges #284*

The challenge at Time Out Challenges is a theme challenge...  our theme is "The Red Carpet".  I have officially become "old" and I don't pay much attention to celebrities and award shows any more.  I honestly don't have a clue who so many of "these people" are LOL!  I was going to sit out this challenge, but kept getting drawn to the pretty rainbow dress in the challenge graphic.  NOTE:  You don't have to follow the graphic... just show us something that was inspired by something you saw on the Red Carpet!

Like I said, I kept coming back to the pretty rainbow dress... so I used it as inspiration for this clean and simple card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Highland Heather, Basic Black

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges: Time Out #284; The Paper Players #728

*My Favourite Hop - Christmas Movie*

I'm back with another card with the My Favourite Instagram Hop.... this week we are sharing our favourite Christmas movie!

Once again, I took a little creative license with my card.  I am one of those people who loves watching Hallmark Christmas movies.  I love that they always have a happy ending.  I like that they are simple in their storyline because it makes them perfect to watch while I am crafting.

Now, how does my card represent Hallmark Christmas movies?  Well, to start I used a shiny gold cardstock for the word die cut, emulating the gold Hallmark logo.  The sentiment refers to their always being a nod towards "Christmas magic" in these movies.  And finally, if you've ever played Hallmark Christmas Movie Bingo, then you know that an ugly Christmas sweater shows up in almost every single movie.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Spellbinders gold foil

*Paper:  Photoplay Tulla & Norbert's Christmas Party

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Believe

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Believe

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  The Paper Players #716

*CAS Colours & Sketches #539*

 We have a new sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches...

I chose to do a mini slimline card as I prefer the size... but you could go with a full slimline as well.  They are both so much fun to play with!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Spellbinders gold foil

*Paper:  Cocoa Vanilla Sunkissed

*Images:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Paper Rose Studio Little Etched Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #539; The Paper Players #694

*Paper Players #682*

I'm playing along with the current sketch over at The Paper Players...  I had a lot of ideas in my head for the sketch but decided to play with this idea in the end.  I have a friend who needs a big hug these days, so this will be in the mail right away.

To create my window panels, I started with a square piece of white cardstock and I stamped and coloured my peony on it.  I then cut that square in to quarters and used my Perfect Layers Tool to make a 1/16" mat on each of the small squares.  To help me get it all lined up, I put those panels on to white cardstock and cut each of them again with the Perfect Layers Tool.  I was then able to place the square evenly by just butting them up to each other.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Tonic Studios Peony Bloom; MFT Something for Everyone

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  MFT Something for Everyone

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  WOW clear embossing powder

*Challenges:  Paper Players #682

*Paper Players Sketch Challenge #674

I loved the sketch at The Paper Players this week and knew I wanted to play along.  I got this new sentiment stamp set from My Favorite Things that finished this card off perfectly (after a little surgery after die cutting it!)

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Over the Rainbow

*Images:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Oliver's Stitched ABCs; MFT Something for Everything

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Paper Players #674

*Double Challenge*

 I have a second card to share with you today, playing along with the current challenges at both the Paper Craft Crew and Paper Players.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Paper:  Brutus Monroe Candy Stripe

*Images:  Lawn Fawn Winter Big Scripty Words

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Winter Big Scripty Words

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Paper Craft Crew #544; Paper Players #667

*Paper Players #666*

I had so many ideas in my head for the current colour challenge at The Paper Players...  but nothing was turning out the way I wanted it to.  I finally settled on this card, but it took HOURS for it to come together!  Well not hours in row...  I'd do a bit, play with it and put it aside while I worked on something else... picked it up again and played some more, put it aside...  I did this several times before I got the paper strips the right width, the sentiment right, the shape right....  and in the end I'm happy with it!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Real Red, Shaded Spruce, Basic Black; unknown gold glitter

*Images:  PaperTrey Ink Signaure Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embossing:  Gina K Holiday Flora folder

*Punch:  Stampin' Up!

*Dies:  MFT Holly Berries

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Paper Players #666

*Butterfly Encouragement*

It has been a stressful few days.  Last Tuesday I managed to spill my drink at my desk and it got all over my laptop.  We thought things were OK, until Wednesday morning when I came down to do a blog post before heading to work.  My MacBook said it needed to be reinstalled.  I shut it down and my husband took it to the Apple Store on Wednesday evening.  They took it apart and yup, there was still liquid inside the computer.  They suggested we leave it open and let it dry out for a few days.

And of course, my Apple Care has expired...

So Saturday we made sure there was no more liquid and we put the computer back together... and while it booted up and everything seemed OK, we realized it wasn't charging.  I powered it off and we went to have dinner.  I was feeling absolutely ILL at the thought of getting the computer fixed or replaced.  After dinner, suddenly my laptop was charging!  Sunday morning I came down to a fully charged laptop and I was hopeful that all was good with the world.  I watched some Netflix while creating, surfed Facebook for a while.... and then realized it wasn't charging again.  Noooooooo

I powered off the laptop, tried plugging it in to different outlets, brought it all back to my desk and plugged it in again and it's charging!  I don't know if this thing is going to survive or not... but I sure hope so!!!

Anyway.  I had some time to do a little creating yesterday so I decided to play with some challenges.  This one came together with some bits from my bin of extras along with a foiled sentiment.  So quick and easy!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders gold foil

*Images:  Pink Fresh Studio Small Butterflies

*Ink:  Versfine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Tranquil, Stone Blue, Cove Blue

*Dies:  Pink Fresh Studio Small Butterflies; Waffle Flower Circles

*Etc:  Pink Fresh Studio Foiled Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Paper Players #654; CAS on Friday #264

*Paper Players #614*

 I found a new to me challenge today and decided to play along.  The challenge is a sketch challenge with Paper Players.    I am so happy that it's Christmas Card Season again... they are truly my favourite reason to create!

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Night of Navy; silver sparkle; silver mirror from Michaels

*Images:  Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Magic of Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Small Snowflake Set; Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflake Backdrop

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Paper Players #614, BYSH Cardmakers Linky Party