*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

*World Card Making Day Canadian Blog Hop*

Welcome to the next stop in the World Card Making Day Canadian Blog Hop!!!  If you got here without starting at the beginning of the hop, please head on over to Tara's Blog to see the start of the hop.....  and then, when you're done with this hop, head on over to visit Nicole as she's the start of the other ring of Canadians doing the blog hop today!

We all got together on Facebook a few weeks ago and decided it would be great to have an All Canadian Blog Hop for World Card Making Day....  and to make it more fun, we were all challenged to try to use at least one thing from a Canadian manufacturer.  I managed to find not only a stamp by a Canadian company, but all some paper!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Pattern Paper: Upsy Daisy
*Images: Stamping Bella
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics; white gel pen
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Challenges:  SSS75

Now that you're done with my blog, 

head on over to visit KIMBERLY 

as she's the next participant in the hop!

*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

*Use It Tuesday #15*

It feels like forever since we did a Use it Tuesday challenge....  there was an extra week between the 4th Tuesday of August and the 2nd Tuesday of September.  The calendar can be crazy sometimes.

Challenge #15 is to use an uninked stamp....  and I chose to use some other items from my stash as well...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Bazzill Bling
*Pattern Paper: Stamp It Australia
*Images: Inkadinkadoo Fancy That *Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics *Embellishments: unknown grosgrain ribbon; Michael's Bridal flowers; Kaiser pearls; Frosted Lace Stickles
*Challenges:  Use It Tuesday #15; SSS123


The images were both uninked....  sad since I bought the set because I loved that butterfly image!  It has sat in my stash for years! The patterned paper is a beautiful shimmer paper that I bought when I was working at the scrapbook store.... and since I can't get it anymore I am always apprehensive about using it.  I just love it!

I hope you'll be able to find some time to play along with us!  Click the picture at the top of the post to head to the Use It Tuesday blog to read the guidelines....  and be sure to take some time to check out what my fellow design team members have done with this challenge!

*The End*

Sigh... the day has come.... today is the end of summer vacation.  It's August 31st and while I know that technically summer isn't over until mid-September, I always think of September as fall.  Adding to the feeling like it's the end of summer is the fact that it is a whopping 7*C outside (and raining) right now.... and the kids go back to school in the morning.

I am so not ready for that early morning alarm clock!

I have been having a great time with my sister over the last week... lots of laughs, quite a bit of shopping, a little crafting... and a lot of just hanging out in the same room.  I can't believe she goes home tomorrow :-(

I had playing with some slightly different colours from what I usually do....  typically I look at these colours and think "masculine" but this time I paired it with flowers....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight; Coredinations
*Pattern Paper: Reminisce
*Images: Whippersnapper; AMuse
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics; Sakura glitter pen
*Tools: Stampin' Up! scallop border punch
*Embellishments: twine
*Challenges:  SSS118

*No Mojo*

I have wanted to craft every day this week.... and so far I have done nothing more than pull cardstock on to my table for a ColourQ Challenge I want to do.  Oh, and I scored my card base and folded it.

I *want* to create but I find myself finding other things to do instead... watching TV, reading, sitting outside, going shopping, surfing the net.... and now I'm blogging instead of creating with the half hour I have left before I head off to the orthodontist with Thing2.

Please send some mojo vibes that I might be able to create this afternoon...

For now, a card I created a few weeks ago following a Sweet Stop sketch....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Regal Rose, Marina Mist
*Pattern Paper: Imaginisce
*Images: Lizzie Anne Say It In Script
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! grosgrain ribbon
*Challenges:  SSS115

*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

*Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #112*

Look at me... posts three days in a row!!!  Are you excited??!!

LOL

I really hope to have posts at least 5 days a week from here on in....  it's only fair that I have something new for you to see when you come to visit!

I love the bright colours in this card... makes me think of popsicles!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; black linen
*Pattern Paper: unknown
*Images: Hampton Art
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black; Copic
*Embellishments: Michael's Bridal Flower (coloured with Copics); unknown button
*Challenges:  SSS112


I am so glad that I found the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenges thanks to my good friend Merlie....  they are a great way for me to use up some of the patterned papers in my stash!

*Christmas in July*

Hi!  Just a quickie post from me today because honestly, I've got nothing to chit chat about....  sad?  probably not.  I know I talk a lot LOL

I had fun creating a Christmas card in July for the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge With a Twist... not only did I have to follow the sketch, but I had to make it a Christmas card....  I love making Christmas cards!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip
*Pattern Paper: unknown
*Images: Kaiser Craft
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Real Red
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Real Red grosgrain ribbon
*Challenges:  SSS117


It's a very clean and simple card despite the busy-ness of the patterned paper.

Thanks for coming to visit!

*Blogger In Draft*

I am using the new fandangled Blogger so please excuse how it might look.  The Blogger powers that be have rolled out the new Blogger interface in "draft" for about half of their users... if you're wondering if you've been included, go to draft.blogger.com  If you've been changed over, you'll see something completely different.

I have no idea if I like it yet or not... my settings claim that my signature is still set to post with this, but unlike the other version of Blogger, I can't see it.

I might have to do a little figuring to get things right.

I created this card on the weekend using the sketch from the Sweet Sunday blog and the challenge at Less Is More to use a monochromatic colour palette.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin' Up! Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette
*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up!
*Images:  PSX
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Regal Rose
*Tools:  Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities; EK Success border punch
*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! grosgrain ribbon;PTI button; Michael's Bridal flower
*Challenges:  SSS111; LIM#18

*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

*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!

*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!

*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