*AAACards #218*

It's time for a new clean and simple challenge at AAA Cards!  We have a sketch for you this week with the added optional twist of flowers.  Of course I did both (because I love florals!)  Share your card with us HERE for a chance to be chosen as a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

I always struggle with the placement of things like the sketch shows so I wanted to do something different.  Instead of making those circles my flowers, I decided to use the idea of circles to colour my floral image.  It's not exactly like the sketch but I think you can see the sketch in m creation.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Color Copy

*Images:  Tonic Botanical Burst; Winnie & Walter Bigger Bang Confetti; MFT Color Drops; Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler It's a Girl, Melon Ice, Sixteen Candles, Oh Boy

*Challenges:  AAACards #218

*Happy Thoughts*

How is it possible that we are a week in to the month of May already?  Not that I'm complaining that it's spring and that the warm weather is here and only getting better... but man!  Time sure does fly!

There is a new challenge blog that just started up in the last few days... a monthly Birthday Card challenge blog.  This is my entry for their first challenge.... check them out at AAA Birthday Card Challenges!

I don't know what it is about a striped black and white border on a card, but I sure do love it!  I created this card using paper from My Favorite Things, ink from Catherine Pooler and stamps from Lawn Fawn and Winnie and Walter.

*Simple Flowers*

I don't know what's up with my iPhone lately... my photos just aren't crisp and clear...   I'll have to play around with it... so very disappointed in my photos.

I used a Winnie and Walter flower in Catherine Pooler inks, lined up with my MISTI and then the words from a Catherine Pooler set.

*Happy Birthday Beyotch*

When I saw the Saucy Sentiments set from Cathy Zielske, I knew I had to have it...  They sayings are all a little "off the cuff" and totally me! LOL!

I cut a circle using two sizes of Nestabilities, added a bunch of those flowers I stamped out with the other card (stamps by Winnie and Walter, cut with the Brother Scan and Cut) and added the sentiment.

*More Time To Stamp*

Life threw me a big curve ball back in May...  after a colonoscopy that I really thought I didn't need, I found out I had a tumour in my colon.  On June 23rd I had surgery to remove about half of my colon.  Thankfully between the surgery and a CT scan, we know that the tumour did not spread past the colon (no other organs were affected and all 43 lymph nodes that were taken during surgery came back as clear).  However, the tumour was quite large (for those that get cancer diagnosis, I am Stage II T4 M0 N0).  I see the oncologist on July 25th to determine if I need chemo or not...

But, because of the surgery, I have had a lot of time on my hands... the surgeon wanted me off work for at least 4 weeks.  I'm just finished week 3 since my surgery and I'm feeling pretty good... so I've found a little time in the last week or 10 days to create.  I've made more cards so far in 2017 than I did in all of 2016 (other than Christmas cards).

This card uses a stamp set from Winnie and Walter, a sentiment from Impress and a bunch of Catherine Pooler inks.  So fun and summery!

*Splendiferous Day!*

It feels so great to be creating a little bit this year... it's nothing compared to what I used to do before I went back to work, but it's nice to have a few recent cards on hand that I can send out!  Some days it's tough to get a card out, but at least I'm trying!

I used a great piece of really old patterned paper that I had in my stash... I'm pretty sure it is from my days working at the scrapbook store (and that was like 7 years ago!).  I paired it with my new Catherine Pooler ink (in Aquatini) and stamps (and dies) by AMuse and Winnine & Walter.  I used my ScorPal to create the embossed lines along the top and bottom of the patterned piece and a brown Pebble in the centre of the flower.