Happy Birthday Ardyth

A belated happy birthday wish 

for my dear, dear friend Ardyth!

Yes, I knew about this for weeks and yes I am a horrible procrastinator and at this point, likely not such a great friend to miss the actual birthday celebration!  Sorry Ardyth !

My mind was a whirling blur!  How could I possibly select a favorite Ardythian Style card to CASE?  Impossible! I could never nail it down to just one card...more like 100 favorites because each and every card is so amazing!  I often sit at my computer screen, mouth agape, drooling over her never ending creativity and flawless execution of her designs.

I seriously admire her spunk and energy! She is on a million design teams, always takes time to leave kind and encouraging words for everyone, volunteers in her community, church, and school, and crafts in her 'spare time'.... I think I broke out in a sweat just typing all this!!!

I really wanted the highlight of my card to be the stamping.  We all know that Ardyth is THE Stamping Queen so this was my way of trying to show her just how special she is by attempting to pull off a perfectly stamped card....12 almost finished card fronts are in the garbage.  This happened to be attempt #13.  

Ya think I have even more respect for Ardyth's stamping ability now? Yep!!!

I'm sure that most of you know that this fun party idea was organized by party planner extraordinaire Darnell from djkardcreations. Yowzers - she is one amazingly talented, funny and witty lady who sure knows how to throw a great party!!!

Once again, so sorry for being late with my birthday wishes. I hope you had a great day and that you like the card made especially for you by my hands, from my heart :)

Paper Smooches Anything Goes, Play Date Cafe Color Splash & Unscripted Sketches #209

Happy Friday everyone! It's color splash time at the Play Date Cafe - I'm sure you've guessed that magenta is the splash color! Over at Paper Smooches anything goes and another fun sketch at Unscripted Sketches. So off you go now and get all craftied up!

I'm all over my new PS stamps and have reached for them constantly since they arrived.  Today was no different. I stamped a collage of some b-day sentiments, to create this fun card. You can easily switch up the color of the mat and candles for a masculine card.

Card details:  PS Sentiment Sampler, CTMH and SU cardstock

Happy crafting!

Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes; Fusion Hypothesis #4 and CASology Week #42

2:00am was just a bit too late to write up the full post, so I'm back now with all the details.

This is my first time playing along with the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge. I have to tell you folks, that their stamps are #1 in my book. A perfectly stamped, clear image every time.  Here's the link if you want to take part in the challenge:  Paper Smooches Sparks - Anything Goes Challenge. If you feel the urge to shop, then follow the links to the store. You are going to LOVE their products.  I guarantee it!

Once you're done at PS, head on over to the following two challenges and check out all the amazing projects posted  at CASology #42 - Care and Fusion Hypothesis #4. Some yummy eye candy to be enjoyed :)

The chevron circle was created with the narrow Die-namics chevron die, paper pieced together. Hearts are Memory Box (3 thicknesses for dimension);  Sentiment is Paper Smooches, card base is Soft Suede (SU).

Happy Crafting!

"April Showers Bring..."

... May flowers!    Hmmmmm.....I'm thinking NOT!

A bit of trivia for you:

In 1557 a gentleman by the name of Thomas Tusser compiled a collection of writings he called A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry. In the April Husbandry section he wrote:

Sweet April showers

Do spring May flowers

CAS-ual Fridays 99; colourQ Challenge 186 and Unscripted Sketches 208

 

... wishing Michelle a very happy birthday!

I used Kraft colored embroidery floss to create the lines on the card. The images and sentiment were stamped with Momento Rose Bud, Pear Tart, Tangelo and Desert Sand dye inks. The fun sentiment is from Paper Smooches.

Here are the links to play along with these three fabulous challenges: CAS-ual Fridays #99,  colourQ #186 and Unscripted Sketches #208.

CAS(E) this Sketch #24

CAS(E) this Sketch #24

The amazingly talented N@ Ali has really opened some graphic doors for us with this sketch!  The DT creations and the gallery is absolutely bursting  with talent! No shortage of inspiration at this blog!

These colors may look familiar to those of you  playing along with this weeks ColorQ challenge. Unfortunately, Mr. Linkey closed his doors while I was uploading my picture!  My fault, not his :)

Paper - all SU except CTMH White card stock; SU bigz die; Recollections alphabet (u)

CASology Week 40, Runway Inspired Challenge #34 and Addicted to CAS #11

Don't you just love the fabulous pop of red lipstick? One wee splash of color made this stunning creation go from Wow  to WOW with the stroke of a lip brush! She's also sporting some pretty fine looking shoes too!

I love the simple elegance of black & white. When I saw this challenge at Runway Inspired Challenge, I could not pass it bye! I'm also entering this week's Casology challenge, where the cue word is Word and also challenge #11 at Addicted to CAS where the code word is Flower.

Simple details:  Image is a $1 stamp that I found in a wee craft store somewhere in Tulsa, OK about five years ago (Autumn Leaves). The sentiment is from an Inkadinkado set. The paper (of which I am hoarding) is X-press It Blending Card Stock with Stazon Solvent Jet Black ink.

Edited - Unscripted sketches #207 & Paper Pieced Madness

Edited Post

Same post as yesterday, but with a bit of a remake! I just didn't like the bland look of the previous version, so I changed things up with some polka dot paper! Definitely brighter but still fitting for a 10 lb. 9 oz newborn lad !!!

What was I thinking....

I embarked on what was suppose to be a 'quick' paper piecing project last night. One teenie wee piece led to another and 3 1/2 hours later I  had the animals done.  The Arc was a bit easier, except for the crazy small circles!  I'm sure that I broke my eyes, but it was fun!

I struggled a bit with the sketch elements around the image panel, but nothing seemed to work.  I settled on a simple zig zag embossing folder (SU) and actually liked it!  That doesn't happen often.

Hope you can find time to play along with us this week at Unscripted Sketches. We would love to see your creations :)

Card details: Every bit of paper, with the exception of the white card base, was fished out of my scrap piles; SU embossing folder and stamps, Lil' Inkers Stitched Banner die

Happy crafting!

CAS(E) this Sketch #23 and Fusion - Hypothesis #2

My apologies for the late update but yesterday at lunch time, I went downstairs to put in a load of laundry and was greeted by a bit of a lake...the hot water heater decided that after 10 years it was done! Needless to say, we were mopping and slopping for the rest of the day. 

On to some fun stuff, I am in love with the Paper Smooches Hexalongs!  I taped the smallest one into the next size to cut out the above shapes, punched a circle, added the rub-on and done!  The hardest part of this card was deciding where to put the sentiment? 

"The day after what was I thinking" occurred and I realized that the hexalongs should have been slanted down to work with the sentiment.  If you're 'over the hill' you have already been to the top and are slowly tumbling down!!! Oh well :D

Check out the lovlies that the two amazing DT's have created at (CAS)E This Sketch and at the fun new challenge blog Fusion where you can choose one of two options or both options when making your card!

Happy crafting!

Paper Smooches Wise Dies - Hexalong; CTMH white card stock, scraps of green & grey

Unscripted Sketches #206 - It's Our 4th Blogiversary

Unscripted Sketches is 4 years young and we're having a party!  There might just be some sweet surprises waiting for you over at the blog.

The flower and leaf dies are MFT ( three layers for the flowers), sentiment is SU.  There is a scored line above and below the skinny little green strip of paper but dang it all, it doesn't show up in the photo!

We would love to have you join us for the celebration!

Happy crafting!

CASology 39 - Guest Designer - Travel

Needless to say, I was beyond thrilled, honored...and nervous, when the oh-so-sweet and very-talented Melissa asked me if I would like to be a guest designer for this challenge.  It took me all of 2 seconds to say yes, and several days to come up with a card!  A 'few' re-makes later, along with 'the odd addition' to the recycle bin, this is the card I settled on.

My inspiration came from a photo that I saw when I googled 'travel'.  I really like the movement that the angle of the railing seems to create. Similar to an ocean liner moving off into the big blue sea, carrying the passengers to a beautiful tropical island where they don't have any SNOW!  A touchy subject around here these days!

I know that the amazing DT at CASology will have some worldly type creations that will have us heading straight to our craft rooms!. Hope you find time to play along :)

Happy crafting!

Supplies:  CTMH white cardstock; SU Real Red and scrap pile blue

CASology Week 38: UP

I know...I should be working on the wedding invitations...but just one more....for today :)

Another very challenging cue card at CASology this week.  There were so many clever ideas and ways to put "UP" to paper.

I found this quote a while back (when one of my co-workers was planning to give up coffee (it never happened!).  I saved it on my computer and stumbled upon it today,  Notice the word "up" in the quote.

I traced the clip art image and colored it with a black Copic multiliner (the black really is so much more vibrant in real life) The quote is computer generated.

Happy crafting!

CAS(E) this Sketch #22 and Unscripted Sketches #205

My plans of doing nothing but the 110 wedding invitations got put on the back burner for a bit when I saw this fun sketch by my dear blogging friend Karolyn along with the sweet Chevron sketch from SarahKaye....I just had to play along :)

Scoot on over to CAS(E) this Sketch as well as the Unscripted Sketches blog and check out all the beautiful creations.

Card details: Washi tape chevron stripes, Paper Smooches gift and sentiment stamps; Lil' Inkers small bow die, scraps of CTMH paper

....back I go to the invitation assembly line :)

CASology #37 - HOPE and Unscripted Sketches #204

A challenging CASology Cue Card and a challenging sketch from Unscriped Sketches!  Both of these triggers definitely lived up to their "Challenge"  title!  Lots of fun and lots of paper in the recycle bin!

Probably the most challenging part was getting a clear photograph that would show the Liquid Pearl dots (yes, there are several) and getting the pink to look like pink rather than a faded pink t-shirt that has been hanging out on the line for an entire summer!

The swirls are none other than the fabulous Paper Smooches (Reflections).  Have I told you how nice their stamps stamp?  At least 100 times, right?.  I was also thrilled that I actually had found a "Hope" stamp (Inkadinkado) in my collection. Don't delay because the Cue Card challenge ends shorthly!  

Card details are pretty simple...CTMH cardstock and Momento Angel Pink

Happy crafting!

MUSE Challenge #10 and CAS-ual Fridays CFC95

This week's Guest Designer and MUSE is the amazingly talented Ardyth Percy-Robb, a fellow Canadian, a dear friend, a dedicated blogger and one of the most helpful, inspirational and motivational crafters that I know!  Ardyth's stamping technique is always flawless and perfectly executed, hence the "Stamping Queen" title that I bestowed upon her shortly after I was wowed by her talent! 

This is the card that Ardyth created.to inspire us...see, I told you she is the Stamping Queen!

I designed my card so that it also qualified for this week's CAS-ual Fridays Challenge, CFC95 - No Stamps!  If you want more inspiration and amazing ideas, just scoot on over and feast your eyes on the "stampless" creations of the CAS-ual Fridays awesome DT team!

Various circle punches and nesties were used to punch the circles.  The colored panels were popped up from behind on two layers of the teenie wee foam dots (difficult to capture the depth in the photo!).  The sentiment is a rub-on from my century old bin of 'stuff'.  The paper has a lovely texture to it as well....which was a bit of a concern when applying the rub-on, but all went well :)

Happy crafting!

ATCAS #9 and Unscripted Sketch #203

Edited 2013-03-26
After a lovely visit with our daughter in Calgary, I am back home and ready to craft! Of course, my first task today was to visit all my crafty friends to see what they had created while I was away.

I came upon so many delightfully 'spring' cards submitted to the current Addicted to Clean and Simple challenge.  Blades of green grass, sweet bunnies and blooming flowers really have me wishing our snow away!

Yes, I know that this is posted early but I am out the door in about 5 minutes and won't have access to a computer for a few days, so here it is....two days early.

Fun sketch this week at Unscripted Sketches. Hope you find time to play along.

Are these Paper Smooches stamps not the absolute best?  Seriously, I have never had a stamp leave such a beautiful crisp, clear impression.  Absolutely the best in my books.  You will be seeing lots more from these puppies in the future.

Gotta run!  Happy crafting!

Darnell just posted a fabulous picture of her back yard playhouse and some Spring pretties. Notice the blooming flowers and the tree with green leaves.  Scroll down ...

Well, this is a picture I just snapped of our back yard!  Notice the nine million feet of snow and the lovely bare trees! Ah yes....that is the handle of the shovel in the bottom right hand corner!

Can anyone hear me whimpering?

CAS-ual Fridays CFC94 and Less is More 111

I used the fun sketch that the amazingly talented, kind, generous and lover of Bingo, Karolyn Loncon cooked up for this week's CAS(E) ,,, however I missed the deadline!

Kelly Griglione was kind enough to direct me to the Frame It! challenge at Less is More which also coordinates with this weeks fun challenge at CAS-ual Fridays as well.

The 'chipboard' stars were created from  two layers of craft-a-board and one layer of a recycled hot coffee cup holder that was run through my crimper.  I love the rich chestnut brown color and fabulous texture. Added some SU linen thread and popped the stars up with dimensionals.  I used some glorious water color paper for the card fronts (more sweet texture!)

Excitement galore at our house as the nice mailman delivered my very first Paper Smooches stamps and dies (thanks Kim and Karolyn). Of course I had to get at least one image inked up (the above sentiment)! I am so impressed with the quality of the photo polymer.stamps and how well they stamp! And, the customer service is second to none! I just might have to call in sick tomorrow from work so that I can test drive the remainder of my order!

Happy crafting!

CASology Week 35 - Extraterrestrial

Why the "Congrats" sentiment you ask?  Our nephew just got his Driver's Licence (Yikes) so this card is for him.  This wee space guy actually reminds me of him - they both have that sweet impish grin :)

If you didn't have an absolute blast with this challenge, then please raise your hands. Yep - just as I expected...no hands!  The gals at CASology are 'out of this world' amazing with their creativity and ingenuity! 

You really do have to zip on over to CASology and check out the clever and creative interpretations of this week's cue card.

I found this little guy in the free coloring pages.  Printed him on several different colors, fussy cut and paper pieced him back together. The 'space buggy/flying saucer' is actually a metallic paper that looks really cool IRL.  The wee bit of exhaust is drawn in with a pencil...not that space vehicles would have exhaust but it created some nice movement.

"Spread the Love" and Unscripted Sketch #202

The inside verse reads:

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy -

they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

- Marcel Proust

Unscripted Sketch #203

This was "Version One"

Yes, another re-do!  I wasn't happy with Version One above, which reminds me of  a pack of  cinnamon gum! I prefer the white background as it seems to support the pretty design elements, rather than compete with them. The images were stamped on various colors of card stock, fussy cut and reassembled.

I'm sure most of you know the amazingly talented Amber Kemp-Gerstel (Damask Love).  Amber had  started a Spread the Love campaign where she encouraged us to create something, divulge a blog crush, and play along with some really awesome color schemes!  (Yes, I know that I missed the deadline...but hey, better late than never!)

The talented, fun, newly retired and oh-so-sweet  Bev from Happy Dance , who has become a good friend and trusted pen pal, chose me as her blog crush.  Bev exudes kindness, sincerity, compassion, love and loyalty to her faith, family and friends.  I am thrilled to be Spreading the Love back to her!  This is the beautiful card that Bev made for me:

Don't you just love these colors and the flawless execution of this design?  Wowzers!

Card details:
Sizzix Flowers & Vase die/stamp set
SU paper, rub-on