A BIRTHDAY POEM FOR HANNELIE

I know a sweet lady

that lives far away,

She's celebrating her birthday

in the desert today!

Her cards are amazing,

with sentiments she shares

It's obvious as ever

She's a person who cares!

Her smile is sweet

Her eyes twinkle with glee

I'm sure you know now

that I speak of Hannelie

So head on over

to her blog right away

And wish her a happy birthday

on this special day!

Wishing you the happiest birthday ever dear friend!

...just sharing a few pics

The basket in the foreground is a hanging strawberry plant (obviously not hanging!!!) that has surprisingly produced several yummy strawberries!

We babysat our granddog Ruuk last weekend (our grand children all have fur...two meow and this one barks).  Ya think he wasn't itching to take a dip in the pool and catch a koi or two?

Have a quick peek at the lovely impatiens in the background, nicely nestled in the crevices, cascading beautifully over the rocks....until Ruuk decided to take a wander over yonder!  They are mere sticks now.  No...the lawn chair wasn't enough to block his path (what was I thinking???) However, sometimes a good pinch-back produces more blooms...except we will likely have snow before that happens!

We are having a wonderful visit with our daughter!  It is so nice to have her home.  She is off visiting a friend right now, so I have taken a few minutes to sneak to my blog and finally post something.

Who knows....next time it might actually be a card!!!

Wedding Wishes

Seems like just yesterday when I was busy making the wedding invitations for my nephew's wedding and swoooosh....here we are getting ready to head off to the celebration tomorrow.

This is the wedding card that I made for Graham & Pam.  I used the same colors as the invitations so once again experienced the ummmm....joy...of trying to photograph the pretty fuchsia pink without making it look like some ca-razy fluorescent color!  Honestly, it is really pretty IRL!  The layers are  popped up with dimensionals and give some nice depth to the card.

I'm armed with a large package of blister pads (ouch - darn new shoes with 47" heels) and I'm ready for a fun weekend!

Supplies:  SU layered heart dies, Studio G stamp, SU rhinestones (on the bird wings), Glossy Accents (small heart); SU sentiment & dimensionals

JUST A CARD.....

A quick post to share a clean and graphic card that I made during a rainy Sunday evening.  Sure felt good to be back in the crafting zone!

Simple details - PS Hexalongs diecut in SU black, White and Pacific Point - although the color almost looks 'purply blue'. An old Studio G dollar stamp, masked to split the sentiment and "ta da" done!  I followed a sketch for this card - love the left justification of the design as it leaves a whole lot of lovely white space!

We are off to Clear Lake this afternoon to celebrate my sister's birthday...shhh, don't tell her I told you but she is 56 today!  Clear Lake is a beautiful summer resort within the national park that is literally minutes away from Dauphin.  The town of Clear Lake is about 30 miles into the park which makes for a beautiful 45 minute scenic drive complete with moose, deer, elk, wolves, coyotes and various other critters out for an afternoon stroll. I have a few salads to whip up this afternoon, then we're off!

Happy crafting everyone :)

CAS-ology - NEON

Well folks, I'm finally back in my craft room!  Yes, I have been missing my creative time, but playing in the yard in our all too short summer, has been just as much fun!  I do think that I am now winning the battle with the weeds!  Unfortunately, the mosquitoes have been carrying the championship cup around on their shoulders for the past couple weeks.  The whole team....at least a kazillion per square meter of grass!

So how difficult is it to capture a neon color accurately with a camera?  VERY difficult!

The color is so much prettier and softer IRL.  The card stock is actually a vibrant Neon Pink unlike the neon fuchsia that the camera seems to think it is.  Taking the pics outside didn't help either.

The sentiment is Paper Smooches and seems to work perfectly with the bird image (dollar store find).  I "doodled" in some music notes ('doodling' inspired by the ever so talented Anita from My Papercraft World) and added black rhinestones for a bit of dimension and bling. Although it would appear that Mr. Bird is sleeping, he is merely mid-blink, contemplating which notes to sign next! He is also sporting some bling on his tail - great way to impress the girls!

Off to play in the yard and fight the mosquitoes!

Happy crafting!

2013 GALLERY IDOL - ROUND THREE

A sincere Thank You to everyone who voted for my card in Round Two of the 2013 Gallery!  I am over-the-moon excited to have this opportunity to progress to Round Three! WOW ?!

The cupcake images were stamped directly on the card panel, which created my background.  I stamped the same image on various DT papers, fussy cut and paper pieced each onto the card base, which created an added layer.

The sweet wee cupcake and sentiment are Paper Smooches. Papers are various bits & pieces from my scrap bin. I absolutely love the "fun" that polka dots and gingham create!

Click here to check out the amazing creations of the other Top 15 contenders. If you would like to support my card in this round, simply click the "Vote For Me" widget in my side bar.

Happy crafting!

THANK YOU and 2013 GALLERY IDOL ROUND THREE

Well folks, first thing on the agenda today is an apology for not getting here sooner to pass on a huge THANK YOU  to all of you who supported my Round Two card.  From the bottom of my heart, to the tips of my still shaking fingers, a heartfelt thanks! Your support has me headed to the next round....quite surreal actually!

Voting for Round Three will commence this Monday, June 10th at noon.  I will have a link in my post that will take you to the voting chamber, if you're so inclined to do so.  If not, then I am happy as happy can get just to have you stop by for a quick visit!

Ta ta till Monday :)

PAPER CRAFTS 2013 GALLERY IDOL - ROUND TWO

... never in a million years would I have imagined that I would be typing a Round Two post for the 2013 Paper Crafts Gallery Idol  I'm nervous, excited, anxious, but mostly humbled to be a midst this group of talented and creative crafters!

"Defining Dad" took me in several different directions, but the memories of the love and support that my dad provided, won out over all. Simply put, he was the anchor in my life. Almost scares me to think what might have been without his gentle guidance and encouragement! 

Nautical is such a cool trend right now. I love the ocean blue/green (yes in real life the color is aqua rather than light blue!) with the pop of red & navy.  The anchor is a free clip art image that I fussy cut (three layers), wrapped with a bit of baker's twine and embellished with a simple red heart and popped up with foam dimensionals. Unfortunately, the photo does not capture the lovely dimension either. The sentiment is computer generated.

To see the other amazing creations (and I mean A-Mazing!) just click on the link above.  Follow the links to vote for your favorite entry.

A big thank you to all my blogging buddies for your encouragement, well wishes, sincere support and enthusiasm that you have shared with me :)

Supplies:  SU - Night of Navy and Real Red; CTMH White; Aqua paper - my scrap bin ?

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!