Card Concept #6 - Create a Birthday Card

Yes...you're pretty much seeing double here.....if you're comparing my BIL's Winnipeg Jets themed card with this card!

The previous card was actually the ''copy-cat" as this card was completed first but couldn't be published until the this challenge went live!

Isn't this the coolest cake ever? And how about those yummy colors? Yep, fabulous. This cake has a little bit of everything going on - moss, mushrooms, wood grain, lace, pretty flowers...quite the mix that is sure to inspire some interesting creations!

My card was quick and easy peasy! A few strips cut from colors inspired by the flowers on the cake, some scored lines for definition and a Silhouette sentiment. I popped up the design panel using 3D foam dots.

And YAY...we had another huge turnout for the last challenge...it is SOOO exciting! I've met so many nice people in my travels through blog land and look forward to stopping by for another visit! Thank you all so much for embracing our challenge so enthusiastically!

Here's the link to the next CCC challenge. Hope to see you there :)

I'm also linking my card up to this week's challenge at Seize the Birthday challenge which offers an option of adding stitching to your card. There are tons of cards in  the gallery...why not join in the fun?

Happy crafting!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY ANITA

Our dear friend Anita

 who lives far away,

Had a birthday sneak by us

One month ago today!

Bev called us together,

she plotted and planned,

on how to surprise her

without showing our hand!

The plans were discussed

Now what shall we do?

To make things all better

And have some fun too!

Let's have a party

Darnell shouted out!

One month later?

 A surprise...no doubt!

So put on your party hat

no matter the date,

And shout HAPPY BIRTHDAY

... hey, we're only one month late!

 VERY HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES ANITA!

I hope that your 'real birthday' was fun as fun can be and that you took time out just for yourself...as in no "maison" work.  Cyber hugs to you...for now!

The party is over at Darnell's blog so, skip on over and join in the linky fun! Many thanks to Darnell and Bev, party planners extraordinaire!

Card deets:  PTI - All About You (likely one of their original stamp sets!); Memento Teal Zeal ink

Hello Carol!

After what seemed like weeks and weeks and weeks of waiting...the day finally arrived!

I got to meet Carol from Just Me C !

With our dear daughter Brady in tow (actually I was the 'in tow' as Brady did the driving) we left Calgary and headed out to Canmore, a beautiful ski resort town in the Rocky Mountains, about 1 hour away from Calgary.  Our itinerary - a cup of coffee, a little bite of a treat and the best part...to meet Carol!

What a thrill!

We arrived at the restaurant a bit early, but minutes later Carol walked in and came right over to our table.  Huge hugs all around...followed by conversation similar to what two longtime friends would engage in!  We talked about biking, and work, and crafts, and shopping, and cooking, and weddings, and travel....

Carol is a absolute gem!!! The first thing I noticed were her eyes! Beautiful 'smiling' brown eyes full of warmth and kindness. She is funny, entertaining and beyond sweet....just like her posts! Honestly, I could have sat there for the entire day! We still had so many topics to cover....but Brady and I had to get back to Calgary for a dinner date with Brady's boyfriend Jeremy!

Here we are in  the restaurant, enjoying some yummy goodies and each other's company! The picture says it all - we were thrilled to have had this opportunity to meet!  The best thing is that Carol lives only one hour away from Brady so I know that there will be more visits in the future...as early as this summer!  Like Carol would say...YAY times a million!

Doesn't Carol look amazing! See what I mean about her 'smiling' eyes! And although Carol likely won't agree with me - I love her hair!  Me...well I've decided that I need a haircut and that a horizontal striped shirt does not work well in a photo!  But you know what? That part doesn't matter. The real life friendship is what it is all about!

My apologies Carol for the tardiness of my post. We have been "computerless" for the past week while our new rig was getting all readied for action!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

.... not a challenge....not a DT project...just a card to wish my BIL a happy birthday!  He is an avid Winnipeg Jets hockey fan, as are his children and my sister!  The Winnipeg Jets are an NHL hockey team that plays out of Winnipeg, Manitoba (about 4 hours from Dauphin).

A quick & simple project made by criss crossing a few 1/4" strips of card stock. The silver represents the jet on the Winnipeg Jets hockey jersey. It is hard to see in the photo, but I scored lines on either side of the paper strips, stamped a dollar store stamp greeting and done!

I'm off bright & early tomorrow morning for a visit with our daughter in Calgary! AND if that isn't exciting enough...I also get to meet Carol from Just Me C in real life!  We are meeting for a coffee on Saturday! I will share a pic or two when I get back!

Happy crafting!

the Card Concept - Challenge #5 - Use Colors: Lime, Espresso & White

Welcome back!

I know that I've said it before....but WOW....the display of talent each week is unbelievable, as is the support for our new challenge! Thanks for sharing your creativity with us :)

This week's challenge is an awesome color combo! I love deep, rich browns, especially when paired with lime green!

My card was inspired by the colors in the photo and the graphic pattern created by the sticks of the yummy cake pops....all so perfectly lined up....

....well, almost perfectly lined up!  The OCD in me would really like to reach into the photo and straighten those that are a bit askew!  

I tweaked a Silhouette cut file to create my pattern. The pattern was repeatedly cut  in white, green and brown and then paper pieced to create the design.

The sky is the limit with a color challenge! I can hardly wait to see what you create!

This photo has made me hungry....so I'm off to raid the deep freezer because I know that there is a tray of homemade brownies left over from Christmas.  Can't figure out why they never made it to the Christmas desert buffet table ???? 

I'm thinking that one of the cats likely hid them there!

Happy crafting!

Card Details:  AC colored CS; CTMH white CS; Silhouette cut file - Chevron Border

the Card Concept - Challenge #4 - Use a Floral Theme

Welcome to Challenge #4 at the card Concept Challenge!

First and foremost, a HUGE THANK YOU for your support of this new challenge! We had 140 amazing entries for Challenge #3! Do you know how tough it was to select just one card? Let me tell you folks, it was really, REALLY hard!.

My card was relatively quick & simple to create (Silhouette cut file). The toughest part was finding a sentiment that worked well with the graphic design of the flower. I added three small seed pearls to the flower which I feel are subtle enough for a sympathy card and nice & tidy for a clean & graphic design.

I am so excited about the theme of  this challenge! Seeing another 140+ entries with beautiful flowers gracing the card fronts will be a lovely distraction from the  4 - 5 foot snow banks currently in our back yard!

Happy crafting!

the Card Concept - Challenge #3 - Monochromatic Pink

Welcome back for challenge #3 - Use Monochromatic Pink. Can an inspiration photo get any prettier than this? We were thrilled to see 118 amazing cards posted for the second challenge! Let's see if we can beat that number this week!

I drew my inspiration from the beautiful peony blossoms!  I'm sure that I can smell their distinctive fragrance!  Notice how the petals 'nest' together in soft curving lines.

I used my Silhouette to create a curve that I liked. The 'swooshes' are three layers thick and create some nice dimension in real life. The sentiment (which took me a kazillion tries before I got the 'curve' to match) is also done with the Silhouette using Glitter Pens.

Perhaps this photo will be just what you need to inspire you to get busy on your Valentine Day cards.  Or perhaps it will take you in a completely different direction! We would love to have you share your talent with us at the card concept challenge :)

Happy crafting!

Card details:  White Linen CS - Ellen Hutson, AC colored card stock

Paper Smooches Designer Drafts challenge

A quick post as the door is just about to close on the Designer Drafts Challenge at Paper Smooches.  

My DH's great nephew turned one today so a special card was in order!  The birthday party was fabulous! Food galore and a little boy that was more excited about the wrapping paper than what was inside!

I used PS Hullabaloo for my card. The versatility of this set is amazing! 

The striped panel was made by alternating two of the line image stamps in the set using Memento Bahama Blue ink. The cup cake was stamped on AC card stock and paper pieced. I 'swapped out' the cherry on the top of the cupcake with the candle...totally appropriate for a 1st birthday!  The 'celebrate' sentiment is also from the same set. 

Happy crafting!

VALENTINE'S DAY INSPIRATION BLOG HOP & CFC127 - OVER THE EDGE

I'm thrilled to bits to have this card selected as one of the VIP's at CAS-ual Fridays!
Thanks for the honor ladies :)

.... Red for the boys

                                       .... Pink for the girls

  

Welcome to the Valentine’s Day Blog Hop brought to you by the Inspiration Crew!  We're a group of crafty blog friends making projects we like, using products we like. 

Two more Silhouette creations paired up with the the fabulous Lil Inker Stitched mat! The center of the heart is open right through to the inside of the card...looks kind of cool in real life! 

My dear friend Ardyth suggested the current CAS-ual Fridays challenge CFC127 - Over The Edge, so I will be linking up there as well.  

And speaking of Ardyth...you seriously have got to check out the cards that she posted today....out of this world amazing!!!

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, so take this opportunity to glean some inspiration from the following talented ladies:

Donna Bowman 

Rachel Kleinman

Ceal Pritchett

Lalo Ik

Misty Buck

Veronica Zalis

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Susie CraftHappy

Jennifer Cuthbertson

Happy crafting!

the Card Concept - Challenge #2 - Texture

Welcome back to the Card Concept Challenge.  I want to start by saying WOW... the gallery treated us to a breathtaking display of talent and creativity!  It was so exciting to see the number of entries for our first challenge!

Challenge #2 asks us to incorporate texture into our design.  Our son is a Journeyman Carpenter (oh yeah...he has a list of  'to do' projects for his mommy!) and his birthday is fast approaching. Things added up quite well for this challenge...texture + carpenter's birthday = sand paper!  The sand paper is a low grit so it isn't too rough. I love the color, especially paired with black & white.

I cut the chevrons and the sentiment with my Silhouette.  I used an old blade just in case the sand paper damaged the blade.  I alternated the inlaid chevrons pieces with sand paper and black card stock.

I am really looking forward to seeing all of your lovely creations!

Card details:  SU Black card stock; AC White; Home Hardware Sand Paper

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE!

Red text for a Valentine post - predictable but fun!

Just popping in to share a simple Valentine card that will make its way to our son....quite masculine, don't you think?  He is so NOT the 'mushy' type!  I'm sure he will like the treat $$$ tucked inside :)

I tried some new little tricks on my Silhouette which began with one single heart that was sized and manipulated and copied and duplicated and pasted....not sure if I could repeat the process if I wanted to!

The heart panel is popped up with foam dots which creates some nice shading in the cut out hearts.

I must take a wander around the challenges tomorrow....perhaps I will find a fit for this card :)

Edited to add:  Thanks to my dear friend Shirley from across the pond, who suggested the Love Letter challenge at Curtain Call and the Valentine's Day or Use Hearts challenge at Simply Create Too...both new to me challenges!

Hope you all have plans for a craft filled weekend....I know I do!

FUSION #1....YAY!

A quick post to get my card entered into the FUSION challenge! I am so happy that 'they're back'.  I chose to use just the photo as my inspiration.

For starters...the card stock really is a beautiful tangerine/orange color in real life....not a lame shade of red!

I will try photographing the card tomorrow during the day in an attempt to get a more realistic color (grrrrrr)

I used a portion of a Stampin' Up die to recreate the shape of the headboard. I colored the rhinestones with a Copic marker, trying to get them as close to the yummy teal color in the pillow. The wee cross/flower shapes are actually SU Espresso...although they look black (grrrr...again). The sentiment is SU, also stamped in Espresso.

... more details to follow tomorrow....and hopefully a better picture!  But for now, this will have to do :) 

the Card Concept - Challenge #1 - Colors

WELCOME TO

where I design in the CLEAN & GRAPHIC style.

Yay!  Opening day is finally here! 

We are sooooo excited about the concept behind this new challenge?

First of all, it is a bi-weekly challenge blog that features twelve designers and six different styles.

Secondly, the participants are encouraged to create a card based on the challenge...but YOU get to choose which 'style' you would like to design in!

It could be your regular style...or perhaps you would like to challenge yourself and try something new! Lesley's clever idea to combine various styles in one challenge makes this a one-stop challenge shop!

AND, to make things just a wee bit more interesting, each challenge will also have a specific theme...it could be a color challenge, a sketch challenge, a texture challenge....the possibilities are endless!

I am thrilled to be working side by side with the amazingly talented Ardyth Percy-Robb, a fellow Canadian with a clean and graphic style that totally rocks! Yes, I see all your heads nodding in agreement! 

You really don't want to miss being part of the first challenge, so click on any of the kazillion links that I have provided in my post to join in the fun!

See you over at the card Concept blog!


Card details:  SU card stock; SU Fabulous Phrases; Prima Stamps ... and rolls and rolls of tape for the nine million failed attempts at getting my images lined up and neatly stamped.  The proof is in the picture!

               
                          FYI...several of these also have an 'attempt' stamped on the flip side as well

WINNER, WINNER.....12 Days of Holiday Projects

Oh my goodness!  Where did December 22nd go?  It obviously swooshed right past me during the holiday season blur which made me totally forget to make the draw for the $25 gift certificate.

One would think that the date would somehow 'stick' in my brain after typing it in 12 different posts! Alas...that did not happen!

Dearest hubby agreed to step in for Mr. Linky and randomly chose #110 as the winning comment, who is:

1. 
   IrisDecember 6, 2013 at 4:41 PM

   Cute - love the clean, graphic look and the different colored trees.

Congrats Iris! I will be contacting you via e-mail to make arrangements for delivery of your prize! Thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by and say hello :)

THE CARD CONCEPT - A NEW CHALLENGE BLOG...AND SOME NEWS!

I'm sure some of you have heard about the new kid on the block...The Card Concept challenge!  If not, well then listen up because this challenge has something for everyone!

The dynamic Lesley Croghan has developed a fantastic new bi-weekly challenge blog that features 12 designers and six ..yes six different styles! You get to choose which style you would like to design in.

One of the styles is Clean & Graphic .... the style that Lesley has asked me to represent on this amazing design team -  YAY!!!  It really has been hard to keep this exciting news a secret until today! 

My partner in this new and exciting Clean & Graphic category is fellow Canadian Ardyth Percy-Robb, who we all know rocks clean & graphic! We will be joined by 10 other creative ladies, each displaying their talent in the other categories!

The definition of Clean & Graphic is:

- clean lines

- simple treatment of text

- no frills

- bare-boned

- message is communicated quickly

Lesley asked us to share a card in our style. This is one of my favorites that I made some time ago. I love the clean graphic design that the simple lines create.  The message is communicated simply by the heart and the "u".  Definitely bare-boned in a great way! 

.

So, now it is time for you to scoot on over to The Card Concept to meet the designers that have been introduced to date.  Keep checking back as the new DT is revealed!  

The first challenge is set for January, 2014.  You won't want to miss it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROL

There is a sweet lady who happens to be

0ne of the crafters so special to me!

We've come to know her as loving Aunty C

Who crafts up a storm for the wee ones you see.

An advent calendar, so special and sweet

She will surely delight them with this special treat.

Dear Bev called upon us to all join along

For tropical greetings and perhaps even a song.

To send her warm wishes on this frosty day

That will keep her heart warm at least until May.

When the weather will warm up & flowers will bloom

And Carol will come out of her warm little room.

And welcome the spring with a smile quite big

Until she starts to work on another proof reading gig!

Happy Birthday Carol!

A little tropical themed birthday wish to help warm you up during the cold Alberta winter! The inside of the card reads {Warm Wishes} For a Fun & Happy Birthday! If you would like to wish our dear friend Carol a happy birthday you can find her at  Just Me C!

12 DAYS OF HOLIDAY PROJECTS - DAY 12

Well, we have arrived at the final day of projects!  I really do hope you have tucked a few ideas away for next year's projects....or if you are anything like me....it will be for the wild times ahead in the upcoming week to get everything done!!!

A cute little card to say hello.  I stamped the snowflakes randomly on the paper, scored the diagonal lines, paper pieced the sweet wee snowman, added a bit of shine to the snow, and popped up the image with a couple of foam pop dots.  I love all the 'white space'  :)

Don't forget to leave a comment on my blog for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate. I will be making the draw on December 22nd.

The next few weeks will be full of family fun, cleaning, cooking, decorating, wrapping so I will likely be absent from our blogging world until after Christmas.

I wish you all the merriest holiday season and the love and company of family & friends.

Donna Bowman 

Rachel Kleinman

Ceal Pritchett

Lalo Ik

Barb Murphy

Angi Barrs

Annette Allen

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Susie CraftHappy

Geri Greening

Jennifer Cuthbertson

Rachel Izakowic

Merry Christmas!

12 DAYS OF HOLIDAY PROJECTS - DAY 11

Welcome to the second last day of holiday projects!  Another late night for me, so without further adieu here are the details of my card:

'Ho Ho Ho' was stamped with Momento Love Letter and then glossed up with Liquid Glass (CTMH).  I think that the ink ran just a bit as the white candy-cane stripes have a pink tint! Paper pierced the top and bottom edges and adhered to some AC red card stock.  That's it....easy peasy! After last night's projects I was more than ready for my normal clean & simple style!

Remember to leave a comment if you want a chance to win a $25 gift certificate - draw date December 22nd! Here is the rest of the crew:

Donna Bowman 

Rachel Kleinman

Ceal Pritchett

Lalo Ik

Barb Murphy

Angi Barrs

Annette Allen

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Susie CraftHappy

Geri Greening

Jennifer Cuthbertson

Rachel Izakowic

12 DAYS OF HOLIDAY PROJECTS - DAY 10

Wow! Can you believe we are at Day 10?  It really does seem like the days have fewer hours during this busy time of year!

A bit of a re-make on yesterday's project!  Each year I color co-ordinate the tree decorations, all the wrapping paper and tags as well as the house decorations! This year my colors are Burgandy, Silver & White. It really does look awesome when it is all glammed up and totally matchy-matchy!  My family thinks I'm nuts.  They're likely right!

By the way, burgundy is an impossible color to photograph. The stamped "Merry Christmas" on the tag looks black - it's burgundy. The place setting cards look Cherry Red...you guessed it - they're burgundy as well. The only item that captured the true color is the ribbon on the tag!  The silver glitter paper is SU.

Don't forget to leave a comment on this post for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate. Happy hopping!

Donna Bowman 

Rachel Kleinman

Ceal Pritchett

Lalo Ik

Barb Murphy

Angi Barrs

Annette Allen

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Susie CraftHappy

Geri Greening

Jennifer Cuthbertson

Rachel Izakowic

12 DAYS OF HOLIDAY PROJECTS - DAY 9

Welcome  to Day 9 of 12 Days of Holiday Projects! How many projects do have completed? Have you been inspired by the projects that the Inspiration Crew has created?

We are hosting Christmas Eve for my side of the family - likely about 30 of us! These are the place setting  cards I am making for the table. My poor Silhouette will in need of a rest once these are finished! 

Our meal will consist of the traditional Ukrainian dishes that my Baba and my mom made.  Of course, theirs always tasted better....but hey, at least we are working at keeping the tradition going.  Twelve meatless dishes that consist mostly of dough, cream and butter!  Ya think we consume 9,000,000 calories in one meal?  Yep!  

We also  have Pickerel too - caught fresh by DH. 

Leave a comment on this post if you would like a chance to win a $25 gift certificate.  The draw will be made on December 22nd.

Donna Bowman 

Rachel Kleinman

Ceal Pritchett

Lalo Ik

Barb Murphy

Angi Barrs

Annette Allen

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Susie CraftHappy

Geri Greening

Jennifer Cuthbertson

Rachel Izakowic