HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARNELL

... talk about cutting it close...only 3 minutes left in the day to wish our dear sweet friend Darnell a very happy birthday! 

My apologies dear friend for this late post. But...you already know that I'm usually all about 'last minute'!

Hope you had a fabulous day! Will come back in a bit with your birthday poem (as long as my poor old brain will cooperate at this late hour!)

A 'Sweet Pixie' image colored with copics and winked with Stella. The winking is much prettier in real life!

12:58am...poem is done...a tad bit lame...but likely to be expected at this late hour! 

A dear sweet lady has a birthday today

So it's time to celebrate and take time to play

In her cute little playhouse in her amazing backyard

We could all get together and craft up a card

When the crafting is done, we'll relax in the yard

And keep watch for the hummers...it shouldn't be hard

I'm sure if we asked, we could go for a ride

On Mister's cool bike down the street we would glide

We'll bring tons of snacks and sweet birthday cake

Lots of chatting & visiting, happy memories we'd make

I know we would cherish time spent with our pal

Cuz she's one awesome crafter and a heck of a gal!

HAPPY, HAPPY TO YOU!

CARD CONCEPT CHALLENGE #38

I am feeling a wee squeeze of the old heart strings as this is my last DT post for CCC! It's been a fun and rewarding adventure! 

Leslie, Tracey and all the DT ladies have been an absolute joy to hang out with! Talk about a never ending source of inspiration! My idea board is full of their projects! It's been fun girls...thanks for your company!

I love the 'freshness' of this color combo.  The wall boards in the background inspired the stripes & the angle of what looks like a wrought iron crafted piece (behind the chair) inspired the angle of my design.  An inlaid 'hello" die (SSS ???) all winked up with Stella and done like dinner!

I hope that you will find time to play along this week at CCC .  Take a moment to stop by the blog and meet the the new DT ladies who are anxious to dazzle & inspire you with their creativity! Definitely a talent pool that is off the charts!!!

Happy crafting :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARDYTH

YAY!   My dear friend, fellow BABE and world renowned card maker Ardyth is celebrating a birthday today!

I was so fortunate to have had the pleasure of meeting Ardyth in real life at our fall 2014 BABES getaway! She is one cool & very, very talented lady!

We have all come to know her beautiful clean & simple style, her love of bright vibrant colors, her flawless stamping AND ink blending and her NEVER ENDING unique ideas that she puts to paper and shares for our viewing pleasure.

I am inspired to create every time I visit Ardyth's blog.

Wishing you a happy day filled with tons of craft room time, a nice dinner out, and lots of cake & ice cream!

Happy Birthday Ardyth :)

Card deets: Silhouette file (tweaked a bit) and a Clearly Besotted sentiment.

Card Concept Challenge 36 & SSS Anything Goes

Happy Wednesday everyone! Can you believe how fast we have zoomed around to another CCC challenge? Seems like it was mere days between challenge #35 and #36!

Another yummy photo to inspire your creativity and likely have you heading to your local bakery for some sweet treats! Hop on over to the CCC blog and feast your eyes on the sweet creations posted by the DT.

A quick & easy, clean and simple card. I repeatedly stamped the stripes (PTI Square Prints) using Ranger Lily Pad ink on a strip of paper, cut a chunk out of the card base, popped up the inked panel behind the cut out and added a SSS sentiment.

I`m also entering this card into the Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes at Simon Says Stamp.

                                            

Happy crafting!

SEIZE THE BIRTHDAY / A BIRTHDAY CARD FOR REESE

A quick post to share a cute "Olaf" card that I made for Danny's grand-niece Reese who is turning 3 years old! Reese is in love with everything and anything Frozen!

A quick Google search led me to a million Olaf images. Miraculously, I managed to import this image into my Silhouette! I really should have written the process down for 'next time' !

I accidentally created a cool blue-ish ice looking reflection on the card base (you can see it on the pic below) by adhering an icy blue piece of paper behind the popped up main image panel, which then reflects to the card base! It looks really neat in real life! 

BTW, you would never know by looking at the photo, but the sentiment is stamped in a lovely Caribbean Coast blue ink (Ranger Inks)!

I am playing along with a 'new to me' challenge at Seize the Birthday where "Anything Goes". 

Happy crafting :)

CARD CONCEPT CHALLENGE #35

Yes...you've arrived at the correct post.  And yes, the card on the CCC blog is NOT the same as this one! 

Why? Because the other card is one of those "what was I thinking" cards!

For those of you who don't me well...I'm a hopeless procrastinator. 99% of the time I'm crafting until the wee hours of the morning trying to come up with a decent card. That is why the other card (Blech!) made it to the current challenge post. 

So I sat down at my craft desk this afternoon and came up with this lovely, clean & graphic card in a matter of minutes! A fabulous Clearly Besotted silver embossed sentiment (shiny in real life), some new Freckled Fawn enamel dots, a pierced border...done! 

Ahhh....now this feels right!


                                          

                                       How will you be inspired by this photo?

Do you want to hear a good one?  I originally thought the images were flowers! DH pointed out that they are cupcakes....which 'splains the fork!  Please don't tell his guy friends though!

We would love to have you share your interpretation with us. Pop on over to the CCC blog to see what the other DT members have created. Then craft away and share!

Happy crafting!

Card Concept #34 & SSS Wednesday Challenge

   

Hey crafters! We have a new challenge up at CCC! Soft, pretty colors with polka dots AND stripes!

I chose to focus on the darker shades of blue & pink in the flowers.  My card is a 'ramped up' version of these colors because I wanted to use my new Hero Arts Neon Blue and Neon Pink ink. Sooooo vibrant in real life! 

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Let's Get Sentimental wants to see the sentiment taking center stage on our card! The big, bold Congrats does just that! 

It seems that I'm stuck on this CAS layout but it makes me happy, so here it is once again! I used a wee SU flower and an ancient Studio G congrats stamp (masked off the grad hat). I added a stitched border to anchor the stamped images.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy...if you don't count the 12 ruined attempts at getting the flowers all lined up. Wrecked one on the last image - grrrrr....that really stings!

I've spent very little time in my craft room these past two weeks. We are enjoying some lovely spring temps with lots of sunshine so I've chosen to play outside instead!

We'd love to see your creations in the CCC gallery. Stop by and take a peek at all the lovely cards the DT have created for your viewing pleasure :)

Thank you so much for stopping by! Happy crafting :)

Card Concept #33

Yes...I know...ANOTHER amazing photo! Definitely one of the coolest baby rooms ever!

Nothing too much to 'splain about my card...the zig-zag border inspired by the chevrons, the polka dots from the blanket and a bit of a 'stripe' from the wall!

You may have noticed that the card on the main blog and the card in this post are not the same! The grey base seemed to overpower the pink...so I switched back to a white base.

Here's a pic of the grey base:

I know that this week's inspiration photo will have the  gallery overflowing with amazing creations. I can hardly wait to see what you create :)

Happy crafting!

:) Geri

showCASe Your Style & SSS April Flowers

A side view highlighting the popped up panel:

Edited to add a big Thank You to the DT for choosing my card as one of the Style Favorites :)
                                                       
                                                            

My card is headed to showCASe Your Style #12:

and to SSS Wednesday Challenge Blog where the theme is April Showers/Spring Flowers:

My card was totally inspired by this stunning creation by my dear friend and neighbor to the west....Carol from "Just Me C". 

I love the beautiful, vibrant colors that Carol used and the 'movement' of the floral images'.  One quick call to Carol (is 45 minutes considered quick?) for the "how to's" of this cool technique and I was off to my craft room to give it a whirl!



I used my new Ranger Dye Ink - Caribbean Coast. I ordered the full set of 12 and so far, I love, love, love the ink. Nice coverage and gorgeous colors! The stamp may have come from the $1 bin at Michaels ???  

BTW, the sentiment IS stamped with the same color ink! So why-oh-why does the darn thing look okay in the side view photo but darker/yuckier in the top pic ???

New Product and Simply Create Too Challenge #82

Yep...new product arrived from SSS.  I have seen this die used throughout blogland and decided that I really, REALLY needed it! For guy cards of course. 

I prefer the angle of the dots leading into the sentiment (middle green card) as it seems to draw the eye to the top right corner.  The angle of dots leading away from the sentiment (card 1 and 3) seems awkward and somewhat disjointed. 

Now as long as I remember this next time I use the die, all will be well!

This trio will be headed to Anything Goes -Simply Create Too
Happy crafting!

CAS(E) This Sketch, Simply Create Too & Addicted to Stamps #139 - CAS

Hey ladies... I'm tickled pink for a shout-out as one of your favs! Thanks!

                                                          

I hope everyone enjoyed a lovely Easter weekend.

This year we skipped the traditional turkey in favor of slow roasted BBQ ribs, a nice plump oven roasted chicken, a few salads, bbq potatoes and pumpkin pie! Yuuuuummmy!

Awesome sketch this week at  CAS(E) This Sketch.  As usual, the DT rocked it with their awesome creations! So many innovative ideas!

I'm also entering this card into the current Simply Create Too - Anything Goes Challenge #82 and Addicted to Stamps #139 - CAS.

A happy face popped into my head so I ran with it! I tweaked a Silhouette cut file to create my smiley elements and the top aperture panel, which is popped up with foam tape to create a recessed area for the smiley faces. Nice depth in real life.

I've finished off the 'happy, happy....' with a big, bold 'birthday' on the inside.

There is still a bit of time to get your entry in, so you best get crackin'.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy crafting :)

CARD CONCEPT #32

Welcome back to another fun round of paper crafting wonderfulness!

An easy peasy, quick & simple creation! A bit of washi tape, some yummy coral paper, a sweet inlaid PS die and tons of white space! 

I'm keeping this post short today as the lovely spring weather is calling! The Robins have returned so my daily ritual of scattering raisins (until the worms wake up!) and filling the bird bath with warm water every morning has begun! Glad to help the wee winged beauties until the snow disappears.

The  CCC design team has once again created some amazing cards that will have you abandoning daily chores awaiting your attention in favor of craft room play time!

Thanks so much for stopping by :)

Happy crafting!

CASology - Style, NBUS #4 & Simply To Create Anything Goes

                                               

                                                             

                                                             

Stamping & paper piercing - tough to get any simpler! A sweet PTI stamp that reminds me of the weave on a basket which resulted in this CAS easter card. BTW, the last image is stamped with a lovely warm shade of peach and is very pretty in real life (as opposed to the blah coral color that refused to be tweaked in Photoshop).

My card is headed in three directions:

The first challenge is over at CASology where the cue word is Style. My interpretation may be a stretch, but there are others in the gallery that interpreted "Style" as referring to a card making style. So, I'm throwing my card into the ring with my usual Clean & Simple style.

The second challenge quite likely needs no introduction because Darnell is mega famous in blog land for her NBUS challenges.  The NBUS that I've used is a Papertrey Ink stamp set that my dear friend and fellow BABE Bev (thanks pal) tucked in my craft box before we left our crafting getaway at the Lakehouse. NBUS #4 closes at midnight on March 31st, so get busy if you haven't already entered.

The third fun challenge is Simply Create Too - Anything Goes! You really need to pop on over to the challenge blog and take a look at the gallery...tons of inspiration from all the amazing projects that are posted!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Happy crafting!

SWEET "BUN BUN"

2015-03 A big than you to the DT for choosing "Bun Bun" as one of the favorites!

Popping in with a quick post to share my card that missed the CASology "Blossom" deadline! It likely was a bit of a stretch anyway....

"Bun Bun" by Penny Black, sentiment by Hampton Arts, Copics and a bit of dazzle courtesy of Stella. I know I sound like a broken record but in real life the pink is much softer and the aqua more vibrant. 

We are in the middle of a ca-razy blizzard! Honestly, I can barely see the house across the street and the snow is forecast to continue until noon tomorrow.  Hmmmmm....snow day? Thankfully the temps are mild.

Happy crafting! Thanks so much for stopping by :)


Edited to Add:

My dear friend Darnell suggested the following challenges for this card (thanks Darnell!)

- Addicted To Stamps Challenge #137 - Make Your Mark where you are to tell your readers what your 'mark' is. My 'mark' is the Penny Black image that I stamped using Momento Die Ink.

- and Simply Create Too - Challenge 81 with a theme of Easter or Bunnies! 

Did you know that Darnell has just posted NBUS Challenge #4? 
Don't dilly-dally because this fun challenge closes March 31st. And there are prizes! Darnell is generously giving away 5 - $25 gift certificates from any US company!!! How sweet is that?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM

Our dear friend Kim has a birthday today

And we're getting together to party and play

She crafts, she sews, she bakes and she teaches

And lives really close to some beautiful beaches.

Over at Bev's house you'll find treats & great fun

With cake and yummy goodies, second to none!

Kim's creations feature colors so bright

And never fail to amaze and delight

Her talent in endless, she's sweet as can be

I've been lucky to meet her in real life, you see

A soul so kind, generous and sweet

I'm so very thankful we were able to meet

In real life, we crafted at a house on a lake

And nibbled on yummy, baked walnut cake

We all hit it off from the very first day

And can hardly wait for the next trip to play

Sweet wishes Miss Kim for a day that was fun

My poem's now over and off I will run

To craft my next card, the deadline is near

Ooops, I've missed it - oh dang it, oh dear!!!

Hope you had a swell day pal! 

CARD CONCEPT CHALLENGE #37 - Cupcake

0 calories if you devour these treats standing up! Yeah right...only in my dreams!

But let's look at this from a positive point of view. The raspberries could be considered a serving of fresh fruit!  And...I know that you will be inspired! How could you not be?

A quick & easy creation using a Silhouette cut file. It took me longer to color the polka dots with a white gel pen than it did to put this paper pieced card together. Bits and pieces of DP, swooshes of winking Stella and a sweet Paper Smooches sentiment. 

Dag-nabbit though...another grrrrrrrrr photo!!! At least this time the unintentional pink tint matches the icing!

I hope that you will find time to play along with this challenge.  See you in the gallery :)

Thanks for stopping by :)  Happy crafting!





CAS-ology - Week 137 - Tropical

 

                                


Edited to add a big Thank You to Judy for the  HM Honor for this challenge :)

                                              

I spent a bit of time in my craft room last night, trying to come up with a different angle for 'Tropical'.  

Zip Lining 9,000,000 feet above the ground would have been really hard to put to paper! Although, a screaming streak across the paper would have 'captured the moment' quite adequately!

Next idea was surfing.  I never did manage to stand up on the darn thing but got a good workout paddling around on the board all day!

Easy peasy, quick and easy with a Silhouette cut file (tweaked a bit) and a $1 stamp from Michaels! A coat of Wink of Stella gives the water droplets some nice shimmer in real life! The perfect b-day card for Danny's nephew who will soon turn 18. He's a sweet, polite, athletic kid. But most important, he's respectful.  And that equals cool in my book!

If you don't have time to play along, then take a moment to check out the cool DT cards and the fabulous talent filled gallery!

Happy crafting!

Aloha!

MUSE Challenge #107

This week's Guest Muse is none other than the mega talented Vicki, who has crafted up a stunning creation featuring warm, subtle earthy colors, glammed up with a bit of bling. 

Feast your eyes on this beauty:

It took me about 2 seconds to decide on a simple black & white color combo for this clean and graphic design.

I stamped the 'swirly' triangle image (origin unknown) repeatedly with Versafine black ink, edged the stamped panel with a thin strip of black cardstock, popped on some white side panels and inked up this fabulous bold SU sentiment. 

I made it sound easy, didn't I? 

Truth is...it took several tries before I got the entire panel stamped to my satisfaction. Ya think that I was holding my breath on the last few images? Oh Yeah! 

In fact, I think I'm still feeling lightheaded!

So please take a minute or ten and pop on over to Muse and see how others have been inspired by Vicki's amazing card! Perhaps you'll be inspired to play along too :)

Happy crafting!

Card Concept #30 - Thinking of You

Welcome back! We have another sweet inspiration photo for you this week at the Card Concept Challenge. "Thinking Of You" could be sympathy, get well, support, encouragement....

I focused on the pretty mauve lilacs (bottom right hand side of the pitcher). Hmmm....on second thought, could it be a hyacinth?

The stamp is an old Studio G stamp that has a bit of a graphic look, but in a soft way. I chose a curvy sentiment to mimic the 'movement' of the pretty flower petals.

For some ca-razy reason (again!), the sentiment ink looks like it's a different color....but it is exactly the same as the image (SU Lavender Lace)! Go figure! 

I hope that you will find time to join us for this challenge. It's always a pleasure visiting your blogs and enjoying your artistic creations.

Happy crafting and thanks for stopping by!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANITA!!!

 

Happy, happy birthday dear friend!  As usual, I'm a bit late to the party (will 'splain later).  I hope you had a fabulous day filled with uninterrupted craft time, warm sunny skies, yummy b-day cake and a glass or two (or ten) of nice red wine! You are an amazing woman, blessed with a sincere, kind & caring soul. I feel honored to call you friend!

And....it was so dang cool to meet you in 'for real life'.

I decided to case one of my all time  favorite "Anita cards"! This chorus line of sweet birds seriously rock...take a look at the shading - it`s FABULOUS!

Anita`s fussy cutting is amazing! Mine isn`t...so I stamped the images directly on the card stock. The colors truly are much nicer in real life (Tweety on the right is actually yellow!). Hopefully a nice sunny day tomorrow will yield better results.

I`m off to  Bev`s blog now to join the party! Rumor has it that there may be a `beef cake` or two (and I`m not talking party cake ladies) joining in the celebrations....just sayin`.....

 

Nancy (Scrapper at Heart) has just let me know that the theme over at Paper Players is Feathered Friends so my card will also be headed in their direction. Thanks Nancy! There are some really 'tweet' cards posted - check them out!

Happy Birthday pal :)