Happy Birthday

Yola!

How are y'all doing?  I'm so glad it's Wednesday.  It has been crazy at work, and I'm ready for the weekend already; I get to sleep in.  Have I mentioned that I LOVE sleep?  I blame my new bed. lol

Anyway, I was happy to spend some time in my craft room last night.  There were a couple of challenges I wanted to play along with, before I missed the deadlines.  Here is what I created.

I love the bright, cheerful colors on this card!  These gorgeous Spring Fling Quick Card Panels from Reverse Confetti were just what I was looking for, for this card.  I've got a lot of new goodies on this card.  My goal is to use my new stuff within the month I purchase them.  I seem to accumulate stuff, and then never get around to using it.  I hope to bring a smile to the recipient of this card.  I know it sure makes me smile.  I'm going to submit this card for the following challenges.

Sketch For You To Try #23:  Sketch
Virginia's View #14:  Layers & Dimensions
Sparkle & Shine #3:  Spring/Easter (inspiration photo)
The Shabby Tea Room #249:  Rainbow of Colors (inspiration photo)

That's all for me.  I'm off to make dinner, and then veg out with my daughter, watching this weeks Voice episodes.  Do any of you watch?  Who's your favorite this season?  We are pretty partial to Adam Levine. lol  Here's one of our favorite pictures from the Maroon 5 concert a few weeks ago (thanks for sharing your pictures with us Amy!).  We had the BEST seats!!  He's so much more attractive in person.  Enjoy! :-)

Have a wonderful evening!

What's In It?
Paper: Neenah Desert Storm Cardstock, SU! Pumpkin Pie, Reverse Confetti Spring Fling Quick Card Panels, Text Paper (sorry, I don't remember by who)
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Happy
Ink: VersaMark
Accessories: Detail White Embossing Powder, Pretty Pink Posh Marshmallow Sequins, Reverse Confetti Tag Me Dies, MFT In & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle Dies, MFT Vertical Stitched Strips

Cards to Share

Greetings my crafty friends!

How have y'all been?  It's been a bit crazy around here with work, and getting ready for prom at the last minute.  Nothing like not wanting to go, and then changing her mind, because a boy asked her. lol  Fortunately, she's easy to shop for and we found the dress she wanted in under an hour (yep, lucky me), and they had the shoes she wanted also.  Win/win for us. :-)

Anyway, onto the crafty stuff.  I was excited to be invited to a small retreat last weekend.  I only knew one person there, but it was fun getting to know everyone.  Amazingly, I created 6 cards.  Usually, I am sitting around talking. lol

I wanted to participate in the latest MFT Color Challenge (#18).  The colors are Daffodil, Brown Paper Bag, Tangy Orange and Berrylicious.  I got as close as I could, with what I had.  I also wanted to try using embossing paste, so I embossed the clouds.  For added interest I dry embossed the background panel, after the embossing paste had dried.  This was inspired by this months Virginia's View Challenge (#14), which is to include lots of layers and dimensions.  Here is how it turned out.

The next card I made incorporates another technique I just started using, ombre.  I'm not a huge pink fan, but these colors were just screaming to be used.  I started with Barn Door, then added Abandoned Coral and finished with Spun Sugar.  I embossed the watercolor background with the SU! En Francais background stamp and embossed with white embossing powder first, for added texture.  The addition of the lovely SSS butterfly finished off my card perfectly, and I love it.  I'm going to submit this card  for The Challenge, which is anything goes, to celebrate their first year.  Yay for them!

My last card is one that I'm a bit on the fence about.  I really like the simplicity of it, but feel like I need to add something.  I got the inspiration for this card from The Shabby Tea Room challenge #248.  I'm thinking that I'll probably add another something to this card, before sending it, but I'm not sure what just yet.  The more I look at it, the more it grows on me, so maybe I'll just leave it.      

That's all for me today.  I'm off to spend time with my daughter, and then cook dinner.  I do hope everyone has a wonderful evening.  I'll be back tomorrow, with my next CASE-ing Christmas card.

Hugs!

No Longer Two

Happy Friday!!

So, while I have been waiting for R and Hulk to arrive, I was able to create one more card for my collection.  As you've probably noticed, I don't make many shabby or vintage cards.  That's because I totally SUCK at that style. lol  Today, I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone and attempt something shabby.  Here is how it turned out.

I have to say, I'm quite impressed with myself. lol  I tried to channel a couple of my favorite shabby cardmakers, Andrea Ewen and Becca Feeken, and think they might actually approve of this one. :-)  There are more layers on this card, than any of my cards recently.  I think I'll have to continue this, as it looks awesome.  I love the old Bible print, and the background stamp with VersaMark too.  You can't really tell in the photo, but I gently sponged the roses with Spun Sugar distress ink.  They're really pretty in real life.  The only thing I think I need work on, is tying bows with seam binding ribbon.  I just couldn't get it to smooth out, once I had tied my bow.  It looks a bit awkward in the picture, but it's a little better, in person.  Eh, maybe I just need to practice more.  I'm going to submit this for the following challenges.

Mojo Monday #360: Sketch (it's not tall and skinny, i hope that's ok)
Shabby Tea Room #233: Celebrate (Photo Inspiration)
Simon's Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday #147: Anything Goes

I hope that all of you have a wonderful, and safe holiday weekend.  I will be back next week with another something crafty, hopefully.

Hugs!

What's In It?
Paper: SU Blushing Bride & Very Vanilla Cardstock, Papertrey Ink Kraft Cardstock, Page from an old Bible
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Love Scriptures, Hero Arts Flourish Background
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Dye Ink, VersaMark, Spun Sugar Distress Ink, Sakura Clear Stardust Pen
Accessories: Memory Box La Rue Heart Die, Spellbinders Labels 4 Small Die, SU Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Martha Stewart Scalloped Border Punch, I Am Roses White Paper Roses, I Am Roses Green Leaves, Zva Creative Pearl Flourish

Hugs & Kisses

Howdy y'all!

I hope your weekend was a good one!  I would have loved an extra day to sleep in, but alas, it's back to the bump and grind of a regular work week.  The good thing, is that I don't have to be at work all week, until 10am.  I don't mind going in a bit later, but working later has its disadvantages.  Thank goodness it's only temporary. 

Today is week two of challenges over at House of Cards.  Even though my cards aren't due until the third week of the month, in support of their first month, I will be attempting to create a card each week.  This weeks challenge is CAS.  Here is what I created.

The color combo is the same the first four weeks, but the style of card is different each week.  I love this shimmery paper, with distressed inks on it.  It makes the color shimmery as well, once you've added them.  CAS is a style that I have always loved, but haven't really been able to create well.  I always want to keep adding stuff to my cards, rather than letting them be simple and lovely.  I do love how this turned out, and I am going to continue to try to create more CAS type cards.  I used THIS sketch, even though it's from a while back.  I really thought it would be perfect for today's CAS theme.  I hope the recipient of this card enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it for her.

I've combined the following challenges in my card today:

2 Sisters #151 - Red, White & Blue
Totally Gorjuss #191 - Anything goes, with circles
The Shabby Tea Room #174 - Inspiration Photo

I'm off to get ready for work, and start my day.  I do hope you'll head over to the HOC blog, to see the gorgeous CAS cards that are posted for you today.  They're wonderful!  Also, I hope you'll stop by tomorrow.  I've got another post scheduled, with some interesting news.

Have a great day!
Hugs!

With Gratitude

Greetings!

I hope you're having a good week.  I'm currently on vacation at my sisters in Austin, and enjoying every minute of being a bum. :)  By now, I'm sure you've come to read how close I am to my sister, so any chance I get to spend time with her (and my bil), is awesome.  We will be cooking the full spread for Thanksgiving, and I can't wait to eat. lol  I do hope you and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

I created this card, just for fun.  I love it when time allows me that option, it doesn't happen often.

These colors are gorgeous together, and I'm quite pleased with my outcome.  I have to say, again, that every time I break out the distress inks, I'm always amazed at how beautiful they work together.  I've got some more new Verve goodies on this card as well.  I knew who I wanted to give this card to immediately.  I hope she liked it.  I've combined the following challenges into my card:

Mojo Monday #216 - Sketch
Shabby Tea Room #89 - Inspiration Photo (The Colors of Nature)
The Pink Elephant #126 - Give Thanks
Victorine Originals #21 - Thanks
Clear It Out Challenges - Orange & Brown (Must use old stash, I used some older ribbon and flowers)
ColorQ #112 - Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight & White (I got close!)
Going Grey With Scrap Creations - Thank You
The Stamping Boutique #20 - Thanksgiving
Tuesday Throwdown #75 - Lots of Circles
Use It Tuesday #20 - Giving Thanks (I used some older ribbon and flowers)

That's all for me.  I'm off to go pick on my brother in law and joke with my sister.  That's our favorite thing to do. :)  Don't forget to check back on Saturday.  I've got an exciting announcement, and there's a fun blog hop scheduled. 
Hugs!

Live In The Moment

Howdy!

How is everyone today?  Are you having a good week?  I certainly am.  It's been busy at work, but not too crazy, like normal.  The time passes quickly and I have been able to get out at a decent time, which makes for a better evening. :)

I have another card to share with you.  Check it!

I love this color combo as well!  The pink and blue are a great contrast to the kraft, and the butterfly with the rosette?  LOVE!  This will be a short post as I need to get ready for work.  I've combined the following challenges in my card:

Sweet Sunday Sketch #130 - Sketch (my loose interpretation of)
The Pink Elephant #112 - Stitching (real or faux)
SPCC #113 - Pink Pirouette, Wisteria Wonder, Baja Breeze (I think my patterned paper is actually Pretty in Pink)
The Shabby Tea Room #75 - Polka Dots (I hope mine qualify)

I'll be back tomorrow with this months second FYI photo.  I hope you'll check back to see it.  It's one of my favorites!

Hugs!