Ash Wednesday

While I don't think it's appropriate to say "Happy Ash Wednesday," I know that without all that Ash Wednesday implies, there would be no 'happy' in our lives. Lent is one of my favorite times of the year. A good time to reflect on the past, and understand what 'hope' really is. So I'm sending you all the blessings that this season gives.

Cards. I've got two this morning. Well, I actually have more, but will only go with this pair this morning. The first card helps to celebrate Less is More's 5th birthday; how cool is that?! Happy Birthday and many more to come!! And I finally came up with an idea to play along at The Challenge too! My second card is for Muse. I changed it up a bit, but I like the way it came out. Anita has a beautiful card to inspire us, as you'll see.

Whoo Hoo!

Let's Celebrate!

We are 5 years old!

Since my sister Lisa has a birthday coming up, and since it's National Margarita day, we should celebrate on the 22nd, shouldn't we??! You can bet that if I could, I would make a batch to toast my baby sister. Unfortunately, migraines prohibit me....Waaaaaaaaaahhh!!!! But here's a little card, all dressed up in black and white:

I really wanted to play along with The Challenge but had difficulty coming up with something that made my eyes happy. Then, I had a little ping. Pulled out my MB number dies and did them all in white, plus the '54' in black. Can you guess how old my sister will be this year? (Hahahahaha Lisa, in case you ever read this!) Then stamped the sentiment with a PTI set using Versafine black ink.

Above you can see Anita's card. I love the embossing folder she's used on her card. I didn't have one that tripped my trigger, so decided not to use one. And I flipped my sponged branch, went with a smaller sentiment, and added a few blings. I like the way it turned out, and was happy to play along this time. Studio G inks, and an AE die cut. The branch was the remains of a Sizzix die, which NEVER came out right; I always ripped the leaves or stems...so I tossed it out, but decided to keep the negative and use it as a stencil. My dots were made with an SU marker. And that's it for now. Won't keep you, but will wish you the blessings of the day.

Happy Friday

Hope your upcoming weekend is fun-filled and relaxing! Are you going to watch the Super Bowl? Not me... Downton Abby is on, and since it's the series finale, I'm not missing a single episode! I know, I know - I could DVR it, but I can't wait that long, lol. Tomorrow I'm heading out to Polka Dots for a spot (haha) of shopping with my sister, Sue, and her friend Teri. Then it's to lunch at a little place that makes some of the best tamales I've ever had. It's going to be a great day!! Sure hope I can sleep tonight for all the excitement! Wish you all could come along too!

And I've got a couple of cards to share with you today for several different challenges. While I'm still struggling with YKWs a bit, it's okay. I'm doing my best to live "normally" in between. Botox is coming up in less than two weeks, and I know that it will be better then. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers; they are sincerely appreciated.

First up is a card that will go into CAS(E) This Sketch, Addicted to CAS, and Addicted to Stamps and More.

This is what I came up with this morning:

Pretty simple and it was a QAEZPZ card to make too! MFT oval and sproingy dies. Scraps of red and gray card stock. A Studio Calico (SC) stamp using ME Apple ink. The white oval was layered three times to add a smidgen of dimension. Love how the curly-cues on the stamp mimic the two sproingy die cuts. 

My second card heads off to the AEI{Heart}U Challenge. The stamps are all NBUS, and I couldn't wait to break them out and use them. 

Now these two little sweeties are certainly BFFs!

Aren't they the cutest little cherries ever?! They're from AE's last release, and I love them!! I used two ME dies to frame them. A scrap of red, some Michaels white, a bit of sponging with distress inks, some Copic coloring, and Versafine black ink. Oh and even though you can't see it very well, there's a ton of Glossy Accents on the cherries. Looks really cool in real life. And I'm off to set some rolls out for dinner tonight. Happy dances everyone!!

Here Again

Last week was a bit rough as far as migraines went, but so far, this week is looking somewhat better. Managed some time today to make a card or two, after catching up on all the household chores that didn't get done during my YKW (you know what) time. I'll share one card today, and the second one tomorrow... At least that's my plan. Found several challenges, well, four actually to play with. How fun is that?! Which ones, you may be wondering. Well, these:

 

CASology is pretty self explanatory; glitter. Check. CAS. Check.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is 'have a heart!' Check.

Stamping Smiles Designs' Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge is a newerish challenge, and one I've really wanted to play along with. I took the top row across, and my shimmer element is glitter. Check.

The Work It Wednesday January Challenge is to use something 'new.' My NBUS is the cover plate as you'll soon see.

Lots and lots of white card stock, and white space. *sigh* This is Neat & Tangled's new cover plate die. *double sigh* I. Love. This. Die. Oh yes I do! Now, you can fold up all those little half hearts, but I really wanted the glittery ones to take center stage. That's MS glitter and ME stamps with Versafine ink. And that's all for me today. Hope to visit you all after dinner, and until then, happy dances everyone. 

Guest Designing for The Challenge Week Four

And a happy Monday morning to you all. Before I get into the card I made for my last week at The Challenge, I want to say thanks to Lesley and the DT for having me. It's been a pleasure, and I've enjoyed myself enormously. Thank you so much!  This being the last week of the month, The Challenge has a Masculine Photo to inspire you.

I tried. I really, really did. I had hoped that all watercolor paper which is now filling my recycle bin, would have been a fantastic card, much like the photo above. Nope. It just wasn't to be. I had to go with a more CAS card which used the colors. Now I like my card, it just wasn't the one my brain wanted! What can you do with such dramatic inspiration? I'd love to see all your creativeness. The more I look at this, the more I see endless possibilities. 

My masculine card:

In real life, the colors really do mimic the truck's colors. The die is MFT, the deer is from Little B, and the stamp is SC and is ghost stamped. All the cardstock are scraps. Do play along, and happy dances everyone!

Before It Gets Worse...

...And it will. As I finished editing the photographs of the cards I'm about to show you, I realized I'm getting a (frickin') migraine. So I won't chatter, I'll get to the cards and get ready to take some meds. I'll be fine....

My first card will make it into the Time Out Challenge with less than 24 hours to go. My second card heads over to the Little Tangles challenge.

Here are my cards:

Scraps, enamel triangle dots, Artplorations stencil, Studio G ink, ME birthday stamp.

Michael's white base, yellow CS, unknown designer papers, Anita's white CS, SC flag die, TT sentiment, Kelly Purkey red sequins, Versafine ink, N&T box die (so in love with that!). Gotta go. Hitting the meds now, but you all go and have some happy dances on my behalf!

Guest Designing at The Challenge Week Three

Good morning all. Hope you had a great weekend, mine was just wonderful. Even though it was cold on Saturday, the sun was shining making these January days bearable. It's my third Monday in a row Guest Designing over at The Challenge. How nice of them to invite me, and how fun to be a part of this challenge. Thank you so much for having me! You are the best!! Last week's challenge was a beautiful color challenge. This week we have this fantastic photo inspiration challenge! Check this out:

Normally, I'd be intimidated by all the prettiness in this photo, but not this time. I channeled my inner girly-girl and got right down to business. So much one could do with this much inspiration. I may have to see if I can come up with another card! You will play along, won't you? Good!

I don't think I've ever, in my whole life, ever put this many layers on one card. I've stepped out of my comfort zone completely for this card. And I'm kind of proud that I can kind of, sort of, do this. I wish you could see the colors in real life. Very prettily peachy-pink, with a smidgen of lavender and green. Not sure if I can tell you everything I used, so I won't even try. However, if there's a certain element you'd like to know more about, then shoot me an email and I'll try to get back to you on that. Okay folks, put your thinking caps on, and make a little something. Then join me over at The Challenge. I promise, no....I pinky promise to come and see what you've made! Happy dances everyone.

Just Playin'

Now I could have cleaned the bathroom this morning. Or I could have mopped the kitchen floor. I could have hauled out the vacuum and done the family room. But I didn't. Given the choice of any of these cleaning chores and crafting, I know what you'd have picked too! I will get to those chores in a bit, but I just couldn't rush right into them....my body would have gone into craft withdrawal and totally shut itself down. At least that's the story I'm telling! Besides, Mr. Mojo made an appearance, and I wasn't turning him away.

I've got three cards, (I know, right?!) for several challenges. Decided to play at City Crafters Challenge with card #1. Had a ping, made the card, and then saw that it matched Retro Sketches for this week. Seriously, I made the card before I saw the sketch! Then, I needed to break out some NBUS for Muse, and card #2 fits there, as well as Addicted to Stamps and More, and a new-to-me challenge, Double Click Skittles (hi Kim!). Whew!

City Crafters Challenge

Retro Sketches

Muse

Addicted to Stamps and More

Double Click Skittles Challenge

Here are the cards I made, one at a time

I hit the scrap files for this card. The red bandana patterned paper is, I think, from LYB, but don't quote me on that, as it has been in the scrap file for at least a couple of years. Some red scraps for the MFT flag and the RC frame. Some MME enamel dots, and a couple of random blings. The sentiment is from Verve with ME ink. See that cute little butterfly? That was in this ginormous box of goodies Amy T. sent. Thanks Miss Amy!! As soon as I saw it, and I'd just visited City Crafters blog, I knew exactly what I was going to make. You should see it in real life...

Then I made this:

Here's my little NBUS flower stamp. Wait till you see the other stamps that came with them! I'm not going to show the rest here, but I LOVE this set!! I pretty much CASED Anita's card, without the vines. I added some black blings to the centers of the flowers, and made the dot triangles. I colored the flowers with Copics, and added a TT sentiment. The black ink is Versafine. A strip of black cardstock and done. I had fun coloring this one. And that's it for today. I'll be back soon. Well, it really depends on how fast I clean the house...maybe if I go really fast, I can craft more today!!!! Happy dances everyone.

In and Out

I'm in and out today. You should see my craft room... It's totally trashed, so I'm posting a card quick and then getting to the mess. Hmmmm....I have no idea whatsoever who came in and did this! Must have been the DH. Certainly wasn't me! Before I get to the card, I'd like to thank all of the voters over at Muse. My CASE of Michele's card made the top three, and I'm tickled that you liked it! It's a great challenge, and the DT is full of talented and sweet crafters.

So have you heard it's Fusion's second birthday? Congrats and happy blogaversary! Head over to check it out and play along too. In a minute....

Just had to join in the celebration. This started out as something totally different; eventually I made this:

I tried to do chevrons. Didn't work. Kept to the colors though, and at least the ghost of the sketch. Green PTI ink, a NBUS SC die in bright pink, and yellow and white dp. A sprinkling of bright pink bling things, an MFT fishtail die,  and a N&T sentiment. That's it for now. Happy dances everyone!