Two Cards Today

Somewhere along the line, I've gotten so where I have a hard time just posting one card. Had one made from late yesterday, but just couldn't post it. It felt like I needed a second card before my fingers would click the "new post" button on my blog. Sheesh! In my mind, I'm saying to myself, "well, I hope it was worth it!" Guess we'll see...

My first card is going to Uniko, where I've chosen to make use of their lovely sketch, which you'll see in a minute. Then I want to send this over to Less is More, where the challenge is to combine three of their past challenges. I chose Week 26 "Feeling Fruity", Week 38 "Polka Dots" and finally Week 213 "This Makes Me Happy."  Without sounding weird, this card does make me happy. And boy do I need that after this week!

I kept it fairly CAS. Started with a Michaels white base and scrap, which I die cut with my PPP little square. Added a scrap of polka dot cut with MFT's pierced rectangle which I adjusted to make a square. MFT's flourish sits behind the popped up focal panel. The stamps are W Plus 9 used with various inks. You know... this does make me happy!

This next one has a playdate at CAS(E) This Sketch, and also over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where it's Anything Goes. Busy little card...

Got a few weirdish things going on here.... First, the leaf is gold. NOT green. Gold. The walls in my (hahahahaha) photography studio (living room) are green. Next, the gold inks I wanted to use just looked goofy next to the Punchinella vellum (SC), and the gold leaf. It's brown ink. I know, right?! Hazel by ME to be exact. But it works. I cut the leaft with an MFT die. And all on a Michaels white base. Kept this one CAS. I like it that way. And I've got to run. Time to get the salmon ready to go under the broiler. Yum! Have a beautiful Palm Sunday tomorrow. Happy dances everyone.

Not a Wonderful Monday and Tuesday

Thank heavens it's Thursday. I'm not even going to go into the early part of my week. Suffice it to say that the new computer is on hold, but I'm okay with it. More important things were needed, and my current little dinosaur is still going strong (for the moment anyway). Onto the cards. I REALLY needed some crafting therapy yesterday. Made tons, showing three today.

First up. A second card for the Time Out Challenge. It's black and white with one other color, plus it's CAS. I hope this one qualifies. It might be a bit more than CAS, and if it doesn't fit over there, then I hope the DT will take it down and give me a scolding. I'm a rule follower (well, most of the time anyway). Needed a masculine get well card for a friend. BTW, Susanne is GD at TO. Check out her blog and cards. You'll fall in love...

Here 'tis...

Michaels white and scraps of black and green. MFT big die, and PPP little die. A bit of ribbon, and I embossed a HA image. The sentiment is from RC stamped in black Versafine.

Next up. This one really ticked me off when neither the lighting nor the photo editing would fix the nice yellows. Dang it all! They are really and truly almost matchy-matchy in real life... An Easter card for my little ones in Minnesota. This one is going into Uniko Studio where it's Anything Goes. Dear, sweet Sandie left a comment on of my cards, and mentioned that Uniko stamps weren't necessary to play along. I've been drooling over them ever since Bev (what a cool name!) started her company, but just haven't gotten any yet. Here's my chance. I hope!

All the papers are from my scrapbox on a Michaels white base. I used my big circle punch for the polka dot panel. And my small MFT order came in; this Looped Border die is one I've been eyeing since I borrowed Kim's at the Lake House adventure. Gave in and got it finally. These amazing and seriously cute bunnies were a gift from Ardyth. I completely adore them!!! I free cut some bows and added a bit of coordinating bling on each of them. Representing Carter, Samantha, and Kaylin; darling grandchildren!! The sentiment is from SC. So tiny and it fits in tight spaces perfectly!

Last up is a card strictly for Darnell's NBUS Challenge #4. Oh that Miss D.!! I just love her. But then, so does everyone out there in the card making blogosphere! Can I get a witness??!!! Somebody say "AMEN!" I felt Springy, so went with that feeling. You'll see:

*sigh* Blues and yellows together make me happy. I need happy this week. This'll do! My NBUS here are the stamps. I love this set. It's called Spring Stamp from (and how cool is this???) Avery Elle for Studio Calico! Check out the SC store for more info. Michaels white base and panel cut with an RC die. Versafine black ink, and Copic markers for the images. An old piece of yellow gingham, and a scrap of blue to finish things off. Sure hope this makes you happy too. With that, I'm off to run errands. Blessings to you all this week, and happy dances everyone.

Under the Wire

I'm barely making it in over at CASology today. Had a busy weekend, plus the NCAA tournaments were on TV, and I had to watch a granddaughter play via webcast (her team won the consolation round of the LBAA National basketball tournament - middle school). Had these cards set to go, just no time to get a post done. So without further ado, I will get to the task at hand.

First up is my card for CASology. Somehow I think if I put this one in first, I won't miss the deadline. Makes no sense, as it won't go in until I finish this post and publish it, but that's how my silly brain works.... Anyway...the Cue Card for this challenge is "blossom."

And I've definitely got one here:

This bloom is from the AE Petals and Stems set, and the sentiment is from Oh Happy Day all on a Michaels white base and scrap. I used some Colorbox ink for the bloom, and some old Rubber Stampede purple ink for the center and the sentiment. Not sure why I chose purples, but I did. I added some Doodlebug flower sequins on and off the ME die cut mat, and I popped it up with some foamy stuff from HL. It's soft and gentle irl.

Next up is a card for Avery Elle's AEIHEARTU Challenge, where we're to use stripes. Don't have to ask me twice. Next to polka dots, I love stripes best. Must be the orderliness of them....Anyway, I'll show you what I've made now. And there's still time for you to play along, so fire up those AE stamps and join me in the gallery!

Stripes, check. All stamps are from AE, naturally... For this I started with a Michaels white base, the panel,  and a bit for the polaroid camera. After coloring with Copics, I found matchy-matchy scraps of pink, yellow and blue in the big ol' scrapbox, and set them at an angle. Cut the focal panel out with my ME die and added a black mat. Fussy cut the camera, added some GA, and then stamped the sentiment. Didn't have the right color of yellow sequin, so I colored one with a Sharpie. The pink sequin also matches, but it's off-color in this photo. I popped the camera up a bit just for fun. This will make one of my teenage granddaughters happy. And with that, I've got two more cards to make and mail today. Happy dances everyone!!

Happy Birthday Kim!

Today is the fantabulous Kim Heggins' birthday! Woohoo!!! You know what that means here on Happy Dance, don't you? Yep. It's Party Time! Let's all celebrate Kim's birthday!! Once I win one of those big lotteries, I'm going to plan an irl birthday bash to end all birthday bashes, and you're all invited! Today, however, we're celebrating Kim's birthday within the confines of this virtual means, but you're all still invited to party along, then pop over to her blog, Cupcakes, Cards, and Kim and leave her some celebratory comments! So let's put our party hats on, sing "Happy Birthday Kim" really loud, and wish her the best birthday ever!

Now in case you don't have any party hats in your stash, I have a few extras...

A few decorations to get us in the party mood

A few appetizers for our gathering, starting with some chipotle popcorn chicken bites


Bacon jam on apples, this just sounds like fun, doesn't it?!


Tenderloin crostini??!! Yes, please!


Some Spring rolls...


Gotta try these Polenta-Olive Tapenade bites


Jalepeno Poppers...


7-Layer dips for everyone!!!


And some Salmon Caper bites. Yum!


Now, it wouldn't be a birthday party without a cake or two...

Get ready to "open" presents, Kim...

First, a poster for your craft room

A little necklace


A pair of fun Lucy shoes

And a  little something to keep you healthy!

Now for THE most perfect necklace...

Followed by the most perfect scarf

And the most perfect ring set

And shoes for the game

And I wish they had photos of tickets, but they don't. We'd meet up at every Giants/Cubs game all season long! At least I can 'give' you the schedule, and we can pretend we're together...



While we were at the Lake House together last October, Kim made this sweet, amazing card. I loved it then, and it's been in my mind ever since. Well, today is a good day to 'borrow' her idea, and CASE her a birthday card.

And my little tribute to Kim:

Since this is a birthday post, and since this post has been really long, if you want the "recipe" just shoot me an email. I will tell you that the little polka dot paper was kindly and oh so sweetly thrown into my scrapbox at the Lake House by Miss Kim herself. I hoarded it until I need the most absolutely special card with this most special paper!

Well, Happy Birthday Kim. Can I just say my life is richer for having known you?! It really is. You are a blessing, not only to me, but I suspect to all those who have the privilege of knowing you. True story. What an immense delight to have actually met you in person, too. I can still picture us sitting side-by-side at the dining room table laughing and crafting. Wonderfully perfect memories. Celebrate today. Enjoy your birthday. And may God bless you all the days of your life. 

Double Wishes

The title of this post refers to the sentiments on the two cards I have for today. Each has "wishes" in their sentiments, even though I didn't notice until I went to photograph them. Funny that. But before I get to them, I have a question. Is anyone else getting bombed with unwanted pins on their Pinterest boards? And it's PINTEREST who's doing it!!! What is up with that? If it continues, I may stop pinning. I've emailed them to stop, but so far they're ignoring my request. If I do stop using Pinterest, it's not because of you wonderful people; it'll be because of their tampering with my boards. Hate that!

Up first is a card for Lesley's The Challenge #27. There's a sketch and a color theme, and for my card, I chose to only go with the colors. Had a ping, and couldn't ignore it if I tried...You know how that goes, lol!

Those colors have such a Springtime feel, don't you think?

This card uses such a variety of source materials. Michaels white base and scrap. A printed stripe paper made with my Silhouette, an MFT pierced rectangle stamped with a CB sentiment in Versafine ink. Old felt flowers and brads for their centers, with MFT leaves from a lovely green scrap. I did pop up the flowers a bit too. The pink really isn't this garish. It's bright and perfect. (darn lighting/editing...)

Next, I wanted to play along at AAA Cards Challenge, where we are to create something Bare Naked. No, not that kind of bare naked...CAS. I do love CAS cards. And then this morning, I saw that Susanne was the GD over at Time Out, where, guess what???.....it's CAS too! Perfect fit. Black and white with one color. Hit that with this one!

And my other "wishes" card:

A whole bunch of NBUS!! (bad me...and more on the way...bad me) Started with a Michaels white base, and then broke out this fun SC stamp set. Cut a flag die and used the square, both of which are from PPP. I didn't pop this up, as it has to be mailed, but I think it's cute! A yellow copic, and Versafine black ink. EZPZ. And that's it for today. Happy dances everyone.

P.S. As many of you know, I struggle with migraines. LOTS of migraines. This week has been particularly tough. If I'm not commenting on your lovely blogs, it's usually due to that. So I apologize, and will get to comments soon. Thanks for understanding. xoxo