The Holly & the Poinsettia

http://sparklesforumchristmaschallenge.blogspot.ca/2012/07/c-18-sketch.html -a Sketch
http://christmasstampin.blogspot.ca/2012/07/challenge-20-sketch.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ChristmasStampinAllYearLong+(Christmas+Stampin'+All+Year+Long) - Sketch you like
http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.ca/2012/07/july-challenge.html- use Holly or Poinsettia

Oh I missed a few challenges like Gothic challenge from Craft Your Passion and Whimsy for Monochromatic. I just had to deal with my mom taking another turn downward with her dementia and my dog passing away. Boy...I guess I am a bit of a downer but I tried to get better by making cards! The first card is the Sketch that Sparkles wanted  us to use and I had fun doing. I used up some card pieces I had (well I have alot left) and I used sparkles for the tree and stickers of holly as well as the tree. The 2nd card is in silver but the same tree-just different sparkle colour with the holly leaves. The 3rd card is from the 52 Christmas Cards Throwdown that I also missed but I love the sketch so much and the way I did the sketch that I entered it  in the Christmas Stampin. I used my poinsettia stamp and  embossed in 3 different spakle colours (Green, Egyptian Gold and red). I cut it for each panel and the background I used Pearl dust pwoders. I stamped the Seasons Greetings in the same sparkle powder and used watercolour for the distressed edging.  The 4th and 5th card would have been great for Christmas Stampin last week as I never used those stamps! The 4th card is a stamp I bought for $4! I used all shades of brown with a hint of colour. I used mainly my chalks and distressed the edges too. The punch is the poinsettia punch and I used some stickles on that flower. The last card I tried my gothic look. I stamped the angel in silver along with the holly and used silver sparkle. I added the snowflakes and raised everything with pop up dots. Only black and grey papers were used...all with some shimmer:) Have a great day everyone and week!

Summer blooms

http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.ca/2012/07/anything-goessummer-colours.html - Summer
http://abcdtchallenge.blogspot.ca/2012/07/july-august-color-inspiration-challenge.html -Colour Palette-Dark Purple, Lavender, Cranberry, Light Blue, Sky Blue
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.ca/2012/07/make-it-monday-99-with-digi-my-world.html - Anything Goes
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.ca/2012/07/challenge-37-summer.html - Summer
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.ca/2012/07/challenge-71-lavender-and-lace.html - Lavender & Lace

I have been busy as I made some Christmas cards which you can also see on my blog. I entered them after this one:) I have also been a bit blue. My mom is taking a little turn for the worse. I think she is losing her ability to know how to cut her food up and so I make sure I am with her for at least 4 days of the week, after my work. It is just sad to see someone succumb to Dementia. On top of it my beautiful Doggie, Katie, Passed away. She was 13 (a Black Lab) and she was my peaches and cream. I thought she would last longer but she had a stroke and the vet said it was the best thing and I know he was right. So I have been away from making cards but I tried for some summer. It has been way too hot here. It is weird to say that we are looking forward to a chilly 27 tomorrow. Anyway, On this card I stamped and embossed the hyrdrangea 3 times and coloured it in tombow markers on watercolour paper. I cut each one out and raised it on background white paper. I tried to use lace and stamped on top of it for the background but it didn't quite turn out as I wanted. I had some left over lace which I used for the border after I used my dye inks. May the summer get a little cooler and a little rainy here:)

This is my beautiful Katie...All Smiles