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

Theda, Oh Theda

http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.ca/2012/06/challenge-44-white-on-white.html --White on White
http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.ca/2012/06/time-or-travel.html -Time or Travel
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.ca/2012/06/mim-95-with-cupcake-cards-craft.html --Anything Goes
 http://artwithnoboundaries.blogspot.ca/2012/06/anything-goes-performing-arts-part2.html - Anything Goes-Performing Arts
http://abcdtchallenge.blogspot.ca/2012/06/june-challenge-is-here.html - Colour Pallette

The top card is for a friend's birthday. I used the colour pallette of cream, light and dusty rose, lavender and sage green. I stamped the flower image in basic black ink. I coloured it with gamsol pencils. I stamped the image again and cut parts out for a 3D effect. I also used a little ribbon. the cuddlebug and background in 2 shades of pink. I hope this works with the abc challenge and Make It Monday.  The 2nd card is for travel for the Stampman Challenge. It was for my husband who loves Picasso. The stamp was bought in Venice and he is travelling on his horse. I added the background image and coloured it with sparkly golden hued pens and added the mask since it just seemed to go with Venice. The last card, works for the Whimsy Inspire challenge to have a white card except for the image which I drew-I did not trace -from one of my favourites-Al Hirschfeld. This image is Theda Bara. The first screen Vamp. Poor Theda-she always wanted to be loved. I used the cuddlebug alot for the background and the scrolls. I added the bling and now Theda is alive again! 

Too Late for Favourite Songs of Christmas

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.ca/2012/06/mim-92-with-pretty-little-ribbon-shop.html - Anything Goes

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.ca/2012/05/challenge-33-humour.html - Humour

http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.ca/2012/05/k-is-for-keep-it-simple.html - Keep It Simple

http://christmasstampin.blogspot.ca/2012/06/challenge-13-perfect-presentation.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ChristmasStampinAllYearLong+(Christmas+Stampin'+All+Year+Long) - Monochromatic

I missed Christmas Cards All Year Round challenge where one was to make a card to one's favourite Christmas song/Carol. They now have that one can make one card but I still like making 5 and decided to do the challenge anyway and have fun with other challenges.  On Make It Monday it is always anything goes so there are 5 to choose from:) The first card is "Blue Christmas" but with a twist and it is my humour card for  Dream Valley Challenge. I have this version...sung by Porky Pig! If you can ever listen to it-you will laugh yourself silly:). The piggies are coloured in prismas colours and masked so the background notes are stamped on. I mounted it on layers of cardstock and cut the edges with Victorian cut style scissors.I used a glitter blue pen for the wording around the card.

The 2nd card is a song sung by Ivan Rebroff who could sing low F to high F-I am not kidding and I love this one song sung in German which is supposed to be a Russian sleigh song. I had no sleigh so the carriage will have to do. It is about getting home as fast as the wind to home and sit by the fire and be with the children at Christmas. It is my favourite Christmas song since I was a kid. This is a punch out card and 3d effect with pop up dots.

The 3rd card is Monochromatic for the Christmas Stampin Up challenge. I thought of the song "Angels we have heard on High". I bought this new cuddlebug emboss folder-It is 2 in one. I also bought the victorian cutout one that I can use with my cuddlebug as well. I distressed the edges. I stamped and cut out the angel and coloured her with tombow markers. I added the ribbon and stars on the edges.

The 4th card I thought of the "Skater's Waltz" but it could be "Winter Wonderland" as well. I love the "Skater's Waltz" better and this was also done with the pop up dots which I love.

The last card is "O Christmas Tree" and This works for the ABC Christmas Tree Challenge for Keep it Simple. I chose a basic black cardstock. I embossed the tree in silver and used White sparkle embossing powder. The Merry Christmas stamp is embossed in Egyptian Gold sparkle. I added some stars and snowflakes and that is it. Oh and I added the edge in Egyptian Gold as well.

So Christmas rules at the beginning of June:) Have a fund day and week!!

Birthday Crazy!

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.ca/2012/05/mim-91-with-digi-doodle-shop.html - Anything Goes
http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.ca/2012/05/challenge-96-green-brown-white-and-hint.html - Brown, Green, White and a hint of Lavender/Purple
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.ca/2012/05/simon-says-anything-goes.html -Anything Goes

Can we say Birthdays!!! My friend's birthday is on May 14th, My hubby's niece is on the 17th, my niece is on the 18th, my friend's son is on the 21st, My wonderful hubby, Michael, is on the 25th, my friend's daughter is on the 29th and mine is onJune 2nd!!! Now put Mother's Day in the mix and my head is ready to explode. I used to have my birthday all to myself and loved being the cracked Gemini that I am but now there are others and Taurus in the mix...I really need to find stamps with astrology as a theme. Make It Monday is always Anything Goes and I love it. They have such a great site and so many beautiful creations. Now I love Simon Says because it also has so many neat creations and I always loved playing that game but I always lost...I didn't use twine so I hope you do not hold that against me. So many did a great job. Colour Create Challenge is just that..a Challenge. I think I have more than a hint of Lavender/Purple but I hope it still fits the bill. I used some great paper with glitter. I stamped the daisy image in Apricot Brown ans I used my Prisma Pencils for the lavender effect. I have the basic white cardstock with the peel off in Gold and some remnants from my cuddlebug that seemed to work and it is in Lavender. Thank you to all the beautiful works I see when i venture to these sites and to all the others-what a great way to view such wonderful works. Thanks!

One Layer, Framed

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.ca/2012/05/challenge-32-case.html - Case-use a design team's card as an inspiration
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.ca/2012/05/challenge-169-frame-it.html - Frame It!

Hello one and all! I actually made this card 2 weeks ago as I  will be helping a craft class at a long term care home where my mom is now living. At DreamValley Challanges, one could use a number of design team's beautiful cards as an inspiration and use their card to make one of your own. I was inspired by this One layer card that says "LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE" It had a heart and flourishes on the card. This is a card that I will be using for the elderly to make. It is one layer andthe flower is coloured with pastel chalks. I used a brown dye pad for the flourishes to frame the flower in and then I sponged the card with pink, lavender and a blue. It just seemed to fit this challenge and the Frame It challenge at Crafty Creations. . When I visit my mom and I see the elderly there, many do not talk and can not walk and I think of their lives and what they must have been in youth and that saying Live, Laugh, Love just seemed to hit me as I am hoping the people whom I will help next Saturday will have a little fun. Enjoy the day and every day...you never know...  

Male Cards a Go-Go

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.ca/2012/05/mim-88-with-bugaboo-stamps.html - Anything Goes
http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.ca/2012/05/your-favorite-technique.html -Your Favourite technique
http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.ca/2012/05/challenge-109-torn-or-distressed-edges.html -Torn or distressed edges

I have missed a few challenges and these were made with them in mind. 2 had a male themed challenge but it so happened that I wanted to use my favourite technique that I haven't used in a while which works out! The top card I used my brayer and rolled the colour on which is called Autumn. I stamped in black dye the image. I used the cuddlebug which I also love for the green paper and mounted it on the nice brown paper and finished it off with gold trim. When I took the picture the flash just seemed to hit the right spot eh?? The 2nd card I used my cuddlebug to cut out the nestibilities design. I then used my stencil with grapes and covered it with paste which creates a 3d layer. I coloured it with pastel chalks. I used, as almost always, the trim on the edges. Oh yeah I also distressed the inner card  for an aged look. It makes me think of wine..let me dream.....I entered these challenges for the anything goes challenge for Make It Monday and My Favourite Technique for the Stampman Challenge and Craft Your Passion which I hope you do see the distressed look, or I shall be distressed:). There are so many techniques I love.... hard to choose