February 13, 2015

Tag You're It Challenge #15

Happy Friday!
It's time for new inspiration at Tag You're It!

This challenge Donna Mikasa is our inspiration with a card!
You are going to translate the inspiration into a tag...




When I created my tag I was so inspired by Donna's use of colour and water. I created a background on my tag using Distress Inks and a small pattern. Using a paintbrush I picked up some water a kind of squished the water into the centres of each flower, dipping my brush again each flower. I like the way it turned out. I die cut my word and added Glossy Accents.

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We hope that this challenge really inspires you to create a mini masterpiece.
Don't forget that the winner will be invited to guest with the team for the next challenge!


Today I am picking up my new wheels and we are off to Florida.

Some of you may recall my post on the Coffee Loving Papercrafers Facebook page from the car dealership last week. Well it was bad, very very bad--timing chain. My Enclave was 7 years old and had 208 000 km (130 000 miles) on it and in the last 6 months has been digging deeper and deeper into my wallet! So Thursday night I signed the papers and we are picking up my new car today and leaving for Florida. The great deal I got on the house we are renting got a wee bit more expensive.  Excited for a road trip!

I have scheduled posts for the next couple of weeks, but along with a much needed holiday I am taking a bit of a blogging break. I am hoping to find my rhythm again and when I return I will be refreshed and ready to jump back in.

Happy Valentines Day!

February 10, 2015

CCC #133

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Happy Tuesday and time for another Cue Word at CASology!
This week our our cue word is:


...how fitting!

Simple design and to the point. The hardest part of this card was the gold thread. It as almost comical how long it took me to get it somewhat where I wanted it. The thread is so light that I couldn't control it and yet it had enough of it's own shape to not twist where I asked it to. The scribble string look (that isn't from a die) might not be in my repertoire.


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I am also submitting this it to Addicted to CAS Hugs & Kisses challenge...



...and I am submitting to Simon Says Monday Challenge, Red + Pink!




Have a look at what the rest of the Design Team has created to inspire you...






Guest Designer: Mayline

Working on my packing today, 3 more sleeps to Florida!

February 9, 2015

Saturday at Ardyth's

Saturday was a wonderful crafty day at Ardyth's!
Lots of photos today...

Emily Leiphart, Natasha Kara and I met up at Ardyth's home in Toronto.
A typical winter day in Southern Ontario where you really don't know what the weather is going to do. After digging out of my driveway I left my house in a snowstorm, 10 minutes down the road it turned to rain which was much better to drive in.

Met up with the girls and had a fabulous day talking and laughing and believe it or not actually crafting (a bit). I learned some new tips and techniques. I always have a great time with these ladies. 



Natasha is just back from a family vacation in South Africa and she had one of these little pillow boxes for each of us with a souvenir from her trip, each one with a different keychain.



Isn't he the cutest. Natasha made the butterflies on the box (apparently 150 of them!) The photo doesn't quite pick up the gorgeous glitter on it, but the butterfly now has a home on my window frame in my craft room.

Ardyth started off by showing us a technique of how to achieve a beautiful Distress Ink ombre without transition lines and a tip on how to ink up the foam applicators well. Here is my finished card and you will no doubt know it is totally her design. The outline of the heart on the card front is rimmed with Stickles.



Emily brought her dies with her and showed us how she has them organized in 3 ring binders with clear pocket organizers, compact and easy to see what dies you  have. She also showed us how she tapes her videos and gave me some assistance on how to use my iPhone along with my JOBY tripod. She also had some tips on what the movie software can do. No we didn't make a video of us. Emily gave us each a card kit she prepared with some Paper Smooches goodies and of course we ran out of day. So it's for playing with in the comfort of our own homes.  Here is her kit, the frame inside is Simon Says wood veneer paper, cannot wait to try that out.


Emily had to get going so Natasha, Ardyth and I worked on her kit. She taught us how to create dimension using a Copic blender marker, pencil crayon and a three stage stamp. Natasha is so talented and her sample card looks just like a photograph of a real rose. I understood the process but need a LOT more practice.  Here is my completed card, the gold foil paper is gorgeous.


We didn't get to my kit either, but here is what was in it...


Now for the part I know you are waiting for, why Ardyth could not get rid of me.
By the time we packed up to leave it was snowing pretty good, so we headed out and I put my stuff in the car, including my cell phone and purse, and I started the car. Ardyth was already helping brush the snow off and I shut the door and went to get the brush from the back seat--the doors are locked! I must have accidentally leaned on the lock button on the door when I got out.  Since I didn't start the car with my auto-remote the car allowed me to lock it, had I used the auto-remote it would not have let me. Lessons learned! Ardyth had to go pick up her daughter so she left me her cell phone so I could call roadside assistance for help when they asked me for my number I didn't have one because it was Ardyth's cell and she was gone and mine was no good--it was in the car! 

Although they were really busy with the storm they were there within the hour. Ardyth and I sat is her front room watching my car sit there running! Ugh, so much for the cheap gas now right? It gets better, they arrived and went to the house across the street, I guess I gave CAA the wrong street address. Before I could get my boots on they left. Fortunately they came back around but were over at the corner of the street. You should have seen Ardyth take off on foot to flag him down, she is my hero!  He had it open in a couple of minutes and my car was so toasty warm. By then it was really snowing and the trip home took double time, you could not see the lines on the snow covered highway which makes for a scary winter drive.

Arydth and I always seem to have an adventure.  If you remember two years ago we went to visit Virginia Lu, a trip that should have taken an hour, the highway was closed because of an accident. We headed off the highway without GPS knowing only that we needed to go north-west--kind off. Three hours later we got there!

Never a dull minute with that lady, love her to pieces!
Hope you have a wonderful week, thanks for sticking through this long post.

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There are some of you following along with my challenges and treatment of my MS. I have, by request, updated my story in the tab at the top of my blog if you are interested.

February 7, 2015

RS #152 and Curtain Call Reminder


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Happy Saturday and that means another new sketch from RetroSketches!

There is also still time to play at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!


I created a panel using Distress Inks--Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey and Picked Raspberry.  Then I die cut the sentiment from my Distress Inked panel.


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photo source: thetomkatstudio.com



Today I am having a crafty day with Ardyth Percy-Robb, Emily Leiphart and Natasha Kara!
I am not sure what we will accomplish but hanging out with these girls is so fun!

I hope you have a relaxing crafty weekend.

February 5, 2015

CAS(E) this Sketch #108

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A last minute submission for CAS(E) this Sketch #108!

I haven't played in a while but I really didn't want to miss out this week. Why you ask? because the sketch was really challenging for me. I thought I had lots of ideas but when it came down to the execution, it wasn't happening. So why not take a pass this week? That would be giving up, everyone loves a good challenge right? As my Dad always said to me growing up a challenge keeps us fresh and keeps us sharp. It may not be the best card I have ever created, but it was a really enjoyable process.

I started with a white card base, then I stamped the SSS Grid Background pattern with Hero Arts Bubblegum ink. From there I die cut the new MFT scalloped edge rectangle from the new MFT Die-namics Tag Builder Blueprint 3. The heart from MFT All My Love was also stamped with Hero Arts Bubblegum ink.


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Have a wonderful day!

February 4, 2015

The Card Concept Challenge #28

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It's time for a new challenge at The Card Concept!



I was inspired by the warmth and softness of these colours and especially the soft pink roses. I wanted to use the inspiration in keeping with my CAS style. So I focused on keeping the card as close to one layer as I could and to keep to design o minimal clutter. I shrunk down my image panel and was able to use all the colours--the soft brown for the sentiment, pink and grey for the rose an a darker brown for the heart. The heart has a double layer of the 'camera ellusive' Wink of Stella.


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there it is in all it's sparkly glory...

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Pop over to The Card Concept to see what the rest of the team has created for your inspiration along with the February Freestyle Collage Guest Designer, Jeanne Jachna!

Also pay a visit to Lena Johansen, her blog is Lena J. and she has some lovely cards.

and welcome Mary, a new follower

Thanks for visiting!


February 3, 2015

RetroSketches #151 and colourQ #278

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For this week's RetroSketches #151!
My post is a bit late going up, but my mother always said better late than never.  This week's sketch is based on THIS gorgeous card by our own Erin Taylor.

I decided to use the colours from this week's colourQ for my card along with some new Reverse Confetti Love Blooms stamps and dies.  I hope you find some time to play along with both these challenges this week! The little enamel dots on the flower centres were a little trick I picked up from Lynn Mangan.


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