Butterfly Flashback

It's Flashback Friday time again!  For this challenge we are to share our first card with a butterfly.  Holy cow!  Look at all that patterned paper!!  LOL!  This card was posted here in January 2011.  I was still very much finding my feet in terms of figuring out my style and funnily enough I used a sketch challenge for this card.  Guess I developed my aversion to them fairly early on...  It's a tad lost in all those patterns but the butterfly is there on the top right corner of the sentiment panel.  If you haven't played along with Flashback Friday before then you must go check it out.  Not only is it fun to look back at how our styles have changed but there are also always fabulous prizes.  Here's the current prize from Simply Cute Creations:

How fabulous would that look in the Craft Cave!?!  Very cool.  If you want to be in with a chance to win then dig into your archives and head on over to Flashback Friday!  Good luck!  :)

Unity Flowers

Hello hello! Hope you all had a lovely weekend and that Monday has been going smoothly for you. I'm playing along today with CAS-ual Fridays' Flowers or Trees challenge and Virginia's View Challenge #4 at Lily Pad Cards.  I've used images from Unity's April 2012 KOM and done lots of embossing and fussy cutting.  Have you ever tried stamping while you have the hiccups?  If not, try and avoid the situation if at all possible because it's a real pain in the butt!!  Makes for some really squiggly lines...
And since the challenge at Simon Says Stamp is still open I'll be adding this to their Anything goes gallery!  Have a lovely evening!

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Flower and plaid from April '12 KOM - Follow Your Own) Unity, (Sentiment from Mat Stack 3 Collection) PTI
Inks: (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Pure Poppy) Stampin' Up
Embossing Powder:  (Blakc) Ranger
Gems:  (Ladybug Assortment and Beetle Black Assortment) Doodlebug

Mother's Day In Bloom

Good morning, all!  Just came back from a lovely walk with the hounds and am ready to start the day!  Tonight we're having a few people over for a Mexican dinner for my Uncle's birthday so there's lots to do to get ready for that.  For now though I'm sneaking in with a last minute entry for the challenge at Jay Gee's Nook (and one more for Simon Says Stamp of course!).  As usual all the inspiration pictures are gorgeous and bring lots of ideas to mind but I was particularly drawn to the top right picture this time.  I really like those black and orange stripes and I used my new (to me) In Bloom stamp.  Love this flower image!  I used the rock and roll technique to make the edges a little darker which I don't think I've really tried before but I like the result.  Okay, off to start prepping the chicken enchilada casserole.  Yummy!!  Have a wonderful day!

Cardstock:  (White) Gina K, (Orange) Bazzill, (So Saffron) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  Doodlebug
Stamps:  (Flower and leaves from In Bloom, Sentiment from Fillable Frames #4) PTI
Inks: (Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi, Always Artichoke) Stampin' Up
Copic:  E08
Gems:  (Bon Bon Assortment) Doodlebug

Twinkle Twinkle

I haven't played with Unity's Friends With Flair in ages so I'm excited to join in this week and especially excited to be using such a new stamp.  I find that my latest purchases tend to sit for ages before I ink them up which is really silly so I've used the star stamp from April's KOM.  It's such a sweet image and could be used for so many occasions but my first thought was for a baby card.  Handy since I needed one for a baby shower!  ;)  I've matched it up with one of my favourite Hero Arts background stamps and a Paper Smooches sentiment.  And this is another one for Simon Says Stamp's Anything Goes Challenge!  

How cute is this little sheep?  I admired one that the wonderful Kirsty of 365 Days of Pinterest Creations gave away a while back and she very kindly sent me my own!  Also included were candies for Luis and I, treats for the hounds and some beautiful chopsticks that Kirsty's lovely mum brought back from her travels to visit Kirsty's sister.  If you've never checked out Kirsty's blog then you must go now!  Not only does she share a fabulous new recipe/craft/home decor/etc idea every day but her brilliant, funny family is also fully involved in the Pinterest mania.  There's never a dull moment in the Colquhoun household!  :)  
Cardstock:  (White) Handy Hippo, (Rustic White) PTI, (Yellow) Bazzill, (Night of Navy) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Stars from April '12 KOM - Follow Your Own) Unity, (Background) Hero Arts, (Sentiment from A Little Lovin) Paper Smooches
Inks: (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Clear, Seafoam White) Ranger
Dies:  (Die-namics Stacking Stars) My Favourite Things
Copic:  Y17
Gems:  (Bumblebee Assortment) Doodlebug

Chevron Vase

**This is my second post for the day.  Please scroll down or click here for my Retrosketches/JUGS post**

As promised I'm back with another post. This card is for the latest Embellish challenge - this time to use chevrons and this sweet colour palette in your design. I've seen this layout around a lot lately - and used it once before - and really like it's versatility.  For this card I pulled out 4 Papertrey Ink sets to ink up and dressed up the flowers with some bling.  I'll also be sending this card over to the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge to meet up with it's friends from my last few posts!  :) 


I'm trying to make lots of Mother's and Father's Day cards as I have an Art in the Park event coming up next weekend and figure these might be handy to have.  Should really make some graduation cards too...  


Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Perfect Plum, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Vase & flowers from Asian Fusion, Oval from On My Couch Additions, Chevrons from Background Basics: Chevron Stripes, Sentiment from Fillable Frames #4) PTI
Inks: (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Blushing Bride, Pool Party, Perfect Plum) Stampin' Up
Gems:  (Cupcake Assortment) Doodlebug

Peace

After working at the last minute on Monday I ended up having today off which is pretty sweet!  I got to catch up on challenges that I otherwise would have missed so I'll have another post later this evening.  This card was made using the fun sketch at Retrosketches and the bright and bold colours at Just Us Girls.  I decided that the peace sign from Market Street Stamps and this sentiment die from Papertrey Ink were made for each other so I teamed them up for some bright cheerful fun.  :)  This card will also be joining the fun at Simon Says Stamp's Anything Goes challenge.  Okay, off to walk the hounds and then I'll be back with another post!

Cardstock:  (White) Handy Hippo, (Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Peace Sign from Hippie Chic) Market Street Stamps, (Background from Polka Dot Basics) PTI
Inks: (Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade) Stampin' Up
Punches:  (1 1/4" circle & 1 1/2" circle) EK Success, (1/8" hole punch) McGillDie:  (Wonderful Words: Holiday) PTI
Gems:  (Tangerine Assortment) Doodlebug

Vroom Vroom!

I'm playing along with three challenges for this card.  I started by using the sketch from The Paper Players.  I flipped it 180 degrees and simplified it a bit - no element across the top of mine (so it might be out of the running but so be it).  I stamped and  paper pieced the scooter instead of colouring it (because I prefer paper piecing) and so this is eligible for Young Crafters Unite's challenge - No Colouring Allowed..  How perfect for me!  And finally, of course, this is going in for the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge.  
That scooter reminds me of my first bike.  Here in Bermuda you can get a bike license when you turn 16 (no car license until you're 18).  You can also only have one car per household so most families have a car and a few bikes on hand.  I made a Father's Day card because more often than not the moms around here commandeer the cars so dads go off to work on their scooters in their Bermuda shorts with their ties flapping in the wind.  :)

Cardstock:  (Cream) Pacon, (Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Marina Mist, Soft Suede) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Scooter & smoke from Spiffy Scooters, Sentiments from Birthday Buddies, My Guy, & Alphadots) Paper Smooches
Ink: (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko