A Tweet Birthday

The colours at the Play Date Cafe this week really did my head in!  My first two efforts got chucked out and I finally decided to go easy on myself and keep it really CAS.  I broke out some more unused Skipping Stones Design stamps so this card is also headed for the Simon Says Stamp New Something challenge.  Now I'm off to dig out my desk.  I started sorting it today and it always seems to get worse before it gets better.  I barely have enough room to move my mouse around but I had to take a little tidying break to write up this post.  :)
Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Cream) Pacon, (Certainly Celery, Pool Party) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Everyday Blessings) Skipping Stones Design
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Certainly Celery) Stampin' Up
Gem:  Doodlebug Design
Impression Plate:  (Linen & Canvas) PTI

Musical Rainbow

Have you ever been away from crafting for awhile and then really struggled to get back into it?  Since we got back from our Christmas trip I've really been trying to find that awesome groove that I had going before the holidays.  It has not been easy and today's the first day I finally got something made that didn't make me want to scream.  It's for the sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Design.  Can't believe I'm starting out the year with a sketch challenge!  Maybe this will be a year full of changes...  I'm also going to enter this over at Simon Says Stamp's New challenge as this is the first time I've inked up this set of stamps.


And here's the view from our hotel on our trip.  Any idea where we were?  :)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Music notes and sentiment from Heartsong ) Skipping Stones Design
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Gem:  Doodlebug Design
Twine:  (Stone)  The Twinery

Work it, girl.

When I saw the sassy poses of the ladies on this Unity stamp I thought of the phrase, "Work it, girl!"  And, whenever I look at the Runway Inspired Challenge site, that RuPaul song, "Supermodel" pops into my head - "You better work!  Work it, girl!"  So what better challenge to use the phrase for than the RIC challenge!  Aside from RuPaul, my inspiration for the card came from the colours in the picture (green bag, mustard strap, purple sunglasses, white and beige dress) and the graphic background.  I couldn't find any stripes I liked so I went for the blue grid instead in keeping with the graphic feel.  The dots around the ladies are highlighted with lavender Stickles and the ladies themselves are covered in Glossy Accents (that green bag looks kinda shiny to me...).    I'm also going to enter this over at the Wee Memories Anything Goes challenge. 


I know my posts have been sporadic lately but I'm now officially going on a blogging break for a week or so.  Got a lot going on and am not going to be seeing the inside of the Craft Cave any time soon.  So before I go I just want to wish you the very happiest of holidays and sent out big festive hugs to all! 
Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Kraft) PTI
Stamps:  (Image from Nov 2011 KOM - Take Your Time) Unity Stamp Co, (Sentiment from Smitty's ABCs) Lawn Fawn,  (Grid Background) Hero Arts
Inks:  (More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Wisteria Wonder) Stampin' Up,  (Jardin Moss) Palette
Gems: (Lavender Ice) Queen & Co
Glitter:  (Lavender Stickles) Ranger
Other:  Glossy Accents

'Tis the Season

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I last posted.  Just like everyone else I've been busy busy busy trying to get things done during this crazy time of year!  Also, most of last weekend was spent finishing up that 72 card special order and I was more than happy to finally hand it over on Tuesday!  Today I'm supposed to be doing some cleaning but instead I snuck off to the Craft Cave to get a little carding done.  So much more fun than vacuuming...  :)


Today's card is for 4 challenges.  The colours are taken from this week's Just Us Girls challenge which I had to play along with because my buddy Lynn is the hostess!  :)  (Hope it's okay that I snuck some yellow in there...)  My inspiration is from the photo collage at Jay Gee's Nook (in particular the gift bag in the lower left hand corner).  I also wanted to play along with the Inkspirations Christmas Creations Challenge as, sadly, this is their final challenge.  And last but certainly not least I'm joining in with Use It Tuesday's Holiday challenge.  I've had that poinsettia die in my stash for a few years now and I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've used it.  That music background also had quite the layer of dust on it when I pulled it out too!  That's it for now.  Later, gators!
Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Pcaon, (Kraft) PTI, (Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Music Background) Hero Arts, Banner from Bannerific) Lawn Fawn, (Sentiment from Boughs and Bells) PTI
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Die:  (Poinsettia) Marianne Design Creatables

Fashion Inspiration

Have you seen the latest challenge blog on the block?  It's Jen Rzasa's Runway Inspired Challenge.  I wasn't sure if I'd play along since I'm not much of a fashionista but I am trying to push myself a bit more in the challenge department so I thought I'd dive in.  I thought the sentiment was appropriate as fashion is supposed to be fabulous!  :)  


I had hoped to work on some cards tonight for tomorrow but I'm knackered and I'm working a long shift tomorrow too so hopefully I'll be back on Saturday!  Until then... 


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Daffodil Delight) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  (Obviously Orange Grid) Doodlebug Design
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Birthday Sayings) Hero Arts
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Butterscotch) Adirondack
Die:  (Star) PTI

Let's Hang Out

I managed to avoid the call of the Angry Birds long enough to get 4 cards completed yesterday including this one for the Embellish Banners Colour Trends Challenge.  I made my banner out of flowers and leaves.  Don't think I've made too many banners out of flags actually.  I tend to make them out of other things like this one and this one.  
Gotta jet to work - it's my long day today.  Hope you all have a wonderful one!  :)  






Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Garden Green, Soft Suede) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Tree, leaf and sentiment from Hang Ups, Flower from Friendly Flowers) Paper Smooches
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Garden Green) Stampin' Up
Punches:  (Flower) Woodware Craft Supply, (Corner Punch) Marvy Uchida
Gems:  Doodlebug
Copics:  YR16, V06

Colourful Vines

***This is my second post of the day.  Please click here for my Paper Smooches Sparks / Young Crafters Unite card.***

I sat and stared at this Just Add Ink inspiration photo for ages and actually nearly gave up on it.  I didn't want to go the purse route as I made a purse card just last week and I don't have much silver stuff kicking around at the moment.  That left me with the colour palette which I found a bit scary!  However, after going through just about every stamp set I own I settled on PTI's Background Basics: Vines set and the coordinating die. Despite my initial colour fear I ended up having fun with the card and with breaking in the stamps and die.  And speaking of dies, Young Crafter Unite, here I come with one more entry!  :)      

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Melon Mambo, Poppy Parade, Pool Party) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Vine border from Background Basics: Vines) PTI, (Sentiment) Hero Arts
Inks:  (Lucky Limeade) Stampin' Up
Dies:  (Leafy Vine Border) PTI

Punch:  (Corner Punch) Marvy Uchida