Great news

So I mentioned in my last post that I had a lot on my mind. Well I couldn't say anything until today because nothing was finalized yet. We are making another big move in the near future, well in 6 days to be exact! My husband applied for a job about 19 hrs from here in Manitoba and today he had to fly out for his final interview where they let him know that he got the job. So in six days we need to be on our way, which leaves me with a lot of packing to do.

Some of you are probably scratching your head because we just made a big move at the beginning of the year and the only thing I'll say is we're doing what feels right and we are both so super excited to move there. The job is exactly what my husband wanted and I get to live near family and watch my niece and nephew grow up. We couldn't ask for better.

So as you've probably already guessed, no cardmaking for me for the next two weeks. I've already packed some of it up, I've got a nice sized order that will be waiting for me in MB when we get there so I know I'll be eager to try out all my new stamps and other goodies. Don't you just love Stampin' Up?!

Check back in two weeks and I should be up and happily running again!

Good Morning!

By now some of you are probably noticing my lack of posts lately, I have a lot on my mind these days and I promise things will get back to normal soon. I know it's really not much of an excuse but I can't really go into more details at this point.

I needed a Birthday card for my husband's niece who's turning 4 next week. This card isn't really my style and I made a few mistakes but I figure she's only 4, like she'll notice, lol.

You'll notice that on the top of the cake there's a scallop edge. I simply took my scallop circle punch and the regal rose cardstock to punch it out, then I trimmed it so that I'm left with about 1/3 of the actual scallop circle. Next I added dazzling diamonds to that part of the cake as well as some parts of the balloons. I think glitter and pink go so well for a little girls birthday card! I also attached small pieces of hemp twin using glue dots to the back of the balloons and then tying the three pieces together with the ribbon.

Recipe:
Stamps: Birthday Whimsy
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Whisper White, DSP-Unkown
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Rose Red,
Other: Dazzling Diamonds, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Hemp Twine, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm Still Here

I seem to have hit a bit of a dry spell with my card making lately. I've got so much on the mind, plus maybe it's time I get a new order of stamps in to rejuvinate the creative juices. I find that I bore of a stamp set or my stash of paper and embellishments, and then I'm totally ready for something fresh. I'm also realizing that I have an addiction to the Cuttlebug embossing folders, I can't get enough of them. I sometimes start a card with the thought of not using a folder this time, but of course towards the end I can't help but think how nice it would look to add a little texture to the one layer. I'll have to make a challenge for my eyes only, make a card with no embossing folders, lol.

Both of these cards have the same layout today, I just wanted to go for a different feel by using different dsp and colours. The layout is from a sketch challenge that I saw somewhere but can't remember where, I really need to keep better track of things.

The first one is made with the refuge & strength stamp set, a perfect set for making sympathy or thinking of you cards. I bought these flowers at our local drug store because I thought they'd be a close match to SU's Baja Breeze, well it turns out, it's an exact match! I couldn't believe it.

Recipe:
Stamps: Refuge & Strength
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Baja Breze, Whisper White, DSP-Parisian Breeze
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Other: Clear Rhinestone brads, Taffeta ribbon, Bazzil Flowers, Cuttlebug embossing folder

This next card was supposed to look a little different, I think I should have kept the baja breeze layer off and let it be more of a neutral coloured card. I might have to make another one, I like this one but I'd also like to see this in a simpler style. Otherwise this is a very simple card, I used black brads along the one layer and also in the centre of the flowers.

Recipe:
Stamps: All Holidays, Embrace Life
Paper: Basic Grey, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, DSP-Urban Garden
Ink: Basic Black
Other: White Taffeta Ribbon, Black brads, Oval punches, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend!

Lost my Mojo

Sorry for the sparse posts, I lost my mojo and I am not sure it is completely back. It is -44 with the wind chill right now, ouch thatès cold. I am so ready for spring right now but it appears that mother nature wants to keep us waiting a little longer.

Today I have two cards, one is a baby girl card, a copy of my other baby cards, and the other is a card we did at a workshop I had over the weekend. I used SAB products for the workshop card, including the dsp and then used a layer of vellum over top to soften the look. I also clear embossed the hearts, I think it adds that extra little oomph to the card, plus since it was a workshop card, new stampers love heat embossing.

Recipe:
Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Dollar Store stamp
Paper: Kraft, Pink Pioruettte, Very Vanilla, DSP-Parisian Summer
Ink: Pink Pirouette
Other: Halfback pearls, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Eyelet Border Punch


Recipe:
Stamps: Polka Dot Punches, All Holidays
Paper: Sahara Sand, So Saffron, CS Vellum, DSP-Delicate Dots
Ink: Basic Black
Other: SAB Ribbon Bundle, Eyelet Border punch, Heart Punch

Thanks for stopping by!

My Love/Hate Relationship with Bella Bleu

I love this paper, the matching colour is supposed to be Not Quite Navy. Well I think a mistake must have been made because whenever I use NQN with this dp, it just doesn't look right. So here's my second card for the sketch challenge. It's a very busy card, I watercoloured the flower in NQN but it was waaaaaaaaaaay too bright so I went over the whole flower with brocade blue which seemed to tone it down a little. Live & Learn.

Recipe:
Stamps: Morning Soft, All Holidays
Paper: Kraft, NQN, Very Vanilla, DSP-Bella Bleu
Ink: NQN, Brocade Blue, Mellow Moss
Other: Halfback pearls

Have a great day!

Karma

So all my wishful thinking for spring yesterday must have made karma laugh as it prepared to bring the snow this morning. I love snow, it's one of the most beautiful things nature has, but I'm totally ready for spring now. Only a little while longer.

This card was made for the sketch challenge over at splitcoaststampers. I was going for a bold, bright card I and think I achieved that. I like this card, I love soft colours but every once in a while it's nice to make a card with a punch of colour like this one. I'm going to make another today with a soft monochromatic feel to it just to see the difference colours can make with a sketch card.

Recipe:
Stamps: Eastern Blooms
Paper: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, DSP-Hawaii Papaya
Ink: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss
Other: Black Brads

Thanks for stopping by, hope you're having a warm snowless day!

The Sun is Shining, the Birds are Chirping...

And I am ready for Spring, more then ready. I love snow, don't mind the cold but usually around this time I start to get spring fever. I look forward to bike rides, walks with the kids, and just feeling the warm summer air. The place we're renting right now apparently has a ton of strawberries in the summer so I know me and the kids will keep the garden picked clean!

I made this card this morning with really no thought in mind as to how I wanted it to look, usually I can see a card in my head, (or on my computer screen if I'm casing lol). I like it but I do think it looks a little busy, but I'm not about to take it apart.

Recipe:
Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Fundamental Phrases
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White, DSP-Hawaii Papaya
Ink: Tangerine Orange, Chocolate Chip
Other: Latte Buttons, 5/8 Choc. Chip Ribbon

Have a great day!

Another card

Here's another card I made this afternoon. It started off okay, I tried to go with a colour that I don't normally use, I usually lean towards blues or reds/pinks so it was nice to get out of my comfort zone. But I think I goofed by putting the rhinestones where I did, or I should have used very vanilla brads for a subtle look. I love the subtle look. I should add that IRL the colours on the card are a little more pronounced and there's more seperation between the leaves and flowers.

Recipe:
Stamps: Morning Soft
Paper: More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Watercolour pp
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard
Other: Clear Rhinestone brads

TFL!

Happy Monday everyone!

It's such a beautiful day here, the sun is shining, my boys are in kindergarten and my daughter is busy stamping her favourite stamps, yes I let my dd use my stamps. I'm not one to panic if the wood blocks get dirty, I would rather have well worn stamps that have created a lot of memories with my daughter, then perfectly preserved stamps that have no memories.

Here's a card I made this morning. When this dsp first came out I loved it, used it a lot. But now it's starting to feel "old" so I figure I better use it quickly before it sits in my paper collection for life!

Recipe:
Stamps: All Holidays, Eastern Blooms
Paper: Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, DSP-Green Tea
Ink: Baja Breeze, Old Olive
Other: Baja Breeze Ribbon, 5/16" Neutral brads, Crystal Effects (for the flower center)

Thanks for stopping by, have a great Monday!

Lazy Sunday Afternoons

There's something to be said about those lazy Sunday afternoons. They are so peaceful, so quiet, and make for a perfect time to make cards. This card doesn't really look like an Easter card but I put an Easter greeting on it because I really don't have any Easter cards made yet. I love all the cute Easter stamps sets but I hate spending money on stamp sets I can only use once a year, unless they're Christmas sets, you can never have enough of those.

Recipe:
Stamps: All Holidays, Embrace Life
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke, DSP-To The Nines
Ink: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black
Other: 5/16" Neutral brads, Grosgrain Ribbon, Nestabilities

Thanks for stopping, enjoy the rest of your weekend!