Going Masculine...but still Super Cute!

Hey Everyone,

I actually had some time (and motivation) to make another card this week!  It was a friend's son's first birthday yesterday and they waste no expense throwing the little guy a truly unique and cool birthday party!  It was at an equestrian centre where the kids (and grown ups) got to see the horses, ride ponies, learn some horse/pony facts and eat some good eats!  The theme was a "cowboy" theme and it was really cool (a little chilly due to the weather and the lack of heating in the stable areas we were in but (most) of us were dressed for the conditions and had a great time!).
Here's the card I made for the little man!

happy die: PTI; banner die and "birthday' sentiment: Simon Says Stamp; embossing folder: Cuttlebug; image: The Greeting Farm; Star dies: Quickutz/Lifestyle Crafts; Glitter on stars: Stickles; inks: Copic Markers, Distress Inks.

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Glitter It
Anyone for Anya: Masculine or Grungy
Sister Act Anything Goes Card Challenge: #49

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Liz

Twisted Tuesday #72-Don't Go Near The Edge!

Hey Everyone,

I'm back for another challenge over at Twisted Tuesday Challenges!  This fortnight the challenge is simple:  Stay away from the edges!

Challenge:  Don't go near the edge (i.e. other than the base layer, keep all embellishments and details in the centre of the project and nothing near the edges)
The Twist:  Use an old book/dictionary page/old script page on your creation.
Easy Peasy!

Here is my take:

The patterned paper: MME; image stamp: The Greeting Farm, Sentiment die and stamp: Simon Says Stamp, butterfly punch: Martha Stewart; lace trim: Recollections; twine: Sew Easy, pearls: Prima, wooden frame: Recollections.

The Greeting Farm image was coloured in using pencil crayons.  My daughter had them out for a project and I thought, "why not?".  It's semi transparent-ness works well to still see the newsprint underneath.  It's hard to tell from the photos but the inked edges of the white card stock is actually gold ink.

Be sure to check out the rest of the design team for some inspiration!  They've really kicked bums on this challenge!  Don't forget to link up you project at Twisted Tuesday Challenges as well!

I can't wait to see what you've created!

I'd like to submit this to the following blogs:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Mother's Day/Special Girl
The Greeting Farm: Use Twine or Ribbon
Sister Act Card Challenge #48: Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by!
Liz

New Month, New Challenge at 123 Get Scrappy!!

Hey Everyone!

It's challenge #8 up and running over at 123 Get Scrappy.  That means another inspiring bingo board of creativity for your scrapbooking pleasure!  March Break has just started over in my little part of the world and I've got 3 kids to entertain.  It's going to be a busy busy week!  I'm hoping that I can keep my sanity through it all.  I've given up "junk food" for lent as well (my definition of junk food is: anything with sugar as the first 2 ingredients and anything deep fried) so my tolerance for things will be stretched as it is!  Wish me luck!

Without further adieu here's my creation for this month's challenge:

Patterned paper: Recollections; naked chipboard butterflies: Maya Road, clock die: Time Holtz/Sizzix; felt scallop and heart: Fancy Pants; script stamp: Stampin' Up; distress crackle paint.

I used Distress Crackle paint in Antique Linen and Peeled Paint on the chipboard butterflies.  I haven't used these paints in a while so the Antique Linen was quite dry (I added water to it to thin it out) and the Peeled Paint had some separation in the colours.  It actually turned out pretty cool because the paint had streaks of yellow in it.
I used the first column on the bingo board:

I also incorporated #110 sketch over at Sketchabilities.  I decided to shake things up a little and use the mirror image of the sketch for my design.

Be sure to head on over to 123 Get Scrappy to join in the bingo board fun!  We've got some brand new DT members who have some great inspiration for you all!  Be sure to check them out and show them some love!  I can't wait to see what you create!

I would also like to submit this the the following:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Tag It!

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: D is for Distress!

Thanks so much for dropping by!

Liz

Twisted Tuesday Challenge#71 Keeping it Clean....and Green

Hey Everyone!

You know...I can appreciate a good, snowy winter like a good Canadian...but seriously?!?!  This is crossing a line!!  -19C today...it's pretty much been this way since Mid December.  And the snow...it doesn't stop!  Even for Canada!  yikes!  Hopefully the warmer weather is just around the corner!  (Keepin' the fingers crossed!).  Until then...there is another challenge up and running over at Twisted Tuesday Challenges.  For those of you caught up in the winter blahs that just won't let up...it's a good way to cuddle up and get cozy with some crafting!
The Challenge: Keep it clean (i.e. no distressing, inked edges, etc)
The Twist: Use the colour green on your project.

Here is my take:

patterned papers: CTMH; flowers, jewels: Prima; date stamp: Autumn Leaves, die cut letters: QuickKutz

I must admit it was indeed a challenge to NOT rough up or ink up the edges of the paper or add paint splatter to the layout.  Kept it clean. :)  The bonus was I was able to put this layout together in less than an hour!  (HUGE milestone for me!)  I pretty much challenged myself to complete this layout for my DT inspiration in the amount of time it took for my littlest daughter to take a nap-which she rarely does for me).  All the papers from CTMH co-ordinate from the same kit (wish I had kept the title wrap with the papers).

I came across these photos of my first born taken when she was in kindergarten.  That smile is so...so...inexplicable.  So Mona Lisa.  I love it!  It's soooo hard to believe this one will be celebrating her first decade birthday this year! (*sniff*).  Where does the time go!?

Be sure to check out the details and the inspiration from the rest of the DT over at Twisted Tuesday Challenges.

I can't wait to see what you create!

I would also like to submit this to the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Tick Tock

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

Twisted Tuesday Challenge #70-Anything but a Card

Hey Everyone,

Twisted Tuesday Challenge #70 is right up my alley.  While I LOVE making cards I seem to be more inclined to create scrapbook layouts when my fortnight DT challenge arises so nothing new for me this round!  Yay!  Easy peasy....and so is the challenge...for anyone!  The DT over at Twisted Tuesday has some really creative projects to share!  Be sure to drop by their blogs and show them some love!  Here's the deal this fortnight!

the Challenge: Create anything BUT a card
The Twist: Use a chipboard element on your creation.

Here is my grey matter concoction:

The photo pockets are from WeRMemory Keepers, Patterned paper and Chipboard: MME, stamps: Hero Arts; tree/bird die cuts: Quickutz

I tried my hand at these scrapbook pocket layouts.  Not as easy as I thought.  The photos were easy as they were mostly 4x6 but putting the rest together took more work as I couldn't just move things around as easily as you can on 12x12 layouts....and then you had to make sure everything lined up in the pockets if they spanned them.  Alot of work...but still I'm happy with the results.

Out trip out west was nothing short of AMAZING!!!  I can't wait to scrapbook more of the wonderful time we had.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the details of this challenge over at the Twisted Tuesday blog.

I can't wait to see when you create!

I'd also like to submit this to the following blogs:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge: Get Krafty (on tree branch)
One Crazy Stamper Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

123 Get Scrappy February 2014 Challenge!

Hey Everyone!

Challenge #7 Bingo Board is up and running over at 123 Get Scrappy!  It's packed with fun creative inspiration for everyone!  Be sure to head on over and check it out!

Here is my take on the fun!

I used the diagonal:  black background, fibres, vintage style

The fibres are in the ribbon, the swoosh behind the butterfly and the stitched title panel.  The white frame and the pearls add to the vintage style I was going for.  I wanted to try the mosaic photo thing in a layout for some time now.  I really like how it turned out.  I found it hard to decide on a photo to use. This picture is of C1 and myself checking out a deserted railroad track on a July 4 vacation in Watkins Glen (upstate New York).  We had a great time inspite of a canoe incident where we flipped a canoe of 5 people in the middle of Seneca Lake...but that's another story!

Please head over to 123 Get Scrappy to check out the challenge and be sure to linky up your creation!  I can't wait to see what you create!

I would also like to submit it to the following blogs:
Craftititude: CHallenge #58 Anything Goes or Love/Valentine's Day
One Crazy Stamper Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by.  

Liz

Twisted Tuesday Challenge #69-Look! Up in the Sky!!

Hey Everyone!

The folks over at Twisted Tuesday Challenges have yet another awesome challenge up and running!  This fortnight the theme is:  Look!  Up in the Sky!

The Challenge:  Represent the sky in your creation
The Twist:  See somethings that flies in the sky in your creation.

Here is my take:

felt frame and clouds: Fancy Pants; Twine: Sew Easy; Journey journal tag: Maya Road; Text stamp: Hero Arts; Cloud Embossing folder: Darice; Rub on letters: Making Memories; patterned paper: WeR Memory Keepers; plane stamp: Prickly Pear, special delivery stamp: Inkadinkado

 I based is off of this Sketch#108 over at Sketchabilities

I double embossed a peice of white cardstock.  First with white embossing powder and a text stamp and then with a cloud embossing folder.  I then used Distress ink to add the blue shades and make the clouds pop.

In my neck of the woods the groundhog with the authority on winter duration is Wiarton Willie.  His prediction this weekend was that an early spring is only in our dreams!  6 more weeks of winter!  Yikes!  At least we know how to make the most of this weather in my family...it's a necessity!  This weekend we did just that-a family ski trip!  It was a first on many levels for my little family: C3 went on her first drop off (no parents allowed) activity (ski lessons), we headed to a ski resort we had never been to before (even though it's relatively close!), we were accompanied with friends and their family and shared accommodations for 2 nights.  All of this resulted in LOADS OF AWESOME FUN!!  I feel really blessed to have spent some quality time with family and friends!  Here's to more!

C3 loving skiing with daddy!  Love that smile!

I would also like to submit this layout to the following challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes with Twine or String

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Liz