Lots and LOTS of new things!

Well, can you believe it's half past summer already!? The older I get, the faster the summers whiz by. I have been a "bad blogger" this summer. It's not that I haven't been creating...I have...honest! It's more that sitting at the computer for any length of time at all to edit pics and to post things is still a bit uncomfortable. (had a wee mishap earlier this summer) So, that's my sad story. However, I'm back to full speed now, so I'll be a better blogger. Now on to fun!

This week's challenge for the Impression Obsession designers is "simple stamping," using fewer embellishments than we usually do. Here are a couple of cards I made for this theme, using the challenge sketch over at Papertake Weekly. I used two stamps designed by the artistically gifted Melissa Gordon. Mitra Friant knows talent when she selects her stamp designers, that's for sure! This one is "Duck and Bunny," and you can find it right here.

This one is her Labrador Retriever, which you can find here. Isn't she just GORGEOUS! She just needed a little simple chalking.

Have a look at the full range of Melissa's stamp designs here. She renders the most beautiful pencil sketches of all kinds of beautiful critters! Take a little time to visit the blogs of the other Impression Impression designers too, for more ideas about simple stamping:

Dina Kowal

Jeanne Streiff

Jenny Gropp

Kathy Menzies

Laura Fulcher

OH! And visit the IO blog right here to find out who won the four gift certificates from IO and Flower Soft!

Gingersnap Creation's random redhead challenge right now is to do something 3-d, the Theme Thursday challenge is all about children, and the Play Date Cafe wants us to use lovely blues and greens together. Here are a couple of one-dollar frames I altered for a local craft shop this week. The boy is a favourite picture of my son Michael from MANY years ago (yes he knows, lol), and that precious wee girl is Brea, the daughter of one of the store's customers.

Now, on to some other things. I finished a set of ten simple note cards with Kraft cardstock and Crafty Secrets goodness. I LOVE the wonderful vintage images! The Creatilicious challenge right now is vintage. Here are five cards from the set:

The City Crafter challenge is "Isn't she lovely?" She IS 'eh!?

The current Fab and Funky challenge is flower power! Crafty Secrets has DOZENS of gorgeous vintage floral images...have a look!

Now here are some Crafty Secrets Halloween cards just published in the current issue of one of my very favourite paper crafting magazines, Paper Creations; aren't these just the CUTEST images!? I just love the way Paper Creations photographed these cards. Their photography looks so much better than mine! (lol) I have lots more Crafty Secrets cards and projects coming up in three different magazines...watch this space :-)

Let's see, now here are some Christmas cards I just finished with Lynell Harlow's FABULOUS new stencils over at Dreamweaver. Creative Cottage challenge # 21 is Christmas, so I'm entering these three for that challenge. This next card also fits with the current City Crafter challenge...isn't she lovely. As soon as I saw this Hallelujah, I knew exactly what I wanted to pair it with...this stamp from Magenta. I used Melt Art clear ultra thick embossing enamel after I stamped the image with Ancient Page Chocolate Brown ink. I used just one layer of the EP because I wanted a mottled, textured look. I stencilled with gold glossy embossing paste, then sprinkled Green Metallic FX over the wet paste. What a beautiful sheen that gives the paste! Look at all the gorgeous Metallic FX colours available right here.

This is another newly released stencil...SOOO pretty! I used white matte embossing paste, then Green Metallic FX powder over that. I used LOTS of Tulip crystals for the berries...love that bling! :-) For the sentiment, I used the same paste, and sprinkled just the smallest bit of Gold Metallic FX over that, just for a little sheen.

This card uses gold glossy embossing paste all by itself...such beautiful results for such a simple card! These pretty beaded pins are available over at Dreamweaver too, just scroll down to the bottom of this page to see them! It meets the Charizma Cardz challenge this week, which is to use die cuts.

PHEW!! I have a few more things on my craft desk ready to put together, so I'll post those tomorrow. Thanks SO MUCH for visiting my blog. I'll come by yours too if I see your link.

I wish you a wonderful day, doing what you love best!