Some different things...

...for different challenges. The current Created by Hand challenge is "for the beauty of the earth;" my card also fits the current "pick three" challenge, the Frosted Design challenge (trees) and the Paper Sundae challenge (no people) . I used a Cornish Heritage Farms background stamp, misted with two colours of Ecoline Watercolour Ink and stamped on watercolour paper. I stamped and thermal embossed the Quietfire Design crow, then paste embossed the crows on a wire at the top with a Dreamweaver stencil and Dreamweaver black matte embossing paste.

On another note entirely, if you like all things vintage and Victoriana, here's something you might be interested in. Everybody loves giveaways, and in another few days, there'll be lovely challenges and contests there. Have a browse through the shop too, there are some GORGEOUS paper crafting goodies there for your own heartfelt creations.

Thanks for stopping by today. Enjoy your week!

Happy Birthday

I created this card to meet these challenges: Crafty Secrets sketch challenge over at Split Coast Stampers, butterflies challenge at Our Creative Corner, Creatilicious (flowers and bling), Cute Card Thursday's touchy-feely (cards we want to be able to touch...hope the velvet and lace might qualify...), the ABC challenge (make it sparkle), Creative Cottage (things with wings), Practical Scrappers (glitter and bling), Creative Card Crew's birthday card challenge, and finally, the Wee Memories challenge (vintage theme, use ribbon)

This gorgeous vintage image is from Crafty Secrets. The background is Cuttlebug-embossed with the Textured Textile folder. I made the little lace rosette from lace I dyed in my microwave oven with peony petals from last summer's garden, then I added an Offray satin ribbon rose in the centre. The tiny butterfly is punched with Martha's butterfly punch, then glittered with Tulip Fashion Glitter. The bottom edge is done with Martha's lace border punch.

Thanks somuch for stopping by today.I wish you a happy and creative weekend!

Some Thursday crafty fun

I have lots of company coming for dinner tonight,so by 7am, I had Chicken Cacciatore bubbling in the crock pot (with a healthy helping of dry red wine), bread rising, lots of garlic peeled and crushed (nothing like the smell of garlic to wake you up first thing in the morning!), a couple of cups of Gruyere Cheese grated at the ready, and pastry made for Lemon Meringue Pie. I don't cook this much in a week! But OOOOHHH the wonderful SMELLS!! Do you enjoy cooking? What's your favourite dish to make?

Well, other than preparing for dinner, I'm doing another favourite thing...happily playing with paper!The Impression Obsession design team's challenge today is to work with our old school colours. Mine were blue and white. I created this birthday card, using some hoarded Anna Griffin paper and a simple Queen Anne's Lace stamp, thermal embossed in white. I stamped the IO sentiment directly on the ribbon. I always enjoy scanning blog challenges to create something to meet other challenges too, so for this one, I followed the Creative Card Crew's challenge (birthdays), Our Creative Corner's challenge (use bows), the Lots to Do challenge (embossing), and the Pick Three challenge (use a die cutting machine, use a leaf, dry emboss). I hope you take a little time to see the other IO designers' wonderful eye candy! Here's the who's who for today:

Dina Kowal

Jeanne Streiff

Jenny Gropp

Kathy Menzies

Laura Fulcher

Don't forget that you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps. Just visit the IO blog for the details; there's a $25 gift certificate for the winner!

This next card was done for a couple of challenges too. Over at the Crafty Secrets section at Split Coast Stampers, their challenge is a card sketch, and over at the Play Date Cafe, their challenge is to do a black and white card with a splash of orange, and the folks at Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger is "Lovely as a Rose." Lucky me! I made up a dozen paper roses just last night!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I'll visit you too if I have a link!

Coronado Island Stamp

Coronado Island stamps are relatively new to me, and I just LOVE this one! Looking for an occasion to use it, Wednesday Stamper's challenge today is wild animals, and Papertake Weekly's challenge is to do something cute. I think these baby bears are absolutely the CUTEST things...whenever I look at them, I think...aaawww! (lol) I made this one into a shaker card with lots of snowy glitter inside.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today. I'll stop by your place too!

For a pal

This week's Wednesday Stamper challenge is to use trees, and over at Gingersnap Creations, the challenge is the "Good Earth," and the Sisterhood is celebrating Earth Day! I made a card this morning, and quickly trashed it, it was SOOOO ugly! However, a pal of mine (Germaine...who does NOT, as yet, have a blog...for shame!) created this one, which I've decided to post for her. Please do leave her some lovin,' she's not particularly confident as a new card maker, and I think this one ROCKS!

Thanks for stopping by today...and leaving some encouragement for my pal!

LOVING Spring!

Aaahhh, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, gardening chores await. I am SO grateful for all these signs of spring, after our snowy winter!

I needed a thank you card today, so I went online, checked out the various challenges, and created this one to meet these: the Sisterhood challenge is to find something to be grateful for; Secret Crafters' challenge is "How does your garden grow;" the One Stop challenge is paper piecing; the Flourishes challenge is to use one of three photos as inspiration (I used a floral quilt).

The stamp I used here is from Impression Obsession, coloured with Prismacolour Premier Art Markers and Copics, and I used a Martha Stewart punch on the bottom border. I have a confession to make. When I initially coloured this image, I used blue on a couple of the tulips...the overall look was dreadful! (lol) And BLUE TULIPS? What was I THINKING!? So, I stamped the image again, coloured the offending tulips pink to match the pinks on the band and ribbon, paper pieced them, and voila! Saved! If you look at the close-up, you can see the offending colour underneath the paper pieced tulips. LOVE it when I can save a card from the trash bin! ;)

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today! I wish you a blessed Easter, and a happy, creative week!

Celebrating Mothers!

Over at Impression Obsession, the current challenge is to create art celebrating mothers. What a wonderful idea!

For this card, I used one of Gary Robertson's stamps ("A Day at the Beach") over a distress inked watercolour paper background (for the current Crazy Amigo challenge [inked backgrounds] and the Creative Card Crew challenge, which is vintage) , and an Impression Obsession sentiment stamp from this set. I don't know if you can see them, but in the bottom left corner, I glued three tiny seashells. I'll send this one along to my daughter, a busy Mum of four little boys, along with a "treat-yourself" coffee card.

I wanted to use spring colours today, so these two cards were created with the fabulous new "Cover-a-Card" Flourish stamp. They're HUGE, and so easy to stamp with the Mega Mount a 6" by 6" acrylic handle that rocks gently as you stamp. You can see the full line of Cover a Card stamps here...worth a look...SO versatile!! These cards fit with the Everybody Art Challenge,which is spring; Gingersnap Creation's Spring Growth and Renewal;" the current Pick Three challenge, and challenge # 4 over at Paper Garden Projects, which is embossing.

I stamped and embossed several pretty colours with this background stamp, so now I have oodles of delightful hearts and butterflies to use!

Now don't forget, you can enter the Impression Obsession challenges too! By using your own IO stamps and posting to this blog, you'll also be entered to win a $25 gift certificate for Impression Obsession stamps! See all the details, along with a schedule of upcoming challenges, right here. We'd LOVE to see what you create. Don't forget to stop by the other IO designers' blogs to see some paper delight. The links to their blogs are on my sidebar.

Thanks again for taking the time from your busy day to stop by. I wish you a happy, creative day.