Congratulations?

Hello, dear friends. We're half way through the week. Can you believe how fast time flies? And I'm waaay behind on my Easter cards. Have to get myself sorted out soon. That was exactly what I was trying to do with Card Patern's sketch 157. The plan was to make an Easter card. I got the papers, did the stitching and all that was left was to stamp the greeting. And then the phone rang... an ominous ring! It was one of the ladies from church with an invitation to her granddaughter's graduation! Huh?! That threw me because I attended her only granddaughter's baptism 5 years ago. Who is this child genius? Before I had the chance to say anything (like, something stupid), she added "Ooooh, she's top in her class. She's very intelligent. Kindergarden isn't what it used to be. It's very competitive. Not like in our day, we were all dense back then." I should have put the phone down at that point, but she caught me in a peculiarly charitable mood and after exchanging the appropriate pleasantries, I told her I'd drop by after dinner for coffee and congratulate the little scholar. And just like that my Easter card morphed into a "Congratulations" card. I'm hoping the little prodigy won't suspect the card's paschal origin.

The patterned paper is by Doodlebug. I embossed the background yellow CS with Crafts Too's  "Daisies" folder and lightly dabbed Versacolor White Kraft Ink over it to bring out the daisies.

The greeting is by Papermania, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black on white CS. I cut it out with Spellbinders Labels 14 die and sponged with TH's Spun Sugar. The smaller sentiment is from WMS "Say It Loud" set. 

I set an eyelet at the top of the banner strip and tied a simple knot with some sheer red ribbon. I punched a border on white CS with XCut Flower Doily punch.  

On the inside I went ahead with more punching. Reminds me of chocolate caramel. Cadbury's Caramel Eggs, remember those?

I'm also linking this card over at Crafty Sentiments where the challenge this week is "Congratulations". 

That's all from me today. Thanks for visiting and I'll catch up with you tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll leave you with this photo of Xiara (the cat) and Snoopy - true BFFs.

Beijinhos!

"Joined at the Hip"

  

Just For You

Hello there, my friends. I'm back with a card for you. This time I was inspired by the sketch from WaltzingMouse Challenge #89. It's such a cute sketch and it's not asking for much. So I decided to do it justice by exercising extreme restraint which, for me, is a vexing mission!

I've been thinking a lot about friends, present and past, and of friendships, current and lapsed and how they affect and perhaps influence our lives. It got me thinking that we (or maybe its just me) mostly say thank you when we receive something: a gift, an act of kindness, an invitation etc. But there are some people for whom a simple thank you just won't cut it. I'm going to send this card to a very dear friend: someone who is supportive yet brutally honest; who is compassionate but will not hesitate to knock me on the head when I need it; who calls me at 2am to remind me of a doctor's appointment; who says a special prayer for my kitty with cancer ... the list is endless and thank you just isn't enough. Here's my card for her:

The papers are from HOTP's "Bohemian" 12x12 pack.

Restraint was my mantra.... all I did was stitch the panels down. Got to learn when to leave things well alone! ;-)

The greeting is from WMS "Compact Sentiments" stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa on some pale lilac CS. I cut it out with Spellbinders Labels 20 and very lightly sponged it with TH's Tattered Rose. I adhered 2 pearls on either end. I cut some pearlescent cocoa CS with a die from Spellbinders Floral Doily Accents set and adhered the sentiment label with some foam tape. Finally, 4 tiny pearls at the 4 corners.  

Some sheer pink ribbon and bow mark the end of my fiddlings! I used some more foam tape to stick the doily piece to the card.  

On the inside, I did some stamping. The sentiment is from the WMS "Say It Loud" set.

Thanks for visiting and for spending these few minutes with me. I hope you'l be back for some more philosophical musings cards. Until next time, my friends ...

Beijinhos!

Floral Easter

Hello again, dear friends. It's time for another MojoMonday card. Here's this week's sketch 233 . It looks harmless enough, but boy, did I struggle. Can't seem to find my mojo today. You know, I tried all kinds of everything this is what I've come up with. Not particularly thrilled, but I've done worse! Tell me what you think :-)

The patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye "Pretty Please" pack.  And because I decided to use a very busy floral print for the background, I kept it at just one piece, with a strip of quarter inch cream satin ribbon running down just off centre.  

 For embellishment I've got 4 purple pearls running down the left panel. With the X-Cut Border Punch "Leafy Lace" I gave a decorative edge to some blue CS for the side panel.  I've also used 4 purple eyelets: 2 on the side panel and 2 more on the label. I tied a simple knot in sheer purple ribbon through the top eyelet of the punched panel. 

The greeting is from WMS's "Compact Sentiments" set, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black on to some white CS, cut out with Spellbinders Grommet Tags die and sponged with TH's Faded Jeans and Tattered Rose. Using my Fiskars punch I got 4 itsy-bitsy blossoms to scatter on the label, to follow through with those on the patterned paper. 

Finally, on all 4 corners I've attached a cluster of  flat-back pearls.

On the inside, followed through with the floral theme by adhering a couple of  large blooms , cut using a die from Spellbinders Floral Doily Accents set.

Since my embellis are in 4s I'm also going for the Raise the Bar challenge #96. As always, I'm sharing this with the good folks at Make It Monday #81. Thanks for visiting and see you at my next post.

Beijinhos!

BRAG UPDATE Mar 23, 2012: Yippeee! Made the Top Pick for Raise the Bar Challenge #96. Please visit the blog and check the other amazing Top Picks. I'm so honoured to be included!  :-)))

Liebster Blog Award

Happy Monday, dear blog-friends. I woke up to something wonderful ... a blog award! Talking about the Liebster Blog Award from a super talented crafter, Debbie of Debbie's Dash of This and That. So humbled that she considers my work to be inspiring ... who would have thought eh?!

I am overwhelmed ... I don't have a speech prepared ... and there is a definite risk that I might start rambling and / or gush , and no doubt, gross y'all out! So, allow me to salvage some dignity by telling you something about this award.

From what I've gathered, the origin of this award is rather obscure but what is certain is that it's given as a token of appreciation and is accepted with much gratitude .

Despite the Award's nebulous history, the rules that govern it are so well codified that the Babylonian King Hammurabi would beam with pride:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog - CHECK
2. Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you - CHECK
3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog - CHECK
4. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed - CHECK
5. Let them know the have been chosen by leaving a comment on their blog - CHECK

When you follow as many blogs as I do, choosing 5 is no easy task. Where do I begin? Who do I pick?
Here's my List of Five:
http://somethingcraftybydottie.blogspot.com/
http://asplashhereandthere.blogspot.com/
http://ryemilan.blogspot.com/
http://fairyscribbles.blogspot.com/
http://kindredstampers.blogspot.com/

In the meantime, Debbie, thank you so very much for noticing, following and commenting as often as you do.

Cue music....

Beijinhos!

Best Wishes in Green

Hello again, dear friends. I'm back with another card to show you. This is a challenge card because I don't actually have anyone for any occasion in mind... not something I do often. Not complaining, it's actually good to have a few any occasion cards in hand. This "ambiguous" card in in green, thanks to the St Paddy's day challenges. But I guess it'll work as a healthy spring card. I'm using the sketch provided by Sweet Stop Sketch challenge #150 with a green spin.

I've used 2 paper lines here: the dots and stripes are by Crafts Too and the small floral paper is a scrap piece from the "Travel Light" pack by WRMK.

I cut a small piece of bright green CS with Spellbinders Square Fleur-de-Lis and sponged it with TH's Peeled Paint. Then I cut some white CS with the border die from Spellbinders Floral Doily Accents set and did some stencilling, again with TH's Peeled Paint.

The flower stamp is by Papermania and I stamped it with TH's Peeled Paint. The sentiment, also by Papermania, was sent to the Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad and later cut with Spellbinders Reverse Wonky Rectangles die.  Finally, to make the flowers pop, I dotted the centers with a white gel pen. As you can see, foam pads were called into action too!

I kept the inside simple. A strip of the floral paper, green scallop edge and that big blue daisy (or what ever flower that is).

Green is the theme over at Use It Tuesday Challenge #27 and Sweet Stampin Challenge. And since its Dots and Stripes week over at Dutch Dare Cards challenge #156, you'll find my card there too. Check out these sites and Make It Monday #81 for some truly fab works of art.

That's all from me today. Thanks for swinging by for a visit. Tomorrow is the start of another week, hope it will be a great one for you.

Beijinhos.

Sunshine and Beach

Oh happy days, my blog-friends! 'Tis a glorious sun-shiny Sunday here ... finally! Hope your day is just as grand. And, no, I am NOT on anything! Well, maybe a generous mug off coffee, but that's it!  I'm really excited to show you this card made. I combined 2 challenges: the colours came from Divas by Design challenge #26 "Citrus Colours" and the theme is from Just Add Ink challenge #109 "Beaches". I know for many the beach is all about sun, swimming, beach-volley, surfing ... in which case Slip-Slop-Slap has to be your mantra.  But not me. On the beach my theme-song is Slurp-Stuff-Snooze. Oh yes...slurp copious amounts of Long Island Ice Tea or ice lollies or both, stuff my face with grilled fresh sardines and, the grand finale, settle down (in the shade) for a gentle snooze. Come play with me on my summer beach!

The patterned papers are from the "Beach Babe" pack by Fansy Pants. My card base is 4.25" square lime green. The panels on the side - I was inspired by one that is put up every year at our beach. Only, that board says "No Dogs from June - September" :- (

On a lighter note, don't you think the panel also look like an ice cream... from a distance ... with some imagination ... an orange lolly, perhaps? ;-)  And can you see the little fishies too?

Here's a close-up of my greeting. It's from Personal Impression's "Double Sayings" set, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black onto one of the labels from the paper pack.  The word "sunshine" is in Versacolor Orange. I attached 2 eyelets and strung some roasting twine (yep, not baker's) through.

On the inside, I've got plenty of layering action going on ... and even more stitching! I love the way the little oranges frame the card. 

That's my card for you. Hope you enjoyed the walk down my beach! And after church, I'll post another card you. Oh yes, I have been very busy this weekend! :-) Thanks for dropping in on me.

Beijinhos!

BRAG UPDATE 22 MAR 2012:  Got an Honourable Mention from the awesome folks at Just Add Ink! Yay!!!! You must check out the Winner - Sam. Her card is mind-blowing! Also drop by Bronwyn's place to peek at her totally elegant beach card. Until next time, my friends!

Happy Belated Birthday

Hello again, my friends. Hope you're having a lovely day. The weekend hasn't been bright or sunny so far. Yesterday was a dull and gloomy day. I caught up with some reading while the fur-babies napped... pretty much all day! I'm hoping today will be better, too early to tell.  This is a quick fly-by post to show you a card I made for a birthday that was last week ... oh yes, big-time ooops! Not like me to forget birthdays and anniversaries, but there you go. It happens to the best of us, eventually! :-) I used Skipping Stones Designs sketch #119 for my card. It's a simple yet cute sketch, just the thing when I don't have the time to get technical. Why? I need to work on my excuse, of course! Here's the card:

The patterned papers are left-over bits from the "Toy Box" pack by Crate Paper.  I stitched down the panels.

The greeting is from Personal Impressions "Double Sayings set, I stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto some red CS and cut it out with Spellbinders Grommet Tags die. I adhered it down to the card with 2 yellow eyelets.  The balloons are by Molly Bloom, coloured with Promarkers.

I stuck the balloons down with some pop dots. 

On the inside.... oh yes, plenty of room for my excuse(s)!

I'm also linking this to Shelly's Images where its Anything Goes this week.

Thanks for dropping by. I'll be back with another card late today (I hope), one that I am really excited to show you. See you soon... and in the meantime, have a blessed Sunday!

Beijinhos!

I Will Always Love You

Fear not, blog-buddies. I am not about to belt out a love anthem! Rest easy while I show you this quick and easy card I made for a colleague, a starry-eyed young wife who will be celebrating her 1st wedding anniversary on Sunday, March 18th. All week she's been on (and on) about getting a card... the perfect card, the sweetest card, etc etc, well, you get the picture. We had a deal: if she didn't (couldn't) find one by the end of the day yesterday, I would make one for her...my gift for the happy couple. I don't know if it's what she had in mind, but it's what she's getting! :-)  And here it is. My inspiration came from this week's CASE Study challenge #82, a card by Laura Bassen.

The DP is by Stampin' Up! (Don't know what it's called; twas in my spring grab bag from PCL.)  Simple single layer card.

The stars of the card, in my opinion, are the pink butterflies.  I couldn't leave them well alone so I loaded their delicate wings with some itsy-bitsy bling.  On the top left corner, I have 3 chocolate coloured flat-back pearls.

The greeting is from WMS's new "Compact Sentiments" set. I stamped it on pink CS with Memento Rich Cocoa, cut out using Spellbinders Labels 20 and sponged with TH's Spun Sugar. Some quarter inch chocolate satin ribbon and a soft pink sheer bow complete the card.

For the inside, I did some layering, stitching, stamping and punching. Probably the busiest I've been on the inside! I've had those butterfly stamps for a good few years.. well before I started making cards. And since I don't read Japanese, I can't tell you any more about them :-)  The border punch is by Woodware and I've also attached a strip of the yummy chocolate ribbon. 

I'm sending this card over to Crafty Sentiments for their "Things With Wings" challenge and also to Crop Stop where Challenge #63 is all about Butterflies. And guess what? Chocolate is my favourite colour... I mean, who doesn't like chocolate?! I'm so posting this card at DYSU Challenge #63 - "Favourite Colour".

That's all from me today. The weekend is almost here. Hopefully it will be a restful couple of days with sun... please, let there be sun! Thanks for visiting and see you soon...  ;-)

Beijinhos!