Butterfly Kisses ~ UDI #24 & SSSC #106

I had SO much fun with this challenge and I can't wait to teach wax paper resist to my girls. Sorry girls, you'll have to wait a few weeks! The UDI Color Challenge #24 was just perfect for what I had in mind, and when I found this sketch at Sweet Sunday Sketch #106, the inspiration began to flow.  

This took a bit of work ~ first I had all my elements ready to go, but didn't put it together until I had shuffled, moved, shuffled again....there....I think I like that! Then it started to come together ~
~ So here's my card ~

A little side shot ~ my colors are way off on this shot ~

Not too sure about my Seam Binding, I tried to pull my centre thread (as per instructions), but obviously was doing something wrong, it just didn't happen for me (any suggestions out there would be greatly appreciated) ~ so instead, I very carefully placed Sticky Strip to the back as I manipulated the binding into shape!

If you have never tried the 'wax paper resist' technique,
you really should give it a whirl!
Beate has a wonderful tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers ~ have a visit!

Thank you so much for stopping by today
~ I hope you have a wonderful day ~
~ Happy Creating ~

• Stamps: All A Flutter, Elements of Style, Butterfly Prints  
• Paper:  Glossy White CS, Blush Blossom, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, 
• Ink: So Saffron, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke
• Acc: Wax Paper, Always Artichoke Seam Binding, Small Pearls, Little Leaves, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Scallop Trim Boarder, Circle Cutter, Small Flowers (non SU)  

For You ~ CTD130, SSC #192 & SUO

Well I feel like I haven't been in my studio for ages, felt a little lost when I got there, went looking for my Mojo and it's been lost. I can't find it anywhere! I needed help, so went looking for some inspiration on some of my favourite challenges ~ found the colors at Color Throwdown #130 and was further challenged, then I found this challenge at Stamping 411 #192, and then I had to follow the challenge at SUO Challenges, I've got new toys that I haven't played with very much ~ so out with my Sale-a-bration stamps that I got for FREE ~ yes...FREE...let me know if you have any questions!

Here are the colors!

And the layout!

And the challenge from SUO ~ anything Sale-a-bration!

~ So here's my card using Punch Bunch, what a fun set to have ~

I stamped my scallop twice, once using Tangerine Tango, then Pretty In Pink/Versa Mark and then heat embossed using Clear EP! Love my little rosettes kissed with Dazzling Diamonds!

A little side shot, you can see that I used Dimensionals to pop some of my layers onto my card face ~ I also used my Square Lattice EF on my Chocolate Chip DP.

And this is what I did inside my card! 

I wish you a wonderful day today ~ the sun is shining and spring is coming....I just know it...it doesn't feel like if here at home ~ it is CoLD out! But the promise of spring is in the sunshine! Thanks for stopping by ~ I hope you enjoyed your visit!

• Paper: Whisper White, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip  
• Ink: Tangerine Tango, Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip 
• Acc: Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punch, Sponge, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Perfect Polka Dot & Square Lattice EF, Clear EP, Dazzling Diamonds

Surprised Beyond Words!

So after three days without emails 'pinging' into my inbox ~ you can just imagine ~ first the mess of messages to sort through (no pun intended) ~ and secondly my surprise when I saw that Jenn from www.TheCraftyYooper.blogspot.com  ~ dropped a sweet message into my blog. She awarded me the 'Stylish Blogger Award' ~ WOW!!!! I am honoured and speechless ~ 

Part of the award is to do the following:

When you receive this award you are to:


1) thank the person who gave this award to me and link it back to their blog

2) share 8 things about myself

3) pass this award to 8 other individuals that I have recently discovered

4) leave a comment so that they can pass along the recognition!

And now for the eight things about myself:

1. I am married to my best friend for almost 29 years. We love camping  and road trips are the best ~ we've seen lots of North America, but still have many places we would love to visit!

2. I was blessed to be a stay at home mom for our 3 amazing children, who are now all married to wonderful people.

3. We have 3 precious grandchildren ~ all boys and they are so much fun!  They are definitely a bright spot in our lives.

4. I always have to be busy with something, so I'm either stampin', knitting, gardening or playing with our grandsons!

5. I grew up an air force brat, so we were posted in different locations all my life ~ I have lived all across Canada (BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec) and in Europe for 4 years, where we were posted in Solingen, Germany! While there we toured as a family and saw much!

6. I love being in my greenhouse in the spring and having the sweet smell of new soil perfume the air. I love playing in my flower garden and designing walking paths through out! Fresh veggies from my garden are the best!

7. I love music and love to sing, although this is definitely not a gift that I have ~ but I sing anyway....my 2 year old grandson loves when I sing to him and he hasn't asked me to stop...yet! 

8. I love my friends and have so much fun with those that stamp with me ~ they are so supportive and I'm truly thankful for them ~ I love my sister, who does not share my passion for paper, but is the best friend ever!   

The next part of the Stylish Blogger Award is to pass it on. These blogs are ones that I recently stumbled upon, and are fantastic and I feel are very deserving of this award. Please take a few minutes to visit their blogs! 
I found this VERY difficult as there are so many amazingly talented people out there, so this is just a snippet of what is out there in blog land!


1. Tanya at   www.tinkerin-in-ink.blogspot.com
2. Lynn at   www.themangoboysandme.blogspot.com   
3. Nelia at   www.mylovelyinspirations.com/harper-designs
4. Carol at   www.cjstamps.blogspot.com  my inspiration to continue scrapbooking
5. Regina at  www.thestampinbean.blogspot.com
6. Renee at  www.reneevs.blogspot.com
7. Karen at  www.karenstampsalot.com
8. Cynthia at  www.cynthiascreativecuts.blogspot.com

Be sure to take a peek at these fabulous blogs ~ thanks for stopping by today ~ and Jenn ~ AGAIN a huge Thanks for this award!

Computers???

How did we ever live without computers, and how in the world do we live with them....arrhhhhh!!! I had email issues this week and couldn't send or receive anything ~ so now I'm playing catch up ~ so as I was cleaning up I was So excited to find this sweet message from Jenn....I am so honoured to receive this Jenn ~ thanks so much!

"Hi Denise,
I'm a big fan of your blog and I love your style!
I'm passing on the Stylish Blogger Award to you. Please stop by for more information!
Jenn"
www.TheCraftyYooper.blogspot.com 

If you have never popped in on Jenn ~ you really should, her blog is beautiful, so be sure to have a peek and leave her some loving'. Please be patient with me as I gather my thoughts and complete this award in the next day or so ~ in the mean time, have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by ~ and Thank you SO much Jenn!

A Little Bliss ~ CCMC #138 meets Inkspirations #58

What a fabulous holiday Monday I had ~ hubby and I spent the morning together ~ then he was inspired to start ripping up the wall to wall carpeting on the main floor. I'll show you some pictures in the next couple of days! We are installing hardwoods and we can't wait ~ but this will be a month or so process! So our main living area will be a 'fright' for some time, and I just need to be okay with that! So while Dean tore up carpeting I tore up some paper and I had an absolute blast! I found a color challenge at Inkspirations #58 that I really wanted to try and a sketch over at CCMC #138

I'm still on a vintage kick and loving' working with this style! I LOVE the 'Bliss' set that is available for FREE during Sale-a-bration. There was so much going on with this card that I decided to try and keep it as simple as possible in regards to embellishments. So I added one lonely pearl and really like the outcome of this. The swirl is a piece that I cut from the retired Bigz Tulipe Die, which you can still purchase at the clearance rack, while supplies last ~  

Here's a little side shot of my card

And I then continued the theme inside my card ~ I really have been enjoying carrying the theme from the front of the card, right through to the envelope ~it really adds to the card. 

I left the sentiment blank on purpose, 

this way the card can be gifted however is needed.

Thank you so much for stopping by today ~ I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

If you have any questions please let me know. 

Enjoy your day!

• Stamps: Bliss (w-123240 ~ c-123257) FREE during Sale-a-bration
• Paper: Marina Mist, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip DP, DPS (non SU)  

• Ink:  Marina Mist, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso
• Acc: Beautiful Wings (118138), Bigz Tulipe, Basic Pearls (119247), (Perfect Polka Dots (117335), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), Sponge (101610) Eyelet Scallop Border (non SU) 

Spring Has Sprung???

The final words spoken (well, I mean written) just before the  Utah Diva's Challenge #23 was set out before us! 

'So that's it -- NO MORE SNOW!' 

~ I agree! BUT, last night we were hit with yet another snow storm! Ouch ~ I am ready for spring, for the messy melt and all of it ~ we are in another deep freeze this weekend ~ and so this challenge is exactly what I need ~ we are told to THINK SPRING!!! and to use this color challenge and I am up for it! 

Here is the color challenge from the UDI!

And a peek at my picture ~ I tried something different and took this picture on our grandson's play table. It sits right in front of our patio doors (another spring sigh!) the sun was shining in so beautifully and I thought this would be a great location for a shot ~ not so! Take a peek in the background, you can see the snow piled up on the deck ~ 

'GOT SNOW'

This was my first attempt at the Emboss Inlay Technique ~ it was so fun to play with this ~ can't wait to do this with my girls. The picture of the card really isn't great at all ~ the colors are off and everything, but I wanted you to see all the white stuff displayed against the crystal blue sky ~ and in Winnipeg a clear sky means COLD!!!

Here's a snap of the inside of my card ~ can't wait to get into my garden and put on my gardening hat and gloves!

 I hope you have an opportunity to play this weekend and Think Spring along with the Diva's. Thank you so much for stopping by today, enjoy your evening! We plan on it, my DH will be back shortly from his brisk walk (I passed) and then a nice hot cup of Earl Grey Tea and a soak in our hottub!

• Stamps: Occasional Quotes, Garden from the Heart 
• Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery
• Ink: Certainly Celery
• Acc: Brads, Little Leaves Sizzlets, White Ribbon (non SU) Flower Die & Flower Border (non SU)  

All Supplies Stampin’ Up Unless Noted!

Paper Players Challenge #34

Do you ever buy a stamp set that you just HAVE to have, and then never do anything with it! I am famous for that...hmmm...maybe I have too many toys ~ oh, what am I saying, of course I could never have too many toys! Well, I just love this stamp set and it was so much fun playing with it today! And here's another shabby vintage card! I love playing with that style and the colors from the Paper Players challenge #34 were perfect for this set, I knew right away that I would be pulling out 'Have A Seat' from my stamp shelf! My stamps sets are all in alphabetical order on my shelves and then stamped in a catalogue, this way when my friends come over to play, they can easily find what they're looking for! 

If these colors don't scream vintage...I don't know what does!
So here's my card ~

~ here's a little side shot ~

 And here's the inside of the card. I created my little rosette's with a quilling tool, added some two way glue and then added some Dazzling Diamonds ~ I added way more dazzle than I wanted ~ too much dazzle for me, I was hoping for a more subtle look on my rosette's!

Well I hope you enjoyed your little visit with me ~ thanks so much for stopping by ~
I hope you enjoy your day!

• Stamps: En Francais, Have A Seat, Oval All, Define Your Life
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobble, Whisper White  
• Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso 
• Acc: Hemp Twine, Buttons Latte, Small Oval & Medium Oval Punch, Hodgepodge Hardware, Grosgrain Ribbon 

I Was Nominated!

Painted by the very hand of God in our backyard!

Do you ever get excited when you know you have mail in your 'inbox' ~ you just can't wait to hear what is being shared with you about your creations? Do you ever realized that you've got the biggest smile on your face when you read your comments? Are you ever amazed when you receive some of this love when it comes from wonderfully talented people that you actually follow and you're so pleased to hear a 'well done' from them? Do you ever......I was so honoured when I came home last night from a beautiful dinner with my DH and friends. This is what I found 

'Denise...I nominated you for a blog award. Please visit Saturday's post on The Stampin' Schach.' 

Wow!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS (yes, I'm yelling in a good way) So here I am, just got out of bed, savouring my morning cup of java and just giggling with excitement as I share this with you....sorry, I'm a bit excited! Never entered the world of blog with this in mind, just thought it would be fun and a way to stretch me in my creativity! I signed up as a SU Demo about 2.5 years ago with no upline and have no downline. So I'm a lone ranger, blogging has helped so much!


Ann is incredibly talented ~ I absolutely LOVE her style and her blog is beautiful! Ann I want to thank you once again for this award ~ I am truly honoured to have been nominated for this award!

 The Liebster Blog Award is given to bring new blogs to light. It's a great way to share blogs that might not otherwise be seen or ones you want to share with others.

As a recipient of this award I must share the love and pay it forward by:

1-Creating a post where I blog about the Liebster award & reveal my 3-5 blog picks

2-Let the honorees know that I selected them

3-Copy & paste the blog award on my blog

I follow quite a few blogs as I'm always hungry for more ideas, tips & help! It was difficult to narrow this down, but these gals are truly gifted ~ be sure to stop by for a visit and leave a bit of love along the way!

Tara Bilbao of Tara Bee Ink
Carol of CJ Stamps
Nikki Spencer of My Sandbox

Thanks so much for stopping by today ~ be sure to stop by again ~  don't forget to peek in on these wonderful blogs, you will definitely be inspired!

PPA80 & CQC71

I created this anniversary card following the color challenge from CQC #71 for a darling friend of mine.  She is an extremely creative gal and loves anything elegant, vintage, pearly (it that a word?)...anyway, I think you get the idea ~ she is one classy girl! This is my first attempt at 'elegant' and I'm very pleased with the outcome! 

This is the color challenge ~

Perfect for a vintage card...just her style...and then this morning I noticed this challenge from PPA #80, this was just too perfect to pass up, so the challenge from PPA was called Vintage is in vogue! 

Sure hope you like it my sweet friend :-)

I just love the interesting fold that I did for this card! It came together so nicely! Antique brad, fancy fold, pearls, corner scrolls, soft colors....VINTAGE!!!! Yipee, this is a first for me! Here are a few other pix of the card for you...

Thank you so much for stopping by today ~ I hope you have a wonderful day! My DH and I are off to Brandon this afternoon, our son Marc Ross has a gig at the Lady of The Lake, can't wait to see him. We haven't seen him since Christmas, this is one special day for me!

• Stamps: Bliss 
• Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette
• Ink:  Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette
• Acc:  Antique Brad, Pearls, Scallop Oval Punch, Corner Accent, Flower Daisy (non SU)

All Supplies Stampin’ Up Unless Noted!

SSC189 & Inkspirations Color Challenge

It's a beautiful sunny day here...but...oh so cold! 

I'm sitting in my sunroom and soaking up the promise of spring!

And this little card just feels like spring to me ~ 

and it flowed wonderfully with the layout challenge 

from SSC189 and Inspirations Color Challenge #56!

I took the layout challenge and flipped it on it's side ~ and I think this really came together nicely, although the picture really doesn't do it justice! I found these darling little purses in one of my many travels through blogland ~ Carrie Gaskin gets the credit for this creation! I knew I needed to CAS this one. Isn't that just adorable!

 And can you see who's peeking out of the inside of my card?

You guessed it! Tote-ally Tess, grabbing her own little purse!

I love that stamp set and have forgotten about it ~ so nice to pull this off my shelf and blow the dust off of it!

I'm really not sure what is up with my camera...hmmm...maybe it's the person behind the camera! So sorry for the bad shots, Cherry Cobbler has never looked so Real Red before! Well, thank you so much for stopping by  ~ off to my studio to get ready for my girls! I'm looking forward to an evening of friendships and creating! 

~ have a wonderful rest of your day ~

• Stamps: Tote-ally Tess, Create A Cupcake, Occasional Quotes, Full Of Life 
• Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Whisper White  
• Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Craft White 
• Acc:  Build-A-Cupcake punch, 1/2″ circle punch, 3/4″ circle punch, Basic Rhinestones 

All Supplies Stampin’ Up Unless Noted!

PPA79 & Paper Players #33

PPA Color Challenge 79 meets Paper Players #33 for one great morning of playing in my studio! And I finally used my Petal Cone Die ~ 

(I think you really need this one ladies, what fun)!

Although I did not create a card ~ I did create a small Valentine gift filled with love for a certain special someone. I really enjoyed playing with this new toy that arrived on my doorstep on Thursday...and yes, it took me that long to play with it! 

So here is my little creation for you to enjoy!

Here's a shot of the other side of my heart tag! Love that stamp set!

You can see my little crystal bead a little better with this shot!

I hope you have a blessed day today in whatever you do ~ 

I am assuming mostly football!

Happy Super Bowl everyone! Hope your team brings home the win!

• Stamps: Tiny Tags
• Paper: Riding Hood Red, Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery, Cottage Wall DP  
• Ink: Riding Hood Red
• Acc: Petal Cone Die, Scallop Heart of Hearts Embosslits, Scallop Trim Border & Large Heart Punch, Hemp Twine, Crystal Bead (non-SU)

Color Throwndown #127 & The Paper Players #32

 Anything goes at Paper Players....are you kidding...I actually had an idea in my head as to what I wanted to do ~ this was just too perfect and also a first for me. I usually need a visual to go by and from there I'm able to create ~ wow! I'm so excited that the visual this time was already steeping....literally!

and I've got a certain special someone in mind and some of her favourite things are the colors blue & yellow and a extra hot cup of tea! When I saw the Color Throwdown for this week, I knew it was exactly what I needed color wise! So here is my card that has been created for her with much love & prayer as I played with this! 

Hope you like it my dear friend?

I colored in each teacup using my Bashful Blue
& So Saffron write markers 

and then used Crystal Effects on each.  Don't you just love china teacups..
..a nice hot cup of Earl Grey Tea is the best in a cute little teacup!

I'm enjoying one right now!

Here'a a peek of the inside of my card

and a little peek at our youngest grandson ~
can you believe he's already 3 months old!

Thank you so much for the visit!
I hope you have a wonderful day and weekend ~
yippee Friday is here!

• Stamps: Baroque Motif, Morning Cup, Create A Cupcake 
• Paper:  Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Crumb Cake
• Ink:  So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Night Of Navy, Staz On
• Acc: Pinking Heart Border Punch, Crystal Effects