Stamping 411 Challenge + Retro Sketch #19

I'm so excited to play along with two challenges today ~ I've never played with the sketches over at Retro Sketch and I just LOVE these sketches and then found this colour challenge over at Stamping 411...come join in the fun and get creating!!!! You'll have a blast, I promise!

What a fun day I've had ~ sat on my riding mower, cut the grass (takes about 2 hours) ~  I find it really relaxing for me, time to ponder, pray for those I love and sometimes I catch myself singing my heart out...my poor neighbours! Then I went for a dip in the pool, relaxed with a nice tall ice water and began to knit by the pool ~ sunny and hot and yes, I was under my beach umbrella ~ Dean is away on a fishing trip and so the house is extra quiet, the kids all had plans, so I was alone all day and was it ever quiet and relaxing...almost too quiet, almost!!!

I strolled into the house around 8pm and headed to my studio to create a birthday card for a dear friend of ours ~ and yes ~ another masculine card!!! Maybe I should just stay in this zone ~ I really enjoyed creating this card! It took a bit to get going, but didn't take long to finish it once I knew where I was going with it!
So here is my card for our dear friend...notice the sailor knot using my Cherry cobbler Bakers's Twine.

I kept this card quite simple on purpose...but really struggle with that, keep thinking I need to add more elements to this ~ but with it being another male card, less is more...right????

I just have to show you this picture of Owen, he was crawling around the house and then Andrea could hear him whining, looked over her shoulder and there he was....stuck in the letter O! Priceless!!!

Thank you for stopping by today ~ I hope you have a wonderful day and that you enjoyed your time here on my blog ~ be sure to come back ~ any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Please pop in on http://chezmoicreations2.blogspot.ca/ ...you'll find a link to some knitting that I created. Drop me a line if you have any questions! 

 If you live in Winnipeg or the vicinity and would like to host a party I would love to come and stamp with you and your friends!! Or, if space is an issue, come here and create with me at one of my many clubs or classes! Drop me a line for further info! I'd love to meet you! Enjoy your day!

Olympics for the Friday Mashup & Freshly Made!

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying your summer ~ it's been blistering hot here in Winnipeg, which is actually very normal for us during summer!!! Love it and love the fact that we are blessed with a wonderful pool, so the heat is welcome in our neighbourhood! Splish Splash!!!

I did take a break from the heat today and ventured into another one of my 'happy places' I needed to create a birthday card for our grandson Seth...and I can't believe he's going to be turning 12 on the 19th of July!!! Seth is a wonderful young man, he has such a tender heart and a fabulous sense of humour! Love you Seth xo ~ Here's a shot of our son teaching Seth how to tie a tie and little brother Owen watching and learning as well!

If find it difficult to create masculine cards and even more so for a young man....but what a fabulous challenge over at The Friday Mashup ~ this was my starting point and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this, 

 I then followed (well mostly) the sketch challenge at Freshly Made! I love peeking on on these challenges ~ please do as well and play along, it's such a super way to find some inspiration as well as challenging yourself to step out of your comfort zone ~ heaven knows I NEED that!

 So here is what I came up with for Seth's birthday card ~ hope you like it ~ as you can see, I flipped the sketch to fit my olympic rings and then added one other element on the lower left side!

Now my little circle punch has lost it's crispness....better get that added to my 'to do list'
Here's a quick shot of the inside

Thanks so much for popping by today, I hope I helped to inspire you, why don't you join in the fun and find a challenge that you like and then get creating!!! Have a wonderful day!

Please pop in on http://chezmoicreations2.blogspot.ca/ ...you'll find a link to some knitting that I created. Drop me a line if you have any questions about stampin', knitting or crocheting! 

 If you live in Winnipeg or the vicinity and would like to host a party I would love to come and stamp with you and your friends!! Or, if space is an issue, come here and create with me at one of my many clubs or classes! Drop me a line for further info! I'd love to meet you! Enjoy your day!

Happy Bright Birthday along with A Friday Mash Up!

I found this fabulous challenge at the Friday Mash Up #65....and I was definitely feeling punchy as well, 

 

so this was just too perfect and I had to join in the fun! I really tried to challenge myself as well, by using Bright colours, this is definitely out of my comfort zone and I'm still not to sure how I feel about my card ~ 

I began by looking in my stash of paper...do I ever have paper....almost embarrassing already!

So I looked in my discontinued files after looking at our old SU colour wheel. I knew I wanted to start with Gable Green as my main colour! and so the wheel said...Pixie Pink & Apricot Appeal...and I'm going to create using these colours....are you kidding!!! Out came my punches for the flowers, Beautiful Wings Embosslits and got to work ~ or should I say play ~ I really enjoy my time in my studio and it really has been lacking lately ~ it has been super hot and humid lately and even though we have a beautiful pool to enjoy, one can only repose by pool for so long before you begin to feel stir crazy! And so here is my super bright birthday card! It just SCREAMS Happy Birthday!

Here is a little peek at my girls gazing in their new catalogues at my open house a few weeks ago! After they tore themselves away from their catalogues, they all went in for a dip ~ we then shared a BBQ meal together ~ oh how I love my friends! We had so much fun!

I sure hope you enjoyed this quick visit chez moi (my place)...if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to drop me a line ~ I would love to hear from you ~ Have a wonderful evening and a very Happy 4th of July to all my American friends ~ blessings to you all!

Please pop in on the second page of my blog...you'll find a link to some knitting that I created. Drop me a line if you have any questions! If you live in Winnipeg or the vicinity and would like to host a party I would love to come and stamp with you and your friends!! Or, if space is an issue, come here and create with me at one of my many clubs or classes! Drop me a line for further info! I'd love to meet you! Enjoy your day!

• Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Itty Bitty Banners  c 126255 w 126257 
• Paper:  Gable Green, Pixie Pink, Apricot Appeal
• Ink: Gable Green, Pixie Pink,  
• Acc: SMAJ 101049, Boho Blossoms Punch 119858, Itty Bitty Shapes 118309, Trio Flower,  Bitty Banners Framelits 129267, Beautiful Wings 118138

All Supplies Stampin’ Up Unless Noted!