You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog!!

It is Saturday here and I am late for one of my favourite challenges...the Twisted Sister Challenge...but it is still Friday there, just so hopefully I will just squeeze in on time - there is no pressure from them, just myself!! Now there are a couple of good reasons why I am late....the challenge was to make a card and name it by a song title...well...there were three possibilities for this....they are:

1 Puppy Love 2. Paper Roses (a clever suggestion by DH); and 3 You're Nothing But a Hound Dog...

which I have used...but am still torn...so that was a bit of a hold up...but the other reason is that I just couldn't get my head around this card....yesterday we got a phone call from Judy,the lady that bought one of our first puppies, Rosie is about 18 months old now...I hand reared her and her brother...little Rosie is sick and it is terminal...they are not sure how long she has..it could be 6 months, 12 or she could just go in her sleep....I had a little cry and then felt flat all day...but today...I thought I would make this card for Judy, the lady who bought her and loves her dearly....we babysit her (Rosie the puppy NOT Judy) from time to time!!! It is very sad, she is just adorable!! Anyway...enough of that and onto the business side of this card!!

It is also for MojoMonday, I have enjoyed using that layout, it worked well with this image from Jocelyn (aka JoBear2) I lightly sponged around the edges of all layers before mounting it on black. The brads and the sentiment, which is also a brad are from a BLOG CANDY that I won from Kimmie some weeks ago....they work so well with this layout. It also fits a third Challenge...Stamping for the Weekend, which is exactly what I am doing, where the theme is chocolate strawberries YUMBLY, as my DH would say!!! Brown and red are great together....so there you have it...one finished card!!

Thank you for visiting and for your comments...I love knowing that you have been - you make my day!! I hope you are enjoying your weekend and get some 'you' time!! God bless you!!

Grace just gave me this sweet award and I am honored to accept it. Thank you Grace! Please check out Grace's blog for some real inspirational! Here are the rules for this award:

1 By accepting this award you acknowledge that the giver LIKES YOUR STYLE
2 You agree to post this proudly on your site and include a post linking back to the giver
3 And because there are so many blogs out there that you like their style you will share this award with them...however many that might be...

Please check out these blogs when you have a chance:

Abby

Dawn

Deena

I will add to this later, just wanted to get this up and these ones out!! It is very early Saturday morning here...my DD's have headed off to the snow with the Youth Group at 5:30am, just leaves me home with DH and DS...who is very quiet - it is going to be very strange around here....DD1 threw some things together last night at 10:30pm, DD packed 2 days ago with lists of all that both girls had to take, ticking it off as DD1 packed last night - she even packed 4 carrots for snowmans noses - which one do you think I am like!! LOL!! I hope you have a great weekend...enjoy your family!! My beautiful Nana had two things to tell me before she dies - one being 'Family is God's blessing on earth!' How true there is - so make sure you enjoy yours...if you don't have one - email me and join ours - there is always room for one more!!! God bless you!

Glamour Girls

Yes, you guessed it - another lot of humorous cards has been ordered - I find it a challenge in itself to do them differently each time, but that just makes me 'stretch' myself! I have used this weeks Sketch Challenge on SCS....I love the different layers - it is hard to tell from this angle but the imaged layered is popped up on 3D foam dots...it just adds more dimension to it (do you think this is why SU call them DIMENSIONALS!!! LOL!) I added a strip of fibre ribbon, for more texture and also used foam flowers that I picked up on sale at KMART...I loved the shape of them but when I took them out of the packet I wasn't too sure about the thickness...once that brad was in them it pushed the flower down in the centre and popped up the petals....so it is going into the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge where 'popping up' is the go!! In IRL it has a lot of dimension - something I haven't captured too well in the photo...but it is too cold to try again and usually I have to photograph at night and miss out on natural lighting!!

I have used lace under the flowers....I love these girls with a bit of 'pizazz' but decided not to do the 'bling thing' too much - a bit more sedate...LOL! The Emerson images have proved to be a great hit and I am looking forward to doing some more of the ones I was sent in a RAK...I love the quirkiness of them - you will be seeing more of them over the next few days - enjoy, we need to laugh more often - does us good like a medicine!!!

Thanks for visiting - don't forget to let me know you have been - I hate to miss you!! It is Friday afternoon here and hectic at our place, my two DD's are heading off for an overnight trip to the snow with the Youth Group early tomorrow morning - 5:30am to be exact! It is exciting for them and daunting for me...it is DD2's first excursion away from us, DD1 went on the School Camp this year and that was hard enough...but with going...ahhh!! It is going to be quiet here as DS is a lot quieter by nature (he takes after me!! LOL!) there are times we hardly know he is in the house....so I am looking forward to some time with him and also getting a few cards made - not that I don't anyway...hope you have having a great day!! God bless you!!

Birthday Girl

Birthday cards - we can never have too many but they are something I don't have heaps of...so when I got this image and Die Cut from KathyJ (aka Wattle) in a RAK...it made making this card a MUST!!! I don't know about you BUT pinks and greens are just gorgeous together and so ideal for a feminine card!!

This card is for Stamping for the Weekend's Challenge, this week it is a choice of two sketches, I am a bit partial to Sketch Challenges. I used a panel of torn embossed card and layered it onto green CS, then added a length of ribbon. For the top panel I used the scalloped Border Punch, layered on the green CS and added a strip of the same ribbon across that. The sentiment and scalloped circle has been mounted on 3D Foam Dots, in place of flowers and buttons I have used pearls and finished off with a gorgeous punched corner which was sent to me by my Melbourne SCS friend Jocelyn (aka JoBear2). These corners add so much and I have received some from a couple of my SCS friends when they knew I had none - so thank you girls - you know I love these combined efforts...sharing the L-O-V-E!!

All edges have been sponged (of course) and a double row of paper piercing added across the top! This is a bit of a different look for me...I am not 100 percent convinced about it - what do you think!? It is also for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge which is all about 'Cutting Out and Popping Up' and for the Creative Card Crew Challenge which features ribbons!

Thank you for stopping in, it means so much to me to know that you stop by - so make sure you leave a comment and let me know that you were here.....I am off to make start fiddling with some more cards - took some over to the Boutique today and then the other one has placed an order....so compulsory stamping - it's a hard job BUT someone's got to do it! LOL! God bless you!

Define Your Life

Finally I have been able to make a card that I want to do, everything is finished and ready to go off to the boutique tomorrow and also the baby knitting to the hospital...what a great feeling to have it all done! This card is for this week's Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge! I love their sketches and look forward to them each week. If you haven't been and visited them yet - YOU NEED TO! I have also combined it with another favourite Challenge and that is, none other than - Mothermark's Tea Party Tuesday....and Dar-r-r-lings, you know how I love this one...unfortunately I missed last weeks Teaparty, it may have been due to the fact that it took 4 EVA to clean up the corgi's 'deposits' and convincing them that the little canine cutie was destined to be royalty. No problems though Dar-r-r-lings I have made up for it with this one - you see I stamped this rose twice - the first time with inks and the second with Versamark and clear embossed it...so that is one coat for lst week and one for this week - as both Teapots have roses on them!! I am so very, very sneaky, I do prefer to call it resourceful, especially with my breeding!

Now I have to say..I am staggered at some of the stories that have come with this weeks cards, all based in the Botanical gardens in Ireland and is you ask me - it all has a 'touch of the Blarney Stone' with it - 'to be sure, to be sure!! ' It is lovely to visit our friend Sabrina in her homeland (I have Irish blood too Sabrina, my Grandfather was born in Dublin) but I am not sure that Ireland is ready for this crowd!! This week I am being very demure and am keeping an eye out for those birds who love to leave their 'calling cards' along the way....customs confiscated my hat as I had hidden the treats for the Teaparty among the artificial flowers and their 'Sniffer Dogs' discovered them - rats!! I do believe that a warning had been sent out regarding SUSPECT CHOCOLATES, (eally dar-r-r-lings, how revolting!) so they were being overly cautious!! So I am coming through the back door....can you see those birds hovering near the rose...they have been lightly sponged and one raised on 3D Foam Dots...the same as the image...so this qualifies for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge as well...

That's it from me tonight...I am going to be a 'party pooper' (nothing to do with last weeks cards Dar-r-r-lings) I am exhausted from my battles with customs and need to re-energise...perhaps I will take a stroll around the gardens, maybe I can find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow - or NOT!! LOL!

Thanks for visiting...and for your comments - you make my day!! God bless you!

For Father

It is 4 degrees here today...a bit cool to do gardening (shame - LOL!) So I am happy to be inside making cards! It is Father's Day is in September but I have been asked to make some for one of the boutiques that sells my cards...so I have made a start....I have also combined this with the Creative Cards Crew Challenge where it is all about RIBBONS!! I have made this one more vintage and rather than colour the image I did light gold highlights on the camera. It is very effective IRL but just doesn't show at all in the photo - a shame really - but you all know what it is like!!!
I am going to do some more feminine cards for this challenge - I mean, ribbons - scream feminine!!

I added a torn embossed panel across the middle and 2 strips of knotted single stitch ribbon, layering the image on 3D foam dots, to give it more dimension which makes it eligible for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge this week. Lastly I added copper brads and embossed the sentiment. I kept this card relatively simple, relying on the DP and texture of the embossing to add to the overall look. I know if it was one I was using personally, I would do it different, but with the cards for selling, I try and cover a lot of different tastes.

How's that for a short posting - something different for me!! LOL! I am just finishing off the last touches to the 8th baby jumper and making a couple more Fathers Day cards then...I am doing a couple of challenges that I have missed and love - hopefully by tonight I will be free for those - I am having withdrawal!! LOL!

Thanks for visiting...and for all of your support and encouraging comments....I love to know you have been. God bless you!!

One Day at a TIme

What a busy few days it has been, I was preparing some cards for one of the shops that sells my cards and was expecting to go next week, when they rang and brought it forward to Thursday THIS week - which is fine, expect it meant that all of those cards I had started, or was 'tweaking' that were just sitting on my desk...would have to be finished. I actually got through a fair bit yesterday...I made 6 copies of this card and also finished 8 others that just needed flowers or bling added. At 1am I could do no more and was finding it hard to focus....and felt like I was getting on top of it all, when I realised I had an order of baby knitting that had to be to the hospital on Thursday morning as well...panic stations - 8 little jumpers that needed either fur 'trim' or rosebuds on them....so it has been a busy day...with another one looming tomorrow!!

I have though, found and easier way to do bulk cards - that is to make them all the same layout but differ the DP's and embellishments - it makes it that much more interesting for me...you can see what I mean by these ones here, I have stated that my cards are unique...so that takes the pressure off! I love changing them all slightly - it appeases my creative side! LOL!

These cards are for the Die Cut Dreams Challenge - this weeks challenge is to use corners and curls...in whatever way we please. I have used a scalloped border punch on the corners of the DP and used swirls with the layered flowers. Tilda has been coloured with chalks - I bet you knew that before I even said it! LOL!

Thanks for visiting and for the comments you have been leaving, you are so very encouraging - I love to see you have been!! God bless you!

Both Sides

I had a little bit of fun with these cards....I started off making a Wedding card for the Creative Crew Challenge, using the colour challenge fom Our Creative Challenge. I used the bride stamp that I received in a RAK from Sue (aka coffeestamper aka Perk) which set the tone for the wedding card - CAS, which in itself is a challenge for me. As I was making it, it got me to thinking about Weddings....

Now, I do want to state before I go any further, that I am happily married with a fabulous husband...but I was thinking about the Wedding Day and all that it brings. It seems to me, that no matter now organised you are...at some point in the day, the stress gets to you, hence the second card - I wanted to show the real facts about a Wedding Day!! Yes it is the biggest day of your life, with so much leading up to it and so much planned for the day...and then there are the hopes and dreams....the excitement is huge and the pressure very real!!! The image on the second card made me laugh when I saw it...it is stamped off from my friend Deb's stamps...along with a few others...I am sure they will 'see the light of day' before too long! LOL!!

Both cards have embossed backgrounds, with the image being stamped onto Nestie, then chalked. The Bride has Kindy Glitz on her dress and veil to make it look special for the occasion! It also has a 'Funky Heart' by Fiskar punched out of embossed hearts, it is sponged and has ribbon threaded through and an embellishment added. paper piercing finished this card off. The 'Stress' card has a strip of DP with scalloped border added across the middle and Die Cuts from Provo added. This too is finished off with paper piercing!

Thank you for stoppping by, I would love to hear your Wedding Day stories...so make sure you leave a comment!! God bless you!

Shifting Sands

This fabulous image belongs to a scrapbooking friend, Deb. On Friday she brought her stamps and I OBVIOUSLY had to stamp some off....I LOVE this image and it is perfect for the Flourishes Challenge for their new releases and the Inspiration Challenge.

I stamped two copies of the image and chalked them both, cutting out the chairs and layering it on 3D foam dots. The water is coloured with chalks and then I have added white gel pen and clear Kindy Glitz to add 'movement' to it! The close up shows it better but these things are never the same as IRL!
The frame has been lightly washed with watercolour pens and an aqua pen, and the sky sponged lightly.

The edges of the image and the blue cs have been torn and sponged and layered on True Thyme CS. I added corrugated card to the bottom left corner and it was surprising how much it added...I love the textured look it gives - so it fits this weeks Ways to Use It Challenge as well!

This is one of my favourite cards, I just love the softer more washed look that has happened with this mix of techniques...and who can resist the serenity that a scene like this offers....if only I was really there!!

Thank you for stopping by and your comments - I love to hear what you think AND to know that you have been!! God bless you!

My Big Guy

Friday morning I scrapbooked with a couple of friends, Nat and Deb. A group of us try and get together once a week, some make it some weeks and not others - me...EVERY WEEK!! I have decided that I am setting aside this time to do my own thing, not make cards for shops, but do what I want to do...I will probably so scrapbooking...

This page is of my my eldest, my only son, Jacob. You know what it is like with your first...so-o-o many photos so I am happy to make a start! Jacob actually has his own story, he is a walking miracle and one day I will share his story. I love the blues and browns together and they are great for boy pages or cards. I have loosely cased a page by my friend Hannah (aka bubblefrog) but I doubt if she would recognise it! LOL!

The DP's have been sponged and layered with a scalloped border added to the lower one. I have stamped various circles and sentiments, sponged and layered them, then added a corrugated card strip and 2 buttons with string attached between them! I t was very hard to get the colours exact, I think I left it a bit late in the day, it is close but IRL the colours are a bit richer without being too bright! The corrugated strip is for the Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS and the metal button brings it into this weeks StampinB. Challenge where we are to use metal on our projects.

Thank for visiting, I appreciate you leaving your comments... so I know you have been! It is Sunday night here and going to be a cold one...the family are watching comedies and enjoying NOT having to rush out the door in the morning as it is school holidays!! I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. God bless you!!

Calypsso

What a great feeling to get five challenges into the one card....and this is one of those cards, surprisingly enough!! Firstly it is for my Friday Challenge...my Twisted Sister Challenge, this week we were to use a 'fruit' image, ribbon and a punch. This image is from Kimmie's Blog Candy that I won and I have been waiting for the opportunity to use it - it is perfect for this challenge. I used a Nestie (thanks to Melinda80) and the felt flower ribbon. The next Challenge is a newie that I found while Blog Hopping last night...it is Carole's Sketch Fun Challenge and fitted with what I was doing with this card - if you get a chance, check it out here. Thirdly, it is for Crafty Creations Challenge which is all about Celebration this week - I do believe this card qualifies for that one and lastly, but in no way least...the StampinB. Challenge which requires us to use metal on our cards this week. I was going to use black buttons on the felt flower ribbon, but when I saw the StampinB. Challenge I changed it to black metal brads - all 6 of them! I have edited this post to add that this card is also eligible for the Limited Supply Challenge 204 on SC....yahooo!

So there you have it!! The card itself was relatively simple, I chalked the image and paper pierced around the edges. Each layer is backed with black CS and the sentiment is embossed....it is as easy as that. I have to say though, there is one more challenge with this card - I deliberately didn't sponge anything....a challenge for me, I just love to each for the distressing inks and sponges...but not today....it won't happen too often, but was good for me to step out of my comfort zone!!!

Thank you for visiting and for your comments. You are all so encouraging and I love to see that you have stopped by!! Happy 4th of July to my American friends and I hope ALL of you are having a great weekend - God bless you!

Masculine Upsy Daisy

I have been sorting through my desk and taking the lazy way out - making cards with the 'bits' rather than put them away - this way I am getting some UFO's finished...this embossed Upsy Daisy has been sitting on my desk since the last one I posted, so I thought I would do something with it - then I saw the sketch for the Creative Inspiration Challenge and came up with this card...as I have used both wet and dry embossing it also is for the StampinB Challenge and the Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS requires corrugated card on our card - so yay - a triple challenge card today!!

I love these colours and had just been using these papers for another card, so that made it even better!! I used the Fiskar Texture Plate for the lower panel, it made it look more like a canvas, it is the first time I have used the one, but I think it is going to be a favourite!! The corrugated card is left over from another challenge months ago...just a couple of thin torn pieces...I keep everything if I think I am going to use it again...someday I guess I will have to do a big sort out BUT in the meantime I will find as much use for it as I can!! Each layer is mounted onto black CS to make it stand out. I have enjoyed combining these challenges, it gives more boundaries to work within and makes it a bigger challenge. Surprisingly enough for me, the only edges I sponged are the edges of the circle, the rest of the EDGES are CLEAN!!!

That is it for me with this card...it is Friday night and we are having 'Family Night' and going to watch...Just like Heaven....my girls chose it - my DS NOT so keen - as they are getting older it is harder to find a movie they all like!!

Thank you for visiting - please leave a comment so I know you have been, I would hate to have missed you - don't forget to come again!! I hope your weekend is a good one, whatever you are doing! God bless you!

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge

If you haven't already gathered I am a BIG fan of the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge and have been from before it started....each week I 'brace' myself for their challenge as they are more complex than the basic challenge....I actually have to think with these ones! Not only is this a great Challenge but the Design Team are so friendly and encouraging and the prizes and amazing - you can check it out here!

My card started with running some DP from a scrapbooking magazine through the Cuttlebug with a Fiskars Textured Plate....this gave the DP so much texture, infact IRL it has a canvas look. I used embossed card, Argyle Folder (thanks Melinda80) for the half circle and the torn corners. The tape measure is Basic Grey paper (thanks Hannah aka bubblefrog), cut and backed with back CS. I used a retired SU set that has been lent to me (again) from my Su Demo and friend Ann, so I you can see ' I get by with a little help from my friends!' But honestly, it is impossible though to own everything, so we all try and buy things the others don't have - unless it is something we LOVE and HAVE TO HAVE!!!

I chalked the image, highlighting with a blender pen and the chalks and then added Kindy Glitz for a final touch on the wings, I only used a touch, just to make them a bit more life like!! The Brass embellishments are off candles...I put them away a long time ago...just incase!!

I usually don't do my card for this challenge until the weekend, so I have time to think about that I am doing - but this time I knew what stamp I wanted to use...so it grew from there - a pretty 'painless' process this time! LOL!

Thank you for stopping by and please don't forget to leave a comment - that way I know when you have visited!! It is 1:35am here and I an about to finish for the night....hope you are having a great day!! God bless you!!

It's All About Family

I don't consider myself an 'Off the Page' person - some of my friends tend to think I'm 'off the planet' but we WON'T go there!! Personally, I just love what's 'on the page' too much to venture too far from it!! But when I saw this weeks Die Cut Dreams Challenge was anything BUT a card - I thought I would bring out this lovely little Boxed Christmas Album which I started about 1 year ago (head hung with shame!!) with my neighbour Nat....I had basically finished it but just needed to 'tweak' it!! So now it is finished and ready for this challenge

....as if the Box and Album weren't challenge enough - taking the photo was even moreso!!! LOL!! I wanted to fit it all in one photo - not as easy as it looked....so after 24 photos...I thought I would put the Box on something behind the album - sounds simple - not when I am doing it....nothing was the right height...so I finally added my mobile/cell phone to the already stacked box of ribbons and a stamp...just the right height....until I got a text message and the phone was on vibrate....down it all came....restack it you say...well I did and then for some unknown reason the last page of the album would not stay where is should have, no matter what I tried...so....I had to resort to BLUE TAC...which turned out to be green! If you look carefully you can see it...no point trying to hide these things!!

BUT...the photo turned out okay...which I am happy about as I had to dust the top of my desk to take it....wouldn't have wanted to have done that for nothing! LOL! This set was made up from an instruction set that was given to us from our previous SU Demo...I am not sure but it may be from SCS - if you recognise it and know the link, please let me know and I will add it - I want to give credit where it is due!! I have chosen some lovely photos of the kids at Christmas, when they were younger and all I have to do is stick them in it - maybe it this 'creation' will see the 'light of day' this Christmas!!

I do have to add...I am happy with the result and actually made an album for my Mother and MIL for last Mother's day, in pinks and greens, called "Mothers are all about Family' and changed the quotes to ones my beautiful Nana had said to me before she died....so it made it very personal! So there you have it...my 'off the page' for the Die Cuts Dreams...I was very excited to win last week's DCD Draw - you probably heard me from your house!!! Thank you Susie and Vikki - I am looking forward to it arriving!!

Thank you for calling in....it is always a pleasure to find your comments and know you have been...you always bring a smile to my face!! I hope you are enjoying your day - it is cold and wet here...and you know what that means.....card making....we are all 'chilling out' as the kids are on holidays and winding down - my kind of day! God bless you!

A Time for Everything

Seasons...they effect our lives in so many ways, starting with the natural seasons...every three months we experiences the changes that come as the old season comes to an end and the new comes....most of us aren't sorry to leave the coldness of winter where we tend to isolate and stay in our safe, warm environment. We start to inch our way outside as we see the touches of spring working it's way through your gardens with blossoms and greenery starting to peak through the baron branches....and so it can be with our lives. As it is with nature, the coldest darkest time of a season can be right before the next one breaks through...and that is usually when we get the most discouraged and are more likely to give up...these words from Soloman bring such truth and comfort!! At the end of Ecclesiastes, Soloman sums it up by telling us that at the end of the day...our duty is to fear God and obey His commandments....that over all, is OUR purpose!!

So...it is just a verse on a card - I think not! Cards with scripture are among my favourites to make...it is an opportunity to combine my passion for paper with my passion for Him! This is such a vital part of who I am and I am so grateful to have found both...I am also grateful for the friends I have met along the way...and would like to thank Kathy (aka Wattle) for sending me some stamped scriptures, as I don't have any...thank you Kathy and for the Nesties you have done with them...I am loving having the luxury of them. This one is perfect for a card for a friend who lost her mother yesterday...I am hoping it brings her comfort!!

This card is for the Our Creative Corner Challenge, you can find the recipe on my SCS Gallery. Thank you for taking the time to look, please leave a comment so I know you have been - it means so much to me!! It is Wednesday night here and raining...lovely...every season has it's benefits! God bless you!

If the Shoe Fits...

Every woman know that this saying is oh so true!!! Some of us more than others!!

I have made this card for the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS where this weeks FS is DawnL, her gallery is extensive and such a variety of cards to choose from...after pages and pages I decided on this one and although I used the basic layout I changed the image, DP's and added a flower and paper piercing! All of the edges have been sponged to give an aged look. The fabulous flower centre is one that a friend gave me, amongst the dozens of others - what a find...they are ALL great for flower centers...this one inparticular has the vintaged look that I love! I would love to have added more to the card, but tried to stay true to Dawn's card, without getting carried away!

The shoe is chalked (of course) and Kindy Glitz is added to the heart and the strap - cause a girl's just gotta have BLING!!! This actually looks like our neighbours 17 year old daughters shoes for ballroom dancing....Emily is such a natural and a pleasure to watch...she has shoes to 'die for' (not literally!!!) Oprah defers to her shoes by the amount of time she can wear them - she has 10 minute shoes (probably just like these ones) 30 minutes, 1 hour shoes...so what is it with women and shoes - if you know, then please leave a comment...I would love to know!

Thank you for looking, it means so much to me to know you have been - so please leave a comment....but more importantly....don't forget to come back!!! God bless you!

Flourishes Challenge Card

Oh my giddy aunt - can you imagine my surprise to get a PM from Betty inviting me to be this week's Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC22) Hostess....I was in disbelief at first and then went through every motion possible....it took a day or two to settle down....Personally, I just love this Challenge, Flourishes is one of the first challenges I took part in outside of the standard SCS ones and I came to look forward to it each week.....then one week I looked at their newsletter and discovered I was the February Monthly Winner - yahooo, each week a gift voucher for their store is the prize.....then to add to my excitement I won the March New Releases - 3 SETS!!! I nearly screamed the house down, my poor DH.....I read it and screamed out, 'I won!' "What did you win?!' 'I dunno, but I won!' 'How'd you win?' 'I dunno, but I won!' I have come a long way since then!!! LOL!

I am both humbled and honoured to have been asked to host this week's challenge, I admire the DT's cards so much and as I started to look at previous challenges...I thought 'What have I done - what was I thinking!?!' These ladies are professional and I am such a novice. Thank God for a supportive DH...who gave me the little 'pushes' I needed along the way!!

I love this set 'Chairs for you' it was the one I chose with my first win, would it surprise any of you who know me and my style to know that I chose CHALKING for this week's challenge....I chalked the chair using....cotton buds/ QTips, adding layers the way you do when you watercolour, the final touches are made with a blender pen and chalks, this adds definition and depth. The vase of flowers is also chalked in the same manner....the flourish...was embossed in black and very carefully cut out - I would like to take the credit for this...believe me I did attempt one, but it needed bandaids, so I called upon my friend Chriss, who is a 'whizz' with a cutting knife....she did it beautifully first go - so thank you Chriss - I owe you!!! Now don't look too carefully as I did cut around the case of flowers!!!

The patterned Memory Box DP (also from Flourishes) has been run through the Cuttlebug giving more texture and the sentiment has also been embossed. For the finishing touched I sponged around the image and backed it with a rectangular Nestibilities (thank Melinda for making yours available!) and popped the flowers up on 3D foam squares....and there you have it!! If you haven't played along at all with these Challenges, you can check it out here

Be sure to check out the other Friends of Flourishes Blog team see what they created for you this week.

Silke Ledlow

Betty Wright

Cindy Haffner

Connie McCotter

Dee Jackson

Thank you to the girls at Flourishes for giving me this opportunity and believing that I am capable...I am constantly inspired by each one of the ladies and count it a privilege to host this weeks challenge. Thank you to you too for coming and visiting my blog, especially on this card, I do appreciate your support...I read every comment and value them tremendously!! I look forward to seeing everybody's cards...and you can count on me 'haunting' the Flourishes gallery this week!!! God bless you!

Irresistible!

Irresistible - there is no other word for this darling little hedgie from Penny Black. As soon as this image arrived in the mail from my friend Sharon (aka *Doris*) it won me and I have saved it for my Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge card. At first I was tempted to do the card totally in pink but I am happy I decided to go with these colours, they are still soft and feminine but just a 'touch' earthy!

This weeks Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge is the big draw....YAHOO!! We are all eagerly waiting to find out how has won it - if you don't know what I am taking about, then you had better check it out - it could be YOU!!! In week 5 I won the bonus gift, which was exciting enough in itself...I am hoping it comes this week - I don't know who is happier when I get mail, the postman or me....whenever something comes, even if I am down the street he calls out and tells me - now that is service!! LOL

The hedgie on this was chalked and then popped up on 3D dots. Alll edges are sponged and some paper pierced....the CB corners have been added on the 'corners' (!?) of the oval....I was looking for something different to use and was happy with the look of these. The final touch is the layered flowers in the top corner, I added the fabulous button that was given to me by a friend from Church, infact she gave me dozens of old buttons and they are ALL ideal for cards....I juts LOVE buttons on cards in so many way! I then added the two little pearls to complete the sketch!

So there you have it my MMSC and it is midnight here - often the way for me....but my aim is always to have it done by the end of the weeked - phew in with minutes to spare!!!

Thank you for stopping my - I love to read that you have been - thank you to all of those who leave such encouraging comments....you bless me!! God bless you!

SU Workshop

I went to a Stampin' Up Workshop today at my friend Chriss's place, it was her first Workshop and she had gone to so much trouble, even went as far as making us all a little gift each! Everytime I go to a Workshop or Scrapbooking Night I always mean to take a photo of everyone and today I remembered...so here we are from left to right...Ann (SU Demo), Melinda (aka Melinda80 on SCS) me, Front row: Chriss (hostess), Lisa...Back row: Anji and Nat (neighbour who introduced me to stamping!) There was another lady there, Jenny, but she has slipped out before the photo!!

I have noticed that there are far more empty 'munchies' bowls than cards showing on the table! LOL! We did actually get a lot done. Ann always runs such a great workshop and we usually do 2 or 3 'Make and Takes' with quite a few techniques being taught - just as well for us that Ann is so patient, I guess that comes from being an Art Teacher!!! Personally, I am so thrilled to have connected with Ann, she takes SU to a whole new level - I love that!! This first card is using the 'Kissing' technique on the butterfly, although it is hard to see in the photo...we also covered stamping off and sponging....you know me, I had to add extra sponging and paper piercing to make it my own! It is always interesting to see how everyone starts with the same things and come out with something so different!

The next thing we made is this cute little gift box with the painted image. This was done using ink pads and blender pens, then we used the blender pen with white chalk to add the highlights....I loved this technique. I use my blender pen with the chalks/pastels but haven't actually used it like this - I love the end result! To be honest when I saw this stamp set in the Catalogue it wouldn't have been one that I would have purchased, but today I would say differently...it is a great set and I can see many uses for it....onto the WISH LIST!!! LOL!

As usual, we had a lot of fun, these days always are - I always look forward to getting together with the gals! It is great that we all have this common interest....a few of the usual 'faithfuls' unable to make it today....hopefully next time!!

It is school holidays for my kids - being at a private school where they don't have student free days, it all adds up to an extra week in these holidays and at Christmas....so yay...no roster tomorrow!!

Thank you for visiting, be sure to leave a comment so I know you have been...I like to know these things!! Hope you are enjoying your weekend!! God bless you!

Gracious Manor

When I took my last order of card to one of the fabulous little boutiques that sells my cards, the 'Gracious Manor' I asked the owner, Pam, if we could take a couple of photos and put them on my Blog. I thought you might like to have a little 'peak'...I must say that it is IMPOSSIBLE to capture the beauty of this DIVINE shop on camera. My DH took these photos and as you can see from the moment you walk in the door you are aware of the ambiance that is not only obvious to the eyes but also the other senses!

It is a pleasure taking cards here for Pam to peruse....while she looks through them I am more than content to leisurely wander around the shop, stopping at every table, cabinet and cupboard. The vintage and eclectic style of my cards is so well suited to this setting! I actually found some inspiration for some cards in some of the cabinets and am going to be working on some in the near future....and yes, we did get photos!

As many of you know it can be hard to find avenues to sell you cards, I stumbled across the 'Gracious Manor' when DH and I were going into a Market to buy herbs and spices - we walked out with an arrangement for me to bring my cards in and see how they go! I am happy to report that they are selling well and having been back once, I will be back again soon....so don't limit yourself when it comes to opportunity. I find it hard to sell my own cards, I could sell yours easily...I don't know why that it, but it happens to me BIG time! My DH steps in, usually, and does the PR stuff then steps back and leaves the business side of things to me! This time I did it myself and that made it even more of a 'buzz' for me...

So if you are 'in town' then let me know and I can bring you here for the most gorgeous shopping experience...and on the quiet....we will go from there to the scrap booking and craft place just down the road...next time I will take some photos and introduce you to that delight....

Thank you for coming into 'My Little Corner of the World' I loved having you visit, sigh - if only it was in person! Please leave a comment so I know you have been...God bless you!