Owly Aniversary

We have had a house guest for a couple of weeks - and  other guests for meals - now I am trying to get caught up on many challenges!  I am so used to having only two of us for meals, laundry, etc!
Supplies:  Sizzix EF - it is actually a Halloween scene, but the circle layer covered the pumpkins nicely LOL! ; Beccy's digital image; Library stamp by 7 Gypsies; Washi tape; chalk pencils; Kraft, black, beige cs. I sometimes want a more masculine looking anniversary card, and I think this image works for that.
Sketch:  http://www.thekraftjournal.blogspot.com/
Cute:     http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Washi tape:  http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/
                    http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/
Masculine:  http://www.flonzcraft.com/vsc/
Any:  http://avenue613.blogspot.com/
          http://beccysplace.blogspot.com/

No black

This was a bit of a tough challenge for me - use blues, browns, purples/plums - and no black.  I used a variety of Costco double sided cs (in my stash for  LONG time - it was a huge pack!), and Chocolate Chip ink for the Unity stamps.  I fussy cut the bird, and embossed the light blue layer with a bird folder - from Paper Studio.  The embossing is highlighted with Chocolate Chip chalk - but does not show well here.  The strips are Washi tape.  Oh, yes, some of the circles are Spellbinders Majestic elements, and the tag is highlighted with a crystal gem.
Sketch  (and inspiration):  http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-choose-your-challenge.html
Washi tape:   http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/
Purple, blue, brown - no black:  http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.co.at/2014/02/a-three-colour-challenge-without-use-of.html
Inspiration -  tiny blue birds:  http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/
Dies:  http://feelingcraftychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:  http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.com/ 
With a bird:  http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/

I'm back!

Whew!  It has been a long time - a month, in fact...  I have almost forgotten how to do this.  I will not bore you with all the details - if I get ambitious I will do another travel blog or place photos somewhere.  DH and I just returned from a fabulous 28 day cruise.  We were on the beautiful Sapphire Princess, and cruised round trip out of San Pedro, CA.  We had 4 stops in Hawaii and 5 in the South Pacific, including Samoa and Tahiti - and we had about 18 sea days.   The ports were beautiful, and the sea days were wonderful - food, entertainment, and speakers were all great.  Now it is time to get back to somewhat of a routine - for a while, at least.
Needless to say - Christmas will be here soon and I have a lot to do!  This card features the Stampendous stamp, and misc. papers and ribbon.
Here are the challenges:
http://www.sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.com/:  Sketch
http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2013/11/this-weeks-challenge-card_13.html:  Black and white Christmas, with a frame; the Cuttlebug frame folder is available at her store.
http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.com/:  Christmas theme
http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/:  Holidays, with ribbon.
http://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/a-month-of-holiday-cards-challenge.html:  #7, non traditional colors

Birthday in pink, yellow and orange

What a bright, sunny color combination - and this Penny Black bear is enjoying one of the final romps of the summer.  He is colored with water color pencils and gel pens.  The DP is Paper Studio.  I really need a horizontal birthday folder - is there one out there?  I solved the problem by embossing a single word on each side, and doing a regular vertical emboss on the rest of the yellow layer - then I covered most of what had been embossed LOL!  There is glitter scattered over the card.  I used a lot of scraps - there was just about the right size of the yellow and orange to cut those layers - but I still have a couple of small pieces.  The stripes were cut from a larger scrap.  Even the sticky brads and ribbon were just about the end of those supplies.  I could make about 5000 more cards and still have scraps left!
Sketch:  http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/
Summer fun, with ribbon:  http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/2013/08/rcc84-week-1.html
Scraps:  http://shellysimagesblog.blogspot.com/
Bright & sunny,  with Penny Black image:  http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/
Pink, yellow, orange:  http://alotarubberstamps.blogspot.com/

Happy 4th

I think this is Maude - she is decked out in her blue and red two piecer ready to celebrate on the 4th - though she seems concerned about something!
Sketch:   http://ynschallenges.blogspot.ca/
Stars (on some red squares) and stripes:  http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
All red, white and blue challenges:
http://www.vostamps.blogspot.com/
http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/

Christmas #20

This is the same image I have been using - with a JustRite sentiment.  I used two different papers from the Paper Studio Faith stack, and added ribbon as well as dark green mats.
Sketch:  http://www.sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.com/
Christmas:

Simple sympathy

I like to have sympathy cards in my stash.  Often, friends come to see if I have any available.  This sentiment is from the Verve Blessings set - I was so fortunate to have my number drawn in a recent Mojo Monday challenge.  Winning justifies my addiction to challenges it seems!  I used a scrap of the embossed piece (Swirls) left from my last card, and added a ribbon.  The bg is Costco double sided cs.
I just ordered a Tonic guillotine cutter.  I have resisted getting that style due to space limitations in the motor home.  However, I have tried several other cutters and have been quite frustrated with the short blade life and chopped edges.  There were several positive comments on SCS regarding this trimmer, and the reviews on Amazon were pretty positive.  It arrived today and so far I am pleased.  Well, that is enough commercial!
Sympathy card:  http://digidarlas.blogspot.com/
              And:   http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/
Sketch:  http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/

Thinking of Ty

A friend asked me to do a special card.  Her nephew, and adopted boy of 13, is undergoing especially difficult times.  He was severely burned (by overly hot bathwater) as an infant. Now he must undergo special procedures daily, for several weeks, in an effort to save his legs.  I really have no understanding of the medical aspect, but it has to do with stimulating the growth that was inhibited by the burns.  My friend says he maintains a positive attitude.  He loves horses.  I made this 5.5x8.5.  The DP is from a Costco set.  The image and leaf punch are gifts.  I added brads, twine, and his name in CB Olivia lettering.  The blue layer is embossed with distressed stripes (CB).
I do not often consider horses to be "critters" but I hope they qualify:  http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/
I rotated the sketch, and used twine:  http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/
3 brads, 2 pattern papers, 1 image:  http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/
anything goes:  http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/06/challenge-100-are-you-ready.html 
For the boys: http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/

Flowery birthday

This is pretty self explanatory.  The DP is by Recollections; Ribbon is Offray, flowers by Petaloo, the scallop punch is Fiskars, and the sentiment is JustRite. I sprinkled a bit of glitter over the patterned paper.
Red, lime and gold:  http://dancinginpajamas.blogspot.com/
The lime and gold and leafy pattern:  http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/
The sketch:   http://skippingstonesdesign.com/
Spring flowers (gold and red and glittery IRL):  http://tsgclearstamps.blogspot.com/

Baby Boy congrats

Once again, I am working on building up my inventory.  This will be the only baby card for now!  Not much stamping, but I keep looking for ways to use the adorable Debbie Mumm DP - I have a lot, I think it is cute, but it is a challenge to use.  I cheated a bit, and used the same pattern for the bg, but I turned the right hand panel on its side - works fine as it would hardly show.  Maybe I should do a similar one in pink.  I have very few suitable baby images.  I used edging scissors for some of the edges.
 I used some fiber (something on a spool) to complete this challenge:  http://ribboncarouselchallenge.blogspot.com
Anything: http://www.inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/
The sketch is here:  http://seemsalittlesketchy.blogspot.com/
For this challenge, I used the word "baby", and had a theme of baby, boy and the color blue:  http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/   I have had the fibers for a very long time, and the Debbie Mumm DP has been in my stash for over a year.

Thank You in orange

I need to add to my supply of Thank You cards.  This sentiment was given to me and I do not know the origin.  The diamond pattern DP and main mat are AMuse papers.  The other DP is from a box of My Mind's Eye papers - all are colors I do not use often but make a bright and cheery thank you.  I added a bit of narrow grosgrain ribbon.
The layout:  http://cardpatterns.blogspot.com/
A thank you card:  http://amusestudiochallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Bright colors I seldom use: http://ribboncarouselchallenge.blogspot.com/
Anything:  http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/

Mojo for April

I just realized I need to send a card to a sister in law.
 This floral butterfly is a clear stamp from Joann's.  i stamped with Colorbox Bisque chalk ink and a rose.  I added a bit of lace and a piece of doily from Basic Grey.  The flower and leaves are from a dollar store stem.
I embossed the pink layer with Cuttlebug Victoria EF.
The sketch:  http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com
Use lace:  http://trulyscrumptiouschallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Springtime:  http://ribboncarouselchallenge.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Challenge 
Celebratory - she is celebrating her 75th birthday - http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/