Another Good-Bye...

Welcome back!  It is a COLD one here in Central Alberta - winter really can go away any time now... *sigh*  I have had the kids home for two days now as yesterday school was canceled due to the cold and on Monday, our driveway was so drifted in I got stuck trying to get out!   Hopefully today will be a Happy Hump Day for all of us.  :)

It's time for me to say good-bye to another one of my amazing design teams - I can't believe that my six months with Riley over at the Color Dare are all done...*sniff*  I've had a fabulous time with all of the ladies and Riley's combos are always so much fun to work with.  So, thank you to ALL of you!  This week's combination is Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler, and Basic Gray.

I dug out the Viva la Verve sketch again...and over on the Verve Stamps Blog there's a chance to win some more Verve-y goodness so go check it out:

Stamps: Sentiment from Verve  Ink: Cherry Cobbler  Paper: Basic Grey, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, SU! DSP  Accessories:Labels Fourteen Nesties, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, sewing machine, Marina Mist satin ribbon, adhesive pearl, Snow Cap embossing folder, sponge dauber

Thank you to all of you for popping in this morning - enjoy your Wednesday and I'll be back tomorrow for a brand new 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge!

It's Color Dare Wednesday!

Are you ready for it?  Over at the Color Dare, Riley had given us a lovely combination to work with - Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke, and a neutral of your choice... I decided to use Kraft & Whisper White.  I know that's TWO neutrals but I don't count the white *wink*.

I immediately thought of flowers and leaves and wanted to use my 3-D Flowers die from Sizzix so in search of a suitable sketch I went.  I found a great one over at Mojo Monday - Mary Fish...you rock!

Stamps:  Petals and Stems (Verve)  Ink: Perfect Plum  Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum  Accessories: Scallop Edge border punch, Nesties, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Script embossing folder, Crumb Cake seam binding, paper piercer, 3-D Flowers die, adhesive pearls

I hope you will find some time to play along with us this week over at the Color Dare!  See you tomorrow for a brand new 4 Crafty Chicks challenge!

Color Dare & Viva la Verve Week Three

Hi everyone!  This week's Color Dare is a good one - calm and soothing - Night of Navy, Marina Mist and River Rock.  My first instinct was to make a boy birthday card but I decided to make a sympathy card instead.  One of the families in our community is grieving the loss of their husband/dad who passed away unexpectedly last week while on a family vacation in Mexico.  It is incredibly sad and yet thought-provoking at the same time... it sure made me want to hold my family a little closer and not take them for granted.  This card will be going to them this week.

I used the Week Three Viva la Verve sketch - another wonky panel...

Stamps: Forever in Our Hearts (Verve)  Ink: River Rock, Night of Navy  Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Marina Mist, SU! DSP  Accessories: Paper piercer, Marina Mist satin ribbon, Leafy Branch embossing folder, Nesties, sewing machine, Beautiful Wings embosslit, adhesive pearls, paper piercer

Thanks for stopping by today - I'm glad you did.  :)  See you tomorrow for a new 4 Crafty Chicks challenge!

CD 96 & February's Sketch For You to Try

Hello again everyone!  How's your week going?  The weather here has been so weird... above melting one day and the next day it is blowing snow and freezing!  Crazy.  But at least it gives me an excuse to stay inside and craft... *grin*

This week's Color Dare is a fun. springy combo: Peach Parfait, Garden Green and Bashful Blue - doesn't that make the winter blues disappear?  I used Jen's February Sketch For You To Try...isn't it lovely?

Stamps: 1 Peter 5:7 (Verve)  Paper: Whisper White, Garden Green, Peach Parfait, SU! DSP  Ink: Peach Parfait, Bashful Blue, Garden Green  Accessories: Sizzlits Little Leaves, Peach Parfait twill ribbon, jumbo eyelet, sponge dauber, paper piercer, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder

I really enjoyed working with these colors, I hope you can play along this week!  See you tomorrow for a new 4 Crafty Chicks challenge!

Color Dare Meets PWCO

Happy Hump Day everyone!  How's your week been going?  I've been rather busy trying to stay WARM - the thermometer has been hovering around the -30*C mark the past couple of days... today is supposed to warm up considerably but I'll believe it when I see it!

This week's Color Dare challenge is a fun one that screamed BABY card (even though I don't know anyone having a baby...)  What do you think?  Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight and Basic Black.  I think I went that way because either of the colors would work for a boy or a girl and the black is, well, neutral.  :)

I have been playing along with Peg and the girls over at the Paperworks Co. Sketch challenge for the last few weeks and this week's sketch is super-fun:

Don't you love all the scallop-y layers at the top?  I bought some fun baby stamps in the clearance bin at my LSS a couple of weeks ago and they were PERFECT for this sketch and color combo:

Stamps: Party My Crib, On the Line (Darcie's Stamps)  Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight  Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, SU! DSP, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist  Accessories: Labels Fifteen Nesties, adhesive pearls, sponge dauber, black satin ribbon, jumbo eyelet, paper piercer, scallop border punch (EK Success), clear embossing powder

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you will find some time this week to play along with us at the Color Dare...these colors are a lot of fun.  See you tomorrow for a brand new 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge!

Color Dare Meets Viva la Verve!

Welcome back everyone!  Today's crafty installment comes to you courtesy of the Color Dare and Viva la Verve, Week Four.  Riley has given us a Color Dare combination perfect for making a Valentine or two for the "special someones in your life: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, and Pear Pizzazz and Sankari's sketch gives you a great jumping-off point:

Stamps: Love Monkey (Verve)  Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, SU! DSP  Ink: Perfect Plum  Accessories: Argyle embossing folder, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, paper piercer, heart brads, EK Success border punch, Pretty in Pink satin ribbon, silver cord, Nesties, jeweled button

Thanks for stopping by today - we'd love it if you would play along with us this week at the Color Dare.  See you tomorrow for a new 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge!

Another Color Dare & My Nemesis...Pacific Point

Happy Hump Day!  Can you believe that we are already halfway through January?  We have had nothing but snow, snow and more snow over the last week and a half or so and, I'll be honest, I'm tired of it.  I know it *is* winter and I *do* live in Canada and snow *is* part and parcel for winter but, gosh-darn-it-anyways...  :)

I suppose there is a bright side to the snow and cold - it's perfect stay-in-the-house-and-bake-and-craft weather.  Maybe if I keep telling myself that, I'll start to believe it...do you think?  Enough about the weather, though, you came for a challenge and this week's Color Dare is a doozy... Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette, and Regal Rose.  It is very similar to one combo Riley had before Christmas and I struggled with that one too.  I found Julee's new Mojo Monday sketch and its simple layout convinced me to give 'er a whirl...

Stamps: Plain Jane (Verve)  Ink: Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette  Paper: Whisper White, Pacific Point, SU! DSP (Bella Rose, I think...)  Accessories: Sponge dauber, Labels Nine Nestabilities, Pink Pirouette & Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, halfback pearls (Pretties Kit), Square Lattice embossing folder, paper piercer

As always, thanks for popping by today.  If you don't have an aversion to Pacific Point like I do (or even if you do and are looking for a *real* challenge...), we'd love to see your creations over at the Color Dare blog.  You've got until next Tuesday at midnight to submit your entry.  Have fun!

Another Color Dare Wednesday

Morning everyone! You'll have to excuse my frantic post this morning - I forgot to come back and finish it after I uploaded the pics so when I woke up this morning I PANICKED!  I have a few minutes now before the kids get up for school, so here I am!

This week's color combo over at the Color Dare is Poppy Parade, So Saffron and Very Vanilla.  I decided to use the Unscripted Sketches newest sketch as well as the Paper Players' challenge to make a Valentine's card:

OH - I also decorated a coordinating envelope for this week's challenge at Just Us Girls.  :)

I will try to come back later to post the deets on my card - time to get the monsters up!  Later gators!

Color Dare #91

Hello, hello, hello!  Here we are at Wednesday which means it's time for a brand new Color Dare!  This week's combination is Pear Pizzazz, Tempting Turquoise, and Tangerine Tango.  I made my card before Christmas in an attempt to get ahead a bit and these colors were a fun departure from the "Christmas-y" colors in abundance this time of year.  :)

I was able to use a sketch from Crazy 4 Challenges:

And voila!  I have been trying to find an occasion to use this stamp for awhile and thought it would work perfectly for this sketch:

Stamps: Attitude sentiment (Clear & Simple Stamps)  Ink: Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise  Paper: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, SU! DSP  Accessories: Square punches, sponge dauber, Twizzle embossing folder, Nestabilities, Tangerine Tango grosgrain ribbon, buttons, silver cord

I hope you will have a few minutes this week to play along with us - we love to stop and see what you create. :)  See you tomorrow for a brand new 4 Crafty Chicks challenge!

Color Dare #90

Three more sleeps... ;)  Today's the last day of school for the boys and then they're off until just after the new year.  I'm looking forward to spending some time with them - not much longer and they're not going to *want* to hang out with mom.  *sniff* 

This week's Color Dare combination is a PERFECT one to use if you have a couple of last-minute cards left to do: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Soft Suede...yummy.

I used the Unscripted Sketches sketch from last week, rotated it ninety degrees and voila:

Stamps: Doves and Holly (Flourishes)  Ink: Soft Suede, Old Olive  Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, SU! DSP, Old Olive  Accessories: Paper piercer, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, adhesive pearls, Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder

I love how this card turned out - I wasn't sure about the combination at first but once I got them all together, I was a believer.  :)  You know we love it when you play along with us...we get such great ideas from you guys.  Enjoy the next few days before Christmas and I'll see you tomorrow for a new 4 Crafty Chicks challenge - see you then!

Color Dare #89 (...and there are only 10 more sleeps! ACK!)

Welcome back to another Color Dare, all you crafty crafters!  This week's combination is one that you could definitely use to finish up those Christmas cards; it's a bit non-traditional but I *know* there are many of you out there that could make it work.  So, this is my own personal challenge to you:  Can you make a Christmas card using Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze and Pink Pirouette?  :)

I have been trying to get ahead of the game with my DT cards so I don't have as many to do over the next couple of weeks and I'm really trying to make cards that are quick and easy so I immediately went over to clean&simple stamping for a sketch and found this one:

I started out wanting to make a Christmas card but couldn't find anything Christmas-y to use for the snowflake so I dug out my Sizzix Daisies die and a few cranks through the Cuttlebug later, voila!

Stamps: Well Scripted (SU!)  Paper: Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, SU! DSP  Ink: Rich Razzleberry  Accessories: Paper piercer, buttons, silver cord, Square Lattice embossing folder, Rich Razzleberry polka dot ribbon

Off to do some more *getting ahead* so I can relax and enjoy the week before Christmas without deadlines looming over my head!  :)  See you tomorrow for a brand new 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge.  :)

Christmas Colors at the Color Dare

Only 17 more sleeps until Christmas?  Are you kidding me?  I {need} to get my stuff together and get my shopping done...*sigh*  Are you ready?

This week's combination from Riley at the Color Dare is a perfect one to use getting some of those last-minute Christmas cards done: Old Olive, Riding Hood Red and a neutral of your choice.  I totally love this combo.  :)

I paired these colors with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch - loving all these layers - and tried to keep it CAS:

Stamps: Snow Wonderful (Verve), Ms. Holiday Cheer (CTMH)  Ink: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Versamark  Paper: Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, SU! DSP, Basic Grey DSP  Accessories: Baker's twine, paper piercer, buttons, Winter Wonderland embossing powder

Enjoy your day - I am off to the gym this afternoon for my dose of torture and then hopefully I can get some shopping done???  If you have time to play with us this week, we'd love to see what you create so make sure to link us up so we can leave you some lovin'.  See you tomorrow for a new 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge!

Clean and Simple for the Color Dare

Welcome to December, everyone!  You all know what *that* means... only 24 more sleeps until Christmas!  ACK!  Have you started shopping yet?  I have {just} started but I wish I was done!  LOL  I think the majority of my shopping will be *virtual* shopping this year...not really interested in braving the crazy people in the malls! 

So instead of Christmas shopping, I have been busy crafting!  That's what a girl *should* do, right?  :)  This week's color combination from Riley at the Color Dare is an interesting one: Concord Crush, Perfect Plum, and Chocolate Chip.  At first, I thought, "Cool... two purples and chocolate... easy peasy."  Well, not so easy 'cause when I pulled out the Concord, I realized how much of a blue-purple it is.

I found this lovely, CAS sketch over at clean&simple stamping and knew it would be perfect:

Stamps: Plain Jane (Verve)  Ink: Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum  Paper: Concord Crush, Whisper White,
Perfect Plum  Accessories: Paper piercer, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Vintage Wallpaper EF, Nestabilities, sponge dauber, button, baker's twine

That's it for me today - thanks for stopping by and make sure to check out the rest of the DT's creations...their links are to the left.  Enjoy your day - see you tomorrow with a new 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge!