Tuesday's challenges and a few from a crop

Happy Tuesday everyone!! I have fallen behind on blogging again. However, I have made quite a few cards and projects while away. Hopefully this will justify my inability to keep my blog updated a couple of times a week.
Lately, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the new card challenge blogs. I want to do all the challenges but just have not mastered this task yet. Hmm. One day soon I hope.
First, My Sketch World had a cyber crop last weekend and it was loaded with challenges, make-n-takes, and games. I had fun completing a few challenges. I type few because I managed to complete 4 and there were over 14! Lucy started this site and has an incredible DT for scrapping and card making. The forum is really active and has something to appeal to all. Check it out!

Here are two of the challenges I did:

First was for a paper bag gift card holder:



Supplies used are October Afternoon County Fair paper, Making Memories rub on and green ribbon, Target purple rhinestones, Wright's purple ribbon, DMC purple floss, and button from craft supply

Next is a monogram card I made for a dear friend:

Supplies used are American Crafts Spring/Summer High Tea paper, Cherry Arte Lime Zig Zag paper, Uniball gel pen, Heidi Swapp black chipboard letter, and Kaiser Craft green rhinestones.

Next I have the 2S4Y weekly sketch. It's Laura's #20! So happy that their blog generates so many talented card makers from all over the world. It's amazing! This week the DT used Creative Cuts and More die cut bags or cards for their creations. I do not have Creative Cuts so I used a K & Co. Beyond Postmarks tri fold card for my card. Here it is:


Here is the inside of the card:

Supplies used are Pink Paislee Sweet Cakes and Office Lingo paper, Cloud 9 Sparkle rub-on, Darice rhinestone.
Another new site that I am addicted to is Card Patterns. They have weekly card sketches to challenge card makers. It's their 3rd week and many are joining in on these great sketches.
Mine:


Supplies used are Pink Paislee Office Lingo and Sweet Cakes pattern paper and alphabet stickers, Bazzill card stock, Quickutz stamp, Vibrance red ink, Darice red rhinestones, Kaiser craft pink flowers, CK Orange silk flower, Wight's green ribbon, and button and brad from craft supply.

That's it for now! I hope to be back later this week with lots more but you never know. ;-) Thank you for coming by and checking out my cards. I greatly appreciate it! Happy Tuesday!

Wintry Wednesday

Our day started out with snow but has unfortunately turned to rain. :-( It was pretty early this morning as it fell silently on the community making a thin blanket of white wonder. Now it is melted and we have a damp ground with overcast skies.
I hope everyone had a fabulous Valentine's Day. It's always nice when it falls on weekend. I shared it with Simon and the kids. Some may think it's not so romantic but Simon and I had a few days away in Mexico sans kids. We did a family night which was not as successful as we had planned trying to get a movie to watch but the kids were busy on the Wii while Simon and I tried frantically to get a movie downloaded and ripped before midnight. We failed to get it on the big screen so Simon and I snuggled together to watch via the laptop. :-) Also watched some Star-ving episodes. We were cracking up. I think Simon might be hooked. It's not appropriate for younger audience so be forewarned if you check it out. It pushes the envelopes and shreds it as they say.
:-)
Now it is already Wednesday! A few things to share today.
First new sketch for 2S4Y this week. I used a Shortcutz clear card for the base and some new papers my wonderful friend Pam sent me by SEI! She sent me this great SEI Lovebirds kit packed with glittered and lace papers, die cuts, ribbons, and more. Thank you Pam! On this card I used the Lovebirds paper, Making Memories ribbon, Hot Hues scallop bird image, not sure about the rub on-s, and Kaiser Craft rhinestones.

This next card is for Card Patterns.

I used Making Memories Love Notes paper, Melissa Frances chipboard heart, Karen Foster rub-on,red rhinestones, and a gold key charm.
The last card I want to share is for CPS new sketch. There are so many creative ideas for this sketch by the fabulous DT. I had to try it once viewing their work. check out the other cards made by participants when you visit. Incredible examples.

Close up:

Mine uses Making Memories (I know, again?) Sabrina and Love Notes lines. I used a transparency on top to show the pattern of the gorgeous Love Notes floral paper, American Crafts rub-on's, Darice rhinestones, Jo-Ann's ribbon, and Making Memories flowers and brads.
Thank you for coming by. I always appreciate visits and if you have read thus far, even better. I know it's a long post. Wishing you a glorious Wednesday! Thank you!

A surprise for me and a new card sketch site

Last night consisted of howling winds which kept DD and I up as we listened to the house shake and rattle. I laid there fretting that shingles, siding, etc. were flying off which made me a little too anxious to sleep. I went to inspect today for visible damage, but did not see any evidence while walking around the house. Fingers crossed. While outside a delivery man from my favorite florist pulled up. He must have thought I was out of my mind gazing upon my house in the front yard. Oh well. He hand delivered to me a beautiful vase of red and white flowers from my love for Valentine's Day. A little early but that's how Simon is. He never wants to be late anywhere (which is hard since I am always late)so I imagine he anticipated if today's delivery was missed, then it would be tomorrow before I received them. Adding further TMI, I am going to his place this weekend so a Saturday delivery would be difficult trying to time. I am glad he did because this way I have two days to enjoy them. I snapped a few photos of the arrangement to share with all. :-) Thank you honey! They are beautiful!





Finally, there is a new card sketch blog, Card Positions with weekly challenges. I am happy to see a card blog and wish them the best! Check out the DT's examples from this week's sketch, amazing! There is much interest and many people are joining in! Including myself, here's my card from the very first sketch.

I used supplies from The Shaker Box's card kit for February plus MME bling, Amy Butler die cut and stamp. Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog! I really appreciate your interest! Have a great Thursday!

It's almost here!

Valentine's is my favorite holiday because I love ♥'s and the color red. So that being prefaced...I have been busy this week getting my Valentine's made and have a few more to share today. The first has already left my hands. I made it based on the CPS sketch. I just checked the site and there are over 170 examples! Wow! I love looking at every one's take on the sketch. Many talented card makers to inspire. I suggest hopping over to their blog and seeing them for yourself! Definitely worth it!
Here is my card for the sketch:

I know! It's another MM card! Can't seem to break myself away from the Love Notes collection. Thanks to my friend Carol at TSB, she sent me an incredible package loaded with various items from this collection. :-)


Scrapbook News and Review has opened a new ning forum for card makers. I joined yesterday and am addicted to it already! It's super easy to navigate, which is great for me. :-) Yesterday Anne House threw a sketch challenge out and I jumped right on it. A fun sketch for the upcoming holiday.


Yep- I used Making Memories Love Notes again.

Finally a little good news for me pertaining to SNR. I have a card featured in the Valentine's Day spotlight on cards. It's one I made for TSB last month. Being a designer for Linda has been a wonderful experience. This is my last month as on the card design team but she has selected me to be a GDT for the month of April, which I am ecstatic about. She creates her kits each month and they feature the latest and greatest products from top manufacturers. Swing by the site and sign up to join the new forum she created. A fun community of inspiring crafters.

And that's it from me today. Thank you for coming by. :-)

Apron Strings Card Kit for Feb

It was my first month to design at Apron Strings and I had such fun playing with the HUGE kit Lori and Kathy sent me. I am not kidding when I say it is huge!! There were so many patterned papers, cardstock, and embellies to work with. I hope you will pop over to the site and check out the kits. The card kit is such a steal for the amount of product of you will receive. **Updated** February card kits are sold out. However, there are scrapbook kits available in various sizes to appease every scrapper. :-)

Here's a few cards I created.

This kit has beautiful SEI papers in natural colors of browns that are so beautiful. I did not want to cut the papers because the patterns were so extraordinary.





Finally another card using some SEI paper and a Scenic Route label. The flocking on the embellishment is gorgeous and adds so much texture!

Back

in the states but not really. Still on Mexico time. ;-) Meaning, moving a little slow and missing the naps.
Overall, Simon recovered from his Montezuma's revenge and we were able to savage the last day at Puerto Vallarta. We used the public transit system which was much better than we thought it would be. It was a fun trip and we had a good time exploring the culture and getting to meet lots of Canadians. Over at 2 Sketches 4 You, part of the challenge is post a picture of your eye candy so here's a picture of my blue eyed man that I love dearly. He has these pale blue eyes and in this photo, I missed the red eye fix. Sorry hun!




Now for the other part of the challenge:

Close up:

For this card I used some older Making Memories Noteworthy papers, newer Making Memories Sabrina papers and label sticker, American Crafts butterfly chipboard, Wright's ribbon, Target rhinestones, and DMC floss.

Congrats to the new DT at 2 Sketches! I love the cards they have created for their first week!