Away in a Manger

I'm thrilled to be hosting this week's Little Red Wagon challenge! Initially, I had asked the Girlfriends to help me with commenting as when I chose this challenge back at the start of 2020, I had been planning a family cruise leaving Boxing Day. As I will now be staying put (and not even leaving the house let alone heading to the Caribbean!), I am excited that I'll be able to see all the projects entered into our challenge this week.

I've chosen the theme "Merry Christmas!" I'm looking to see any sort of creation that celebrates Christmas - or any other faith/cultural celebration. I'm happy to have all friends join, regardless of beliefs or traditions.

I used Clearly Besotted's "Nativity Play" for my creation. I just love these sweet little mice dressed up for their Christmas pageant! I had all the little images that I wanted to use coloured up but when I cut them out, the baby Jesus mouse got cut in half for some reason! Mary also had part of her tail cut off. I was able to solve the issue of Mary's tail with a strategically placed donkey. However, there was no solution for the cut Jesus. I could have made excuses for other characters. Mary might have been off getting a snack (shortbread, if she was anything like me). Joseph might have been out buying new swaddling clothes. However, I really couldn't come up with a reason that Jesus would not have been at his own birth. So back to the Copics went I!! 

And for those of you who might wonder about mice at the birth of Christ, I'm posting part of the Love Actually script - a few of my favourite lines from one of my favourite Christmas movies!!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then link up your own Christmas (or other faith/cultural celebration) creation!

In the spirit of my family's tradition, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

4

Peace, Love and Paws

Brenda is our fabulous hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's telling us that "It's hip to be square". Well, I never used to be a renegade and wasn't the sort to fool around (at least not too much!) so I guess I am a square to some extend. 

I was going to create a square card with some square stencilling in the background but wasn't really happy with how things were going. I used some of the bits that I'd had for my original card and switched things up a bit - well, quite a bit! I do still have a square frame on my card and I think things look better without a square overload. Huey claimed it was hip to be square here, there, and everywhere - but I've decided it's better to be just a little bit hip with my squares!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the rest of the hip cards created by the Girlfriends and then pull out your squares to join the fun!

I'm also linking this up with Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge - Christmas Critters. 

6

Merry & Bright

Jan is this week's hostess at Little Red Wagon and she's calling out "Snow Days!" This used to be a beloved call in our house when the kids were younger as it meant that there was no school for the day due to inclement weather. My husband used to live for snow days too - as he was a teacher!! I have to say that a significant positive for me as I'm working from home this winter due to Covid is that I do not have to worry about driving to and from work in the snow and ice. Even though I prefer sun and sand, I don't mind snow when I'm dressed for it. I just don't like driving through it!

I made a snow-scene Christmas card for this week's challenge. The little snowman and word art are from MFT Stamps. I've had the paper in my stash for years and years! I'm trying to use a bit more of my patterned paper. I used to use it all the time and so purchased heaps, but most of it has been sitting neglected for the past while. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then put together your own "Snow Days" project to link up with this week's challenge!

*I'll also be linking up my card in this week's Simon Says Stamp challenge - Let it Snow!

7

Warm Birthday

It's Doni's turn to host at Little Red Wagon this week and she's looking for projects that celebrate winter birthdays. The timing is perfect for me as I have a sister who will be celebrating a birthday next week. While technically it's still fall, we are living in a winter wonderland here in central Ontario, Canada. It snowed all day yesterday and we're surrounded by a beautiful sea of white.

Years ago, I gave my sister the nickname "Kami" (for camel). We were on holidays together in Egypt and I kept giving Kami my things to hold as I took photos. She joked that she was my camel, expected to carry all my bags and such. Since then, I always give her cards and gifts that include a camel in some way - and call her Kami. That's the reason I've included a camel on my winter birthday card, despite camels not living in such a climate. As there's also a latte-drinking giraffe wearing a sweater and sitting in the snow on the card, I don't think the camel is too much of a stretch for a winter scene! And I did make sure she was wearing a hat to stay warm. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the rest of the Winter Birthday projects that the Girlfriends have made - and then create your own in order to join this week's challenge!

6

O Holy Night Tags

Over at Little Red Wagon, Imke is encouraging us all to be "Prepared for Christmas". From tags to bags to boxes to decorations and beyond, we are looking for ways in which you are getting ready for the big day exactly one month from today!

I collect nativity sets and seem to do the same with nativity stamp sets. I keep buying nativity stamp sets and not actually using them! Thanks to Imke, I've used a NBUS Sunny Studio stamp set to create a few tags. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see how the rest of the Girlfriends have been getting "Prepared for Christmas" - and then create and link up your own Christmas preparation projects!

5

Really Miss You

I'm the lucky hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and my challenge is for you to "Say It Loud". I'm looking for BIG sentiments or word art. 

I had purchased a die especially for this challenge but found out last week that I was one of the lucky winners of a $75US voucher for MFT's latest release. As soon as the new products became available, I put in my order for some wonderful new products - including the BIG word die and cute little Pandas at Play stamp set used on my card. I'll put the other die (as well as my other new goodies) to work later. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have made and then link up your own "Say It Loud" creation! 

5

Warmest Greetings

I'm back with a second project this week! I was over-the-moon delighted to learn that I was one of the November Release winners at My Favorite Things. I got the good news on Tuesday, spent my winnings that same day, learned the next day that my goodies were en route and then received them today (Thursday) already! I decided to put some of my new products to work and created a card for this week's MFT Sketch and Colour challenges. It's my way of offering a HUGE thanks for the win. 

MFT products used to make my card:

BB Pile on the Hugs

A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax (Set 1)

Baccarat Background stamp

Joy, Love and Peace Die-namics (for the heart in "FRIEND"

Stitched Sentiment Strips

Arch Stax

FRIEND Die-namics

MFT Sketch Challenge (#515):

MFT Color Challenge (#153):

2

Merry Christmoose

Brenda is our hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's looking for non-traditional Christmas colours. Basically, if your Christmas creation is not red or green, we want to see it!

I based my card on a stuffed moose and ceramic tree that I recently saw in a shop and decided to go pink! The background does have a tiny bit of green so I'm hoping that all the pink detracts from that. I had fun creating the background by using the snowflake stamps that came with the Reverse Confetti Merry Christmoose set and heat embossing them with a glittery embossing powder before inking over with pink. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then link up your own non-traditional Christmas colour project. 

6

Have Yourselfie

Jan is hosting this week's challenge at Little Red Wagon and she's calling out, "Colour Me Happy!" Janice would like to see us do some colouring on our creations.

I'd had a long yet productive day on Monday and it was wonderful to simply sit and colour. I can understand why some people enjoy colouring books! I coloured the little "Polaroid" picture with Copics and then inked the background with my big balloon stencil (that I also used a couple of weeks ago). My littlest little (who towers over me at 6'5" but remains my little guy in my heart!) has a friend celebrating a birthday this upcoming weekend so I made the card with him in mind.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the colouring done by the rest of the Girlfriends, and then practice some self-care by taking some time to colour and create!

5

Ghosts and Goblins

Doni is our fabulous hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's calling out, "Boo!" It's not that she's trying to scare us (at least, I don't think so!) but she'd like to see us create something for Hallowe'en. 

I had fun inking up my background for my card. I also pulled out some of my old My Craft Spot products which I still absolutely love! I used silver embossing for my word art but am thinking that it might have been better to simply use black ink. I do like the embossing. It just makes things trickier to read, especially in the photo! However, tricks are all part of Hallowe'en so perhaps I'm good!

The word art reads:

Ghosts and Goblins

spooks galore

Scary witches

at your door

Jack-O-Lanterns

smiling bright

Wishing you

a haunting night

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see that Hallowe'en creations of the rest of the Girlfriends and then join the fun too by linking up your own Hallowe'en projects! 

4

Happy Birthday Beautiful

Imke is hosting this week's challenge at Little Red Wagon and she's looking for "Things beginning with the letter B". There are so many possibilities here! Bears and butterflies, badgers and baseballs, breakfast and bottles and babies and bluebells! Well, you get the idea!

I decided to go with balloons - but not just any balloons - Big Balloons on a Birthday card for a Beautiful friend! I used my NBUS Big Balloons stencil and really like how this came together. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to check out all the B creations from the Girlfriends - and then link up your own "Things beginning with B" projects to join the fun!

5

I'm So Glad You Exist

It's time for our newest Little Red Wagon challenge and I'm the lucky hostess this week! I've chosen the theme "It's Magical" and I'm looking for anything to do with magic, fantasy or make believe. Other than a make-believe project which doesn't exist anywhere other than in your mind so can't be linked up, pretty much anything you can imagine would fit the bill! From dragons and fairies to green tigers and purple lions!

I decided to use a unicorn for my card which I made for my mum. She's an incredible person and I am so blessed to have her in my life. She's also got a fair bit of Scottish blood as her mum was Scottish so I thought a unicorn would be a fitting touch. The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then join in the fun with your own magical and fantastical project! I can't wait to visit your blogs and see what you've created! 

3

Eat, Sleep, Play Hockey

Although Brenda is our hostess at Little Red Wagon this week, it was actually Jan's son who chose the theme. Apparently, he's quite a fan of hockey. One day, Janice left the challenge list open and her son updated this week's challenge to "Greatest Hockey Card Ever". At least, I think that's how the story goes. I would imagine that Jan will have the full details on her blog and will share them in her typical humorous way. 

The Canadian in me - and my desire to play along with Jan's son - couldn't resist creating a hockey card. However, Brenda is actually looking for any sports-themed card. You could do swimming, skating, basketball, golfing, bowling, hiking or even my favourite sport, shopping! My fun little Canadian hockey player is a stamp from Your Next Stamp. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created. Then pull out your sports-themed supplies and put something together for our challenge!

4

Welcome Little One

Jan is our hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's saying, "Just KIDding". She's looking for creations for kids or teens (no joke!). 

I needed to make two cards to celebrate the birth of babies - the smallest of kids. I suppose that, technically, these cards are for the parents of the babies. One card (the mouse) is for our pup's groomer who recently had a baby boy. The other card is for my daughter's co-worker who is expecting a baby boy next month. She's already finished the room with a moose theme so my daughter is thrilled that she's now got a moose baby card to give!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then pull out your crafting supplies and make something for a child/teen in your life!!

4

Until Further Notice

Doni is this week's Hostess at Little Red Wagon and she wants us to celebrate! Any project that celebrates anything meets the challenge requirements this week. Whether it's a new baby, a birthday, an early Christmas project, a retirement.. If you're celebrating it, we want to see your creation!

There are few things to celebrate next month in my neck of the woods. My son's girlfriend's birthday is one of them. She's been a big supporter of my cupcake creations since Covid began so I used a cupcake die from MFT Stamps as the focal point for my card. And I figured that the sentiment was just perfect for our Celebrate challenge - as well at Kaitlyn's birthday! 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then link up your own celebration project!

Here's a photo of some of the cupcakes that I've created. Yum!!

4

Hello!

It's Wednesday! This means that it's time for a new challenge at Little Red Wagon. This week, Imke is our hostess and she's chosen the theme "Nature, Flora and Fauna". If your creation has to do with animals or plant life or nature of any kind, you're good to go!

I decided to go quite literal and used a stamp set from Flora & Fauna. Given the changing colours in my part of the world, I decided to go with a fall scene and used some distress oxide inks to create my background. 

Please get out your flora and/or fauna tools and create something for this week's challenge. If you're looking for inspiration, the rest of the Girlfriends have their takes on the theme over at Little Red Wagon. 

5

You Deserve Your Very Own Rainbow

It's time for our latest challenge at Little Red Wagon and I'm thrilled to be this week's hostess! I've chosen the theme, "Over the Rainbow" and am looking for projects using a minimum of three different colours.

I decided to use an actual rainbow on my card, using a rainbow die that I received free with an order from My Favorite Things a few months ago. I used my Zigs to colour the rainbow and little fairy. I haven't used them for a while! I added some iridescent stars to finish things off. This made taking a photo challenging!! The stars all look pink in the photo but that's okay. I like the pink!! 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to check out the rest of the Girlfriends' projects and link up your own colourful project!

5

Joy Pen Jar

It's Brenda's turn to host at Little Red Wagon this week and she's looking for anything but a card! I'm sharing a project that I made a couple of months ago while attending Soul Full Camp - the virtual addition!

I'm not sure how I even first stumbled across the Soul Full Camp website. I know it was at least a year ago. I joined the mailing list and camps came and went. Each time, there was a longing in me to attend although I didn't know anybody else who was involved so found excuses. When the spring camps went virtual, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to connect and I am so thankful that I did! I've attended two virtual camps now and have come away blessed and strengthened each time. The women who lead the group (Jenny and Heather), as well as the rest of the campers, welcomed me with open hearts. We laughed, cried, shared and learned together. Believe or not, we even danced too! It was so much fun!

On one of the retreats, we had a scavenger hunt. It turns out that we were collecting the items within our homes to make a "JOY" jar. What a clever idea!! I started my jar with bits of paper tucked inside reminding me of the things I have in my life that bring me joy. However, I decided to turn my "JOY" jar into a JOY pen jar. It's on my work desk (as I'm still working from home) and I see it each and every day. It reminds me that I can choose to live a life of joy and reminds me to give thanks for my many blessings. As some of you know, I lost my husband to cancer a few years ago. I have made the conscious decision to live a life of joy as I move through my grief. Am I joyful he's gone? Absolutely not! Do I still weep? Oh boy, do I ever! However, I am so conscious of the gift of time - its unknowns and uncertainties. It's a gift with no promises and I choose to live with joy as much as I can.

Here's a photo taken of the women at the Soul Full Camp virtual retreat (taken from their Facebook page). I'm second from the left in the second row. I'm looking forward to the time we can meet in person! 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have made this week - and then create anything but a card to enter our challenge!

5

Feel Better

Jan is hosting our latest Little Red Wagon challenge and she's calling out, "Digi Doo"! Jan is looking for us to use digital images (or sentiments, papers, etc.) on our creations. 

I don't typically use digital images or elements on my cards. However, back in March, My Favorite Things offered four of their Birdie Brown stamp sets in digital format and I was fortunate enough to see the posting and download (and save!) the images to my computer. I'd originally forgotten about having done this and was scouring the internet for digital images to use for this week's challenge.

Unfortunately, my son's girlfriend has been quite ill with a kidney infection. She had to undergo a test for Covid and we're all incredibly thankful that the results are negative. I decided to make a card for Kaitlyn and that's when I remembered the digital images and finally put them to use! I was texting with Kaitlyn earlier today and the antibiotics are starting to have a positive effect which is wonderful news!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon and see how the rest of the Girlfriends used digital stamps! And then try it out for yourself in order to join our challenge this week!

3

You're Fintastic

Doni is hosting our challenge at Little Red Wagon this week and she's looking for stencils. 

I've purchased a number of stencils over the past few months so this was a great opportunity for me to put a couple to good use! I layered a MFT Perfect Pool stencil atop an Oval Extraordinaire stencil and rotated the Perfect Pool stencil three times to get my watery background. It's incredible how easy stencilling makes creating a fun background! I added a fish and sentiment from MFT's Beach Buds as well as a few "air bubble" gems and I had a card!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then pull out your stencils to make a project for our challenge this week!

6

Bon Voyage

Imke is our host at Little Red Wagon and she's saying "Goodbye". Fortunately, she's not leaving the team! She is looking for projects that have anything to do with "Goodbye" - from moving, retirement, holidays or even a sympathy/loss. 

I was a bit stumped on what to do and had a look through my supplies for inspiration. I came across a free "Happy Travels" stamp set that came with a Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine a few years ago. It doesn't fit in my stamp caddy so I keep the set in a drawer with a few other oversized sets. Suddenly, I was stumped no more!

I usually do a fair bit of travelling. I love to travel but I also love to plan trips! I'm looking forward to the day that travelling will be safe once again. Until then, I'm enjoying the opportunity to create some digital photo books to capture our happy travel memories!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then create and link your own "Goodbye" creation! 

6

You Can Always Trust Me

I can't believe it's August already! It's also hard to believe that we've been in lockdown for almost five months now. Even though things are starting to open up a bit more here, we're still staying home as much as possible. 

This week's challenge at Little Red Wagon is "Happy Days". Basically, we're looking for anything that will make somebody smile. As I'm this week's hostess, I'm looking forward to lots of smiles and laughs as I check out all the entries! 

When lockdown first started, I decided that I needed a new hobby to entertain me during the evenings. I'm not sure what I was thinking as work has been so busy that I'm never at a loss for things to do - even in the evenings. Anyway, my new hobby is cupcake baking and decorating so when I saw some of the new cupcake stamps from My Favorite Things, I knew they'd be a perfect addition to my stamp collection. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon and smile at the creations of the Girlfriends. Then, please make and link up your own "Happy Days" project! I can't wait to see what you make!

5

Prayers and Hugs

Brenda is this week's Hostess at Little Red Wagon and she's calling out, "Give us your background!" From paper piecing to inking to smooshing and stamping, create a background for your project!

Unfortunately, the sister of a dear friend just passed away unexpectedly so I needed a card for her. I used Barn Door distress ink with spritzes of water and smooshed the colour onto watercolour cardstock before stamping some flowers from MFT. The sentiment is from Hero Arts and then a few Pretty Pink Posh embellishments finished things off - or so I thought. I decided the card needed just a little something more so added Wink of Stella to the flowers. This card was easy to put together and I'm pleased with the results.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what backgrounds the rest of the Girlfriends have created and then whip up your own background to join our challenge this week.
_________________________

I'm also entering my card into this week's Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

4

Congrats to the Grad

It's Jan's turn to host at Little Red Wagon and she's seeing spots - and dots, stripes, lines, plaids, etc. Jan is looking for lines and dots of all kinds on our projects.

Back in April, when Simon Says Stamp released some new products for grads, I made an immediate purchase. With three grads this year (my daughter finished her second undergrad, my son's girlfriend completed her undergrad and my youngest finished high school), I was so excited for the new release! Despite ordering in April and having the items shipped out within a week, they just arrived last week!! It seems my package was in lockdown somewhere along the way. Anyway, I've finally made a card using the new products.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the rest of the Girlfriends' "Spots and Stripes" projects - and then create something to link up. We'd love to have you join us!

4

Hi, Sweet Girl

Doni is our hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's chosen "Fantasy" as our theme. She's looking for anything from fairies to gnomes, unicorns and dragons. If it's fantastical, it's game!

Last month, I ordered the new Flower Fairies stamp set from MFT. When I was little, I collected the Flower Fairy books so fell in love with the set as soon as I saw it. I had fun creating this card with an abundance of glitter, including some heat embossed glitter hearts on the cloudy background and glitter on the wee fairy's wings, belt and shoes. I even added glitter to the background mat (pink) and the sentiment banner. There's probably glitter on other parts of the card given the amount that ended up on my fingers!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created. We'd love to have you join this week's "Fantasy" challenge too!

I'm linking up my card in this week's Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: For a Child.

5

Sending Sunny Vibes

This week has been an incredibly busy one for me so far so I'm glad it's Wednesday and halfway to the weekend! Last week, I was off on Wednesday due to Canada Day and our uni's president closed the school for Thursday and Friday, giving all staff and faculty two days paid holiday in recognition of our work and efforts over the past few months as we shifted to remote work. It was so nice to have the time off! I do absolutely love my job but admit to preferring time in the sun, especially in or near water!

Imke is our hostess at Little Red Wagon and she's calling out, "Embossing!" She's happy to see either heat or dry embossing on our projects. I decided to continue the summertime theme from last week and created my sunny background with some heat embossing made with sparkly embossing powder.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created and then get out your embossing tools to join the fun!

6

Warmest Birthday Wishes

Happy Canada Day!! I do hope that all my Canadian friends have a wonderful day! It will be a very different day of celebrations given our physical distancing. In my area, we are now permitted to gather in groups of no more than 10 so the kids and I are headed to my sister's place. Even though she lives nearby, we have not seen each other since pre-lockdown!

I'm thrilled to be hosting this week's challenge at Little Red Wagon - Summertime Fun! I love summer - and lazy days at the beach with a book and sand between my toes are like heaven on earth! I had a super fun time colouring up all the My Favourite Things "Sunny Vibes" images for my card. I had to substitute the sun from the set as my Scan'NCut didn't want to cut it as one image!

I'd like to point out that the cups are all reusable and that's definitely a stainless steel straw. Anybody who knows me well knows that I am a HUGE advocate of lugging mugs and stainless steel straws. I carry these things around with me. Anyway, I didn't want anybody to think that I was supporting single-use cups or plastic straws here!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what other Summertime Fun creations the Girlfriends have made - and then create and link up your own project!

I'm also entering this card at Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge - Bright and Cheerful!

4

You are My World

Brenda is our fabulous hostess at Little Red Wagon and she's thinking "About that solar eclipse". Brenda is challenging us to us the sun, moon, planets and/or stars on our projects.

I decided to use Planet Earth and stars to create my card. I did both heat and dry embossing on my distress inked background. My fingers were a huge mess mid-creation but cleaned up quite nicely!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the creations made by the rest of the Girlfriends. We'd love to have you join the fun too!

This week's Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge is Shoot for the Stars. I'll be linking my card up there as well.

4

Dogs Leave Paw Prints

I can't believe it's Wednesday again already! These days are flying by. I feel that I'm constantly on the go - even though I haven't been leaving the house! The weather has been glorious here and there have been several times that I've moved part of my workstation outdoors to work on the deck. Basically, this just means that I take the laptop outside to work but it sounds a bit more professional to call it my workstation! Typically, I work with two large monitors. However, I'm willing to sacrifice screen size in order to enjoy the sun!

Jan is our hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's looking for "Animal Antics". If your project has an animal of any kind, shape or size, it can be a contender in our challenge!

I created a little sympathy card for my son's girlfriend's co-worker who lost her beloved pup. I used stamps from Reverse Confetti and a Simon Says die (which I cut and used as a stencil) for the background. And if you look very closely, you'll see there's a little paw print in one of the hearts above the dog house on the right-hand side.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the rest of the Girlfriends' creations - and then link up your own Animal Antics projects!

8

Sending You Sunshine and Smiles

We are finally being blessed with incredible weather here in Central Ontario. As I'm working from home, it's easy for me to take all my breaks outside. I've also been eating all my meals outside and just loving it!

Doni is our Hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's calling out, "Hello Sunshine!". Doni is looking for suns or bright yellow (or both!) on our projects.

I used a Simon Says Stamp "Happy Days" stamp set that was part of a card kit from years ago. These images look so happy that they make me happy!

Please get out your suns and your yellows to create your own Hello Sunshine projects for this week's challenge. Be sure to check out the rest of the Girlfriends' projects at Little Red Wagon too!

5

For You - Gift Card Holder

Yippee! It's Wednesday! I'm having an increasingly difficult time keeping my days apart as there is not much to distinguish one from the next. We are still self-isolating here and, although a few things are starting to open up, I'm not going out except for picking up my "click and collect" online grocery orders. Even with that, I just sit in the car while somebody else loads the trunk!

This week, Imke is our hostess at Little Red Wagon. She's challenging us to use our patterned paper (or to create our own background paper). I have a ridiculously huge stash of patterned paper that I rarely use so was excited to look through it and create. I decided on paper with little paw prints and used a dog and kitten image to go with it. When I was done, I looked at it and frowned which was interesting as the sentiment read simply, "Smile". Anyway, I'm now posting a card that I made a few years back while visiting a friend and using her supplies. I'd never posted this card - which is a card/gift card holder - and thought this week's challenge would be a great time to do so. Plus, it spared me from having to post my non-blogworthy card.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to check out the projects made by the rest of the Girlfriends - and then get out your patterned paper (or create your own background paper) to join in the fun!

5

Here's a Huge Hug

I'm hosting this week's challenge at Little Red Wagon. I've chosen the theme "Line It Up" which means that I'd like to see lines on projects.

I used a lined stamp border on my card and also chose a focal sentiment which includes lines for emphasis. I just realized that the smiley face exclamation points are a pair of lines as well. Go me! The lined border is a stamp from Your Next Stamp and the sentiment and little lamb are both from My Favorite Things.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created. I'd love to have you join in too!

5

Find Joy in the Ordinary

This week at Little Red Wagon, we're reusing and recycling! Brenda is our hostess and she wants to see us using previously-used items on our projects. This is a fabulous time to be creative and take items that might be heading out the door and turning them into something wonderful!

The grey mats used on my card were salvaged from my uni's print shop. I was able to get a number of pieces of cardstock and paper that were otherwise going to be thrown in the recycle bin. I also used an old dictionary to cut some of my flowers. I used dies that I had also used for last week's creation - reusing in another sense!!

Please look through things that might be headed for the rubbish or recycling bins and use them on your creations. And please check out the rest of the Girlfriends' creations at Little Red Wagon!

I'm linking up my card in Simon Says Stamp's latest challenge - Recycle!

5

Jar - Shape Card

Jan is our hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's telling us to "Shape Up". This doesn't mean that she's been disappointed with our projects as of late. Rather, Jan is looking for shape cards. Even though squares and rectangles are shapes, they don't count - but any other shape does!

I created my entire little card using only stamps, dies and twine from My Craft Spot! Although My Craft Spot is no longer in business, I have such fond, fond memories of creating with Kimberly's products and it was such a delight taking a trip down memory lane as I put my card together.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then put together your own shape card to join this week's challenge!

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Hello Card

It's time for our latest Little Red Wagon challenge! Doni is our hostess this week and she's chosen the theme "Flowers". Create a project with a flower or two - or even a whole bunch!

I used a set of peonies that came free inside an issue of Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine. The set includes layered stamps and it was fun to create these flowers for my card.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to check out the flowers on the Girlfriends' projects - and then add flowers to your own creations and link up in this week's challenge!

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Thumbs Up!

Imke is our hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's chosen the theme White (or any other colour) Space. Imke is looking for creations with minimal detail and lots of blank space.

I used some fun products from Your Next Stamp to create my fun card. As soon as I saw this set, I had to get it. I love giving the thumbs up sign as a form of encouragement and motivation for others. I remember when my daughter was young, she responded to friends with a double thumbs up and they all laughed, telling her that she was just like her mum!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created and then make and link up your own white space projects!

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Rain or Shine

It's Wednesday again already! Despite not having gone anywhere for over a month now (with the exception of dog walks around the neighbourhood), I'm still working full-time from home and staying so busy that the days fly by!

I'm thrilled to be this week's hostess at Little Red Wagon and have chosen the theme "April showers" for our theme. I'm looking for anything to do with April or spring. I used some stamps from My Favorite Things and Clearly Besotted to create my rainy day scene. A huge shout-out goes to my friend Faith at Daffodil Cards who sent me a link to find some crafting magazines. The Clearly Besotted stamps were a freebie with one of those magazines!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to admire the rest of the Girlfriends' creations - and then link up your own April Showers project while you're there!

Be well, stay home and stay safe!

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Happy Mother's Day

It's Brenda's turn to host our latest Little Red Wagon challenge and she's been inspired by Freddie Mercury singing, "Mamaaaaa!". This is Brenda's fun way to announce that we're creating Mother's Day projects this week!

I recently learned that alcohol markers work well on cardstock. I'd no idea! Anyway, I decided to give it a go and was pleased with the results! I used some new stamps from Studio Katia for the pretty peonies and an older set for the Happy Mother's Day. There's lots of silver heating embossing that happened too! I'm really pleased with the way my card turned out and can't wait to give it to my incredible Mum next month. It sounds as though I still won't be able to see her (due to physical distancing still in place in Canada) but still want her to know how very much loved she is.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to check out the rest of the Girlfriends' Mother's Day projects and then turn up Bohemian Rhapsody and sign along as you create your own project for this week's challenge!

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Hello

We're mixing things up this week at Little Red Wagon. Jan is our hostess and she's chosen the theme "Mix 'Em Up!". Simply use products from more than one company on your projects and you're mixing 'em up!

I started with a Mini Toucan from Flora & Fauna. The background was stamped with flowers and leaves from the same set. I used frames from Your Next Stamp. The twine is from My Craft Spot (no longer in business). I used my Zig markers for some watercolouring.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then use a variety of products to Mix 'Em Up and join our challenge!

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Prayers and Love

It's time for our newest Little Red Wagon challenge. Doni is the hostess this week and she's calling for "Blue"! Anything goes, as long as there's blue on your creation.

I used some more dies from my new Flora & Fauna "Woodland Flowers" dies (which I used for last week's card too) to create the flowers and leafy branches behind them. They're all layered on a stencilled background which I sponged after cutting out a doily from a My Craft Spot die and using that as my stencil. The "prayers" cut and sentiment are a set from Hero Arts. Prayers and love are needed around the world.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the rest of the Girlfriends' creations - and then pull out your blues to create a project of your own!

I do hope that you are all keeping well and safe. Please remember to stay home. Other than the dog's walks, I haven't left the house in over two weeks. It can be done!

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Just Because

Happy Wednesday! It's time for our new challenge at Little Red Wagon where the wonderful Imke is hosting this week. Imke has called this challenge "Leftovers" and she wants us to use up paper (or supplies) that we have leftover from something else.

I used some tissue paper that came with my latest Causebox shipment to make my die cut flowers. The dies are a new set from Flora & Fauna. I also used some leftover white cardstock for my frames which just arrived with my latest Your Next Stamp order.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then use your leftovers to make a project for our challenge!

I do hope that all of you are well. We're staying home and making the best of things. It's actually been a wonderful time of reconnection with family meals together each night and games in the evening. I'm still working each day - but from home. It's busy as we work to support our students at the uni with their transition to online learning. I'm so impressed with my team and my incredible students!

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Thanks a Latte

I'm excited to be this week's hostess at Little Red Wagon this week. I have to admit that I procrastinated a bit and only created my card last night. As I'm sure many of us are, I've been glued to the news. It was good to have some time tucked away in my craft room while being oblivious to the outside world for a bit.

I'm fortunate to be able to work from home for the next little bit. I typically go into the office each day so it's quite a switch. I've got regular Zoom video conference meetings with my students and lots of emails so I'm keeping busy! Still, it means that work is home and home is work right now. Taking the time to craft this evening reminded me just how important it is to take breaks and to take time for ourselves.

I used a sweet little image from Your Next Stamp's Ellie Loves Lattes to create my card. The Stripe-Tastic Rectangle die used behind the image is also from Your Next Stamp. I love the look!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then create and link your own project. I can't wait to see what you create!!

I wish you all health and safety at this time. Please, stay inside whenever possible.

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Amazing, Marvelous You

Brenda is this week's hostess at Little Red Wagon and she's calling out, "Etc., etc., etc."! Basically, she's looking for three of anything on our projects - from three sentiments to three images to three embellishments to three patterned papers. If it's a triplet of some sort, we want to see it!

I was especially excited about this challenge as three is my favourite number. I used my never-before used love script die and cut it three times for my card. (The cuts stand out a bit better in real life.) I have three words in my sentiment and finished things off with three droplet gems. Three sets of three!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the rest of the Girlfriends' projects and then join this week's fun by creating something with a "three" theme!

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If You Were a Cactus

I ordered some new release MFT stamps today and decided that I should use some of the products I bought last month! The cactus set caught my eye as soon as I saw it and I got the brick wall stencil on sale. As I hadn't used either, I decided to use both on my card!

I've been trying to do a bit more crafting and blogging. Life is so busy that it's hard to find time - although it's good to take time to do the things we love!

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