It's hip to be SQUARE!

Just sharing a card that I submitted to CARDS blog. The theme is to ".... feature cards that use squares. Whether they’re made from punches, die cut, stitched, or your very own hand and scissors, squares are a great repeating element to use on a card". So I got thinking about my square shadow stamp... 

Since my tree card was featured in last week's tree challenge, I feel more motivated and encouraged to try again. I had fun making this card using some Hero Arts cupcake stamps that have never been used before.

I started with the HA Shadow stamp to make the squares. This Shadow stamp was my FIRST Hero Arts  stamp which I bought from my first visit to "Hobby Lobby" ( my kids still like to laugh at that name) in Michigan 5 years ago.

I'm not entirely happy with this card due to the poor lighting and slightly blurry picture (or is it just me?)

This card didn't get picked : (see winners here), I blame it on my inadequate photography skills and maybe it's a bit too busy ( I regretted adding the heart and candy..)...?! We have been having so many extremely cold grey days (-15C/5F)....I can't seem to get a good picture with a day like that. So it's not ME, yup, it's just the photo-heehee!

One note about my "Beat the Winter Blahs Challenge" (see here), I'm so relieved that the entries are all up and running. BIG thanks to Vicky's DH Aris who is the mastermind of  inlinkz. I will definitely recommend this site instead of using Mr. Linky! Thank you all for the patience and support :)

Red Heart Challenge-take 2 !

I don't make cards with Red Heart often. I can't resist making another card for the Carrdvarks Red Heart Challenge Since my last card (see here) has the formal and symmetrical look, I thought it'll be fun to make a asymmetrical one! Same heart, different design.

Do you like what you see? Just trying something a little different :)

Hungry, anyone?

WARNING! please control your urge to look at the following photos if you are hungry. This lurking action may cause your stomach slight "discomfort".  Please proceed with caution if your stomach can "handle the truth"....

I think it has been a little while since I post anything food-related..Well, maybe just a month, but it felt like a long time! Because ME LOVES FOOD!  I'd share some yummy food from the cruise (Holland America Eurodam to Southern Caribbean) and you'll see why I miss the cruise... well yes, the beach and warm temperature, but oh...the FOOD. (Photo credits- my daughter Stephanie)

There's a happy cruiser David...he is eager to eat, as you can tell.

The 4 judges for "Beat The Winter Blahs Challenge"...It's going to be a CHALLENGE!

Thank you for visiting my blog. I have been regularly showered with your sweet comments and feedback and I appreciate each one of them! Hope you are not hungry any more as you enjoy this feast for your eyes (sorry for your stomach!).

PS: I'm happy to announce that we just hired a new nurse! That means....I'm OFF the hook :)

NO RULE!

With the cold weather, I hav been hibernating and creating like a storm ....I just. can't. stop. making. cards! It's so comforting when I'm "in the zone". Sometimes I don't know if I like the cards themselves or it's the process that I love! Often I would just sit in my craft room, with my favorite radio music on and stare at my stamps, stashes of embellishments, paper, scraps ....and then some ideas just come without any announcement! Love that when it happens! Here are two cards that I made for no particular reason.

It all started with the heart stamp I have....I had quite a stash of embellishments collection. Don't you all? Perhaps it's time to get them out to play!? The plastic flowers and brads have rarely been used. So I decided that I will incorporate them into the design.

I think the colors of the flowers help bring out the pink heart and provide some more "eye candy". I also used an extra heart underneath to give it a bit of dimension.

LP141 Together, CL380 Truly Appreciated

I didn't have a "plan" when I made the following one....it shows, huh?

What I love about card-making is that there is NO RULE! Sometimes the bad accident can turn out to be a beautiful mistake! That seems to be happening to me on a regular basis. I am just too lazy to fix mistakes, so I make the "mistake" work! For the last card, I didn't know how to tie a perfect bow with the twine secured, so I used two Pattern Hearts to keep the end of the twine in place. I kind of like that! See? FIXED :)

The CARDS blog...

I have been lurking  the CARDS blog for some time now. It was Lucy that got me started to look at their featured cards thanks to her winning cards here.  I love the style and choice of winners in their blog. Every time I admire the winning cards, I felt that I'm in CARD heaven! So last week I jumped at the chance when I had some time to make tree-themed card for the challenge.

Here are the two I submitted.... Here's the one that "didn't make it"...

Here's the one that was selected. I used the chipboard for the flower and used my favorite Starbucks coffee sleeve-like cardboard. It was a leftover from a package that I received this Christmas. From the Heart image was embossed onto the pink paper. I love using raffia as it is perfect for the tree theme. It didn't take long to make these two cards.

I'm just thrilled that this one got picked and I am glad that I submitted. You never know until you try....that's what I used to tell my kids. Now I tell that to myself-all the time!

EBKS Challenge (Sketch #3 )- take two!

I couldn't helping making another card based on the EBTK challenge here

Since my 1st take of the sketch here has the more serious and elegant look, I want to make a FUN one! You know me, I'm all about having FUN! I am combining this card with another challenge at Squigglefly's SFC32 Challenge. It is to create a CAS card/project and add some BLUE! (Clean And Simple, using the color blue). I think this card should fit both challenges.

I just love this little monster! This card makes me laugh! Hope it does that for you, too!

CL318 Glalaxy of Stars, Basic Gret Paper, Jane's images at squigglefly.

on the side note ....
I have some interview duty to do for Dr. John's office in the next few days. His nurse is going on maternity leave (with twins!!) in mid March. It's 52 weeks for maternity leave here in Ontario, Canada-not bad, eh? That means we need a nurse very soon! I have put out an ad on line and in our local newspaper for two days and I have applications from all over... from the Philippines to Brazil! Can you believe that? And it's only part time!  I am not complaining as I should be able to find one. I just need one :)
Hope you have a fun-filled weekend!

Red Heart Challenge

I had this set of stamps Together from Hero Arts (see here) and I haven't used it once yet...I thought the heart stamp is perfect for Carrdvarks Red Heart Challenge. I also got the inspiration from Etsy's  Challenge #71( here).

 

Amethyst Soaps's Sweethearts soaps are gorgeous! Can you imagine using them ? Here's my card from the inspiration.

Here's a close up of the heart. Crackle Paint and Glitter work wonders!

LP141 Together, H5227 Fancy Designer Flourish, S5101 Raindrop Background

Thank you for visiting. I hope you have a heart healthy day. I've got to get on that treadmill now :)

Moxie Fab (from Start to Finish)

I'm loving the Moxie Fab World's latest challenge (details here). The idea is to make a card from start (outside) to finish (inside) and the card should have a cohesive look....like, it makes sense! Why do I never think of THAT?  I guess we should do that more often.....or at least , I should!! Well, I tried it....and boy, it is a lot of work! Because basically I had to make two cards for one...making any sense?

So here's the "start". I cut out the little Label 8 for a "window" and then went from there...

A close-up here...want to move in?

And here's what you see when you open the card....

I love Jane's digital image (Mia and Bosko) from this website Squigglefly. With Mia and Bosko, the card invokes warmth and joy! I kind of like this from Start to finish "exercise"! I think I WILL do this more often ...thank you very much!

EBKS Challenge (Sketch # 3)

I thought the sketch challenge at EBKS (details here) looks easy enough... NOT so to me!

I turned the sketch clockwise and this is what I come up with.

This is the first time I cut out a lace-like paper from Basic Grey instead of using an actual lace or border. I then matched it up with a stamped and embossed image. I REALLY want to use that paper and I...just..have..to...! Whether it looks fitting or not , it does not matter! I know this can be a bad idea sometimes! But you know how that stubborn mind of ours works, right?  I'm not sure if this looks too complicated/busy....But I am glad to give my inactive brain a little needed exercise :)

I have you in my heart

I just love the sentiment "I have you in my heart". Since it's a clear stamp, I bent it to the wavy shape..LOVE that! Here are my three quick cards for the Valentine's Day. Once I had decided on the colors and design with the stamps, it is easy to put them together!

 CL301 Hugs & Heart, CL290 Printed Flowers

other: CB (Swiss Dots), Basic Grey Paper, HA flower, HA gems
I'm also sharing a card that I made for Lucy's Challenge #3 (see here). The theme is to create a card using only ONE colour, along with black and/or white.

I rarely used so much black in my cards, but this time, somehow I NEEDED that black to give it an extra kick! I have been on a creative mood, it looks like I have been churning out card after card...I thought I would "slow down" in the New Year. But when the inspirations hit you, it's hard to say no! Who'd rather do laundry when you can make cards to your heart's content?

Also I want to share an interesting picture that Dr. John took while we were on the Carribean cruise. The rocky sea that day really showed in this picture! He "caught the wave" at the crack of dawn...due to sea sick!

The huge splash of wave actually resembled a FACE!

Work....and a card!

Starting today I will have to work at hubby's office all of the afternoons. His temp part-time nurse found a full-time job elsewhere and quit! Not that I am a nurse, but I can assist with a few things. I'm not terribly thrilled about this, but that's life, right!? I am eagerly waiting for his regular nurse's return...she is on maternity leave till April!! This picture says it all.

Before I get too frustrated, let's share a card I made the other day....for no reason. I misted the textured paper with blue Perfect Pearl and then stamped the image over. Love the shiney result. So I made background with the Raindop stamp. It was hard to emboss perfectly. I ended up having unwated dots all over the place. So I decided to stamped it in Color Box Chalk ink and then I used white gel pen to colored it over the dots. It worked! Love the snow-like effct with the image.

I hope you are staying warm and relaxed. Meanwhile...I will assist the doctor with a pap test! Yikes! Hope I will survive!

Virginia's "Beat the Winter Blahs" Challenge

My dear friends/sweet blog followers,

I'm hosting a challenge of my own right here in my blog. In order to beat the winter blahs, I would love to see what you create while we hibernate indoors!! Since I live in the Great White North, I spent time mostly indoors and there's nothing pleases me more to see your fantastic creations.

The rule is simple: create a card/page/project to cheer some one special up in the winter. However, the creation has to have a WOW factor, meaning that it will have a special feature. It can be a special/new technique, color combo, unique embellishment or an original design...anything your heart desires! Whatever you consider is a WOW factor all qualifies. This challenge is open to anyone. You can enter as many as you like and combine this challenge with others. So please tell your friend/relatives about it or just blog it.

The prize: 
1st place- Hero Arts 4x6 stamp set ("Treasure The moment" see here) and some stamping goodies as a small token of the win.
2nd place-Hero Arts cling stamp (CG 135 Scroll Label see here)
Honorable Mentions-one small stamp set (2x3)

The judges: myself (Virginia), my DH (aka Dr. John), my DD (Stephanie, university student ) and my DS (David, high school student).

The deadline: Feb. 5, Friday 2010 at midnight (Eastern Time). The winner will be announced on Feb.7!! There's LOTS of time to put that thinking cap on...

Here's my take on the challenge:

Sources: Jane's digital monster images (see squigglefly),
Linda Tortagialla 's FREE heart digital images here. See her Etsy shop here
Let's get the party started!

EtsyInspired Challenge # 70

It's been a little while since I played EtsyInspired Challenge. I have actually never won any prizes. Since the pick is from a random draw, I just haven't had any luck yet (details here). BUT that's too bad OK...I just love the varieties of inspirations from the Etsy shop. They keep my creative juice flowing...That is THE BONUS!  I LOVE this beautiful Mommy Series The Heather Headband and I chose it as my inspiration.

And the timing can't be any more perfect as I came upon this awesome video by Dawn McVey. Check it out if you haven't! It's so simple and so much fun! I experimented with the poorly printed text paper (from my recycle bin) and stamped Raindrop background on it and cut out several circles using two sizes of punches (just for extra poofiness and dimensions). I then distressed the edges (just like the edges of the headband flowers). Love the result!!

I'm extra proud to say that I also used all the scrap pieces ( that gone bad or wrong) for this card.

For example,  the label 8 diecut was a disastrous practice that's gone BAD! I didn't think I could ever use it again...somehow it look "fine" in this!! I think that was the happiest moment when I made the card. Putting the pieces together was such a JOY!! Thanks for coming by to look at this card made of recycled materials. I should do the recycling more often instead of keep going to Michael's...(LOL)!

Red, Black and Pink!

I have yet to make a Valentine's card with the traditional colors. Embellsh magazine happen to have this challenge that prompted me to it (details here)

Here's my take on it...

The close-up of the heart. I embossed this Hero Arts cling stamp (CG 129) in white on both red and pink paper and then cut out the little hearts (the most challenging part of this card ). I also added extra little hearts and gems to the frame.

 Remember to tell your sweetie ( this could be your spouse, kids, Mom, sister, brother.... or a girlfriend...) that you love him/her! Thank you, Karen, for giving me this BEAUTIFUL Heart Frame cling stamp for my birthday! I love U!

Rasberry Suite Color Challenge #21

I'm so excited  to join the fun to play Dawn McVey's color challenge #21 (see details here).

 Since it's my FIRST time with the challenge, I try to do a good job....and boy! What a challenge it is to combine these colors! I made a Velentine's card with these untraditional colors!

What a popular challenge as I'm the #187 to enter!

CL 401 Speckled Ornaments, CL301 Hugs and Hearts, CL321 Love Many Ways.

Others: HA flower, Martha Stewart Lace punch, HA gems, button, Crackle Paint (Rangers), CB (Label 8)

I'm not sure if I like the result of this card, but the process was certainly fun! Thank you for always being so supportive of what I do/make! You definitely keep me going.... :)

Think "Tropical"...

What do you get after you see the following...

 

(My house in DEEP FREEZE...)

 this yummy souvenir from Miami

 

& picturesque Curacao

what do you get?

THIS CARD!

I simply can't resist making ANOTHER card from the stamp Row of Houses. My house actually looks like the blue one in the card! I literally "built the houses" one at a time. Some of the houses were stamped tone on tone to achieve the colorful effect, then cut out and glued. I highlighted the pink house with Glossy Accent and added a heart gem. This card is made for someone special who likes Pink, Buttons and Twine....and she just moved into a new house of her own recently. And yes, she lives in England!

CL380 Truly Appreciated , H5328 Row of HousesOthers: Fiskar lace punch, ribbons, twine, CB (Swiss Dot), Glossy Accent

Thanks for stopping by :)

Carrdvarks Challenge ( a sketch )!

I finally got around to play Carrdvarks sketch challenge ( details here). Based on the following sketch,

I came up with this with my new Basic Gray paper. Good chance to give my stamps a "needed" rest!

Materials: Basic Grey paper, Papertrey Ink, ribbons, Martha Stewart punches, heart gem.

Thanks so much for stopping by...You're so sweet.