Thank You, Sister Betty

Welcome to another Tuesday Throwdown challenge. We had some fabby entries last week. Thanks to all those who participated and because we had so much fun last week...we're doing it again this week! Yay! The theme for Challenge #145 is "Thank You, Teacher". You probably did not do enough of this while you were at school, I know I didn't... Not easy when they were on your back over home works and projects.

Our sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps and I'm using Stella as a teacher, who bears an uncanny resemblance to my English teacher in high school - Sister Betty. I've never seen Sister Betty in civvies but the hair, the glasses, the smirk and that dreaded stick... unforgettable. Yes ma'am, Sister Betty was a crabby, cranky, caustic nun but in hindsight, I'm glad that she was a demanding so-and-so. No lasting traumas or scars here ... just a sense of gratitude. Of course, it look me 30-odd years to admit that!    

The patterned papers are from Basic Grey "Life of the Party" 6x6 pad.

I coloured Stella with Promarkers and SN markers.  To cut and layer the sentiment I used Spellbinders Grommet Tags die.

And some blue and red twine to hold the tag in place.

I'm taking my card to the following challenges: Stamps + Fun = Creativity #149 "Bingo: Button-Free-Pennant"; Tammy's Scrapin' Corner #60 "Lots of Layers"; Sparkle n Sprinkle Creative Challenges "Use a Digi"; Cutie Pie Challenge #43 "Lots of Layers"; Crafty Bloggers Network #10 "Anything Goes"; Bearly Mine Challenges #84 "Anything Goes" and Artistic Inspiration #39 "Lots of Layers".

Now it's your turn. Make a thank you card for a teacher; your own form the past, or your child's, even a friend who is a teacher. It's thankless job - they don't get enough credit and very often, very little support. It's never too late to say "Thank you, teacher!" Link up your project at the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge blog and waited to be graded by the DT!

Beijinhos!

Birthday Bear

It's time for Mojo Monday again, my friends. I'm going to keep this brief because...well, have to make dinner, empty the dishwasher, put away the laundry and do the write-up for tomorrow's scheduled DT post. As always before attacking the chores I headed straight to my craft room and made a birthday card for a little person. Here it is:

I'm using papers from Tatty Teddy's Me to You 6x6 pad. 

For embellishments I have buttons with some twine and some stripped ribbon tied in a knot. And just for fun, I scooted the image just off the top of the base card. 

On the inside added some strips of paper with fish tails.

The sketch for this card is from MojoMonday #291 - square. Other challenges: The Ribbon Reel Challenge #52 "Love Letters"; Whoopsi Daisy "Spots & Stripes"; Great Impressions Stamps "Pastel & Polka Dots"; Challenges 4 Everybody #19 "Anything Goes"; Amusing Challenges #6 "Anything Goes"; The Squirrel and The Fox #42 "Furry Friends"; Use Your Stuff #82 "Spring Into Pastels"  and Robyn's Fetish #157 "Stripes or Dots".

Thanks for stopping by. I'm off to see to the chores...must dash. I hear Mr C putting away the dishes...oh dear! Have a great day!

Beijinhos!


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Bonjour!

Good morning, my friends, and welcome to  Eclectic Ellapu Challenge #27. This week I'm playing with the Purple Team and the theme is everyone's favourite "Anything Goes". Seriously, this time it's for real. You can make anything. I'm told you could even bake a cake and link it up, if you so wished.

Instead of baking a cake, I got Margaret of Bugaboo Stamps to make some toast and share her thoughts with you. And here's what she has to say:

The papers are from Basic Grey "Sweet Threads" 6x6 pad.

And here is the adorable Margaret. I coloured her with SN markers. The greeting is from WMS Fancy Phrases set, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black.

Margaret doesn't look like a bells-n-whistles kinda gal, so I said NO to all embellies and decided on some plain coral raffia instead.

And on the inside ... Margaret's true thoughts! 

I'm taking Margaret to these linky parties (I hope she behaves!): Catch The Bug "Add a Little Color"; Jelly Park Challenges "Humour"; Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog "Anything But Birthday"; Sister Act Cards #4 "Anything Goes"; Little Miss Muffet #59 "Food Glorious Food"; CCEE Stampers #1317 "In the Kitchen" and Penny's Paper Crafty #124 "Anything Goes".

That's all from me today. Don't forget to link up you project over the Eclectic Ellapu Challenge Blog. I'm looking forward to seeing your creations. Thank you for stopping by and I wish you a blessed Sunday.

Beijinhos!


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He is my Refuge

It's Saturday and I made a card for a friend. She just got some disturbing news. Her husband, who has been in remission for the past 6 years, drew the short straw once again. The dreaded cancer is back. There is something inherently unfair when good, decent, faithful people are dealt such a wicked blow. There's just no sense in it. At times like these, we need to be strong...and a little faith goes a long way.

Here's what I'm sending her:

The papers are from First Edition "Spring Fling" 8x8 pad. For added texture I embossed the green background paper with D'Vine Swirls folder and the polkadot piece with the Swiss Dots folder.

I love this sentiment. I live by it. It fills me with strength, courage, joy and gratitude. I'm hoping it will do the same for my friend. The beautiful work of art is by the über talented Mynnette Kitchen...my prize for winning the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge. (Thanks, Mynnette!)

For embellishments I used pearls, lace, ribbon and buttons. 

I kept the inside blank. I don't know what I'm going to say to her... What can I say? 

For inspiration and ideas I turned to: Tuesday Morning Sketches #195; Milk Coffee Challenge "Lace & Pearls"; Word Art Wednesday #77 "Anything Goes"; My Heart Pieces Digital Stamp "Embossing - Dry or Wet"; Crafty Ribbons #44 " Anything Goes with Ribbons"; Charisma Cardz #16 "Polkadots"; Totally Gorjuss #181 "Ribbons and Pearls" and One Stop Craft #226 "Buttons and Bows" .

So that's my card for today. I'm late in posting - no internet for most of the day. These things happen.  Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow with a DT post.

Beijinhos!



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Birthday with Bling

Yay! Friday at last! The weekend is almost here and time for another Polkadoodle Challenge. The theme for this week' s challenge is Birthdays with Bling. With such an easy challenge, there really is no excuse not to play along.

I made this card for a 17 year old girly-girl. I needed something I could whip up quickly, but looked like I spent time putting together. I had to cheat... and Polkadoodles made cheating so much fun! Here's my card:

I'm using a pre-coloured Frederika Debutante from the Frederika Mini CD Collection. The background paper is also from this CD.

I'm sticking to a simple colour combo with plenty of layering with Spellbinders Classic Oval dies.  To jazz up my card, I made flowers out of left-over paper from the Cherry Blossom Lane CD, using Spellbinders Rose Creation dies. 

Here's a close-up of the flowers. I inked the petals with TH's Spun Sugar and stuck a bling in the centre of each bloom. For some extra shine I applied some Stickles.

 To create a frame for Frederika I used Spellbinders Floral Oval and dotted it with some more bling. The greeting is from  Frederika Mini CD Collection.

Here's the inside... plain and simple.

I'm also playing along with Aud Sentiments Challenge #79 "Happy Birthday To Us"; C.R.A.F.T #204 "... Bling It Up ..."; Crafting For All Seasons #50 "No Stamps Allowed"; Crafty Creations #219 #Pink + One"; Bearlymine Challenges #83 "Digi Days"; The Sisterhood of Crafters "Free For All" and Creative Card Crew #34 "Handmade Flowers".

Now it your turn. Make a birthday card and bling it up...let it shine. Then, link it up to the Polkadoodles Challenge Blog. There are cool prizes to be won so hy not give it a whirl. Hope to see you at the linky party.

Thanks for stopping and I'll see you tomorrow with another card. Ta-ta for now!

Beijinhos!

My Sunshine

It was a beautiful day. Clear sky, sun, light breeze... a perfect spring day. And I did not want it to end. Usually, I spend most of Monday wishing it would end soon. Not today. I was determined not to let anyone or anything get me down. To seal the deal, I wolfed down 4 cream-filled profiteroles and managed to remain totally guilt-free. Later, I made this card based on the MojoMonday sketch. Can you not tell that those yummy profiteroles left a lasting impression!  

I used all sorts of scrap pieces for this one. The dp for the bottom half is from WRMK's Travel Light. For the top half, I embossed a piece of light yellow CS with the Swiss Dots folder.

The sentiment is from WMS Half Pint Heroes, stamped with Memento Bamboo Leaves. I also added a length of white lace.  

I cut the flowers with Spellbinders Rose Creation dies by Donna Salazar using scrap papers  from ... somewhere, haven't the foggiest now, and little pearls in the centre of each.  A green bow, button and some twine and we're done.  That button is from a shirt I had to throw out (a BBQ accident 5 years ago!) ...I still have 6 more buttons to use!  

Keeping in plain and simple on the inside.

Here are some challenges for you to enter too: MojoMonday #290; The Shabby Tea Room #163 "Spring Bliss"; Make It Monday #137 "Anything Goes"; Whoopsi Daisy "Use Circles"; Catch The Bug Bingo "Button-Pearl-Embossing"; House of Gilli "Anything Goes: Lace & Pearls"; Use It Tuesday #54 "Flowers For Mom" and Kaboodle Doodles #168 "Spring".








Thanks for stopping by, my friends, and have a blessed day!


Beijinhos!

Christmas Card Club #7: Vintage Christmas

I'm late...so very late putting up this card. In my defence I can only say that it was for a good cause. We went away for the weekend... on a retreat to recharge our spiritual and emotional batteries. The past few days...weeks... months have revealed a series of harrowing events and we've had enough. So off we went into the woods with other like minded people and now we're back with renewed faith and a sense of calm.

My state of zen came to a screeching halt when I  remembered .... oh heck... the Christmas Card Club! Here's my hurried (and harried) offering based on our lovely Lizzi's theme "Vintage Christmas". Careful.... don't touch the photo... the glue isn't dry yet!

The papers are from Raspberry Road's Vintage Christmas collection.

The bauble is from Chocolate Baroque's Stained Glass Christmas set and the greeting is from the Peace On Earth set.  All stamped with Memento Espresso Truffle. I also added some cream lace...my idea of vintage!

Here's a close-up of that bauble. I added some bling and gold cord to jazz it up. For layering I used Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Square die.

On the inside I use a greeting from CB's Christmas Cheer stamp set. 

So that's my Vintage Christmas card. I'm not sure if it is indeed vintage...I think it is. The sketch is from Tuesday Morning Sketches #194, which I did not manage to link on time. Still, I like this sketch, so I'm using it for my card. Other challenges: Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #121 "Red and Green Must Be Seen"; Word Art Wednesday #76 "Anything Goes"; Challenges 4 Everybody #18 "Anything Goes"; Crafty Hazelnuts Monthly Christmas Challenge"April"; My Time To Craft Challenge218 "Stitching" ; Pattie's Creations #65 "Make It Sparkle"and Crimbo Crackers #38 "Vintage".

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful sweet comments and email. I am overwhelmed by all the kindness and am so very grateful for it.  I'll leave you with another little photo of our dear sweet angels - Snoop-dog and Xiara. Not quite a tête-à-tête, more like a cheek-to-cheek!

Our furry angels...together again.

Beijinhos!

Miss You

Hello my friends. I'm back with a card I made on Monday but I simply was not in the right frame of mind to post it. It's been a terrible few days for us...we lost our sweet darling baby-dog Snoopi on Saturday in a cruel hit and run. She was such a precious little dog, so full of life, so loving and giving. We are both stunned, its unbelievable. It's difficult to write this without breaking down. I must apologise for not having returned your visits ... it's been so hard, especially since Snoopi was, in fact, my most ardent blog-buddy. It's just not the same without her. Needless to say, she's the reason behind this card.

The papers are from First Edition "New Leaf" 8x8 pad.

The sentiment is from WMS Compact Sentiments set, stamped in Memento Espresso Truffle,  cut with Spellbinders Circle and Eyelet Circle dies. I also inked the edge with TH Vintage Photo.

Simple embellishments: a little snippet of ribbon, a few flatback pearls and a button. 

Kept the inside simple.

I'm linking this card with Mojo Monday #289; Craft-room Challenge "So Sentimental"; Top Tip Tuesday #99 "No Machine Sewing" (all hand-stitched!); Use It Tuesday #53 "Sticky Situation" (hoarded item: button and brown pearls with glue-dots and tacky glue);Lady Anne's Challenges - April "Anything Goes"; Sandy's Crafty Creations - April "Anything Goes With Twist- Stitching" and Card and Scrap #53 "Use Dies". 

Thank you all for visiting and leaving such encouraging words. Your thoughts, prayers have been very comforting. I'll leave you with this picture of Snoopi and I walking on the beach at sunrise, taken not long ago.

Beijinhos!

A Thing of Beauty...

Welcome to Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #143. The theme for this week's challenge is "Focus on Your Sentiment". Basically all you have to do is make a project with a sentiment as the focal point. How easy is that? Pretty easy, I'd say. Here's what I made earlier:

The card base measures 5" x 3-1/2". The papers for my project are from  Wild Rose  Studio's Vintage Rose 6x6 pad. For embellishment I have some sheer pink ribbon an 3 flat-back pearls.

The sentiment is from Chocolate Baroque's A Thing of Beauty Oriental stamp set. I used Memento Espresso Truffle ink and SN pens.

Here's the inside. A small card for little note to a friend.

I'm taking this card to: One Stop Craft Challenge #224 "Pastels"; Totally Gorjuss #179 "Spring Shades"; Sweet Stampin Challenge "Pastels"; Glitter n Sparkle #28 "Stitching"; Challenges 4 Everybody#18 "Anything Goes"and Platypus Creek Digitals#30 "Flowers and Pearls";

Now its your turn, my friends. Use your fave sentiment stamp or digi and make it the focal point of your project. Then link it up to the Tuesday Throwdown challenge blog. I'm so looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Thanks for stopping by today and I'll see you on my rounds!

Beijinhos!

Male Birthday Mail

Hello my friends! Welcome to the weekend. I hope it's starting well for y'all. Looks like we'll be blessed with a (dare I say) sunny day. All week I've posted soft pastel girly cards .... and all this temple-aching sweetness is getting to be toooo much for me. Time to shake things up a bit. Time for something strong, bold and manly.... well, almost.

I made a tri-fold birthday card for our fave Sushiman. He makes some of the best Japanese food we've eaten this side of Osaka....umami-licious, I tell ya! Anyways, he's invited a few of his loyal customers and friends for a little soiree (at least that's what he calls it) tomorrow and I'm going to show him that I too can do a bit of fancy folding! Here's the card:

The patterned papers are form Papers Crate's Toy Box 6x6 pad. The top panel is just blue CS embossed using Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots folder.

The top panel folds down and tucks into the little "for You" label. For this I used WMS stamp, Memento Danube Blue and Spellbinders Labels 4.  

You lift the top panel to see this. That strip of dp reminds me so much of his bamboo placemats. This panel folds down...

... to reveal the inside. The greeting is from Chocolate Baroque's Birthday Wishes set, stamped with Memento Potter's Clay. 

Here's a close-up of the Birthday Mail medallion. Again, CB stamp, Memento Potters Clay and Spellbinders Circles and Scalloped circles dies. I also added a button and some twine. I cut a semi-circle on the top panel as a window for the medallion.

It's a fun-fold card and I hope you'll give it a go. Just for fun, I'm linking it to Tuesday Throwdown #142 "Fancy Folds" and for challenges I'm going with The Play Date Cafe #177 "Nautical Breezes- Midnight, Aqua, Terra Cotta"; Bloggers Challenge "Emboss Me"; Card Crafters Circle #70 "Die-ing To Impress You"; Aud Sentiments #78 "For a Guy" and Delightful Sketches "Round-up" .

Thanks for stopping by. Have a nice weekend, enjoy the sun! We've going to suit up, get on the bike and go for an exhilarating high-speed ride. No one enjoys these more than Snoopi. Watch out for this cheeky little dog in pink helmet!


TRAGIC UPDATE:
Minutes after this post was published, our sweet darling Snoopi was a victim of a hit and run. We rushed her to the vet but our baby-dog could not be saved. My heart is breaking. She was my constant companion, in the car, on a motorbike, always happy. We didn't have time for that bike ride. Wait for me....I'll see you soon, sweet Snoopi.


 Beijinhos!