Just Rite Challenge #069

Wow, I agree with Kellie over at JustRite Inspiration!

It simply doesn't seem possible that they are holding

their 69th challenge!  And it's a really good one!

SPRING FLING!

Bring out your Spring colors and include a butterfly!

If you're not familiar with JustRite's stamps, go check out their website!

I have a huge wishlist, but I particuliary LOVE the new Sea Shell Bay, At the Beach, and Oceanside stamp sets!  Of course, then I would need the dies to go with!

Now, do you see my problem?  Too many to choose from!

On this challenge card, I used an image stamped and colored with Copics from

"Shabby Chic Labels Four" as a mat for my butterfly chipboard piece.

I love the delicate details that show out from beneath the wings.

I also used the same stamp inside along with the sentiment from the

"Tiny Words", an Original JustRite set. 

In Phoenix, we have seen these gorgeous orange, black, and blue/green butterflies in our yards for the past few weeks!  We finally recieved our first much-needed rainfall of the Spring, and the few flowers that grow here in the desert have popped out in great numbers! Of course, my allergies have reflected that, too! At least these beautiful creatures make it all worth the sneezing and headaches!


Finished inside:

As I mentioned above, JustRite Inspiration is having a terrific Challenge Friday and I am definately entering this beauty!  I give all of the credit to the inspiration from my backyard visitors, and hope they're around for a while longer.
Spring is simply way too short in Phoenix!

Supplies: 

Designer Papers:  DCWV, "Serenity", Prima, "Botanical", and SEI, "Moonrise"

Stamps:  "JustRite Shabby Chic" and "Tiny Words"

Chipboard:  K & Company, "Natural Butterflies"

Dies:  Spellbinder, Nesties; Labels Four, Floral Flourishes, and Fleur de Lis Squares

Lace:  JoAnn's

Pearls: Zva Creations

Cards for Boys!

Card Cupid

is having a challenge on their blog this month to make and send in birthday cards for boys!

I had been putting together some CAS card to send in to Stephanie at Card Cupids,

so I merely left off any specific sentiment and, in that way, making possible for a parentor guardian to fill in the greeting whether it be

 "Happy Birthday", "Good Going", "Hang in there" or maybe just "Thinking of you"!

I packed up 9 of these such cards with envelopes and they'll go in the mail tomorrow.

I made it simple by using pre-printed images from K & Co, "A to Z" collection, along with matching papers which I had just won online!  I also used paper-punched buttons rather than real ones to make shipping cheaper and easier!

For those of you who are not familiar with this cause, the Card Cupid blog is dedicated to helping homeless kids in the Washington DC area.  So many of us have cards we make for other challenges or we simply love to make cards.  With these, you can give a child have a little brighter day!

Please check out their blog, and possibly even win a prize by entering your own creations! Make sure you send in at least one card for the cause! That's what makes it all possible!  They also take donations of all sorts; sporting goods, coloring books and crayons, etc.   Take a look! 

 Thanks, I know all of you have huge, giving hearts and would love to do something good for someone everyday!

((hugs))

It's time for a "Blast from the Past" with Taylored Expressions!

This month, Taylored Expressions is hosting a customer Blog Hop to feature stamps from the past releases! How fun!  Along with that, because September's theme is Birthday/Birth Day and Taylor, herself,  was due somewhere around today, we are also going with BABYcards!!! Turns out that little "Madelyn Grace" decided to make an early entrance and was born September 13th!  Congratulations,Taylor and family!

I have chosen the Apothacary Shelf for several reasons. First, I absolutely love the many options there are to decorate this little shelf! Anything you can put on a real shelf or mantle, you can add to this tiny sweetie!  Actually, it's not all that small! The length is a whole 4 inches long, and leaves plenty of room for sweet, tiny embellishments.  Taylored Expressions also has a wonderful stamp set of jars made especially for this shelf to make it uber simple to use!
Secondly, and sadly, it's the only Taylored Expressions stamp I have SO FAR!  I plan to expand my collection very soon! LOL!

Here's my card:

I didn't know if Taylor was having a Boy or a Girl, but a dear friends' daughter is expecting a little boy soon, so I decided to spell out BOY with the tiny little baby block beads I had on hand.  My DH thought the blingy chandelier too "girly" for a boy, but I explained that when it comes to newborns and new Mother's, there's never enough of the sweet, sweet bling!

The tiny crocheted doily is from Close To My Heart! They recently had a sale on some of their items, and I grabbed a few of these little darlins!

I can not resist popping out those little drawers! On the last card I made using this stamp,
(See it at    http://scrapnsurprise.blogspot.com/2011/08/flourish-challenge.html  )
 I only popped out one drawer to make it stand out. I love the way stamping these twice and popping them out makes the card that much more 3D!

Hope you enjoyed seeing this stamp "pop up" again!  I know I loved pulling it back out!

The supplies used were :
Papers; Martha Stewart, "It's a Boy"
Bling; Recollections
Doily;CTMH
Rub-on Stickers; K & Company
Clothespin; Darice

This card is entered over at The Pink Elephant ( Photo Inspiration, Crocheted doily, baby theme, etc)

JUST FOR FUN!

I made this second card just because I was having so much fun with the first!

Again, I used the Apothecary Shelf and, as you can see,

this stamp is so versatile!  You can go romantic, juvenile, or spooky!

Please check out the rest of the Hop partcipants! I know they all have some delightful new ideas for these terrific stamps!

Happy Mother's Day!

I started out thinking I was going to make a card for my Mom, and then I decided to make an altered birdhouse this year! She loves the outdoor ones and I thought bringing a bit of whimsy into her family room would be fun!  She has gone through so very much these last few months, with hip replacement surgery and my Dad not being in the best of health. Thanks, Mom, for all the times you were there for me.

Sketch I had drawn for my card - turned 3D birdhouse.

My fave Skipping Stones Butterfly stamp!

The stamped and punched butterflies were moved from the front of a card, to the sides and roof of the house...  nothing is ever written in stone with me!

Supplies used:
Paper, K & Co.; Nestabilities Labels Nine; Unity "Because of You" stamps; Verve, "Bloom and Grow" leaf stamps; Martha Stewart , "All Over the Page Butterfly" stamp; Prima flower;  Delta Crackle paint; Zva rhinestones applied with I-Rock tool; Helmar 450 Adhesive.

Challenges entered:
City Crafter (Color Challenge)
Creative Card Crew (Mom)
Kaboodle Doodle (Something with a "B"- bling, butterflies, birdhouse, birdcage...)
Shabby Tea Room (Sweet Dreams #60)
Skipping Stones Design (My own sketch)
Flourishes (Word to your Mom)

To every mother out there, have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Cardabilities Sketch #29 Reveal!

I am so proud to be able to post this, my very first, card for Cardabilities! Since being chosen to be on the Design Team, I have been floating on air! It is a very huge deal for me to be able to share my ideas and be a part of such a great team.  Thanks, Karan, again for this opportunity! 

And, not to delay any longer, here is the wonderful sketch for this challenge!

I love the linear look of it!

And here is my card!  I seldom get out my Copics anymore, so thought I'd polish up on my coloring skills by blending some cut-out stamped butterflies onto the card.  And, for whatever reason, I can't get enough newsprint paper! I am drawn to the vintage feel of it.

Popped up the sentiment and the butterflies, and added just a bit of  Gun Metal Stickles to the wings for sparkle!

Inside of card:

Thank you for looking, and please, add your own project to the challenge over at Cardabilities!
Also, Cardabilities now has their very own Gallery! Please check out all the wonderful creations!

Second Post for today:

              Grand Canyon in the Winter



I just wanted to post a short bit about my recent trip to the Grand Canyon.

I had never ventured north to the Canyon before June, so it seemed like a wonderful idea!

My longtime friend from high school had never been, so we planned a much needed "Girl's Vacation"!

First let me start by saying NEVER go to the Grand Canyon before Mid-May.  Apparently, that is when all of the repairs are made to the damaged roads from the winter snow and ice.

Also, I would suggest NOT staying in the "Village".  Little has been done to accomodate the number of people who now visit the park.  There is limited parking for the few restaurants available, and the shuttle system basically stinks!  We heard so many complaints from others who found it to be totally confusing and unorganized. By the middle of our second day, we finally had the whole thing somewhat figured out!

God help the non-English speaking foreign travelers!

Beautiful Eye Candy!

But while my friend was here, she gave me the most amazing bracelet!

She is making these by linking jump rings in a Byzantine Chain Maille  fashion. I love the fact that mine is both gold and silver. I wear both, so it works great. I asked if she would mind my passing on such a great product.  Here you go!

 $22 which includes postage.

It is hand-made with almost 200 individual jump rings, all of which are silver plated.  These can be ordered in all silver, all gold, or a mix.
Most importantly, these are made to fit!  Anyone interested can email Claudia here and get the details!

Not only am I impressed by the time she takes to do this, but I get dizzy

after 5 minutes of trying to make something so detailed!

Thanks, Claudia!  You're the best!