A Lot of Hot Air!!

My work schedule keeps changing and being a 'Schedule Person', I am finding hard to find time to play in my Butterfly Garden but......

I saw this wonderful sketch at Retro Sketches Challenge and thought I'd play along. I designed the card in my head while I was at work, then fortunately (probably for the FIRST time, ever!!!)....the card came together just as I had imagined. See...miracles do happen!

Balloon stamps and die cuts are from PTI, verse from PTI.

As usual I rotated the sketch and used a landscape view rather than portrait.

Off to work then perhaps some time to create in my Butterfly Garden when I get home.

Autumn's Majesty

Sorry I have been absent this past month, I sure have missed all of your fabulous creations. I will try to get around to visit you soon....major comment withdrawal!   "LIFE happens" and I now have the world's largest supply of lemonade.

Here in the northeast we are seeing a marvelous show of colors thanks to Mother Nature. This card captures some of the beauty we are witnessing.

The challenge at Dynamic Duos is to create a card using bold and sassy colors. Stamp from Flourishes, die cuts and rolled flower from SB, papers from K & Co. ribbon and pearls from stash.

The Dynamic Duos color challenge:

See you soon....

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Theresa's Birthday

Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Theresa, Happy Birthday to you!

Today is Theresa's Birthday and her lovely sister Melissa is throwing her a virtual Birthday Party. This is a very special birthday for Theresa.....I won't tell you her exact age......but a clue.....it ends in "0". It is also her 5th Anniversary of being a breast cancer survivor. So stop by the Tuesday Morning Sketches site to see the celebration and visit Theresa's blog "My Sassy Cards" to wish her a Happy Birthday.

This is the card I made for Theresa's Virtual Birthday Party Celebration.

To celebrate this occasion, we are having a special month long challenge.  Here are the specifications:

• You need to create a card or project that is Pink and Birthday themed and link it To the TMS Virtual Birthday Party. (HERE)
• This isn't a blog hop, it's a party, so please mingle with your hostesses.  In other words, visit the hostesses blogs at your leisure and leave them some love.  There's no particular order that you have to follow.
• You must stop by the birthday girl's blog and leave her a message.  You might want to anyway, because I hear she's got a prize there.

You have all month to play along.  Your deadline to link is October 31st, 8:00 pm EST.  After that, the link will close and there will be one randomly drawn winner for a fabulous blog candy.  I'm not going to say much about what's in the prize, but I will say that there's a Scor-Pal in there! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THERESA!

Bold 'n Sassy @ Dynamic Duos

This weeks challenge at Dynamic Duos features a bold & sassy colors combination.

It is much too early for me to use these colors for Christmas, even though they do remind me of that holiday.

The cupcake stamp is Outlines and the sentiment is Inky Antics. Glossy accents were used on the cherry. Button, twine and rhinestones from my stash.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Colour Week @ LIM

This is color week at Less is More and the lovely color combination for the challenge is

 BROWN & PINK.

The butterfly border was created using a Memory box die, the butterfly die is from C.C. Designs, pearls from Michaels (colored with a Copic marker) and the sentiment is from PTI.

A few of the butterflies from the border flew to the inside of the card! I will add a verse later.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

3-2-1 at "Less is More"

This week it's a
RECIPE

3 - 2 - 1

This week there is a simple idea to use as the focus of your cards at 

Less is More

All that you need to do is to incorporate 3 of something, 2 of something and 1 of something else!

I used 3 "words", 2 "butterflies" and 1 "hand drawn rectangle". The word stamp is from PTI and the Butterflies are from Inky Antics.

I've been super busy with work and emergency room visits, so I'll be around to see all my blogging friends soon!!! Got major withdrawal symptoms!

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

2*4*6*8 Help Flourishes Celebrate

Welcome to the 2*4*6*8  'Help Flourishes Celebrate Challenge'.  At 2PM, 4PM, 6PM and 8PM (Central Standard Time), Flourishes is going to be ushering in some fun-filled challenges on August 15th. The deadline to enter all of these challenges is August 31 @ 5 PM (EST). There's still time for you to play along for a chance to win a stamping prize package.

On to the 2PM challenge.....This challenge is sweet as can be — just use a focal image or sentiment that is SWEET! 

The stamps are from the Cherries and Peaches set which can be seen HERE. The cherries were colored with Copic markers, then highlighted with glossy accents. The papers are from a Heidi Grace paper pack, edger is from Fiskars, ribbons and cherry rhinestones are from JoAnns.

This is the photo that was shown to begin this 5th Birthday Celebration at Flourishes:

Be sure to scroll down to see the great challenges at 4PM, 6PM and 8PM. The challenges are open till August 31 @ 5PM (EST), so grab some papers and play along with this Birthday Celebration!


Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

4PM "Celebrate Color Challenge"

So glad you came back to check out the 4PM challenge for the 2*4*6*8 "Help Flourishes Celebrate". This challenge is all about 'color' hues from the inspirational photo.

This beautiful bouquet of flowers is from the 'Summer Blossoms' set which can be seen HERE. The image was colored with Copic markers, embossing folder is Cuttlebug, flourish die from MFT, flowers, ribbon, pearls, button and twine from my stash. The flowers were highlighted with a Sakura Stardust gel pen.

To help celebrate Flourishes 5th Birthday here is the inspirational photo with the 'color hues' for the 4PM challenge:

Please scroll down to see the marvelous challenge for 6pm!!

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

6PM "Sprinkles on Top Challenge"

Welcome back to the 2*4*6*8   "Help Flourishes Celebrate Challenges". The challenge for 6PM is about adding sprinkles onto your card or creation — Glitter? Beads? Flower Soft? You choose! Just sprinkle on some fun!

I chose to use some red glittery embossing powder and Stickles for my "sprinkles on top". Cuttlebug embossing folders were used to add texture. SB supplied the lovely shapes and the stamps are from the Flowers and Frames set which can be seen HERE.  I won this set beautiful set from a previous challenge. Thank you Flourishes for the opportunity to win some of these gorgeous stamp sets!

This is a close up showing some the lovely sparkle from the embossing powder and the stickles. The flowers were colored with Copic markers.

Here is the 6PM inspirational photo:

Be sure scroll cown to check out what's coming in the 8PM challenge...you don't want to miss it!

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

8PM "A Banner Day Challenge"

This is the last of the 2*4*6*8 "Help Flourishes Celebrate Challenges". The 8PM challenge is to use a banner or pennant style embellishment on your card or creation!  

The 'banner' paper is from a Basic Grey pad, I used an craft knife to cut a few of the banners, so that they would lay on top of my SB cut shape. The Flourishes Carousel Horse image was colored with Copic marker, the white twine and rhinestones were from my stash.The metal brad in the top left corner was actually an scalene angled triangle...I cut the top off with a pair of tin snips to form an acute isosceles triangle, then outlined it with a Copic marker.  Before you think I'm a math wizard.....hahaha....I got the triangle info HERE.

This is the inspirational photo for the 8PM challenge.

This is the last challenge to celebrate Flourishes 5th birthday so......I'm back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

LIM Tearing

The challenge this week at Less is More is to use 'tearing' on a CAS card. I decided to avoid my usual 'distressed' look with 'tearing' and instead "tried" to keep in white and clean and simple! I figure if it was easy it wouldn't be called a challenge, so I really challenged myself with this card.

The sentiment, hot air balloon and the clouds are from PTI. Copic markers were used on the balloon. I punched a circle in a piece of scrap paper and sponged yellow dye ink inside to make the faux sun. The same sponge was used to lightly highlight the edges of the mountains......the hills are alive.....ha ha now you'll have that song stuck in your mind for the rest of the day!

Back to creating cards inn my Butterfly Garden.

Splish-Splash

Splish...Splash I was takin a bath...etc. Remember that song? Just nod your head if you do. Now that you have that tune swirling around in your head.... On to the challenge from CAS-ual Fridays. This week's challenge is to create a project featuring something you might see in or at the ocean. So get out of the tub and check out this challenge!

I simply love 'sunsets' at the ocean, so this is me relaxing in a chair watching the sun go down. Yellow cs and stamps that were used on this card are from Raisin Boat, embossing folder is Cuttleug.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

A Black Tie Sketch

This is Black Tie week at Dynamic Duos with the dessert option to use 'brads'. I combined these colors on a great sketch from Retro Sketches.

The stamp is from HA, Eiffel Tower die cut MFT, dp Basic Grey and ribbon from Michaels. The flower and large brad in the center are from my stash. Copic markers were used to color the flesh and the handbag, glitter was applied to the Eiffel Tower.

This is the Dynamic Duo color palette for the week:

Here is the lovely sketch from Retro Sketches:

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

"Kraft" Mojo

Cindy is the hostess for the Timeless Tuesday Challenge at Flourishes this week. The challenge is to use Kraft paper on your project.  There is a delightful sketch challenge at Mojo Monday, so I decided to combine these challenges.

The Magnolia Stamp Set was used for the main image on this card. It was embossed with black detail embossing powder and colored with Prisma colored pencils. The sentiment is from the Tiny Flowers and  Tags set. (I won this FAB set!!!)

This is the great sketch that was used for inspiration to create my card.

You too could be a winner but you can't win if you don't play along...so grab some papers and give these challenges a try.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

A Two Color Sketch

***This card was chosen as a Dynamic Darling at Dynamic Duos***

Beautiful colors this week at the Dynamic Duos Challenge, soft and feminine! I combined these two colors with the challenge at Retro Sketches.

The flourish and the embossing folder that was used for the bg is from Sizzix, doily is PTI, dotted Swiss embossing folder from Cuttlebug and butterfly is C.C. Designs.


This is the dynamic Duo color combo:

The great sketch from Retro Sketches:

A special "howdy" and "welcome" to Chris, Linda and Lesley who have become my newest followers. So happy that you are joining me on my journey through the blogosphere.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Fur or Feathers and Squares

***This car won a Top 3 Award from DYSU***

Time for a one layer card challenge at Less is More.

The subject of your creations should feature FUR or FEATHERS.

The challenge at CAS-ual Fridays is to create a CAS Square card.

The challenge at DYSU is to celebrate those great creatures God put in this planet to make us happy, yes we are talking about the four legged friends.  

  

No embellishments can be used to cover up mistakes! This requires perfection when stamping with a black ink pad....if you use three stamps it requires perfection times three...if it is a one layer card...you get the idea...Don't drop the stamp, don't wiggle the stamp, stamp straight up and down etc. Bonus....the card will fit into an envelope with out extra postage.

Stamps from Penny Black, See D's and Whimsy. Colored with Prisma colored pencils and blended with Gamsol.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

A Bit of Texture

To help showcase the new stamps sets being released for August, Flourishes is hosting a "Bit of Texture" noon time challenge. You could win the entire release if your name is chosen.

The verse and the image are from the Hello Hyacinth stamp set. Copic markers were used to color the image.

Glossy Accents were applied to the vase, embossed background is from a SB folder, textured ribbon from Michaels, pearl centers in the flowers were made with a pearl pen and the edger is from Fiskar.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Happy 5th Birthday

Flourishes is celebrating their Fifth Birthday this week. They are having a Birthday Wishes Challenge.

Happy Birthday Flourishes and wishing you many, many more celebrations.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

A Duo Sketch

***This card won Honorable Mention***

Today's card is for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday sketch challenge and the color challenge at Dynamic Duos.

The stamped image from Flourishes was colored with Copic markers. Embossing folder is Sizzix, dp from Basic Grey, die cuts SB,  polka dots stamp and zig zag die are PTI.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Blue and Green

Had a few minutes to check out the challenges this morning....one stated to make a card in "your signature style".  ' Wow how great'......I thought......then I tried to figure out what my 'signature style' is!?! I love to try different styles...I'm still evolving! Just what is my style?? Would love to know what you perceive it to be.

After my returned mail a few weeks ago, I was determined to make cards that were CAS so they could fit into an envelope. So in addition to filling my 'men's basket' with cards, I am working on CAS.  The Less is More challenge for this week caught my attention. Having made so many cards with 3 or 4 colors, it is really challenging for me to stick to two colors. But I love a challenge so I thought I would give it a try.

The challenge is to make a card with BLUE and GREEN.  There is an old saying.....
Blue & Green should not be seen, Unless there's a colour in between!  In this day and age no colour combo is taboo, in some cases the wilder the better.

The stamps are from Hanko, Ric Rac and embossing plate are from PTI. The image was colored with Copic markers and Stickles were lightly applied inside the balloons.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

CASE the DT

Ally is the hostess this week for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge. She is challenging everyone to CASE a Design Team Members card. Fun, fun, fun. As I was looking through the gallery, I was constantly drawn to cards that were designed by Barbara Anders so I thought I would case one of her cards. She did all the work...I just copied :-) Easy....Peasy!

The sentiment is from the 'Flowers and Frames' set and image is  'From the desk of ' set.  The image was colored with Copic markers.

This is Barbara's card that inspired me to create my card.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Monochromatic Duos

***This card won Honorable Mention***

This is monochromatic week at Dynamic Duos.  Lesley is also hosting a Tic Tac Toe challenge at The Paper Players. I combined both challenges.

The floral stamp is from Bo Bunny, the papers are from K and Co and Fancy Pants. The punches are from Hanko, ovals from SB, Cream Pearl Pen from Viva and ribbon from JoAnn's.

For this card I followed the bottom row across for Tic Tac Toe....Floral, Ribbon and Punches.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Carefree by the Sea

This card is a change of genre for me. Instead of figuring out what embellishments to add....I am trying to 'challenge' myself to make cards with few or no embellies. Now for me that is a real challenge!! One thing for sure...this card won"t be returned by the Post Office for insufficient postage or because it is too thick!

The Less is More challenge for Week 4 is based on a sketch.

The lighthouse stamp is from Flourishes, the sentiment is from Raisin Boat and embossing folder is Cuttlebug. I chose to use a small zig zag as a border to mimic waves.

This is the sketch that was used to design my card. I hope you will consider joining me on my CAS journey....it is definitely a learning experience, but practice makes perfect!  I Hope :-)

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

BLACK is the color of....

This week I have card that is predominately 'BLACK'...one of those colors that I seldom use. It is Black Tie week at Dynamic Duos. This week we have a Black Tie colour choice! Poppy Parade, Basic Black and a dessert option to use PUNCHES!! CAS-usual Fridays Challenge is Create a Clean And Simple card using a black card base. Asian themed cards are quite often BLACK and RED, so with that in mind I created a card that qualifies for the Fairy Tale Challengeblog.

The Washi paper, the 'Miyoko' (image) stamp, the 'Mizuhiki' cord, and punches are from Hanko. A HA stamp was used for the background. Copics were used to color the image and a Cuttlebug embossing folder was used on the white oval.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

CASology Challenge

There is a new challenge in the blogosphere. It is CASology! Each week you "Take the cue word and run with it! Interpret it however you'd like! Just be sure and keep things clean and simple!!!" After having my heavily embellished card returned because it was too thick...I thought I'd give this CAS challenge a try. Oh my no embellishments!!! I'll probably have withdrawal without those extras. Here's my attempt at CAS.

The 'CUE' word for the week is "HAPPY". The sentiment is a die cut from Sizzix, the ink pen and splotches are from PTI. I absolutely had to add a tiny touch of bling in the ink splotches as the withdrawal was becoming unbearable! I resisted adding it to my letters. :-)

This is the 'CUE CARD' for the week. There's still time to play...if you can tolerate the embellishment withdrawal!

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.