Whiff of Joy Guest DT Call

I got my Whiff of Joy Spring Kit in the mail and couldn't wait to ink up one of these sweeties. Here's my submission for the Whiff of Joy Guest DT Call. Both the sweet girl with basket of flowers and the butterfly are part of the Spring Kit. This great layout is of course Katharina's and I will use it again.

Had lots of fun inking plans for today as it's my day off but the plan has changed now that I'm fighting the flu. I'm gonna get some rest but wanted to get this post up first.

Big Hugs,
Maria

Stamp: WoJ Spring Kit
Ink: Memento & Copics
Paper: Wausau, SU cs, DP DCWV Nursery
Accessories: MS Punch, Nestabilities, rub-on from stash & metal spacer from stash

High Hopes Guest DT Call

This is my submission to the High Hopes Guest Designer Call here. Blizzard conditions today in SW Ontario so not the greatest of days to take a picture.

This is Jenny's Glow Bugs, one of High Hopes' new releases. Isn't she the sweetest? The sentiment is a portion of another new High Hopes release, Let your light shine! cut out with my Tiny Tags CB die. Cardstock is SU and the 3 pieces of DP by Prima was sent to me by my wonderful friend Bernie. Ribbon I received as part of a ribbon share and the charm was sent to me by another wonderful friend Nikki. I thought about adding a few more embellishments but didn't want to take away from the beautiful paper so I've kept it pretty simple. The layout is by the talented Katharina. Image stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with Copics and stickles for the glow bug wings - just couldn't resist adding sparkle.

Thanks for taking the time to visit.

Have a great weekend,
Maria

Celtic Woman, Tag You're It and an Award

No card yet today but maybe tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm mixing it up a bit today doing a different kind of post. To start, I'm so hyped cause hubby bought us tickets for the Celtic Woman concert. Yipee, yipee, yipee - insert jumping and huge smiles here! Not his genre of music but I love it and am so looking forward to seeing this group of talented ladies tonight.

I got this award from my wonderful friend Nikki and would like to pass it on to the following lovely ladies: Bernie, Janna, Jeanette, Tina, Bev, Rach, Lacey and Steph. Checkout their lovely blogs because you're sure to get inspired by all their great work. You'll notice that most of them also have blog candy celebrations so click on the names or checkout my sidebar and click on the picture to take you to their blog. You'll be amazed at their creativity so take your time visiting.

Janna and Bernie tagged me a few weeks ago and I decided to bend the rules a bit and post not one but 2 photos of my girls playing the Disney's Sing It on the Wii. As you can see they love performing like little rock stars. They sure do rock my world and are growing up way too fast - big sigh!OK, I'm tired of this dreary, chilly, snowy weather so since I can't control Mother Nature outside, I decided it was time to change my blog background to something more springy for inspiration and a bit of a lift. This new background has me in the mood to start working on Easter - Spring cards and projects. What do ya think?

I didn't anticipate such a long post so on a final note, I'm 10 days away from my 1 year blogoversary so stay tuned for my upcoming blog candy post. Wow how time flies!

Cheers and Hugs,
Maria

Happy Mail

I'm feeling like the luckiest gal! I received another surprise parcel in the mail this week. This one is from my very talented friend Nikki. Look at all the yummy goodies and the gorgeous card she made for me. She so kindly stamped out many images for me to play with including Hanglar images - which are one of my favs and hard to get in Canada - Magnolia, Anya and Riley.

I really do count myself so lucky as I've met the nicest people while blogging and I consider you friends. It's just too bad we live so far away from each other as I'm sure we'd be spending time together over tea or coffee and of course crafting. The weather here is so dreary so the picture doesn't do my pressie justice so I've taken a close-up of the fabulous card.

Thank you so much for thinking of me Nikki and for taking the time to send me this wonderful parcel of goodies. Nikki is also celebrating her 1 year blogoversary with some awesome candy. Click on the pic on my sidebar and it will take you directly to her blog.

Big Hugs,
Maria

Surprise Pressie

I received a wonderful surprise in the mail yesterday from my friend Bernie. Look at all the goodies she sent me accompanied by a beautiful card she made just for me. I can't put into words how Bernie's pressie brightened my day! Look at the 2 gorgeous Sugar Nellie stamps - just the ones I had on my wish list. The Prima pad of DP is awesome as are the embellishments, ribbon, new Sugar Nellie stamped images, stunning lace and crocheted flowers. Wow, talk about being spoiled. I can't wait to play with all these goodies. Bernie even included some yummy chocolate but guess why it's not in the pic - lol?. Thank you my friend for your kind generosity and for making my day so very special.

Here's a close-up of Bernie's gorgeous card which is now proudly displayed on my mantle.

Have a great day,
Maria

Happy Valentine's Sweetie

As promised, a quick second post today. This is the last of my Valentine's Day cards and this one I made for my DH. Hope he likes it cause it took me a long time to come up with this into the wee hours of the morning. I always feel that darned pressure when I'm making cards for family and friends as I have this 'perfection' thing going on in my head. Anyone else feel like that - lol?

Now I've never made a card as wide as this one before but I kinda like it - different. I'm really loving these Pink Cat Studio images. The rubber is an excellent quality and deeply etched which makes it oh so much easier to stamp.

I could have done a better job on the colouring and almost started over again but what the heck, love isn't perfect either and time is of the essence today. You know normally I'd never put purple and red together but I like the combo on this card. I found this lace ribbon at my LSS and ended up pulling the red ribbon through the holes. I'm wishing I had bought more of the lace when I had the chance. Oh well, inspiration isn't present 24/7 especially when I'm trying to justify what I'm buying and keeping to that budget I set for myself - wink.

Since it's Valentine's I thought I'd add one of the roses DH got me near the card. DH got all his girls roses in their favourite colours to celebrate. I got red, Isabelle got blue and Juliette got orange. Wow and I complain he doesn't listen. I wish I'd taken a pic of their excitement when they unwrapped the paper.

Hope you have a marvelous Valentine's Day. To my fellow Canadians, have a great long weekend and enjoy Family Day on Monday.

Hugs and Smooches,
Maria

Valentine Princess

The layout was inspired by one of Amy Rysavy's cards and the image is Princess Anya by the Greeting Farm . Isn't she just a darling? This Valentine is for my youngest daughter who's 6 and still very much into princesses. Picture not the greatest as I took it at night.

I tried a few new things with this card - new for me that is. I sponged ink around the edge of the circle, used my copics to give the white Retro punched flowers a bit of colour around the edges of the petals and then used Copic BG000 to outline the image.

This is a short post as it's after midnight here in SW Ontario and I'm exhausted. I'm hoping to post again later today so check back.

Happy Valentine's,
Maria

Just One More Day

and its Valentine's Day! My girls have been busy little bees. We made a Valentine card for each of their classmates and they're excited to hand them out today. The girls took their time colouring each High Hopes image while I helped them cut out the cardstock with the nesties and put it together. Isn't the piggy a cutie and that sentiment so fits. A chocolate kiss was attached at the back of each card. Can't have a Valentine without a little sweet sugar too.

Below is what the girls put together for their teachers. Isn't Lily by Pink Cat Studio just adorable holding that heart with matching sentiment. My girls thought it was soooo cool to add the sentiment in the centre of the heart.


Happy Friday,
Maria

Kraftin Kimmie's Challenge #2`

Here's the last of my submissions to Kim's week long challenges to celebrate her birthday and blogoversary. Challenge 2 calls for embossing and following one of Kim's lovely sketches. I chose Lily from Pink Cat Studio's latest Valentine release. Isn't she adorable!

Short post today as I need to make 4 more Valentine's Day cards by Wednesday and I think 2 will be following this sketch. This card is earmarked for my dad from his grandaughters. The little button heart comes from my stash and was handpicked by my girls who thought it would suit grandpa's card perfectly.

Hugs,
Maria

Stamp: Pink Cat Studio image & sentiment
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copics
Paper: Wausau, American Crafts, SU
Embellishments: Cuttlebug Folder, button & ribbons from stash

Kraftin Kimmie's Challenge #3

Here's my submission to Kim's 3rd challenge which calls for the use of at least 1 button and the colour pink. Have you visited her blog yet for a chance to enter her challenges or to browse through all her beautiful work? You won't be disappointed so head on over with a cup of tea or coffee cause you'll be there a while.

I made this card for a very special someone who's having a baby in April. I've been meaning to make her a card for ages and now she'll get it for Valentine's.

Hugs,
Maria

Stamp: Stamping Bella image & sentiment
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copics
Paper: Wausau, Bittersweet by SEI, SU
Embellishments: Martha Stewart Punch & brad, button, ribbons, metal heart & flower from stash

Kraftin Kimmie's Challenge #5

Kim's celebrating her birthday, her 2-year blogoversary plus 300,000 hits with a week long celebration and lots of challenges. Congrats Kim!

Here's my submission to Kim's 5th challenge which calls for the use of designer paper and hearts. This is also my Valentine's Day card for my 8 year-old who loooooves singing with the Wii's Disney Sing It and all the latest rock stars like Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers - to name just a few that I recognize - lol. I've used my first Anya stamp by the Greeting Farm. These are great stamps to work with and just adorable. The layout is one from Friday Sketchers and I'll be using this one again. Of course, I added some bling cause my Bella also uber looooooves bling.

Have a great Friday,
Maria

Stamp: Anya by Greeting Farm
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copics
Paper: Wausau, Bittersweet by Basic Grey, SU
Embellishments: bling from stash, Martha Stewart punch, heart brads from stash, CB folder & Prima flowers