Just Us Girls Sketch - Happy Birthday!

With two sweet and super talented friends working on this layout, I knew I had to join the fun. Maureen is guest designing for October and created the sketch and Andrea is part of the JUGS team, so it's last minute, but I fit this challenge in!

I used a previously uninked PTI Birthday Bash stamp, one of my fave flower dies - Beautiful Blooms II #1 Die Collection (along with the fabulous recycled Starbucks sleeve that Maureen inspired me to create) and presto!

What do you think? It's gonna be a hand-deliverer, I think. Mail could be a small fortune =) 

Sparkle it up with a Thank You!

This week, Karen had a fabulous sketch (SSSC116) and a beautiful sample, so I couldn't help but be inspired. If I had some of those bling swirls, it would have perfectly finished this card. Alas, it was too late to pick some up by the time I got around to finishing this card up.

Using up some old DP and colors (Blue Bayou), I absolutely love the color combination from Spring Break (it has the Blue Bayou, Old Olive and some zingy Pumpkin Pie), so I did up this card with that in my mind. Also, I blinged it up because this week's challenge at the Sisterhood of Crafters was Sparkle!

Now this is where that bling-dazzle would've really come in handy! Instead, I added the rhinestones, highlighted the middle "Thank You" in sakura gel pen and outlined the nestie with some glitter gel from Close to My Heart that I ordered recently. That lovely font? It's from Inside & Out : Thank You from my fabulous friend Karin but with the size of this card (5.5x5.5), it's being hand delivered locally =)

Be sure to try your hand at the Sketch and the Sparkle Challenge and let me know when you do so I can see your creation!

Make It Monday

Well this card is about as simple as they come and it's exactly what I was looking for to make some birthday cards. I just don't have enough PTI sentiments to really make it work, though...thank goodness I have some on order! Alas, this is my Make It Monday challenge card. Have you got your card in? Deadline is tomorrow - and there's some amazing inspiration over on Nichole's blog.

Stop by tomorrow for a little Valentines loving blog hop I'm participating in =) I had a super night of crafting fun and managed to get almost a week's worth of card goodness to show you as the week progresses. I didn't make it to polocrosse last night thanks to some eye issues and a miserable headache, but it cleared up today for my volunteering and crafting!

Celebrate Your Day

Oh how I'm loving my new PTI! I received an extra special package this week from my sweet (and ultra talented) friend, Andrea, so the polka dots on this card are compliments of the fun Year 3 Anniversary set from PTI that she sent me. Love 'em and can't wait to use more of the stamps. In the meantime, I need to get my Christmas on in a big way....but first, my travelling partner in crime's birthday is coming up next Tuesday and I needed to ship her gift off, which meant I needed to get a perfect card created for her!

My Signature Greetings set got some inky love and I used Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch 94 for the layout. I also used the colors from Color Dare 87. The challenge was Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum & Concord Crush but since I don't have Concord Crush, I had to use Elegant Eggplant.

And here's a few pics from our trip to Mexico...

Tubing the River at Xel-Ha

Me being a ham in the hallway of our hotel

Xel-ha

Resort-side Ocean

If only we'd had Ocean Views, this is what our rooms would've looked out to

As it was, I can't complain - we had +29 weather while Edmonton had -29. Aside from some child experiences which were good reminders of why I don't have kids, and a day of tequila/cerveza which is already forgotten, we had a wonderful time!

PTI! Oh I see stamps in my future... (and some Christmas giftage)

Those enablers, also known as Maureen and Laural, allowed me to place an order along with them when they did their latest Papertrey Ink order and I see a problem. I love their darn stamps! Maureen has really inspired me with all of her fabulous buttons and bling (ironic, I know, since her blog is called BUTTONS & BLING) and I'm now looking for any excuse I can to use them. Welcome Holiday Button Bits! I used Jen's Sketch for You to Try from Dec. 12th and whipped up a quick & easy card that's on it's way to my half sister with a cineplex night out pass.

The next "must have" on my wishlist?! Everyday Button Bits, baby! But wait....what's this?! Blooming Button Bits?! Oh c'mon PTI - have a little pity on my pocketbook. LOL

Speaking of wishlists.....sometimes it really stinks living in Canada when you can't find an item here and the only online stores that have it ship only to the US. Kinda ruins the fun of my awesome gift ideas.

Speaking of gifts....since I can't reach out and gift all of you a little something, I'm doing something in honour of all of you. In your honour, I've donated 50 trees to be planted by the folks over at Oxfam Unwrapped. (image from Oxfam Unwrapped website)

Branch out and plant 50 trees. Trees not only produce life-sustaining crops like avocados and bananas, but they also prevent erosion and provide much-needed shade for other crops. Even better, reforestation and the training women and men receive on forest management provide long-lasting benefits from your gift. These trees help seed income and a greener world.

More information on tree planting:

Planting trees is part of the work of many Oxfam partners in Ethiopia and Cuba – particularly as part of efforts to rehabilitate land and livelihoods in the aftermath of natural disasters like drought and hurricanes. Trees help prevent soil erosion, provide shade and shelter and can be a source of food and income.

For example, in the aftermath of multiple hurricanes that struck Cuba , Oxfam’s partner organizations planted trees to replace valued forest lost in the storms. When you buy trees you are supporting Oxfam's livelihoods programs, helping create a sustainable environment and helping women and men earn a living too.

Merry (early) Christmas