Retro : Sisterhood Challenge

I have a confession. I can't seem to do anything remotely vintage, so I did a little take on the 'retro' side of The Sisterhood Challenge this week. There was a Color Challenge on Splitcoast a few weeks ago (CC372) that was More Mustard, Early Espresso and Pool Party. The problem, however, is that I couldn't find any Early Espresso other than the stamp pad and Pool Party?! Forget about it! So I went with the closest matches based on the samples...some Chocolate Chip and Taken with Teal. The dessert side of the challenge was to make your own designer paper, which I've done with the square image from Verve's Happy Hello. The main sentiment is from Birthday Wish.

The card was created for my cousin...I knew it was going to be late arriving, since I actually mailed it on his birthday, so I kept it pretty clean and simple. MrP really liked the colors and simplicity, so I'm hoping my cousin did, too. Nothing to frilly on this card, that's for sure. Plus, it was perfect for the mail!

The sketch was from VLV May Week 1, as you can see below.

Head over to The Sisterhood of Crafters to give our Vintage/Retro challenge a try and you'll be entered for a chance to win three digital images from My Heart's Pieces.

Flowers : Sisterhood Challenge

The challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters this week is a pretty easy one...unless you're a coloring disaster like myself. I've slowly acquired a few Copics, but I haven't done much of anything with them, so I was looking forward to having an excuse to get them to paper.
Our sponsor this week is Shelly's Images and I used her fabulous Tulip, having had tulips in my office last week. I picked them up for all the ladies in the office since they were offered for $2/field bunch (5 stems) at Sobeys. They made my office beautiful last week, so I hope to continue with some fresh flowers on occasion.

Anyways, the design was inspired by the Viva La Verve Week 2 sketch, which you can see I took some liberties with in order to use the full image. I popped up a second copy of the vertical tulip  and embossed the cameo coral layer with the dots folder. The edge is  MFT Closed Bracket, which I just love. The sentiment is from Verve's Small Phrases. Since there wasn't a belated sentiment, I just used the Happy Birthday. I'll be shipping this over to a friend who's birthday was the day after mine, but I dropped the ball on getting a card over to her. Or maybe I'll just wait for the next birthday coming up since I'm now so late. LOL

Regardless, it's been a crazy couple of weeks. I ran my second half marathon (a hilly bugger this time, which earns quite a bit of 'street cred' with other runners) on the 29th and have been making hay in the yard this past weekend. Well, not literally, but I did get a LOT done in about three hours of hard work (just ask my back on Monday). We don't have any vacation plans this year, but I suspect we'll keep busy if the last few weeks have been any indication.

I have my third annual MS Bike Tour ride coming up in June, followed by the Starbucks Run for Women 5K race in Calgary (my first 5K in about 5 years, so I'm pretty excited about it - especially since my winter running buddy and I are aiming to get two of our friends running in their first 5K! July promises another Tour de l'Alberta 100K ride.  That's just the stuff I can think of ;) I also need to make time to clean up my craft area, which currently is less than inspiring. After a stamp night with Chelsey at the end of April, I am feeling inspired to get more lighting in there and get it cleaned up! That'll likely use up a week of vacation. HAHA! (but I'm only half kidding)

Make your way over to The Sisterhood of Crafters for our flower challenge and show us your best for a chance to win a $9 voucher from Shelly's Images.

Shakin' it up : Sisterhood Challenge

A Shaker Card? Those look impossible! Yep - that was my first reaction to this challenge...but I was definitely up to give it a try =) The tutorial can be found here and trust me - it's not nearly as tough as it looks...although I managed to screw it up, but that's just a special talent of mine!

Anyways, this sketch is from Viva La Verve April Week 1 and the color combination is Just Us Girls Challenge #133. I plan to give the card to my niece after her ballet recital that I'll be attending next week since I had made the card with her in mind...butterflies & beautiful, bright colors!

I celebrated the second anniversary of my 29th birthday yesterday (one of my friends said it that way once and it's always been a sentiment I loved) and was completely spoiled with lunch and Starbucks delivered to my office, a night out, and some fabulous gifts from friends and family. MrP had given me full privileges while we were in Vegas to do some shopping. I'm not a shopper, but I definitely made it worthwhile ;)
Now it's the final countdown to my second half marathon on Sunday. I'm looking forward to being finished....the only other race booked this summer is a 5K in Calgary - and I can't wait! My bike is screaming for me to get out & ride it =)

The new job is still going well and despite some sad news (for me) about my boss's promotion yesterday, I'm enjoying it!

Be well, my friends....enjoy your week - and head over to The Sisterhood of Crafters to get your Shake on!

Sisterhood Challenge : RECYCLE-REUSE-RENEW!

The challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters this week was a tough one for me. I'm NO GOOD at recycling or repurposing when it comes to crafty stuff. I mean, yes, I recycle my newspapers, etc, but I just don't do recycling projects quite like Dar or Lisa, who both blew this challenge away! Alas, here's what I've come up with....a gift for my Grandma. She's been going through a tough time and I wanted to give her a little something that would remind her how much I love her.

She'll be visiting this weekend, so my plan is to fill the tin with butterflies that have little notes to her on them (telling her why I'm grateful to have her in my life) before Saturday afternoon! We fly out for Vegas on Sunday, so if I don't get it done before then, I know I'll never get around to finishing it.

I better get it done before Saturday morning, actually...I have my last long run before my half marathon on Saturday am and then I'll be napping/resting before I spend the afternoon visiting.

Have a wonderful day and don't forget to check out The Sisters fabulous creations!

Sisterhood Challenge : EASTER!

It's that time again - another challenge is going on at The Sisterhood of Crafters and this time around, we're celebrating Easter - be it with a card or project. I don't usually do much for Easter, but with two nieces and two nephews and a severe urge to do something with the awesome Friendship Jar stamp that my sweet blogging buddy Andrea had given me many moons ago, I just had to do this easy little treat pack I had in my head.

The jars were cut out with my razor (also inspired by Andrea's Post - which now that I look back, I wish I'd topped like hers, too!) A medium card bag acted as a perfect jelly bean receptacle and without too much work, I had sweet treats for my favorite little ones, which I'm sure they'll gobble down.

There's more great Easter inspiration over at The Sisterhood of Crafters and you have until April 8th to play along with us!

On a personal note, I'm getting anxious for tomorrow, which is the lady I'm replacing's last day. She's leaving some big boots to fill. I know I'm up to it...I just hope I can survive my first big challenge on Monday & ensure everyone's got their proper hours and pay (it's the one thing that makes me nervous - messing up someone's $$!) Anyways, I have a little gift for her that I'm taking in today so she doesn't end up with too much being hauled home tomorrow for her trip South to Calgary.

I'm hoping someday soon I'll have some actual spare time to do a little blog surfing, but suffice it to say, it hasn't happened lately (as is the case with house cleaning and maintenance!) Thank goodness for MrP and his infinite patience and support. I don't know what I'd do without him!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

A Sisterhood Birthday Celebration

Using a couple of Viva La Verve Sketches, I managed to make not one, but TWO cards for this week's challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters...a Birthday challenge!

The first one was Chelsey's birthday card (Happy 32nd buddy!) that used the Viva La Verve March Week 1 Sketch and some old DSP that I have always loved, which features Old Olive, Whisper White and Not Quite Navy. A few half pearls, a button and some twine, along with the paper piercing after I couldn't get the bobbin working on the sewing machine and this card was good.

The second card was actually the first that was created (don't even get me started on the angle and how it makes the card look.) It uses the Viva La Verve February Week 2 Sketch and features my previously unloved Rich Razzleberry, Grey, Whisper White and Pink Pirouette papers. This time, it was ol' faithful...swiss dots embossing folder, as well as some half pearls to add a little something extra.

Head over to The Sisterhood of Crafters to join in our Birthday challenge - we've got a great prize from Shabby Chic Stamp Company - a Build A Cake stamp set =)

As a personal note, I just started my first couple days at my new job and so far, so good. I was fully expecting to hate it for the first month while I struggled to learn a whole lot in a little time, but I've really enjoyed learning from the current woman in the role and I have some big shoes to fill, but I'm looking forward to giving it my best!

Have a wonderful week!

Sugar & Spice Congrats : VLV FEB2012 Wk 4, PDCC121

Well it's been a while now (over three weeks) since one of my good friends had her little girl, but I'll finally get to meet her on Saturday so I am glad to have prepared this card using the VLV Feb 2012 Week 4 sketch and the Play Date Cafe Challenge 121 with the perfect inspiration colors.

Enjoyed my first day in Jasper and felt like a real pro at times (usually followed directly with one of my two epic falls). Thankfully, only one of the falls was followed up with a 10' face first slide down the hill. I'm sore today, but we'll head out for a few more runs before we make the (likely) hairy drive back to Edmonton. There's been so much snow - it's been perfect for skiing but crap for driving in. Maybe I'll see if MrP can even get a couple of action shots! Have a wonderful day!