ColourQ Fantastic-ness

There are a lot of things I love about the ColourQ challenge this week.

• It's their 100th! I've only been participating for the last month or so, but I'm a huge fan of even numbers. 
• It's a combination of a sketch challenge and a colour challenge. Wicked.
• I got to browse through 99 excitingly awesome colour palettes to decide on which one to use this week.

Ya, you tell me that's not awesome.

Not to mention - I got new product today. So I'm thrilled to bits. Even at 11:00pm :)

I followed this sketch and challenge #27 (with the following colours: Tangerine Tango, Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede, White)

 Kindness Matters

(CQC100)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Soft Suede (SU), Tempting Turquoise (SU), Tangerine Tango (SU), Whisper White (SU)

Paper :: Beyond the Garden DSP (SU), Night of Navy DSP
Stamps :: "Kindness Matters" set (SU)
Ink :: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Embellishments :: Paper butterflies
Tools :: Decorative Label punch (SU), Scallop Edge punch, dimensionals (SU), sponge

I've been surrounded by kindness the last little while, and this seemed very fitting.

Feeling blessed...

-tb:oxo

Still waiting...

I'm playing the waiting game. Technically, the due date isn't for another week, but I'm feeling as if he should come earlier than that. Perhaps it's just wishful thinking?

I'm still making baby thank you cards! But I need to start thinking about my September card list as well! This week, I was so excited to play along with the Less is More challenge - I love being able to mix and match things :)

This week, in celebration of their 30th week of providing inspiration, they've challenged us to combine three past challenges together to make a card. Fun!! I chose the following three past challenges:

Week #4 - "3 Squares"
Week #18 - "Monochrome"
Week #25 - "Button or Ribbon" (I chose ribbon)

Thank You

LIM WK30

I did another one too. That's just the way I roll.

This one was using these three past challenges:

Week #22 - "Shades of Blue"
Week 23 - "Something with Legs"
Week 29 - "Things that Move"

Thank You #2

LIM WK30

No supplies were harmed in the making of these card!
Cardstock :: Sahara Sand (SU), Pool Party (SU)
Ink :: Island Indigo (SU)
Embellishments :: Wooden sheep, Flower, Bells, Ribbon
Tools :: Scallop Oval Punch (SU), Large Oval Punch (SU), 1 3/4 Circle Punch, Cuttlebug + embossing folder

I've had these sheep for ages and have never used them. So glad to get 6 out of them out of my stash at once ; )

Feeling 'ready to go'...

-tb:oxo

Congratulations... for something :)

At the risk of sound narcissistic, I almost want to send this card to myself! ; ) I've gotten so much accomplished in the last few days, I just can't even believe it!

This is a generic "Congratulations" card. I'm sure I'll be needing one of those some day. I used the exceptionally rich colour palette from ColourQ! I feel that I could have done more with this card, but was in a very simple mood; no designer paper, few embellishments, etc.

Congratulations
(CQC99)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Crushed Curry (SU), Island Indigo (SU), Irish Eyes (Bazzil), Pumpkin, White
Ink :: Island Indigo (SU)
Embellishments :: Cotton flower, embroidery floss
Tools :: Scallop punch

Thinking about trying this colour combination again some other time...

-tb:oxo

Soft and simple

I've got this compulsive habit of not being able to put back 1/2 a sheet of cardstock. It tends to work out in my favour though, because it means I generally make two cards at the same time. Sometimes, they are the exact same card, sometimes they use the same elements, sometimes they use the same style... Sometimes they aren't much alike at all!

Today's two, however, are very similar. All the same inks/colours were used, and they are for the same occasion (baby). I've been in a baby mood lately...

First off, the colours came from Play Date Cafe. Mint, Ivory and Coral. Naturally, this screamed baby - or wedding.

I chose baby :)

: Welcome Baby :
(PDCC96)

(See supplies list below)

The second card is still using the same colours - but was created with the Pals Paper Arts challenge in mind - Clean and Simple: "Soften the Edges". I often think of using my corner rounder, but rarely do it!

: Congratulations :
(PPA108)

No supplies were harmed in the making of these card!
Cardstock :: Very Vanilla (SU)
Paper :: An assortment of scraps.
Ink :: Sky Blue (SU)
Embellishments :: Pearl dots
Tools :: Scissors, 1 3/4" circle punch, corner rounder

Had an ultrasound today. Baby is measuring big, but he's so perfectly healthy. And my mom got here last night! A great day all around.

Waiting for our little ones arrival...

-tb:oxo

An early start

I adore this week's Color Throwdown palette.
I adore Crumb Cake cardstock.
I adore actual Crumb Cake.
I adore it all so much I just couldn't wait to dive into this challenge.
This week: So Saffron, Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake

I don't adore that the purple ribbon photographed much darker (and bluer!) than it actually is.

Love You

(CTD156)

No supplies were harmed in the making of these card!
Cardstock :: Crumb Cake (SU), Cream
Ink :: Wisteria Wonder (SU)
Stamp :: "Love You" from the Short & Sweet set
Embellishments :: Pearl dots (purple and yellow), Butterfly edging, button from my stash, ribbon from my SIL wedding, Paper flowers

Tools :: Dimensionals (SU), Scallop Oval Punch (SU), Large Oval Punch (SU), my fingernails

Movie has been watched, and child has been cuddled.

Counting the minutes until I can go picky up my mom from the airport!...

-tb:oxo

Thank you, Thank you!

I made a trip to IKEA today. It infuriated me to no end... I ended up leaving without getting anything. However, while waiting for IKEA to open, I browsed around Michael's and found the perfect (seriously though) frames for the "Have a Seat" project.

Now I just need to wait for the stamps and the "Well Worn" DSP to arrive and I can start to create.

I made some more thank you cards using the Mojo Monday sketch. The patterned paper was a very happy find at Michael's this morning :)

And remember this post where I talked about that tiny bit of "Kiwi Kiss" I had left? It's gone... and so is the tiny piece of Kiwi Kiss ribbon.

Honestly, I'm not even sure what I'm going to do without this colour! I know that Pear Pizzaz and the new Lucky Limeade are close... but there were so many times where Kiwi Kiss was just, well, right.

Thank you

(MOJO205)

No supplies were harmed in the making of these card!
Cardstock :: Island Indigo (SU), Kiwi Kiss (SU), Brown, Yellow, White
Ink :: Island Indigo (SU)
Stamp :: "Thank You" from the Short & Sweet set
Embellishments :: $1 ribbon, Pearl dots, Kiwi Kiss ribbon (SU)

Tools :: Dimensionals (SU), Cuttlebug + dot embossing folder,
Scallop Oval Punch (SU), Large Oval Punch (SU) Scallop border punch
Pinking sheers, 2-way glue pen (SU)

Hubby is out tonight, so me and the kiddo are having a pizza/movie night. Really looking forward to it :)

Off to rent "Tangled"...

-tb:oxo

Ah-HA!!

YES!

The excitement in this post is three-fold.

ONE:
I placed an order with my super-fantastic Stampin' Up! demonstrator the other day. I browse the IB&C for a good couple of hours before finally settling on the "Have a Seat" stamp set (obviously, among other items). Whilst placing my order with her (via email), I stated the following:

"I love the "Have a Seat" stamp set, but have a hard time envisioning what sort of sentiment I would attach to it... Regardless, I'm ordering it anyways and using it as a challenge to myself :)"

TWO:
The 'oh so awesome' nesting instinct of pregnancy has finally set in. I've been waiting 38 weeks for this. Unfortunately, now I feel way to massive to do anything! And... sporadic contractions have started (likely Braxton Hicks, but whatev).

Our bedroom is getting a MUCH needed de-clutter and re-org. I made a small purchase today at Home Depot. These awesome EGLO lights are much nicer in person than in the photograph, but I intend to order the Long-Stem Silhouette decor element from Stampin' Up! and put them on (will have to check to make sure that it'll work on a frosted glass/light).

I still have 1 more wall to fill with some sort of artwork.

THREE:
As my first "official" day of maternity leave, I thought it would be appropriate to do nothing but browse online at things I no longer have the money to buy :) Man, I love Pottery Barn so much that I would even consider naming my child that...

Moving on. As I was browsing through, I found (naturally) about a billion things I want to buy. And then what did I see? wait for it, because this is the glue that holds this whole post together!!

This. Yes, that's right. And for $92! hahahaha...

SO, the stamp set that's already on the way will be used to recreate the Pottery Barn artwork that I can't afford to fill the space on my wall that is in need of something awesome!

Yes, my friends. It's an exciting day. And here's the icing on the cake: That spot on the wall that I'm putting these frames? Below it is an incredibly awesome little chair that I got second hand.

Thinking that a bedroom post is in order at some point when all this is done :)

Basking in the glory that is Stampin' Up!, Pottery Barn, and synchronicity...

-tb:oxo

Hi! ... and, ironically enough, bye!

I didn't realize until I was starting this post that I'm writing about "hi" and "bye" today :)

First up, a set of three little "Hi" notes. I made these using the Color Throwdown challenge colours - and I must say, they never cease to challenge me! This is only my second time playing along, but they certainly make me push my own boundaries! This week? Early Espresso, Barely Banana, Rose Red & Kiwi Kiss.

I'm sad to say, I only have a 2" x 2 1/2" piece of Kiwi Kiss left. I loved that colour so much.

"hi" - Set of three (3" x 3")

(CTD155)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Early Espresso (SU), Kiwi Kiss (SU), Pink, Cream
Embellishments :: $1 ribbon,

Tools :: Dimensionals (SU), Cuttlebug + dot embossing folder,
1 3/4 Circle Punch, Scallop border punch

The next card is for the Less is More challenge "Things that Move". My brother works for the navy as an engineer, and although it's only happened once so far, he get's sent out to sea. I giggled the whole time I was making this card, and seriously contemplated trying to change the "see" to "sea". Figured it would be too much work, so left it as is.

"See ya later..."

(LIM WK29)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card, either!
Cardstock :: Island Indigo (SU), Pool Party (SU), Early Espresso (SU), White
Ink :: Early Espresso (SU), Riding Hood Red (SU), Yo-Yo Yellow (SU), Pool Party (SU)
Stamps :: Ship*, "see ya later..." from Longfellows (SU)

Tools :: Dimensionals (SU), Scallop border punch, blender pen (SU)
*Believe it or not, this ship stamp is from my son's birthday present! :D It's a "Transportation" set made by the oh-so-fabulous Melissa&Doug. I love everything they do.

Hopefully they 'ship' (heheheh) him out again soon so I can give him this card. I find the sentiment a little too casual for most occasions where you're saying goodbye, so I'm glad I found a less serious use for it! Not that my brother going to sea isn't serious, but it's not as if he's moving to Bulgaria...

Enjoying the weekend...

-tb:oxo

I did it!

I finally did it. I took advantage of the August Stampin' Up! promotion and ordered me some Designer Series Paper. Yippee! I'm so thrilled.

Pocket Full of Posies
(I think it's a shame they advertise their DSPs like this on the website -
mainly because you can't see how completely awesome it is!!)

Timeless Portraits


Well Worn

Beyond the Garden

Today, my hubby and son are off to a wedding. I was supposed to be attending as well, but seeing as I've been having contractions lately, it's 30C outside, and the wedding is in the middle of a golf course (with quite the walk to get there!), I've been 'ordered' to stay home. Bed-rest is very bitter sweet!

Here are my handsome guys on their way to the big event. Little HBo was less than impressed about getting his picture taken today.

Normally, he's all smiles for pictures! I snapped this one the other day. We had just finished playing with his new "Melissa & Doug" transportation stamps, so I completely understand the ear to ear grin! I look like that after playing with stamps too...

Enjoying pretty papers and handsome boys...

-tb:oxo

TGIF!!

There has never been a better Friday! Glorious, glorious Friday! Gotta get down on Friday!

CAS-ual Friday's challenge this week was a clean & simple card featuring embossing. I was thrilled to see that I had an 'excuse' to use my new Cuttlebug!

With a baby shower coming up next weekend, I thought I should make a couple more 'thank you' cards to be prepared! It's going to be a small, (very) intimate gathering, so I'm trying to make all cards different.

Baby Thank You
(CFC16)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: White, Navy blue
Ink :: Blue Bayou (SU), Sky Blue (SU)
Stamps :: All In the Family (SU), Short & Sweet (SU)
Embellishments ::

Tools :: Dimensionals (SU), Large oval punch (SU), Scalloped oval punch (SU),
Cuttlebug, edge embossing folder, 1 3/4 Circle Punch

Thinking about the weekend...

-tb:oxo

Ho! Ho! Ho! Hold on... it's still August.

I should have forewarned that today was going to be a post-heavy day.

To celebrate my last day of work, I made a bunch of cards. I basically used this evening as a 'catch-up' on all the challenges I've been wanting to participate in that I haven't yet! Earlier this evening, I posted my birthday cake card for the Play Date Cafe colour challenge. And now, I'm going to post a very 'traditional' Christmas card based on the Pals Paper Arts sketch (which I love so much!).

I say 'traditional', and I mean that in the sense that the it's green, white and red. Perhaps 'standard' would have been a better word?

Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!
(PPA107)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Whisper White (SU), Red
Paper :: Random xmas paper, white/red stripes
Ink :: Riding Hood Red (SU), Wild Wasabi (SU)
Stamps :: ?? can't remember :(
Embellishments :: !!ZERO!! ... I can't believe it ...
Tools :: Dimensionals (SU)

Today is the 1 year anniversary of my step-mother's passing. My thoughts are with my dad today.

-tb:oxo

Time for a Play Date!

Oh, how these colours remind me of our wedding - This was the original colour scheme we were going to go with. Almost last minute, we substituted the navy for brown. We were getting married at a sugar bush, and thought it would be more appropriate.

Plus... I love brown.

It was such a joy to play with these colours today! Thank you, Play Date Cafe, for the trip down memory lane.

The Best Cake Ever
(PDCC #95)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!

Cardstock :: Blushing Bride (SU), Irish Eyes (Bazzil)
Paper :: Night of Navy DSP (SU)
Ink :: Blue Bayou (SU), Pink Pirouette (SU)
Stamps :: Birthday set (Hero Arts)
Embellishments :: Pearl dots, taffeta ribbon Dazzling Diamonds (SU)
Tools :: 2way gluepen (SU), dimensionals (SU), Large oval Punch (SU), Scallop oval punch (SU) Scallop Edge Border


Loving the nostalgia...

-tb:oxo

Less is More... and thoughts about wainscoting.

~ Stress is when you wake up screaming

and you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet ~
:: Author Unknown

This quote made me laugh so much when I saw it. And it sums up my week perfectly! I don't like to say "I'm stressed out", because it seems so generic and far too committal! However, there are certainly elements of stress at the moment. So, I've been trying to immerse myself in cardmaking instead. Ignorance is bliss, isn't it?

My mother, who lives half-way across the country (I live in Canada, so that's actually pretty far), is coming up next week to help us out a little, and to keep me company during my final week's of pregnancy. Basically just here to make sure I don't have a panic attack :)


Knowing my mother - who can't sit down for a second - I know that she's going to help us out tremendously in the time she's in town. With that in mind, I'm using the Less is More "One Layer" challenge as an opportunity to make her a preemptive thank you card!



The other day while restocking the towel/toilet paper basket in my bathroom, I started looking at the wainscoting on the wall and thought how incredibly awesome it would be if that wainscoting made it onto a card.

SO, my equation for today's card?

Less is More One Layer challenge + Wainscoting = Thank you mom!

thank you

(Less is More WK28)
**I have NO idea why my camera keeps making things blue when they are supposed to be white :( I'm trying to figure this out, but until I learn how to change the lighting functions, please pretend this is pretty and white!**

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Whisper White (SU)
Ink :: Wisteria Wonder (SU), Pale Plum (SU), and Wild Wasabi (SU)
Stamps :: Sweet Summer set (SU), "Thank you" from Short & Sweet (SU)
Embellishments :: Pearl dots, butterfly accents.
Tools :: Scoring board (for 'wainscoting'), 2way gluepen (SU), dimensionals (SU)
--> That's the inside of the card.

Also, I'm proud to announce, my August card list is complete!
August Card List:
1. Step-dad's birthday - not blogged
2. Hunter's birthday
3. Wedding
4. Birth announcements for our baby (due Sept 8) - Designed, but not "made"...
5. Birthday "Thank You" cards for my sons b-day party guests.

Phewf, the wainscoting is out of my system...

-tb:oxo

Happy Birthday

A simple birthday card, using the colour palette from ColourQ challenge!

Not only do I always (always!) love their colour combinations, the images they choose to accent them are always so inspiring. They never fail to bring a smile to my face!

Today, I felt like keeping the "flower" theme going.

Happy Birthday
(CQC98)
Materials -
Cardstock :: Soft Suede (SU), Lucky Limeade (SU), white
Ink :: Island Indigo (SU)
Stamps :: "Happy Birthday" from Hero Arts
Etc :: Lrg oval punch (SU), Scalloped oval punch (SU), dimensionals (SU), blender pen (SU),
paper flowers, $1 ribbon from Michael's, Cuttlebug embossing folder, button from my stash, embroidery floss

Relaxin'...

-tb:oxo

2 for 1 Christmas

Time to get my mojo workin....

Today, I decided to do two versions of the Mojo Monday sketch because I loved it so much. Also... I just can't seem to get enough of the "Dasher" stamp from Stampin' Up! Here's the sketch I was working with today:

And below you will find the two cards I made using that sketch as inspiration!

Dasher on Doily
(MOJO204)

Dasher - Very Merry
(MOJO204)

Materials -
Cardstock :: Whisper White (SU)
Ink :: Chocolate Chip (SU), Riding Hood Red (SU)
Stamps :: Dasher (SU), "Very Merry" from the Short & Sweet Set (SU)
Etc :: Lrg oval punch (SU), Scalloped oval punch (SU), corner rounder, Pearl dots, dimensionals (SU), red brads, paper doily.


And, as a wee bonus, because I just can't help myself - this is a link to my husband's blues band (hubby plays the drums, my father-in-law is singing). They do a cover of "Mojo", which sadly is not on the website, but you can check out 4 other covers they do under the audio section.

ROLLIN' STEADY

Feeling bluesy, but in a good way!...

-tb:oxo