Be Prepared....

Our weather is gorgeous right now, and I'm hoping it stays around for a good long time.....but we all know that winter will soon be on it's way.  Hopefully it won't be anything like last year, but just in case....be prepared.  This image from Dr Digi's House of Stamps, titled Rescue Squad, is a good reminder of what is in store, and what will be needed.  I'm thinking a couple of those barrels should be included in our winter provisions! 

As most of my Christmas cards go in the post, I try to keep them relatively simple.  Just some doodling and silver peel offs, and then a bit of rubber stamping to dress it up.  The DP is an older one from Cosmo Cricket, that I found hiding in my stash!

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to enjoy the weekend while the weather is good!

Some challenges for my card:

Crafting by designs - Get Ready for Christmas

Fab 'n' Funky - #230 Christmas

ABC Christmas Challenge - S for Something Festive

Sweet Stampin Christmas - Christmas Critters

Crafty Sentiments - Christmas In September

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - #76 Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - #50 Anything Goes

One Sweet Challenge - The Holidays are Coming

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge -#196 Make It Colourful

Something Girly

My, how the summer flew by!  I think it was because I was so busy this year.  I managed to get a lot of maintenance done, some of it contracted, but a good bit I did myself!  And, of course, the gardening.  Some good times were had with visitors from England, back in June.  But then my father-in-law passed away in August, and now my father is in the hospital, and for some nine weeks already.  The times...they are a changing....

On a happier note, here I've made a birthday card, using a pretty image from Saturated Canary.  Copics are the colouring medium today, though I've edged the image with silver metallic ink and some sparkles.  For the pearls in her hair I have used liquid pearls.

A simple card design made with the help of some cutting dies, and a few gems. 

Dies used:
Spellbinders die - Labels Eighteen
Joy Crafts die - Lacey Square Frame

Thanks for stopping by, and heres wishing you some happy days!

Some challenges for my card:

Card and Scrap - #82 Everything is allowed

613 Avenue Create - #89 Anything Goes

Ppinky Dolls -  #3 - Anything Goes or Make it Girly

Little Claire's - #49 A Birthday Card

Bizzy Bec's - Anything Goes   Top Picks

Crafty Little Fairies - Sparkle & Bling

Celebrate the Season

Good morning all.  The sun is shining and it looks like a beautiful day....here's hoping it's the same where you are.  I doubt we'll be needing the air conditioning anymore this year, as the temperatures have really changed, but it's definitely good weather for working outside.  Just hoping that winter delays its start and autumn lasts and lasts and lasts....  Spring and fall are my favourite seasons,

My card today, however, is for the Christmas season, when it is generally cold and snowy here in Canada.  Here, I have both paper and stamp from Wild Rose Studio, and watercolours again, with a bit of chalk for the background shading.  The Spellbinders Floral Ovals die has been used to cut it out, with a little added distress ink to enhance the frame.  Nice and simple, and another card ready to post.

Thanks for visiting, enjoy your day!

Some challenges for my card:

Paper Creators Crafts - #29 Early Christmas      Challenge Winner

Southern Girls Challenge - The Winter Blues

Sweet Stampin Christmas - Christmas Critters

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #276 Christmas

Cute Card Thursday - #338 Too Cute

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - #246 Clean & Simple

Stampotique - #164 Birds or Animals Without Words - It's a Celebration One Crazy Stamper - Halloween/Christmas

If you go down to the woods.....

I had a bit of fun with this one, using a well known children's song for inspiration.  Just a reminder....there could be bears in those woods, and even if they don't find you, the bugs and mosquitos will!  This is another wonderful image from Dr Digi's House of Stamps, and you can find her here.  I know some people are really into camping out....but that's so definitely not me!

Other supplies used:

Sentiment stamp - from Stämpelkällan

Bear stamp - from Mark's Finest Papers

Bo Bunny paper - from Trail Mix collection

Rub-on flowers and metal brads - from stash

Hopefully, you enjoyed your visit and perhaps I made you smile.  Have a lovely weekend.

Some challenges for my card:

Mema's Crafts - A Fall Theme or Color

A Little Bit Crafty - Distress it

Card Makin' Mamas - #88 Precious Metals x3

Crafting from the Heart - #35 Anything Goes

Creative Moments - #51 Anything Goes/Fall Colours

Fitztown Challenge - #52 Anything Goes Susy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - #46 Anything Goes

So peaceful...

I've been very busy outside, the last few days, with more to come.  Trying to get some painting and staining done, before the weather turns.  Soon the gardens will need to be put to bed too.  Hopefully the good weather stays for a bit....until December would be nice.  ha ha.  Did you see where Alberta got a dump of snow already?  They can keep it....

Here I have used a Rosewood stamp.  I bought it ages ago, and finally got around to using it.  Again because it's an actual stamp, I've gone with water colours, though for the sky I've used pan pastels.  I always use markers or pencils for digi images, but I like to switch about when I use an inky stamp.

 The papers are from an old Pink Paislee collection, and behind the picture you will see a die cut using the Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangles die.  It is inked up with distress stain, and I've added a touch of Inka-Gold for added interest. 

I felt the nice peaceful scene would be perfect for a sympathy card.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope your days are going well.

Some fun challenges for my card:

Sister Act Card Challenge - #73 Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin - The Great Outdoors

Card and Scrap - #81 Everything is allowed

Creative Fingers - #47 Anything Goes

Crafting by designs - Anything Goes

Crafting at the Weekend - #5 Anything Goes

Crafty Bloggers - Anything Goes

Vintage Stamping - #24 Anything Goes

Simon Says Work It Wednesday - August - Use Stamping

Emerald Faeries Challenge - #59 Springtime

School Daze

We know that summer is drawing to a close when the kids all head back to school.  A lot of Mom's are smiling and doing the happy dance, I'm sure....once they finally get them ready and on their way! 

I'm hoping the kiddies have a nice smiley face too, when they head off to class, as does this little sweetie from Sugar Nellie.  This is a older rubber stamp, and once again I've used my water colours, playing with some nice shades of autumn.

Well, its the weekend now, so have fun and pretend you are young again!  ha ha.

Thanks for stopping by.

Some challenges for my card:

Creative Moments - #50 Anything Goes/Back to School    Top Picks

DL.Art -  #139 Back to School

Bearly Mine Challenges - Autumnal colour

Delicious Doodles - #100 Colours of Autumn

Vintage Stamping - #24 Anything Goes

The Artistic Stamper - Autumn Colours

Stampotique Designers Challenge - #163 Refresh It

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Loves Rubber Stamps - #119 Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Christmas is coming....

I'm sure Christmas will be here before we know it, but for now I'll enjoy the nice sunny weather.  Here in Canada, summer was late in coming, and I'm hoping winter will be dragging it's heels too!

I had a play this afternoon, with this pretty stamp from Wild Rose Studio and some watercolours.  I really need to get busy making my Christmas cards.  It would be such a shame if I had to buy some!

I tried something a little different here, with the Joy Crafts die, for the backing behind the image.  First I cut it from the green dp, then again from white cardstock.  After gluing the dp to the red cardstock, I inserted the white piece into the empty space.  This allows the red to show through and also gives me a patterned die cut for another card.

I finished it off with a few gold touches and a sentiment, heat embossed in white.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoyed your visit.

Some challenges for my card:

Allsorts Challenge - #274 Early Christmas makes  Challenge Winner

Sweet Stampin Christmas - Gifts Galore

One Crazy Stamper - Halloween/Christmas

One Sweet Challenge - The Holidays are Coming

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Loves Rubber Stamps - #119 Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Penny's Challenges - #193 Anything Goes

Crafting by designs - Anything Goes

Crafting at the Weekend - #5 Anything Goes

Without Words - It's a Celebration