Because I Care

Ok, maybe things are looking up and my mojo juices are starting to flow again, albeit rather slowly.   I think that part of my problem is that I need to craft with a purpose, and by that I don't just mean a challenge here and there or even the card class, but a purpose that can touch someone's life.

I've derailed a bit from my OWH commitment, although all the cards I do make still go to them, but I was usually on top of things and knew that by a certain date they needed this type of card etc...I need to get back on track. Just mumbling out loud....ignore me...Here is my card for today:

Paper: cardstock (PTI); Neenah
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black; Copic Markers; CTMH - Baby Pink Dye ink
Stamps: MFT (IB-Flowers); Penny Black (Paisly outline)
Other: Twine (The Twinery); Corner Rounder; Dimensional foam tape; Hole punch; clear embossing powder

I stamped the paisly background in pink ink on some white Neenah cardstock and rounded the two top corners before adhering to the notecard.  I then stamped and heat embossed the sentiment.  I punched a hole, which you cannot see, under the flower through the notecard in order to wrap the twine around three times, just for something different, instead of going right around the card.

The flower is only part of an image which I coloured with copics and trimmed, and then adhered with some foam dimensional tape.

Thanks for coming to take a peek!  Hugs to all.

Love is in the Air

Deary me, I am still struggling to be consistent at coming up with good ideas for some cards!  I am totally lagging behind in the card class.  I have one card today that I made earlier.  It fits in with Day 7's theme of feeling good using white cardstock.  And I think I am going to add it to the CAS-ual Fridays challenge to use scallops.

Paper: cardstock (PTI); patterned paper (MME)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black; Victorian Velvet Distress Ink; Copic markers
Stamps: Penny Black (...in the Air)
Other: Glossy Accents; Pink Glitter; Stampin' Up Scalloped Punch; dimensional foam tape

The back of the card is wider than the front, and I created a glittery edge by running a strip of double sided tape down the side and pouring glitter over it, and then adding a strip of MME designer paper along the inner edge. Here is another view of it open.

The balloon was cut out of the stamped image which has many balloons on it.  I stamped and clear embossed it on white cardstock and then restamped the inner heart with Victorian Velvet distress ink and covered that with glossy accents and a bit of glitter before adhering.  I then popped up the balloon with some dimensional foam tape.

I hope you are having a wonderful day!  It's gotten warm here again!  See you again soon hopefully.

Fashion Delivery

I recently received a huge bundle of stamped images from a dear flickr friend and as I don't like to let images lie around for too long I decided to colour this one and create a card.  In this case I first picked my papers and then coloured her to match.

Paper: cardstock (PTI); designer paper (October Afternoon); Neenah
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers
Stamps: Penny Black (4213K - Fashion Delivery); Paper Smooches (sentiment)
Other: Glossy Accents; PTI Edgers die #3

Nothing to really explain here, just a pretty image and some pretty papers, hopefully it's not too busy.
Have a wonderful day!

Penny Black Sketch Challenge

Penny Black is having a sketch challenge (and they have introduced their new designer, Kelley Eubanks!!!  I love her work),  and I thought I would make a card to submit before  we leave tomorrow for our trip to Seattle!  Here is the card I managed to put together.  It's one of those that I am still pondering over....you know the kind....

Paper: cardstock (PTI)l Neenah
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers: Antique Linen distress ink
Stamps: Penny Black (Baby Hammock 2073J; Hugs - sentiment)
Other: Paper flower; Perfect Pearls Mist; Twine (The Twinery); Ribbon (recycled); Liquid Pearls White Opal; Glossy Accents; Dimensional Squares

I felt like colouring this little image, that hedgie looks so peaceful, far away in her thoughts.  Instead of layering the image on a circle, which was my first thought, I started to rummage in my draw and saw these large paper flowers.  So, I took one out and spritzed it heavily with Perfect Pearls Mist and used that as a mat for something different.

I applied some Liquid Pearls to the petals of the two flowers in the stamped image, and also some Glosy Accents to the butterfly and Teddy Bear.  The circular image is popped up with dimensional squares over the paper flower.

And then seeing as I was in a "be different" mood I decided to use twine and a ribbon instead of three pieces of cardstock which had been my first choice!

Enjoy, I am off to pack now!

Poppy Field

What do you think of this inspiration photo over at Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog!  It's so beautiful I want to touch it!

Not only that, I wanted to get out my little Penny Black "Poppies" stamp and make something, a field of poppies, how original!

Paper: cardstock (PTI); Neenah Natural White
Ink: Copic Markers; Memento Tuxedo Black; Forest Moss Distress Ink
Stamps: Penny Black (Poppies - 3949H); PTI (Tiny Tags; Background Basics: Houndstooth)
Other: Twine (PTI); Tiny Tags Die (PTI); Double Heart Punch

I used my Stampamajig to repeatedly stamp the poppies because it is quite a small stamp.  After some major colouring I adhered that piece and went on to stamp the Houndstooth with some Forest Moss distress ink.  Not much to it really, a bit of twine, a tag and a little red heart covered in Glossy Accents.

If you can, why not make something based on that inspiration photo, this is what Simon Says Stamp has to offer to the winner:

Thanks for visiting, I really enjoy all your lovely and caring comments!  And thank you to those who are giving me encouragement about my race on Sunday!

A Small Boo!

Today I wanted to play with a Penny Black stamp that I won from the very talented and extremely kind Elizabeth Allan! The wooden stamp is called "The Horror Team" and it actually has three little Halloween characters on it which you can work with individually if you want.  So that's what I did, I used just two of the little guys and made a little card....

Paper: notecard (The Paper Studio); purple cardstock (unknown); Neenah Solar White
Ink: Versamark; Copic markers; Memento Tuxedo Black
Stamps: Penny Black (The Horror Team; Circular Design); Lawn Fawn (Heebie Jeebies - sentiment
Other: Hemp; Glossy Accents; Black embossing powder; Black enamel accent; dimensional tape

I wish I could take better photos, I really need to take a photography course!

I stamped the purple cardstock with the Circular Design and embossed it with black embossing powder (love the stark black against the purple).  And then, a lot of fussy cutting!  The hats, the pumpkin, the balloon and one hand on each critter is popped up with dimensional tape.  In retrospect, I should maybe not have pieced the hats, but once it was done there was no turning back.

I hand made the sentiment tab using a corner chomper.

They are just the cutest little guys!  I think this one is going in a box for my daughter.

I have started a little box where every now and then, whilst I am in my craft room and perhaps just sitting and thinking about the ones I love, I just make a little card for my daughter with the bits and pieces lying around on my table and I just write her a note about whatever is on my mind.  It's for her, later, when life is different, when she has all grown up or when I am no longer around, just little love notes, so she knows that even when she was not here, or when she was asleep, I was thinking of her.

Do any of you do something similar perhaps?

Sending you all lots of love and wishing you a wonderful day!  And hugs to my new followers, you make me happy.

(I'll enter this into this week's Wee Memories challenge, "Free For All").

Lily Pad Sketch Challenge & Some Winners

K 'n K Designs had two prizes up for grabs during the OWH Fundraiser Blog Hop this weekend and Cinnamon Sally was one of the lucky winners chosen from the comments on my blog!  Congrats Sally, I believe that Jan has already contacted you!  The other winner was Rhonda Miller from Shannon's blog, congrats!

Now onto the Lily Pad challenge. Lily Pad is having a sketch challenge, here is the sketch, (it's a good one) and I am also going to put this into the Wee Memories "Free for All" challenge:

I have been wanting to play with some of my Penny Black stamps and so I decided to combine a few of them with this lovely sketch.

Paper: cardstock (PTI); Neenah
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Bundled Sage & Forest Moss Distress Inks; Copic markers
Stamps: Penny Black (Poppies; Hello Friend; Paisly Outline)
Other: Trim (a gift from Lucy)

I love the red and green combo on kraft.  And those poppies are some of my favourites!  And I love the Paisly Outline stamp which I stamped over the inked surface simply by spraying the cling stamp with some pearlized water in a mister.  I adore that soft, subtle effect.

As for that gorgeous red trim, I received that from Lucy a while ago when I won something on her blog.  Isn't it the cutest trim ever!  You could be in your kitchen looking out of your window to the poppies outside!  Well, at least that is the vision I am getting.

On the sporty front, I did a Half Marathon race yesterday, and it did not go according to plan.  In fact, my worst race ever, and unfortunately it's due to a problem in my feet from repeated pounding on this concrete.  I think I have a tough decision ahead of me.  I love running because it's a superior emotionaly pleasurable experience for me!  Some of you will understand what I am saying.  Unfortunately, for a while now, it has not been that.  And I have been running for more than 25 years so I understand that with long distance running one is going to experience discomfort, but it's not that kind of discomfort I am referring to.  The problem in my feet is now part of my every day life where I am basically continuously  uncomfortable on my feet.  I am not giving up running, that would be the death of me, but I need to revisit my objectives and I may need to, for a while perhaps, (hoping that this problem can fix itself with rest), just decrease my distances considerably.  I don't know, I have not decided.  I have a follow up with the Podiatrist on Thursday and I want to discuss it with him.  I just don't know....running is my other child you know, the other thing I love....Thanks for listening, I had to write it down more for my myself than for anybody else really.

But, life goes on and it's still awesome!

Wishing you a fantastic day!

Christmas Scrapling

I wanted to make another scrapling for my friend Dana's first blog challenge and I had some pretty Christmas patterned paper lying on my desk, so this is what I came up with.

Paper: cardstock (PTI); patterned paper (MME - "12 Days of Christmas); Neenah
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; HA Soft Pool Shadow ink; Broken China DI
Stamps: Penny Black (Mimi's Christmas; Circular Design)
Other: Stickles; Star (Michelle); Dimensional Squares

Isn't she sweet sitting on a cloud!  Love that glittery star which I received as a surprise gift from my Flickr friend Michelle from New York! (Thank You).  I stamped the cloud with the PB Circular Design instead of leaving it plain.

Just a simple little scrapling!  Thank you Dana for hosting this challenge.  If anyone wants to join in you still have a few days, and you can find Dana on her blog at Reliving Tomorrow!  Go and visit, she is super talented!

Have a wonderful day!

Miss You Hedgie

A little bit of plain fun with a Penny Black hedgie from their "Hello Friend" clear stamp set.  I realise that I did not do anything extraordinary with this card, but sometimes that's ok.  I actually just wanted to colour him in just the way it is in the art work at the back of the set.  No paper piecing, no stickles, no glossy accents, just a plain little card!

Paper: cardstock (PTI); Neenah; patterned paper (unknown)
Ink: Mememto; Copics
Stamps: Penny Black (Hello Friend); PTI (sentiment)
Other: paper flower; Natural hemp; dimensional squares; EK postage stamp border punch

Just as I said, nice and plain.  I simply popped up the central mat.  I like the twine wrapped around in three strings, it's something different to do from time to time!

Thank you for popping in!  We should be back late tomorrow afternoon!  Have a wonderful start to your week!

More Penny Black Inspiration

I wanted to make another Penny Black card as there are so many artists that I admire there, for this one I chose Elizabeth Allan and was inspired by THIS gorgeous card of hers.  Go and take a browze through her blog, you will be coming out of there filled with ideas!

Here is the card I created:

Paper: cardstock (PTI); Neenah
Ink: Copics; Memento; Scattered Straw & Antique Linen DI
Stamps: Penny Black (Poppy Poem 4036K; Cicular Design 40-046; Illumination 30-048)
Other: crystal stickles; dimensional squares

I used some rustic white cardstock and stamped the Circular Design with Scattered Straw and also inked the edges lightly with the same ink.  I then adhered that to my notecard.

And then I went and made it all complicated!  I stamped the Poppy image 3 times, once on the white panel for the card, and twice on some Neenah cardstock.  I then coloured in the leaves and fussy cut them out and became visually impaired in the process! Then I coloured the stems and buds and cut those out and pieced them back onto the main panel, using pop dots for the buds.  And lastly I coloured the poppy twice and cut out the inner and outer petals and pieced them back onto the main image, letting the centre piece pop very slightly off the main petals!  I then applied some stickles to the centre of the flower.

Lastly, I pierced some holes in the two opposite corners to create a bit of a frame and applied some Antique Linen ink softly around the edges.

So that is my subdued take on Elizabeth's fabulous card!  I just love how her flower has so many possibilities to pop up those petals, the dimension she achieved was awesome!

Thanks for stopping by!  I was quite busy in my craft room last night so I may be back later with another post!  Have a fabulous day!

Inspired by Penny Black

This is my second post today, so please scroll down if you want to see the Anniversary card I made my friend.

Every Monday Penny Black has a challenge over on their blog, and this weeks' challenge is to sellect something from the PB Gallery that inspires you.  There are so many talented artists at Penny Circle that it was not easy to choose, so I am starting off with this card from Jill Foster, but I have my eye on  a few others if I have the time.

So here is what I came up with, I basically CASED Jill's card but used a different image from Penny Black called Music and Flowers.  I have wanted to piece this image for some time now.

Paper: cardstock (PTI); patterned paper (My Mind's Eye - Hazel 6 X 6 paper pad)
Ink:Memento; Copics; Brushed Corduroy & Vintage Photo DI
Stamps: Penny Black (Music & Flowers 2284H; Hugs)
Other: Black Enamel Accent; Liquid Pearls; Dimensional squares; Jute; Pearl; SU Scalloped edge punch

I stamped the bouquet of flowers and cut out the wrapping paper and also some flowers which I popped up after colouring them with copics.  The wrapping paper was inked with Antique Linen and the edges of it with Brushed Corduroy.  I love the liquid pearls for the flower centres.  I used the black glossy enamel for the bow but I think it had liquified a bit in this heat and just came out in gushes so I did not get it on as thinly as I would have liked.

It's such a pleasure to play with co-ordinated patterned papers, especially for someone like me who does not necessarily have a good eye for colour. All those patterned papers come from the same pack.

I tied a little bow and stuck that on and then added a pearl over it.  I am happy with the results, that bouquet is so sweet.  I hope you enjoy it.

Red, Cream & Gold

Penny Black's challenge this week is to create something with the colours red, cream & gold.  Not really easy to add gold as an ink (for me that is), I did not want to emboss or use gold embellishments, oh no, that would just be too easy right! (Why do I not take the easy route sometimes!).

Anyway, then I though about what Jill did and I thought about golden African sunsets and I figured that Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade should just do it!

Paper: cardstock (PTI- Vintage Cream); Neenah
Ink: Wild Honey & Spiced Marmalade DI; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; White Gel Pen
Stamps: Penny Black (Hedgehopper & Circular Design); PTI (Up, Up and away)
Other: Dimensional Squares; Glossy Accents; Nestabilitie Wonky Rectangle

I created the golden background by inking up my white cardstock, cut with a Wonky Rectangle nestabilitie die, with Wild Honey and then some Spiced Marmalade around the edges.  I then spritzed the PB Circular Design background stamp with water (no ink) and stamped over the inked panel, I love the soft background it creates.

Hedgehopper was coloured with Copics (I cut off the heart banner as I was going to try something else but my "something else" did not work).  I thne popped up the entire panel on cream carstock.

Just a simple design trying out this colour combo!

Thanks for taking a look and for all your lovely comments!

Three Little Words...

That's the name of a stamp by Stampin' Up and I love it!  I combined it with some beautiful patterned paper from Pink Paislee and another awesome bird stamp from Penny Black.

But I also have to admit that I CASED my card from Ashley Newell's blog. I couldn't help it, her card is just so beautiful!  Here is my interpretation.

See that sentiment, that's from Stampin' up, there are a few different "three word" sentiments in the set, pretty neat.

Paper: Notecard (PTI); patterned paper (Pink Paislee: Butterfly Garden)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tattered Rose & Tea Dye DI; Copic markers
Stamps: Penny Black (Nature's Day); Stampin' Up (Three Little Words)
Other: Sewing

I inked the bird with the distress inks and I coloured the branch with some copics, fussy cut it out and adhered it to the patterned paper.  Not sure if you can see, but I added two rows of zig-zag sewing to the card.

I guess one could say that this was my attempt at Shabby Chic, but that was definitely not my intention, I simply wanted to use this paper with these two stamps.  If this was in the hands of a true shabby chic person,  (like Ashley and many others I know), I could imagine some lace and rhinestone patterns, and although I can see it in my mind, that's just not me.  So, you got the plain version!

I also found a fabulous tip on Ashley's blog HERE about changing a setting on google reader where basically each day when you check your reader you simply press a NEXT button which you will add to your google bar and it takes you through each new post  one at a time, with the comments section in that post.  When you finish commenting you simply press next and it will go to the next post you have not read in your reader!  Love it!  So easy now!

Ok, off to check my google reader and comment up a storm!

Playing with Penny Black

I think I mentioned in my last post that I was very fond of Penny Black stamps and needed to get a collection going.  Some of my favourite stamps, which I don't yet own, are the floral ones where they have some text stamped over part of the image, like Poppy Poems for example. So, I created my own version with the Gossamer stamp.

Paper: cardstock (PTI); patterned paper (Out of Print - Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa; Reeves watercolour crayons; vintage photo DI
Stamps: Penny Black (3865K - Gossamer); Hero Arts (S4878 Old Letter Writing); PTI (Asian Fusion)
Other: Dimenstional squares (Recollections); PTI Edgers Die #1

All I did was ink up the text stamp and then wipe off some ink with a baby wipe before stamping over the Gossamer stamped image.   I applied some water colour crayon to the petals and leaves.  And then I just inked the edges of the centre panel with some Vintage Photo DI.

( I will also add this to Moxie Fabs' "Fanatical about Botanicals" challenge which ends on the 8th of August).

Ok, now just sharing a really neat idea that I found from Betsy Veldman, you can read the post
here at Papercrafts Connection.  What to do with your scraps of paper, the larger scraps as well as the long strips we are often left with.  I don't know about you, but I have fallen in love with 6 X 6 paper pads, they just seem to be better and more economical to work with for card makers.  Now, if you are anything like me, over the years you have collected piles and piles of 12 X 12 patterned papers for all those scrapbook layouts you were going to make and never go to doing!  In a nutshell, one of Betsy's ideas is to cut down those 12 X 12's to 6 X 6's and she stores hers in these nifty little plastic crates in which they fit perfectly.  So yes, thank you Betsy, I went and bought just two crates today (Walmart) and chopped away whenever I had time, and boy, those crates are filling up pretty fast!  But now, I am looking at that patterned paper in a completely different light, it's like, wow, now I can actually do something with it!  But do yourself a favour and check out her post as she has another cool idea for the scrap strips.

Sorry for the long post.  Off to cut some more!

Penny Black Christmas in July

I had promised myself to not get caught up with this Christmas in July phenomenon in the US!  But what is a girl to do when one of your favourite stamp companies, Penny Black, has this as a theme for a challenge!  Well, you put your differences aside and get on with the job!  I just could not pass up a Penny Black challenge.  I have very few of theirs stamps but I am on a mission to get a collection going.  I especially love all their older wood mounted floral sets.  However, for today's card, I had to use a hedgie and I had to figure out a Christmas scene of some sort.  I also decided not to go with traditional red and green.  I hope it passes the grade!

Paper: PTI cardstock; Neenah
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; HA Soft Pool ink; Versamark
Stamps: Penny Black "Critter Party"
Other: Cuttlebug embossing folder; Gem (Recollections); Crinkle Ribbon; Dimensional squares; Clear embossing powder

I inked up the embossing folder, on the debossed side with Soft Pool ink and ran my white cardstock through the Cuttlebug to create a "faux letterpress" effect for the background.

I stamped the hedgie twice and pieced back the feet, hands and gift.  The feet and hands are popped up with dimensionals.

I had an extra piece of the snowflake embossed paper, not inked, and decided to cut out one snowflake.  I then pressed that snowflake into my Versamark inkpad and clear embossed it.  The gem is coloured in with a matching Copic marker. I then adhered that to the home dyed crinkle ribbon.

I am not entirely sure whether this is Chrismassy enough, perhaps more a winter card - aagh, I hate it when I doubt myself.  If I have time I might give this challenge another bash!  Can you tell that I am in desperate need of some Penny Black stamps!

CR84FN Color Challenge #34

I have been wanting to play with this color challenge since the first time it was posted at CR84FN, lucky for me it runs for 2 weeks at the moment.  Eventually, it dawned on me that I could possibly make something using a Penny Black stamp that I needed to ink up.  Once again, it's fairly CAS.

Paper: cardstock (PTI); Neenah; patterned paper (Recollections)
Ink: Copic Markers; Memento (Tuxedo Black & Lilac Posies); Antique Linen DI
Stamps: Penny Black (Garden Poems 3869K); SU (Bitty Basics)
Other: Dimensional squares

Forgive me but I had to make the leaves green, so I hope that in this context this qualifies as a neutral colour!

The image is stamped twice and coloured in with Copics.  I then fussy cut the three flowers and adhered them onto the main panel, but only glueing the centres so that the petals float free for dimension.  To help the petals along I curled up the edges a bit.  I inked the edges of the main panel with a bit of Anique Linen.

The little heart and sentiment is from a Stampin Up set that a lovely lady in my suburb gave me.  I stamped the heart on the same light pink cardstock and then stamped the sentiment with a matching dark pink ink and adhered it on top of the heart.  The heart is adhered with dimensionals.

That's it for now!  Thank you for popping by and leaving me your sweet comments!  I love checking my blog at the end of the day and first thing in the morning, and your comments really make it that much more of an enjoyable experience!

Sweets And Treats

My daughter is calling, so just a quick post to share a card I made for the current CAS-ual Friday challenge, Sweets & Treats.

And here is my card, using a sweet stamp from Penny Black's "Critter Party" set.

Paper: Echo Park; Neenah
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers
Stamps: Penny Black
Other: Corner Chomper; White Enamel Accent; Stampin' Up scalloped edge punch

As you can see it's all quite self ex-planatory so I will not bore you with the details, just to mention that I used the white enamel accent for the candle wax.

Thanks for taking a peek.  If you are interested in the current Moxie Fab "Fanatical About Botanical" challenge then please see my previous post of today!

Have an awesome evening!

It's Not a Card....

It's Fanatical About Botanicals, a challenge currently on the go over at Moxie Fab World, go and check it out and participate, you have until Monday August 8.

Do you ever craft and actually make something just for yourself, something to keep?  I know I don't.  So, I had this idea a few days ago to create a "wooden" frame, I did not know what would go inside it but my plan was to incorporate it into a card.  Well, today, when I sat down to create the frame, I changed my mind and decided to make something for me.  Nothing extravagant, but just a little something to hang on my cork board and admire from time to time.  And that's when I decided to add some flowers.

So, here is my first contribution to myself, and to the Botanical challenge:

Paper: PTI cardstock
Ink: Walnut Stain & Vintage Photo Distress Ink; Copic markers; Memento Tuxedo Black
Stamps: PTI (Woodgrain background basics; Butterfly Dreams); Penny Black (Poppies 3949H)
Other: Brads (Recollections); Jute; Dimensional Squares; Stickles

It measures 4" X 4", so it's just a small little frame.  The "wooden" frame itself is popped up with dimensionals.  I braided some strands of jute in order to be able to hang it.  And as I love butterfly stamps I just could not resist adding a little butterfly to the jute.

The frame is actually 4 seperate pieces because I wanted it to look like it was 4 pieces of wood put together.

I hope you like it.  And I hope you are having a wonderful day!

A Plain Life

This is my final card for this week's Summer Card Camp, (only one more week of camp left, what a pity), I wanted to try and play with those colours again and I had an idea to use a Penny Black stamp and to create my own sentiment with a Hero Arts Alphabet set.  I am pretty sure the inspiration behind this card is because my husband is away and I do miss him a lot.

Paper: Cardstock (PTI); Neenah; Making Memories
Ink: Copic markers; Memento Tuxedo Black & Ladybug
Stamps: Penny Black; Hero Arts
Other: Corner chomper; Dimensional foam

I know the card is "plain", that was the intention.  After colouring and trimming the watering can I adhered it back on with some dimensional foam, I did the same for the little hands so that they are actually over the can.  And I popped up the white flower.

I love that I can think of my husband as a person who adds to my life! Only 5 more sleeps and he will be home until mid August, fantastic.

I am hoping that you are having a wonderful Sunday, ours has just begun.  Lisa and I are going to go and try a Bodypump class at the gym shortly, that should be a hoot! I laugh a lot when I  am in an exerise class, basically I laugh at myself and my lack of co-ordination!  (I hope Lisa is ready for me!!!).

Yesterday was the start of our training for the next Marathon and our run only started at 7am!  Oh boy, that humidity almost made me throw up!  It felt like there was no oxygen in the air it was so thick and heavy!  I cannot wait until we start our runs a bit earlier, I much prefer running very early in the mornings, even though the humidity is supposedly higher in the mornings, it's just something about running before the sun comes up that makes it seem that much easier.

However, I did get a great treat, as we stepped out of the car at the running venue, there, on the grass, was this baby armadillo!  I have never seen a live one before!  I love widlife, so I went a bit bonkers over this sighting, needless to say the Texans around me thought I was totally off my rocker!  They think it's the ugliest thing ever! 

Ok, I guess I need to ket you go now!  I babbled on a bit, sorry!  Have an awesome day!

July CCC

It's time for the July Card Chain Challenge, you can find all the details HERE, and you have until the 14th of July to make a card and upload it.  I have been participating for a good few months now and really enjoy it.  As usual we can choose from a colour  palette, a sketch, a theme or all three.  This time I went with all three!

Paper: PTI cardstock; My Mind's Eye; Watercolour paper

Ink: PITT artist pens; Memento Tuxedo Black; Punch Chalk Ink (HA)

Stamps: Penny Black (Gossimer); Typewriter letters (MFT)

Other: CB Embossing folder; Stickles; Jute; Pearl; Corner Punch

I did turn the sketch around a little and instead of using an oval in the background I used a rectangle in teal and white polka dot patterned paper.  The green strip of paper was run through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dot embossing folder for added texture.

I hope the recipient will enjoy it, the colours are nice and summery.  And I always choose the theme of Friendship, it seems the most appropriate for me.

Wishing you a wonderful Thursday!  Is it possible that it is almost the end of the week and that half the year has gone?!