UPSY DAISY

If you need a card in a hurry, this set will do it for you. All you need is one colour of ink, a Whisper White card front on a contrasting or coordinating cardstock,choose one of the three sentiments in the set, and you're done!

It came together so fast that I had time to add some ribbon and bling! (rhinestones from the Eggcellent Eggs Kit in the Occasions Mini catalogue)

OLYMPIC UPDATE

I am so proud of our Canadian athletes, and even if they don't have their 'race of a lifetime' on the day they compete, I still love 'em. Here's our medal standing after nine days:

YAY!!! GO CANADA!

A SPARKLING ATTEMPT

I had a vision for this card, but it hasn't turned out the way I imgained so I will try again. I wanted to give the illusion of a walkway into a secret garden, with a glittering, dreamy atmosphere:

It's 'sort of' there but not totally as I had envisioned it in my mind.

I used the Vintage Vogue vine in Old Olive to create the greenery, and then sponged the area to give it more depth. I used Creamy Caramel cardstock run through the Big Shot with the woodgrain plate from the Texture Plates Kit #4, and then punched with the Word Window Punch to create the fence. I covered the whole picture with a piece of our sticky pages and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds.

In real life it really sparkles, so you can't complain about that!! When I have more time I'll have another go - suggestions are welcome!

WHAT A TEAM!

And I don't mean the Olympics this time - I mean the "Atlantic Stampers Ink" - my team. Earlier I posted a card (one of many) I have received from Maree, and now I want to show you the purse that Linda made - one for each of us! She used the scalloped square die in the Big Shot to cut out the squares of course!

Isn't it lovely!!! And it's a perfect size to carry my Mini catalogues and cards, as well as those necessities of life (wallet, tissue, chocolate)

Thank you Linda!

SCALLOP TRIM BORDER PUNCH

I really like this punch and while using it to make a complete four sided border takes some practice, a single border is a breeze and still beautiful:

This card uses Old Olive, Rose Red, and Whisper White cardstock, the ink is Old Olive and Rose Red (the flower design from Close As A Memory has been stamped off to give more of a 'watercolour' look). The DSP is Rose Red, and the sentiment is from the Well Scripted set.

I also punched a border from the Rose Red DSP for the inside of the card:

Hope you like it!

A LOVELY CARD FROM ONE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS

I received a beautiful card from Maree (http://www.inkymoose.blogspot.com/) in the mail a few days ago. Maree has been a member of my team since August and her creativity and attention to detail always result in unique projects.

I really like this combination of colours - it's so crisp and happy.

Now I'm going to open it up:

Isn't that a neat fold!

And when it's fully open it looks like this:

Maree has stamped the background of the Taken with Teal cardstock and the side of the Whisper White with the Trendy Trees stamp set. You can visit her blog for more details.

Thank you Maree - I love it!!!

FOGGY OAK

As much as I love trying out new stamp sets I always return to the 'old faithfuls' eventually. And nothing is more reliable than Lovely As A Tree.

The cardstock is Kraft and Very Vanilla, ink is Soft Suede and Old Olive, sentiment is from All Holidays.

I used the Top Note die in the Big Shot to give it more oomph. I guess you could call it a card for a man because when my husband saw it he really liked it!

CANADA'S FIRST OLYMPIC GOLD ON CANADIAN SOIL!!!!

Can you believe it! It's been over 30 years since the Olympics first came to Canada, then again in 1988, and now finally in 2010 we've won our first GOLD medal on Canadian soil, thanks to

ALEXANDRE BILODEAU

in the Men's Freestyle Mogul.

THANKS ALEX!! YOU EARNED IT!

Now we have a complete set of medals! The Bronze was won yesterday by Kristina Groves in Speedskating.

PINKING HEART PUNCH

I haven't used this new punch very often as yet, but when I saw a card using it on Jackie Topa's blog, I had to give it a go. I've changed the colours and sentiment, but much of it is the same.

The stamp set used is Vintage Vogue and the sentiment is from Well Scripted, both from the Occasions Mini catalogue. The colours are Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, and Whisper White in cardstock. Ink is Old Olive and Rich Raspberry. This is a really easy card, but still packs a WOW!

CANADA'S OLYMPIC MEDALS AT VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC GAMES

First of all you should know I can't play ANY sport without embarrassing myself. But I love to watch them! It must have come from growing up with two older brothers and a mother that would knit to the play by play of the World Series on radio!

So having the Olympics in Canada is thrilling, as I've already mentioned. In honour of that I've created a card to keep track of our Canadian medals - not the most important part of the Games, but definitely an interesting one!

Here it is before we won any medals on Day One:

And here it is on Day Two:

Yay for Jennifer Heil, she won the Women's Moguls Freestyle Silver Medal!!!

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE'S DAY!

St. Valentine's Day at last!

This is a card I made using the new tiny heart punch in the Occasions Mini. I've found so many uses for this little heart. Whatever I've made for Valentines or someone I love,  I've added a few extra little hearts to spice it up (or cover those inevitable mistakes!!)

I hope you celebrate Valentine's day - If there is no one to do something special for you, please do something special for someone who needs your love and kindness.

2010 OLYMPIC GAMES!

Last night was the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada - it was spectacular. I spent part of Friday watching the final leg of the Torch Run, and then the ceremonies. My thoughts go out to the Georgia team and the family of the Olympian that was killed in his training run. A sad reminder of the danger that accompanies the glory of the games.

I am thrilled that the Olympics are being held in Canada, and you'll probably hear me mention it often in the next two weeks!

Although I know it would inspiring to be in Vancouver, I am happy to watch the games on TV where I can catch all the 'instant replays' and listen to the commentators give background info.

I wish everyone from every country Good Luck, and all I have to say is

GO, CANADA, GO!

WINGED SPRING

This is a set I made with directions from Jackie Topa (love her stuff!) It has all the spring colours I love plus it uses the Eggcellent Eggs kit and the Extra Large Two Step Bird punch from the Occasions Mini.

Isn't the fence just sooo cute!

It's hard to believe that some of these designs were made with the bird punch, but then Jackie is a whiz with punches!!

The borders are so easy and pretty using the Eggcellent Eggs kit, and I love the rhinestones.

Enjoy!

MOM & ME CLASS

I held my first Mom & Me class in Elmsdale last weekend and I'm thrilled because the kids all want to do another one!

This is what we did this month, with a Valentine's theme of course!

Each participant made four of each of the small valentines for a total of twelve, then we made the container for them. The large card was made for a special adult - Mom or Dad, a teacher, or a special relative. Finally we finished off with the candy bag and topper.

All of the kids did a great job on their project!

VINTAGE WITH BLING

One of my favourite sets in the Occasions Mini catalogue is Vintage Vogue, along with the Very Vintage jumbo wheel. And when you combine it with gold glitter - well, I must confess - I really like the result:

I took this photograph with an 'Orchid Opulence' background, looks pretty in real life but throws the colours off in photographs.

I used Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede, and Very Vanilla cardstock, Soft Suede ink, and our Fine Galaxy Gold glitter. The sentiment is from the Well Scripted set, also in the Occasions Mini. The ribbon is the Pretty in Pink 5/8" satin.

The ruffle around the sentiment was made using the Scallop Trim Border punch, running it through the crimper and then gathering it around the oval. The crimper really helps to make this possible.

Hope you like it!