Hello … bonjour! I made this really, really QACAS (quick and clean and simple in Darnellese) card to remind you there’s still almost a week to go to play along with our latest challenge at Time Out! Our theme this fortnight is ‘Holidays’ with the option of using no stamping … once again, I went with the vacation take on the word, rather than the Christmas one …
Yep, you’re wondering aren’t you … what’s holiday-ish about this card. Well, here’s a story that explains it. Some years ago I was away in a tropical paradise-y type place … the beach side cafés had pastel striped canopies … there were tropical flowers blooming wild everywhere … there was me, in a little itsy bitsy teeny weeny polka dot bikini. OK, that last bit’s a bit of an exaggeration … it wasn’t polka dot!! When my sweet friend Rosemary sent me this pre-printed card front, it put me in mind of that holiday (thanks so much Rosemary!) … and I was just waiting for the right moment to use it! All I did was adhere it to the card base, stamp a Papertrey sentiment, and add some stickles to the flowers. See, QACAS … and holiday-y … here’s the sparkle …
Have you played along … will you have time … where does your creative imagination take you? If you do get chance to join us, we’d love to see your card in the gallery … all the details are over at Time Out, along with a heap of inspiration from the DT, and from our lovely, super-talented Guest Designer, Aileen from Colour and Sparkle. If you didn’t get over to see Aileen last week … for a delicious meander round all her amazing cards … you really need to go … now!
Here’s where a tropical floral paradise is just right …
Uniko – Flowers
SSS Wednesday – Wild … my flowers
ETA: At the suggestion of the lovely Shirley (thanks, my friend!), I’m also submitting this to …
STAMPlorations CASEplorations – Shalu’s gorgeous card below … stripes, flowers, bling, black!
As you might have noticed, I’ve been on a catch up marathon after almost three weeks of being MIA in blogland … viewing each entry in my Feedly list (300+) and making visits to everywhere … I think! Have to say what an amazing thing it is to see so much inspiration all at once … I only wish I had a nine day week … that way I could create all the cards you inspire me to make! Next, my email inbox will be getting attention … sorry if you’ve been waiting … I’ll get there! Thanks so much for coming by … your visits and comments are always a joy … and keep me going when life is especially frantic! Anita 🙂
My Papercraft World 
So wonderful and so pinned!
What a great way to interpret the challenge and we do love QACAS cards especially when they look so amazing. I have also been MIA and haven’t made a card for ages. Hoping the mojo returns at some point x
That pink striped BG is fabulous and really “grounds” the floral images perfectly – how awesome that it was such a simple card to put together and turned out so beautiful, Anita. LOL @ your bathing suit “story” – I’m sure you could totally rock the IBTWYPDB in that tropical paradise 😉
Nope, I wasn’t wondering, I figured it had to be somewhere tropical! lol I love this card Anita! The pink stripes are so pretty, those flowers divine and I love how your black sentiment plays off the black polka dot washi!!! Those two black elements really make all of the rest just pop. What?!! No itsy bitsy teeny weeny polka dot bikini?!!!! LOL Hugs, Brenda
I adore your take on the challenge, Anita. Such a pretty card to bring back what sound like delightful memories. I think those flowers are so pretty and I like the pink and white awning striped. Good luck catching up! I know how that can be. Can you imagine what sweet Darnell is going through after her holiday? LOL I’m sure her inbox is overflowing! 🙂
Anita this is such a pretty card, I love those flowers so much and of course the glitter! xo
Oh how the creative mind works. Quick, easy and recycling equal one delightful card. :). Barb
Gorgeous design and colours Anita. LOVE that artsy striped background … isn’t it great when it designs and colours triggers wonderful memories??!! xx
Incredible, Anita! LOve that little holiday you’ve just taken us on!!! xx
=]
Sounds to my as though you need that tropical holiday now. Teeny-weeny bikini, or nude beach, perhaps. Hoping all the hurly-burly you’re having is good stuff and nothing ominous. That being said, this is such a happy card and it is reminiscent of white sand beached, clear, ultramarine water, huge vibrant flowers and warm, glorious sun. I can almost taste the ice cold, fruity rum beverage. Boy, do I need a vacation.
Oh, Anita, I adore this! LOVE the stripes and the colors – it’s been pinned! Thanks for sharing this with us at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday “Go Wild” challenge!
Hola, mi amiga Anita! I hope that you are well and that you are enjoying the end of summer. We have suddenly heated up here in Texas and some places are hitting over 100*F. It’s typical. The bad part is the humidity. Yuck. I have thought of you almost everyday because we have also suddenly been inundated with DRAGONFLIES. They are everywhere! Libelulas! I forgot the French word, but it’s close to mine. ha-ha =) The pink stripes remind me of Paris, for some reason, which would be an AWESOME holiday por moi. Even Paris, Texas would be a nice holiday for me. ha-ha And, yes, there is a Paris, Texas. =) Anyway, your card is super cute and sends me to Paris………….Hope you are well and keeping cool. I’m here with dozens of libelulas thinking of you! ha-ha
Ha, that was a funny story to go with your card! I thought the exaggeration was the itsy bitsy part… 😉 Your card is very pretty and easy is good, especially when one doesn’t have lots of time!
What pretty flowers Anita, this is a delightful card!!
beautiful card Anita, love the flowers with that background.
I’m a sucker for pink and white stripes and I can picture perfectly the striped canopies of the shops on your vacance !!!
Anita…gorgeous as always! Grabbed me and my first thought was that it looks hand painted…it is so perfect right down to the washi.
Anita, this is fabulous. Love that pink stripe and I am in awe of your washi use.
Polkie dots and stripes…yep – totally made smile! GORGEOUS flowers and pretty pops of bling! Hear you loud and clear with the MIA thing…quite overwhelming when you try to catch up! My thought is it’s better for the brain just to start fresh!
No need to apologize, Anita! You only have 2 hands and there are so many hours in a day 🙂 I really LOVE how you played with Rosemary’s stripes, and your flowers are gorgeous! Love how you added sparkle to this card, too…once again, you have totally inspired me!!!
your card is simply wonderful, anita!! I’m glad that I was able to help take you back to that lovely vacation!! hugs!!
Mmmm, I want to hear more about your bikini-clad visit to Paradise, Anita, with the sweet pink awnings and flowers everywhere!!! It sounds ideal! Your card perfectly resembles your memories! It sounds like you’ve been running ragged lately. I hope all is well, cherie! LYAMYHAH!! Hugs, Darnell
Please don’t worry about commenting on my posts, spend your time crafting yourself!! I love the story behind your card (especially about the bikini!!) and those flowers with the stripes are just gorgeous. Hope it doesn’t take you long to catch up and your back to making lots of cards soon!!
So funny how memories do pop up sometimes! And great as you are in need of inspiration… A modern and sunny card! Hugs, Gerrina
Just saw you’re an online class winner on Debby’s blog http://limedoodledesign.com/2016/08/online-card-classes-winner/. Wanted to say, Congratulations.
I enjoyed reading about this card Anita! It turned out super!
QACAS – hilarious! My favorite modus operandi nowadays – yours is gorgeous!
LOVE! The BG stripes are delightful and artistic and the florals are a stunning addition. Lovely to read the story and inspiration behind your card too. Thanks so much for joining in on the Uniko Challenge and my apologies for my delay in commenting. Hugs Bev x
What a fabulous interpretation of holidays, Anita! I can just visualise the striped awnings and tropical flowers…
If I’d made that card, I’d be entering it in the CASEplorations challenge. Just sayin’
http://stamplorations.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/caseplorations-august.html
Stunning blooms with the pink stripes! Sometimes we just can’t catch up and need to start anew! I love this card dear, Anita!
I do like a card with a theme that’s not obvious. What a great way to be inspired – I’d never have guessed that background was pre-printed. I thought you’d got your Misti out again! Those blooms perfectly compliment it!
I think that little B&W polkadot strip ties everything together in a perfect way!
Hey, love that this striped canopy made it over to CASEplorations!!! Thanks for playing with us this month!
Oh so pretty 🙂 thank you for sharing with CASEplorations
Tropical holidays are definitely my thing although I can’t rock the itsy bikini anymore lol! This card is definitely tropical in my mind and those stripes are just gorgeous! I get the whole catch up thing & no need to apologise. We all just have to take a step back sometimes in order to cope.