Sew Happy We’re Friends!

Hello … bonjour!  I’m popping in with an apology today as I’ve not been around in blogland or in emailonia for a few weeks (apart from DT responsibilities that is).  Life outside of our lovely card making world has taken up much more time than usual … and that’s meant that my visiting and commenting has been almost non-existent.  When that’s happened before, I’ve always been able to come by afterwards to see and enjoy what you’ve been doing … and leave a few words on your latest post.  However, this time, I’m sorry to say that it’s not possible for me to do even that … my sanity would be at stake!  I’m pretty sure you understand me having to start from scratch and press the dreaded delete button … as you’ve told me before, most of us have been in such a situation (not easy is it!).  As a small token to show you how much I appreciate you … and to sum up my feelings about being part of this wonderful community … I have a very QACAS card to share …

… and it’s for each of you.  It’s not going to play along anywhere because it’s only for you, my sweet friends and followers.  Don’t you just love C9 Turnabout stamps and ready cut MFT stitched edged panels when you have only a few minutes to apologise!

Hope you’ve had (or are having) a happy weekend … looking forward to getting back to visiting you all starting tomorrow.  If you’re waiting for an email from me, thank you so much for being patient … I’ll get there!  As ever, thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Hugs, Anita 🙂

Less Is More #300, Virginia’s View #25, Tic-Tac-Toe #21, SSS Work It Wednesday – October … and a Lovely Visit!

Hello … bonjour … hope your week has been going along wonderfully!  Before I get to the news of a lovely visit I received recently, I have a CAS card to share for a quartet of challenges that just seem to fit together beautifully.  Want to see …

This sweet bloom is from a WPlus9 flower builder set … there are lots of other images as well …  I just wanted to let this one take centre stage!  It’s stamped just off the edge of a white card panel and has the flower head coated copiously with Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle … it’s just about visible on the top two petals if you peer in a bit.  I added a sentiment from SSS and some crystal bling before popping the panel up on craft foam onto a card base that had been trimmed along the bottom with washi tape.

I’m joining in with these playing-nicely-together challenges (badges below) …

Less Is More – Celebrations/Festivals … it’s the 300th … congratulations, Chrissie and the team … what a fantastic milestone!  I have a soft spot for LIM as it was the first challenge I played along with, way back when we were all still young … and when we were still in double digits!

Virginia’s View – Stripes/Plaids

Tic-Tac-Toe – CAS, Builder Stamps, Pearls/Gemstones

SSS Work It Wednesday – Use a Simon Brand Product

Now, that wonderful visit.  I was thrilled a few months ago to get a note from my lovely friend Barb at Love2Colour that she and DH Cal were going to be making the trip from California to France for an amazing tour … and that they would be within a couple of hours of us during one of their overnight stops!  The timing was perfect (just a few days before I headed to the Lake House) … and on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the beginning of October, we met Barb and Cal at their hotel in Bordeaux.

What a fun and delightful afternoon and evening we had together … and what a delicious dinner we enjoyed at a great restaurant recommended by the hotel concierge.  Barb and Cal … thank you … it was truly a joy to meet you … and to spend time together IRL.  One day, we may even get to do the same thing in reverse … what an adventure that would be!

Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

                

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Happy Birthday, Bev! CAS(E) This Sketch #190, CAS-ual Fridays #156, Fusion – 8 September, Happy Little Stampers Dies – September, SSS Wednesday – 14 September

Hello … bonjour!  I’m celebrating today with one of the sweetest souls in blogland … I know you’ll know her from her delicious blog, Happy Dance … and if you don’t, you really need to!  Happy, happy, happiest birthday, Bev, ma chère amie … may your day be filled with joy, love and laughter … and may your year to come be blessed with the closeness of family, the warmth of friends, and the delights of new discoveries!  I made this for you, which might or might not have already arrived … if it’s not already with you, it’s pretty close …

A white card panel, stamped with the most delicious delicate leaf sprig from Concord & 9th‘s Wildflower set (NBUS!).  It was coloured with Distress Ink and Zigs and the panel was trimmed down so that a couple of the leaves just peek out over the top edge.  The sentiment (SSS) has the die cut word ombré sponged and stacked on craft foam, and the supplementary black strips white heat embossed and popped up on foam tape.  I sponged a slender black frame onto the card base, adhered the finished panel over it with craft foam, and added some clear sequins with enamel accent centres to finish off.

Bev’s card is heading to …

CAS(E) this Sketch – See Below … with a changed orientation!

CAS-ual Fridays – Dimension and Bling

Fusion – See Below … I used the inspiration picture colours of green, black and white

Happy Little Stampers Dies – Anything Goes

SSS Wednesday – Clean and Simple

… the badges/links are all at the end of this post.

ETA … was going to link to the new Where Creativity Meets C9 challenge, but realised just in time that there’s a limit on the number of additional challenges … oops!

Before I go, there’s just one more thing to do.  As you may know, Bev throws the most amazing virtual birthday parties … but as it’s her special day, she won’t be doing that for herself.  So, here’s a little surprise get together for her … the table’s set … the champagne’s poured …

         

the food’s all ready … and of course, there’s a yummy birthday cake … help yourself!

          

I never thought last year’s gift could be topped, Bev … THE craft island … which for those of you who never saw it looks like this …

however, I did find something to complement it, just in case you feel like a change of crafting scenery!  Joyeux Anniversaire, sweet friend … enjoy every moment!

It’s lovely of all of you to be here for Bev‘s party … it makes the celebration so much fun … and you can always pop over to Happy Dance if you’d like to wish her a happy birthday in person … which I’m sure you would!

Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita🙂

                   

        

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Happy Birthday, Darnell! Addicted to Stamps & More #200, CAS(E) this Sketch #179, Seize the Birthday – 30 June, SSS Wednesday – 29 June

Hello … bonjour … and Happy Birthday, Darnell!  We all know her (and if you don’t you really should!), we all love her … she’s a truly wonderful soul!  In blogland, she’s sweet, thoughtful, funny, delightful, generous, caring, clever, charming, creative … and if ever you have the good fortune to meet her, you’ll find she’s exactly the same in real life … only better because she’s there with you!  Oh, and she’s kind to furry animals too … especially hamsters!  Wishing you the Happiest Birthday, ma chère amie … may you be blessed with love, joy, fun and laughter today and always!  Your card is on it’s way … might even be with you by now … but just in case it hasn’t arrived yet, I thought you might like to see it on your big day …

The bright sunny ‘happy’ represents Darnell in her amazing Playhouse … she’s surrounded by all the lovely flora and foliage of her gorgeous garden … and if you look really closely, you might see Hammy peeking out from behind the lower cluster of flowers.  Or is he … ???  In homage to Darnell‘s campaign to reduce the size of Mount NBUS worldwide (Never Before Used Schtuff), I’ve been saving these Papertrey images until now … this is their first public inking (there’s been lots of private practice, but you really don’t want to see any of that).  I couldn’t capture the Wink of Stella that makes the sentiment and tiny blooms shimmer, but it’s there … as are the miniscule pearls!   If you haven’t already, do hop over to the Playhouse and leave the Birthday Girl some birthday love … and if you haven’t had the joy of meeting Darnell before, then delay no longer … go … your day and life will be better as a result!  Looks as though Hammy’s ready to party … very handsome … just get there before he starts on the cake … oops, too late …

         

As well as heading to the Playhouse, Darnell‘s card is also joining in at …

Addicted to Stamps & More – Happy Birthday … congratulations due here too, to Kylie and the DT … 4th anniversay and 200 challenges … here’s to many, many more!

CAS(E) this Sketch – See Below … orientation is changed, but the wreath-iness around the sentiment is there … hope that’s ok!

Seize the Birthday – No Toppings

SSS Wednesday – Anything Goes

Life has been a smidge busy here so I’m still playing catch up …. and am getting there … if you haven’t seen me recently, you will over the weekend!  Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

         

         

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Happy Birthday, Ardyth! Seize The Birthday – 19 May, SSS Monday – 23 May, SSS Wednesday – 25 May

Hello … bonjour … and bon dimanche!  Hope your (long if you’re having one) weekend is going splendidly!  Today is a special day for a fun and lovely friend (I know as we spent a fabulous week together IRL, along with the other BABES, at the Lake House) … she’s an uber talented, wonderfully creative and delightful CAS designer … Happy, Happy Birthday, Ardyth!  May your day be blessed with love, fun and laughter (and cake!) … and may the coming year be your best one yet!  I made you this card … it might already be with you … if it isn’t, it’s not far away!

I used SSS Lots of Dots to stamp all these different sized rainbow bubbles … they’re done in two or three layers of Distress Ink each (yay for MISTI!) … with some ink wiped off on the second and third passes to create a sense of dimension.  The colour on each bubble was blended with Wink of Stella and I heat embossed the Papertrey sentiment.  The panel was adhered flat to the card base with Ardyth-esque black strips top and bottom.  I remembered to snap a detail photo before popping the card in the mail … but didn’t remember to check the focus!  It’s not exactly clear … but you can at least see all the shimmery colour …

If you’re one of those rare people who’ve never visited Ardyth (what??) … do go over and enjoy oodles of awesome inspiration … and while you’re there you could leave some Happy Birthday wishes too!  BTW … take a picnic (you won’t want to leave) … and be prepared to be wowed!  There might even be a piece of bubbly birthday cake to be had …  Ardyth‘s card is heading to …

Seize the Birthday – No Toppings

SSS Monday – Make A Wish … Birthday Wishes, of course … each of those bubbles has one in it!

SSS Wednesday – Anything Goes

I’ll be setting out on my journey of discovery around blogland shortly, to see what everyone’s been up to … look forward to seeing you there!  Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

                   

Time Out Special – Happy Birthday, Sandie! AAA Cards #64, CAS-ual Fridays #147, HLS CAS – May, HLS Dies – May, SSS Wednesday – 11 May, SSS Work It Wednesday – April

Hello … bonjour!  Hope your weekend was wonderful … and that the week ahead will be too!  We’re starting it off well at Time Out because today we have a surprise challenge … it’s in honour of our lovely leader, Sandie, who is celebrating a special birthday!  It’ll run alongside our usual fortnightly one … and the theme’s  been specially tailored for the event … it’s CAS with an option of purple (both of which are close to Sandie‘s heart!).  My take on these favourites is below … hopefully it’s made it across La Manche and is with the birthday girl already.  Happy, Happy Birthday, my friend … may your day be filled with love and laughter … and your year ahead be blessed with fun, joy and good health!

           

I cut a white card panel with a Winnie & Walter scalloped/pierced frame and die cut the Avery Elle happy into it.  Some post it tape behind the happy kept the insides of the letters in place while I removed the word, sponged Distress Ink over the panel (fading out towards the top) and stamped the SSS sentiment.  I reinserted the word and stamped the Papertrey blooms into the y … which became the vase!  The panel was popped up on the card base on craft foam and I highlighted the flower centres with a white gel pen.

How would you like to come along to the birthday celebration … we’d love it if you joined us in the CAS-with-an option-of-purple gallery … and I know Sandie would be delighted!  Not only do you get to send this special someone some love, you’ll also be in the running for a prize, thanks to our Teamie, Lynn … a $25 GC to Simon Says Stamp will be awarded to a randomly drawn player!    Do hope you’ll be able to make it to the party … there’s plenty of time as we’ll be celebrating for a fortnight … and can always share some cake and bubbles … look …

            

             

Kylie, of Happy Little Stampers fame (among others!) is also having a surprise linky party for Sandie over at her blog … it too will run for two weeks … here‘s your invitation to join in the fun there too!

Sandie‘s card is heading to …

AAA Cards – Inlaid Die Cutting … perfect timing as Sandie has just joined the DT!

CAS-ual Fridays – Birthday Girl

Happy Little Stampers CAS – Inlaid Die Cutting

Happy Little Stampers Dies – Anything Goes

SSS Wednesday – Flowers

SSS Work It Wednesday – Flowers

Enjoy your week … and the parties … I’ll be back on Thursday!  Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

           

             

Happy Birthday, Kim! MFT Colour Challenge #41, SSS Work It Wednesday – February

Hello … bonjour!  I’m here today to celebrate with one of the sweetest and loveliest souls in blogland … someone I’ve had the great fortune to meet IRL … and craft opposite … for a whole week at the Lake House in 2014.  I’m sure you already know her as she’s on numerous design teams and is an awesomely talented card maker … she is Kim … of Cupcakes, Cards and Kim!  Happy, Happy Birthday my dear sweet friend … wishing you a day of joy, love and laughter … and a year to come filled with dreams come true!   I made you this card, which is currently somewhere over the ocean on it’s way to you …

The base card was sponged lightly to provide a soft yellow/green halo around the floral arrangement.  I stamped and die cut a whole heap of blooms and leaves from MFT, added some white gel pen doodling and created my bouquet. Before adhering everything down on various levels of foam tape into the ‘window box’ (log!), I stamped the delicate grassy strands in the background (same MFT set) and added the WPlus9 sentiment.

The delightful Kylie of Happy Little Stampers fame (among others!!) is hosting a birthday linky party for Kim over at her blog Kylie is Addicted to Stamps … and all Kim‘s friends are invited to play along!  Want to get into your party frock and come celebrate?  The linky is open for two weeks, so there’s plenty of time to get creative!  Actually, why not head over to Kim‘s blog right now … you can enjoy a wonderful meander around and drink in all the creativity on offer … and leave her some Happy Birthday wishes!

Kim‘s card is heading to

MFT Color Challenge – Daffodil, Sour Apple, Gumdrop Green, Biscotti (my closest colours)

SSS Work It Wednesday – Florals

Have a wonderful, pampering day, Kim … I’ll be raising a glass to you tonight, mon amie!

The pesky Time Eating Monster has been around a lot this week, so I’ve not been visiting and commenting as I usually would … though I will be doing some a little later … looking forward to seeing what everyone’s been up to!  Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

Happy Birthday, Bev! NBUS #5, WPlus9 Get Sketchy #3, Seize The Birthday 10/9, SSS Wednesday 9/9, SSS Monday 14/9

Hello!  I’m sure you already know Bev (one of my fellow BABES) … she’s generous, sweet, caring, fun, enthusiastic and uber talented … and she lives at Happy Dance.  Yep, that Bev … she has a birthday today, and the card I’m sharing here is to celebrate her special day!  Wishing you the happiest, happiest birthday, ma chère amie … may you be blessed with a wonderful, happy dancing day full of love and laughter … and a year to come filled with joy!  Your card has caught it’s flight and may even be on your side of the pond already (but probably not in your mail box yet!) … oh, and there’s a party … keep reading …

I stamped the happy banner from WPlus9 (Happy Mail) repeatedly across a white card panel and heat embossed it.  Blue and yellow are colours that Bev loves, so the individual flags were watercoloured with Distress Inks in Salty Ocean and Mustard Seed … I wanted the transition between them to be ombré-ish, so where the colours mingled there are various shades of yellow/green and blue/green.  I masked the panel along the bottom and used the same two Distress Inks to sponge more ombré colour to mimic the banners.  The rest of the sentiment (also Wplus9) was white heat embossed onto a strip of black card, which was cut into a banner and popped up on the panel with foam tape.  I mounted the panel onto the card base using fun foam, scattered some clear gems across the sponged colour and heavily Wink of Stella’d the flags.  You might just be able to make out the shimmer if you look carefully above … or it might be easier to see it here …

Inspiration for Bev‘s card came from …

Darnell’s NBUS #5 – Anything Goes … my NBUS is the WPlus9 Happy Mail set

WPlus9 Get Sketchy #3 – See below for Joni’s fabulous sketch

Seize The Birthday – Anything Goes

SSS Wednesday – Use a Stamp

SSS Monday – Love This Technique … heat embossing … it never loses it’s magic!

… the badges/links are all at the end of this post.

If you’ve met Bev already, you’ll know that she throws the most amazing virtual parties … but she couldn’t do her own now could she?  So rather in the role of apprentice party thrower, I thought it might be fun to return the compliment.  Bev … this is for you, my friend … just follow the driveway …

… come right in, there”s room for everyone …

… and plenty of champagne …

… a selection of aperos …

                   

                                    

                

… a little something sweet …

            

… maybe a little ice cream-y …

… ok, p’raps a lot ice cream-y …

               

… and of course some birthday cake …

… which should give you a hint about your birthday gift …

… yep, it’s THE island … complete with circular craft room at the top there … thought it’d do rather nicely … now, when to go ….!!  Blessings always, Bev … blogland is a better place because you’re in it!

It’s lovely of each of you to come along and celebrate with Bev … and make her party such fun … now, why not pop over and see her at Happy Dance … and wish her a happy day too!

Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

                   

         

Happy Birthday, Hannelie! Uniko #24, SSSW 26/8, Seize The Birthday 27/8, Simply Create Too #93, Winnie & Walter JITW

Hello!  Today one of my sweet friends is celebrating a birthday … so I’m here to share her card with you … Happy, Happy Birthday, Hannelie!  If you don’t already know Hannelie from Desert Diva, you really do need to pay her a visit … she’s amazingly talented, is on Design Teams galore and is just the loveliest soul!  You’ll be there a while, so take a little something to eat and drink … like breakfast, lunch and dinner!  May you be blessed with joy and laughter on your special day, mon amie … and all through the year to come!  Your card should be in your mailbox by now …

I used a hand made stencil (based on one from SSS) to create the ombré yellow background,  stamped the dandelions from Clearly Besotted over it, added the Winnie & Walter sentiment and topped it off with a scattering of sequins and gems.  Voilà … a crisp, fresh, one layer card in a Hannelie-esque colour combo!

Hannelie‘s card is also heading to …

Uniko – Summer … where the delightful Darnell is GD!  No inspiration picture twist this time.

SSS Wednesday – Anything Goes … second entry

Seize The Birthday – No ‘Weather’ topping … unless we count the sunshine yellow!

Simply Create Too – It’s a Special Occasion … celebrating a birthday definitely counts as special!

Winnie & Walter – JITW … my sentiment

Yesterday I set aside some time to join in the Papertrey SAF … whilst it didn’t go quite as planned, there are some cards to share … and there may be more today … if Monsieur Mojo makes a reappearance.  Even if he doesn’t, I’ll be back later with what’s done so far … look forward to seeing you then!  Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

                   

         

Happy Birthday, Bobby! Time Out DT #36 Mid Challenge Reminder, Little Tangles #58, SSS Monday 27/7, SSS Wednesday 29/7, SSS Work It Wednesday – July

One of my delightful and super talented blogging buddies has a birthday today … and I’m celebrating with her … wishing you a Happy, Happy Birthday, Bobby!  Hope you have a splendid day full of cake, ice cream and all yummy things … and a year ahead filled with joy and happiness!  If you haven’t enjoyed a visit with Bobby yet, you’ll want to go over to Bits and Pieces and enjoy a gentle meander around to absorb all the fantastic inspiration on offer!  I made you this card, Bobby, which is currently somewhere between here and there (actually closer to here than there!!) …

These Doodle Buds are from WPlus9 … and they’re on their first outing here especially … because it’s thanks to Bobby that I have them, after she gifted me a GC from a this-side-of-the-pond store … thanks so much, my friend … don’t you just love this gorgeous set!

I took our Time Out Designer to CASE (with your own twist) card as my inspiration here (it’s below) … our designer is the amazing Alice from Alice’s Little Wonderland.  I kept the whimsical feel and the layout (albeit turned 180 degrees) and twisted with the black background and white embossing.  My blooms were stamped and heat embossed on textured watercolour paper, coloured with Distress Inks, and die cut.  There isn’t a die for the leaf clusters, so I trimmed them out by hand.  The stems were drawn onto a black panel with a Versamark pen and white heat embossed, and the leaves and flowers were adhered over them, with the two front flowers popped up on foam dots.   Here’s Alice‘s cutie patootie …

There’s still almost a week to play along with us at Time Out … and we’d love to see where Alice‘s inspiration takes you!  You can use any (or all!) of the elements in her cute card to spark your creativity … and if you need a kick start, there’s heaps of inspiration over at the Time Out blog … from our fabulous DT and from our talented GD, Rema from RT Impressions!  Look forward to seeing you in the gallery!

Bobby‘s birthday card will be blooming at …

Little Tangles – Die Cutting … second entry … sorry, no N&T this time

SSS Monday – No Ordinary Paper … I used textured watercolour paper for the Doodle Buds

SSS Wednesday – Anything Goes … first entry

SSS Work It Wednesday – Die Cutting … second entry

Hope your week’s turning out to be fabulous!  Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂