Well Behaved Women...

Hi there,

It's been a busy week, but today I managed to sneak away to play along with some challenges.  I started out with CAS-ual Friday CFC41 Jest for the Pun of it challenge. 

The color combo came from Runway Inspired Challenge RIC # 6 

and the sketch came from Clean and Simple Stamping FTL #179

Here's my card:

The hat and sentiment are from Skipping Stones Design, stamped with VersaMagic and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Dry embossing plate is from Cuttlebug.

The basement is full of teenagers...I'm off to find some ear plugs!

Thanks for dropping by,

Ivanka

Moxie Fab, Clean and Simple

We were able to spend Thanksgiving in Victoria, BC with my husbands' parents.  It was a wonderful weekend, the weather was perfect for this time of year...some cloud, some sun and no rain!  It was so nice to be able to spend Thanksgiving with family. 

The Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC

For my card this week, I'm playing along with Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger.

and Clean and Simple Stamping blog FTL 161 

The stamps are from Hero Arts (clear) With Sympathy, stamped with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with Stampendous PEARLustre Hermatite Opaque embossing powder.  Ribbon is from Offray.

Thanks so much for dropping by today.  I hope you're having a great start to this short week.

Ivanka

Happy Fall!

The days have been lovely, the nights cool. It's the first day of Fall, my favorite time of year.  I love the cooler weather, the beautiful colors of the leaves turning and that wonderful feeling of coming home to a warm, cozy house.  The only bad thing about fall is that winter is not too far behind.

My card today is for the Authentique September color challenge.  It's based on the sketch from Clean and Simple stamping blog.

I used the Blissful line from Authetique, the 6 x6 paper bundle.  It's so perfect for cardmaking.  The birthday definition stamp is old from Hero Arts, the hearts are from Stampin' Up, trimmed and pop dotted.  I used Fiskars Threading water punch for the border and the Martha Steward score board for the score lines.

Happy Fall, Y'all!
Ivanka

Thanks So Much Card

And so another week begins.  Just like that the weekend has flown by.  It's beautiful outside, a very nice day to have Monday off.

Today's card is based on the sketch at Clear and Simple Stamping, although no stamps were harmed in the making of this card!   It's also based on the color challenge at The Play Date Cafe and this weeks challenge at CAS-ual Fridays, to make a fall paper pieced card.

I made two die cuts of the branch, then cut them and adhered behind the flower.

It is also Oldie Molide Monday for Barb and I.  It's a day where we dig up older but still lovely supplies, and give them new life.  It turns out that everything on my card is fairly new.  The oldest thing I used is the flower brad.

Thanks so much for visiting.

Script cardstock:  Jillybean Soup
Patterned paper:  Pink Paislee
Sticker: SRM
Flower:  Prima
Flower brad:  Imaginisce
Branch die cut:  Sizzix/Stampin UP!  

Sunday Evening...

There is a fun challenge going on this week on the CAS-ual Friday blog...we get to play tic, tac, toe. The challenge is to pick a row, then use that as the recipe for your card.

So I chose buttons, flowers and twine. My design is also based on this weeks sketch on the Clean and Simple Stamping blog (is it ok that I didn't do any stamping on this?? Hope so :)

I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder (Victoria), scalloped border is from Colorbok, sticker is from SRM, flower is from Michael's, twine and button are from my stassh.

My next project is for the City Crafter Challenge blog. The challenge this week is to decorate a jar. Decorate a jar is what I started out to do, but what I ended up doing is organizing some of my flower collection...a nice bonus, don't you think?

The script paper is from Stampin' UP, ribbon is from Offray, vellum tags are from Making Memories.

Thanks so much for dropping by. I hope you've had a wonderful weekend. After a few days of heat and humidity last week, the cooler weather here has been so nice. I love having the windows open and feeling a cool breeze.

Ivanka

Best Wishes Card

Today I'm playing along with a couple of clean and simple challenges. I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of this style.

First my card is based on the sketch FTL 141 at Clean and Simple Stamping. It's also for CAS-ual Friday challenge blog to bring on the bling.

Love this color combo. The patterned paper is from Echo Park, stamp is from Me and My Big Ideas. I used Maya Road metallic ink and then heat embossed it with clear powder. Bling is from Kaisercraft, ribbon is from Offray and the brad is old from One Heart, One Mind. Sentiment is a rub on from Joanne's.

Hope you're enjoying your Saturday. Thanks for dropping by.
Ivanka

Saturday Morning

And it's a rainy one. I suppose that's better than snow, right? Not much planned for my day besides being 'taxi mom'! So it's so nice to be able to start the day with a bit of creativity.

Today's card is based on the color combo (cream, red, black) at The Shabby Tea Room and the sketch (130) at Clean and Simple Stamping blog.

Here's the inspiration image at TSTR:

Here's my card:

The patterned paper is from K&Co., scalloped border strip is from Colorbok, label punch is from SU, sentiment stamp is from Papertrey Ink, and the ribbon is from Offray.

I have a bit of time left before my 'mom taxi' duty starts...enough time for one more cup of coffee.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Ivanka

CAS Basketball Birthday

Clean and Simple Stamping blog is perfect on nights like this when the creative spirits are not cooperating with me. Their sketches are so easy to work with and the inspiration on the blog usually helps me past the slump.

Here's my card for FTL 127.

The stamp is from Inkadinkadoo, embossing folder is Square Lattice from Stampin' UP, journaling square and chipboard are from Cosmo Cricket and button is from my stash.

Thanks so much for peeking.

Ivanka

Keeping it Simple

Today's card is for a few different challenges...and I'm keeping it simple.

First, it's based on the sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping (FTL 126). It's also for this week's challenge at Create: blog to use doilies on a card. The color inspiration comes from The Play Date Cafe based on the image below.


And here's my card.

The cardstock is Dotted Swiss from Bazzill, the doilie is from Martha Stewart (thank you Barb!), stamp set is Stampin' Up Fun & Fast Notes, baby buggy is colored with Twinkling H2O's, and the ribbon is from Offray.

And lastly, I'm throwing my hat (ie..card) in for the Design Team call at The Shabby Tea Room. I'm following one of my favorite quotes from Wayne Gretzky, "You miss 100 % of the shots you don't take". So I'm taking a shot.

Thanks so much for visiting.

Ivanka

**excited to add that my card was featured on the Create: blog today**

Happy Monday

I am really enjoying playing along with Clean and Simple Stamping blog these last few weeks. It forces me to use a stamp or two...which is good, since I keep collecting them!

Today's card is for this week's sketch FTL 123 The paper is from Pink Paislee, Kraft Doilies are from Maya Road (thanks Barb!) and the stamp is from Papertrey Ink.

I'm am off to run some errands and go out for lunch with friends...hope you have a wonderful Monday.

Clean and Simple Thanks

I seem to be having a love affair with Webster's Pages paper lately. I bought a 6 x 6 pack of Seaside Retreat, Nature's Storybook and Garden Gala and I absolutely love it. Can't wait to see their newest release, Spring Market.

Today's card is based on FTL 122 on the Clean and Simple Stamping blog. Love this sketch, so versatile and so easy to create with. This card is also for the January challenge on Inspire Me by Webster's Pages to make a thank you card to thank their DT.

I dry embossed the kraft cardstock with the Victoria folder from Cuttlebug. The Many Thanks stamp is from Stampin' UP, ribbon is from Offray, pearls are from Kaisercraft, scallop border die is from QuicKutz.

Thanks so much for stopping in.
Ivanka

Rainy Sunday...

All around us here in Southern Ontario, there is snow. Tons of snow. We seem to be in the middle of a snow free bubble right now...not that I'm complaining. But rain?? Doesn't really put you in the Chrismtas spirit, does it?

Onto today's cards, also not very Christmassy. :) The first one is for this week's sketch #197 at CPS and the Card Creations: Favorite Occasions Week All Occasion Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.


The paper is from Webster's Pages, image is from Crafty Secrets, ribbon is from Offray and the butterfly is from Prima.

This card is for the FTL 120 at Clean and Simple Stamping and Card Creations: Favorite Occasions Week Thank You Challenge in the Moxie Fab World The cardstock is from Jillybean Soup, patterned paper is from Webster's Pages again (love it!!), stamp is from Stampin' Up.

Thanks for dropping by today. Hope you've had a wonderful weekend.

Ivanka

Challenges x 3!

Christmas card season has hit my house. So it was good to come across 3 sketch/challenge sites that seemed to work well to get me going. And since it's Oldie Moldie Monday, it's time to dig into my stash and find some long forgotten papers and embellishments to use.

The first challenge was the Sketch Sunday challenge on 365 Cards.


The papers and tag are from K&Co (Christmas Cheer), embossing folder is Victoria from Cuttlebug.

Here's another card with the same supplies. The ribbon is from Martha Stewart.

The second sketch challenge is from Clean and Simple Stamping....although there is no stamping on this card.

The paper was a gift from my friend Barb last year and has a wonderful shimmery look to it. The snowflakes are foam from a Michael's and the sentiment is really old from Making Memories.

The third challenge sketch is from Card Patterns.

The paper is again from K&Co., the glittered snowflakes are from Toner Crafts (Michael's post Christmas sale last year), sentiment is from SRM stickers.

Here are 2 more cards with the K&Co. paper and embellishments.

So that's it, that is the end of the K&Co Christmas Cheer Mat pad. I used it all up!!!!

Just 3 million pieces of paper left to use up!!

Happy Monday,
Ivanka

'Tis the Season

A few weeks ago, 10 of made the trek to Sandals, Cuba to help 3 of our friends celebrate their 50th birthdays. And so it has begun...celebrating a half a century...it doesn't seem that long ago that we were turning 40. Funny, but I remember when my parents turned 50 and they seemed old. It doesn't seem so old now.

We had a wonderful time and it was a great way to lessen the blow of such a milestone...although I have a few years to go til I get there!


So now onto another occasion...Christmas...it's only 55 days away!! And I'll probably never get everything done that I want to do, but here's a good start.

This is based on this week's sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping (FTL114). Loved this sketch and it was a great way to get going on my Christmas cards. The poinsettias are from Prima, brads are from Making Memories, leaf punch is from Martha Stewart and the stamp is from Papertrey Ink.

So, I hope you're having a good Halloween weekend. It's a bit different now that we don't have little kids in the house. There isn't a crisis over costumes, and make up, and who to go trick or treating with...I miss it a tiny bit...but then leftover candy helps to lessen the pain!!

Happy Saturday,

Ivanka

New Adventures...

We moved Dana to University residence today. I thought I would be more emotional, but the whole experience was so positive and so exciting, that I can't help but be happy and excited for her. A whole new chapter in her life...lots of new adventures for all of us.


So now that I have less laundry to do, maybe I'll have more time for cards....

Today's card is for the FTL106 challenge on Clean and Simple Stamping blog and also for Oldie Moldie Monday. It's time to dig into my stash of supplies and start using it up....there may be no extra money in the budget for new supplies for quite a while...

The paper is BoBunny, flowers are from Prima and buttons are from Melissa Frances. All of these things have been in my stash for years. The die cut label and stamps are from Papertry Ink and were a birthday gift from my friend Barb. Thanks so much Barb!!

Hope you're had a wonderful long weekend.

Congratulations Card

I seem to be on a clean and simple roll! I love how quickly these cards come together. Today's card is based on the sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping (FTL 104).

The paper is from My Mind's Eye (Lush), stamp is from Stampabilities, charm is from Frost Creek charms, heart brad is from Creative Imaginations.

Keeping this short and sweet...Happy Sunday!

Clean and Simple Oldie

There is a great sketch over at Clean and Simple stamping blog (FTL 87) this week. One of those perfect sketches for any occasion. And it's pretty simple. So why did it take me most of the morning yesterday to make these cards??

Do you ever have those days? You look at a sketch and think, "this one is so easy, I'll be done in no time flat!". Then papers and patterns and colors get in the way and before you know it, that very simple sketch has taken on a life of it's own!

I'm glad I continued to throw papers around, I finally came up with 4 cards I liked. And it WAS fast and simple, once I found the papers I wanted to use!

Since it's Oldie Moldie Monday, I dug into my stash for the papers. The Mom card paper is from Paper Salon and the Dad card paper is from Basic Grey. Both papers have enjoyed a long stay in my scrap box and it was high time they got used. The stamps are from Studio G. The flowers have also been in my stash for a few years, glad to finally use them.

If you'd like to join Barb and I in our quest to use our supplies that have been lovingly collecting dust for years, upload your card to our Flickr gallery and we'll give it some more love.

And stay tuned, we're joining Operation Write Home next Monday. It'll be a great chance to use your supplies for a great cause. And there will be prizes!

Thanks and Happy Monday!

It's Been a While...

Hard to believe it's been 2 weeks since I made a card. Between painting and redoing Julia's room, my mom coming for a visit and Julia's Confirmation, there was no time for me to sneak off to my happy room.

But things are somewhat back to normal and it was fun to get back to it this morning. Today's card is for several challenges.

First is the sketch challenge at Clean and Simple Stamping Blog FTL86. I was happy to see that their sketch fit perfectly with the monthly challenge over at the SRM blog. The challenge is to make a card using circles and stickers. Last, it's for today's challenge at 365 Cards Blog to create a card with a decorated front, back and everything in between.

Cardstock: DCWV
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Eva) and Making Memories (Sabrina)
Stickers: SRM Press (Quick Cards-Girls and Sticker Sentiments-Baby)
Stamps: Kolette Hall (Congratulations) and K&Co. (Hand made with love)
Scalloped Border: Colorbok

Great challenges and so much fun to get back into it. Thanks for dropping by. I'll try not to be such a stranger around here.

Monday's Card

Were you around earlier today when there were some issues with Blogger?? All of my pictures had disappeared. There were only red X's where the pictures used to be. For a minute I thought I had really done it, but soon realized it was a Blogger issue and not my fiddling with the new blogger templates. I was sure glad to see all the pictures back this afternoon.

It' time for OMM (Oldie Moldie Monday), where we dig out some products that have been in hiding too long and give them some love. Today's card is based on the sketch at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog. I'm so glad to have found this blog, great inspiration for clean and simple stamping. Right up my alley!

The image is from Serendipity stamps stamped with Versafine ink. The paper is ???. It's one of the pieces that's been in my pile for many, many moons. The border is from Colorbok and the sentiment is from SRM stickers (still loving them!).

Now for something that will make someone smile...I came across this great blog while following a link from Becky Higgins...it's eighteen25. Have a look...Download and print this sign and let the fun begin.

I've got my sign printed and my plastic eggs ready to go. I'm going to 'egg' the girls at work this week. I can hear the giggles already!!

Hope your week has started off well. I'm off to watch Dancing with The Stars. Last week was certainly interesting. What will this week bring??

Ivanka