Busy weekend!!

Between cleaning, Spring cleaning (who knew I had that many shoes??), baking, card making, and several other things, I am almost done designing for the card workshop. There will be a total of 8 cards to choose from.

The unique thing about them all is that none of them are dependent on using patterned cardstock. I've got some pretty backgrounds coming in the mail, from Dreamin to Stella. In the meantime I wanted to make sure I used mostly CTMH products so I left my usual stash alone. However, I didn't realize how much patterned cardstock can really snazz up a project until I ended up doing a card for a friend who's getting married out in Lethbridge.

Today's inspiration: Debby Hughes' take on CASE Study #76.

(psst... this inspiration shows up in yet another card workshop card yet to be debuted!)

The four little squares are from Bliss Workshop To Go (retired), and as I realized quickly - I also hijacked the suggested colors from the same WOTG, Smoothie and Chocolate. Yet another awesome thing about the WOTG's. Not only are they a quick set of layouts in a bag with all the things you'll need (sans inkpads) but sometimes the color combination sticks with you. The butterfly is cut with the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.

There is nothing like an uncooperative shadow :( on a beautiful sunny day. The stamp set is Bliss from the Workshop and this is the first time I've used such a minimal style in both colors and cardstock backgrounds.

I've got one more card in the works and then I'll post the entire workshop soon!

Off to a sunny Monday,

Congratulations Kelsey & Matt!!

Ahh, Facebook is wonderful for social networking. Or so I thought, when I was lazily putting on lipchap Friday morning and doing my usual graze through my feed before I knuckled down for work, and noticed one particular picture. I dropped the lipchap and grabbed the phone to see if I was dreaming or not. I'm surprised the lipchap didn't go rolling under a few cubicles down the hall.

Nope... not only is that one gargantuous rock on her finger, she's got a killer manicure!!

Congratulations to both of you - and all the best for your years ahead together!

I passed the photo off to of course the lucky bride and caught up. What a great way to start a Monday morning. Apologies for the blurry photo, I didn't realize until after the fact. The inspiration from this one is an old Mojo Monday one from 2010: MOJO169. 

The card boasts 99.9% CTMH products! The only thing that isn't CTMH is that brad holding the flowers down, the blue strip and a wee bit of grey cardstock!

* Bliss Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)
* Bliss WOTG stamp set (retired)
* Just Blooms White Daisy Variety Pack
* Villa Irresistibles Chipboard Die Cuts(retired)
* Now & Forever
* Cherished Flourishes
* Pair-A-Phrase (retired promo)
* Chocolate Ink
* Sorbet Ink

Unexpected invitation

I was talking to a fellow coworker one day, as we had tea - I had heard that she wasn't returning to the office for a while, and I was concerned about her. In the end all is more or less well, and this followed with an invitation to her wedding at the end of this month! Talk about impromptu...

Japanese drumming, Italian fest, open bar; I just had to give her another card on top of the one I already gave her!

Today's inspiration: MOJO200 by Mojo Monday



and of course I thought I'd take a close up photo to allow you a view of my border embellishment punch from Fiskars:



I cannot wait to go to this Chinese/Italian wedding - it'll be fun!

Cardstock
* Local craft stores
* CM

Tools / Ribbon
* Michaels Craft Store
* Dollar Store

CTMH
* Bliss Stamp Set (Bliss WOTG)
* Soul Mates Stamp Set
* Kanji Phrases Stamp Set
* Chocolate Ink
* Ponderosa Pine Ink
* Opaques Adhesive Gems (Pearls)

Four squares and one Inspiration

I'm really enjoying playing with all these scrapbook challenges. It actually gives me a reason to get further and further ahead with my wedding scrapbook, and everyone each time submits such amazing samples. Sketches in Thyme has one last challenge for the month of June, and it's an open one!

Today's inspiration is from PageMaps. It is the very first one on their June 2011 Pagemaps post.



Cardstock:
* Creative Memories
* Local craft stores

Embellishments:
* Vellum Quote: Creative Memories
* Embossing powder: my stash

CTMH:
* You and Me (June promotion... only a few days left!)
* Bliss (Bliss Workshop Kit, G1020)
* Kraft Color Ready Borders (Z1377)
* Cranberry Ink (Z2116)
* Desert Sand Ink (Z118)
* Versamark Ink

Sympathy

During one of my meetings at my day job last week it was announced that a mother of a coworker had passed away. My boss was a little uncertain as to what to do, but I thought the very least we could would be to sign a card showing them that we are thinking of them and that we care.

It also highlighted the fact that I don't have a stamp set with Sympathy words on it but I improvised; with some vellum, my printer, and Googling I was able to add some text. Next order I guess...

Using the layout 'Patriotic' from Wishes (9033):


Cardstock:
* Local craft stores

CTMH
* You and Me (June fundraiser)
* Rosy Regards (B1369)
* Bliss (Bliss WOTG - G1020)
* Moonstruck Ink (Z2134)
* Smokey Plum Ink (Z1247)
* Cranberry Ink (Z2116)
* Olive Ink (Z1237)
* Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems (Z1336)

Almost 3 Years Married

I have been working on my wedding scrapbook off and on over the last few years we have been married but I always end up doing only a little bit at a time.

(and you thought I only did cards... surprise!)

When I first saw Bliss offered in the Idea Book I thought it would be perfect for my wedding album; it complimented our couple portraits perfectly.





The Bliss Workshop kit comes with a special workshop stamp unique to this kit, the corresponding Level 2 Paper Packet, Irresistibles Villa Chipboard Die Cuts and a Workshop Guide to help you along. The neat thing about this kit is that it's got enough materials for me to make six more cards if I want to or more layouts.

CTMH:
Bliss Level 2 Paper Packet
Bliss Workshop Stamp
Chocolate Ink
Sorbet Ink