Give Us Your Background! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Brenda's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Give Us Your Background!" which just means that she wants to see background we've made ourselves....so think ink smooshing, stencilling, stamping...but no patterned paper! *flops on the ground and throws a fit so hard a two year old saw and said, "Nice."*

So, yeah, this challenge is not exactly in my wheelhouse. But, that's why it's called a challenge, right? (*feels immediately HORRIBLE because I sneaked a preview peek at Brenda's very heartfelt and lovely post and here I am whining about the theme*) Thing is.....I actually ended up with something I like, and, of course, it's not something I would have thought of doing without being challenged to do it, so really, no grumbling was needed. And, even more surprising, this card was made at 4:30am and it actually worked out...so thank you, Insomnia.....for the card and this ramshackle post.

AnYhOo, here is said card....

As background making is not my forte, I went with a very simple cloud scene using a homemade 'stencil'. I use the term 'stencil' loosely as it's just a piece of scrap cardstock I cut like this: 

Digi is from Stamp Fairy, which has, sadly, been closed for years now.

Why don't you give our challenge a go this week and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up?  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the fabulous projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

Allsorts:  flowers all over
CAS on Friday:  summer
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge:  summer
Crafty Creations:  anything goes
Ellibelle's Wednesday Challenge:  summer
Simon Says:  anything goes
Crafty Sentiments:  anything goes
{PIN}spirational:  inspirational photo
A Place To Start:  flowers
Always Fun:  use stencils
Incy Wincy:  summer colours
Dragonfly Dreams:  no patterned paper
The Library Challenge:  Miniature Garden Grower
AAA Challenge:  maxi white space + flowers

Spots Or Stripes! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's my turn to choose the challenge and I'm going with "Spots Or Stripes!" which means I want to see those polka dots or spots or tittles or lines or plaids or stripes or.....all of the above!

This is what I did....

I've got liney patterned paper and a beautiful image from Pernilla Nilsson with lots of little dots, which I Stickled, though it doesn't show up in the photo, of course.  Anyone know why Stickles are so shy?  If I sparkled like that, I sure wouldn't hide.  #Stickles...The Introverted Glitter.

Speaking of shy.....*reaches under desk, rummages around, drags, pulls, tugs with both hands, arms & legs, swears more than once....finally yanks it out, gives it a shake, a nudge, dirty look, The Mom Look, The Just Wait Until We Get Home Mom Look, gestures impatiently....*

"Hi, I'm Mojo.  I'm glad to be back.  Sorry I was away for so long.  I'm going to try to be more present in the future.  Thank you for being understanding."

Yes, Mojo, thanks for coming back.

Why don't you give our challenge a go this week and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up? And, while you're there, be sure to check out the fabulous projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

As You Like It:  summer or autumn - I'll admit...I like autumn better as a season but I like summer cards sooooo much better.  Personally, I find that autumn cards can only really be given in the fall, while summer cards as good all year 'round.
613 Avenue Create:  anything goes
Allsorts:  flowers all over
Inkspirational:  painting or colouring
Creative Fingers:  anything goes
Crafty Creations:  anything goes
Creative Moments:  anything goes
Crafty Sentiments:  anything goes
A Place To Start:  flowers

Fantasy! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Doni's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Fantasy!" which means she wants to see those fantastical creatures or beings...so think dragons, fairies, a mom who's not tired, mermaids or.....

....gnomes!  Because gnomes are super cool!  These guys, the fence and the sentiment are all from The Cat's Pajamas.  I do love their stamps.  Super cute and high quality.

It's been awhile since I made a card like this (kinda a reverse frame card)....I used to make them quite a bit.  I did still have a bit of a struggle getting it together, I ended up using a few different papers from different manufacturers but I think it worked out okay in the end.  So, it's not like the mojo is back yet, still being elusive but definitely in the vicinity....maybe it's peeking 'round the corner of my computer/craft room from time to time.

Why don't you give our challenge a go this week and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up? And, while you're there, be sure to check out the fabulous projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

Crafty Gals:  fantasy world
Crafty Creations:  anything goes
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday:  summertime
Simon Says:  for a child
Arty Divas:  anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown:  polka dots
A Place To Start:  florals
Always Fun:  mood board
International Art & Soul:  tiny things
Corrosive:  anything goes
Allsorts:  I spy with my little eye something that begins with B - blue, blooms, black, banner
Inkspirational:  colouring
The Fairy & the Unicorn:  anything fantasy goes
Sweet Stampin':  fairies & fantasy

Embossing! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Imke's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Embossing!" That means either heat or dry embossing or.....

....both!  Who's a good DT member this week?  *wildly waving arms in the air while screaming, "It's me!"*

Embossed sentiment stamp is from Stamplorations, snowman is from Close To My Heart.  And I used a Sizzix embossing folder for the falling snow background.  And, that pretty much all there is to that.

Why don't you give our challenge a go this week and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up? And, while you're there, be sure to check out the fabulous projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

Crafty Sentiments:  anything goes
Shopping Our Stash:  Christmas in July
Retro Rubber:  anything goes - The sentiment stamp I bought at least a year and a half ago, the snowman stamp came from a garage sale I attended over two years ago.
613 Avenue Create:  sentiment as focus
Christmas Craft Creations:  Christmas characters
The Cat's Pajamas:  Christmas in July
Ike's World:  Christmas in July
ABC Christmas:  O for Over The Top
Stamplorations Never Ending Challenge:  anything goes with a Stamploration product
Stamplorations Theme Challenge:  anything goes
  

Summertime Fun @ Little Red Wagon

First of all....Happy Canada Day! I know celebrations aren't going to be the same as other years but I hope all my Canadian peeps have a wonderful - and safe - holiday today.

This week at

it's Kate's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Summertime Fun!" which really doesn't need any explanation.

This is what I did....

As you can see, this guy (from Melonheadz Illustrating) is all set for a summer of fun. "School's Out" was really anticlimactic this year, of course, but I'm sure my two highschoolers are happy to be finished their courses for the summer.

I'm wondering.....does there come a point where I should just stop blaming lack of mojo for my subpar cards of late and start claiming I can no longer make good cards? I dunno.....

My friends, I gotta tell you what happened the other night. My daughter, L, came into my room and woke me up at 3:00am because there was a "really weird smell in her room". As I plodded to her bedroom I briefly wondered if we had perhaps caught a skunk in one of the live traps we had set up outside. [Side note: For the past five years or so we have had a groundhog living under our porch. I love my lil groundhog and I used to call him "My Fluffy Boy" (hommage to Captain Raymond Holt's Cheddar from Brooklyn Nine Nine)....but this year I stopped calling him that because "he" HAD BABIES! Seven groundhog babies! Omg, they are so cute....I almost DIED when I first saw them. Problem is, mom, dad and seven babies (who are now barely smaller than mom & dad), plus the family of three they invited to live under our shed meant that we had too many groundhogs making too many holes in our yard. So, we're re-homing them to a nice wooded area with a stream about 10 km away, hence the live traps. (Which makes me a bit sad but, unfortunately, it needs to be done.)] I dismissed the skunk idea though as I know, L knows, what skunk spray smells like.

As I stepped in her room, my nose crinkled up something fierce at the strange burnt plastic smell I was being assaulted with. Well, it turned out her fan was severely overheating and the covering over the motor was almost too hot to touch. I unplugged it and moved it out into the hall and she got settled back into bed.

On my way back to my room, I remembered how my brain acts at night. I knew that if I just went back to bed, I would just get nicely to sleep, and my subconscious would scream, "WHAT IF THE FAN IS NOW ON FIRE?!?!?" I, of course, wanted no part of that sudden, heart attack inducing wake up so I grabbed the fan with the intention of taking it down to set it on the porch outside. Once I got there, I knew on-the-porch would not be considered a safe spot for a flaming fan by my Night Brain so I slipped on a pair of shoes, and headed out the lawn a bit with it, content on putting it in a spot where it could spontaneously combust and do no harm to our home, vehicles, trees or other buildings.

As I walked, I had a sharp pain suddenly EXPLODE in my ankle. It confused me into a full stop. I paused for a second....I hadn't twisted or rolled my ankle. I hadn't been walking any differently then every other time I've ever walked, I was even wearing my shoes, not a pair of one of my two boys size 13s (because they always seem to be left on the mat). I shuffled a couple more steps, set the fan down, and gingerly returned to the house.

I managed to hobble up the stairs, get back into bed, it took some doing to get my ankle comfortable but I managed to start to drift off to sleep. Just as I was headed back into Dreamland though, I had an epiphany and I knew what happened to my ankle.

My body was protecting me. It was an innate survival mechanism, an alarm if you will.........to keep me from wandering too far away from my house without a bra on.

(:

Why don't you give our challenge a go this week and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up? And, while you're there, be sure to check out the fabulous projects the other Girlfriends have created.

P.S. My ankle was fine by morning. And, my lesson was learned.

Also for:

Crafty Friends:  masculine
Aud Sentiments:  summer + sentiment
Cardz 4 Guyz:  red, white & blue