Happy Birthday to a Sweet Niece!

Many years ago I became an Auntie to the sweetest little girl.  She will always be special, because she was born on my dh's Birthday -- April 30th.  She is also the daughter of the greatest sister in the world. It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating Art's birthday and got the call to say that I had a new niece.

This card is made especially for her.  We've become closer in the past 6 years because she has the same disease I have..............  obsessive, compulsive and hopeless, stamp, paper and ink-aholic.   Couldn't be a better way to spend time with a favorite niece.  She's so wonderful,  she accompanies me to Salmon Arm once a month  (on her day off) for our Stamper's 10 Group.  How great is that.

So,  Sandi - this card is for you. Happy Birthday!

I was struck with inspiration from a card posted by Shelley here.   I started out with a criss-cross card, but  decided to pop Tilda up to look like she's stepping over the belly band on the card, thus, ended up attaching the belly band to make it stationery.     The sentiment pulls up.




For the back, I attached a little flap to make  the card stand all by itself.

Thanks to the magnificent talent of the Magnolia-licious gals,  the cards they post leave me  speechless - I can only hope to maybe someday learn to use my copics to achieve the same results .

Thanks for dropping by - Comments are always appreciated.

Remember, "stamp up a storm, ink up a wish and send it on to brighten someone's day.

Rubber hugs, Inky wishes, Cricut Chirps and Cuttlebug squishes,
Madge

Have You Caught the Magnolia Bug??

Have you caught the Magnolia bug yet??  I might have.

Just happened to be in a LSS and a "Tilda" '60's stamp flew into my basket......  Only have one - this week!  There are advantages / disadvantages to on-line shopping.

These stamps are just so darn cute!  Copics, watercolours, markers, chalks, etc., all can be used to make them come alive.  Don't I sound like I just made a great discovery that the rest of the world doesn't know about yet??  lol   I've been looking at the cards made with these little beauties, and I'm hooked!!!

Here's one of many "trials" that I put together.  This is for a friend for her Birthday, we are taking her out to lunch tomorrow.  I hope she likes it - her cards always have that "wow" factor.

I turned it into an "80"'s Tilda by adding glitter to the hair ribbons, the hem of her skirt and the centre of the flowers.
Lots of fun coloring -- mostly with watercolors as I don't have many copics (yet).  I popped her out to be sitting on the vertical bars and the musical note brads were a last minute add-on, which I think I will keep.

Thanks for dropping by, hope you like it.  Remember, stamp up a storm, ink up a wish and send it on to someone to brighten their day.

Rubber hugs, inky wishes, Cricut Chirps and Cuttlebug Squishes,
Madge

Mojo Monday Sketch 133

Happy Easter Monday everyone!  I hope the bunny brought you chocolate -- because............
chocolate is a cure-all for anything that ails you.

Today is probably the first time that I have put a sketch challenge up before noon.  Here it is.  I need a quick card for a Birthday tomorrow.  Hope you like it - thanks for stopping by.

Remember,  Stamp up a storm, ink up a wish and send it on to someone to brighten their day.

Rubber hugs, inky wishes, Cricut chirps and Cuttlebug squishes,
Madge

Mojo Monday Sketch 132

Are you enjoying spring yet?  We have had such warm weather here in the Okanagan Valley and now all of a sudden the temps have dipped.  Lots of snow at Silver Star - good for the ski season, but not good for the fruit trees.

I've slid back into my "monochromatic me" style for this weeks card.  This card, I decided will go to the best sister in the world for Easter. It had to be something special, but not overwhelming - because she doesn't understand "fru-fru". 

The sentiment is from Verve stamps.  The rest is generic stuff resting in my "raspberry & pink" embellishment drawer.

Hope everyone has a blessed Easter with family and friends.  We had planned to head to the Lake to open the 5th Wheel, but have decided to wait a week - the weather being a big factor. 

Remember, "Stamp up a Storm, Ink up a Wish and send it to someone to brighten their day.  Thanks for stopping by.

Rubber hugs, Inky wishes, Cricut chirps and Cuttlebug squishes,
Madge

Mojo Monday Sketch 131

The son of  friend's of ours is engaged to be married in July and this card will be sent to the parents who are so proud of this upcoming marriage.  This sketch was a perfect time to come up with a card meant especially for them.

The card base is white, which doesn't show up very well on the white background.  I used the SU Blossoms Abound for the images, the butterfly is SU Beautiful Wings which I cut out and glitzed up with dazzling diamonds.  The white background has been stamped off with Orchid Opulence, but doesn't show in the scan.  I also distressed the ribbon with Orchid Opulence to give it depth.

Thanks for stopping by and remember, Stamp up a Storm, Ink up a Wish and send it on to someone to brighten their day.

Rubber hugs, inky wishes, Cricut chirps and Cuttlebug squishes,
Madge

Mojo Monday Sketch 130

Missed Mojo Monday by a day or so - but Wednesday is good!  Beautiful Sketch by Julee Tilman, one of my favourite bloggers and stamp designers.  Her style is absolutely beautiful - check it out  here, Amazing cards amazing talent.

I was at a loss as to what to do this week, I've had a cough and I swear that every time I cough brain cells are blown apart.  I sat at the walk-in clinic last week with my son, hence the cold, I'm sure.  There is nothing like sitting in a cubicle waiting room surrounded by unhealthy people to compromise your healthy status.

Enough jabber - here is my card for the sketch.  As you can see, I've reverted back to "monochromatic" Madge.  It is safe and happy place to be.  I embossed the SU Medallion and cut the scalloped circles using a Spellbinders set - also used the negative piece to shadow in some colour for a background.  The butterflies and paper are SU.    The phrase is Verve.

Enjoy, and remember to Stamp up a Storm, Ink up a Wish, and send it on to brighten someone's day.


Rubber hugs, Inky wishes, Cricut chirps and Cuttlebug squishes,
Madge

Mojo Monday Sketch 129

Another Monday, and I'm feeling good -- A lot of interruptions on this card for the Mojo Monday Sketch129, but I finally got it done, and it's still Monday. -- at least here in the West it is.
For three weeks in a row now I've put my hand in a drawer full of backgrounds and pulled out one to be a piece on my card.  Seems to give me that "added edge", otherwise I could go on for hours floundering in a stack of paper and ink trying to decide what to use.

I used my newest Cuttlebug cut and emboss folder, "Ornamental Iron",  to cut the band and emboss the top background. I really do love the ornamental iron band, which by the way, was cut and mirror imaged to get the full band.

Looking at the scan, this is a very flat card except for the sentiment and flowers that I popped up with dimensionals.  I'm thinking that it will be going in the mail for one of the 12 cards I swap per month.  

So, here it is!  Sketch #129.  Hope you like it.

I looked at my card, and couldn't get to "love" it - so, I glammed it up a bit to get it to look like the right one.  I'm looking at the two side-by-side, thinking that the bow has to go and the 3 flower brads were enough to finish off the card. A typical example of "sometimes less is better".

Remember, take time to Stamp up a storm, ink up a wish and send it on to someone to brighten their day.

Rubber hugs, Inky wishes, Cricut chirps and Cuttlebug squishes,
Madge,
aka:  maddie6833

Mojo Monday Sketch 128

Can you believe that it is March already?!!  The first week of the month is a Mojo Monday Contest week - I'm such a fan of Julee Tilman and Verve Stamps.......and a chance to win a stamp set to add to the excitement, is bliss.  To make it doubly great - yesterday was our SU monthly Stampers 10 meet, which means a trip to Salmon Arm and 3 hours of playing with paper and ink.  There is nothing like an excuse to "play".

My mind always goes blank when I am challenged to do a specific thing.  It must be the pressure!  This time, and it seemed to work,  I put my hand into a drawer of pre-made backgrounds and pulled out one that I think is a beautiful technique using re-inkers and embossing folders.  Thankfully, the rest fell into place.

Here is the end result.

Hope you like it.  Remember, take time to stamp up a storm and ink up a wish, and send it to someone to brighten their day.

Rubber hugs, Inky wishes, Cricut chirps and Cuttlebug squishes,
Madge

Mojo Monday Sketch 127

Here we are for another week of Mojo Monday and a choice of round or square.

I've done one card because I happened to put my hand into a pile of scrap papers and chose to work around it.  While looking for brads, I came across some red maple leafs and an idea hit me.........  a red card for Canada........... and since we just got back from the Olympic Games, well, the rest was a piece of cake.  But of course the red maple leafs were too big for the card.......What is it they say about the "best laid plans".......lol


I also got to welcome my Cuttlebug home after loaning it to a friend to make some invitations.  Isn't it amazing that when something leaves your home, you can think of a thousand things you could do with it?  So here are my "interpretations" of Sketch #127.

Make some time to Stamp up a Storm, Ink up a Wish and send it on to someone to brighten their day.

Rubber hugs, Inky wishes, Cricut chirps and Cuttlebug squishes,
Madge,
aka:  maddie6833

Mojo Monday Sketch 126

Had a few spare moments this afternoon before heading to Vancouver.

Dogs are at sitters,
bags packed, house cleaned, etc. etc.  I've gotten REALLY brave and incorporated some colour out of my usual monochromatic scheme.   My scans turn out so washed out and look very over-exposed...........  ugh!

The card is really cute IRL!  honest!

Take some time for yourself to "Stamp up a storm, ink up a wish and send it on to brighten someone's day.


Rubber hugs, Inky wishes, Cricut chirps and Cuttlebug Squishes,
Madge

Happy day!  Happy day!  Monday, dh and I are off to enjoy some of the games at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  What games you ask??  Well Curling..............and my all-time-fave Team Martin (oh, be still my heart!!)  from Alberta representing Canada!!  dh will take in some hockey and speed skating .  We'll be staying at our daughter's (the reason for the second "Happy day"), because that is where the gd's are ......  Certainly had no interest in the noise, crowds, hustle and bustle - but when opportunity knocks.................. well, open the door, of course!  Pups are off to our son's place to be baby-sat as we don't feel like paying for their flight......lol.......I wonder who is going to have absence anxiety...........(me!!)

Mojo Monday Sketch 125

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge 125 - here it is!  Can't believe I've created two (2) cards in less than 12 hours.............  This one is plain and simple - but it wouldn't be my card if I didn't use shading.....love those Color Box Stylus's.  Ok, so this looks absolutely stark naked.....my watercolouring is not showing up!!  .....I'm rushing off to meet a friend for lunch - so until it can doctor  - here it is!

I may as well have started from scratch on this card...........  I did manage to save the bear and the sentiment..............  but all the rest went in the "g" file.  I'm happier with the results.  Totally by coincidence it ended up with almost the same color scheme as the sketch -- my inspiration was black and white.


Take time to Stamp up a Storm, Ink up a Wish and send it off to someone to brighten their day!

Rubber hugs, Inky wishes, Cricut chirps and Cuttlebug squishes,
Madge