Happy Days

Oh how I love warm summer days. I am a real sun freak - a careful sun freak - but still a sun freak. 

There is nothing better than being outside on a warm summer day and I only have 5 more months to wait!!! 

Yes, in Melbourne Australia, we are well and truly in our WINTER months. 

So ... I really really like seeing all of your happy sun shining cards while I am rugged up with the heater on. 

I love seeing all the bright and colourful papers as I dash to the car in the rain to drop the kids somewhere. 

I am thrilled when I read about the warm summer days that most of you are having while I am deciding whether or not I will put on 3 or 4 layers of clothing today. 

But, through the power of positive thinking I decided - if I cant beat you up, I mean, if I can't beat you, then I should join you.

Sassy Cheryl had this cute little image of 'Sassy Sally in her inner tube' and I am her!!! or at least I want to be her. 

I want to be her so so badly. 

Here is my happy summer card to wish you all happy summer days, while using my happiest teeth chattering voice.

Don't forget to pop on over to Sweet Stampin cause we are having a Ribbon and BOWS challenge. Note my BOW on this card. (Is twine ribbon?)

I am entering myself, Sassy, in the following challenges:

Sassy Cheryl #121 Summer

Raise the Bar #107 Hello Summer

Allsorts #160 Any Die Will Do (Whimsy banner die set) 

Cupcake Inspirations #166 Beach photo inspiration -  TOP 5

Joanna Sheen Summer Daze

Crafting When We Can #21 Summer Fun 

My Craft Spot #61 Hot Summer Colours

Deep Ocean #28 Welcome Summer

Scrapalicious USA Summertime

Such Style!

A quickie from me today. 

The final in my set of three from the Penny Black stamp set 'Hello Gorgeous'. 

Thought that I would enter this card in the following challenges:

Penny Black All my Favourite Things (Penny Black stamps, paper and pearls)

Stampin for the Weekend #12 Show us your style (Layered and Straight)

Got to run! Not literally of course. 

This saying always makes me laugh:

Sweet Stampin - Ribbons and BOWS

This week at Sweet Stampin we are sponsored by our monthly sponsor, Joanna Sheen and the fabulous Crafty Ribbons. 

Let me just explain to you all, how my thought process works. 

1. Yay ribbon!

2. I really want to show them off

3. Clean and Simple card

4. Same colour tonings

5. Different designs, textures and widths

6. A bit 'blokey' this time

So I set to work and make my card. I load it onto the Sweet Stampin site and then ..... I read the instructions. 

The challenge is 'Ribbons and BOWS'. 

Yes, you must have ribbons and BOWS. 

Not just ribbons but ribbons and BOWS. 

So I am thinking that I have done you all a favour by showing you what NOT to do. 

Really, really nice of me huh! 

There is no need to thank me, just head on over to Sweet Stampin with your ribbons and BOWS and show us what you have got. In the meantime, I will be sitting here in my naughty chair reading the instructions to the washing machine, the dvd player, the can opener, the alarm clock and the printer.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Clear it Out Anything Goes/Use more than one ribbon from your stash (I read the conditions and there is no mention of bows at all - safe!)

Crafting for all Seasons #29 For Men (I read the conditions and there is no mention of a bow of any type - safe again!)

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #22 Clean and Simple (I read the conditions and there is no 'bow' requirement - phew safe!)  TOP 3

Oh to be 18

I want you all to know, that thanks to your lovely comments I am feeling a lot better about myself and 

my '3' obsession. 

Apparently - Good things come in threes. 

On this card, I have six layers, one piece of ribbon, the number eighteen and I am entering in four challenges. 

Phew! I am feeling so much better that I am off to eat 3 pieces of chocolate - not quite cured yet. lol

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Stampin with the Dragon Anything Goes

Quirky Crafts #13 Handmade Flowers and Ribbon

Let's Ink It Up #24 Favourite Embellishment (definitely these flower dies)

Lollipop Crafts #83 Flowers in Bloom

Congrats - What a Star!

I have a problem. 

No, its not my 'obsessive compulsive' thing, 

not my 'can't go a day without eating chocolate' thing, 

not my 'got nothing to read since I finished all of the Fifty Shades books' thing, 

not my 'need a Chai Latte and mixed berry muffin' thing, 

not even my 'if I cant colour it I don't want it' thing.

It is a new problem. 

It is '3'. 

I first noticed it when I decided to use up a whole piece of 12 x 12 paper to avoid 

left over scraps and make 'extra' cards  - I made ... 3.

Then there was the recent series of 'guy' cards that I showed you ... 3. 

 I then purchased the Penny Black stamp set - Hello Gorgeous and guess how many cards 

you will be seeing ... 3.

And finally when I look up - how many stars and layers of twine are there! ... 3.  

Told you! PROBLEM!!! Not sure if it warrants therapy just yet, but I will keep an open mind.

I am entering this card in the following ... oh no! ... 3 challenges:

2 Sisters #96 Plaids or Stripes

The Poodles Parlour Red White and Blue

Little Miss Muffet #37 Loads of Layers

Cheers - Here's to you!

Part three and final of my masculine digi stash from Digi Stamps Boutique. This card is for my brother who doesn't mind a beer or two. I can already hear our Mum saying - that's enough now, you don't need another one! Funny how you never stop being a Mum. 

He didn't actually turn fifty so I had to tweak the card with his correct age before I posted it to him. Or at least ... I think I did ... I hope I did ... I know I meant to ... he hasn't said anything ... good chance that he was focused on the beer. Now if a woman had received a card with the wrong age on it (or an age at all) ... then that might be a different story. 

I am entering this card in the following challenges: 

Shopping our Stash Fathers Day or Masculine

Sassy Cheryl's #118 Dads and Grads

Ladybug Crafts #62 Big Birthday

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #158 Male card Winner

Card Mad Fairies  #35 Masculine 

The Crafty Pad #174 Lets hear it for the boys

Dream Valley #34 For the special guy

Digi Stamp Boutique June challenge

Sweet Stampin' and Stitchin'

This week over at Sweet Stampin' we want to have you in stitches. Pretend stitches or real stitches - we are not fussy as long as you have some kind of "Stitching" on your card. 

At Christmas time, I bought myself a cute portable sewing machine - just for card making. It seemed like a good idea rather than get the clunker out every time I wanted to sew a piece of card. (or at least it now feels like a clunker since I got the flashy new portable one) 

I know that it has been about 5 months since my actual purchase, but .... I had previously opened the box - to make sure that it was the red one and not the blue one. A little bit superficial, I know. So now, due to this challenge, it was time to throw away the polystyrene foam and look at that instruction book.

So ... reading the instructions - not one of my strong points. Threading the machine - once again, not a skill that I possess easily. Practicing with the stitches to see whether I wanted to use stitch A,B,C,D,E,F or G. And wouldn't you know it - I liked G. 

Sew Sweet is our sponsor this week as well as our monthly sponsor, Joanna Sheen. So, provided you don't have boxes to open or instructions to read then there should be no excuse not to join in with this challenge. 

Pop on over to Sweet Stampin' and check out the fabulous designs from the team.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Penny Black At Allsorts June Challenge - All my favourite things

(This stamp, flowers, 6x6 paper pads and stitching)

Lets Ink It Up #24 Use your favourite embellishments

(Flowers, mesh and stitching)

Deep Ocean #27 Sewing - faux or real

Celebrate the Occasion #65 Thinking of you (use a flower) Winner!

Paper Crafting Journey Colour it up

Crop Stop #75 Monochromatic

4 Crafty Chicks #93 Monochromatic Top 3

A Day to Celebrate

Part two of my masculine digi stash from Digi Stamps Boutique.  

What a life, huh! 
Sitting on a pier, casting a line, gazing out into the ocean, marvelling at the Pelicans. 

I think that I would like to be a fisherman, I mean fisherperson. 
Putting those wormy icky things onto that sharp hook, getting tangled up in your line, smelling fish all day, nowhere to plug my hair dryer in. On second thoughts ....  

I am entering 'Fishing Stan' in the following challenges: 

Here Comes the Boys #28 Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show One for the Boys

Love to Create #17 Add a Sentiment

Tuesday Throwdown #100 Masculine (Top 5)

Stampin Royalty #126 Masculine

Fab 'n' Funky #123 Celebrations

Digi Stamp Boutique June competition