Muse 2nd year 100th post Anniversary! [And my first ever design team post! ]

No pressure there, right?  I'm so honored to join Muse as a design team member.  I've always said it is my favorite little yet mighty challenge!! 

I have been toying with a challenge idea for some time now, so I threw the idea into the celebration themed pool... are you ready?  Here goes:

Let's "Accentuate the Negative!"  Here is my card, I think you'll immediately understand what I mean:



  

I've taken my A2 Neenah solar white, top-fold, card base, added a bit smaller panel from which I die-cut the heart - that is the negative... the tiny heart is a Teresa Collins heart sequin - that is my accent!! 

 

To add to the fun, there is an optional twist to the challenge - add a line, or even one word, from a song as a sentiment!! Mine is a very, very, old favorite of my father he "loved that melody!"

 

Have fun with this, above all. Mine is CAS, but the sky is the limit - go crazy - just remember there must be a negative die cut, and I personally can't wait to hear your song. 

 

OH! In honor of this huge celebration, we're going to have special prizes - 5 lucky participants (you need to link up a card) in this week's challenge will be selected at random to receive some blog candy! The names of these lucky winners will be included in the Voting Results post for this challenge, next Tuesday at noon.

 

Congratulations to Ardyth and the entire Muse family... thanks for inspiring me.  I hope we have at least 100 more chances to play along together!  Who wants to get started...

ready, set, go MUSE #100!!!

 

CASology: Week 128: Date

WARNING: sappy alert!!

 

 

Yep  - getting sappy with CASology's Date theme today!  I love my husband... now, I know you ALL love yours too... but how often do we tell people this? 

I found the man of my dreams when I wasn't looking.  He didn't sweep me off my feet, in fact, he [says] he doesn't dance [until no one is looking].  I already had my children when we met, and wasn't able to have more... he said "you gave me three kids, and I never had to change one diaper!"  He's 15 years younger than I, and still thinks I'm beautiful... even if there's LOTS more of me to love!  He's a terrific Grampy... and I don't miss his hair, at all.

On New Year's Eve we had our 24th first date, and in May, we'll celebrate our 20th anniversary... it truly will be a "paint the town" kind of date...

For CASology, and [another] for the Tom-file:

That die came home with me from Oshawa, Ontario!  The design paper is from the SSS January kit. The sentiment is one from PTI.

Inside:



"... yes, that moment when the stars aligned and I realized you were the one... I re-live it with every kiss."

Now, get on those roof-tops... I'm listening!!!

Less is More - Week 205

BLACK, METALLIC + ONE

 

Another of my favorite challenges... this year, I'm going to try very hard to play here more often... there- I've challenged myself!!

 

So to start the New Year right, I made a little card using another bird - let's face it: I have snow, and birds to look at these days!  Even the birds are hiding from the snow:

 

 

I received a few really wonderful little card-making goodies tucked in a Christmas card this year.  I promise to use each and every one... for today, a little Purple Onion from that cute little Judy Marino:

 

 

Black, silver embossed, very fancy tail-feathers + Red

Is it CAS enough? Hmmmm.

 Thanks, Judy - I'll get to those cups!!!



Fusion Anniversary!!

I am so happy to be joining the throngs to wish those fabulous gals at Fusion a very happy 1st anniversary!  I love this challenge and usually choose to fuse the photo and sketch... here is our wonderful inspiration this week:

 ... but this time, I was really drawn to the sketch... I had this little birdy tweeting my name:

Mama Elephant birdy; my old pal Benjamin Moore; a tiny note from Wplus9; and a SSS balloon die.

 

Inside sentiment:

"...to tell you how much color you add to my life! 

Thanks, and Happy Anniversary!"

 

Happiest of anniversaries... nothing like the first, sure there will be many, many more to celebrate... hope to be around for all of them! =]

CAS(E) this Sketch #105

When I received an invitation from Chrissy to be a guest designer, you can imagine the honor, nerves and excitement I felt all in about 2 split seconds, right?  SO excited... thank you, Chrissy!

Though I was given several weeks to prepare, several cards came to mind when I saw Michelle Williams' [that would be Two-L's to me =] sketch:

 



But, then something wonderful happened.  You may have heard me tell about 'dreaming cards' well, this time it was Tom... yes, I may be rubbing off on him... after 20 years, it was bound to happen... he actually said:

 

 "I have a card for you, babe.  Life: it's about time!" 

 

I'm sure it has been used before, but I certainly didn't tell my sweet husband that ... for him, I'm using it again - my way.

 

For CAS(E) this Sketch #105, Michelle Williams, Chrissy, and Tom:

 

PTI dies clock face, and Hands of Time ; SSS Smoke cardstock; and a bit of scrap DP - if anyone recognizes that pink wood-grain paper - please tell me who makes it!!!  I love it and forgot to save the mfg. strip... ugh!

 

Thank you, so very much, Chrissy... it certainly has been my delight and honor to play along with all of you fabulous designers!



Curtain Call - Winter Wonder

 

This gorgeous Curtain Call - Winter Wonder inspiration photo may be a perfect reflection on my world right now... though I don't ice skate, the pond is frozen!



Yes my friends, Winter has most definitely descended upon us!!  I grabbed my camera immediately when the sun came out... we don't see it that often during Michigan Winters... one must take advantage.  

I was immediately inspired by the cozy blanket in the photo, and the gorgeous silver thermos... both of which I could use right now =]

The sun certainly helped my mojo a bit today... glad to read I'm not the only one that needed a kick-start!

A little PTI, and embossing + embellishments... pretty simple, but does the trick, I think.

 

Hope you are having a great start to the year... thanks for dropping by!

CASology: Week 127: Light

With the joy of the holidays behind me, I find myself a bit sad... it happens to many of us, right?  Snow has fallen, brightening my world though... those dark days were not helping.

I lost someone very dear to me on New Year's Day.  My cousin Aileen brought such light to my life, for a very short time.  I only just found her three years ago while researching my family tree.  We bonded immediately during hours-long phone chats, and one memorable sleep-over.  I am so grateful for knowing her.

For CASology: Light, and to Aileen:

 

 

... be seeing you.