Multiple challenges all wrapped into two cards

These two cards were made for Taylor's cupcake challenge, SCS color challenge and a ladybug swap hosted by my friend Tracy on SCS. I started out with the colour challenge and thought I'd try out Taylor's sketch along with it. The colour challenge was to use Basic Gray, Soft Sky and Whisper White. The stamps I used for the cupcake card was TAC (The Angel Company) - it was a hostess set called Party Time. I coloured them using my SU markers and then used stickles to make them yummy looking!! I added soft sky ribbon to tie it all together. I did fix the knot after I took this picture cuz it was bugging me that it was crooked!! LOL I used the SU scallop punch and the Marvy circle punch.
The ladybug card was made with Papertrey Ink's set called Little Lady; the "happy Spring" is from a cube stamp I got from Inky Antics last year. The ribbon was in a huge box I bought from Costco awhile ago. I added stickles to the middle of the red flowers for a little sparkle!!! The paper is non SU - not sure the brand, sorry!!!

Papertrey meets Beate's sketch challenge!

This card is for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge 41.

I am LOVING this colour combination and the sketch!!! I flipped the sketch vertical - I hope that is ok!!! What do you think??
Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Butterfly Kisses)
Paper: Groovy Guava (SU), Aqua Mist (PTI), pattern paper (Everyday Blessings - PTI)
Accessories: stickles, Aqua Mist ribbon (PTI), Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder

OMG!!! I'm so frustrated!!

ARGHHH!!!!! I have to vent......bear with me!!! LOL In Nov. we bought a wireless network system from Best Buy & included in that cost was for Geek Squad to come to our house and secure our internet connections with this and my laptop. All was fine and dandy - we THOUGHT - until Tim's buddy came over, opened his laptop and voila, instantly connected to OUR "secure" internet connection! HMMMM!!!! Anyways, I just got off the phone with Geek Squad and ...well, let me tell you....what a friggin GONG SHOW that place is. She said the reason it was not secure is that we had an old network card (whatever that means!) and says that "buddy" who came out to secure our system told us that....NO HE DID NOT!!!! If he had, why wouldn't we have bought a new one right away?? Duhhh!! I don't want others freeloading off our internet connection that we pay good money for!!! ARGHHHH!!!! I said we paid $160 for a service we didn't even get....I either want my money back or I want a secure connection. She was an IDIOT!!!! I was in fine form raising my voice & getting madder and madder by the second. All she said we can do is go to Best Buy and talk to them - so basically she is passing the buck so she doesn't have to deal with it. I am so heated up right now I could SCREAM!!! Oh, wait....I did that already. I told her I would never use their service again & I will NOT recommend them to ANY of my friends! So, friends, DON'T use GEEK SQUAD!!!!! They don't guarantee their service and they steal your money!!! BASTARDS!!!! (sorry!)

Ismaki blog challenge!

I found a new challenge blog that offers sketches - this one is really cool! I love it!!! This is the card I'm entering for their challenge #12. I wish I had found this site earlier, they've had some GREAT sketches!!! The site is ISMAKI so click on this link & go check it out!!!! I made this card for my hubby as it is our 3rd Anniversary on Wed. Hard to believe - somedays it feels like yesterday, other days it feels like 100 years ago!!!! LOL But I still love him as much as I did that day!!! (well, most days!!! LOL)

Paper: Chocolate Chip; White; DP from a big pack from Costco

Ink: Chocolate Chip; prisma pencils & Gamsol (OMS)

Accessories: cream ribbon; brown Prima (Vintage bloom); cream brad; dew drops; nestabilities (circle dies)

Stamps: Monkey Love (C.C Designs)

Tart & Tangy SWEET!!!!

I made this little 3 x 3 card today as I was puttering with my new stamp set TART & TANGY (SU) and the new Summer Picnic DP (SU). The base & circle are both Real Red, and the scallop circle is Bashful Blue. I coloured the cherries with my Real Red marker and Old Olive marker, and stamped "sweet" with Real Red. I punched the holes with my crop-o-dile and used Old Olive polytwill ribbon (it's the new stuff in the Occasions mini catty...and it is SOOOO soft!!!) I am in the process of making a matchbook cover for it, and will make 3 more cards and envies to go with it! It will make a great little gift!

It is time for America's Next Top Model so the rest of this gift will have to wait until tomorrow!!!! I am SOOOO loving being on holidays right now! I can't believe it is already Wed. night - where did the week go?? EEEKK!!!!! I have to go back to work on Monday - booo hooooo!!!! The only down side of Easter being so early this year (we get a week at Easter with our school board) is that it will be a LONGGGGG haul until June!!!! The only long weekend we have is the May Long weekend to look forward too!!! YIKES!!!! Ahhh well, I will just enjoy the time I have!!! Thanks for visiting!!!:)

Valentine card from Mikey

I just got the greatest card ever in the mail yesterday! It is from Tracy's son Mikey & he made it himself! I especially love the stickles on his mouth....it makes him look ready to snatch up any flies that pass by!!! I have it proudly displayed on my bulletin board in my craft room and in my SCS gallery!!! I think Mikey is an up and coming crafter.....what do you think? Thanks Mikey - I love the card & thank you for thinking of me!!!! I hope you have a great birthday!!!

Marjorie's colour challenge #11

I FINALLY got a chance to play with one of Marjorie's colour challenges she leaves us on our SBS4 yahoo group!!!! The challenge was to use CTMH colours: Heavenly Blue, Sweet Leaf, Buttercup, and Chocolate using at least 3 of the 4 colors. I don't have CTMH colours so I used Chocolate Chip, Garden Green and Cool Carribbean. The stamp set I used is an old retired SU set that I love called Frolicking Frogs. I also used a frog eyelet that I've had around for awhile! I used my oval punches (Marvy) for the sentiment. I coloured the frog using OMS and prisma pencils. This is also the cards I made for a FROG swap on SCS that my friend Tracy is hosting!!

Tilda and Co. Sunday Challenge entries

Here are 2 cards I am entering for the Tilda & Co challenge blog. This week's challenge was to use the sketch they gave us. It was a fun one!!!

I like the first one the best -it doesn't seem as busy! I shouldn't have paper pieced the dress on the birthday Tilda - ahhh well, learning experience!!! The first card base is Orchid Opulence; the second card base is Garden Green & the DP is unknown! I also used yo-yo yellow in the second card. I used my word window punch, Riveting stamp set (SU), some dew drops and stickles. I also popped out the sentiment circles to give it some dimension. The "Happy Birthday" is done with my Karen Foster snap stamps! I always forget to use them - they are so handy for little words & sentiments!

Chocolate & Vanilla cupcakes...YUMMM!!!

I finally inked up my CUPCAKEABELLA and I love this card!!! I used Vanilla CS as my base and the DP is SU "Au Chocolat" (I can't believe they discontinued it!! sniff sniff). I paper pieced the cupcake on the same paper and added a red stickle cherry on top!! YUMMYYY!!!! I sponged the white with chocolate chip ink. I coloured her dress with Real Red and added red stickles to it too! The red grosgrain ribbon is from Michael's - I got it at Christmas and I LOVE it...I went back to get more, and they didn't have any! Guess I'll have to wait until Christmas again ...booo hooo!!!! The layout is very simple as I wanted the image to be the focal point. I used my oval punches (SU) for the sentiment - chocolate chip & vanilla; the sentiment is from Verve Visual.

I am SO NOT a baker - but these look yummy!!!! I don't mind cooking but baking is just not my thing! Tim bakes more than I do - he makes a mean pumpkin pie!!!! Speaking of pumpkin - I have to go make Pumpkin Squares for Easter dinner tomorrow!! We are going to my Mom & Dad's for lunch, then to Tim's Mom & Dad's for supper!!! PHEWW!!! We will be STUFFED!!!!

Here is the recipe for the Pumpkin Squares - trust me, they are EASY (or I wouldn't make them) and SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good!!!!!

Cake:

In a large mixer bowl, cream 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup white sugar, and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Beat in 2 eggs. Add 14 oz. can of pumpkin and stir to blend.

In a small bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, 1/4 tsp. ginger, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Stir together, then add to the creamed mixture. Stir to blend.

Spread in a greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake 45 min. at 350 degrees F. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Icing:

Beat 1 package (4 oz.) of softened cream cheese (250 g box) and 1/2 cup butter together until smooth. Stir in 2 tsp. vanilla. Gradually add 4 cups of icing sugar and beat until smooth.

Spread over the cooled cake, chill and cut into squares. ENJOY!!!!!

And the winner is..............

Ok, I know it's not Wed. night BUT it was a good TV night - Big Brother, America's Next Top Model and Survivor!!! There was NO time!!! LOL And last night I went out to the casino for my Sister in law's 50th birthday, so I am doing it now!! SORRY!!!!

Random.org picked #3 - so that would be SELEISE!!!! Send me your snail mail addy and I will get this little package off to you right away!!!! CONGRATS!!!!

Thank you EVERYONE for checking out my blog and participating in my challenge!! I hope you all had fun!!!