Happy Mothers' Day

My mother and mother-in-law both passed away several years ago, and I still miss them.  They each lived to their mid 90's so were blessed with full lives.  They were blessings to us and I hope we were also to them.  Now we are in turn blessed to have a daughter and daughter-in-law who are great mothers to their children.  We pray for all mothers that they may know this love and be blessings and good examples to their families.
On to this card - I am a bit frustrated because I chose the colors for a color challenge, only to find I had had too many interruptions and missed the deadline!  But there are other challenges...
Image - One of my all time favorites - Stampin Up -Garden Collage; water color pencils;  Embossing - Darice Butterfies; butterfly punch - Marvy; sheer ribbon; Fiskars border punch.
Note:  I used my heat gun to "melt" the ribbon - was not careful enough and the whole strip melted away.  Suggestion - point the heat away from the card!
Sketch:    Mojo Monday
Flowers:   Mod Squad
Butterflies:   Cuttlebug Mania
Tic Tac Toe (top row):  Creative Knockouts
Any:     Inspiration Destination
              Creative Card Crew 
              Stamped Blessings
              Word Art Wednesday

Pastel wedding

A friend asked me to make a card similar to one I had done earlier - especially the pale peach and cream.  I used Nestabilities Majestic Element ovals.  I inadvertently did not cut through one of the dies - and I like the way the two (or is it three?) outer ovals remained attached.  I added Swiss dots embossing, a Cheery Lynn butterfly, a bit of lace and sheer ribbon, and drops.  The clear drops are available in a number of sets at Classy cards 'n Such.
Sketch:     http://sweetsundaysketch.blogspot.com/2015/06/sweet-sunday-sketch-challenge-272.html
Wedding:  http://stampedblessings.com/amusing-challenge/
                   http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/2015/06/ccns-challenge-88-june-wedding.html 
Spots and Dots:  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/
Die cuts:     http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/     http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/

Pastel birthday

Whew!  I actually did a Mojo Monday challenge on Monday - and early, at that!
Supplies:  Tattered Lace floral panel die;  stamp by All Night Media; gel pens; Embossalicious HB folder (6x6); washi tape; Petaloo flower, gem, CheeryLynn branch die.  Note:  I originally placed the floral panel directly on the HB panel, but it made it look too busy, so I backed it with a plain pink panel.  I also backed the washi tape with white cs.
Sketch:       http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Pastels:       http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/
Birthday:    http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
Dies:            http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.com/
Inspiration: http://giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.ca/
Any:             http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/
                     http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
                     http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.ca/
Fave embellishment (Gems and leafy die cut):  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/

Chalked floral

My Card

Cornelia's inspiration card

My card (top) is inspired by a couple of Cornelia's cards for this month - at Stamplorations.  If you look through my blog you will see several versions of this embossed floral card.  This time, I printed the sentiment on my computer - positioning it so that I could cut a panel the right size to emboss.  The font I used is called Jokerman.  It is probably the first time I used it - but I liked the unusual look.
I used powdered chalk to sponge the embossing as well as the edges of the panel. TIP:   I used another favorite technique - I cut the embossed panel with a very dull blade I keep for this purpose - it gives just a bit of distress to the edges and is easy-peasy!  Oops - the smudge above the sentiment is NOT on the card!
CASE:    http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/2015/03/inspiration-post-march-9.html
Chalk:     http://chalknstock.blogspot.com/
Pastel:     http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Spring:    http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/
Any:        http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
                http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.ca/
Sentiment:   http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Yellow & tip:   http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/
Floral inspiration:  http://www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/

Shimmer and butterflies

The HB background (Cuttlebug) is on silver shimmer cs - it looks more like metallic here than it really is.  This stamp by ODB is one I use a lot - I do  not really have just one "go to" stamp.  I tried using a variety of colors for the butterflies - I now realize I prefer a subtler result!  What do you think?  I used a Darice butterfly embossing folder for the smaller panel, and a Cuttlebug border die.  The flower is Petaloo, and the leaves are from a Sizzix die.  The mat is a medium purple.
Sketch #1:   http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Any ODB:   http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
"Go to" stamp:   http://www.fashionablestampingchallenges.com/
Inspiration colors:   http://giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.ca/
Spring:         http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/
                     http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/
Pastels:         http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Something that flies:   http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/
For the girls:    http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/

Springtime birthday

I usually color the watering can a silver or grey - I kind of like the yellow!  The image (Our Daily Bread) is colored with a variety of inks, pens and pencils, to get the desired colors - which do not display well on the screen.  The flowers that look shades of lilac are really shades of pink.   Blessings die is by Cheery Lynn.
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Pastels (blue, pink, yellow):http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Colored image: http://www.fashionablestampingchallenges.com/?p=9345
Sentiment:    http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/
Layers:        http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.ca/
Spring:        http://2cuteinkchallenges.blogspot.com/
Inspiration (many pink flowers):  http://www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/
Inspiration with yellow/green and blue:  http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/
Doily, with Cheery Lynn die:   http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.ca/

Pastel cupcake

Ske

Interpreting an inspiration challenge is not always easy for me.  The Alley way challenge offered several choices - even harder to decide!  I was looking for some DP that I had in mind, when I noticed this piece - by the Paper Studio  It was part of a sort of grab bag - lots of paper, and this is the first I used these cupcakes!  It fits the color part of the inspiration, and I was inspired to use this sketch for the circles as well.  The Alley Way image is colored with Prismas - some Stickles added to the icing and to the pink flower.
Sketch:  http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Inspiration:  http://beinspiredchallenge.blogspot.com/
Circles:   http://stampandcreateblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Challenge
Birthday: http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?blog=3542740&group=0&frame_type=b&frame=1&click=0&user=0http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?blog=3542740&group=0&frame_type=b&frame=1&click=0&user=0

All die cuts

 I enjoy using die cuts, so a "die cut only" challenge is right up my alley!  I just need more (yah, sure!!) dies - more of the fancy circles and ovals - then I could do gorgeous cards like so many of you create.
Here I used a couple of kinds of DP, Spellbinders ovals - with glitter added - sizzix dies, and some ribbon.  The leaf die is available at Joan's Gardens.  The owner Terri also sells the Vagabond die cutting machine - I am glad to have that as it does a great job of cutting this birthday die - it seems a bit more temperamental than some of my dies.
Sketch:  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
No stamping; at least 2 layers, and product from Joan's Gardens:  http://www.joanstouch.com/
Tic Tac Toe ( middle down - glitter, pastel, and flowers):  http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/
Spring flowers:  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/2014/04/april-anything-goes-challenge.html
           http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/

Fluffles in the garden

Here is Fluffles in the garden, ready to present a bouquet.  The flowers are colored with gel pens. 
DP- Recollections; corners - Spellbinders;  metal brads - Craft Essentials.
Sketch:  http://sundaysketchandstamp.blogspot.com/
Garden:  http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
Pastels:  http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/
Tic Tac Toe (die: cuts, emboss, metal):  http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/

CAS pastel

CAS cards are the most difficult for me.  I forced myself to keep this clean!  The strip is a CB border die, and I added bits of the negative to highlight the sentiment - I got a bit of ink in the wrong spot!  The sentiment is a 7 Gypsies library stamp - this has a dozen sentiments and is my go-to stamp for small sentiments.
Sketch:   http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/
CAS in pastel:  http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.com/
CAS with a sentiment:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/

Special greeting

This is a greeting that works for sending RAK cards to strangers.  I tried it with soft colors.  I used a bit of Orchard Harvest for the swirls.  The border punch is EKSuccess.  I used the negative flowers, and sponged the sentiment.
Sentiment only:  http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/
Sketch: http://fetch-a-sketch.blogspot.com/

It has been a while since I expressed my appreciation to so many bloggers and stampers for providing these challenges, and for DT members who diligently check out our cards and make comments.  Thanks also to Feline Playful for listing so many challenges.

Flowery Anniversary card

I am glad to be making something other than a green card!
I used the sketch here, together with mostly pastel blue: http://www.thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/
These challenges are to use flowers:  http://amusestudiochallengeblog.blogspot.com/
                                                        http://letsinkitup.blogspot.com/
The blue flourishes were my inspiration: http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
Image from ODB, dollar bin sentiment, misc. dp and cs.  The panel on the left is a scrap from DCWV Spring Garden, and has some floral flocking - hard to see here.  I used a Fiskars border punch for the punched panel, and also used this on the inside of the card.  White glittery flowers are from Petaloo.