Love Always FUSION...

WOW, this week has been a bit of a roller coaster, with both kiddies heading off in opposite directions for their first day at new high schools, and hearing of the sudden and unexpected death of one of my school classmates. In the words of the famous Darnell, Life Is Too Short folks, so kick up your heels and give someone special an extra hug today :)

Anyhoo, I can't wait to see what this weeks FUSION inspiration brings - will you be inspired by this FAB sketch, or this gorgeous photo - or BOTH?!?   This fortnight I was inspired by a combination of both the sketch, which I flipped up-side-down and used as the basis for the panel on the left of my page, and the photo with its combination of colours, hearts theme, polka dots and music. Created using a combination of papers from MME and October Afternoon, combined with Making Memories sparkly alphabet stickers, Heidi Swapp and Tim Holtz hearts, red beads, silver ribbon and black staples used to create "kisses" to secure my papers together.

We'd LOVE you to join in the fun...

How to play:

1. Play with just the sketch challenge.

2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.

3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.

4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.

5. Please read the other considerations on the Rules Page before playing along.

Drop by for some more fabulous DT inspiration here:

Betty J - Cathy Weber - Dannielle Robeson - Deepti
Geri Freeman - Julia Aston - Katie Brooks - Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Lupton
Michelle Williams - Sindhu - Stephanie Severin

Don't forget to check FUSION Mr Linky to see how much time is left to play!! 

Also playing along with The Pink Elephant Love Challenge and Color Me Creative too!

This made me smile...

A CAS(E) of WPlus9 and Stencils...

If you have been lucky enough to be playing along with On-Line Classes Stenciled, you too will have been inspired! I was particularly taken with Debby's fabulous inking, in combination with heat embossed vellum. Taking inspiration from the chevrons, colours, washi and dots from this gorgeous WPlus9 Monday Moodboard, combined with this super versatile CAS(E) this Sketch, and the fabulous FUSION colours and flowers too.

Created my own stencil by die-cutting chevrons from a sheet of paper, then inked the background in Squeezed Lemon Distressed Ink. Stamped this gorgeous WPlus9 bird and sentiment and embossed in mirror silver on the WPlus9 pinked square die-cut vellum, added washi tape and enamel dots to secure the vellum panel.

 

Love {Mama Elephant} today & always...

I thought I'd try a new to me technique which has been popular for a while, so to twist it up {and as Valentine's Day is around the corner} I thought I'd try bokeh in hearts rather than dots. Created using hearts from Mama Elephant Tree Friends, Bling and On Target, with the gorgeous silhouette and sentiment from So Breezy. Inspired by Mama Elephant Photo Inspiration Challenge, CAS on Sunday Lovely Dovey, Addicted to CAS New Challenge, and Curtain Call Love Letters Challenge. Stamped in a combination of Spun Sugar and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks, Hero Arts Bubble Gum and Momento Luxe Rose Bud. Stamped the sentiment and girl in position first, then the hearts with the lightest colour first, building up to the darkest layer.

E.T.A... After I uploaded my card I discovered Lisa's Wanna Sketch has started for the year with the fabulous sketch below - and I couldn't resist linking mine up :)

  

 

What's the Buzz...

Combined Paper Smooches Giddy Bugs and Cyber Cafe stamps with Paper Smooches Hexalongs and Reflections Flowers die cuts to create this card to play along with Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes. Inspired by Keep It Simple Text Challenge and the fabulously versatile CAS(E) this Sketch. Colourwise I'm still influenced by last weeks Paper Smooches Picture Perfect Challenge - co-incidentally the same as this fortnights FUSION colours too! Inked up using my Dark Grey Artemio again - I LOVE that these inks wipe off your stamps completely, even if you forget to clean up straight away! I've had these dark grey ribbon roses in my stash for a while now, matched with Echo Park Sweet Day, and Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper with a couple of buttons to match.

 

Don't forget Paper Smooches February Guest Designer Search closes soon! 

You Light Up My Life...

I was lucky enough to have won a fabulous prize pack from the gorgeous Christine just before Christmas, and when my bag of goodies arrived, I inked up my Paper Smooches Smoocheroos stamps with Dark Grey Artemio ink from my prize pack, just in time to play along with Paper Smooches Sparks Picture Perfect Challenge, with a sketch based on this fortnights Seize the Sketch (the banner became my "light"), and Keep It Simple Text Challenge. I LOVE this colour combo, and that cake reminds me of the stacked lighthouse!

Paper Smooches Sparks - Picture Perfect

Keep It Simple have a Design Team Call on at the moment too - 

they have a FABULOUS team - so what are you waiting for?!?

A Happy Birthday Accident...

Whilst I was playing with my Glimmermists, I accidentally oversprayed onto a couple of pieces of white cardstock on my desk, so I made the most of this happy accident by adding some more layers of ink to create this Neat & Tangled Happy Birthday card.  Using Neat & Tangled Ink Splash and Everyday Circles sentiments stamped in Momento Luxe Morocco, Bahama Blue and Nautical Blue. Playing along with Little Tangles One Layer Card Challenge and Seize the Birthday, and inspired by the inky goodness of Donna's CASE Study card.

 

Time for Friends & FUSION

This fortnight I was inspired by both this fabulous FUSION photo, with its colours, woodgrain and floral theme, together with this versatile sketch. My background paper is from Simple Stories, blackboard stamp from My Favorite Things, and all the other elements were hiding in my stash - I think I've had these flowers for about 8 years LOL! 

I do love the patterned brad at the centre of my flower - maybe you will be inspired to make your own flower too! What will you be inspired by at FUSION this fortnight - the texture, colours or floral theme from this gorgeous photo, or this fabulous sketch - or BOTH! We'd LOVE you to join in the fun...

How to play:

1. Play with just the sketch challenge.

2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.

3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.

4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.

5. Please read the other considerations on the Rules Page before playing along.

Drop by for some more fabulous DT inspiration here:

Betty J
Cathy Weber 
Dannielle Robeson
Deepti
Geri Freeman
Julia Aston
Katie Brooks
Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Wiener

Lynn Mangan

Michelle Lupton
Michelle Williams

Sindhu

Stephanie Severin

Check Mr Linky to see how much time is left to play!! 

A CAS(E) of Clearly Crazy for Craft...

Believe it or not, this would have to rank up there with one of the craziest things I've done in the name of craft! No, it's not the fact that I embossed in gold on coloured vellum, but the fact that I actually heat embossed in a house with no air conditioning, when the temperature is predicted to reach 44 degrees Celsius today (that's 111.2 degrees Fahrenheit!).  The past two days have already been over 40 degrees, and tomorrow is predicted to be the same again - so I think I could almost have embossed without my heat gun ;)

Created to play along with the gorgeous sketch created by Leigh over at CAS(E) this Sketch - go check out the FABULOUS gallery and DT samples - Clearly Besotted Love Challenge using these amazing stamps and sentiment from Clearly Besotted, and Simon Says Stamp Emboss It Challenge and paper from Studio Calico.  Folded the vellum by creasing along the feather stem using my thumb nail and then folding upward, and adhered the feather to the card by applying Dimensional Magic along the back of the crease line.

 

DeNami Valentine Blog Hop...

So glad you can join us for the DeNami Valentine Blog Hop! Don't forget to hop along, be inspired and comment to be in the running for your chance at one of TWO $20 DeNami Gift Certificates.

The first card features the fabulous DeNami Design Rock Band Chickies, with a little heart added to his drum kit, and the second features DeNami Design Chickie Long Legs, peeking from behind the valentine. Both cards feature papers from MME Cupid's Arrow and Carte Bella Devoted.

When: The blog hop starts on January 12, 2014 at 6 AM, PST, and you have until January 13, 2014, 11:59 pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs (to be eligible for a prize).

Why: To be inspired by fun DeNami Design creations and also the chance to win mini shopping sprees on the DeNami Design website!

Prizes: DeNami Design are giving away $20 gift certificates to TWO people who comment along the hop!

If you've hopped here from the FABULOUS Valentine's feast by Dana Seymour, you're on the right track, and need to head off to visit the super lovely Paulina Nakamura next!  If you get lost, don't forget to stop by DeNami Design blog to see the whole list.

Card 1 is inspired by this sketch from Mojo Monday, and card 2 is inspired by this sketch from Seize the Sketch, and colours from Colour Me.

A CASE of Happy Birthday TAWS...

The Alley Way Stamps are celebrating their third birthday with fabulous discounts and giveaways, so I thought I'd join in the celebrations with this birthday card featuring TAWS Wish BIG balloons and sentiment, coloured vellum and gold embossing powder.  

Also playing along with TAWS BE Inspired (over on their new challenge blog), CASE Study with this gorgeous inspiration card from Donna Mikasa, Seize the Birthday and JUGS Paper Piecing Challenge.

  

This made me smile...

Hi Bear, a Little Freshly Made Card Concept...

Just popping by with a quick card for Little Tangles Hello Challenge, and play along with the inaugural The Card Concept Colour Challenge using this fab sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  Thought "Hi bear" was a cute substitute for "hi there". I used the chalkboard technique for this Clean and Simple card, stamping with Versamark Watermark then white embossing powder, using three fabulous sets from Neat and Tangled with Little Bear bear, paw prints and "bear" sentiment, A Lot to Say speech bubble, and Just Hello "hi" sentiment.

 

Hello Beautiful...

Playing along this week with Little Tangles Saying Hello Challenge, celebrating the new Little Tangles DT, and MUSE Challenge, with a gorgeous sunny card by Laurie, and Little Red Wagon All Purpose Card Challenge too.

This card combines five of the fabulous sets by Neat & Tangled, although you have to look pretty close to see the Little Tangles zig zags stamped in yellow behind the bottom two clouds - I was trying to go for subtle - but maybe yellow ink on kraft is a bit too subtle LOL! The sun is created by stamping Sunburst and Everyday Circles "Hello" in Momento Luxe Dandelion, and the white clouds were created using Just Thinking of You stamped in Hero Arts Soft Pool, and Fresh Blooms "Hello Beautiful" sentiment. The matching teal cloud is from Amy Tangerine's chipboard collection, and the kraft cardstock base was highlighted using Lil Inker Stitched Squares.

Neat & Tangled have a new DT call on at the moment too - they have a FAB collection of unique images, and sequins!!! and owner Danielle is just delightful - so get your skates on and give it a go - you never know!!!

Laurie's gorgeous MUSE card

This made me smile...

and this too...