A Squirrel's Tale

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I came across this wonderful blog yesterday, World Of My Imagination. It offered a fantastic challenge that I couldn't resist: Wednesday Writing Weekly Writing Prompt. Using a photo & 5 words, you must come up with a story that is 500 words or less.

I'm a writer, although, I haven't done it in a long time. I figured I might as well do it now! Here is my story, inspired by my creation below. Whether it's good or not, writing a weekly story is a great challenge for me & will definitely offer something different than the regular craft challenges I enter.

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Like a jet, a squirrel shoots down a tree & stops. She feels eyes watching her. She glances about without moving a muscle. She doesn't blink until she finds those eyes & who they belong to. She lets out a chuckle when she realizes that it's just Grandmother. Grandmother is what the squirrels call the castle's cat. She's an old soul, who is too busy lazing about, sleeping away her day on the lawn to bother with them. Her kittens, now grown, are another story entirely. They still have their youth & curiosity. A dangerous thing.

The squirrel grabs an acorn that has fallen from a tree. She keeps focused on everything around her. Many a squirrel has fallen pray to the kittens for not paying attention. Her nose twitches as gentle breeze brings the scent of fish. It must be feeding time for the kittens, so she relaxes her guard. They never give up a free meal, especially during the summer when it is hot outside. She has an hour to spend enjoying the ground. Once the kittens eat, they sleep.

The squirrel scurries around, grabbing more acorns. It was such a beautiful day in the shade. The grass was soft & cool. The birds were singing. It was so lovely when the kittens weren't around. She picked up another acorn before she realized that the birds were quiet. Quiet was never good. One of the birds shrieked & she realized her error.

A kitten was crouching not far from her. Darn! She had made a mistake & it could be lethal. She kept still for a moment before her flight instinct to over. Dropping all of her food, she ran as fast as she could toward the tree. She was safer in a tree than on the ground. She felt the swipe of a kitten's paw, but it missed her as she charge up that tree. Her life depended on it.

When she was as high as could be, she looked down. The kitten had lost interest almost immediately & was already on it's way back to the castle. A sigh of relief.

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This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!


ATC & Cards With Attitude: Challenge #16 - Anything Goes
Make It Monday: Challenge #93 - Anything Goes & Leave A Comment
Papertake Weekly: Challenge #70 - 3, 2, 1 (3 papers, two ribbons, 1 bottle cap)
Simon Says Stamp: Photo Inspiration
Tuesday Throwdown: Challenge #102 - Critters
Twisted Tuesday: Something Clear, Something You Love (Vellum, Squirrel)

It's Almost Dad's Day!

Here is the card that I will be mailing to my daddio for Father's Day - What do you think?

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Celebrate The Occasion: Challenge #68 - Father's Day

Make It Monday: Challenge #93 - Anything Goes & Leave A Comment

One Stop Craft: Challenge #186 - Father's Day
Penny's Paper-Crafty: I Love You, Dad

The Pink Elephant: Challenge #152 - Masculine

Tuesday Morning Sketches: Challenge #150

Bicycle Trip

It's time to take a little trip on the bike. The weather is perfect for it (if you live where I do.) I'm going to take some time & remember how to ride my bike since I haven't gotten on it in quite a few months! Luckily, you never forget . . .

I scavenged through my printed photos & found a lovely one of a Manzanita tree. It's bark naturally peels, creating a beautiful mix of colors.

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Delightful Sketches: Fun In The Sun

Make It Monday: Anything Goes & Leave A Comment

The Pink Elephant: TPE152 - Masculine

Posies In A Vase

Here is a quick & easy way to create a "vase": Cut the ends off of an oval. Yep, that's all it takes :)

I used the same flowers from the card below, but I changed it up for a completely different look & new creation.

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

365 Cards: Day 97 - That Looks Familiar
Celebrate The Occasion: Challenge #65 - Think ing Of You/Flowers
Make It Monday: Challenge #92 - Anything Goes & Leave A Comment

Papertake Weekly: Challenge #69 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown: Challenge #101 - Friendship

Sparkle, Bloom & Bow

It is just not very cheery today. Rain, rain, rain! The local weather girl says it's "light showers" - Ha! Everything is soaked & it hasn't let up since I awoke this morning.

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Make It Monday: Challenge #92 - Anything Goes & Leave A Comment

Papertake Weekly: Challenge #69 - Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown: Challenge #101 - Friendship

The Pink Elephant: TPE151 - Vibrant Colors

Itsy Bitsy Bikinis

It's Summer! If you are in Oregon like me, it may not seem like it. But it's here! If you haven't already pulled it out, it's time to get that bikini (or other swimsuit if you're not a bikini wearer) ready to wear or at least your body ready to wear it :)

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Make It Monday: Challenge #92 - Anything Goes & Leave A Comment

Paper Playtime: Challenge #76 - Die Cuts/Vacation (White, swirl-embossed sun)

The Pink Elephant: TPE151 - Vibrant Colors

Red, White & Cupcake!

Here is a quick & easy card. It features a damask pocket (handmade by me, of course), satin ribbon, flower buttons & black rhinestones. Oh, yeah, don't forget the stamped cupcake on the flat card tucked into the pocket. CAS!

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Daring Cardmakers: Red, White & Blue

Delightful Sketches: Red, White & Blue

Make It Monday: Anything Goes & Leave A Comment

Oldie But A Goodie: Anything Goes (Flowers - 1 year old, probably longer!)

Happy Birthday Cubed

Good morning, friends! It's cold here in Oregon AND it's probably going to rain, but it's still a good morning because it just gives me an excuse to stay inside & create. Luckily, this Memorial weekend is supposed to be sunny & warm. I'll be enjoying the outdoors - No crafting! This is always a little weird for me, but it's also important to take a break.

I am addicted to creating those flowers! They are oh, so easy & I have so many supplies for them that I could make a MILLION - No joke :)

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Anything Goes: Challenge #67 - Black With One Other Color

Make It Monday: Challenge #90 - Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday: Challenge #77 - Dig Out The Old (alphabet beads, ribbons.)

Just A Note

Instead of using fancy papers, I took pages from a well-loved dictionary to create the big bloom & for a little added background. I LOVE books, so I only use those books that have been used so much that they need new life added to them. Turning their pages into embellishes is a wonderful way to add interest to my craft.

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

365 Cards: Day 81 - Super Sketchy Sunday

Cupcake Craft: Cupcake 193 - Book Lover

Make It Monday: Challenge #90 - Anything Goes

Thank You

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of my fellow design team members at Tuesday Alchemy. I dedicate this creation to all you lovely ladies! They have not only created beautiful works to inspire, but they have also been just fantastic in spreading the word of Tuesday Alchemy. Thank you, ladies!

If you would like to find out more about this fabulous group of women, you can check out their individual blogs.

Eileen

Julia

Katya

Kelli

Laine

Maria

Marion

Victoria

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Make It Monday: Challenge #90 - Anything Goes

Pollycraft: Challenge #139 - Color Scheme: Pink, Cream, Red & White

The Pink Elephant: TPE 149 - Buttons Galore

Sweet For You

{ Sweet For You }

I love color, but I also enjoy keeping it simple. This set has only three colors: black, light pink & white.

I didn't have any ribbon that matched, so I used a pair of shoelaces (New in the package & unused, of course.) I don't know how I came to own these laces as I'm not really one to wear checkerboard print. However, they were tucked away in my supplies, so I finally found a use for them!

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Make It Monday: Challenge #87 - Anything Goes

Mojo Monday: MOJO239 - Sketch

Pollycraft: Challenge #138 - Matching Card & Tag

Lily (A Tuesday Alchemy Sneak Preview)

Tuesday Alchemy has a new sponsor & I am very excited to introduce you to them! Pink Cat Studio will be offering a prize for Tuesday Alchemy's next challenge (starts Tuesday, May 1st.) Woohoo!

In this card, I used one of their delightful digital stamps, Lily Holding Flowers. Isn't she super sweet?

For the background, I cut squares out of the same striped paper & simply switched up the direction that the stripes go. For Lily's pigtails, I added cute little bows. I brought the same blue to the dots on her skirt to tie the color scheme together.

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Make It Monday: Challenge #86 - Anything Goes

Mojo Monday: MOJO238 - Sketch

This card is available for FREE! Yep, it's free. Click here if you'd like to have it as your very own.

Inspire (RDB2)

Red & light blue are my favorite colors when combined together. They always are so fun & work perfectly.

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

365 Cards: Day 46 - Super Sketchy Sunday

Make It Monday: Challenge #85 - Anything Goes

Stamp With Fun: Challenge #157 - Favorite Colors

This card is available for FREE! Yep, it's free. Click here if you'd like to have it as your very own.

Baby Bear In The Window

A sweet, little bear looks out her window on beautiful Spring day. Her best friend is an equally sweet stuffed bear that goes with her on all of her imaginative journeys.

This 3D window box is filled with blooms, grass & decorated with a lovely heart banner. This flat card is more suitable for framing or displaying than giving as a greeting.

This card was submitted to wonderful challenge blogs - See below for links & details, so you can create your own & join in the fun!

Cupcake Craft: Cupcake 188 - In The Deep

Make It Monday: Challenge #85 - Anything Goes

Pollycraft: Challenge #136 - Cute Critters

This card is available for FREE! Yep, it's free. Click here if you'd like to have it as your very own.

Fancy Cake - Black, Purple & White

This cake is uber fun & flirty with ribbons & a stand covered in rhinestones. Fancy, fancy, fancy!

This card was submitted to these wonderful challenge blogs - See below for the link & details, so you can join in the fun & share your own creation:

ATCs & Cards With Attitude: Challenge #11 - Anything Goes

Make It Monday: Challenge #84 - Anything Goes

Ruby's Rainbow: Challenge #26 - Birthday Cake

It will be available in my shop (click here) if you'd like to give this to someone special :)

Corset & Flowers = Romance

This card is fun, flirty & romantic - A sweet card to give to a future bride.

To create the corner embellishment (see below), I stamped flowers in brown ink & added pink dots using paint for added detail.

This card was submitted to this wonderful challenge blog - See below for the link & details, so you can join in the fun & share your own creation:

Make It Monday: Challenge #84 - Anything Goes

Stamp With Fun: Challenge #156 - Sketch

Use It Today: Challenge #29 - Anything Goes

It will be available in my shop (click here) if you'd like to give this to someone special :)