It has been such a busy month of crafting I never got around to take pics or write a post about anything! Need to take care of that obviously, and the first order of business is submitting (at the very last minute) my layout for the May challenge of Once Upon A Sketch.
I only found this awesome international blog recently and I love the challenges, the beautiful works submitted and the fact that I discover new (to me) manufacturers from outside North America.
So, without further ado, here is my take on this month's challenge, very appropriately themed "mum".

I used very old pictures from 1970 and 1972. I love looking at the old black and white photos of me and mom, just the two of us (my dad always liked to be the photographer) and even had a blast adding flowers, rhinestones and the cute banner. I was not sure how stamping the title "Mom" on fabric would work out but it looks great, I think, and the washi tape is so cool to work with. I pleated crepe paper under the embossed green foil and discovered that it is too thin to take a glitter mist properly but it still looks good in real life and adds some dimension.
Look forward to the next challenge!

For my first ever post on my brand new shiny blog I thought I would share a card I made for my husband Eric's birthday, which happens to be today. Is that auspicious or am I just guilty of Type A planning?? Take a guess:-) Anyway, here it is. Card making does not come easily to me but I like a challenge so over the last few months I decided to step outside my comfort zone and try to do more stamping, stitching and distressing... so I mixed a bit of everything on Eric's card. Plus, I could not resist adding a cute banner, which happens to be one of the hottest trends in paper crafting this year and one I am particularly keen on. Banners always make me feel happy - like it's Mardi Gras and the Macy's parade all in one. So Happy Birthday Eric and may you and my blog both enjoy many happy years!