Cocktails Anyone??

Hello everyone: I hope you and your families are doing well, keeping each other healthy and safe.

Well, it's been really hot up here in the Midwest so, the SHOPPING OUR STASH has a very Tropical theme for you to play with.   We would love to see cards with palm trees, colorful drinks, tropical birds and hula girls, so here is my card, I hope it inspires you to come and play along.

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This is the INSIDE

This is what I used.

Stampin' Up! "Happy Hour" (2012-2013)

Stampin' Up! "Botanical Blooms" die set for the flowers.

Stampin' Up! "Bordering Blooms" (2014-2015)

Gina Marie Designs Enamel Dots.

I hope you feel very Tropical and come play with us in our SHOPPING OUR STASH gallery.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO
Maria.

 

Berry Sweet!!

 Hello everyone: I always hope you and your family are doing well, keeping each other safe and healthy.

I have a "Berry" sweet card to share with you this late afternoon.

We had some really awful and scary tornado weather last night, the Tornado sirens started to blow at around 12:10am., it was intense and nerve-wracking for about 30 min. but luckily we had no damage to our home, and neither did our neighbors, all we had to do today was clean up the branches and debris that flew from all over the place and for that, we are grateful.

Here's my card.

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This is the INSIDE

This is what I used.

Power Poppy "Summer Berries", (sold out😢)

The little Bees are from Power Poppy "Dynamic Duos

Foxglove and Ranunculus".

The small flowers on the inside corner are from  Power Poppy

"Tea in the Garden"

Prismacolor pencils.

I want to play with:

The Paper Players

Sweet Stampin'

"I Spy Something Beginning with B"

Thank you for stopping by today.

Please stay healthy and safe.

XO

Maria.

 

Butterfly Smiles.

 Hello everyone: I hope you and  your families are doing well, still wearing your masks and keeping each other healthy and safe.

I have a fun and colorful card to share today.

This is the INSIDE

This is what I used.

The sweet image is from my friend Rachel Vass, her digital store is Rachel Vass Designs 

Prismacolor Pencils.

Tim Holtz Alterations Mixed Media dies

Stampin' Up! "Bordering Blooms" (retired 2014-2015)

Thank you for visiting me today.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO

Maria.

IRON STRENGHT.....

 Hello everyone: I always hope that you and your families are doing well, taking care of each other and keeping safe.

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I'm guessing that the picture of me on top of my blog page lets you know that I'm a Triathlete, an Iron Man Triathlete to be more specific.

I've been a swimmer from a very young age and I competed in this sport through my Junior High and High School years in Mexico.

I kept competing with the US Masters Swimming Club for a number of years back in the mid 80's, early 90's and then, in 2003 I discovered the sport of Triathlon.

Long story short.....I competed in this sport from 2003 through 2011 and let me tell you, those are some of the most rewarding and amazing years of my life.

The Iron Man Triathlon is a 2.4 mile swim in open water, (lakes or the ocean), followed by a 112 mile bike ride, usually on the back roads of the host city and then, a 26.2 mile Marathon, all in the span of 17 hours.  The race starts at 7am. and you must cross the finish line at the stroke of midnight.

It's a grueling race, not for the unprepared, you must come to the starting line with the knowledge that the day ahead will be hard, painful and exhausting but also, with the firm conviction that it will be glorious the moment you cross that finish line.

I've done 3 of these races plus many, many shorter ones, from my humble beginnings to my Iron Man adventures, it's been an amazing ride.

So, forgive me for the long introduction, I get a bit carried away when I talk about this sport. 

The theme over at CASology is STRENGHT and, when I saw it, the only thing I could think of that, for me, represents this word is Triathlon.

So here's my card, hope you like it.

The words are die cut with an Alphabet die set.

The sentiment was typed, printed and cut, the M with the dot is the logo of the sport.

The number represents the total distance of the race.

Believe me, what is says is true, you smile because you are feeling simply awesome.

The papers are from my stash.

This is the INSIDE.

The sentiments inside are from a Power Poppy set called "Orichids"

I want to play with these challenges.

CASology

I realize a bit to late that this card is not CAS so, if you need to remove it

from the challenge, it's ok. I apologize.

Tuesday Morning Sketches

Thank you for stopping by today.

I sure love reading your comments, thank you.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO
Maria.

A Little Reminder.

Hello everyone: I hope you and your families are doing well, staying healthy and safe.

Well, we've arrived at the half-way point on THE FLOWER CHALLENGE, so I'm here with my reminder card to inspire you to come and play along.  The prompt for this challenge is CAS, I hope to see you in our gallery.

Our Guest Designer this month is the amazing Rachel Alvarado from Rachel Alvarado Designs 

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This is the INSIDE.

And this is what I used.

The flower image is from our sponsor this month, Joy Claire Designs

Prismacolor pencils.

The "Thanks" sentiment is from Enchanted Iris, there's a coordinated Die Set 

The inside sentiment is also from this stamp set.

Thank you for visiting me today, I hope you go visit THE FLOWER CHALLENGE for more inspiration from my awesome teammates and then, come and join us in our gallery.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO
Maria.

 

A Cutie Pie of a Witch.

Hello dear friends: I hope you and your families are still doing well, I also hope you are fully vaccinated, I believe this is the only way to defeat this virus, we need to show IT who is boss!!

Ok, I'm here with a little reminder card for the fun and fabulous 2 OLD BATS HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE.

This is our Inspiration Board.

Here is my card.

This adorable image is from Lili of the Valley, (retired), I figured since I created a really scary WITCH on that post, this time I will go for this cutie pie, seems to me that this pair of friends are going Trick or Treating, how sweet is that?

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This is the INSIDE.

This is what I used.

The image is from Lily of the Valley, retired, called "Halloween".

Pattern paper and ribbon from my stash.

The punched "Boo" might be from Fiskars, not sure.

Prismacolor pencils.

The inside sentiment is from a retired Stampin' Up! set called

"Dark and Dreary" (2010)

So I hope you find some time to come and play with us at 2 OLD BATS HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE.

Creating Halloween cards in June is fun.

For more inspiration, hop over the challenge blog and check out my teammates' awesome cards, then join us in our gallery.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO
Maria.

 

Seashell Treasures.

Hello everyone: I'm always hoping that you and your families are doing well, we are fully vaccinated up here but we still wear our masks. Best wishes for health and peace.

Well, it's Sunday and it's really hot out there so, my hubby and I have been just chilling inside, watching movies and snacking.  I'm coming a bit late with this card, hoping I can make it before the challenge over at Color Hues closes in a few hours.

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This is the INSIDE

This is what I used.

Flourishes "Seaside Life" (2009).

Prismacolor pencils.

Stampin' Up! "Gorgeous Grunge" (2013-2014)

I want to play with:

Color Hues

Thank you for visiting me today.

Stay healthy and safe.

XO
Maria.