Challenging myself . . .

Happy Wednesday Blogging Friends!

Last evening while I was playing around in my 'cave' ... I decided to check out the Tuesday Challenges over on Feline Playful and see how many I could put into ONE CREATION!  

I decided to start out with an empty Cricut cartridge box (thanks Stephanie for sending these to me) and as I started to decorate it,I looked through the challenges listed and kept some of them in mind.  Wasn't sure where I was headed but here's what I ended up with ... I'm pretty happy with the outcome!

Products used in this creation are:
Papers:  Gift wrapping paper, olive cardstock,
Accessories:  K&Co. Chipboard bird & butterfly, Michael's satin ribbons, Prima flowers, Rafia, Wild Orchid Flowers, Cheery Lynn Designs (B117S) Fanciful Flourish die, (B147) Olive Branches, (B119) Tropical Leaves, Hat Pin, Jewelry beads, Clear gems, Dew Drops

The 'paper' is actually wrapping paper that came in the mail as a gift from one of the organization that we send money to from time to time.  The first challenge that I spotted was FLOWERS so I thought this would be a great starting point.  Here are the Tuesday challenges I used for this creation . . .

Bearly Mine - Flowers

Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes - Use 2 or more ribbons

ColourQ #142 - Soft Sky, Island Indigo, Crushed Curry, Cameo Coral, Vanilla

Creative Card Crew #13 - Easy as 1,2,3 (1-Bird, 2-Ribbons, 3+ Flowers)

Jackson's Digital Expression - Altered Item

Lady Bug Crafts Ink TLT - Double Trouble (2 of something)

LEJ Designs - Recycle Something (cricut box & wrapping paper)

Paper & Such - Feathered Friends  -  listed but shows challenge is closed

Papertake Weekly - Bingo! (ribbon-free-blooms)

I'm sure there are other challenges this creation qualifies for ... I will be sure to check them out and add them here later in the day.  But, for now, I'd like to share a couple other things with you.

EDIT:  A few more qualifying challenges for my altered Cricut box

 The Cheerful Stamp Pad - In the Garden
Crafty Cardmakers #70 - NO cards, tags or ATCs
Lollipop Crafts #83 - Flowers in Bloom [2nd entry]
The Crazy Challenge - Recipe (ribbon, gems, dies) [2nd entry]
 There She Goes Clear Stamps - Winged Things (Bird and Butterfly)
UnstampaBelles Challenge - Ribbons
Use Your Stuff #38 - Make it by hand (decorative pin)
Creative Belli Blog - Anything But A Card
Divas by Design - Diecuts
Simon Says - Anything But A Card
Stampavie and more - Things with Wings

As you can see (if you are a follower of my blog), I'm hooked on FANCY FOLD cards at the moment.  Especially the Tri-Shutter style!  So last evening I also made TWO more ... this time BABY was my theme.  Here's a peek . . .

 One for 'Baby Girl' . . .

My flower is homemade using the same designer paper and the PunchBunch 'Begonia' punch purchased through Joan's Gardens.

 And, one that could go either for 'Baby Girl' OR 'Baby Boy'

Again, the flower was homemade using the same punch but this time I used #65 pale blue paper and inked the edges with TH 'broken china' ink before conditioning and creating my flower using the McGill Flower Making Kit also purchased through Joan's Gardens.

Qualifying challenges for my Baby Tri-Shutter Cards:
Crafty Creations Challenge - Baby
Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Ribbon or Bows
Great Impressions - Punches & Dies (3rd entry)
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Fancy Folds

Something else real quick before my timer goes off telling me I need to get upstairs and get the pork chops started for dinner ...

I'd like to share with you a couple photos I took this morning as I gazed out into our back yard!

Yep ... Mallard ducks!  The most I've ever seen in our yard at one time!

1-female and 7-male

And then a few hours later, this little guy shows up!  

A BLACK SQUIRREL!!

We have several (in fact, 5 new babies) gray squirrels in our picnic area, but this guy came from across the way where I've seen a few black squirrels ... but RARELY in our woods!  Guess he must have gotten the word that I filled all the feeders yesterday!  LOL

OKAY ... my timer just went off so I'd better get upstairs!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and letting me share my creations and life with you!

HUGS,

Darlene