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   Thanks to all for your comments last week and for your concerns about my finger. It's healing very well and I'll be down to just a bandaid tomorrow. You should see how both my hubby and son looked at me though when I got out the knives to prep for dinner yesterday :).

  First I want to share two photos I played around with in Photoshop for the Mandarin Orange Monday challenge. Lori shares her really fab PS photos and I wanted to learn how to play a bit too. My son was over and I had him explain a few things. This is my first play with effects, layers and opacity and oh my-the possibilities are endless! I squealed with delight like a child who got an extra scoop of her favorite ice cream!! (Son was just rolling his eyes).

Original photo:

 First PS play changing to "cut out" effect, changing color to orange, using the "multiply" layer and playing with opacity:

  

  And here's the second one I did continuing with the one above, adding another layer(not sure what it was though-I need to write these things all down!):

I really like this one! Thank you for your inspirational photos Lori-you gave me a jump start into something new! Linking this to Mandarin Orange Monday.

 Inspiration Monday's challenge this week is about birthdays so besides a card I made I want to share two vintage cards I thought were adorable. I was given several scrapbooks filled with cards someone had taped to the pages for various occasions over several years.They were going to be tossed-can you imagine???

 She's holding an actual little powder puff. This next card is also a pop up:

   Here is a birthday card I made (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") :

  Products Used: white and black card stock; patterned paper (KI Memories, Inc.); stiff green felt (Hobby Lobby); Jet Black, Forest Green Staz-On ink (Tsukineko); clear UM stamp -Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink); Grand Calibur die cut machine and Foliage dies (Spellbinders).

  The theme for this week's Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge is "Good To Be Green". I t can be about the color or upcycling so I'm linking the above card and the next two projects for it also.

  Another card:

 

  Products Used: kraft note card (Canvas Corp); patterned paper scrap; striped washi tape (Gauche Alchemy); die cut tag (Colorbok); wander sticker (Design Originals); epoxy sticker(source unknown); Vintage Photo Distress ink (Ranger).  It's not just about cards-you should see all the creative inspiration on their blog!!!

 I'm also linking this last project for the SSS&S challenge but I made it primarily for the last :( Summer of Color Challenge at Twinkle,Twinkle. Thank you Kristin for a fabulous time and for hosting!! The last color combo voted in was Sepia and Sage. I chose to make a small canvas:

 

  I started by gluing  a napkin onto a 3" x 3" canvas . I then added a bit of upcycled dryer sheet to the lower left corner then added the image - Sand and Sea Squares collage sheet (Retro Café Art) on top. Typed and trimmed "sing", sponged with Vintage Photo distress Ink (Ranger) and glued on along with two paper flowers (Prima) and pearl stickers (Queen & Co.).

 Oh, I'm also linking to Artsyville's Glue It Tuesday hosted by Aimee. She creates such colorful, happy art and of course I LOVE it!!

  Hope you're taking time for some art this week. See you Friday at the party (Paint Party Friday)!

" To love what you do and feel that it matters- how could anything be more fun?"  Katharine Graham