Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night...

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise..

(The Beatles)

Hello friends & followers.  If you have not heard 'Blackbird' before, please allow me to introduce you.  I think it is such a calming, peaceful, uplifting song.  It has a lot of interpretations, but to me, it is a song of encouragement to a living thing that has had some  challenge to overcome, for them to fly above it all, I like that positive message delivered so gently.  I love listening to it, even enjoy singing it (much to the dismay of those in earshot of me) - haven't heard it?  There are lots of different versions of it out there.  HERE is a link to a version of it I particularly like on You Tube performed by the cast of the television show Glee.  Hope you like it.  :)


So why do I begin today by breaking into song?  (actually, that is not unheard of for me, especially at TSG Release parties...).  Two of the challenges I completed my first card for were 'Inspired by a Song' and this was the song that inspired me to make not one but two cards.  :)  The first card was created using Skipping Stones Design Sketch 92 (isn't it great?  Amy Sheffer designed it - staying in my 'go-to' file for sure!):

I replaced the star element with my own little 'blackbird' image from SSD's 'Heartsong' set perched on one of the musical scores of Echo Park's yummy 'Be Mine' collection, which matched the design on the bird's body perfectly, to create this card:

(Please click on the photo for clearer resolution).  I used some flirty ruffled ribbon, a get well soon gift from a friend right after I had my spinal fusion surgery, accentuated by some black velvet ribbon (I LOVE velvet ribbon!).  The 'thank you' sentiment is also from the same set - pretty font no?  Okay, get ready, in addition to the sketch challenge this little card fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges as well:

• Charisma Cardz Challenge 36 - Inspired by a Song,
• Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge 151 - Inspired by a Song,
• Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Thank you,
• The Paper Variety Celebration Day 2 Challenge - to make a card with 70% paper from your favorite paper company; I like A LOT of companies, so this was difficult, but lately I just cannot resist Echo Park, so I went with paper from their 'Be Mine' collection,
• Try It On Tuesday - Monochrome (I obviously went with pink),
• Shopping Our Stash Challenge 16 - Birds, bugs or beasts (I obviously went with birds),
• The Ribbon Carousel Challenge 19 - Anything Goes with ribbon or twine,
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes,
• Pile It On Challenge 37 - Layer it (I have at least three layers not counting the ribbon & birdie),
• Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge 16 - Tickled Pink, and
• Creative Card Crew Challenge - Anything Goes.

WOW!  LOL!  :)


My second card was still inspired by this song in the sense I was thinking of something uplifting, supportive... a 'you can do it!' attitude.  This card was made for my friend Lee's Mix It Up Monday Challenge at Stamp TV - to 'think pink' for our friend AJ who is fighting the good fight right now (and I KNOW she is going to WIN!!).  I used Theresa Momber's beautifully illustrated 'Hang in There' set by Gina K. Designs, this week's sketch 72 by Donna at Sunday Sketch & Stamp and created this card to send to my friend:

I cut a rectangle of grey paper int he desired size and crumpled it up several times and split it apart to create a brushed look of faux suede to match the koala's natural soft texture, substituted three flowers in for the circle in the sketch, used more of that fabby ruffled gingham and black velvet ribbon, some pearls and some black rhinestones (one of my favorite colors of rhinestones oddly enough).  There were two different challenges that asked us to decorate the inside of our cards: (1) Paper Sundaes 86 (though they called it 'Finishing Touches' - isn't that cute?), and (2) Truly Scrumptious Challenge 65, and since this is for someone I really care about I wanted it to be special, here is the inside:

(the angle is a little off in the photo - sorry!).  All of these images are from 'Hang in There'.  Okay, here we go again, this card also fulfills the requirements of the additional challenges:

• Crafty Catz Challenge 99 - to use ribbons,
• The Paper Variety Blogaversary Celebration Challenge Day 1 Day 1 - to make a card with stamping on it,
• The Paper Variety Celebration Challenge Day 5 - to make a card with your favorite embellishments on it - mine here are rhinestones (especially the black ones), ribbons (especially velvet) and pearls,
• Stamps R Us - Friendship,
• The Poodles Parlour - Animal Antics,
• Paper Play Challenges Week 36 - to use 2 more more stamped images (I did inside the card),
• Try It On Tuesday - Monochrome (I obviously went with pink),
• Shopping Our Stash Challenge 16 - Birds, bugs or beasts (switched to beasts for this one, if you can call this cute little guy a 'beast'),
• The Ribbon Carousel Challenge 19 - Anything Goes with ribbon or twine,
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes,
• Pile It On Challenge 37 - Layer it (this has more layers than my previous card),
• Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge 16 - Tickled Pink, and
• Creative Card Crew Challenge - Anything Goes.

Whew!  I think that is 17 challenges total - a new record for me!  WOO HOO!



Thank you to all of the challenges sites, and their sponsors, for the fun challenges, and of course thank YOU, my loyal friends & followers who visit my blog regularly and give me the warm fuzzies with all of your sweet & supportive comments.  I hope you have a FABULOUS Sunday and a terrific week ahead!
~Crafty Math Chick