Getting Ready for the Holidays BLOG HOP at MPS

Happy Saturday everyone, and welcome to my page on the Michelle Perkett Studios 'Getting Ready for the Holidays' Blog Hop!

If you are following the hop in order, you should have arrived here from Michelle H's blog (Scrapweaver.) If not, don't worry, here's a list of everyone taking part, from start to finish:

• Michelle Perkett – http://www.michelleperkett.blogspot.com/
• Pauline - http://www.paulineguttrey.blogspot.com/
• Irene – http://www.itsallinthecards.blogspot.com/
• Karen - http://www.karensdigi.blogspot.com/
• Barbara – http://www.my-crafty-world.blogspot.com/
• Sharon – http://www.sharonshowcase.blogspot.com/
• Rhonda – http://www.bluepoohbear753.blogspot.com/
• Abby – http://www.abbyscreations.blogspot.com/
• Shelley – http://www.shelleyscreations.blogspot.com/
• Mama Bear – http://www.mamabearstonichscraftspot.blogspot.com/
• Andrea – http://www.andreasscraps.com/
• Jenn – http://www.stampinangeljenn.blogspot.com/
• Lydia – http://www.scrappenbylydia.blogspot.com/
• Maria – http://www.joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/
• Wendy – http://www.wendypslittlecorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/
• Anne – http://www.annescardchallenges.blogspot.com/
• Michelle H – http://www.scrapweaver.blogspot.com/
• Aqualeiga – http://www.aqualeigasescape.blogspot.com/ (that's me!)
• Rene – http://www.craftlane.blogspot.com/
• Mari – http://www.trailsofpaper.blogspot.com/
• Challenge blog – http://www.michelleperkettstudio.blogspot.com/

Now, the theme for the hop is 'getting ready for the holidays' and I know lots of cardmakers are already lovingly making their Christmas cards, and I've seen so many fab creations out there in the challenges. But for the hop, we are happy to see cards from ANY holiday....including your Back to School creations as well as Halloween or Thanksgiving, its your choice, whatever your favourite holiday is!

For my card, I chose......Back to School. This September will see an exciting new start for all 3 of my littlies....the oldest starts at Secondary school (he's 11yrs) my daughter goes into her last year at infant school (she's 6yrs) and my youngest starts school for the first time.....he is going to the local school for children with Special Needs (he is Autistic,)  and we are so pleased that he has received the necessary funding to be able to attend the school where we feel his needs will be best met. He is 4yrs.

I've made this card for my daughter, who is following in her mummy's footsteps and LOVES getting crafty with me! In fact, she saw me colouring this image and insisted on doing one of her own at the same time....with MY Promarkers too!

The delightful image is called Mary Margaret, and was a freebie from a while back. She has been coloured with Promarkers and cut out with a nestie.

I used an apple shape for the sentiment....a good luck wish for her 1st day back at school; they've only just finished for the holidays and she's already looking forward to going back again! The font is Sunshine Poppy.

I made some flowers to match the DP, with card candy centres, and I added a green gem to each scallop

 around the card front. I finished off by tying an organza ribbon-bow.

So, now it's time to continue on the hop, and next you need to visit Renee's Blog. Hope you have lots of fun and find plenty of inspiration along the way! Thanks to the mermaids for welcoming me to join in with the hop, I've had a blast!

I am going to enter this card into a couple of challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes.
• I Love Promarkers #76 - Anything Goes.
• Digi Doodle Shop's Best #69 - Anything Goes.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!