The Outlawz Greetings Card Christmas in July Challenge

Yes, we have Christmas in July this week at The Outlawz Greetings Card challenge. I, for one, am thrilled, as I now have two whole Christmas cards ready for my mailing list. Only eleventy billion to go. But at least it's a start! And this week we are being sponsored once again by Eureka Stamps:

I chose two stamps to use on my card: 'Christmas Bell with Ribbon' and 'May This Holiday Season'. I also chose a sketch to try, #SSS219, by The Sweet Stop:

I didn't modify the sketch much. I did turn it into a square card. I shall try to remember to enter my card into their challenge, if my fuzzed-out brain will allow.

So I printed my image onto MICBC, and colored it with my Copics:

W0, W1

BG13, BG15

E18, E19, E50, E51, E53 

YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97

My colors were inspired by the DP from the Basic Grey Aspen Frost collection. The DP was distressed with my Zutter and paired with Stampin' Up CS. I added Wink of Stella Brush Clear to the golden parts of my image and to two MIC chipboard dragonflies that I added to my card. I also added some die cuts, using the following dies:

Whimsy Corner

Spellbinders Classic Circles

Spellbinders Scalloped Circles

Memory Box Classic Ornament

Memory Box Snowflake Ornament

I believe that's all she wrote! No, it isn't. She is going to write a bit more about her last birthday celebration. (Who is "she" anyway?)

My sister, Merrilyn, took me to lunch on Friday to the Herb Box in Scottsdale at Southbridge. If you get the chance to go there for lunch, by all means stop in. Darling place and well-lit by tons of windows. (I say that, not knowing really how much they weigh.) If you like healthy foods, expertly prepared, reasonably priced, and beautifully presented, you will love the Herb Box. M & I went there about two years ago for lunch and there wasn't much to choose from. They've come a long way, Baby! 

We shared a wonderful Avocado Love, which was comprised of three toasts covered with wild arugula, shaved fennel, serrano, and lemon-honey. I am drooling just thinking about it again. So, so good! 

Then Merrilyn had the Albacore Tuna Salad Pita, which had no mayo, but again had wild arugula, with jicama, tomato, warm pita, and a lemon-caper vinaigrette. I tasted it, and it was delicious. M loved it.

I ordered two small salads, both of which were so flavorful. One was a tomato-mango olive salad with sweet onion and basil. The other was quinoa tabbouleh with apricot, avocado, parsley and mint. I loved everything I ate, and it filled me up. We were good and did NOT order dessert. Gasp! I know, I can't believe it either!

After that we stopped in to Frenzy Stamper, so I could replace my Copic C5, which was beyond all hope. It's the only marker that I have had to replace, but I couldn't even get the nibs out of it. Weird. Oh, of course, I had to buy some new Washi tape while I was there, too. 

And then we headed up north a bit to Phoenix Wines, which is actually in Scottsdale. Go figure. I managed to nab two bottles of the wine we loved at the Kai wine dinner. Got a 2003 vintage instead of the 2006 that we'd tasted, so don't know if it will be as good. But the owner said she would get some of the 2006 in this next week. Yay! 

Not sure when I will pick that up, though. I am going to be zippety-do-dah busy this week. I have to get my stuff out of our bedroom furniture and sort through it. I have stuff in those drawers that I never wear and need to donate. We need to get the furniture into the garage Tuesday night, as it is being picked up on Wednesday. And then our new furniture arrives on Thursday, so need to set that up. On Friday we get our granddaughters for the weekend. So won't be doing much crafting this week, except for my DT card for next Monday. 

My weekend was busy, but fun. Saw our Dbacks on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday they won, barely. Sunday they lost, badly. But at least they are still in first place in the NL West leading into All-Star week. Surely hope they stay there the rest of the season! I have enjoyed going to so many games. However, truth be told, I am more excited about the NFL season starting up next month, than I am about the end of the MLB season. 

Well, I have bored you long enough. Please stop by The Outlawz and check out our DT inspiration. And, if you are not a member, do sign up. It costs nothing, and there are challenges for every day of the week. Also, we have a great bunch of peeps in the group. We'd love to have more new members!

Have a wonderful week!