The Outlawz Alcohol Markers Anything Goes/Christmas Twist Challenge

Yay, I got another Christmas card done! But before I go into the card details I need to mention that our sponsor this month is Elisabeth Bell, with her fab digis!

Our randomly-selected participant will win these darling images:

And I have really big news! Life-changing news. For me. And for Gary. And this is good news. He got laid-off on Tuesday. (Yes, I did say that this is good news. Because it is!) His last day will be next Monday, the 31st. And then he will be officially retired! Yay! About time, huh? He is getting a great severance package, with extra money for medical insurance to bridge me to July, when I can get Medicare. That's actually the only reason he was planning to work until July 1st. To keep me on his medical insurance at work--because he can get Medicare now. But I am just a spring chicken and cannot get it until July when I turn the big 6-5. Remember, I am much younger than he is...

I am really relieved for Gary. He has been stressed in his job for years. And was counting the days until retirement. I was worried he would start counting the hours, and then the minutes. (He would have driven me crazy with that. Now he can drive me crazy being at home instead.) And when we go on our vacation to Kauai, he can really relax knowing he doesn't have to go back to work when the vacation is over. Now he just needs to find a hobby. Or two. Something to keep him occupied so I can still make my cards. KWIM?

So my life will look very different starting next Tuesday. Gary will be here full-time, and I will no longer be free-wheeling with his money! Good thing I stocked up on dies, stamps, and paper, huh? I have enough materials to keep me busy for the rest of my life probably. He says I could open up a store with all the craft things I have. Too true.

But before Tuesday we have a lot to do. I am having lunch with my sister, Merrilyn, today. Then tomorrow Gary and I are going to Binkley's with Bob and Connie for Gary's birthday dinner celebration--our last hurrah at a mega-expensive restaurant I would imagine! And Sunday we go to Gertrude's at the Botanical Gardens for brunch with our dinner-club group. (Yeah, for one week it is a breakfast club group.) And then Monday night, after Gary is all finished with his career, we are headed to the opening game of the Arizona Diamondbacks. That's enough to make my head spin. Somehow we have to find the time to sign me up for medical insurance before Tuesday, too. Interesting....

OK, on to my card for the week. I chose another Jellypark image, Snowball Girl, for my Christmas card this month. I think she is too stinkin' cute! I printed her on X-Press It CS and colored her with my Copics:

Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20

Hair: E18

Coat: YG93, YG95, YG99

Hat/Mittens/Boots: BG11, BG13, BG15

Scarf: BG11, BG15, YG93, YG99

My die cuts were made with the Cheery Lynn "Corner", "Merry", and "Christmas" dies. I added a Stampin' Up jewel and some Frantage. And that's it. Another Christmas card done! I am slowly working up a batch for this next Christmas. I hope I don't run out of cards again this year!

Be sure to check out the fabulous inspirations by Carla, Dawn, Linda, and Kathi--and then join us this week. It's an easy challenge, right? Just be sure to color your image with alcohol markers--any brand is fine. 

Have a great weekend!!

Jellypark Friends For the Ladies in Your Life Challenge

This challenge can be a Mother's Day card, which is celebrated in the UK before the US, or you can make a card for a female friend in your life. Or an imaginary female friend. Like I did. Because surely I do not have a real female friend that drinks too much, swears too much, or has questionable morals. Or do I????? Hmmm????

I love this JP image and sentiment. You Drink Too Much just cracks me up. I colored her up and did a fairly CAS design with my card. I printed her on X-Press It and colored her with my Copics:

Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20

Hair: E31, E35, E39, E59, E49

Dress: E40, E41, E42

Flowers/Beads RV52, RV55

Sweater/Boots: YR21, YR23, YR27

Then I added a bit of twine, printed the sentiment on Stampin' Up CS, and added a Memory Box Tessatina Border die cut. Done!

Do check out the fab inspiration by my talented teammates at JP! And then join us this fortnight! Looking forward to your creations! 

Friday Sketch #65 Challenge Reminder/Larry's Birthday Card

OK, I am back with my second, (and last), post today. This is a reminder to use our Sketch #65 for your design this week. And to show you what I did with it. Here is the sketch:

The prize this fortnight will be a "secret stash of crafting goodies". It is so secret that I have no idea what it is. But I am sure you will enjoy being the randomly-selected winner! 

I chose another LaLa Land Crafts image, Pirate Luka, for my brother's birthday card.

And, for those of you who saw my other post today, you will be relieved to know that I am still in a state of delirium. Case in point: I like to color my images on top of a pad of Stampin' Up grid paper. I write down everything I use in making the card on this sheet of grid paper. Then I use it to type up my blog post. OK, so I did my other post for today. And proceeded to tear up the grid sheet and toss it in my kitchen garbage can. Then I started this post and realized I had torn up the grid sheet for this post, not the one for the post I had finished. Brilliant. I had to go "dumpster-diving", (well, kitchen-garbage diving), to retrieve the pieces for this card. Fun. Not. Another sigh...

Alright, if I can read my pieced-together, icky sheet, I printed my image on X-Press It CS and colored it with my Copic and Twin Touch Brush markers:

Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20

Hair: E21, E25, E29

Hat/Boots: W5, W7, W9

Cuffs/Collar/Map: W0, W1, W2

Jacket/Pants: TTBR101, TTBR104

Bird/Bag: YG21, YG23, YG25

Luka's buttons were colored with Wink of Stella Brush Gold. My designer papers are from the 7 Gypsies Global and Bo Bunny C'est La Vie collections. My CS is from DCWV. I used a Sizzix Buttons #5 die and a Stampin' Up Apothecary Art sentiment. And that does it for Larry's birthday card. He used to have hook-billed birds, so I thought he might get a kick out of this image.

Well, I hope you join us in this challenge. And think kind thoughts of me as I lose what little I have left of my mind. Please and thank you.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Outlawz Alcohol Markers Color Inspiration Challenge/Gary's Bday Card

Hello to you all on this lovely Friday. Well, it is lovely in Arizona today; not so sure how the weather is where you are. If you are still having winter, I hope you have an end to that ASAP.

Gary's birthday was yesterday. But since I am writing this yesterday, (neat trick, huh?), I do not know how our dinner has turned out. We went to Roy's in Chandler, for a lovely meal, I am sure. Are you as confused as I am? Good. I don't want to be alone in my delirium.

Gary turned a ripe old 66. OMG. I am still a spring chicken at 64. Two years younger than he is. For a few months anyway. And he always hates that I tell him that after his birthday. That he is two years older. I rub it in. And he says, no, it is only 3 months. Hah! It is two years in my mind. (Remember, I am still delirious.)

Since I last posted we went to the Scottsdale Art Fair to meet our football buddies, Andy and Amy. Only I decided, (again, in my delirium), that we had agreed to meet at 10:00 on Sunday in Fountain Hills. Ahem. Oddly enough, there was an art fair in Fountain Hills, as well as Scottsdale, on Sunday. So we texted Amy when we arrived, and she said they were on the west side and would come and meet us. As she had the entry tickets. Yeah, well, half an hour later, after she tried all the entrances into her art fair, we realized we were in two different cities. And the invitation she issued had specifically said Scottsdale. To be fair, we met them at the Fountain Hills event last year, so I guess my brain decided that's where we were going again. Though how I read Scottsdale as Fountain Hills is still a mystery to me.

So...we arrived at the Scottsdale Art Fair at 11:00, only one hour late. Good grief. We had a good, though shortened, time together walking about and checking out all the fantastic creations, (and prices), in the booths. I fell in love with a coffee table, which was only $5000. Yeah, well, I didn't get it. And I also loved an artistic fountain, for only $3000. No, I didn't get that either. It was fun looking at what the other half can afford. Maybe in my next lifetime. Certainly not in this one.

Then I was supposed to meet my sister, Merrilyn, today for lunch. However, I forgot about my 10:00 dental appointment. So, we will do lunch next week. But, I am wondering if you can see the theme here, which is: "Penny, Losing Her Grip on Reality". Sigh...

There were three birthdays in my family this week. Kay, my niece's mom, on Monday. My sister, Barbara, on Tuesday. And Gary yesterday. I have another one coming up next Tuesday--my brother, Larry. So I have one card to show on this post, and another to show you on another post today. Lucky you.

Without further ado, our sponsor this month is Elisabeth Bell. She has such sweet images. And our randomly-selected participant will win two digis.

And here are the two darling images you could win:

This week's challenge is a color inspiration. Really beautiful colors, too, IMHO.

I chose LaLa Land Crafts Ukulele Luka for my image this week. Since we are going back to Hawaii later this year, I thought Gary would appreciate the reminder. And he did. So there is that. I printed Luka on X-Press It CS and colored him with my Copics:

Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20

Eyes: B32, B34

Hair: C2, C3, C4, C5

Hair Lei: R81, R83, R85, R89

Shirt: R81, R83

Ukulele: R83, R85, C0, C1, C2

Pants/Bead Lei: YG61, YG63, YG67

Gary shaves his head. But, if he had hair, it would be grey like I colored Luka's.  

I added a greeting using Cheery Lynn "Happy" and "Birthday" dies. Then I dotted the "i" with a Stampin' Up Basic Jewel. And there you have a CAS card. Which I will be doing more of, since they are a bit faster, and I have to save some time this next couple of weeks. 

Do check out the wonderful creations by my talented teammates: Carla, Dawn, Linda, and Kathi. It is fun working with such great gals! We would all love to see what you come up with, too. Just use our color challenge and your alcohol markers--any brand--on an image for your creation. 

I will be back with my other post shortly. 

The Outlawz Alcohol Markers Something Sweet Challenge

My second and last post today. Just going to give you the deets, as I blabbed on enough on my first post.

Our sponsor this month is Elisabeth Bell, who has such adorable images for coloring. And one randomly-selected participant will receive two selected digis.

And here are the two darling digis you could win:

Due to our Something Sweet challenge this week, I chose Elisabeth's Sweet Tooth image, which I printed on X-Press It, and colored with my Copics and a Twin Touch Brush marker:

Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20

Hair: YR20, YR21, E31, E33

Lace/Apron: E40, E41, E42

Dress/Hat: BG13, BG15, BG18

Shoes/Bow/Ribbon: BG72, BG75, BG78

Flowers: Y23, Y26, Y28

Leaves: G21, G24, G28

Gumball Machine: BG11, E42, E43, E44, E47, R02, E07, TTR1 

Basket: R02, E07, TTR1

I used all my colors, except skin and hair, to color the little gumballs. This is obviously a CAS card for me. My only additions are an arrow clip and some fishtails, which were die-cut with MFT Fishtail Flags Stax dies. My DP is from the MME Collectable "Remarkable" collection and is paired with Stampin' Up CS. 

Hope you check out the beautiful cards made by my talented teammates: Carla, Dawn, Linda, and Kathi. We look forward to your creations--remember, you must use alcohol markers, but they can be any brand. 

Have a great weekend!

Friday Sketch Challenge #64 Reminder/Barbara's Birthday Card

Just a friendly reminder that we are in our second week of the Sketch #64 challenge. Our sponsor this fortnight is the wonderful Saturated Canary, and the prize is an $8 GC, so be sure to get your entry in!

Here is our sketch by Rachael:

I chose a darling image, Maxine the Florist, for my card this time. I picked her because I wanted to make my sister's birthday card. And Barbara may not be a florist, but she has an unbelievable garden in Wisconsin. She does love her flowers! 

The image was printed on X-Press It CS, and colored with my Copics:

Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20

Hair: Y21, YR23, E31, E35

Eyes: B12, B14

Hat: RV21, RV23, RV25, RV29, B12, B14, B16

Shirt/Shoes: RV21, RV23, RV25, RV29

Jeans/Pitcher: B12, B14, B16

Stool: E31, E35

Apron/Leaves: YG21, YG23, YG25, YG67

Flowers: Y02, Y04, Y06, Y08, E31, E35, R12, R14, R17, RV21, RV23, RV25, RV29

Black Spica for the shears

My DP is from the Basic Grey Lauderdale collection; it was Zutterized and paired with Stampin' Up CS. And, if you can imagine this, I used some die cuts on Barbara's card. Yeah, I know, what a surprise! Not. (And I tried to give equal opportunity to several manufacturers.)

Memory Box Precious Hearts

Cheery Lynn Dutch Doily Rectangle Frame (new, see below)

Magnolia Doohickey Swirl

Impression Obsession Sunglasses

Whimsy Mini Ticket

My sentiment comes from the Whimsy Celebration Mini Tickets collection. I added a bit of Pearl Pen Black to the swirl die cut. And I finished the card with some Wild Orchid Craft flowers. That should just about cover it. Hope Barbara likes it.

She and I were supposed to get together on Saturday for the Rubber Stamp Show in Mesa. Yeah, well, they were running a marathon of some sort, which I could not seem to break through coming from the southeast. I got to the back side of the show hall, where Mesa Police unceremoniously forced me, (and many, many other unfortunate drivers), to the north and east of the show hall. Traffic was slow, People. As in molasses-slow. And we just kept getting further and further away from the show hall.

Eventually, after 40 minutes, I was 3 miles north and 6 miles east of the show hall. And completely out of patience. I could not break through to the north of the runners, and it appeared that they were starting somewhere in Florida. (Kidding, I think.) So I called my sister and told her I was headed home. I couldn't deal with the traffic any longer, and I had no idea what awaited me on the other side of the runners. Fortunately, Barbara understood; also, fortunately, she had a friend with her, so she wouldn't be alone at the show hall.

On the bright side, I went to a friend's birthday party later that day. We had fabulous appetizers of every description possible. Really a nice feast. On the dark side, it was raining a lot that day. Not only did my new car go through it's first rainstorm, but it also was subjected to its first hailstorm. I've yet to look closely for hail damage. It doesn't appear that there is any, but I guess I don't really want to know for sure.

You could say, in no uncertain terms, that last Saturday was the day from hell. Good thing it lasted only 24 hours, huh? And I survived. Oh, and btw, since I couldn't shop at the stamp show, I did my shopping online at Cheery Lynn. Yeah, just guess what I bought with Gary's hard-earned money? (He would have been better off if I had been at the show. There probably wasn't as big a selection there as I bought had to choose from online.)

Do check out the fab inspiration by my talented teammates! And then, be sure to enter our challenge. We look forward to seeing what you create! (I'll be back with my second post shortly.)