The Outlawz Friday Coloring "Winter Wonderland" Challenge/Gina's Birthday Card

Time for a new theme at The Outlawz Friday Coloring Challenge. This week is "Winter Wonderland", and you may interpret that however you wish. You may even use the coloring medium of your choice. But you must color an image on your project in order to play along. Okey dokey?

Our sponsor this month is still Art by MiRan, home to so many wonderful digital images. Have a look why don't you, if you are not familiar with her work! Our randomly-selected participant this month will win a choice of 3 digital images from the shop. Kewl, huh? So be sure to get your entries in this month.

I am using the darling Winter Coloring Page Big-Eyed Girl for my card this week! I decided to use this card for Gina's birthday at the end of February, since that is technically still winter in much of the country--though not so much for us in the desert. It does feel like winter today, although our temperatures are really mild. But we have quite the wind whipping through the yard, so not much fun to sit outside, even in the sunshine. How one can complain in 60+ degrees in January is beyond me, and yet, I am. Go figure...

I printed my image on X-Press It BC and colored her with my Copics:

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

Hair: YR23, YR24, E25, E29

Clothing: BG70, BG72, BG75, BG78, E41, E42, E43, E44

My DP is from the Carta Bella Winter Fun collection, and my CS is Stampin' Up. I added a bit of baker's twine and a snowflake charm. And that's it!

Last week I won the  New Year's blog candy that Ann Marie Governale was giving away on her blog, My Eclectic Spirit. And I received the package from her yesterday. What a wonderful haul! So much fun to peruse the candies, and I shall put them to good use quickly! Thank you so much, Ann Marie! 

So, we took some photos of our backyard with all the furniture. We know we need to repaint the house, but other than that, I think it looks really wonderful out there! 

Gary took the above photos, and I was a little disappointed with his POV on them, but decided to show them to you anyway. There is one perspective missing from this group, but what the heck. You get the general idea. We are definitely into turquoise. We have that as an accent color inside and also outside. It just feels like the tropics to me, and I like that feeling. Duh...

Did I ever tell you that our neighbor directly behind us, who has the little palms, actually thanked us for planting all of our palm trees? She said it looks so pretty from her side of the fence. I am just glad that she also planted palms, because they will look great with ours once they get a little more size on them. And our neighbor behind us to the right, in the two-story, is putting in a swimming pool as I speak. The shotcrete was poured yesterday, so it is coming along very quickly. Good time of the year to get one put in, for sure!

We had such a nice time with Wendy when she was here. She is now retired and likes getting out of Minnesota in the winter. Her trip this time was only for two weeks, but she hopes to spend at least a month here next year. And even possibly buy a place down here after selling her acreage on the Mississippi. She will juggle her time between Arizona and Minnesota, and become an official "Snowbird". 

Today I am having lunch with my sisters, Barbara and Merrilyn, at Rania's Grill. Looking forward to seeing them both and having some Afghan food! Yum!! And I will not be frightening anyone with my lip. Thank goodness for antiviral meds and Denavir! However, there is still the driving issue, so I hope everyone is on the look-out for me today. If you are in the southeast valley anywhere along Higley Road, be prepared. Because the bat out of he** is on the loose...

We are going out with the dinner club tomorrow night to Pappadeaux--hoping to have some good Cajun-style food. And then we are headed to Seasons 52 on Sunday with Andy and Amy before the Pro Bowl. Guess I have to root for Cris Carter's team at the Pro Bowl, as he drafted all the Cardinals playing in the game. (I probably would anyway, as Cris played for the Minnesota Vikings when I was still a Vikings fan.) Anyway, if you watch the Pro Bowl, be sure to wave at me. I'll be waving at you. Up in my nosebleed seat. Which they oddly call the "Terrace", to give it some class, no doubt.

Please check out the fab inspiration by my talented teammates: Carla, Kathi, and Laine! And then play along with us won't you???

Have a wonderful weekend!