The Outlawz Friday Coloring 'Color/Photo Inspiration' Challenge

Well, at least I am on time this week! I am finally able to take a breath. A very deep breath. I finished all of my Christmas cards and got them in the mail--with the exception of those I hand-delivered. I can only hope that I do not get any unexpected cards in the mail. Because I have no left-overs. Except for a very sexy one I have saved for Gary. That I really shouldn't give to anyone else, KWIM? (That's "know what I mean", for those of you who don't do acronyms.)

I have also finished all my Christmas shopping. Which is not too difficult to do online. Makes my life so much simpler. I feel badly for those small businesses that depend on walk-in customers, but I just can't deal with holiday traffic--auto or foot. I need to shop from the comfort of my home. It's not that I am antisocial or anything. It's just that I am...hmmmm. Guess it is because I am antisocial. They used to call me shy. Yeah, that's the reason. I am too shy to shop. Anybody else out there in the same boat, so to speak?

'K, on to our monthly sponsor. (That was a terrible segue, pardon me.) Our brilliant digi artist this month is Unke of The East Wind. She has created so many fabulous images. And our lucky winner will receive their choice of three digis. Go check out her store if you are unfamiliar with her. I am sure you will find lots of fun images to use! So play along with us this week, won't you? Just hand-color your image with your favorite medium and submit your project before next Friday. You have the beautiful palette below to use as a guide.

I have used my East Wind digi this week. I chose one of the cutest, craziest images possible for Christmas! I love her--she is called Aurora Hair Tree. I thought she was perfect for a card for my hair stylist, Hayli. So I gave it to her on Wednesday when I got my hair cut.

I printed this image on X-Press It BC and colored her with my Copics and Twin Touch Brush markers:

Skin: E000, E01, E11

Hair: E04, E07, TTR1

Dress: TTBG3, TTBG5, TTBG7

Eyes: E25, E29, TTBG1, TTBG9

Since I didn't have DP to match, I simply used Stampin' Up CS. And added some die-cut stars made with Memory Box Star of Wonder dies. Voila! 

I found myself creating a lot of CAS cards for Christmas. Not just to save time, (though that was important, too); but to save on postage, as I was mailing so many cards this year. Didn't want to have too many layers to worry about. Again, KWIM?

Well, our Cardinals have been flexed again this week for the Sunday night game. They are playing in Philadelphia, which is much cooler than Phoenix normally. However, our weather has been really chilly lately, and Philly's weather has been unseasonably warm. So the Cards shouldn't have too much difficulty playing in the cool evening weather Sunday night. At least I hope not. If we are lucky enough to win this game, we will have clinched the NFC West, which would be a really big deal. I will keep my fingers crossed. (But not my eyes. That's too uncomfortable.)

We went to our younger granddaughter's birthday party on Sunday. Brynn turned 12. Heaven help us, she has turned into a Batman freak. So she wanted everything Batman for her birthday and Christmas. And I, being a fabulous grandma, have obliged her. She received all manner of Batman things for her birthday. And I have several more being delivered for her for Christmas. At least she made shopping for her easy for me. Snicker...

One thing I forgot to mention last week was that my sister, Merrilyn, and her hubby, Ron, adopted a new dog into their little family. Lexi is a mixed-breed rescue, with some Shih Tsu in her background. Blended with unknown. But she is very cute and so totally sweet. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 2+ years old. Trained even for tricks--she sits and shakes hands. (Or paws. Whatev.) Cannot figure out why anybody would give her up. Except for the fact that Merrilyn really needed Lexi in her life right now. And Lexi settled into her new life so readily. Just a perfect match. I can see the sorrow easing for my sister. I hope it is for my BIL, Ron, too. 

Oh, here's a bulletin for you. Our daughter always has Christmas dinner. She requested that years ago when her girls were babies. It made it so much easier for Angela's family to not travel anywhere on Christmas Day. Well, last week Angela said she was not making Italian spaghetti for Christmas dinner. Horrors! Her older daughter, Kelsey, and I were devastated! How could we celebrate Christmas without our traditional meal? Somehow, Gary got the dinner moved to our house with me making the Italian spaghetti. Hm. Not really sure how that happened, but Angela was thrilled. She said it was a wonderful Christmas gift for her. Okey dokey. It's been literally years since I have made the family recipe. Hope I remember how to do it...

Gary and I always go out for dinner on Christmas Eve. Since I am fixing dinner the next day, it is even more important this year. He picked Shula's for our meal, and I am pretty happy about that. We have several friends who swear by Shula's steaks. That they are the best in town. So we are finally going to find out if our friends have been smoking dope or really know what they are talking about. 

I am wishing each of you a lovely Christmas Eve. I should have another post here on Christmas Day. But if you don't see it, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas also! 

In the meantime, be sure to check out the wonderful creations by my talented teammates: Carla, Kathi, and Vannessa. And, if you get the time, please play along with us! 

Have a great weekend! Go Cards!