Jellypark GDT Final Installment - Stars Are Brightly Shining

Yes, this is my third and final GDT appearance for Jellypark Friends. I have been invited to join them as a DT member in January, and I am really looking forward to that--thank you!! This great group of gals are a tight-knit bunch, supporting each other through their ups and downs. I am honored to have guest-designed with them this past month, and to design with them starting in the New Year. And a big "Hi" to Jennifer--hope you are doing better each day!

I want to mention a couple of things before I get to my card for today. One is that I am writing this on Thursday, so I have no idea how Gary will be today. Does that make sense? Of course not, but I seldom do. Back-story: Gary had shoulder surgery today, which is actually Thursday, to repair some issues in his left knee shoulder. (I had to put in "knee", as the instructions they sent home with him referred to his knee surgery. He's not supposed to put much weight on it, which is ludicrous because he doesn't walk on his shoulder. Well, at least, not unless he's had too much to drink, which rarely ever happens. But when it does, it is rather hilarious to watch. Sorry. Couldn't resist.) Where was I? Lost in thought. And it's really dark in here.

Oh, yeah, Gary's surgery. Well, they gave him a nerve block, which, as I write this, is working splendidly. He has no sensation in his shoulder, arm, or hand, and barely any in his fingers. Which is a very good thing as he is still pain-free. Which was last night as you read this. But I have no idea how he is doing today, because today hasn't happened yet. Except in an alternate universe. Which, btw, is a really crazy place. Be glad you are here. Unless you have an evil twin like I do, that keeps making you write weird crap in your blog. Then, not so much.

I hope today is a pleasant one, and that Gary's pain meds are keeping up with his pain. So that his pain level is low. You know what I mean, Jellybean? It's no fun to be around a hubby who is in pain. 'Cuz then they are a pain in the you-know-what.

You know how I was so tired the other day because I stayed up all night? Well, Wednesday night I went to bed at 11:15 p.m., (I know, I couldn't believe it either!), so that I could get up at 3:50 a.m. to shower and dress and take Gary for his early morning surgery. Well, I was still awake at 12:50 a.m., which meant that I got under 3 hours of sleep Wednesday night, which was last night, or two nights ago as you read this. So I am slap-happy again this evening, although I did have a short nap this afternoon. Until the dog, Donovan Ding-Dong, started barking and scared the patooty out of me. I was really deep in slumber and was shocked awake. And you know why that dingbat barked? Because Gary was walking down the hallway. Clever dog. Why wouldn't you bark at your master in that case? I think he was dropped on his head when he was a baby. Donovan, not Gary, although that is a possibility, too. Shhhh....don't tell him I said that. Gary, not Donovan. Donovan could care less. Unless someone walks down his hallway.

I went on so long about Gary that I forgot the other thing I was going to mention. But I do want to say thank-you to my sisters, for coming to the surgical center today (yesterday) to sit with me during Gary's surgery. They were with me for 4 hours, and it was so sweet of both Barbara and Merrilyn to take the time to do that. What are sisters for, huh? And don't you just know we gossiped non-stop. And it could have been about YOU!  (Insert evil grin here.)

I am now a day behind in another DT, due to Gary's surgery--thanks a lot, Gar--but will have it done today, (Friday), I promise! I am going to do my best to get ahead this next month, so I can enjoy that trip to Hawaii. And, no, Kathi R, you are not going in my place. No way, no how. Nice try, though.

So, back to the stars. We were to add stars to our project. I didn't need to add them, though, as my image already had stars in it. I love this darling little birdy image, called Jellypark Robin and Bird House. Now I know I didn't color it with authentic robin colors, but I had to keep to the color scheme for several challenges, so I eliminated the reddish breast. (That somehow sounds odd to me.) You know, non-traditional Christmas colors. So, no red anywhere. In fact, I chose a blue, Kraft & white color scheme to meet a particular challenge--Digital Tuesday--only to realize that I was a week late and a dollar short. Sigh...

I used another sketch to create this card. It's from the Papertake Weekly challenge:

Of course, I modified it slightly. I can't help myself. It's a condition I have, which shall remain nameless. But starts with the letter "lunatic".

My image was printed on Make It Colour Blending Card. I used another Create with TLC sentiment, (there are so many fab ones), and printed that on MICBC as well. I chose DP from the Carta Bella Winter Fun collection and paired it with Stampin' Up CS.

I colored the birdy with my Copics: E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E47, B000, B00, B52. I added a bit of Copic Spica to the beak, legs, & feet, and some Stickles to the snow and the stars.

I cut the image out with a Spellbinders Labels 1 die and framed it with CS cut with a Spellbinders Decorative Labels 1 die; then I stamped a BG mini flourish, (from several years ago, thank you, Angela), around the edges of the image with Memories Baby Blue ink. The sentiment was cut out with a Spellbinders Scalloped Circle die. Other dies used:  Cheery Lynn Pine Needles & Victorian Picket Fence, and La-La Land Crafts Corner. Stickles were added to the pine needle die-cuts for some extra sparkle.

Both the image and sentiment were popped up on the card. I added a Maya Road Little Birdies Vintage Trinket and a star button from my stash to a white bow, which I made using my Bow-Easy. And there you have it.

I am entering this card into several challenges:

Cheery Lynn Non-Traditional Christmas Colors Challenge
CMC Copic Non-Traditional Christmas Colors Challenge
Crafty Ann's Birds and/or Animals Challenge
Eclectic Ellapu Celebrations with Sparkle Challenge
Hooked on Craft Christmas Challenge
Inky Impressions Pastel or Vintage Christmas Challenge
Love to Create Non-Traditional Holiday Colors Challenge
Papertake Weekly Sketch Challenge #74
Pixie Dust Studio Winter Holidays Creation Challenge
Simon Says Anything Goes Challenge
The Outlawz Twisted Thursday Winter Friends Challenge
The Paper Shelter Christmas is Coming Challenge

Looking forward to your creations this week. Be sure to check out the talented DT's creations!

Last call for comments on the Blog Candy post! I will draw the winner tomorrow, which is Saturday as you read this! Be sure you have a comment on that post at the top of my blog by the end of today, and that you are a follower of mine!