Stamptacular Sunday "Spots & Stripes" Challenge

This week’s challenge is going to be so much fun!  We can’t wait to see what you create!

This week's challenge is a…

“Spots & Stripes!”

For this week's challenge you will create a card or project that includes lots of spots and stripes!  The theme and colors are your choice!  Oh…and don’t forget to STAMP!  After all…we don’t call this the STAMPtacular Sunday Challenge for nothing!      

You will have from now until midnight (EST) February 2^nd, 2013 to complete this challenge and post a DIRECT LINK to your submission into our InLinkz in order to be entered into the drawing for this week's fabulous prize donated by:

STITCHY BEAR

PRIZE:  $10 GIFT CERTIFICATE!

AND

7 KIDS COLLEGE FUND

PRIZE:  $20 GIFT CERTIFICATE!

Holy crapoly! It's 11:30 p.m. on Saturday night, and I am just starting my blog post for Sunday morning. What the heck happened to my day? How did it get so late? I had planned on a long blog post, to satisfy my sisters, and I don't know if I can stay awake that long. Oh, who am I trying to kid. Of course, I will stay awake that long. I have to share more pictures of my trip.

Before I start I want to show you how old Gary and I are now. We were given a new Camaro convertible at the airport to drive. Well, not given exactly, it certainly wasn't free. But the young girl thought we would love to tool around in it. Not. so. much. I couldn't have the top down in the daytime, or I would have burned to a crisp. And it was too cool to have it down at night. That left what? Useless. And the top was so low that Gary got a neck and backache trying to see through the windshield. (Of course, it would have helped if he had found the button to lower the seat, but don't tell him I said that.) And every time I got in or out of that car, I really fussed about it. OK, I bitched. There. Are you satisfied? I admitted it. It was horribly difficult to maneuver my way in & out. I'm just too old. Welllllllll, after two days of driving the da** thing, Gary took it back and got a minivan instead. Hilarious, huh? Two old fogies driving around in a minivan. Perfect. And so it was. Much better being up high to see the sights than driving along with my butt dragging on the ground. Just thought you might like to know. Or not.

OK, on our last episode I had just landed us on the Big Island of Hawaii. And it is big. Compared to the other Hawaiian islands I have visited anyway. It takes a good deal of time to drive around it. There is so much to see, that one cannot possibly take it all in during one week. But we gave it our best shot.

I did not journal this trip. Probably should have, but didn't think of it. And I don't want to hear about my brain, or age, or any other wisecracks. Because I have already told myself all of them. Well, most of them anyway.

But my photographs give me some sense of the order in which we did the touristy things. Although I took photos with our little camera, too, and the dates are really screwed up on those pictures. I don't know why. Perhaps my evil twin did it.

The day after we arrived we had lunch at Bun's Cafe. I had a BBQ pork sandwich with the most delicious bread! I wanted to have fish, but they only had ahi, which I do not care for. So I opted for the pork, which was quite tasty, but the star was that bun!

Then we went to check out a beach, (Kahalu'u), that was supposed to be good for snorkeling. We really didn't like the look of the beach. It looked tough to get into for snorkeling, and there was supposed to be a rip current possible through there, which I didn't want to chance. As it turned out, there were high surf warnings for Hawaii the entire week we were on that island. Bummer.

We headed south to find Big Island Bees. My sister, Merrilyn, loves their honey and requested some in exchange for taking care of you know who, Donovan the Dog. Odd story: she actually wanted us to go to Buzz's Honey, because she didn't get the chance to while she was on Hawaii in October. Apparently dear Buzz has goats. And she wanted me to see them. However, she forgot to mention that. And here's the kicker: she doesn't like Buzz's honey. Just Big Island Bees honey. I give up. And you think I am odd??? (It comes naturally in my family. Sorry, Merril.) Anyway, we were on a very narrow road leading down the side of a steep cliff and finally gave up before we got to the bottom. Silly us. But the address for the place was really confusing, and we thought we would get lost, so we turned around and went back northwards.

North to Greenwell Coffee Farms. We did the little tour, which was quite interesting. They not only raise Kona coffee, but also bananas, macadamia nuts, and several varieties of avocados. And I had no idea that coffee starts out as a "cherry":

Crazy, huh? It was kinda cool to see what they did to actually produce coffee. I now have a better understanding of why it is so expensive. And, apparently, the reason that Kona coffee is so good is due to the ash content of their soil. Needless to say, (so why am I saying it?), we bought several gifts for family members while we were there. But not Merrilyn's honey. (Clearing my throat and running away now.)

Another highlight: we went to lunch the next day to the Four Seasons. Expensive. But it was so worth it--our lunch was fantabulous, and the view was, too. We had some of the best guacamole I have ever eaten--due to the yummy avocados! Those chips were super good, too. They said they added chili powder to them. Here are some shots of our luncheon views. And, that is Gary's drink with an orchid in it. I don't know what he had, but I had a Mai Tai--and a mighty fine one at that.

It's funny. The Four Seasons and the golf course, Hualalai at Ka'upulehu, are an oasis in the middle of a lava field. How bizarre and beautiful:

And, after lunch, we made our way back south to find Big Island Bees. We had actually asked someone how to get there. Imagine that. The place was not thrilling. They have a small museum about honey production, and we saw some bees in a room. Okey dokey. Perhaps Buzz's would have been a better visit. But we got lots of honey there--it is really, really good honey, and we managed to snap photos of the resident lizard. Gecko. Whatev. I lurved him. Apparently he stops by each day, looking for honey?? Isn't he pretty? 

We also visited Kealakekua Bay, where Captain Cook was killed and immortalized with a monument, which happens to be on British soil. I found that interesting. A plot of land on the island of Hawaii that was given to the UK by the Hawaiian princess, Likelike. We did not hike out to see the monument, but we did see the bay and the heiau, where Cook performed the first Hawaiian Christian service for a funeral of one of his men. I told Gary that I just felt such sadness while we were there--overwhelming sadness. Then I read that the heiau had been used for human sacrifices. I needed to leave the area. Other people were sunbathing and there were some snorkelers. I don't think I could have done either. But I did take some photos of the heiau and the bay. The monument is somewhere at the top of the cliff in the first photo:

And this last photo is a different view of the bay. After we left the park we went looking for a small beach, (which we actually found, much to my amazement), that is to the left side of the bay. It made me feel even sadder, so we got in the car and drove back to the hotel. Later we had dinner at Ultimate Burger, which had Big Island beef--grass-fed and hormone free. It was delish!

Good grief, it is now 1:30 a.m. on Sunday and I haven't even started my card description. Guess I'd best get to that immediately, if not sooner. (How could there be anything sooner than immediately? That's another goofy saying, don't you think?)

Okey dokey. For my image I chose The Paper Shelter Snow Angel. And my sentiment is from Create with TLC. Both were printed on Cryogen CS. I chose an easel design, just for grins and giggles. My DP is from the Basic Grey Aspen Frost collection, and I paired it with Stampin' Up CS.

I colored this little cutie with Copics: W1, YG61, YG63, YG91, YG93, YG95, E000, E00, E11, E21, E25, E29, R20, R22, R24, R27, R29, R83, R89, BG10, BG11, BG70, BG72. I accented her with a white gel pen, added Flower Soft Polar White to the snow and Stickles to the sentiment.

She was die-cut with a Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Circle die. The I sponged VersaMagic chalk ink around the edges of the scallops. My snowflake card stop was made with Cheery Lynn Snowflakes #4 & #6 and Whimsy Winter's Jewel 1 dies. I added a SU rhinestone brad to the center of the snowflake. Another fairly simple card for me. What's up with that, anyway?

Well, it's almost 2:30 a.m. and I am going to turn into a wicked witch if I don't get myself to bed. Sorry the post was so long. And I have so much more to say--oh, stop your groaning. You don't have to read it all, you know! Just skip to the juicy stuff. What? There wasn't any? Tough. Maybe next time.

Until then, have a great week. And let's see what your spots and stripes look like. Don't forget to catch the rest of the DT cards--they're fab as always.

Through The Craft Room Door Magazine

The latest issue of Through The Craft Room Door Magazine is available now. There are 8 new free digis in the magazine, along with fun tutorials and card inspirations. So don't let your fingers do the walking--make them run to subscribe, if you haven't already. It's a great ezine, Peeps! Check out the video to the right. And thanks, Jo, for another great video!

Jellypark Friends January 25th Release

I am doing my Jellypark DT work backwards this month. I designed a card for the challenge two weeks ago, when I should have done a release image. Now I am doing a release image when I should have done a card for the challenge. How contrary am I? Chalk it up to confusion this month with the trip I just took. Hopefully I will be back on track next month and do my assignments in the proper order.

Speaking of that trip, I haven't mentioned much about it yet, have I? I am still trying to catch up with everyone's blogs, though it seems I am running in slow motion on that front. I decided to take a break from comments and write up an actual blog. Haven't done that in ages. And I know my sisters miss the extra chatter.

So, I flew to Maui with my sugar daddy, aka Gary, on January 7. We then took a 9-seater prop plane to the Big Island of Hawaii. When I walked out on the tarmac to board that plane I felt pure, unadulterated terror. The plane looked a lot like a mosquito sitting out there. Scared the patootie out of me. What is a patootie anyway? My spell-checker wants to change the word to patriotic, but that is definitely not my intent here. Patriotism has nothing to do with wanting jump back out of a toy plane before it takes off.

Gotta tell ya, the seats in that plane move. It's like they're not really well-attached to the floor. And they tilt at a funny angle so you have to lean backwards during the flight--in a very awkward way. It made my belly button pop out. Well, not really, but it certainly felt like it should have. Take-off was super-scary.

Back up just a moment. We flew on the Monday that they were actually playing golf in Kapalua for the PGA. You see, it had been so blasted windy over the weekend that they had to cancel the rounds of golf. On Monday things had settled down enough to resume the tournament, but it was still windy. We could tell by our bumpy landing from the mainland.

OK, now you add that extra wind to the normal fairly windy conditions and you know that our little, tiny, teensy, weensy prop plane had quite the time getting down the runway, off the ground, and up in the air. OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! If it hadn't been unladylike, I would have peed my pants. Sorry, that was gross. (It was my evil twin, getting back at me for making her fly in that itty-bitty plane.)

So we bounced along in this minature airplane up to 8500 feet, where it settled a bit, (but not much), for the half-hour trip to Kailua-Kona. I was absolutely terrified the entire time, and a local on the flight took pity on me and talked to me during most of the horror. She even took a photo of Gary and I to take my mind off what was really happening. Good thing I had my sunglasses on or you would be able to see my eyes bugging out of my head. Notice that we are leaning toward each other. We are leaning in the aisle, People! That is how small this plane was. Lord have mercy, I had to board that plane 7 days later to return to Maui. I didn't even want to do that. But that's another story. For another post.

Suffice it to say, we did land safely--it actually wasn't a fraction as windy on Hawaii, so the landing wasn't too terrible. Compared to what. Oh, I don't know--perhaps falling into an active volcano. Or being attacked by a shark. Something fun like that.

Anyway, I almost kissed the ground after I deplaned. Flying in that gnat reminded me of the helicopter trip I took with/for Gary on Kauai in 2005. Will never get on another helicopter, and will never, ever, get on another prop plane. No way, no how. Gary said it was on my bucket list. IT WAS NOT. But he put it there, I lived through it, and it has now been removed. My bucket list has much calmer things to do on it now. Like swim with a dolphin. Or snorkel with a sea turtle. You know, safe things. BTW, the reason Gary looks a little uneven is because he shaved off his mustache--so that he could use his snorkel mask without Vasoline. And no, that is not an off-color story. To get a mask to seal, if you have a mustache, you have to use Vaseline. Which Gary doesn't like to do. That's why he looks a little odd. Of course, he is sitting next to me, which could also make him look a little odd. And, now that I look closely, we also look old. We are, but I don't really like being reminded by a photograph.

OK, I will blog another time more about the trip, but first I want to leave you with a photo of the view from our balcony at the Sheraton in Keauhou. I spent 7 mornings having tea on this balcony, listening to and watching the waves. It was like having a spot in Heaven. Yeah, I want to go back to my little grass shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii.

Back to my card for today. I chose one of Claire's new, cute Jellypark images to color, #210 Pirate Dog Boat. I printed it on X-Press It CS and colored it with my, wait for it, Copics:  BG10, BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18, BG70, BG72, BG75, R20, E000, E00, E11, E31, E35, E43, E44, E47, E49, C00, C0, C2, C4, C6, C8. I accented it a bit with a white gel pen. I made up my own sentiment and printed that on X-Press It CS also. Then both the sentiment and the image were die cut using Spellbinders Labels 23 dies.

My DP is from the Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue collection, which I paired with Stampin' Up CS. I kept this fairly simple, (for me), and just added a couple of die cuts using: Cheery Lynn Lace Corner Deco B die and MFT Double Scallop Border die. That's it for this edition.

Check out all the fun DT cards made with the release images and the great DT cards for our new challenge:  Button It Up. Looking forward to seeing what you create! Have a great weekend!

Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge

This week's challenge is sponsored by Eureka Stamps. Besides their rubber stamps, Eureka also has card-making supplies and lots of fun digi stamps. For this week I chose Eureka's Frog on Side image.

He's pretty cute, don't you think? He looks like my hubby the last couple of weeks in Hawaii. But don't tell Gary I said that. I don't think he would appreciate the humor, or lack thereof. Anyway, I printed the frog on X-Press It CS. Then I cut a mask for him and brayered Stampin' Up inks, (Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, and Creamy Caramel), around him for the sky and beach.

The frog was colored with Copics: YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, E21, E23, E53, E55, E57, V12, V15, Y13, YR14, RV11, RV13, BV11, BV13. I added a bit of Stickles to his glass rim and contents. I paper-pieced his swim trunks with a bit of Authentique Journey DP.

Using Stampin' Up CS, I die-cut trees, clouds, grass, and a sun with the following dies: Cheery Lynn Nautical Wheeler, MFT Grass Border & Clouds, and La-La Land Crafts Palm Tree. My sentiment is from Create with TLC.

Check out the great pieces by my talented teammates! And then have fun creating whatever your heart desires and show us what you've done. Looking forward to seeing your creations! Aloha!

The Outlawz Greeting Card Anything Goes Challenge

Before I get into this card, I just want to mention that I have been MIA for a couple of weeks. All my posts during these last two weeks were scheduled to post without me. That is because we took a little trip. Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip'. (Name that tune.) No, just kidding--we went to Hawaii on the 7th and just got back Sunday a.m. at 6:30. We spent a week on the Big Island and 5 days on Maui. Sometimes it's so hard to be me. Don't cry for me, Argentina, OK? (You can also name that tune.) I will blog about the trip, just not on this post.

I do want to apologize for not commenting on anyone's blogs over the time we were gone. Gary wanted me to "step away" for the vacation, and so I did. I couldn't even get into TTCRD or The Outlawz--no access on my phone or iPad!  But I will return this week with a vengeance happy heart, so look for my comments soon. Okey dokey.

This week we are being sponsored by Digistamps4Joy. And do they have a great selection of stamps to choose from! If you are not familiar with them, do go check out their website.

I chose this sweet image, Sugar anyone? designed by JenLee, a very talented artist.  I printed this cutie on X-Press It CS and colored her with Copics: Y21, YR23, E000, E00, E11, E33, E35, R20, C00, C0, C2, C4, C6, B41, B45, V01, V05, V06. I then accented her with a white gel pen and added Glossy Accents to the teapot. She was die-cut with a Spellbinders Grand Labels 4 die and framed with Stampin' Up CS from the outside of that die. (I just traced around it and cut it out.)

My DP is actually a digital pattern, Tea for Two Papers 2,  from Create with TLC, which I printed on Neenah CS. My sentiment is also from Create with TLC. After I printed the sentiment on X-Press It CS, I over-stamped it with SU ink and a Hero Arts tea cup stamp. Then I fussy-cut the cup and mounted it on a S'U CS die-cut created with Spellbinders Labels 4. To finish the card, I added corner die cuts made with the Memory Box Macarena Corner.

We expect to see a great turn-out this week, since our challenge is anything goes. Check out the inspiration provided by my talented teammates and then have fun creating something yourselves! 

Stamptacular Sunday "FAIRY Fever!" Challenge

This week’s challenge is going to be so much fun!  We can’t wait to see what you create!

This week's challenge is a…

“FAIRY Fever!”

For this week's challenge you will create a card or project with a fairy on it!  Get creative with this one!  Oh…and don’t forget to STAMP!  After all…we don’t call this the STAMPtacular Sunday Challenge for nothing!      

You will have from now until midnight (EST) January 26^th, 2013 to complete this challenge and post a DIRECT LINK to your submission into our InLinkz in order to be entered into the drawing for this week's fabulous prize donated by:

A DAY FOR DAISIES

PRIZE:  $12 GIFT CERTIFICATE!

AND

DELICIOUS DOODLES

PRIZE:  Winner’s Choice of FOUR Digi Images!

This week's challenge was really tough for me. Not because I couldn't come up with a fairy image. It was deciding which one to use! I have several, and they are all adorable. So I went back and forth, and forth and back, around in circles, made myself terribly dizzy, (even more than usual), and finally settled on this cutie from Mayzy Art. Her name is Rosebud the Fairy; I printed her on Make It Colour Blending Card. She was so much fun to color. Which I did. With my Copics: BG02, BG93, BG96, BG99, R00, R20, R43, E000, E00, E11, E33, Y21, YR00, YR12, YR14, YR20, YR21, YR23. I then accented her with a white gel pen; added Stickles to her wings and slippers, Copic Spica to her lips, and Glossy Accents to her eyes.

My DP from the Prima Romance Novel collection gave me my color palette. I used CS from Stampin' Up and Bazzill. I created die cuts using the following dies: Spellbinders Labels 16 and 20, Magnolia Doohickey Flourish, and Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish. My sentiment is one by Create with TLC.

To finish my card I added flowers and crown pins from Wild Orchid Crafts and some lace from my stash. Call it done. Now go take a look at the creations by my talented teammates. Some great inspiration there! Looking forward to seeing what fairies you use. Have a great week!

The Outlawz Greeting Card Snowman Challenge

My second post today. Again, I apologize for the two posts in one day.

This week we are challenging you to create a card with a snowman or snow on it. We are being sponsored by Bugaboo. How fun is that?

So for my card this week, I chose Bugaboo Old Snowman Flakes. I printed him on Cryogen CS and colored him with Copics: C1, C3, C5, YR00, B000, B52, E41, E43. I then added Stickles to the image snowflakes and used Pearl Pen for snow as well. I die-cut the image with a Spellbinders Labels 20 die and then sponged SU ink around the image. All my CS is from Stampin' Up. My sentiment is from Create with TLC. I die cut that with a Labels 20 die also, added Stickles and Pearl Pen to it, and sponged SU ink around the edges.

I used the following dies to complete the card: Cheery Lynn Victorian Flourish & Lace Corner Deco B dies, and MFT High Tea Doily die. I added a couple of Queen & Co. Pearls to the flourishes. Again, that's it for me.

Please join us this week at The Outlawz Greeting Card Challenge. We would love to see what you create with snow. And be sure to check out the inspirations from my talented teammates.

Lady Anne's Anything Goes Challenge

I have two posts today. That only happens about once a month, but I do apologize for you having to look twice!

Anyway, we're back from holiday break at Lady Anne's Anything Goes Challenge. Again this month we are being sponsored by Sassy Studio Designs. So rev up your engines and get busy. Show us what you've got--only 4 entries per person allowed, but that does increase your chances of winning!

 

I chose Sassy Cupid for this card. I printed her on X-Press It CS and colored her with Copics: E000, E00, E11, E33, E35, Y21, YR23, BG000, BG15, BG32, BG34, BG53, BG57, R000, R20, R81, R83, R85. I then added Stickles to her crown and Copic Spica to her lips, eyelids, necklace & bodice heart. I also added some Glossy Accents to her eyes, which I may cease doing. Not because it hurts her eyes, but because it's difficult to get a good photo without glare in her eyes. Kinda like red-eye with people. 

My sentiment is from Create with TLC. My DP is from My Mind's Eye Lucky in Love collection, and I paired it with Stampin' Up CS. I made die cuts using: Spellbinders Labels 8 and Classic Hearts, and La-La Land Crafts Wings Set. I finished the card with several Queen & Co. Pearls. Ta-da! 

Be sure to check out the creations from my talented teammates! OK, your turn. Go forth, create, and post. And have a great week!

Stamptacular Sunday "SKETCH Challenge!"

This week’s challenge is going to be so much fun!  We can’t wait to see what you create!

This week's challenge is a…

“SKETCH Challenge!”

For this week's challenge you will create a card that uses the above sketch!  Feel free to flip it, flop it, twist it or turn it, but be sure we can still see the original sketch in your completed project!  Oh…and don’t forget to STAMP!  After all…we don’t call this the STAMPtacular Sunday Challenge for nothing!      

You will have from now until midnight (EST) January 19^th, 2013 to complete this challenge and post a DIRECT LINK to your submission into our InLinkz in order to be entered into the drawing for this week's fabulous prize donated by:

BUGABOO

PRIZE:  Winner’s Choice of SEVEN Digi Images!

AND

MARIANNE DESIGN

PRIZE:  It’s A SURPRISE!

Well, I wish I could win! These prizes sound like fun, don't they? I hope you enjoy using the sketch--I certainly did!

And, as I am trying to get ahead and get more DT work done, I am going to keep this exceptionally brief. Just like the few posts to follow.

I chose Tiddly Inks Lilli Claire Tude for this challenge. I printed her on Cryogen CS. I felt in love with this image when I first saw it. I think she reminds me of myself as a child. (Or as an adult, take your pick.) But she is bad-a**, isn't she? I think she is actually Bugaboo's Stella as a youngster. Or Hallmark's Maxine. Anyway, I had to use one of the Lilli sentiments, because it goes so well with this pose.

I used DP from the Basic Grey Out of Print collection, which I have been hoarding for quite a while. And I paired it with Stampin' Up CS. I accented Lilli Claire with a Copic Spica and some white gel pen after coloring her with Copics: YR82, R20, E000, E00, E11, E13, E15, E18, E97, YG61, YG63, BG000, BG53.  Then I stamped a Basic Grey flourish around the image with Versafine ink. And, finally, I added Me & My Big Ideas Icons to the sentiment and the DP. That's it. Pretty simple for me, hey?

So, check out my DTeamies--they rock! And then, get busy and create a take on our sketch--looking forward to seeing yours! Have a great week!

Jellypark Friends Friday Winter Animals Challenge

So today begins my 3-month term as a Jellypark Friends DT member. I was very honored when Jennifer asked me to serve on this team. I have found the teamies to be a wonderful group, with much talent, big hearts, and great senses of humor. (Or is it great sense of humors?) So I expect this to be a very fun experience for me, just as being a GDT with them in November was!

I am guilty of creating a card for the theme before I received the proper images, so just ignore that fact, will you? I promise not to do that in the next challenge; I will use what I should. But I did fall in love with this Polar Bear image when I saw it--I think it is just precious! And it was already such a cute outdoor scene that I didn't need to do much to it. So I didn't. As you can probably tell.

I printed the image on X-Press It CS and colored it with Copics: YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99, B000, B06, B91, E33, E35, C00, C0, C3, C6. I added Copic Spica to the skates. I masked off the image and brayered SU ink for the sky in Bashful Blue and Pacific Point colors.

My CS is from Stampin' Up. I die-cut several pieces for this card using: Spellbinders Labels 18 for the Create with TLC sentiment; La-La Land Crafts Christmas Tree; and Memory Box Crystalline Border. I used the little snowflakes from the MB die in the sky and covered them with Stickles. I also added Stickles to the border of my sentiment. Lastly, I created a small pennant to mount the sentiment. That pennant was sponged with SU ink. I do believe that covers it!

Be sure to check out the creations by the talented DT. We would all love to see what you will create for this challenge. Have a great weekend!

Through The Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge

Hi, Peeps! This week we have The Paper Shelter as our sponsor. You probably already know what fun images are in the store, so I imagine you would love to win this challenge! Good luck! And be sure to check out the TTCRD magazine--it's really fabulous and well worth the subscription. A new issue will be out soon.

The last time I did a blog post for TTCRD it was Christmas Day. Now it is January 8, 2013. How did that happen so fast? It feels as though I blink and another week has disappeared. Of course, I have been really, really busy--and that always seems to make time go faster. And believe what you've heard: the older you get, the faster time goes by. I am not really sure why that is true; I just know it is. 

I hate to disappoint my readers who enjoy my chit-chat, but I have to make this a short post. So I will jump right into my card. Well, not literally, of course. That would be a bit silly. And rather difficult to do. No, I will jump into it figuratively. So here goes:

I chose The Beautiful Skier image, as I thought she was so pretty and would be fun to color. Which she was. I printed her on Cryogen CS and then colored her with Copics: C2, W4, R20, BG70, BG72, BG75, E000, E00, E07, E09, E11, E25, E31, E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E50. I accented her with a white gel pen.

I chose a round easel design for this card, using Spellbinders Grand Circles to create it. The other dies I used were: Cheery Lynn Snowflake 4 and Spellbinders Scalloped Circles & Lacey Circles. My CS base and Kraft scalloped circle are from Stampin' Up. The snowflake and lacey circles were cut from Cryogen CS. The lacey circles (including the one with my Create with TLC sentiment on it), and the snowflake had Stickles added to them. I also added Stickles to the snowflakes on the image itself. 

And that does it for this edition. Sorry it was so short, although some of you might be cheering for that very reason. Raspberries to you if you are. 

Be sure to check out the rest of the DT creations. Looking forward to yours. Have a wonderful rest of the week!

The Outlawz Greeting Challenge: "A Brad New Year"

We have a new sponsor for 2013! And they will be sponsoring this week's challenge. Cool, huh? There are so many wonderful images at DS4J that it will be fun for the winner to shop.

Unfortunately, I already had my card done for the week by the time our new sponsor was announced. And I had no time to create another. However, I will be using a DJ4J image on the 21st, so look for that in the two weeks.

Our challenge this week calls for using a brad and one newly purchased item. That should be easy-peasy for me, right? Well....not so much. I really didn't do much crafting shopping in December, except for paper. (Oh, do sit down until the shock wears off.) So I went out, (I use that term loosely as I actually went online), and bought a new image from Saturated Canary, "Queen of Hearts", to use on this card. So there's my new item. And, as you can see, I added not one, but two Stampin' Up brads to my card. I am such a rebel.

I know I am digressing, but I had to mention this. I took Don in to the vet last Wednesday for his well-doggy check-up. I swear, you need to be independently wealthy to own a pet these days. There was nothing wrong with him, he didn't even get a shot, (yet, but that's because they are checking his blood titer first), and it cost me $318. Good grief, Charlie Brown! I bet Snoopy didn't cost that much to keep healthy. Maybe I should follow Charlie's lead and stick Don out on top of a doghouse in the backyard. Then he can roast in the Arizona sun. Hmmm...roasted Maltese. Could be good, I suppose, but there's not much meat on him. Perhaps he would taste like chicken. Doesn't everything--from frog's legs to rattlesnake? So why eat them--why not just go for the chicken instead? Inquiring minds would like to know. Now, where was I before I so rudely interrupted myself?

Oh, yes, my card for this week. So I printed this little miss on Make It Colour Blending Card. And colored it with Prismacolor pencils. Really? Noooo, I am just kidding. What do I know about colored pencils? I couldn't color my way out of a paper bag with those. I do know some really good Prisma colorists, but I do not number myself among them. I did, however, use my Copics--now there's a shock! I used: Y21, YR12, YR23, E000, E00, E11, E33, E35, R00, R01, R11, R20, R22, R24, R27, R29, RV10, RV32, BG000, BG05, BG07, BG09, BG53.

And then I slapped her on the back of the head, because I have been watching entirely too much NCIS while crafting lately. (Do you get that? If not, try watching the show sometime on USA Network.) Actually, I treated her worse than that--I stuck Glossy Accents in her eyes--don't try that, it stings! I accented her with a white gel pen and called her finished.

Then I fussy-cut her and mounted her on my card. I used DP from My Mind's Eye Lucky in Love collection, which I paired with Stampin' Up CS. I added a sentiment from Create with TLC, which I die-cut using the Magnolia Doohickey Lovely Tag die. My other die cuts were created using Memory Box La Rue Heart die and La-La Land Crafts Hot Air Balloon die.

As a finishing touch I added a Stampin' Up bow and Maya Road Mini Hanger to the heart tag. Up, up and awaaaaaaaaaaay!

Be sure to check out the inspirations from my talented teammates! Looking forward to your creations this week. And, if you don't have anything newly purchased to use, you have my permission to go out and buy an item or ten! Have a great week.

Stamptacular Sunday "Don't Be SQUARE!" Challenge

This week’s challenge is going to be so much fun!  We can’t wait to see what you create!

This week's challenge is …

“Don’t Be SQUARE!”

For this week's challenge you will create a card that is NOT square!  Be creative!  Oh…and don’t forget to STAMP!  After all…we don’t call this the STAMPtacular Sunday Challenge for nothing!      

You will have from now until midnight (EST) January 12^th, 2013 to complete this challenge and post a DIRECT LINK to your submission into our InLinkz in order to be entered into the drawing for this week's fabulous prize donated by:

WHOOPSIE DAISY

PRIZE:  Winner’s Choice of TWO SHEETS of Digis!

I am like a crazy person right now. (Oh, OK, crazier than usual.) I am trying to start the New Year off on the right foot, (as opposed to the left), and work ahead on my DT's. Oh, for Pete's sake, don't fall off your chair laughing hysterically at me! It could happen, perhaps in an alternate universe, but it could happen. It is not impossible. Improbable, yes, impossible, no. Just wish me luck, OK? 'Cuz I am going to need it.

Poor Gary got "the cold" on New Year's Day. Of all the rotten luck! I had so hoped it would pass him by, but he just couldn't escape it. Our kids and grandkids came down with it right after Christmas, and some of our New Year's Eve guests couldn't come over due to being sick with it as well. Enough, I say! Illness begone! (Especially for me--I simply don't have time to get sick again this winter! I am just too busy.) I sincerely hope all of you are well at the moment and stay that way, too!

My next few posts are going to be a bit brief, in an effort to keep my productivity high on my card-making. Hey, I mean it. Stop your laughing. Now! This instant. Or there will be repercussions! Serious ones. Like, I'll start sending you jokes. Tons of them. And they might not even be funny. I'll fill your inboxes to overflowing. That'll fix your wagons.

OK, back to my card description for this week at SSC. I just had to use a Saturated Canary image that I bought recently, called "Snow Blower". I fell in love with this the moment I saw it. It's too cute, don't you think? I used one of the sentiments that came with the image. The image and sentiment were printed on Make It Colour Blending Card.

To avoid being square this week, (there's got to be a joke in there somewhere), I chose a round easel design. I used some DP from the Carta Bella Winter Fun collection and adhered it to my Stampin' Up CS base. I used Spellbinders Grand Classic Circles to cut out my papers, Spellbinders Lacey Circles to cut out my sentiment, and the following dies to make my snowflake stop: Memory Box Beaded Snowflake & Bianca Snowflake & Crystal Snowflake. I added a Queen & Co. Rhinestone to the center of the snowflake stop.

My image and rhinestone were colored with Copics: BG70, BG72, BG75, BG78, C00, C0, C1, C3, R20, E000, E00, E11, E13, E15, E18, E40, E41, E42, E43, E44. I stamped snowflakes around the image using the SU Season of Friendship stamp set. I finished the card by adding accents with a white gel pen, Stickles and Glossy Accents. Zippity doo dah and done!

Do check out the rest of the fun DT creations. Please. And I am looking forward to seeing what you create this week. I am now returning you to your regularly scheduled program. Happy New Year!