Just Us Girls Challenge Week 3

This week at the JUGS blog, they've issued a color challenge:

I had my Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly paper still out on my desk, so I looked through to find some paper with these colors, did some cutting & pasting, and made a quick card using a retired SU Christmas set, Holiday Sampler:

Look at those cute little marshmallow-headed snowmen!!!  I had to move my photography "studio", which is normally in my spare bedroom, so I am still experimenting as to where my pictures look best....bear with me!  I cut out the little scallops & rearranged the patterns so the snowmen were at the bottom; added my mittens & "joy", a gingham bow and a MS-punched snowflake, glittered with some MS antique gold glitter.  Denise (peanutbee) RAKed me with the little candy dots I applied at the bottom! (Thanks, Denise!) 

• Stamps:  Holiday Sampler
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, Very Vanilla, Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly
• Ink:  Real Red
• Acc: Nesties, MS Snowflake Punch, Glitter, Playground Button, Gingham Ribbon, Mini Dots (unknown)

Pink Snowflakes?

Okay, I admit it....I had so little time to stamp this weekend, and SO loved Tammy's little snowman gatefold card here, that I shamelessly CASE'd it!!!  Hers is a little more embellished than mine, but honestly, I did this about 10 minutes before we left for my niece's wedding on Friday so there was no time for anything but a quick sprinkle of glitter:

I have been dying to use this Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly Mini Deck, and I thought this funky pink snowy paper would be great paired with the retired Mr. Twigster!  His pink snowflakes are stamped in Melon Mambo, as is his Nestie mat.  I used the remaining piece of the paper on the inside:

 

This sentiment and snowflakes are from an Anna Wight Whippersnapper set called Snowman for Peace.

This style of gatefold card is so easy and fun, but I have never done it lengthwise!  What a great idea Tammy had to do it that way.....simply score your 4 1/4" x 11" cardstock 2 3/4" from each end! 

Lynn & Charlie are back with Lynn's guide dog, a beautiful black Lab named Dutch!!!  You can read about them here.  They will be staying here for two more weeks, and then I get to attend their graduation ceremony!  I hope to have some pictures of all of them to share with you.  We have been so blessed to have them....Charlie said when they came back, "Ah, now I feel like I am home!"  That made me feel so good!  Thanks for visiting today!

Easel Card

I haven't done a technique challenge at SCS for a while, but I kept seeing these intriguing cards around, so I thought I'd give it a shot.  This is EASY to do, but one of the those ones that you feel as if you need to include directions in the envelope for the recipient!!!  Anyway, since I have carpet installers coming today, here it is, quickly:

The button props up the "easel"; it then folds flat to mail, although with a double button, this one won't exactly be flat!!  The folded size is 4 1/4" but it is easily adaptable.  More details can be found here; the textured Real Red cardstock, DP, and the round embellishment are from the Christmas Jingle SB kit; images are from Season of Joy and the ribbon is from the mini catalog, Mistletoe.  Thanks for visiting today---hopefully I can stamp something this afternoon!

Color Throwdown #64

Barbara is the hostess for this week's CTD, and she has picked a lovely combination....this is one I will keep in the back of my mind for future reference:

 

Baja Breeze, Black or Chocolate Chip (I chose Black), and Sahara Sand!  Love these together!!  My nephew and his girlfriend got engaged this weekend.  Oh my, what a romantic guy he is!  When I get some pictures that I am able to share, I'll tell you about it.  Mountains, horses, snow, a gazebo on a hill......it was something out of a movie!!!  Anyway, I wanted to make a card for his bride-to-be, and she is not a frilly sort of girl, so while this card is not totally clean & simple, it is a little subdued:

I used a Kraft base with Basic Black mats, and a piece of K&Co DP from the Berry Sweet line.  I used a Simon Says Stamp set that has lots & lots of sentiments and a couple small images, and I thought the little dandelion was cute with the design in the paper.  I added some Kaiser pearls, a couple ribbon treatments and then some die-cut vellum swirls to fill in that empty space!  I think I need another pearl, though, on the end of the little swirl that is just floating unattached....hmmm. Gotta think about that!  Here's the inside:

 

I also stamped the outside of the envelope with the dandelions, but I forgot to photo that!!!

 

Be sure to check out the other creations on the CTD blog, as well as the sponsor info and goodies! And link your own creation to Mr Linky there after you've posted it on your blog or an online gallery!  You may be chosen as a Featured Stamper or a Guest Designer!!!  Thanks so much for visiting today!

• Stamps:  Sentiments by Simon Says Stamp
• Paper:  Kraft, Basic Black, Berry Sweet DP by K&Co, Vellum CS
• Ink:  Baja Breeze, Stazon Black
• Acc:  Swirls & Scribbles Die Cut; Suede Ribbon, Taffeta Ribbon, Nesties, Slot Punch, Pearls, Eyelet Edge Punch

Diva Coffee Break Designs #149

This week the Divas are challenged with a lovely sketch!  There are so many possibilities with this one!  I also chose to use the colors from Stacey's Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 6:

Recently at my upline's, I saw a card using the Friendly Words wheel, stamped with Versamark, heat embossed with clear embossing powder and sponged with ink.  I loved it!  So I decided to use that technique for my card today:

After embossing the Very Vanilla panel, I sponged the center portion with Dusty Durango ink, then the edges with Ruby Red.  I had one little piece of twill left in my stash, so I twisted it for a little different effect, added a Playground button and some leaves from Falling Leaves.  My So Saffron panels was stamped with the Cornelli Lace jumbo wheel; sentiment is from All Holidays.  This is for a friend's birthday, so the inside sports a sentiment from On Your Birthday:

 

Thanks for stopping by!  And check out what all the other Divas have done with this sketch at the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog!  Feel free to post your creation with Mr Linky--we would love to have you play with us!

• Stamps:  All Holidays, Falling Leaves, On Your Birthday, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Cornelli Lace Wheel, Friendly Words Wheel
• Paper:  Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Ruby Red, Dusty Durango
• Ink: Mellow Moss, Dusty Durango, So Saffron, Ruby Red
• Acc:  Twill, Taffeta Ribbon, Playground Button, Pop-up Glue Dots, Dimensionals, String

Special Company

Thank you to all who wished me "feel-better" wishes!  I am feeling much better today.  If anyone has sinus headache problems and would like to share what helps them, feel free to pass it along!  No stamping for me today, unless a fairy   godmother comes along and gives me an extra couple of hours!  I did stamp something last night for my stamp club hostess that I can share:

This is a little treat box made from two #2 Box die cuts adhered together back to back.  A small oval punch is used to cut out the handle.  Here's the other side:

And some closeups:

The ghost and bat were cased from Mukibug's blog--you can see her ADORABLE project and how-tos here.  She is very creative!!!  Box is Pumpkin Pie; DP is Day & Night Specialty Paper.

I also wanted to share some photos of some special people who spent a few days with me.  DH & I offer our home as a host home for Canine Partners for Life recipients.  These are people who need a guide dog due to health issues, and while they train with their dog, they need places to stay, as a hotel would be very costly.  This was our first time as hosts (and the reason for my painting absence), and we only had Lynn and her brother Charlie for a couple days, but we will be having another family in a couple weeks for a little bit longer!  Lynn had a brain tumor and has balance issues, so her black lab Dutch will be able to help her with that.  I didn't get to meet Dutch, but hopefully will be able to attend "graduation" and meet him then!  Anyway, here they are:

Me, Lynn and my hubby John

Me, Lynn's brother Charlie, who helps her, and John

Charlie and Lynn (isn't she CUTE?)

Lynn's enthusiasm was contagious--she is so excited to get her dog and she has such a positive outlook--they were both a delight to have as guests!  I can't wait to see them again!  Thanks for visiting today!

Happy in Pink

                                                                                                               

I always like sending my hostesses a little note after their party using a hostess set!  And this Level 3 Hostess Set, The More The Merrier, is such a fun set!  Here's the card I made:

 

I just love the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder, but I wanted to use if for something other than a Christmas card....what do you think of it in pink?  I stamped my birds in Stazon and colored them with a blender pen and Bordering Blue and Brocade Blue ink, added some Pretty in Pink hearts and glittered them, then mounted it on a mat of Bordering Blue.  Added my Pretty in Pink embossed panel, my sentiment & ribbon and a quick card was done!

Thanks for visiting today!  I woke up with a bad headache,  so I hope I can work though it and do some C&S stamping...we'll see how it goes!