Valentine Defined

Yesterday I went to my friend Heather's 40th/9th birthday party.  She's a 9 year b.c. survivor, and an amazingly strong woman.  Anyway, her party theme was to have all her crafty friends get together and share what they are creating.  What a neat idea!  I brought a simple card to make, for anyone that was interested, but made sure it used the Big Shot several different ways, since she just got one. :-D

Heather chose the stamp set, and since I knew pink is her favorite color, this was the card we made.  Three ladies had never stamped before and were delighted at how quick and easy it was to put this together, and how nice the completed card looked.  (I think a couple of them will be coming to the Occasions Mini Open House next week, too. Woohoo!)
Stamps: Valentine Defined (image), Filled With Love (sentiment)
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette textured, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Inks: Pretty in Pink Classic, Certainly Celery Classic, Regal Rose Classic, Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, Perfect Polks-Dots embossing folder, Sweet Buttons Embosslit die, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Curly Label punch

So Shelli Challenge

Shelli Gardner, co-founder and head honcho... uh, honcha... um, fearless leader of Stampin' Up! has a blog, called So Shelli, and a monthly challenge.  This month she has challenged us to use a color combination from the fabulous new Color Coach.  She said, and I quote: "Branch out of your usual color comfort zone and try a new combination."  Holy carp, did I push out of my comfort zone with this card!  And, wonder of wonders, I really like it!!!  (Hmmm, methinks I need to use the Color Coach more often, lol.) 

I knew I wanted to use the deep gold of More Mustard for the sponged sky around the masked sun, so I was curious to see what other colors the "Coach" recommended.  I never would have thought of Cajun Craze and Night of Navy, but once I pulled out the cardstock and held them together, they just clicked! 

Stamps: Just Believe (W-116948, C-120453)
Cardstock: More Mustard (100946), Cajun Craze (119684), Night of Navy (100867), Shimmery White (101910)
Ink: VersaMark (102283), More Mustard Classic (103162), Cajun Craze (119671), Night of Navy (102977)
Accessories: Black Stampin' Emboss Powder (109133), Heat Tool (100005), Curly Label Punch (119851), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275)

Get Well

I have a wonderful crew member working for the Census with me.  She's my best worker!  She and her husband have a landscape business, so the flexible hours of Census are a blessing.  On Monday (which happened to be her husband's birthday), he was bitten by a baby rattlesnake right through his glove!  He's going to be okay, thank God, but they kept him over night for observation after giving the antivenin and antibiotics.  I whipped this together quickly to give to him when he got home.  Inside it says "For a speedy recovery."