Happy New Home

My BFF Barb just moved from Twin Falls to the Coeur d' Alene area, so of course I had to make a card for the occasion! After Googling her new address so I could see what her house looked like, I decided to make a card that looked like her front door. There are a few extras thrown in to dress it up, but the door looks exactly like her new front door!

Those In Color Dahlias worked perfectly for the flowers and the topiary! Barb has a green thumb, so I know her home will be surrounded by beautiful flowers in no time, as soon as it warms up enough.

There was a little gifty tucked inside, too. I looked up the nearest Starbucks location (only 0.7 miles away!) and sent a gift card with a map and a note that "motivation in a cup" was less than a mile away. 

She texted me today to say she was heading out to get some "motivation" and then starting the craft room. I can't wait to visit and see how she sets up the new studio! (Barb is the person responsible for me getting into paper crafting, and I curse thank her every day for my addiction!)

STAMPS: None!

CARDSTOCK: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Baked Brown Sugar, Gumball Green

INK: White Gel Pen

ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Little Leaves Sizzlits, Stampin' Trimmer, Petite Pennants Builder Punch,  1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, In Color Dahlias, silver brad (retired), Nestabilities (non-SU)

Happy New Home, FMS28 and CQC130

My cousin just moved to a new place, and I wanted to create bright, cheerful card to celebrate this happy event. This week's ColourQ Challenge #130 fit the bill perfectly; I couldn't have chosen happier colors!

And (now don't fall off your seat!) I combined it with another challenge, using the fab sketch from this week's Freshly Made Sketches #28.  As soon as I saw this sketch, I saw a Z-Fold card!

Not having any house-type stamps made it necessary to improvise, but I think the paper-pieced house turned out kinda cute.

So, if you're mojo seems to have left the building, as mine has this week, pop on over to either (or BOTH) of the challenges and get some inspiration!

Stamps: Baroque Motif, Party Time
Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, plus Daffodil Delight DSP and Melon Mambo DSP (retired)
Ink: Certainly Celery and Basic Black Classic
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1-3/8" Square Punch, Small Heart Punch, Pearls Basic Jewels, White Gel Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Tombow Mono Multi

My Big News

I didn't think I was supposed to announce this until tomorrow, but I see it's already up on the SU-Only Challenges blog, so here goes....

I'm a SUOC Design Team member!

Woohoo!!!  This is a first for me, so I really feel honored.  Boy, what a week, huh?  Featured Friday Cardmaker on OWH Stars & Stamps, and a few days later, DT on SU-Only Challenges........Life is good!

This invitation for the SUOC26 challenge was made in anticipation of my daughter and son-in-law finally closing on their house, hopefully this week!  Once they are moved and settled, it's party time! I combined two of the stamps in the Party Time set to get the "housewarming party time".  And see that lovely ribbon treatment with the teeny tiny linen thread bow? My friend Jennifer Timko (the Queen of Lovely Bows) did it on her card here, so I just had to CASE it! Hers looks way better, of course, 'cuz she IS the Queen, after all.

Stamps: Aviary, Party Time
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Pocketful of Posies Designer Series Paper
Inks: Island Indigo, Baja Breeze, Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Island Indigo 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Linen Thread, Decorative Label Punch

Be sure to check SUOC every other Tuesday for a new challenge, and upload your creation there! The main rules are easy-peasy....only Stampin' Up! items may used on the project (hence the name of the challenge blog), and the project must be posted within time frame of each challenge. (Check "About" on the SUOC left sidebar for more details on the rules.) If your project is one of the three winners, you get a fab blinky to proudly display on your blog!

Okay, now get busy making an invitation so we can see the fabulousness! It can be any kind of party invite.....in fact, the baby booty shower invitation from a couple days ago was going to be my project, but I changed my mind. It happens a lot these days. The mind-changing thing. Some call it old age indecision. I call it coming up with a better idea. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!