Saturday Challenges

I'm one of those nutters who usually waits until the last minute to start making my Christmas cards. One year, I *started* on December 23. Long story, but I was busy with a 2-month-old baby, so I decided not to send cards at all, then realized I had to send cards because family and friends would be wanting a picure, then decided if I was going to send cards, they had to be handmade ... sigh ... I did finish them in only two days, but they still went out the day after Christmas. So this week's "Christmas in July" challenge over at Our Creative Corner was a really good one for me! Head over there for all the details and to link up your creation when you're ready. You can also see all my teammates' samples there: Cindy Haffner, Dawn Easton, Denise Marzec, Jennifer Meyer, Laurie Schmidlin, and Lynda Benden.

I'm really falling for some of the cute, little Penny Black animals, so when I saw the adorable 12 Days of Christmas set, I had to have it. And right there to help get one into my ink-stained little hands was none other than Michelle at Stamper's Dream. What a doll!! And such great customer service, too -- a rare treat these days.

This set has twelve images, one to go with each of the twelve days of Christmas. They are all just TOO cute. The 4 calling birds is a chicky making a call on a cell phone. The three French hens is a chick holding a wine glass in one hand and a baguette in the other. So fun!! When I went to color today's "partridge in a pear tree" image, I was a little stumped by the top of this chick's head. What are those funny things sticking out? Do you think she's sitting there doing her needlepoint with curlers in her hair? That's what I went with, so someone please tell me if you think they're supposed to be something else, LOL!

By the way, I went looking on the Penny Black site to see if I could find a colored sample for this image, hoping to figure out what's on top of her head. Bad idea!!! They didn't have the colored sample I was looking for, but oh, the stuff I did find! They have some really GREAT stuff in their Christmas 2008 catalog. And such variety, everything from cutesy to elegant, silhouette stamps to line art, whimsical to solemn. By the way, I'm not affiliated in any way ... just telling you what I saw.

One more thing, this card uses Julee's Mojo Monday #38 sketch. I just loved looking back through all her sketches to make yesterday's birthday card. Did you know she has a .PDF file with all of her sketches all in one place? Check it out on the right sidebar of her blog, Poetic Artistry.

Today is Saturday, which means it's also time for a new Sketch for You to Try. I'll say up front that I'm not happy with my card today. I'm sorry to disappoint with this one!! I spent FOREVAH working on this, certain that at some point the magic would happen. No such luck. But here it is anyway:



Check out i{heart}2stamp to see Jen's sketch, Jen's sample, and guest designer Jessie Rone's sample. As usual, Amy, Carole, and Susan are playing. Shannan said she might be late with her sample. Also, Jen's sketch is being featured on the Sisterhood of Scrap blog. Check it out!

Oh, and the cool color combo was one of the SCS Color Challenges a couple weeks ago. Isn't it neat?

Have a fantastic weekend!



Partridge in a Pear Tree:
Stamps: 12 Days of Christmas (Penny Black)
Paper: Cranberry Crisp (SU!); watercolor paper (Canson)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko); various reinkers for coloring (SU!); Cranberry Crisp, Always Artichoke, So Saffron, and More Mustard (for sponging)
Accessories: Large oval punch, crystal effects, foam tape, Cranberry Crisp stitched ribbon (SU!); Snowflakes Cuttlebug embossing folder (Provo Craft)

Welcome, Little One:
Stamps: Nursery Necessities
Paper: So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Almost Amethyst, Amethyst Prints dp
Ink: So Saffron, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: double-stitched Wild Wasabi ribbon, classic and scalloped square Nestabilities, dimensionals, white embroidery floss, small star punch, sewing machine, paper piercer, corner rounder