The Big News!!

Good morning!! I know some of you know this already, but I have a HUGE announcement to share ... yesterday I officially joined the Splitcoast Dirty Dozen!!! I can't EVEN believe I'm lucky enough to be a dirty girl!!! I've drooled over the Dirty Dozen gallery each month since way back when it first started quite a few years ago, so for me to become a part of it is really just the ultimate honor. I'm on cloud nine, and I don't know when my feet will touch the ground again!! Thanks for all the comments, emails, and phone calls of congratulations yesterday! Your support and encouragement have meant so much to me!!! I also want to give a big congratulations to my "roomie," the awesome Cindy Lawrence (One Happy Stamper), who joins at the same time. Way to go, Cindy!! I'm so excited for our ride!

[Okay, that's a lot of exclamation points, even for me! Can you tell I'm excited?]

If you're not familiar with the Dirty Dozen, you can read more about it HERE and HERE.

Today's card is my sample for Jen del Muro's weekly Sketch for You to Try. I had a tough time wrapping my arms around today's sketch at first ... what to do with the three panels, where to stamp, what kind of embellishment to use. But once I figured out my game plan, the card came together in record time. So, a long time thinking, but a short time creating. Check out the sketch, along with Jen's and guest designer Bonnie Sharp's samples, at i{heart}2stamp. Be sure to visit Amy, Carole, Shannan, and Susan for even more samples. I haven't looked at theirs yet, but I'm thinking there's going to be a lot of variety this week! We hope you'll play along!! Just upload your project to your blog or gallery, then link it back up to Jen's post. If you upload to SCS, use keyword: SFYTT. (Note: that painted and clear embossed chipboard piece on my card looks black in the photo, but it is actually Chocolate Chip, and matches very nicely with the dark brown twill.)

The colors on this are hard to capture for some reason ... here's another look:



Today is also new challenge day at Our Creative Corner. If you head over there, you'll see another very cool sketch from Dawn Easton, our August hostess, as well as gorgeous samples from guest designer Julee Tilman and the OCC girls. But you won't see my sample, as it's not done yet! Whoops!!! (I'm working on it -- promise!!)

Last, before I go, I want to share some announcements from Our Daily Bread Designs. Yesterday, three new stamp sets, as well as a Guardian Angel Prayer single stamp, became available in the store. Kelley has a special promotion going on with the Hope set where you get a free "Hope Pack" with purchase. It's an all-pink collection of Breast Cancer Awareness goodies just perfect for cardmaking and scrapbooking (value $10, you can see a picture here). The design team has been making the most incredible samples - they just amaze me! Check out the samples HERE and HERE, and especially HERE! You won't be disappointed. And last but not least, a huge welcome to Becca Feeken of Amazing Paper Grace, who joins Our Daily Bread Designs as guest designer. This was my first introduction to Becca - she's seriously talented and such a sweet, wonderful person! Welcome, Becca!

Thanks so much for stopping by!



Stamps: Artful Elegance (Verve)
Paper: dp by Amy Butler/K&Co.; chocolate and lime green card stocks (source unknown); Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Chocolate Chip craft
Accessories: chipboard (Fancy Pants), decorative brads (Making Memories?), sewing machine and thread, brown twill (Offray), word window punch, clear embossing powder (SU!)