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Saturday, January 12, 2013

Keep Calm and Recharge

Hello and good morning!

That is what I'll be saying later on this morning as I start taking down the Christmas decorations.  FINALLY.  I've stalled long enough and it's got to be done.  My daughter is coming over to help, thank goodness.  I'll need to bribe myself to get it all done in one day (there's a lot), but we're going to Michael's first because we need to.  We NEED to.  

Priorities, you know.



Today's card was, for me, a quickie.  It only took 2.5 hours.  I know, I know, a lot of card makers can whip out entire sets of greeting cards in 2.5 hours, but I'm a slowpoke and usually take much longer than that for most of my cards.  I get caught up in the details and choosing the papers and colors, but this card practically went together by itself because I used a fabulous new 6x6 paper pack for the first time, and I'm in love with it.  MME Lost and Found, Union Square - I can't wait to use it again!

I'm playing along in Fussy and Fancy's Challenge #80, hosted this fortnight by Sheryl, who is challenging us to use "Cocoa, Coffee and Tea" in our projects.  Just using those colors doesn't count - we are challenged to actually represent one (or more) of the beverages, which I find fun and, well, challenging. 



I'm a tea drinker, with an occasional cup of hot cocoa thrown in for good measure, so I chose a mug of tea to emboss and fussy cut.  Take a good look at the little bitty tiny heart on the "tea bag."  It's a wee little die cut from the Simon Says die "Party Banner!"  Isn't that a hoot?  I almost couldn't see it, it's that small, but it fit over the existing heart perfectly!


And don't you just love the tiny battery stamp dressing up the diecut border?  This was the first time I used this stamp set ("Eat Chocolate" by Technique Tuesday) and I have to say I love it - so many useful elements.  (And I haven't even used the chocolate-related stamps yet.)

I took pictures of this card six ways to Sunday to try to capture the rhinestones at the opposing upper and lower corners, to little avail.  They're there, and they sparkle very prettily when you move the card around in the light.

A little stitching, a little ribbon, and voila, a pretty little somewhat French-inspired card.

Thank you so much for joining me today, and I hope you have a lovely Saturday doing whatever it is that makes you happy.  Even if you also have to take down your Christmas decorations.  *sigh*

Happy crafting!!



Supplies:

Stamps: Eat Chocolate (Technique Tuesday)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black (SU), MME Lost & Found - Union Square, tiny scrap of red
Ink: Versamark; Memento Tuxedo Black
Extras: SB Labels Eighteen, Simon Says Party Banner, Dienamics Triple Scallop Borders, rhinestones, ribbon (3 Girl JAM), sewing machine.

Challenges entered:

Simon Says Stamp - Embrace the Old (SB Labels Eighteen is the very first die I ever bought,plus the card has a vintage look
Fussy and Fancy #80 - Coffee, Cocoa or Tea
Incy Wincy Designs - Happy New Year and Something NEW!
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Make something "NEW" (New paper, new stamp set, new ribbon)
Tuesday Throwdown #129 - Shiny and New (new paper, new stamp set, new ribbon)
Really Reasonable Ribbon #63 - My New Toys + Ribbon (paper, stamp sets, ribbon, all new)
Simon Says Stamp - Black/White + Splash of Color
Delightful Challenges - Add Hearts (it's tiny, but it's there!)
Drunken Stampers #112 - All That Glitters
Pile It On #1 - Black, White + Another Color

SSS#175 - sketch

 

17 comments:

Kristie said...

Beautiful card! Love the colors and the sentiment! Have a wonderful day!!!

Kristi said...

Hey Shea! I'm sitting here drinking coffee and surfing blogs and your card could not be more appropriate! I love the message because I need recharging every morning! i also think the battery stamp is a hoot!

Have fun taking down those Christmas decorations bur by all means go to Mike's first;they have some cute Valentine stuff and new stuff in the dollar bins! Have a great weekend!

hugs,
Kristi

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Shea said...

I don't consider myself a write, so I honestly don't have any "tips." I just write the way I think and talk. I am using Blogger (which is free), and I sort of just jumped in and learned as I went using Google when I had questions. Don't be overwhelmed, just take it a step at a time, and good luck!

Shea said...

Er..."writeR." :)

Sheryl said...

Hi Shea, I love the battery elements on the card - very apt. Great design and DP too.
Great to have you with us at INCY WINCY this week I hope we see you again soon. Hugs Sheryl xx

Cheryl Walker said...

Beautiful card!!! thank you for joining us at Really Reasonable Ribbons Challenge :)
Hugs,
Cheryl

Sandra said...

Gorgeous card! The design papers are stunning and love the sentiment! Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. Hugs, Sandra

Amanda said...

I love the colors you chose, they can be very tricky to use, but you pulled it off masterfully!! I love it!! I also love the unique stitching near your diecut sentiment, very eye catching! Beautiful card!

Thank you for playing along with us in Flourishes Timeless Tuesday!!
Amanda :)

Sarah J Moerman said...

Great card! Love the pop of color and various patterns! Thanks for joining us for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge!

Laila said...

Wow, this is super!
I love your classic use of xolours, and those amazing dp's!
Thank you for joining Fussy and Fancy!
-Laila

Kim said...

Beautiful card. Love the beautiful paper and that sentiment is awesome. Thanks for joining us at Tuesday Throwdown.

Kim

Shell Shearer Swinscoe said...

Great card, love the layout & the papers you have used|!

Thank you for sharing with us at Delightful Challenges this week, good luck!
Hugs Shell xx

Anonymous said...

Oh I love this one!! Such a fabulous sentiment and the papers and design are very pretty!! What a darling layout too!! :) Thanks for joining in with us at Tuesday Throwdown and Fussy and Fancy Friday challenges!! HUGS

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles said...

What a really great card idea and a great use of the 'keep calm' slogan that is so popular right now. Another great job.

Lisa D.

Donna said...

Fantastic card!
Thanks for playing along with the "All That Glitters" challenge at Drunken Stampers.

Sheryl said...

Hi Shea! What a FUN card! I love the batteries along with your great sentiment! Perfect for our challenge! Thank you for joining us at Fussy and Fancy!
Warmest Hugs, Sheryl