Friday, October 2, 2015

Pre-WCMD Fun

:)

I'm looking forward to WCMD tomorrow! :) With the weather like it is here (NASTY rainy, cold, windy) and half of us getting over being sick and the other half trying to fight it off, we have a good excuse to stay home and stay inside tomorrow. I hope to veg out in my space and get creative. There may be some time for packing thrown in there, but that's a coin toss at this point.

We are supposed to leave for vacation Sunday morning sometime after church, but not sure if it's going to actually happen. It depends on The Sultan's fever and how The Princess is feeling, as she seems to be coming down with the cold, too. BD has been fighting it off all week. It's taking down everyone in its path this fall!   However, if that's the worst that happens to us, we can't complain. A staycation is never a bad thing. We are all big ole homebodies; we will have a good time here regardless.

On to my PreWCMD activities. Since I'm still on the mend (but most definitely better), I took some chill time in my space today and yesterday. This afternoon I spent a lot of time making some Christmas tags in a fun way and I will share those later with another post. I want to get some good pictures. Be sure to check it out - it's a fun upcycling project that anyone can do and I've been most pleased with how it turned out.


So -- up first is my favorite card of this trio.

 
 
I made this one yesterday and I'm still so happy with it (sometimes my excitement over my work wanes as time passes). It sat out on our kitchen bar, which is my staging area until they are blogged, and I've liked looking at it each time I passed it today.
 
My inspiration came from the current Muse: Christmas Visions challenge. I was so excited when I saw the Pure Innocence snowman on the Muse card. I have drooled over it a few times in the MFT store myself. But, I have one so close to it (thanks to a fun little MFT sale) and I reminded myself it's silly to buy two that looks so similar. (Darn you practical side!)
 
 

I drew my inspiration from the stamp, the colors of the scarf, the matching striped background panel, and the scallops. I felt it really needed that twine bow to section off the scalloped edge and thought it was worth straying from the original to finish it off.   :)  The background panel under the snowman is watercolor paper brushed with watered down Distress Inks (Wilted Violet and Salty Ocean). I colored the snowman on Neenah cardstock (just now trying this out and SO happy with it so far! My PrismaColor pencils moved over it like BUTTAH!) and colored with pencils. I don't know why he's so fun to color, but I love it. The little heart is stamped in Lawn Fawn Cranberry ink from the SSS/HA Prayers stamp set that was released as part of STAMPtember.
 
I'm also playing along with Christmas Card Challenges #43 - Anything Goes and Virginia's View Challenge #19 - All Things Colored.
 
 
 
My next card I made today. I really had fun with it as well. Honestly, anything coloring, regardless of the medium, floats my boat these days. It's new for me and put a much needed change in my crafty repertoire which I had grown bored with up until a few short months ago.
 
 
 
I combined the Pure Innocence "Better Get Better" stamp set and MFT Blueprints #22 based on inspiration from the current MFT Sketch challenge.
 
 
I don't really have any square dies (and Heaven Forbid I actually cut a square with my paper trimmer :-0  ha!) so I substituted the shape from the Blueprints for that part of the sketch. I need to use it more and loved it over the stripes and with the colors I chose. The paper is My Mind's Eye, as well as the glittery enamel dots I used. The girl is stamped/embossed on watercolor cardstock and colored with the Zig Clean Color pens and then hand-trimmed.
 
I'm also playing along with Just Add Ink's Inspiration photo challenge:
 
JAI #282
 
I used the pinks and neutrals, dots and stripes. I love how it's soft, but then again it's really not. 8-) I'm sure there's a term for that - maybe I shall call it Goldilocks for now.
 
 
And last and least (Grrr. I didn't like how it turned out.)   ....
 
 
I started this one yesterday and finished it up today. I randomly stamped the branches from WPlus9's Botannical Bunch stamp set and was originally going for a holiday feel. Then changed my mind to use my new set from SSS/HA Prayers. I had to get this set because most of the cards I send out are from the sick list and prayer list at church. I just keep a bulletin on my desk each week and try to mail them out on Monday or Tuesday (emphasis on the word try. I'm not successful every single week, but I'm still striving.) So that practical side jumped up and told the rest of me that I would use this set alot. And I do love that black die-cut 'prayers' on here. I guess I'm not wild about the branches or the color choices. ?
 
I did it all based on the current sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch!.
 
 
 
 
I'm also playing along with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes and Cards In Envy - Colors of Fall challenge.
 
Share Our Badge!Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog
 
 
 
 
Well that's it for me! That was a long enough post, I supposed. I'm sure I could prattle on all night, but this NyQuil isn't going to sleep itself off! ; )
 
Thanks SO much for stopping by, as always! Please do so again soon! I love to have visitors. :)
 
God Bless,
Mandy
 
 
I Peter 1:4    NKJV  (New King James Version)
     to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

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17 comments:

  1. Thanks for entering your utterly adorable "get well" card in our Just Add Ink challenge this week, Mandy! I love it to bits. Hope your family members are all well again soon!

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  2. Love your snowman and the background you created. Thanks so much for joining us at Christmas Card Challenges.

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  3. Mandy,
    I'm so honored that you found much inspiration from my card. Your snowman is just perfect. The heart is a special touch (in fact, I thought about adding a heart to mine).. The added embellishment of twine looks awesome. Love your card. Hope you and family are feeling your best soon.

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  4. What a sweet card Mandy, great interpretation of the inspiration. Thanks for joining us at Just Add Ink.

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  5. Love all your cards! The one for our challenge--the prayer card is lovely! I love the different colors of leaves! Thank you for sharing with us at Cards in Envy!

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  6. Your cards are soooooooo lovely!
    Thanks for playing with us at Christmas Card Challenges this week!
    Monica - CCC DT

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  7. What a lovely set of cards! I, too, love that black die-cut "prayers" on your last card. Thanks so much for joining us at Cards in Envy. :)

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  8. Beautiful cards! I thought that snowman was the exact same - I had to play 'what's different' to see the differences! lol! Yours looks great with the watercolour washes behind him - so glad you joined us at MCV this week!

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  9. fabulous cards, I hopped over here from MCV. Love your take on Marilyn's card.

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  10. Mandy, what a treat and a blessing to see ALL of these cards!! You have an incredible sense of style and color and you always seem to know just what to add to a card to make it a perfect work of art!!! Hope you have a BEAUTIFUL week!!! Hugs!!

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  11. Each card turned out wonderfully, the last was actually my favorite!

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  12. Wonderful cards! I especially love the last one & your fabulous take on the sketch! I'm not sure why you didn't think it turned out -- I think it's lovely!

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  13. super sweet card love your fall colors!!! thanks for playing along with Cards In Envy!!!

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  14. What a bunch of nice cards and especially the snowman caught my eye, so lovely!

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  15. A beautiful take on our sketch Mandy!
    Thanks for joining Case this sketch!

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  16. Gorgeous cards Mandy! Your CAS card is so striking, I love how you've used the branches.
    Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
    Mandy xx

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