Rockwell Designs and Festive Friday: Peace

I had THE most exciting cardmaking day yesterday.  First, I was named to the Addicted to CAS Wall of Fame along with six other cardmakers - a group that I am incredibly proud to be part of.  I'm sure you know them all, but definitely check them all out!

Then, I won a gift certificate to Paper Smooches!!  They liked the Back to School card that I did just two days ago!

And, finally, I will be guest designer in October at Avery Elle!!  I cannot tell you how long I have been trying for this one!!!

I cannot believe everything has come at once.  I definitely thank each and every one of these groups! And I thank Mr. Mojo for showing up the last few weeks.  I definitely have hot and dry spells and I was definitely feeling good about these projects.  This week...not so much...I had a whole day off after my final papers and before the next school semester started again yesterday (on a holiday!!)  and I got one card done - the "peace" card that follows.  I struggled all day and have so many things in my scrap bins.  From reading all of your blogs, I know mojo comes and goes for everybody.  

We cardmakers are a tough bunch, aren't we?  We stick it out in the tough times. We create cheerful birthday cards when we aren't cheerful.  We create sympathy cards for people we care for.  We survive when Mr. Mojo disappears!!  And it always all works out in the end.  I LOVE this hobby!!

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I got the Notched Star Banner from Papertrey Ink's last release.  It was a Halloween release, but I saw this as a perfect Christmas die!  I was inspired by two different challenges.  First, the "peace" challenge at Festive Friday was exactly the inspiration that I needed to use this new die.  Then, I am four colors behind at Jackie's Pantone Color Challenge.  I knew there was a deep blue that would work perfectly for a night sky.  Thankfully, it's OK to get behind with the color challenge, because all colors are open until September 22.

• Stamps: none!!
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Enchanted Evening, Stampin' Up Silver Glitter
• Ink: none!!
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Notched Star Banner die, Wonderful Words Holiday die, Quickutz star die, Stampin' Up Silver Cord

Rockwell's Pantone Color Challenge: Linen

I have missed a couple of colors in Jackie Rockwell's Pantone Color Challenge.  I'm definitely going to go back and pick them up - all of them stay open until September 22!  But this week's linen color really caught my eye.  It's not easy to do an entire card in linen but I thought it would work for a classic sympathy card.

Jackie's giving away a free blog header to one person who plays along with her challenges.  Check out my blog - it's Jackie's work - and I LOVE it!!

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Butterfly Additions, CD Stamps Easter Blessings (sentiment)
• Paper: Papertrey Fine Linen
• Ink: Papertrey Fine Linen
• Accessories: Clearly Besotted Butterfly Die, May Arts twine, Tim Holtz Embossing folder, misc sequins

Fab Friday and Rockwell's Colors: Hang In There

On Sunday, I did the nectarine card for Jackie's challenge at Rockwell Designs to use the 2013 Pantone Spring Fashion Colors.  I got there to load it up and she had moved on to Lemon Zest.  But that is OK, because each of the colors goes until September 22 - you can go back and play with any of the colors.

I also had my eye on the sketch at Fab Friday and I thought it would work well with a Lemon Zest sun.  Plus, I hadn't cleaned my desk from yesterday's use of the charming critters from Mama Elephant's Up and Away and they just were not ready to be put away!!

I'm just happy I got to craft for a couple of days in a row.  My summer break from college courses was only two weeks so I have been back to a full-time schedule.  It's not so much that I don't have the time to craft, after all, many of you do it with full-time jobs and young children.  I just don't always have the brain power to craft.  I haven't had to read textbooks, do problems, study and write papers for a very, very long time.  I'm hoping my brain wakes up soon as the plan is to go back into the work world next summer after I graduate and I'm going to need the gears to be moving a little faster at that point.  I'm not consistently making it around to everybody's blogs to comment but please know that I am loving seeing what you do.  Even when I don't have the brain power to create a card, I can alwayts relax by looking at all of your beautiful creations!

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Up and Away
• Paper: Stampin' Up Summer Sun, Echo Park Dots and Stripes Candy Shoppe 6x6
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Spellbinders dies, Avery Elle Lemonade sequins, dot of Liquid Pearls on his tail

Pantone Colors on Rockwell Designs: Nectarine

The latest color that is highlighted on Rockwell Designs as a Pantone Spring Fashion 2013 color is nectarine!  I thought it bore a remarkable resemblance to the new Stampin' Up Color Crisp Cantaloupe. Hmmm...nectarines and cantaloupe!!

But instead of going fruity, I decided to use feathers.  There are so many lovely feather sets out there and it's such a gorgeous look.  I went with the Clearly Besotted set Fancy Feathers. (FYI: in the U.S. Clearly Besotted is available at Simon Says Stamp.)  I hesitated to use this set mostly because I was inspired to get it based on two cards from one of my favorite designers: here and here.  Kara's cards are truly stunning and I knew nothing that I made would quite measure up.  It doesn't...but I'm still happy with it...it's hard to go wrong with these graceful feathers!!

(FYI: I took the wrapper off of the ink for this card and discovered

that the cantaloupe paper is more nectarine-ish than the ink is!

I hate it when that happens!)

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Fancy Feathers
• Paper: Stampin' Up Smoky Slate
• Ink: Stampin' Up Smoky Slate and Crisp Cantaloupe
• Accessories: Clearly Besotted Fancy Feather dies, Avery Elle Citrus Blend sequins, Divine Twine Oyster Twine