I Did It!

Hello, and Happy Friday!!

I am sooooo excited to share a few cards with you today; cards that top off my goal to complete ALL of the 2016 challenges at The Paper Players!!  I started late, since I originally focused on a different blog.  After that blog challenge retired permanently, I switched and even decided to get work on early-month challenges.  I didn't do them in order (not even close!) but I got them done!  Of course, it helped that the talented ladies at The Paper Players are taking the last 2 weeks off for a Christmas break. Here goes...

This first card is for a holiday color challenge, and goes in my stack of Christmas cards.  The picture isn't great, but photographing a white card late at night when I finished this proved to be quite a challenge in itself! I used thick whisper white card stock for the base and top layer, which was embossed with the diagonal stripe folder.  Then, I pulled out my package of glimmer paper, which included several items already cut out: 2 gold ornaments and a silver scalloped piece made with the Tasteful Trim die.  The gold embroidery thread and silver beads are non-SU...no package left, so the brand is a mystery.  I added a Teeny Tiny Wishes greeting on a tiny word window piece for the final detail.  I may make a few more of these this weekend.  Still have many Christmas cards to finish!!  

Next, I am celebrating my great-nieces 4th birthday, which is about 2 weeks away.  This CAS challenge was one I started over the summer; not sure why I didn't get it done.  The blog badge sat in my folder, nagging me to get it done!  I should have finished it, because there was a chance for blog candy!  LOL    Making a birthday card was a nice reprieve from all of the Christmas cards I have been focusing on.  My card base is lovely lilac.  The dp is from DCWV (Nana's Kids); I have had this stack for years!  Lots of sparkle, which doesn't photograph well.  The image is from a swap...also years ago.  I colored it with SU markers.  The greeting is from "On Your Birthday," on a scalloped circle. With all of the sparkle, I opted not to add any embellishments.

Finally, another theme challenge.  When this first was posted, I thought I had nothing that would fit the theme.  In reality, I had a few items; a stamp or two, certainly some designer paper...but I used my initial thought as an excuse to SHOP!  I purchased this amazing silhouette set, "Ride 'em Cowboy," from Our Daily Bread Designs.  Again, I needed a birthday card, and I have a brother-in-law in Arizona.  He's not a cowboy, but I think he will like this.  The card base is cajun craze.  I used the direct-to-paper technique for the sky with rose red, cajun craze, crushed curry, marina mist, perfect plum and midnight muse inks, then sponged the edges.  This technique is trickier than I expected, but the random splotches kinda work, I think.  The main image is stamped in Memento Tuxedo black, and the coordinating greeting in midnight muse (though it looks lighter.)  I added some twine, striped dp, and enamel dots for the final look.  

That's it...ta-dah!  It has been lots of fun to work on this blog challenge goal.  I have a couple of blogs I am considering for 2017...stay tuned!  In the meantime, I have been busy prepping for Virtual Stamp Night, which is TONIGHT and TOMORROW!  As a hostess, I started making cards already so I can surf the galleries and comment on everyone's cards.  I hope you join me and the other VSN hostesses!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim