Quick and Clean and Simples (QACAS)

Hello Stamplings!

I hope you're doing well as you start this new week! May Mother Nature be kind to you this week!

I ended up having a very busy week last week with ongoing birthday lunches and even some girlfriend shop-and-talk days. With this birthday, more than ever, I'm embracing my friend Cheryl's motto of, "Do it while you can!" DIWYC. No, leave it.

This is E = Embossing week on my I.D.E.A.S. Calendar and time necessitated that I keep things QACAS. 

Onefer

I used a NBUS 3D e/f from Simon Says called "Feathery Fronds" and just brushed swaths of different colors in approximate areas where I could see the fronds were located on the folder and then I ran it through the machine. It might have been easier to blend the swaths of ink on after wards, but I would have had to lay the colors on with a heavier hand in order to get down inside the narrow fronds. By swathing the ink on first, I was able to keep the colors pastel, but still summery. 

A simple matting and a NBUS sediment from Concord & 9th's "Everyday Expressions" finished it up.

I'm playing in the CAS challenge at Krafty Chicks.

Twofer

This card uses the same e/f, but I used the debossed side. I used another NBUS sediment from the Everyday Expressions set and a geriatric butterfly from BOB. Look at the smile on her face from finally being out of that box!

I'm playing in Just Us Girls Mood Board challenge, inspired by the teal-y fern fronds.

Threefer

Moving onto Christmas with this design because a) the curved panel, the conversation bubble die, and the polar bear were all in BOB, and b) I had a NBUS snowfall embossing folder to use from Simon Says called, "Soft Snowfall." 

You know how we all have certain things that we love and we keep buying, like butterflies or poppies? For me, it is snowfall embossing folders. I begged myself to stop over the years, to no avail, and I have a substantial collection. Well, I'm glad I kept looking because this one finally chills my blains and now that's crossed off my list!

The polar bear is from Trinity Stamps called "Have An Ice Day" and the NBUS sediment is from Uniko's "Simply Said Blocks Christmas Clear Stamps." Hammy and Stanley winked the bear's scarf, mittens, and socks and added snowflakes dipped in white ink to the frozen pp pond using an old rubber dowel stamp from Rubber Stamp Tapestry. They do make a great team as it takes two of them to hold the stamp upright and then plunge it down. I really must take a video one day.

Challenges

Addicted to Stamps and More: Christmas.

52 Christmas Card Throwdown: July theme challenge: Critters.

Christmas Kickstart: Merry-Go-Round. Congrats on your 100th Challenge!

BYSH Cardmakers: Christmas in July.

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I.D.E.A.S. Calendar: E = Emblossing

You will find a linky tool below for you to share your creations using some form of embossing. Your card may help motivate others out of their creative schlumps! 

I love seeing what you create, visiting you, and pinning your designs! Thank you so much to everyone who shared their designs last week! Mwah!

I'll leave you with a closeup of one of our crepe myrtle trees in full bloom.

Please enjoy your week! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!* As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! 

*Life is too short!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Joy and Janis

Hello Stamplings!

How have you been? No matter which side of the world you are in, it's always exciting to welcome spring and fall! It's so great to be back in the Playhouse and needless to say, Hammy was happy to be out of the suitcase!

Onefer

A dear friend let me borrow the very large and very cool Joy and Noel word dies from Penny Black. They make such pretty QACAS cards. I cut the Joy from patterned paper and then Hammy suggested adding a snowflake from Simon Says, changing out the center star to draw the eyes in. I have to say, I may get these word dies for myself ... there are lots of fun options that come to mind for filling the large O in the die-cut words.

Challenges

• BYSH Cardmakers: Falling for the Holidays linky party!
  
• Penny Black Saturday: A/G with option of Halloween Bingo.
  
• Simply Clean & Simple: A/G with option of Autumn.

Twofer

Except for the Santa hat, all the ingredients in this recipe were made using dies and snippets I borrowed from friends. Well, the snippets weren't borrowed. My friends were happy to be rid of those! To make him look Christmassy, I added the tiny Santa hat from Memory Box to kitty's head. We couldn't find the little ball die for the top of the hat in the die envelope, but Hammy saved the day by finding a tiny flower die that worked even better!

(I am sorry that the cat from Simply Graphic looks like it is being electrocuted. His eyes did that because I used the flash.📸)

Before I left on my travels, Jo from The Christmas Kickstart Challenge called in to let me know she was doing a special tribute to our mutual friend Janis Woolwright, who sadly passed away in January this year. Every October, Janis ran her Cat Lovers Blog Hop, so Jo is holding this month's Kickstart challenge to remember Janis. Thank you for doing this, Jo! 

I'm happy to be joining the tribute and it would be lovely if you could play along, too! And, p.s., there are sponsors and prizes, so check it out!

Other Challenges

• Jingle Belles: Not a creature was stirring.
  
• Peace on Earth: Christmas.
  
• Snippets Playground: A/G using snippets. I used snippets for my kitty cat, Santa hat, and Merry Christmas sediment.

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Uh Oh.

And in other news, I flew home and came down with a cold two days later. Just to be sure it was only a cold, The Mister put on his scientist hat and did a Covid test. It was positive.😧We happened to have additional tests from a different company, so we ran the test again ... and again it was positive.😵‍💫

It has taken me a coupla days to write this post and last night the Mister had a sore throat and early cold symptoms. Sure enough, he took a test and he, too, has Covid. We aren't really surprised. Now we can commiserate together through what will hopefully be a short complication-free convalescence.🙏 

Take care out there and enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

*Life is too short!