Sites of the week

**If you have not already entered, please see the post below for some BLOG CANDY!!**

Today is Tony’s 31st birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I made him a birthday card that corresponds to this month’s Dirty Dozen Challenge:

Challenge Focus: Stamps Designed by Fellow Dirty Girls. -OR- alternate option - use any fellow Dirty Girl’s galllery creation as an inspiration to semi-CASE something of your own.

Required Element: Spring Color Combo - whatever feels like Spring to you!

Restricted Element: NO CuttleBug/Big Shot/Wizard or similar diecut/embossing machines.

Ok, so maybe I missed the mark with the black for “spring.” I couldn’t do all pretty colors for Tony’s card! When I think of spring, I think of all colors. Not just the Easter pastels, but flowers in bloom {bold red begonias here in TX}, the bright blue sky, new sprigs of grass emerging. I am typing out this “spring stuff” as I am sitting here in gray sweats and slippers…hmmm, not so spring! For the use of stamps designed by fellow dirty girls, I chose the Lined Paper Backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms {by Lisa Strahl}. Sidenote…I got to meet Lisa at CHA and she is just the sweetest {Waving HI to Lisa!}. Since I don’t have a whole bunch of DD designed stamps, I had to incorporate some of my SU! stuff {Typeset alpha and So Many Scallops}.

In addition to it being Tony’s big day and DD Challenge day, it is also CELEBRATE MFT {details HERE}. Here is the card that I made for this month…

So, have I ever mentioned that I absolutely ADORE American Crafts paper?!? LOL! I have about 10 sheets of this {ok, more than that} in my stock pile of paper that I love and never use because I must hoard it {empathy, anyone??}. The tan paper is the flip side of the polkas. I colored the girls with Copics and did a little paper piecing to make it all matchy-matchy. The bag on the left has a prima and Swarovski crystals on it and the bag on the right has tissue paper coming from the top {thanks for that idea Ana!}. This card is on it’s way to a new friend, even they are priceless!!

Mom Update:
I spoke with my mom in the morning and she sounded much better! This is good!! She is still in quite a bit of pain, but they are managing it with some strong meds. She will be in the hospital for at least the remainder of the week so that the docs can keep a close eye on her. Thank you all again for your thoughts, prayers and well wishes!!

I promised some news today and here it is… {drumroll, please}…
I have accepted a position on The Cat’s Pajamas Design Team! YAY!! My friend, Carole has also jumped on with TCP!! Double YAY! I am very excited about this and I can’t wait to see what Alma has in store for us! So to celebrate, I have made a card with one of the newest releases, Loving Mew. These images and sentiments just crack me up!! The “DP” was made using stamps from this set as well-love that I could do that!!

Coloring detail…

Alma asked us to send her a childhood pic for the DT page. This is the best on that I had on hand {LOL!!}. I can’t believe that I was ever this blonde {naturally!!}. To many that probably explains a whole lot!

Mom update:
My mom is back in the hospital. She developed a hematoma and was admitted very early Sunday morning. She has undergone another surgery to remove the hematoma. All is looking wel. Needless to say, it has been a bumpy ride so far in this journey. Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers. They are very appreciated! Many of you emailed me for my mom’s address to send a RAK. Thank you!! I know that she will love the cards!

Last, but certainly not least…Do you notice any small detail that is different on my site? Look up in your address bar and you will see that I now have a customized favicon!! How fun!! Susan’s sister, Sara {say that 3 times fast!} designed it for me. If you are interested in getting your own, they are only $3 and you can see more of Sara’s work HERE. She has done Susan’s site and Amy Westerman’s site, just to name a couple! Oh, BTW…you may want to come back here tomorrow {Tuesday} if you want a chance to win one of these lil’ favicons for yourself!!…along with some other fun goodies!