Back Up and Operating

Yea!!! One new photo card and reader later and I'm back in bloggin' business! First, of all I have to say that Roxie out did herself today with the SCS Card Sketch Challenge. All the cards that are loaded onto the gallery are so great, each one unique and beautiful in its own way! I've made one card and can't wait to use this sketch again!!! My challenge entry takes on a very different turn for me, it involved very little stamping. As I mentioned before, Dianne and I went to a Stamping function last night (okay, I must admit it was a CTMH open house given by my friend and CTMH demonstrator, Shannon. No need to worry, I'm still a die hard SU gal! I do dabble with polymer stamps but I actually prefer rubba. Heck, it just smells better)! Anyway, it happened to be in Murfreesboro, TN which is about 1 1/2 hour drive for us. If I'm going to drive 1 1/2 hours anywhere, I'm going to check out a LSS. Boy, did we find a treat, a candy treat that is. Paper Candy was like entering the Candyland of scrapbooking. It was not quite as large as our LSSs but they had some different items. I had been coveting the new BG Magnetic Precision Mat but did not want to pay the S & H for it figuring that eventually it would make its way down to Huntsville, AL. They had 1 left and, of course, I snagged that up right away. I have been playing with this mat today and I wonder how I've lived without it. The metal edged ruler is magnetic and there are several smaller magnets included, as well. I feel like I've grown an extra set of hands when I am doing precision cutting! Another exciting find was a line of handmade papers (I must apologize because I do not remember the maker of these papers but I will call the store in the morning to find out and share the info. with you.) An example, of these beautiful papers is on my challenge card. Using my new cutting mat, I cut the 2 triangles out of my gorgeous new handmade paper (can you see the sparkle in the flower centers?). Then, again, with my new cutting mat, I matted the homemade paper with SU Brushed Silver CS. I adhered the triangles, points facing the center, onto a 4 x 5 1/4" piece of Cool Caribbean that I embossed with my Cuttlebug. Next, I took a piece of teal ribbon and layered a piece of SU Apple Green on top then embellished the ribbon with Heidi Swap Jewels. The ribbon combo was then wrapped around the Cool Caribbean CS which was then layered on Taken with Teal. Finally, I tied it all together with a flower made by layering a Petaloo sheer green flower, a Bazzille brown flower and centered it with a Amy Butler brad from K & Co. The greeting is simply the word "Happy" from the SAB set So Very which I matted with SU Brushed Silver CS (did I mention that I used my NEW cutting board?). I had such a fun time with this card and hope to use this sketch again real soon! Take care!