...Oh, and because I'm SO super excited, I have to share some news! It's my BIRTHDAY today!! Whoo Hoo!! "Go Anne Marie...It's your Birthday...go, GO!!" Are you doing the "Birthday Dance"? I sure am! ;) What better way to start the day then to share my card for The Paper Players challenge this week! I am still so excited about being a Guest Designer this month. These gals are amazingly creative and I am so proud to be working with them. Come play along with us this week, it's a lot of fun! :)
Please, stop by and visit all of their fabulous creations. Share some bloggin' love:
This week, our focus was Ann's Color Challenge:
Yup, yup...I'm kind of scared of the whole red/green color combo on a holiday card, so I really had to put on my thinking cap for this one. I tried to stretch myself out of my creative "comfort zone" by trying a something with a "vintage-feel". My Cardinal Christmas set has been in my stamp collection since I first saw it in the Holiday Mini. Sadly, I have struggled to use it...probably because I had to color it in. Don't get me wrong, I love water-coloring...just NOT when I do it. I made an attempt with this one, using my classic ink pads and a blender pen.
I used the cardinal who hangs out in my front yard as my inspiration (he's ridiculously annoying, by-the-way...so this will be his only "shout-out"...grrr!):
My color combo was Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and ...um...2 neutrals...Crumb Cake and Early Espresso. I made sure to sponge any and all Crumb Cake card stock on the card front with Early Espresso ink. Thought it added to the "vintage-look". Of course I had to include a photo of the inside, jazzed up by my card scraps:
This ribbon was actually recycled from a gift I received earlier this year. I saved it and low-and-behold it matched the Always Artichoke...love that! :) Please check out the end of the post for all of the items used to make this holiday card.
I have to share this photo of the GORGEOUS roses my friend, Kasia sent to my door on Saturday. I have known her since the 3rd grade. She is so incredibly thoughtful and I am so fortunate to have her in my life. We were born EXACTLY 2 months apart...she's older...I just had to throw that in! Haha! Thanks, Kas...you are awesome and I love you!!
Update on "Schnauzer-Gate 2010"...yup, he's STILL here. Despite all of our efforts, no one has come forward to claim this munchkin. He has been doing well and Ozzy has been doing a great job looking after him. Who knows what is next? *Sigh* Here is a photo of the boys relaxing together:
Stampin' Up! Supply List:
Stamps: A Cardinal Christmas
Ink: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso classic ink
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso card stock and To the Nines DSP (ret.)
Accessories: Blender Pens, sponges, pearls, Scalloped Border punch, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, red glitter, Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue, Scallop Trim border punch (inside), Finial Press embossing folder, 2 x 1 3/8" XL Oval punch,
Non-SU! Accessories: ribbon that looks like an Always Artichoke imposter, square scalloped die cut
Have a happy day,
Happy Birthday, Anne Marie. Have a fabulous day. I love you very much and miss you, too. Love your card. It is absolutely beautiful, as usual. I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. Talk to you later today.
ReplyDeleteMom
xoxoxoxox
Hi Anne Marie, First of all a very very Happy Birthday from New Zealand. Hope you had a wonderful day. Secondly your card is terrific. Just love the vintage look you have achieved and I think your coloring is also terrific. You have no need to doubt your ability, it is great. The color combo would have daunted me, but you have put it together great.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful job. Take care. The HUGE bouquet of roses are magnificent wow... and the photo of the two dogs - well they look so at home and relaxed. Am sure they are very loved.
This is sensational!!!!! GORGEOUS card. Everything is just beautiful about it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday and hope you have a whole bunch more!
The roses are so pretty - what a very special friend you have.
Pups are looking good together!
Lynn
Happy birthday, Anne Marie! Gorgeous roses! And the two boys look like the are best friends. Hmmm...could there be another dog in your life? Your card is fabulous, by the way! Love the pearls and the watercoloring. So very pretty!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Anne Marie!! Your card is Awesome!! So many details!!
ReplyDeleteI love cardinals!! They are just beautiful and so is their song!!
Happy Birthday, Anne Marie! I hope you get to hang out with your SU toys all day long!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad that the sweet card you have been taking care of has not been found by his family! It is a good thing you have been there to take care of him, otherwise he'd probably have been snagged by the pound...or worst.
ReplyDeleteYour card is GORGEOUS, very rich looking, fabulous job!
Happy Birthday girl!!!! Do you see me doing the Happy Birthday dance??? Hope you had an awesome day. Your card is gorgeous and your coloring is perfect!!! So happy puppy is doing well, really he needs to go up on the sidebar.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo, it's your birthday! Happy Birthday Anne Marie--I hope it was a great one. Your card is splendiferous and your watercoloring superb! Beautiful card. {birthday hugs}
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Anne Marie!! I hope you had a fabulous day!!! Your card is a stunner, love that Cardinal...he looks so handsome on that card and not at all annoying! LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Lesley
ooooh ahhh...beautiful, gorgeous card!!! That cardinal is so pretty and that luscious recycled ribbon...mwah!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, happy birthday (albeit for yesterday?). Secondly, what a gorgeously festive card - makes me feel all Christmassy inside just looking at it. Thirdly, that picture made me LOL. The dogs' expressions are so telling: Ozzy is thinking "sheesh, he's still here; the schnauzer is thinking "yeah and I'm staying put"
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! I hope you had a fabulous day!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your card! It is so traditional and elegant. I love the way you used the pearls.
Oh Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteYour cardinal card is fabulous. I love your coloring, and the touch of white on the branches is perfect. The ribbon is a perfect match and oh so pretty to finish it off.
Happy Birthday! I love your cardinal card. The colours are just beautiful and the embossed bg adds so much texture to it. Really gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday! It's been so long since I've blog surfed and now I'm a day late! = ( Hope you had a great one! And I absolutely adore your cardinal card! TFS!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Your card is so gorgeous! You do such beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday! Your card is STUNNING! Love your blog too and especially your crafting companion. OMGosh, Ozzy has the cutest face! Off to sign up to follow your blog ...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, the colors work well together and I love the embossing.
ReplyDeleteA very happy birthday to a very special lady! I hope this year is bursting with good things for you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card! I love cardinals, and you definitely did this little guy justice. Amazing coloring, and that bow! Could it be any more perfect? I need to take lessons from you! Sometimes I think I spend as much time on the bow as I do the whole rest of the card!
I'm late for your birthday but it's never too late to send best wishes! Your card is stunning - I love our English robin which appears on many a Christmas card, but there's something very special about your cardinal.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great use of the cardinal image. It's one of my faves.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that you are still taking care of your new friend. It's sad that no one has claimed him yet. He looks like a pure-bred so it's unusal that someone would just abandon him.