Two in One Challenge Card/ LBNL #2 & Mojo Monday 182

I don't usually combine challenges, but today's combo came naturally. I finished up my Mojo Monday before I headed out this morning...or so I thought! I added the little flower & small circle when I got home. Then I thought I was finished, so I took pictures and got ready to make my post. It just didn't look finished when I looked at my picture though. It needed something. At that point, the requirements for this month's Last But Not Least challenge came to mind: embossing folder, edge punch, designer paper, and a trio of brads. I had the embossing folder & designer paper take care of already & the something extra I needed ended up being the brads & boarder punch. Excellent! I'm much happier with the finished product & am so glad I took part of the card apart to get there! I've been wanting to add texture to designer paper & try embossing two pieces already glued together. I've seen lots of cards using this technique and really like what it adds to the card. You'll have to check it out in person to get the full effect, but I think you'll like it! Oh, and I got such a kick out of making glitter brads in class this week that I was excited to make a few more for this card. It's amazing what you can do with a little Heat and Stick Powder & Dazzling Diamonds Glitter!

Monochrome Mojo

I was feeling in a purple mood today, can you tell? All three of the current SU purples are used in this card including Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, and Concord Crush. I've been trying hard not to limit myself to reds and greens for Christmas cards, but still have been missing parts of my pallet. Time to branch back out!! I also wanted to use some sets that are starting to get a bit dusty on my shelf. :)

Of course, I spent the morning checking out the offerings on Stampin Up's online spectacular. WOW! I put in my own order first thing. There were a couple of bundles I just couldn't pass up! Check out my SU website to see the savings available now through Nov 30th.

I also want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who came to play for my first ever Punch Art class. It was great fun. I want to share one more possibility with you. This one comes from my upline, Cindy. She posted him on her blog yesterday and he's about the cutest moose you'll ever see! Check him out here.

FYI I leave for Illinois this afternoon, but will try to post from there. I'm making no promises as there was VERY little room for stamping stuff in my one carry on. I think the folks at TSA are going to be perplexed by my Sizzlets & punches, don't you?

Circle Flower Birthday

Oooh! It's the first time I've gotten to use my new Square Lattice embossing folder since it was on backorder for a good long while. It's great! I'm sure it will make many appearances here.
While looking at all the new color offerings the other day I realized that I really don't use Rose Red enough. It's a great color, but often overlooked by me. This is my first attempt to correct my neglect. :)
Remember, the new catalog goes live on-line TOMORROW. So, check out my website to see the whole thing any time after noon tomorrow. You can pick up your copy at any July class.

Blue on Blue

After yesterday's fun with Greenhouse Garden, I just wanted to play with it more. Today I decided to work more on my resolution to make friends with Not Quite Navy as a color. I've become even more determined now that I know NQN will still be around after the Color Renovation. The Hawaiian shirt I wore yesterday was the inspiration since it paired up colors very close to Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy, & Bashful Blue to make its waves. I thought, "What works for waves should work for flowers too!". This is the result.

If I would have been more brave, I would have done real stitching along the holes I punch with the paper piercer. Alas, I haven't gotten that brave yet. :)

Mojo Monday 134/Greenhouse Garden Hibiscus Mojo

Mojo Monday gave me a great opportunity to break out my new Greenhouse Garden set. It's one of the Two-Step Stampin' sets that are 20% for the month of April & one of my very favorites. I just couldn't wait for my Flowers theme class for this one. The hibiscus flower is simply lovely. However, I used it enough on the rest of the card, so I needed to change the flower from the sketch into a bow to avoid overkill. We're always allowed a little liberty, right?