You Asked for It, Chicago!

As I write this post, I glance out my window and think back to summer, when temps rose close to 100 degrees several times. Many Chicago friends on Facebook were moaning and groaning and wishing it would cool off. Well, congratulations! It not only has cooled off, but my gas grill in the backyard is buried under snow. So far we've had 20 inches and there's a light snow wafting down from pregnant clouds. We've had our first blizzard of the year, and it's only February!
So, for all you whiners out there, I created a card using the Bugaboo image "Happy Now?" My blue and pink card is filled with shimmery snowflakes and glittery jewels. There's even a snowman acting like Vanna White, offering the "punchline." Really, I used to love snow, until I had to drive in it, and shovel it, and stomp through it. But there are benefits to heavy snow:

My school calls a SNOW DAY and I don't have to go to work

the potholes are filled in with packed snow and my car finally has a smooth road

the white flakes cover the dirty piles left by snow plows

my granddaughter comes over and plays in our yard

Wherever you are in the world, be careful what you wish for. It may just come true, Chicago style!!

Happy crafting!!

Challenges I m entering:

Clear It Out Challenges: Anything Goes using anything goes stash (Gosh, I haven't bought new product in months)

Inky Chicks - From (your country) with Love (Chicago, USA)

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Two-fer Wednesday!

I love when I can make two different cards with the same design and the same image! Above is a birthday card I made for my sweet hubby. He is now officially two years older than I. In April, I celebrate my own birthday and we go back to his being only one year older (hey, gotta take it when it's there). LOL
I used a gorgeous image from Art by Miran called "Winter Sofia." Since I adore the color teal, I drenched my card in that color, using Copics to color up Sofia, and papers to enhance the tone. I added a bit of shimmer with Stickles. I'm entering my card into the Art by Miran Challenge blog, where every challenge is Anything Goes, my fave kind of challenge! Check out the inspiration there, and go play!

My second card is almost identical, with just a tweak of coloring, and a little less sparkle. Don't you love the lace I used? I got lucky at this summer's rummage sale and found a small box of various laces. This card is for the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge blog. It's a progressive challenge with prizes for participating each month. I'm a little behind, as this month is past the midway mark, but better late than never!
Other Challenges I am entering:
Fab & Gunky Challenges - Buttons! (my snowflakes are buttons w/the hanks cut off)
Frilly & Funky Challenges - Winter
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - All Wrapped Up
Scrapper's Delights Challenges - Favorite Colors (mmm, teal & pink!)
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenges - Something Old, Something New (old lace, new image)

Happy Birthday Queen Kat Designs!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY QKD!!!  Today we celebrate seven years of magical, fantastical, funky and steam punky stamps and digi images from the Queen and her Royal Court of designers!   

Queen Kat Designs just released some awesome rubber stamps and digital images this month, and I got to play with one of them.  Her name is Snow Crystal and she is designed by the lovely Marianne English.  I fussy-cut my image after coloring her with Copics because I love to pop some of my images into a "scene."

Here she is walking through a winter wonderland, on her way to the Queen's birthday party.  I used patterned paper from Pinecone Express Papers, and cut the trees with a QuicKutz die.  The sentiment is from Making Memories and the snowflakes are from (gasp) WalMart!  Copics used are: BG72, 10; BV00, 02, 04; B63; R00 and RV11.

This month, order $30 or more of rubber stamps by November 30 and get this stamp FREE!!

Let It SNOW Blog Hop!!

Welcome to the February 2 Let It Snow Blog Hop!!

 If you've come from Carla's Blog, you're on the right track.  If not, start with Shannon so you don't miss any fun or inspiration.  I decided to make more than one project with a SNOW theme, since there is no snow to be found here in the Windy City.  My first is a card.

I went to a Stampin Up Card workshop this week, and one of the cards was this cute winter scene with embossed snowflakes, a snowman stamped image and glittery snow. The image is glossed over with "snow" by using a piece of packing tape and some glitter--that's it!!  I punched out the circle, put tape on it, sprinkled on the glitter, and then attached my Copic-colored image to peek through the "window".  I used the diamond glitter so that I could use this card in the Outlawz Friday Alcohol Markers Challenge.  Their theme is to use your birthday gem color on your card.  My birthday is in April and my gemstone is DIAMONDS!


Next up is a snow-themed treat:  I made "melting snowmen" cookies!  I got the idea off of Pinterest, and ran with it.  I baked sugar cookies and let them cool.  Then I frosted them and added a marshmallow for his head, decorated with an orange sprinkle and some black icing dots for eyes and stray buttons.



Looks like the only snow I'll see is right here on the Blog Hop.  Weather in Chicago is, well, weird!  As I write this, we have had two days in the mid 60's, and it has rained all night.  Today, I woke to a skinny sheet of ice and snow and wind chills of negative 2 degrees!  My bones are aching, my hair is frizzy and the people driving around are loony tunes.

Maybe by creating the winter layout below, the weather will take the hint and get back to a real Chicago winter!

Next stop on the Hop is ROBIN.  Before you leave, how about leaving a little love?  I have a little prize for a random visitor who leaves me a comment.  Alright, crafters, on your way, and have fun while you're at it!!

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  • Sharon- http://shannonleffew.blogspot.com/
    An'Jenic - http://anjenicgibson.blogspot.com/
    Janet Royer- http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/
    Pam - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/
    Lori - http://www.scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/
    Melisa - http://melisascraftycreations.blogspot.com/
    Sarah - http://itswhatkeepsmesane.blogspot.com/
    Carla - http://racincrafts.blogspot.com/
    Pat - http://patacakespages.blogspot.com
    Robin - http://cutonedesignsbyrobin.blogspot.com/
    Kristy - http://scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com