Monday and Friday's challenges on Saturday???

HI stampers!! It felt sooooo good to get into my studio this afternoon. Hubby came home from work, mowed the grass and he and the little one are outside for play time so mommy can have some playtime!!! Truth be told, I was actually "working....." I have two water color workshops coming up this week...and I had to watercolor, right????? HEY! That is my story and I am sticking to it!!!!

So, when my water coloring was done for class I figured....hey, why not get caught up on some things that I needed, well....wanted, to do for this past week. My hubby's birthday is next Friday and I wanted to crank him out a card. Sure, I have masculine samples in my box....tons of regular birthday samples......I could have taken one of those out.....but what would I have stamped today???? I have more excuses to stamp than anyone I know.

Truth is, I need to create. It makes me feel so good. Creating is something that is all mine. Not to sound like a selfish brat....but I kind of lost "myself" when I quit my job to stay at home to raise our little one. I am not complaining at all.....I would not want it any other way...and I know that there are many moms that would love to be in my position....but I still need "my thing." You know?

Anyway....I am rather chatty today. huh? Sorry...it is probably the morning filled with Handy Manny and singing along to an Alvin and the Chipmunk sing along movie with my little one. I keep telling myself to slow down and enjoy her.....before I know it she will be singing songs with her friends all holed up in their bedrooms practicing their make up applying skills and giggling about boys. Oh my...just to type that out makes me well up.....

Oh...off track again, huh? LOL!!!!

Anyway....I made a card today to combine two challenges. Monday's mojo challenge and Friday's blogger challenge.

When I sat down to stamp....this card wasn't what I had envisioned at all. I wanted to use two of the FREE stamps that Stampin' Up is giving away this month with the Get Connected Campaign, and I only ended up using one....texturz plates were flyin', brayers were a rollin', and accessories were jumpin' around.....

Here is the mojo monday challenge:

Blogger's challenge was a color challenge this week. We were to use sahara sand, always artichoke, chocolate chip, and sage shadow. Now, mind you I would have never put these colors together myself. The chocolate, sahara and one of the greens...yes, but not two.... Now I want all of you to turn to page 158 in your Stampin' bible.....Yes, that is your current Idea Book and Catalog. See the colors of the To the Nines Specialty designer series paper?????? Exactly what we were to use. Genius!!! I have been telling my club ladies to turn to these designer series color schemes. I get so many compliments on the colors I put together....and you know what??? I don't put them together...I let Stampin' Up do all of the work....that is what I LOVE about our catties. They are so much more than a place that merchandise is for sale from.....I use mine for alot of inspiration.

Ready to finally see the card??????

The base is sahara sand. The background panel is always artichoke ran through the big shot with stampin' up's exclusive texturz plates. LOVE that...but I wanted to add more to it....so I took out my brayer and went to town with chocolate chip ink. me like :) I tore the bottom edge instead of scalloping...doubt my hubby wanted scallops..... And then layered it with a mat of chocolate chip. Did you see my ribbon treatment??? It is the double stitched chocolate chip ribbon.....I pulled out the white stitches....luv it! And then my corduroy buttons.....did you see 'em???? Double stacked!!! Oh my!!!! Kraft on chip.....how darling!!! I mean, masculine!!!! The kraft buttons go very well with sahara sand as well as kraft. That is double dippin' in my eyes as far as accessories go!

My sentiment, birthday wish on page 208, was double stamped with always artichoke and sage shadow. I really love sage shadow, but I really thought that one main green was enough...I left sage to be a supporting green....lol! Maybe they are up for emmy awards.....main character and supporting character....Oh my....I need caffeine! The brads in the main image panel is from vintage brads. I used my matt pack and piercer to place the holes for them. That panel is mounted up on stampin' dimensionals.

What do you think? Think my hubby will like it? I will tell him that he should feel good about getting two of my corduroy buttons......I mean there are two of them, people?!?!?!??!?!