July 4

I had intended to complete and post this for a Happy July 4 greeting.  However, our wi fi was too slow to check out the challenges I wanted to.  Then our daughter and son-in-law came for an unexpected and most welcome overnight stay.  Now I have a chance to complete this - and I can say I hope every one had a great week end - and for those in the US - I hope we have had a chance to appreciate the meaning of the holiday.
This House Mouse image is cut with Spellbinder circle dies.
Red, white, blue:   http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ 
              http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2015/06/dlart-thankful-thursday-challenge-159.html
              http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/
Stars and Stripes:  http://diesruschallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Red:                         http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.co.uk/
Celebrate:               http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/
Pattern Paper:        http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/
Summer:                   http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/
                                  http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.com/
Any:                          http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/

Housewarming for John & Rita

This is for friends who recently moved to a new home.  A move like that for a couple who are in their (very young) 80's - this is an event worthy of a celebration!  I wanted to use this image (The Alley Way - digi) but I changed it a bit to fit our southwestern locale.  This is my version of paper piecing.  I cut the branches, trunk, house and roof separately.  The trunk is embossed with an EF called linear (LifeStyle) - the triangle bits look a little like the trunk of a palm tree - with chalk.  I slit the branches to look a bit like a palm tree - colored the base image as well.  I embossed the house with "Woven" (LifeStyle), then chalked it to look like stucco.  I colored the roof with a Prisma - then decided it needed to be shiny, so I used a TwinklingH20 over that.  (Usually my computer ink runs when I use anything with water - maybe I sealed it with the Prismas!)  The windows are colored with a metallic gold.  The papers are Paper Studio; Blessings is Cheery Lynn, and there are a couple of gold sticker strips.
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Celebration:  http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
Inspiration (The touch of red):  http://beinspiredchallenge.blogspot.com/
Chalk:  http://chalknstock.blogspot.com/ 
Cute:  http://www.dreamweaverstencils.blogspot.com/
Any, with embossing:  http://fattastictuesday.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://treasuredtimesrubberstampschallenges.blogspot.com/
          http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2014/12/dlart-december-linky-challenge.html

100x100 Girlie celebration

This is such a cute High Hopes stamp - Gertie, Millie and Hattie.  It is hard to choose a favorite, but this is certainly right up at the top!  I colored with Prismas.
 For all the "use something new" challenges - I have put myself on a spending diet (see Splitcoaststampers 100 cards in 100 days - without buying! challenge).  This uses my most recent additions - sentiment from American Crafts, Washi Tape (Belle Blvd) and DP (Paper Wishes). 
Favorite:  /http://highhopesstamps.blogspot.com/
Celebrate:  http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.com/
Wish:  http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/
New:   http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/
           http://acreativeromance.blogspot.co.uk/
           http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/