CAS-ual Fridays (CFC48) and Freshly Made Sketches #30

Good Saturday Morning!

I'm sorry I wasn't able to get on here yesterday.  I got an unexpected call to work.  Chit-chat about my presentation Thursday night and other miscellani will be after the card challenge info for those who just like a card-peek-a-boo-drive-by.

The challenges I'm entering are CAS-ual Fridays #48 "Opposites Attract."  We are to choose two different colors from opposite sides of the color wheel.  I choose aqua and orange.   That is to say, since I made the card last evening, that I chose aqua and orange. 

The sponsor for this challenge is The Craft's Meow.  Isn't that a cute name?  Thank you to them for sponsoring us!

By the way, Michelle had an enormous task picking a new Design Team to join the remaining, original, and extraordinary Girl Fridays.  Great job, Michelle!  Please click the link above to go to her CAS-ual Fridays blog to meet the new team and to send the members (original and new) your congratulations!

This week the Freshly Made Sketches sketch is:

The sketch is by the fab Tui Nathan!

In both of these challenges, the design team cards are so beautiful and inspiring!  Sometimes they are so good, it's to the point of intimidation, but if that happens, you have to shake it off and step into their mojo ~ that's why they work so hard for us!  My card:

Oyie.  Now that I see my card directly under the sketch, do you think I could have been any less original in picking the colors I did?  Hey, I was tired and only my inner subconscious brain was crafting!

And now on to distractions:

First, thank you for your kind encouragement with regard to the inspirational message I had to prepare and give on Thursday night.  It went very well.  I was able to go up first and get it over with before dinner was served, so I could relax and enjoy the meal (delish!) and the company of my friends.  And old friends we were at that table.  There were eight of us, mostly retired, and we calculated that between us we had provided 320 years of service as legal assistants!  We were so full of ourselves, you wouldn't believe it.  Well, yes, you would.  It was a blast!

Since inspirational messages are usually serious and spoken with one's serious voice and face, in my somber list of "may yous," I was compelled to toss in a section that was a little unexpected:

• If where you are, at the moment, is not good, may you hold only the briefest of pity parties;
• May you not whine about it; and
• May you work towards positive change with a positive attitude.

And that's all I'm gonna say about that, because this is not intended to be a preachy site.  Just sometimes thoughtful.

Since I was asked, I was going to put my Ham and Vegetable Soup recipe here, but it's too long, so I'll do a separate post for that. 

Finally, please send up a prayer or positive energy to the folks in the Midwest this weekend.  It looks like they are in for some nasty weather.  I have a sister and brother in Iowa, a sister in Missouri, and a sister in Illinois (and extended family throughout).  I'm sure some of you are there or know someone who is ... my thoughts are with you.

Please enjoy ~ and, as always, thank you for stopping by!   Special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower or leave me a comment!

Paper:  SU white, Marina Mist, and Punkin Pie
Stamps:  PTI Sentiments
Ink:  PTI True Black
Cuttlebug, EF, and Nestie
SU punch
Shiny vellumy bling:  K&Company