New Challenges Week Continues (MM), plus LIM

I hope you have a t'riffic Tuesday!

 

I don't know what's happening.  Maybe it's a sort of Stamping Spring Awakening, but this is my third day in a row playing in a brand new challenge!

 

Today's new challenge is Merry Monday, hosted by the untiring and supremely talented Lesley Croghan.  I made a promise to myself on January first to play in this challenge every single week in 2013.  Now that June is barreling down on me, I thought maybe I've been a liar long enough so I'm finally playing along with the sketch, which is:

 

What a great sketch for any card occasion!  Truthfully, it's hard to spend too much time with "nojo" if you are a blogger and/or visit other card-making blogs because there is no end of fantastic sketches drawn by card artists for all of us, for free.  The same goes with the color, theme, and photo inspiration challenges.  Maybe we should declare a world day of thanks for all that generosity.  Mwah!

 

Anyhizzle, that's the sketch Lesley made for this week.  For my theme . . .  well, obviously, my theme is Christmas.  Um, okay then, for my complementary theme, I am playing with the fun challenge hosted by the lovelies, Chrissie and Jen, over at Less Is More.  The ladies would like us to make cards with dogs and/or cats:

 

If you're like me, you're gonna sit there staring at that picture on your monitor for a few minutes with an expression on your face an awful lot like that dog's.  Your head is cocked a little and you're thinking, "Aaaawwww!"  How you do that thing with your ears though is amazing.  I can't do that part.

 

Whenever you're ready.  Okay. 

 

Here's what I made:

 

 

The critters are two different stamps, but I stamped them next to each other.  I did that because, I'm not kidding, I thought the critter in the Santa hat was a cat until I started coloring that very long ear.  Ern?  I personally think it's a cat in a bunny costume and I'm sticking with that story.

 

~~~

 

The Nest, Day One:

 

In other exciting news, there has been a development in The Nest!  I got curious when I saw Mama and another bird (Papa?) perched on the chains, looking down, and chirping up a storm, so I inspectigated.

 

You'll have to just ignore the poor shape the plant is in.  I decided I would give it up for the cause rather than disturb The Nest.  Keep your fingers crossed, pahleze, and I will keep you pahosted!

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As you know, there's tons of room in the Playhouse and I love meeting new friends and introducing them to you!  Today I'm so delighted to announce that Susan Joyce of Cat's Ink Corporated has joined us!  You will find years' worth of amazing inspiration when you visit her website, so please take some time for that.  Thank you, Susan, and welcome! 

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Enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS*!   My heart and prayers go out to the families whose lives have been completely devastated by the tornado in Oklahoma.  Life and nature remind us again that each and every day is precious and those days can be unbearably few.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by the Playhouse. Special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment or join as a follower! 

 

*Life Is Too Short!

 

Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shore and white;

  SU! Real Red

Stamps:  SU! critters and Paper Smooches

  "Santa Paws" sediment

Ink:  Versafine onyx black; Prismacolor pencils;
  Sakura Gelly Roll clear star pen

Dies:  Spellbinders Circle and Scallop Circle;

  My Favorite Things Fishtail Banners

My Mind's Eye Enamel Dots