DJKASE #11 ~ NBUS #110

And we've whooshed our way to another Friday! How are you? I hope you had a great week!

Another epic post I'm afraid, worthy of your largest drinking vessel. I no longer post every day so I can double the length every other day, yes?

Are you ready to see the card artist I am spotlighting and copylimenting today with a DJKASE? She is Shannon J. of Chuchee Chu!

What a great photo of that gorgeous smile! And isn't that an interesting blog name? You're prolly wondering what it means, so I'll let Shannon explain it in her own words:

"If you're wondering about the title of the blog - Chuchee is the name my Dad used to call me when I was small (and still does) and it's always been endearing to me.  Chu is my husband's last name. So Chuchee Chu it is!"

Shannon has only been blogging since January 2013 when she made it her New Year's resolution. When she makes a darling card and shares it on her blog, she always entertains and inspires! Her cards are very well thought out and it's obvious that she crafts with care and humor.

So what happened was, Shannon was on the short list of card artists whose names had been drawn for DJKASEing, but she got moved to the top of the list when she sent me a card last week. (Shannon is one of my card pen pals. If you'd like to be one, just email me your snail mail address and I'll email you mine.)

Now Shannon didn't shoot up to the top of the list just because she sent me A card. It happened because she sent me THIS card:

Shannon's Card

Is that not adorable?

Okay, so those of you who have been following me for a while will know immediately why this particular adorable card caused quite a racket in the Playhouse. Let me put it this way: if you were a boy hamster (let's call him Hammy since a lot of you have already taken to calling him that) who lived all alone with a crazy old stamper woman who drove you nuts and then one day while you were pinched in a corner of your cage, eating out of boredom, you happened to look over at the old bat and you saw this card, wouldn't you be a little becited, too?!

Source

Amused, I watched Hammy's reaction as it dawned on him that he was looking at the cutest little girl hamster he had ever seen! He went NUTS! He jumped on his wheel and flew around it, literally! Since he's not a bird, however, he mostly flopped over onto his back and then spent four revolutions rolling end-over-end, wheezing. Oh, no, wait. That's me on the treadmill. Anyway, the little dude is totally in love!

Needless to say, he became adamant that Ms. Thing's owner (that would be Shannon) become the very next card artist to be DJKASEd! I didn't put up a fight because I completely concurred with his thinking!

But, hold on, I turned the tables on him.

I said I would move Shannon to the top of the list on one condition: that he allow me to take a photo of him and feature him on my card with a message for his new girlie friend. Eh? That stopped him in his tracks for five seconds because he hates having his picture taken. (Since I don't use him as often as I should, he snacks a lot and has put on a few pounds after reaching the shadow side of midlife. Well, you'll see for yourself.)

In spite of that, he agreed and I made this:

 (When you leave a comment, just please don't mention how plump he is.)

The card base is SU crushed curry and the patterned paper is DSP also from SU. It was perfect for making the coordination of the papers EZPZ. The sediment Hammy chose is from a NBUS set by Waltzingmouse Stamps called "Compact Sentiments Part Two." I washed the "oodles" with WOS. The sediment doesn't stamp with that cloud shape around it, but it looks like that in the packaging. I liked it so much that I traced around the stamp, fussy-cut it, and then walked a black marker around the edge.

And what stamp made Hammy? Well, cough, it turns out that I don't have a stamp of a hamster (how did that happen?). So, don't tell Kim Hughes, but while I'm waiting for the set that does have a hamster, I had to improvinate.

I took this stamp set from Paper Smooches called "A Little Lovin":

and I did this to the bunny:

Are you horrified? I just love that you can do this with clear stamps! I'll make an Easter card using him so you can see for yourself that you would never know he was ever separated from his ears. Versability rocks! Thank you, Kim, for making such whimsical and versatile images!

Then I masked the bunny's cute little bucky front teeth and stamped him. I drew a line to close off the evidence of surgery, added some hamster ears and, walla, Hammy was born! The black enamel dots perfectly mimic real hamster eyes.

Oh, and then, to give Hammy some fur I pulled out my decade's old Flock o' Fun, er, Fun Flock which is still as good as the day it was jarred. (I will never use this in my lifetime, so if anyone wants a pinch, lemmeno.) Who even remembers Flock? Didn't they make a movie called "The Flockers?" Were you in it? Maybe they'll ask me to be in the sequel.

Okay, I'll stop. Sorry, I'm chatty today and I shouldn't be because I have a lot of new friends I'd like you to meet. To finish, here are the two cards together:

You have to admit they make a darling couple!

I hope you are pleased, Shannon! I appreciate your wonderful cards, your friendship, and your terrific comments of support! And Hammy is so happy to have a little girlfriend!!

~~~

I'm going to link my card with the current Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge of "Anything Goes!"

I hope you'll be able to join in! The prize is a $30 store credit!

~~~

New Friends Corner:

I am extremely delighted to introduce you to six new followers today!

Ike of Ike's World. I met Ike through the always fun What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday hop. She has been blogging since 2010 and her style runs the entire gamut of card artistry, all the way to the dark side of the moon, or should I say depths of the crypts?! I love that we can appreciate each other's blogs and styles even if sometimes they are polar opposites. I think you will enjoy the diversity Ike provides!

Charlene of Expressions of Me! (Love that name!). Charlene has been blogging since 2008, which is a long time to be sharing her beautiful works of art, whether on design teams, as a challenge participant, or just for fun! I love her sweetly and expertly layered cards ranging from whimsical to elegant! Go potty and pour your beverage now so you'll have plenty of time for your visit without interruption!

Jill of Anjillic Creations. (Love the play on "angelic!") Jill has been blogging since 2010, not often, but when she does, it is worth a visit to see what she has made! Like so many of you, Jill goes the extra mile and decorates the inside of her cards with just as much passion as she does the outside of her cards. I aspire!

Pam of Pammie's Inky Pinkies! Please? What's not to like? Our pinkies DO get inky! Pam has been blogging since 2011. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves to escape to the clutter of crafting, thus escaping from the clutter of life. Sound familiar? Pam makes colorful, well-executed, and sweet, sweet cards!

Danielle Vincent of D's Crafty Connection. Danielle lives in the beautiful state of Montana and has been blogging since 2012. Again, like a lot of you, she started her craftiness with scrapbooking (about 11 years ago) which has evolved into the fulfilling world of card art. Danielle produces her awesome cards in a range of styles and even teaches her craft!

Anjali Reddy of Paper ... Paper ... Paper. Anjali is a new friend from Malaysia. She has only been blogging since last month, but already she has the total hang of playing in challenges! Please make an extra effort to visit Anjali. You know I love it when you welcome and encourage brand-new bloggers, remembering how it felt when you first starting blogging and how cool it was to have visitors.

Actually, that feeling never changes does it? It's always cool to have visitors whether you've been blogging your cards a few weeks or for a few years, so I hope you'll find some time to visit all these inspiring blogs!

Welcome, ladies, and thank you so much for joining!!

~~~

Enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower!  Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor! 

  

 

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