Share the Joy With Those Cards!

Greetings!

I hope you are all doing well!

As you can imagine, it seems strangely quiet around here now that NBUS #5 has ended! But even without an active NBUS challenge, I love it when I see you post that you've used some of that NBUS on your creation!

I'm not only using NBUS today, I'm playing in a brand new challenge! Here is my card:

The polka-dotted DSP is from GKW. I scored the top half of the stitched circle from Lil' Inkers. The stitched tag is from My Favorite Things. The NBUS hummingbird stamp is from Taylored Expressions set "Hovering By" and the NBUS sediment is from Paper Smooches set "Sunny Side Up."

If you've been a friend for a long time, you know how much I love hummingbirds and I have to say this hummingbird stamp is awesome! Here is a close-up where you can see the gold embossing and Stella winking:

I watercolored this little cutie with my Ziggies. I've only used them a couple three times and I can see why they get rave reviews.

The  new challenge I mentioned is Taylored Expressions Share Joy Challenge:

For my card, I obviously took a very literal approach to the sketch on the left and, although it is busy with the polka dots, I still think it is CAS.

I was really pleased when Regina emailed me to introduce me to Taylored Expressions new challenge and I've been waiting until after my NBUS Challenge #5 to play along. While all of the card challenges in Blogland encourage us to create card art, the Share Joy Challenge adds an additional emphasis on sending our cards. Here is their mission statement:

At the heart of Taylored Expressions is a passion to share the art and joy of paper crafting. This inspiring weekly challenge is for cardmakers of every level, from beginning to artisan, to express their creative joy. More importantly, the Challenge encourages participants to share that joy with others. Be inspired. Create a card. Send it to someone. Share Joy!

That's right, when you check the rules, you will find this last one: "Send or give your card to a friend, loved one, or someone who could use some joy! Leave a comment on this post telling us who you sent your card to and why." 

Of course, you know I love that idea! BTW, your card can be for any occasion! 

The card I'm entering today is going to my dear 90-year-old adopted-mom-friend Verna, who is still suffering from a bad fall she took in January. She asked me to make a thank you card for her to give to her great-niece who takes Verna to many doctor appointments.

I hope you will add this new challenge to your list of challenges and join in the Share Joy Challenge!

Card Donations / Pen Pals / Mister

If you do happen to have a stash of cards, don't forget that nursing homes and hospitals and other organizations would be delighted to receive your donation of handmade cards. You can also search for organizations online. 

And if you have become friends with other bloggers through your commenting, ask them if they would like to be your "card pen pal." I now have over 100 card pen pals so I never have a card stash! It's a fun and fulfilling experience, not only for me and the hamster, but for The Mister, as well!

In fact, check out the cards he has received since he has become in valid!

He really appreciates the cards and wants me to thank you! They are a bright spot in his day! The poor darling had a birthday Monday, so a few of the cards are birthday cards, but most of them are get well cards. It amazes him that perfect strangers (to him) would do this for him!

Sadly, The Mister's condition has not improved. The next step is to see a blood specialist next week. There is a process involved which apparently takes a lot of time. This is not easy for a motorcycle-riding active man, but I have to say he's being a very good patient. And bless him, he understands my need to escape to the Playhouse now and then to feed the hamster and have some craft therapy! (Thank you all for understanding that my computer time, however, has been severely curtailed.)

Okay. Wait. Where was I?  ...

Challenges

In addition to the Share Joy Challenge, I am entering my card in:

• Color Throwdown Challenge: see below. (I do have a pop of red, so my card may not be appropriate.)
• Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge: Colouring.
• Pixie's Snippets Playground: Use Your Scraps.

I made a twofer, but I will post it separately so I can introduce more new friends in that post.

New Friends Corner

I am blessed to have had several talented new friends join the Playhouse! I will be introducing them to you in groups of five so your visits to them are manageable. Thank you for helping me welcome:

Nadyunya (Nadia) of Scrapomama. Nadia is from Zaporozhe, Ukraine and she has been blogging since 2013. Nadia is uplifting and positive and you will enjoy seeing her excellent scrapbook layouts, CAS card designs, and beautiful photographs! 

Valerija (Valery) Pukšič of My Joy. Valery is from Slovenia and she has been blogging since January 2014. Like a lot of us, Valery started blogging to enter her fabulous cards in challenges. Since then she has been repeatedly recognized for her card art and 3D projects!

Jen of The Other Fickle Pixie (aka Magic Flying Boots). Jen has been blogging since 2009! Let me tell you, she has a VERY impressive and well-deserved list of challenge awards for her amazing CASlicious cards! You will find no end of inspiration here!

Magan Niergarth. Megan has a gallery at Splitcoast Stampers where she is known as MeganBeth. Pull up a chair with a cushion when you go to visit Megan! You will find page after page of beautiful thumbnail card art in her gallery!

Gail Scott of I Like Paper. Gail has been blogging since 2012. She also enjoys entering (and winning!) challenges and serving on design teams. I know you'll have a great time scrolling through Gail's blog where you'll find awesome 3D and altered art projects in addition to her wonderful card art!

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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 join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

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