Happiness Always

Good Day, Friends!

Yesterday was the last day to file your income taxes (or get an extension) here in the US of A. Lots of grumpy faces were at the grocery store. It comes around every year, just like Christmas, yet we are always shocked a bit, aren't we? What? Again? So soon?

Shake it off. Let your elbows go limp and really shake it off! Feel the tension travel up through your neck, behind your ears, and out the top of your head. The only other forshure thing in life is death so, hey, let's not be grumpy!

Instead, let's look at a pretty card:

I made this card to play along with my friend Carol who is the featured designer for the current Tag You're It challenge and some of the awesome stencil challenges that are happening in Blogland. Yes, that's right! I stenciled! And I used my NBUS Yupo plastic paper to stencil on with DI pink and Brilliance gold. Here is a closeup of the sheeny shine:

The stencil was handmade and given to me by my friend Loll. BTW, if you haven't been to her blog lately, go check it out. She is doing mind-blowing things with gilding her lilies and butterflies and whatnot!

The tag is from the Stitched Main Street Tags by Poppystamps. The dual dragonfly is from Clearly Besotted and the sediment is from SU. The dragonfly was cut using ancient gold and pink lahmay paper from my stash. Oh, and the text background on the tag is from SU.

So, can we talk a second about that mesh peaking from behind the tag? I got the mesh design element idea from my friend Ros. I was planning to play in the City Crafter Challenge in honor of their SIXTH birthaversary!!! Congratulations!!! The brief was to CASE one (or more) of the DT's cards. I just missed the challenge, but I still wanted to mention it, because six years is something worth mentioning!

And I wanted to give Ros a shoutout for making me open this drawer, which hasn't seen the light of day in (cough) years:

Look at all those rolls of pretty mesh. Some of you younger crafters are thinking "ern?" and cocking your heads. And remember those spools of colored wire? Oh my Sainted Bernard! Since I only use small bits of it when I do use it, it will definitely outlive me. Do you see anything that you want? 

In addition to TYI, I am playing in:

• CAS Mix Up Card Challenge: Stamping + Stenciling + Die Cutting + Sponging.
• Happy Little Stampers April Mixed Media Challenge: Mix your media.
• Pixie's Snippets Playground: Use your snippets.

I see I missed the other stencil challenges that were open a minute ago. I must be slowing down, folks. I can't seem to keep up with these one-week challenges any more, even with seven hamsters to help me. Maybe someone can make it a nine-day week ~ with four-day weekends, of course!

Carol's TYI card   ~   Ros's City Crafter card

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Giveaways

Speaking of anything you want, I have new items up on the Giveaways tab at the top of my blog:

The directions for entering can be found by clicking the Giveaways tab. You have until April 29, 2016.

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New Friends Corner

I'm delighted to introduce you to these new friends:

Lee Ann Barrett of Greyt Paper Crafts. Lee Ann started blogging the end of 2011 and I've been an admirer since then. She often made cards for Operation Write Home and she has become a prolific challenge player and winner. Lee Ann's designs and coloring are perfection!

Pam Simpson of Pam's Crafts. Pam has been blogging since March 2012. Her cards are exquisite and truly gifts unto themselves. You'll find lots of layers, textures, beautiful embellishments, and amazing folds and shapes to amaze and inspire you!

Pen of Sunshine Pens Rambles. Pen lives in a log cabin in the middle of a small village in the UK and she has only been blogging since July of 2015. She has gradually started playing in more challenges and she enjoys this relaxing and fun hobby. In addition to her inspiring designs, Pen very kindly shares her process photos!

Tracie Pond of Creations for Kindness. Tracie started her blog journey in April 2015, so happy first blog birthaversary, Tracie! As the title of her blog suggests, Tracie blogs to share her beautiful cards and to encourage us to give our own cards away for the simple reason that they bring kindness and joy into the lives of others!

K.M. Meena Herale of Sunshine Creations. Meena only started her blog in February so she is brand new to our community! Her cards are happy and her creations are well-designed to play in challenges. Please do take a minute to introduce yourself to Meena and welcome her to our supportive and caring corner of Blogland!

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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!

*Life is too short!

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