Splashing About

Hello Stamplings,

I had started an opening in my usual perky way, but I've changed gears to share a bit of sadness first. I promise I'll end on a happy note. All across any country, there are incidents and accidents that happen every hour of every day: car accidents, roller coaster accidents, animal bites, killings, tornadoes, falls down stairs, etc., etc. It's never-ending and sad for all those involved.

But an accident occurred near Branson, Missouri on Thursday that is so tragic it bears noting. A boat capsized on a lake when a sudden storm came out of nowhere. It was an amphibious boat. Seventeen people died ranging in age from 1 to 70. That's horrible by itself, but unspeakably, NINE of those people were from the same family.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the members of that devastated family and the other families who lost loved ones in the accident. Suddenly, your painful elbow doesn't hurt as much, the fight you had with your cousin seems ridiculous, and the scorching heat will pass. You just want to hold your family close. Nothing else matters as much.

~~~

I had a bit of a splash earlier in the week before all this happened and my first card turned out to be a bit prophetic.

Onefer

The drops are from Designs by Ryn. Hostess Nancy is encouraging us to have a splashing good time this month at CAS Watercolor. You can find an excellent video about this technique here. It's as simple as it sounds. Splat some watercolor inks or scribble some watercolor markers onto a surface, spritz liberally with water, and then splash your card panel into the ink.

Personally, I think it should be called the "spank" technique because I feel more like I'm spanking my craft mat. Bad mat! Hammy, of course, likes to run in as close as he can so the pretty colors splash all over his fur. Sigh. I try to adopt that attitude, too, after having ruined a few nice tops because I forgot to change before I spanked my ink.

Challenges

• CAS Watercolour July Challenge: Splash Watercolouring.
• Color Throwdown.

Twofer

This birthday design is not CAS, but it is simples as can be. For this card, I splashed a whole card front panel. I thought the NBUS Bloomtangled Cover Plate #2 from Stamplorations was perfect to let the background be the star. I used a pink vellum for the white heat-embossed sediment from WPlus9 so it didn't detract from the splashy background. 

This card reminds me of a pretty summer dress with an eyelet bodice. Raise your hand if you've ever heard the word "bodice."  What a lovely old-timey word that is. Or was. Come to think of it, the word eyelet isn't exactly bandied about any more either. I think I need to up my word relevancy so I can be straight fire with the young'uns.

Challenges

• Fusion Card Challenge: Playing with just the inspiration photo.
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Use a die or punch.
• Use Your Stuff: Birthday.

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Speaking of old-timey ... I mentioned recently that we went to a wedding last weekend. Dan and Rachel and the young misters Adam and Henry also attended. These 13-year-olds were gentlemen and well-behaved throughout the ceremony and reception which lasted a few hours. As we left to walk to the car, the boys stopped to visit the restroom and came out looking like this! 

They did this apropopo of nothing but their imaginations. With a raised eyebrow and a pointed look, their father asked, "What's happening here?" They responded, "These are our Frontier Socks." What a hoot!

~~~

Give-Away Winner!

Several of you entered the drawing for the hamster Coffee and Tea set and Hammy drew the winning name out of a teacup. Congratulations to Lisa of A Mermaid's Craft!! Lisa, please email me your mailing address and I will get the gift in the mail to you.

(Don't mention Hammy's whiskers in your comment. He's a bit self-conscious about them. He has never been able to get them to straighten out after he was in the suitcase for so long traveling to and fro England a coupla years ago. Sshhh!)

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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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