Hello! Have I told you how much I detest being sick? Well I do, especially with a head cold type of thing that goes to your chest, and then back to your head. I hate that foggy headed feeling – blech! Here’s the upside, however. I have been able to loll around on the couch for days napping, and NO ONE has said a word! They all just keeping asking how I feel and tell me if I sound either worse or better. Hey . . . wonder how long I can make this last!

I’ve had so many ideas for cards running through my head and so many new stamps that I have just been itching to use. Since this is the last day in the Splitcoaststampers Dare to Get Dirty Challenges, I so wanted to participate. I’m really bugged that I haven’t felt like stamping and taking part in these challenges. I started a card last night, had it to the point I wanted, and set aside to dry. This morning I woke up with an entirely different idea and changed the whole thing up. Of course, being on the Dirty Dozen we do get a heads up on what the challenges are, and I was trying to get a jump on Lindsey’s challenge today.

I decided to use a new set I just received, Boutique Grunge from Inque Boutique, for Lindsey’s Challenge. As I was finishing up the card and taking photos, I realized that it also fit Joan’s Challenge – SO, I have a double challenge card!!

I stamped the images in Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, and did nothing else to them, except sponge the edges in SU Pink Pirouette. For the background panel, I chose my new SU Pink Pirouette paper and stamped the butterfly in the same color of ink. After layering this panel on black, I ran it through the unthreaded sewing machine to make punch marks for faux stitching. The stitch marks are connected with an Inkssentials White Opaque Pen. I stamped the butterfly twice with Pink Pirouette and cut them out. Of course, the antennae were just a little too narrow to cut out, so I decided to stamp the image again on the base of the top panel. The first butterfly is layered flat, and the second (minus its head), is layered with the wings bent to give the illusion of flight.

• Stamps: Boutique Grunge from Inque Boutique
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; SU Whisper White, Basic Black and Pink Pirouette
• Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black and SU Pink Pirouette
• Accessories: Ranger Glossy Accents and Inkssential White Opaque Pen; Sewing Machine; Ribbon; Decorative Straight Pin

That’s about it for me today! I’m going to settle in, watch the Brickyard and root for my boy Mark! I hope you guys have a great day!