HaPpY NeW yEaR!!!

Welcome to 2010!  I have a feeling it's going to be a good year.  :)

I spent yesterday chillin' out and I didn't get a chance to craft so I woke up this morning and got right to it.  I was able to combine 3 challenges with this card:

1. Viva la Verve - The first sketch of the year is a great one and Amber has added a {twist} this year: "Every month this year we'll walk through a different room and every week I'll bring you some inspiration pictures of different rooms."  She gave us some pictures for inspiration but you could use inspiration from your own home if you wanted to.  I was drawn to the clean, crisp lines of this picture:

 

Surprised?  This picture is SO not my house, nor is it how I would decorate if given a bazillion dollars but I LOVE the colors and look - for someone else.  ;)  Here's the sketch:

2.  Crazy 4 Challenges - This week's challenge: "Let's have some Polka Dot Fun! Design a card/project using polka dots."  Easy.  :)

3. Our Creative Corner Challenge - "A new month brings a NEW hostess, Joycelyn will start off the new year with a new year's resolution "Clean and Simple". We will leave it to all of you to decide what clean and simple means to you...whether you go with less layers, or maybe no embellishments... whatever you decide."  I think this card is about as clean and simple as I've done for awhile...no bow, no buttons, no adhesive pearls (GASP!)  Yes, I do still have layers but, for me, if a card can fit in an envelope and NOT need extra postage, it's "clean and simple."  *grin*

Without further ado:

Recipe - Stamps: Give Thanks Plain Jane (Verve), Flower Lines (SU!)  Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Night and Day DP  Ink: Real Red, Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories: Nestabilities, paper piercer, Swiss Dots embossing folder, clear embossing powder, circle punches, ribbon

I really like how this turned out.  And for all you "sketch purists" out there: yes, I turned the sketch and yes, I realize it is supposed to be a square and yes, I know the sketch doesn't call for ribbon but I was really struggling with the "space" at the bottom and thought the ribbon was perfect for the "feel" of this card: clean, classic and a bit retro.  It's a girl's creative license to change it up a bit, right?

It's another chilly one here today so I'm guessing we will be sticking close to home today - which means more crafting!  YAY!  I need a coffee or something - my fingers are chilly.  :)

Catch ya in a bit!