Happy 2013!

Hello Crafty Friends, and welcome to a new year of many good things.

Firstly, I LOVE WINTER! We have had a TON of snow here in Ottawa, starting just before Christmas. You have seen this photo, of the view out the study window; here is today's updated version:

Notice the new icicles and extra layers of snow on the patio furniture and currently more snow falling...providing lots of possibilities for winter activities. Although we can't open the sliding door as the screen is frozen!

Last evening my husband and I joined our crazy friends Ron and Fran for an adventure in Gatineau Park, across the river in Quebec. We x-country skied 5 km into the park to a rustic log cabin equipped with wood stove and picnic tables, ate cheese fondue until we were stuffed, and then skied back. All in the DARK! We had head lamps, but its the first time I've skied in about 12 years, so it was a little hairy at times. But such fun! Have I mentioned I love winter?

Secondly:  the new year brings a new challenge for me:  part of the inaugural Design Team for the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge.  You can see the announcement, and first dare for 2013 HERE. Color My Heart features a new color combination and a lesson on color theory every week. So while you create a project for the challenge, you are also absorbing tips to enhance your paper-crafting.  I'm delighted to be joining such an impressive bunch of crafty gals, and relish the dares to come. I find some of my better creations come about when meeting the constraints of a good challenge.  I hope you will check it out every week!

This week's dare is to use ONLY neutrals! Resist the urge to add color, and explore the possibilities of muted shades.  Here is my project:

For the background, I used a CHAMPAGNE card base, heat-embossed some images from Paper Smooches new set, "Needle Little Love" in white, then used water-color pencils to tint them--such a cool effect! I got the inspiration for that technique from the amazing Jennifer McGuire's blog this week. As a recovered quilting addict, I love this stamp set--cute and funky sewing images and punny greetings.

I used the layout from this week's Retro Sketches challenge #45:

Here is a closer look at my card:

I love the flexibility of acrylic stamps--literally. The stitching line on the focal image is actually a straight line, but I curved it on my block to follow the edges of the die-cut label.

The "merci" is from another Paper Smooches set, "Good Gab." I accidentally cut off the dot over the i but recovered it with the stitched ribbon--good save and appropriate embellishment!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Color My Heart #24
RetroSketches #45
Paper Smooches Sparks--Anything Goes.

Here's a list of materials used:
Champagne, White Daisy, Desert Sand and Chocolate card-stock
White daisy and Desert Sand ink
Watercolor pencils, secondary colors set, CTMH 3505 (desert sand, chocolate and saddle/brown bag)
Chocolate Ribbon Rounds, CTMH  Z1127
White super-fine embossing powder, Paper Wishes
Needle Little Love, Good Gab stamp sets, Paper Smooches

Happy week, Happy New Year and happy crafting!

Caroline