Clean and Simple for Aurora Wings

Do you believe it's October?  Holy Smokes, time sure flies!  Still struggling with computer issues, but now that the big party at my house is over, I'll be putting hubby back to work to retrieve my digis.  Fortunately, I worked ahead on this one for the latest Aurora Wings Challenge Theme, Clean and Simple.

I've used the adorable Little Tomte, available exclusively HERE on AW.com. She is carrying a fluffy dandelion seed so I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder to add some texture and fill in some of the "white space", which in this case IS actually white.  I flipped the image in order to work better with the embossing folder and added Sparkly Fluff flocking with a bit of silver tinsel to both the seed she's carrying and the embossed dandelion heads.  I've also scored down the 4 sides of the image and added a small sentiment sticker by Tim Holtz.

Here's a closeup of Little Tomte.  She's colored with Copics with a traditional red hat.  A tomte is a mythological creature from Nordic folklore who protected the farmstead.  They are now most often associated with Christmas and delivering of gifts by sleigh (like Santa) pulled by the goats (rather than reindeer).  I've loved these little creatures since I was a child as my heritage is Swedish on my mother's side.  I think this little gal is especially cute and you can see her in in another exclusive multi set HERE, giving you 4 digis for the price of one.

Be sure to visit the Aurora Wings Challenge blog to view the fabulous inspiration from the Stella team and come play along.  After all, CAS is supposed to be quick and simple to make as well, so there's no excuse not to enter.  (Unless you tend to over think it like I do) LOL

Be sure to check out the Challenge 57 winners and results of the September FB contest.   The new October contest in the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group will be up shortly as well.

Here's how to keep up with what's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop 

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Crafting-With-Friends #51 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #208 AG, Crafty Creations #351 AG, Crafty Gals Corner #142 AG, Creative Moments #127 AG, Crop Stop September Linky Party #32 AG/w product Crop Stop sells.

All Brights CAS for The Outlawz

As a winner of a previous challenge, I'm guesting for Sunday CAS  on the Outlawz Forum.  Our mission was to use only bright colors.  I checked my stash and found some forgotten papers from DCWV that definitely fit the bill. Although I actually planned to use some new dies and a die cut background, I thought I was pushing the CAS theme a bit too far and started subtracting until I came up with this.  The die cut sentiment here is from an old Cuttlebug set. Pretty simple and quick, but that's the point.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art Thankful Thursday (Birthday or Thank you), Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #63 AG, CAS on Friday Exotic, Little C's Aloha Friday Yellow Flowers... 

Guest Designing for the Outlawz CAS

I'm thrilled to be joining the Outlawz CAS challenge for the next two weeks as Guest Designer.  Our theme this week is Milestone Birthday and I was so happy to have recently purchased this Die-Versions retro car die that reminds me of a '57 Chevy.  Since it's 2017, it's perfect for a 60th birthday (although I can't think of anyone young enough to send it to at the mo.  LOL)  Anyway, I managed to get it cut out of some glittery specialty card stock that has sort of a smooth shiny plastic finish by using a shim and running it through my machine several times.  I colored the wheels with a Sharpie and did the sentiment in my Printmaster Platinum program.  Added some black sticker lines and matted with more of the red and called it done.  I kind of love it.

If you're not a member of the Outlawz Forum, just ask to join.  It's a fun supportive Group with loads of inspiration and there are 7 new challenges a week plus a monthly Freebie/Progressive challenge with prizes to be won on a monthly basis.  Hope to see you there.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday Happy Birthday, Aud Sentiments 7th Birthday challenge Use Birthday Sentiment or #7 on your card or project, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG, and the DL.Art April Linky Challenge.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Well, I should be outside enjoying the gorgeous 70+ weather and doing some catch up yard work, but since I already had green Copics on my desk, I decided to do a quicky for the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge asking for some GREEN. Instead of a St. Pat's theme I thought it would be fun to color up #1415 Turtle Soup by Sandra Caldwell.  He's colored with Copics with a computer generated sentiment and I've added some punched corners and matted him with scraps from my stash.  Easy peasy!

I'm also entering this in the Your Scrapbook Place March AG challenge (using a sponsor's image, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, Di's Digis Lots of Green, the ABC Challenge "Z" is for zero embellishments, Simply Create Too March Lots of Green (2/3), Creative Knockouts Lots of Green, and Star Stampz Make it Monochrome.

The Outlawz Sunday CAS Add an Animal

I'm so happy to be Guest designing for the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge again this week. We're celebrating our love for animals, so we'd love to see one on your project, any theme.  Big surprise that I've used a kitty, eh?  I've gotten tons of new dies lately so this gave me a chance to again dip into the bunch. The kitty is from a set of 3 from the Frantic Stamper and the lovely heart ribbon is Die-namites.  I've also used a Spellbinders square, scalloped square and heart behind the cat embossed with a Cuttlebug heart folder.  The paw print border is a punch by ek Success.  Look Ma, no coloring! Thanks again to the Outlawz for allowing me to join them again this week. There's a new challenge every day of the week, all month long, so come join the forum and play along.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art February Linky challenge, SUYP (Cats only) Furrything Goes,  Simon Says Monday Pets Corner, Dies R Us Challenge #66 Hearts,  Scrapy Land Challenge #59 ATG w dies ScrapyLand sells, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends and Simon Says Wednesday Color of Love. 

Guest Designing for Outlawz Sunday CAS

It's a busy week for me at the Outlawz Forum as here I am Guest Designing for Sunday CAS, too.  The mission this week is to incorporate bubble wrap into your design.  OOOH, fun!  I grabbed a hunk and hit the Distress Ink, Pickled Raspberry, one I hadn't even opened (and I had TWO, how'd that happen?) and dabbed it on some plain white card stock.  Whoa, kinda bright, but I have tried this technique before and since the bubbles don't all take the color evenly, it helps to have a vivid one.  Cut the center with my Spellbinders Nested Hearts and made the decision to use the negative.  Dabbed the inside of the cut to further define the heart and laid it on a white panel I'd embossed with a tiny hearts Cuttlebug folder (from a Baby set) and then a lighter pink card blank. The sentiment die is from Lawn Fawn.  I actually cut several of them and glued them together for strength.  I wanted a little more pizazz so I decided to pop the mat with foam and laid the sentiment across diagonally, gluing it on either end and the multiple layers made it less likely to tear.  Added a tiny bead to dot the "i" and called it done.

I think I may be getting a hang of this CAS business after all.  Thanks so much to the fabulous CAS team for letting me join them as Guest Designer this week (and next!  Shhh don't tell!)

I'm entering this in the DL.Art January Linky challenge, CAS on Sunday Hearts, and Simon Says Wednesday ATG.

Good Luck in the New Year

Here's a real quicky for the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge calling for no designer paper.  In case you didn't know, it is New Year's Day for those who celebrate according to the Lunar calendar.  It happens to be the year of the rooster, but I couldn't resist making an Asian inspired card using my new little Maneki Neko (Lucky Cat) die by the Frantic Stamper and my new double stitched circles from Kat Scrappiness.  I  inlaid the circles and glued Lucky cat on top, then inlaid his eyes, nose and medallion.  I cut him again to color and paper piece the collar because I afraid to mess up the lines.  Added a few sticker embellies and sentiment and there ya go.  Good luck in the New Year no matter when you celebrate.  I'll be off to spend some girl time with my friend and next door neighbor.  WooHoo!

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art January Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday ATG and SUYP January Furrything Goes (cats only).

You're a star!

I don't know about you, but the CAS style is really a struggle for me (although my last card HERE turned out to be that way too.  LOL)  I'm kind of a "more is never enough" kind of gal which really poses a problem, so I've been trying to play in the CAS challenge at the Outlawz each week.  I was excited about the Stars theme because it was a chance to use my new Stitched Stars dies from Gina Marie.  Stitched dies in every shape have really become popular but I just got a bunch.  Seems I'm a little late to the party.  I found they coordinated  with my old Spellbinders Stars 5 dies so I ended up using both, the stitched ones to emboss (using the embossing mat and plate so they wouldn't cut through) and the regular ones to cut. The gold one is popped with foam, then I added some tiny sticker stars and sentiment and called it done.  This was made for a congratulations on a new job and inside says "You're a STAR!"

I'm adding this to the DL.Art January Linky challenge, Crafty Calender Something New (stitched star dies),Crafty Friends New Beginnings, Less is More New Beginnings, Come and Get it No Designer Paper and My Time to Craft Something New.

For the Outlawz Progressive Freebie and Sunday CAS Challenge

There are some advantages to getting up at 4:00 am.  If I can tear myself away from the computer, I just may get a little coloring done before I start my day and that's what happened this morning.  I had this cute snowman  from SandiSamples already printed for the Outlawz Freebie/Progressive Challenge and after coloring, I checked out the new Sunday CAS theme which is "Your Perfect Holiday Destination" which for me would be Lake Louise or Banff Canada.  We left 2 days after Christmas and spent David's birthday (New Year's Eve) there about 10 years ago and I sure would love to go back.  I gotta say I really miss snow, at least around the holidays, so I grabbed a couple of scraps that were laying on my desk and assemble this quick CAS card.  That's all for now.  Hope everyone's further along with their Christmas preparations than I am.  LOL

New Cardinal Sprite Gift w/Purchase and a COUPON from Aurora Wings

EEEEK!  Look at this cutie!  It's the new Gift with purchase for ANY order this weekend at Aurora Wings.  This new cardinal Sprite couldn't be cuter, don'tcha think?  I made a little quickie CAS, sort of vintage inspired card using Christmas Photo Frames from Iralamija.   I covered the greeting on the bottom with my own and added a bow and a few red "berries" uptop after inking the rounded corners and cut out.

Here's a closeup of Cardinal Sprite and what fun he was to color.  I Googled pix of cardinals to sort of get the difference in shading and one of the most vibrant birds.  I also went for some variegated holly.  He's colored with Copics in the R32-39 range with some W1-4 for shading.  The "black" is done with the high end of the N grays.  

I hope you can take advantage of this GWP, and to sweeten the deal, there's a Coupon code too!

Don't forget we have an extended Blog challenge, Winter Wonderland, that lasts through January 14th and our FB Group challenge, Happy Holidays runs all month in our FB Group page.

Here's how to keep up with all that's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art December Linky Party, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Any Winter Holiday Challenge, Crafty Addicts ATG/ Christmas colors and the Outlawz Monday Greetings Happy Holidays (but keep it CAS) challenge. 

Holly Jolly

As I've said in the past, I struggle with CAS cards but I'm trying to overcome my tendencies towards excess by playing in the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge which asks for all white with one (and only one) red embellie.  I did what I was told, squelching my urge to add a teeny red border around the embossed sentiment from Tim Holtz and holly berry gems.  The Holly folder is from Cuttlebug.  I find all white cards soooo elegant, but they sure are a bitch to photograph.  I took a bazillion pix, in every room of the house, before I finally gave up.  Best I could do.

I"m entering this in the DL.Art December Linky Challenge and Simon Says Wednesday ATG.

CAS for the Outlawz

I kind of struggle with CAS cards, so I always check out the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge and see if I can give it a go.  Okay, it took me all week, but here's what I came up with for their Fantasy (use a mythical creature) challenge.  Well, you can bet there are mostly fairies flitting about, but they mentioned trolls so I immediately thought of the OGRE (only $1.50!) from Bloobel Stamps.  I thought with his cute little hat, he'd be fun on a Christmas card, so I set him in a winter wonderland of torn snow banks (embossed with a snow flurries Cuttlebug die) and added little cardinals (cut from the "birds on a wire punch by MS) to a "magnificent pine" from Memory Box.  the sentiment are stices from Tim Holtz.

Here's a closeup of Ogre.  I've colored him with Copics and added a bit of shading with Prismacolor pencils.  What a HOOT!  He totally cracks me up!  Ready to party he surely is and would be great for a guy's birthday card too, don'cha think?

I'll also be adding him to the DL.Art November Linky Challenge, Left of Center (under the Fairytales or LOC theme), 613 Avenue Create November ATG (#3 of 8),  Aud Sentiments ATG +Sentiment, Scrapy Land ATG + die that Scrapy Land sells, Dies R Us Thankful for Nature, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #45 ATG (3 of 3), Creative Craft Cottage Christmas (3 of 3) and A Snowflakes' Promise Seasons.

#1179 Candy Corn Cutie

Just a quicky post because I'm running late for a challenge.  The Outlawz Twisted Thursday is always ATG, but they also have a twist and this last week it's add sparkle or shine.  I really prefer to play with the twist, if possible, so when I saw that the Outlawz Sunday CAS Challenge called for washi tape, I decided to combine the two and here's the result.  This new image from Sandra Caldwell, called #1179 Candy Corn Cutie, was perfect for my glitter washi tape and I even had a little glitter candy corn embellie that fit the image's hat perfectly when printed it out.  WooHoo!

I'm adding this to the DL.Art October Linky challenge, Crafting by Designs Halloween, Card Mania October Let it Shine, Creatalicious ATG/Halloween, the Deep Ocean Halloween Challenge and Crafty Boots Halloween.

Clean and Simple for Aurora Wings

A new challenge begins today on the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog, hosted by the Aurora Team.  The theme is CAS (Clean and Simple).  Not a natural one for someone who subscribes to the "more is never enough" theory, but hey, isn't that sort of the definition of challenge?  The good news is I didn't have to spend hours choosing DP or embellies, the bad news is that pretty much every one of Mitzi's gorgeous digis stands up beautifully on it's own, so the image choice was not a simple one at all.  I did, however, have one that I was dying to color up and since I've been a bit melancholy lately, he was perfect therapy. This sweet little guy is Pierrot Sprite.  Doesn't he just tug at your heartstrings?

Here's a closer look at Pierrot Sprite.  He's available in jpg HERE and also in no background PNG form HERE, in case you'd like to use him with digi paper and avoid fussy cutting and the like, in the AuroraWings Etsy Shop. He's colored with Copics, in traditional black and white of the French pantomime with just a bit of red in his fading rose and single tear.  So happy to not have to agonize over color choices and my absolute fave anyway.  

I always associate harlequin pattern with clowns (no matter how sad) and used one of the small dies from the Tim Holtz thinlits 4 pack to provide the texture. Originally I planned to use a mat with the pattern cut out, but even if I fussy cut little Pierrot Sprite, I wasn't pleased with the design, so instead, I glued each of the (slightly distressed looking) diamonds off cuts individually around the image, which was more to my liking and perhaps even more in keeping with the CAS style. The sentiment is tiny, and hand written, which I almost never do, but this card was meant to be personal, so there ya go.

Please visit the AW Challenge Blog to see the gorgeous examples by my teamies and don't forget to check out the winners from the previous challenge one post down.  Hope to see you join in our CAS challenge and also the current May "Elements" challenge on the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group page.

Here's how to keep up with all that's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the 613 Avenue Create ATG challenge, the DL.Art May Linky challenge, Creative Fingers ATG and the Crafting When We Can CAS Challenge.

CAS + Texture

Sorry I've been a bit remiss in posting.  First I had to take some time to shovel off my tables as the available space had gotten so tiny there was no place to actually color or assemble anything any more.  And after that was at least manageable I decided to try and work ahead a bit on my DT projects, instead of waiting 'til the last minute, but that meant I had nothing to post until the appropriate date.  However, I did check out the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge which is Add Some Texture and one of the Gecko Galz March FB Challenges which is the Birds and Bees and came up with this.  "Unique" is cropped from the Gecko Galz Just Words Stamp set, the hive from the In My Garden Stamp set, and the bee cropped from the Nature's Bliss collage sheet.  I changed the color of the stamps to gold and brown and all images were assembled and printed with my Printmaster Platinum program.  I embossed a paper strip with the Honeycomb Cuttlebug folder, tore off the corners and inked it with Distress and added yellow Liquid Pearls for even more texture.  Finished it off with some adhesive pearls and called it done.  Yea, for CAS or you'd have to be waiting until Friday. 

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Monday "B" is for (Bee) challenge, the Digitally Sweet Font Talk Challenge and Simon Says Wednesday Things That Fly. 

Another One Layer

Don't faint!  It's another CAS one layer card from me.  Yeah, I know, who am I and what have I done with Donna, eh?  Well, besides the SOSS, I was hanging out with the Outlawz and their Sunday CAS challenge this week is watermelons.  Ummm...ok.  Well, it just so happens I have the most adorable image from A Day for Daisies called A Big Slice, so I just had to sneak this one in too, in between my exhaustive (but totally worth it) efforts I'll be posting tomorrow.  Same cheapy CS, but this one I managed to color...with PENCILS!  I have to admit this isn't the suckiest job I've ever done with pencils and there's no bleed through, even after blending (sort of) with Mineral spirits.  WooHoo!

I am actually gonna enter this also at the SOSS "L" is for Layer Challenge even though it isn't snarky.  They keep reminding me it doesn't HAVE to be snarky, (but really, what's the fun in that?  LOL)  But if you look at the sentiment and the bite out of the bottom of that card and look at the kid doing the biting, it would be more likely at his age to be gumming it to death.  Perhaps not snarky, but at least worth a chuckle.  (And look Donna, I managed to snap the pic before Edna had a chance to card or photo bomb it.)

"L" is for Layer at SOSS

Ok, so I read the "L" is for Layer at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers and think "WOOHOO!  Do I know how to layer!" but uh...no, not layerS, LAYER, meaning ONE (or if you must, because you are worried about f'ing up your card base, 2 at the MOST).   In other words CAS, not my strong suit.

However, if Edna (my Mom's name, which totally cracks me up, however she does look more like my Auntie Lee) can go flat, so can I.  So above you see my one layer card, done in Printmaster Platinum, using eyeglasses from The Graphics Fairy, that went perfectly with the sentiment I saw somewhere on the net and wrote down because I'm sure in a few years that will be me, and also because they look a bit like Edna's.  WOW!  How's that for a run on sentence?  I'm in rare form today, eh? Well, Edna snuck on the corner of my card (my Mom was pushy like that too) but was really pissed when I left her colorless (but Copics would have bled through my CS 'cause I use the cheap stuff).

Visit Sister Lee (aka Violent Kitty) to grab your own Flat Edna.  Mine insisted on some color and posing with the card.  (See, I told you, PUSHY!)  In case you're trying to read it on one of those itty bitty smart phones it says:"God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference."  AMEN!

Since coloring took up the better part of my morning, I skipped my walk, so Edna, always the taskmaster, put me through my paces in the exercise room.  First the elliptical trainer.

 

Then chest, back and shoulders on the weight stack.

And finally, dumbells for biceps and triceps.

 

Phew!  Time for some liquid refreshment.  Red or white?

Red it is!  Tah!

 

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday ATG Challenge and the Simon Says Monday In the Family challenge.

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers U is for Unused

Started this a few days ago for the current Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers "U" is for Unused Challenge. 

I LOVE this chick!

Turned out to be kinda timely, as I'm supposed to be avoiding stress.  LOL  Had the sentiment first and thought I remembered an old digi that I had never used of a yoga chick but as it turned out, I either only thought I had it or it's disappeared into some nether regions of my computer.  Found this THIS ONE from ArtandScrap on Etsy and she filled the bill nicely, but now what is unused?  Dug in my drawer of $1.00 Clear stamps that I'd buy years ago because they were cheap but never EVER used and found this dragonfly.  Why is it that I've always associated dragonflies with yoga?  I don't even DO yoga.  Well, whatever...  Anyway, for those who are viewing this on some teeny little mobile device, the sentiment reads "I may look calm, but I've killed you in my head three times."  Going to lie down and relax now.  Namaste

Outlawz Sunday CAS Challenge

It's my last week as Guest Designer at the Outlawz Sunday CAS Challenge and I want to thank the team for the fab opportunity.  CAS is actually sort of outside the box for me but I enjoy a challenge and try to play along whenever possible.  This week's theme is "It all started with a mouse".  Of course that's a partial quote from Walt Disney but we don't have to see Mickey, just include any mouse on your card and make it CAS.  My little card uses a mouse punch from Martha Stewart, a misteltoe die from Sizzix with an arched window die from Spellbinders for the mouse hole.  A little Cuttlebug embossing for the background, a couple of adhesive pearls, a bow and DONE!  That's what I love about CAS.   Once you figure it out, it goes together quicky and easily.

Now I just have to tell you about my shopping score yesterday.  We have an even in downtown Livermore called "Earlier than the Bird" where from 9:00AM to noon, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the merchants open early, provide breakfast snacks, and have great discounts as long as you shop in your jammies.  I've never gone, but my hubbie needed some new Uggs and they were going to be on sale so I trudged down (in my BEST jammies, glasses, and Uggs) to get a deal.  Well, I got his boots and a pair I'd been eyeing at 20% off, but then I noticed a stack of "one of a kinds" for $49.  HUH?  $49 for UGGS?  Couldn't resist because there was one pair in a 6 (originally $185, I might add).  Pretty jazzy with all the outside fur and embroidery but tell me that's not the deal of the century?  Popsicle Toes no more.  My tootsies are IN LOVE!

Outlawz CAS Challenge Rememberance/Celebrate

I'm really enjoying my November Guest DT spot for the Sunday CAS challenges on the Outlawz Forum.  This week our theme is Rememberance/Celebrate.

Our loved ones that have left our physical world are always in our thoughts and prayers and this week we challenge you to create a CAS card or project in their favourite colours, theme or even animal treat or toy.

I immediately thought of my Dad.  Being a Daddy's girl, he is always in my heart and has been a lifelong inspiration in so many ways.  I had a hard time choosing the theme however, because he was an artist, an inventor (a mechanical engineer (but he preferred to call himself an "inventor"  sooo cute!)  a wonderful dancer, ice skater (we went every Saturday for years when I was a child and he built a rink in the backyard every winter) and he loved golf.  Obviously, I went with the golf theme as it lended itself quite easily to the CAS style.

I used the Cuttlebug Polka Dots folder for my mat and flipped it to the debossed side to resemble a golf ball.  The circle cut outs were done with my Nesties, the green and sky, sponged with Distress Inks, the hole drawn with a Sharpie.  Wrapped some card stock around a toothpick for the flag and added an adhesive pearl for a golf ball.  The sentiment was done with the retired Cuttlebug Typewriter Alphabet.  Done, WooHoo!

I'm also adding this to the Simon Says Wednesday Keep it Clean and Simple Challenge.

Then I thought again about the theme and remembered an adorable little rubber stamp set with 4 kitties by Nicoart (on Etsy but no longer doing business) that looked like some of my departed fur babies and came up with these note cards.  The tuxedo cat was Max, the Siamese, my first kittie at age 4, I named Twinkle, the striped one was Kelly, and the diva was Cashmere.  Still miss them all, but Goliath and Jezzie but certainly fill the void.  Used my Greeting Card Factory program to do the sentiments.  The embossed circles were done with Nesties by running it through my Grand Caliber with the embossing mat and plate only so it wouldn't cut through.  Then I scored around the edges.  Easy peasy.  See why I'm loving these CAS challenges?

I'm also adding these to the CAS on Sunday One Layer Wonder Challenge.

Well I'm off for the day to meet up with some blogging friends for the very first time in person!  I'm beyond excited and hope to have pix to show.  Have a great rest of your weekend.