Challenge #18 - I've Got the Music In Me-UPDATED

Rosemary starting off our challenge and letting you know that this week we're going to have MUSIC as our theme. Music can soothe, inspire, irritate, or invigorate us and it's a universal theme we can all enjoy. You can use a favorite song, a piece of sheet music, a musical note punch, etc.

Your goal this week is to use your muse! Incorporate MUSIC into your submittal. It can be anything (as ALWAYS); a posting, a digital layout, ATC, inchie, twinchie, mini, moo, fabric creation, painting, whatever!

My submittal is this card - You are My Sunshine! Whenever I see this stamp I always start thinking of the song - and by the time I get to "you make me happy when skies are gray" I am smiling and that's a great thing isn't it? I remember my little niece and nephew singing this to me years ago in their adorable little toddler voices and that memory ALWAYS makes me smile.

(I used some Bazzill cardstock, a Citrus Stack paper or two, my Threading Water punch, unknown stamp, Prima flower, Stickles, bling, and ribbon de la Stash du Rosemary! )

I hope you enjoyed a little Christmas in July - we have a lot of catching up to do and I'm going to be selfish and start off by showing that I revised my card I used for last week - It was blah to me (and probably to you). Rather than trashing it I thought well, let's see what can be done. So, I've added Stickles all around to pep up the card - what do you think? Keep or toss? (you can be brutally honest with me)

And weren't all of you pretty crafty last week! Here's a roundup of the submittals for Christmas in July!

Bobbi made a really great looking Christmas card using her Cricut (and I'm getting inspired) - and she multi-tasked and was able to use this for several challenges. Way to go! I think we both used the same background paper (but hers is a lot cuter! Again, I'm inspired) (UPDATED - I put the wrong card for Bobbi in this, WHOOPS - well, I can't be blamed for liking both of them so much can I? So here are both of her Christmas cards - but she was entering her lovely blue card for this time around)

Meikoningin was not only making something beautiful but she was thrifty too - her frugal ornaments show how to use all those cute little photos from cards, catalogs, etc. that we put into our stash but then wonder what to do with them. This is just a small sample, she's got several and they are all really great!

We also got a link from Desi (aka Ivolina) - we've missed you very much and glad you are back playing with us - her card is adorable (and her husband liked it, and when the guys notice - it's high praise!)And Phinny not only used up some of her scrap stash but she embellished her envelope too! What a beautiful finishing touch. (She even overcame the idea of pushing Christmas in July, I know I know, speeding up the season!)

We also heard from Amrita, Kristen, and Elizabeth, our Fortunate Stamper (we've missed you ALL and glad you're back, it's summer - we know everyone is dropping in here and there - more important to be making some memories and enjoying your families - we'll still be here) (and we can empathize with the more challenging issues some of you have dealt with this summer)

Aw, and our delightful Chat Noir indulged my (Rosemary) love of Christmas as well and made lovely cards AND beautiful jewelry - check it out (I love this, love the veining of those large stones). I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT YOU DON'T GET DISCOURAGED WITH OUR CHALLENGES - WE LOVE YOU GUYS AND YOUR TALENTS - MAKES US SMILE!

Fran (who has been JUSTCUTTNUP, hee hee) has also been busy - look at her beautiful card and the angel is a pin to be worn all season - another great idea. Also, check out these beautiful, delicate crosses she crochets. A very talented lady and beautiful projects.

Hope you all have a great week and craft up something MUSICAL for us to see - and if I have missed someone's entry for either this or another week's challenge. Just let me know in the comments and we'll rectify the situation.

And the winner is.... and Challenge # 17

EVERYONE

That's right. Everyone who left us a comment is a winner.

(Now for the small print... You can expect a little something in the mail in the next couple of weeks. I am NOT going to promise that I will get to the post office in the next day or two. You have won and you will receive a PRIZE. But you have to be patient.)

Amrita - we need your address

Phinny - we need your address

Fia - we have your address

Bobbi - we need your address

Kristen - we have your address

Fran - we need your address

Chat Noir - we have your address

Please email them to jdeegs @ cox.net (without the spaces)

You are all WINNERS. Not just because of this. But because you play with us. Even with a cropadile tied around our necks.

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So, what's the theme for this week? Well, how about Christmas in July! My family (Rosemary here) started a weird little tradition of celebrating Christmas in July. Cheap and/or funny gifts were exchanged and we ate things like barbecue and corn on the cob off the Christmas china and iced tea in the fancy glasses. It was fun and we enjoyed the silliness!

We're many months now until the holidays and yet my usual wish list is the same - I want so much to be organized for Christmas so that I can savor the season rather than feel like I'm trying to outrun a freight train (or a sleigh pulled by reindeer).

So, I am trying and have set a goal to make my own cards as much as possible and get an early start on them. I have other projects for Christmas as well, but this seemed a good start.

I am taking the Mojo Monday challenges and trying to make a Christmas-themed card for each one. Weird isn't it? But that fits me!

So, here is my first attempt, it is using the sketch from Week 81 and I know that subsequent ones can only get better.

Loved hearing that you enjoy our challenges and can't wait to see what you create this week. Just link to your submittal in the comments. Also, because we need to catch up on other submittals for previous challenges, please check back again and again this week and we'll highlight all that you've been linking in with.

So, let your imagination go wild and let's see what you're working on - are you making a particular Christmas gift, scrapbooking last holiday's photos, making your own cards, or what?



Thanks to each of you for making this unique challenge blog a lot of fun and a success!