Challenge #88 - Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Okay, just looking at that title you are probably thinking - uh oh, their meds ran out, the liquor cabinet is empty, and the Poobahs have lost it entirely this time. 

Nope, your Poobahs require neither prescribed nor grain or vine inducement to be silly. 

It comes naturally to us, c'mon, you must know THAT from reading our posts!

This week we are asking you to use a chicken in your project.  Yes, a chicken.  One of those things that rushes about talking about falling skies, a fluffy creature who likes nothing more than being broody and clucking about pecking up feed.  Your creation can be just about anything - a blog post about your favorite chicken dish (oops, we'll have to cover dear Chicky's ears for that), a Spring or Easter card (no time like Winter to start thinking springtime), comic, retro, vintage, clean and simple, etc. etc. 

You know us, we're oddball, funky, and don't mind stretching the idea of a challenge.

But you are probably also saying to yourself - hey, what's with part about

WINNER WINNER? 

You got us there, dear Groupei, we are having a giveaway. 
A wonderful giveaway for our faithful. 
You can win something big or small, because there will be bunches of prizes to spread around. 
Because really, just one prize wouldn't be enough for the Poobahs! 
We're going to be giving lots of goodies away. 

All you have to do is become a follower to this challenge blog 
AND
then enter a project into this week's challenge.

That's pretty simple and we'll make the winner winners smile with goodies from the Poobahs!

***Okay, now what inspired US this week?***

*****

Rosemary here and I decided to make a cheery little chick to send out to a friend who's been going through a tough time with her teenage daughter's health.  I think a little something cheerful might brighten her day and remind her that she's got friends who love and care about her.

The card is 5x5 and has a sweet chick cut from the Cricut Create a Critter cartridge, a little patterned paper, a Threading Water punch border, and some pretty ribbon all tied up in a bow!

*****

Jana here: I made a recipe card. I have been slowly (very slowly) making 4x6 recipe cards for a 7 gypsies photo stand that I have decided will be my recipe holder. It holds the recipe's up high, they are covered in plastic and they can easily be flipped. I love it.

I picked this recipe to pay a little tribute to Chinese New Year. My recipe is adapted from Jennie Low's in her cookbook "Chopsticks, Cleaver and Wok". I used to live in a little town in Northern California where she had a restaurant. It's closed now and I don't live there any longer. I miss them both.

*****

Now it's your turn to get clucking!





Challenge #87 - Key to My Heart

YUP, corny as the title is, we are asking for the

.
Key to your Heart.

.
Use keys or hearts, or something you (heart) in your project this week. 
.
Because we're corny, and mushy and sentimental even when we're being cheeky.

*****

Rosemary here - I love Valentine's Day and I have always loved it - even when I didn't have a Valentine or the prospect of one in the near future.  Why, you ask?  There is always a need for more love and affection in the world.  If you knew me in person, you'd know that I'm kind of exuberant and affectionate to those I care about (think of a big blonde Tigger) and so the idea of expressing my affection in a little gift and card is not a big stretch for me.  (I know, you're still picturing Tigger with a blonde wig on, I'll give you a moment to laugh at me - I'm actually quite fine with that!)

Okay, my projects are multiple.  I had a wonderful crafty and creative day with Casii and Kim entitled "My Funny Valentine" and we each brought a project to share and make together.  (please note up front that I'm not posting Casii's because I want her to participate in this theme and she deserves HUGE hugs and kudos for beautiful projects)

Now, onto the photos!

This was my project - I'm nothing if not the type to become OBSESSED with a particular craft and when it isn't banners it is now matchboxes (HUGE ones - go big or don't go at all)

My True Love couple is clip art inserted into a 5" matchbox (Cricut cut) with a Cuttlebug embossed background, little punched hearts glued and hung like dancehall decorations, rubons, a doily, and some sweet little ribbon flowers.  A ribbon was inserted on the box to allow for hanging on a wreath or garland.  (maybe with a banner....oooohhhh, a banner...)

This is a clean and simple (okay, as CAS as I can get) Valentine I made this morning for MY sweetheart.

Kim demonstrated and taught us how to make this beautiful card - the blossoms on the wire branch were easy but I think they add such a pretty accent!

This beautiful card (my lousy photography doesn't do it justice) was also taught to us by Kim and it came out so pretty!

I can't wait for Casii to post hers in the link below because they were gorgeous and fun to make - very vintage and very wonderful!

*****

Jana here: My first thought was Valentines. But, if you know me at all, you know that Valentines is one of those holidays that doesn't exactly "speak" to me. So, I found this birdhouse on a trip to one of those national craft stores. I knew right away what I was going to do with it. Paint it. I have been wanting to make something in the style of the Crafty Chica, and this was it.

I used the wooden birdhouse, acrylic paints, gel medium and glitter. My first thought was to paint all of the basic shapes and then use a Sharpie or paint pen to draw the details. But when I started painting, I decided to give paint a try. I'm glad I did. 

The glitter isn't what I had envisioned, but I think this works.

I'm happy with my little Crafty Chica style birdhouse.

I have a couple more pictures and a little more detail about how I did this on my blog HERE.

*****

Okay, now here's the part where you add YOUR project for the week: