Exciting News and A Card To Share

Good morning!  It's a holiday weekend here in the US and I know I am looking forward to the extra time to spend with family and friends!  No matter where you are, I hope you have a fun weekend planned!

I can hardly contain myself today as I have a lot of exciting things to tell you!  I can finally share the news that I was invited to be one of the new Design Team Members for July - December 2011 on the Card Patterns Sketch Challenge blog!  I am so honored to have the opportunity to design with this amazingly talented team!  I am still pinching myself to be sure I'm not dreaming!

And if that isn't enough, I was asked to be a Guest Designer for the next two weeks on the Our Creative Corner Challenge blog!  I am so excited to join the OCC team for these two challenges!  This week's OCC challenge was a Seasonal Celebration - create a card for either 4th of July or Christmas in July.  Right away, I thought that the two challenges would work perfectly together.

Here is this week's Card Patterns Sketch #122:

This week's Card Patterns Challenge is being sponsored by We Scrap.com kits.

Here is my card for both challenges:

I decided to create a card for a 4th of July celebration.  I started with a card base of SU Blue Bayou and layered with GKD Cranberry Tart CS.  All my patterned paper is from the We R Memory Keepers Old Glory Collection.  I cut sections of the DP for the 4th of July sentiment and for the main image panel.  The focal panel and frames were cut with Spellbinders Labels Four Large and Small dies.  I stamped the stars from Gina K. Designs Lazy Days of Summer set with SU Blue Bayou and Cranberry Crisp and Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink onto coordinating cardstock and punched them out with Marvy star punches.  They were popped up on Pop Dots.  A punched border and a simple bow finished my card.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope to see you again soon!  Have a wonderful weekend!