Masking to the extreme: A Studio L3 Compendium challenge

This week began with a peek at Linda's blog, Studio L3, to learn about the newest Compendium challenge.

Really, it's supposed to begin with work, but I sometimes can't help first dropping in at Studio L3. So, despite being responsible for more than a few important projects, my brain was already busy thinking of Distress inks and masks and page 61 of Tim Holtz's compendium very early this week.

Those work projects did end up dragging me in and I couldn't get to crafting (not that I had a fantastic idea, anyway).

Then, on Wednesday, I discovered a real problem. A really wonderful and exciting problem: My Fairy Godsister sent me Tim Holtz's new rosette die!

Our house is now full of rosettes. Solid colored, designed, flocked, cut, torn, distressed, inked and altered rosettes. Honestly. I have six sitting on my work desk behind me. Six.

There are more ... those are only the ones I can see from my chair.

You'll hardly be surprised, then, to find out that I love this new toy. Love it like I love quick-dry adhesive and embossing powder. Love it like I might break the arm of anyone who tries to take ... you see where I'm going.

Rosette excitement overtook our house and I completely forgot about the challenge this week. Hmm. Strike that: I remembered the challenge, but for me it became the rosette challenge.

What had begun as a desire to create a superb masking project became a devotion to all things rosette. Which is part of the reason I have so many extra rosettes sitting around.

The clock was probably at about 2 or 3 p.m. today when I realized ... not only am I approaching a deadline with no completed project to show (again) ... but I also was working on the Wrong Project.

First the rosettes taunted me ... You can't use us, you can't use us ... because I'd already thought up ideas for them that didn't include masking. I just couldn't get my brain to break out of the circus.

So, I pulled out some masks and blue ink and thought ... I'll just do something in blue with cog masks and snowflake punches and Ahoy! a nice wintery-like masked project.

Then I noticed the grunge board wings I'd inked and embossed for another project, but didn't end up using. Of course, that led to thoughts of travel and adventure and journey (see the token) and I was back to rosettes. Somehow.

This rosette is trimmed so that it's roughly half size. I used core color core-dinations paper and inked it with broken china Distress ink.

Ah, and as usual I'm yakking when it's time to click "publish" so I can run over to Studio L3!

I'd only like to add that you need the rosette die. And if you don't have a Cuttlebug or Sizzix machine or Tim's new Vagabond ... get one.

Trust me. You're going to wish you owned the rosette die.

Attention: All Warrior Women!

Way back on October 12 a few of us announced the opening of The Pink Ribbon Warrior Women Blog Hop.

Each of us participating in the hop posted art to honor our muse, Sherry Goodloe, and asked you to join in the creative fun!

Eclectic Paperie sponsored our hop, and offered a fantastic prize package to the winner of the hop: Check out this post on Sherry's blog to see who won the Big Prize!

A couple of us offered up individual Prize-for-Participation promises as well: I'm one of those.

Today you're here to find out who won, and what she won, because my blog candy was a surprise.

OK, with a little help from My Guy who kindly pulled a name from a hat full of possible winners, I'm happy to announce that Tracy Evans is the winner of the Not a Moment to Spare Warrior Woman blog candy prize!

And what did she win, you ask? Well, a gift certificate worth $25 at eclectic Paperie, of course!

After all, eclectic Paperie supported our blog hop, just like so many of our friends and family members support our cancer-fighting friends.

Which means I did a little pay back for a good and kind deed!

And, no, I did not choose Tracy Evans because we share a first name (spelled correctly, to boot). Her name was pulled fairly and honestly by My Guy who has much higher moral standards than myself.

Thanks to everyone who participated! Finally, Tracy, please send me the e-mail address to which I can send your eclectic Paperie gift certificate!

Before copics: A Drunken Stampers Challenge

Wow, what a lot of superb creations we Drunken Stampers got to see for Halloween! We were sure you'd do the holiday justice, and there was no disappointment!

Which means we're positive you'll do a fantastic job pushing aside the Copics and taking a trip with us in the ol' Way Back machine.

That's right folks, this week's Drunken Stampers challenge is Before Copics! I know what you're thinking: "Oh no! I started making cards after finding Copics ... there's no before for me."

But, you only have to go further back than some. Maybe your before was last year, perhaps it was 20 years ago ... whatever you used to color stamped or printed images or hand-drawn images prior to Copic mania.

Personally, as you see here, I was a Sharpie and FaberCastell girl. I was that last year, 10 years ago and a lot further back than that, too. Way back when I was stealing the Sharpies and FC colored pencils from my dad to that I could color furniture, pets, walls and, occasionally, paper.

Some of us are just going to be forced to go Way Back, is all I'm saying.

You proved yourself last week, let's see you come through again before midnight Friday, Nov. 5!