Whale of a Valentine (CQC119, PP77, TCPTUES192, and SFYTT)

Hello there! I was a super-duper, multitasking, crafty chick yesterday. I made all three projects I posted yesterday and this card, for colourQ, plus some other challenges. Whoohooo! Feels so good to get things DONE!! :) Time for a SUPER fun, bright color combo at the colourQ!! Check out this fabby palette:

Groovy, huh? I normally don't care for light pink, but I really like this tempered with the gray, and then adding the bright orange and bright pink, super fun... I made this for the Paper Players Challenge, a theme challenge of LOVE

I also used this month's Sketch For You To Try, The Cat's Pajamas is their sponsor this month! Plus, even though I made this card the day before I knew about this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge , as it turns out, the challenge is to use EMBOSSING, and this qualifies! So, since I'd used a TCP set, thought I'd link up there, too.  Here's the SFYTT sketch:

I was really bad in 2011 about playing this sketch, and it really is one of my faves, so I'm hoping (fingers crossed!) that I'll manage to play every month this year. :) here's my card, you likey?

So, this isn't really a Valentine's stamp set, as I'm sure you know... However that's one thing I tend to love about my TCP stamps is that they are adorable, but not so specific that you can't use them a little differently. I have fun thinking outside the box with their stamps. :)

I started out with the whale, I dry embossed him with a inked up embossing folder. I paper pieced his hat, and set him aside. I added a heart that was stamped from the other stamp set. He's carrying his Valentine to his whale ladyfriend with his tail. ;) Hope that is not too**WEIRD** but I thought it was kinda funny.... But you know, it was just me talking to stamps all day yesterday, so you never know, I could've crossed that artsy/insane line. It's happened to me a time or 2! ;) LOL....

The round panel with all the stamping took FOREVER! This was actually my 3rd circle. I was only using PART of the sentiment "You're a Whale of a friend" and PART of the "Happy Valentine's Day" stamp from the "Beary Good Year" set. So I inked up the "You're a Whale of A" part of the stamp with an orange inkpad, and stamped, and then I'd ink up the "valentine" part of the other stamp with a pink marker, and stamp that. Then I repeated this process, about seventy million times, because if I'd screw up the stamping (and these are really tiny stamps, plus, inking stamps up with markers is not an exact science!) then I'd have to start ALL over again! And, the stamping is STILL not perfect, sadly :( But it gave the look I was going for.

I also decided to decorate the inside of my card:

I thought the heart doily and felt rose would add to the "Valentine-y" feel of the card. And, you might notice I did not mat my DP panels this time, Whaaaaaat? Am I feeling all right? ;) Yeah, I am, I just  didn't want the background to be bulky, and I like the way it turned out without the mats, maybe I'll challenge myself to try that more often. :) 

Well, that is all for me today! I hope you will join us at colourQ this week! I always love to see what you create! 

Big hugs, Noelle

supply list: stamps/dies: TCP; decorative papers: Martha Stewart Crafts, Stampin' Up!; scalloped circle die: Spellbinders; solid cardstock and inks: SU!; felt rose: K&Company; heart doily: Target Dollar Spot 2011; ribbon: American Crafts; gems

DUST IT OFF!: The embossing folder, the ribbon, and the brighter papers are all old. The Going Gray color has been retired for quite some time.