A Splashing Good Time at Belles 'n Whistles Challenge, WINNER, and a Wee Bit of Sweet Stuff!!

Happy Monday everyone and welcome to a new week!! As many of you know, I am pre-posting my blog today since I will be at my 5th of the 6 Chemo parties on Monday!! lol So I certainly hope your day is much more fun and exciting than mine!! This too shall pass quickly, and then I will have no excuse for not posting more often...smiles

Today is the Premiere of the Belles 'n Whistles Challenge. I hope you will put this blog in your favorites and visit as often as you can as there are such lovely submissions each day. To show my support for Summer, one of the kindest and genuinely sweetest people I have ever "met", and the most unbelievably talented, sweet, and loving Design Team ever, there was no way that I could not participate, no matter what is on my plate at the moment!! I should have forewarned you to put on your sunglasses when peeking at my card!!! Kathy, one of our newest DT members, is hosting this Challenge and she asked the DT to make their own flowers for their card...whew...that was pushing me to my very limits!! But, thanks so much, Kathy, for the inspiration!!

For my card I used Bazzill for the base, all matting is PTI, and the DP is Best Creation, Inc; all panels are machine stitched. The absolutely darling image I used is Splashing Good Times from Summer's Belles 'n Whistles Shop and designed by the phenomenal Elisabeth Bell. The image was stamped twice on Cryogen White and colored with Copics. I used the second image to cut out the swimming pool so I could prop it up for more dimension. The background was airbrushed and I used a touch of Stickles and Smooch on the image; the water in the pool was coated with Glossy Accents, and a mix of Flower Soft was used to anchor the pool. The flowers are made with the Nellie Snellen punches (a marvelous gift from the magnificently talented Christina, who also happens to be my MENTOR! Thank you so much, Sweetie!!) and centered with rhinestones! My sincere thanks to the quintessentially patient and true artist, Suzan, who instructed me on how to use them! If you have not visited these two very creative ladies then I urge you to visit their blog/SCS Gallery!! They are both real inspirations to me!!!

For the vertical treatment I used a base of a very wide Turquoise grosgrain ribbon and topped it with satin ribbons, adding Bow-Easy double flat bows. To add a touch of whimsy and interest I added a glitter sun button and a pair of flip flop buttons which were originally pink and green so I used Pumpkin Smooch to paint the pink parts of the shoes!!!! To finish the front I added turquoise gems to soften the corners.



On the first panel of the inside of the card, I used horizontal ribbon treatments with MORE DIY flowers and flat bows. I also added that darling flip flop which was a special gift from a dear friend, fellow DT member, and a magnificently talented artist, Rosette...thank you so much, hon, for sending that to me from across a couple of big waters!!!! It arrived pink, so I colored it with Pumpkin smooch, adding a rhinestone and a tiny bit of Pool Smooch to the flower on it. For the jotting panel, I added a couple of flat bows and smaller DIY flowers, as well as the cutest little fish which escaped from the kiddie pool...hahahhahaha...I must have been thinking of my walleye-fishing special friend when I added that fishy!!

I hope you like my little creation and will let me know what you think of it. Please jump over to the Belles 'N Whistles Blog and have a peek at the amazingly lovely DT Sample Cards!!

WINNER of my Just Magnolia Sweet Stuff is.......

Sharon who said...

Such a beautiful card once again Jacque. Your cards always inspire me and it's always lovely to drop in and view your latest creation. Have a wonderful week. Sharon x

Congratulations, Sharon!! Please contact me before Thursday, May 27, at Noon DST, so that I can get your package all the way to Queensland, AUSTRALIA right away!!!! Gosh!! That's across some very BIG water!!!!

AND NOW FOR SOME MORE SWEET STUFF: In order to let you celebrate the Premiere of the Belles 'n Whistles Challenge with me, I would love to offer you the following Sweet Stuff. As many of you know, I think Sweet Stuff is the most fun and exciting part of blogging!!! All I am asking is that you leave me a comment, assuring me that you are a follower of the Belles 'n Whistles Blog, that you pay a visit to see what's happening at today's challenge, and that you spread the word about Belles 'n Whistles and my Sweet Stuff to all of your Cyberian friends!!



1 Belles 'n Whistles Splashing Good Time Clear Stamp
1 Crop-A-Dile set
1 6X6 Basic Grey Origins Paper Pack
1 Pack of Basic Grey Origins Glazed Brads

Please leave your comment before Saturday, May 29, at Midnight DST, in order to be eligible for my Sweet Stuff!!!! Good luck to everyone!!

I extend to each of you my sincere appreciation for your visits to my blog and thank you sincerely for all of your lovely comments and other contacts! Please remember that if you have questions for me, please drop me an email...so many of you have no email listed anywhere and I feel so sad when I cannot respond to the questions you have in your comments!! I wish for you a most delightful week and I hope to see you again real soon. With great big hugs to each of YOU!!!