Jingle Belles, Dare to Get Dirty, and a Beautiful Surprise

The Jingle Belles challenge this go around calls for a trio.  So you see here I have three gingerbread men on a banner of three.  That Happy Holidays die is supposed to be one piece but I cut it apart to balance it out a bit better with this design.  I am also using this card for a couple of Dare to Get Dirty Challenges - DTGD16Cook22 (Sabrina's) and DTGD16StampersandeeA.    And yes, the background paper on this contains pink and so I added a layer of pink cardstock and some little pink cotton thread bows to hold my banner together.  You can't see it, but there's a little bit of cinnamon tucked in to give it more of a holiday flavor.

This next card is one of four that I'm making for some very special friends.  It's also inspired by a couple of Dare to Get Dirty challenges - DTGD16StampingQueenJAR, DTGD16albitas, and DTGD16justwritedesigns.  Again, I can't tell you specifically what the challenges were, but I really like the way this came out.  I spent way too much time playing with Brushos and watercolor paper, and someone is sure to question my blue and green fingers tomorrow at work!

I used the SU stamp set By the Tide and embossed the fish and coral in silver EP.  The Memory Box Oceana Corner die only came in the mail last week and I was so glad to use it right away for this. Those little silver "bubbles" are actually the punch outs from the diecut.  

And speaking of coming in the mail - I received this beautiful card from my blogging friend Sunshine in New Zealand.  I love that diecut and those flowers are so pretty.  I have to keep reminding myself that it's winter down there.  So I hope creating these flowers made her feel just a little bit warmer.  She also sent me that cute little piggy bank.  The flowers on either side of the money hole remind me of wings!  Thank you Sunshine!

Well, the deadline for posting the Dare to Get Dirty cards is tomorrow I think and I'm not sure that I'll get anymore done, but it was fun doing these!