Ready for change . . .

Happy Friday All!

With all the changes going on outdoors these days (Yeah!  Spring has finally sprung!)  I was in the mood for a change here at my blog.  So, I spent a bit of time today looking through some of my favorite free blog background sites and as you have probably noticed in the past, Vintage Made For You is one of my all time favorites!  That is where I located this adorable header & background combination and I hope you like it as much as I do.  Of course now that I'm a little more familiar with my PhotoShop Elements software (Thanks Shelly!), it was quite fun adding my blog name to the header.  I also spent some time cleaning up the sidebar of my blog  ... adding some blog & challenges I enjoy.  

 I know I should be SPRING CLEANING in the house vs my blog ... but first things first! 

Before I head upstairs to fix our usual Friday night dinner of fish & fries, I wanted to share a card with you that I made this afternoon for a new challenge I was introduced to.  And that challenge is SKETCHY FRIDAY.  I used to do all the sketch challenges I could get my hands on but for a long time now I've been doing "my own thing".  So today's sketch was a challenge and great fun!  I think I'll get doing more sketches again ... I find myself being more creative when I do!

 Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE the color PURPLE ... all shades!!  So when I decided to use this adorable umbrella image for the sketch, I just had to color it purple.  The rest of the card was built from there.  This fun digi image was a freebie from NanaVic for the Progressive Challenge over on CDAC.

And, in an attempt to keep with my New Years Resolution of finishing the inside of my cards as they are created, here's a peek at the inside.  I created the inside sentiment in Photo Shop Elements.  Didn't have anything in my stash that tied in with the umbrella on the front so had to create my own ... not bad ... needs practice!

A few other challenges I would like to enter into are:

Daring Cardmakers - April Showers bring May Flowers

Digi Haven - Rain/Umbrella Challenge

Polkadoodles - April Showers (C10)

DL.ART Thankful Thursday #107 - Rain

DRS Designs - One Stitch at a Time (real or faux stitching)

Paper Crafting Journey - Monochromatic

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you have a FABULOUS weekend!  I'd better get upstairs and get dinner started before hubby starts to growl!  LOL!!

As always . . .

Recipe for this creation:

Papers:  White cs, SU Orchid Opulence cs, Doodlebug Designs Petite Prints, Paper Pizazz dp
Stamps:  Nana Vic digi, Stamps n More (front sentiment)
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories:  SU Eggplant Envy Marker for Faux Stitching, Spellbinder Classic Circle dies, SU scallop border punch, Michaels purple grosgrain ribbon, Bow-Easy, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers