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1/04/2024

Hugs

Hello and Happy New Year!

It's been a minute or two since I last posted! I had planned a break for the holidays, but then illness found it's way into the Elton household. Great timing, huh. Has anybody seen my mojo?

I'm here today with the first Just Us Girls challenge of 2024! We have a few changes this year. First up, new graphics! Thanks so much to DT member Elizabeth for creating our new look. Challenges will now begin on Thursday (12am) and close on Tuesday (9pm). You can find all of the new challenge details on the blog

We also bid farewell to team members, Nancy and Lisa K. I wish them all the very best, they will be greatly missed. Stepping in as a new team member is Stephanie Lanzalotto! Welcome to the team, Stephanie, I'm so happy to have you joining us!

A new month also brings a new guest designer. Helping us start off the new year is the fabulous Stef Perry!

Okay, now for my card!


I mixed several companies on this one and went with a lighter shade of teal. I suppose, now that I look at it, it reads more aqua! Leafy sprigs from The Stamp Market fill the card front along with a big bow. I punched navy dots then glued them to the bow trimming off the overhang. If you look closely at the corners of the cover plate, you'll see I added green behind the tiny openings. 

Not my best, not my worst, I'm rusty! The holidays were quiet for us and there was no card making going on. The hubby and I both came down with Covid! Unscathed all this time and then bamb! He thinks he picked it up dealing with about 20 apprentices at work. Thankfully we are both vaccinated and have had the boosters. No picnic though, we felt pretty rough, still recovering too. I can't imagine what it could have been and think back to the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. My heart still breaks for what so many went through. We're praying for a healthy new year. On the bright side of it all... drum roll... my guy is officially retired!!! It's a few years early, but boy oh boy was he ready!!! Here's to new beginnings!!!


27 comments:

Birgit said...

Your card is a lovely entrance back into crafting. The polka dot bow is delightful!! Glad you're both on the mend. Congrats to your hubby! Enjoy this new journey together.

Cat Craig said...

I love the bits you put together on this card, the color in the corners and the lovely scallops along the edges of the quilty panel.

I am so sorry to hear you both came down with that nasty virus. Its no picnic even with boosters and vaccines. I hope you are both feeling much better; and that you have no lingering coughs etc.

Congrats to your hubs' retirement, too.

Vicki Dutcher said...

This card makes me happy! Great use of the colors. Yay for retirement - boo for COVID 🤢

Marcia Hill said...

You had me at the polka dotted bow Lisa, so an awesome card in my book and I love the colors! I'm so sorry to hear you were all down with covid over the holidays...I can totally sympathize with how rough you feel with it, and sure hope you're feeling 100% again soon! And YAY for hubby retiring! Chris retired this past summer and for the most part I love having him around full time!! (Sometimes he has ideas to do something and I just want to stamp...) Enjoy!! Hugs. :0)

Stephanie Lanzalotto said...

So sorry illness found its way into your holidays... it has a knack for terrible timing. I hope everyone is on the mend. I love your card. That cover plate is a great wayt o start any card. I love the scalloped edges and your lovely die cut sprigs. The bow is a great finishing touch. I am so happy to have joined the team and really looksing forward to everyone's weekly creations! Thanks for the warm welcome.

Carol said...

I hope you are feeling better soon!!! Your card is so so sweet! Love that background cover die so much and the green peeking through! Your bow is ADORable with the polka dots and the stems are sweet too. Great card! Take car of yourself and your hubby.

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Gorgeous card with that mix of products, Lisa!! Just love the dotted bow with the sprigs! Congrats to hubs on retirement - yay! And sorry to hear you've had illness in the household - hope you're all feeling better every day!

I Card Everyone said...

I love all the NEW at JUGS and adore your use of the challenge colors, Lisa! I'm always in a quandary when it comes to color challenges: do they need to be a perfect match to those shown? I don't think so!
[I'm already excited to think you two can drop everything and head this way any weekend you want to! You know my guy will be happy to take a Friday off if it is to spend it with his buddy and their cameras! Maybe we'll finally get that crafty weekend? woo HOOOO]
=]

Leslie Miller said...

So much new -- some good, some not so good, but sounds like it all came out okay in the end. You show no rust to my eyes with this pretty card. Love that polka dot bow. I think you could call aqua a light shade of teal maybe. I'm sorry about your COVID. We managed to avoid it until early spring 2023 but, yes, thank goodness for the vaccine so it wasn't too bad. Love the new challenge graphic, too. Happy new year, Lisa!

Leslie Miller said...

ps: I forgot to say happy retirement to your hubby. Rich and I both retired early and so glad we did.

Bobby said...

So sorry you were sick over the holidays, Lisa. That can really knock the mojo out of you. That polka dot bow is so you and the card is lovely. Aqua, turquoise. It's hard to tell the difference IMHO.

Nancy said...

First, so sorry you both were so sick! That stupid virus is never going to leave us. Gald you are all the mend. As for Hubby's Retirement...that is good news too. As for your card is darling! Love that polka dot bow! Take care and don't over do it!

Bonnie said...

Sorry you got the Covid. I guess eventually all of us will have it. No fun! Your background works beautifully for showing off the pretty sprigs! I hope you'll be feeling much better and enjoying retirement!

TK said...

Sorry for your sick "vacation", but I do hope you enjoyed being home with your guy and relaxing. VERY happy you're feeling better now!!!
On another note, your card is ADORABLE! The fun starts with your polka dottie bow and then follows through with several pretty elements -- the scalloped frame, the cute coverplate and sweet stems -- great card, Lisa!

Rosemary said...

Super cute card, Lisa! Glad you are feeling better and happy retirement to your hubby.

Loll said...

Your card is so sweet, Lisa. Especially love those polka-dots on the bow --- adorable!! Hope you are feeling a lot better, my friend. Take care of yourself and hubby! Love, Loll

ElizStewart said...

Lisa... sounds rough but sounds like you are back on track to health. Congrats to your hubby... I found the first year of retirement just amazing. You card is great... no sign of a missing mojo. Happy new year!

HilaryJane said...

This is just gorgeous xx

Stef Perry said...

Lisa, your card is just a delight, especially the bow with the polka dots. Love!

I'm so sorry you and your husband caught COVID but thank goodness you were vaccinated and boosted. Take care, my friend and I hope your husband enjoys his new retirement status!

Ina G said...

So lovely and creative Lisa in those fabulous colours Lisa. Love the background coverplate. Lots to do and never enough time when one retires. Enjoy. Hope you get over covid completely and no lingerings on.

Trina P. said...

Nothing worse than being sick over the holidays! Just ask my hubby… he was off on vacay the whole month of December and was nursing a cold the entire time. In fact he’s still dealing with a lingering cough that won’t go away. Boy would he love to retire right now. Glad you are both on the mend. Your card is adorable, especially with that bow. Take care.

Kim S said...

I sure hope you are feeling better. Illness definitely hurts the mojo. I love the card you came back with. The trio of "greens" are lovely with the polka dot bow and the sweet background.

Sue VanDeVusse said...

This is so sweet! I love the leafy cuts tied up with that adorable polka dot bow. Nice choice on the background, too.

cm said...

Lisa, your leafy sprigs are so pretty, especially bunched together with the sweet polka dot bow! A great showcase of this week's colours.

Sorry to hear your holidays were fraught with sickness, but glad you're on the road to recovery. Congratulations to your husband on his retirement. Freedom to do as he pleases, when he pleases! Enjoy the new beginnings together!
hugs~carol

Claire said...

Oh how frustrating Lisa - nothing worse than getting sick at Christmas, it seems to make it so much worse! I think your card is gorgeous, especially the pretty die cut bow tying those sprigs together!

Greta said...

Hurrah for retirement! I've never been sorry & hope it's the same for your hubby! Such a bummer you guys were sick, but so thankful our great scientists gave us the vaccines for protection. I no longer live in isolation fearing for my life, but certainly hope Covid & other bugs don't find us! I don't see a lack of mojo--love all the elements of your sweet card! What a great new graphic!

Annette Allen said...

love this and what a great color combo.. fabulous!