some odd favourite things popping the cork and hello again

okay, hello there chickens.  haven't been around in a bit as i've been extremely busy with the new job and then with losing my father on Christmas Day and scrambling around ever since.  i'm trying to settle back in but there is SO MUCH TO DO and i feel very overwhelmed. 

that's why it was important for me to decompress a bit last night and spend some time in my craft studio.  LONG overdue. 

i coloured.

i combined elements.

i combined challenges.

i played with some new goodies.

i felt a little better by the time i went to bed, so i'm glad i took some time for ME.  haven't had much of it lately.  and thank you to everyone who's been so supportive while i'm dealing with things.  i appreciate it more than i can possibly express on a computer screen.

here's one of two cards i made last night...  it features the critter from Some Odd Girl's Acorn Fairy clear stamp set, the heart and sentiment from the Nutsy Kaylee set (she's on clearance!) with Some Odd Girl's Sunshine Sorbet paper, some lovely adhesive cork, background papers from Pretty Little Studio.  and the wood sequins are from Chic Tags, coloured up with Wink of Stella from the Paper Issues shop. 

 

close up of critter love, coloured up with my Prismacolor pencils
(and maybe you can see a bit of the shimmer on the sequins):

 

annnnnnd i am throwing down for the new sketch challenge (211) at My Favorite Things - i followed it pretty closely:

and i'm also linking up at the current Linky Party at Paper Issues - the theme is "Popping the Cork" (sponsored by the awesome Elle's Studio) and it inspired me to FINALLY cut into one of my adhesive cork sheets.  i think i bought the cork pad about a year and a half ago, and that's just silly. 

and that will do it.  it felt GOOD to get my craft on.  what have you folks been up to?