I have a card to share for a couple of challenges. First off, Addicted to CAS: Pink. I debated whether or not this was CAS enough, but in looking at the Design Team's cards, I think it's just fine. This is the first embossing folder/stencil combination I've ever purchased, and the first time I've used it, so I'll be adding it to the NBUS collection for August.

When I first saw the Altenew "Victorian Lace" Embossing folder with accompanying stencil, I knew right away I wanted to give it a try. I'm not totally pleased with this first attempt, but I know what I want to try next time. I think the stenciling could be a bit more subtle. Although the Altenew stencils work well, they're not as easy to use as those by Pinkfresh Studio. Now that I've tried them, I have a better idea of how to used them.

Altenew's 3-D embossing folders, however, are one of my favorites, and I love that I have a main image and the beautiful textured background with one pass through the die-cutting machine.

We've been home from our trip for about a week now. I've done the first round edit of the 800+ photos the two of us took, and deleted over 300 of them. Now Tracy and I need to go through them and decide which ones we want to share and which ones we'll keep just for the record. Our goal for sharing is no more than 120 which you can flip through relatively quickly. Those, however, all need captions, so that's the next big project. 

I've also been busy at the crafting table, but much of what's been created can't be shared here quite yet. I do have a list of challenges I want to participate in, and my week has opened up a bit. Last week there were multiple committee meetings and appointments–plus jet lag to contend with. Hopefully, this week I can get back to a more regular schedule of creating, reading, and walking every day. It's hard to believe that August will end in just two more days!

I'm a huge fan of die cuts so this no stamping challenge from Seize the Birthday is right up my alley. I have a card that went to one of our male family members a week or so ago, but it's never made the blog.

It's another card that features hot foiling. I'm so happy I got the Glimmer Foiling system for Christmas. I've won a fair share of hot foil plates, and foiling plates represent a good portion of the products I've purchased since the holidays. This one features the Pinkfresh Studio Abstract Triangles–one of my wins from Pinkfresh.

Lots of folks have reported difficulties foiling on colored cardstock but the papers from Paper Source foil beautifully. This Night cardstock is a lovely navy, and I used silver foil.

The sentiment is a Simon Says' die, It's Your Birthday. The words were die cut from the same navy cardstock, and I used a textured silver for the shadow die. The last touch was to add a few sparkly star stickers.