Hot and Humid....

...and today started out to be a perfect day....a little pampering and plans to spend my afternoon being very creative.  The morning went well and I was off to have my nails done and also had a Pedicure which was soooo relaxing.   My feet swell so much in the humid weather, and the more they swell, the more they start to ache and really just hurt.  Another lousy side effect of Fibro, but one that bothers me more than others, specially, since the only way to totally prevent it would be to stay off my feet and sit with them up ALL day...something I just do NOT want to do.   I do try to keep them up, when they get really bad, but I'm just not ready to spend every summer day in a recliner with my feet up.  No thanks!!!   Thankfully, in the morning they feel better and having that Pedicure was just what I needed for some extra relief!! 

   I came home and then did a little bit of weeding (my gardens are over grown) and then watered and came in to relax.   We really could use some rain and as much as I don't' like Thunderstorms, I know we need one to break this heat too!   There is a chance later and I do hope it does rain, but is NOT too stormy.

   I then chatted with Melanie for awhile checking on what she was working on for Summer Camp and I also was happy to enable encourage her to buy some new Hero Arts Stamps for her collection.   I've found that ever since I took Jennifer's McGuire's Workshop (in April), that I have become quite a Hero Arts fan and they have so many awesome new stamps....!   I have added several to my collection, but they keep releasing more.....!!!  LOL!    Now, that Melanie is in Summer Card Camp, she's quickly becoming another HA fan and once you see the cards you can make with these awesome stamps--you seem to want (and need) them ALL!    My friend, Kerry can relate to this too and she and I have both totally enjoyed shopping for new stamps and telling each other about our favorites.   I was equally as happy to share that fun with Melanie today and I can't wait to find out how many she ended up buying!!   It's soooo FUN!!    As much as I love to create, I also admit that shopping for new goodies is also a JOY!!    I think most crafters would agree, that part of the fun of crafting is also trying out new products and adding new goodies to our Stash.   And with CHA coming up, they will be a whole BUNCH of new goodies that we will ALL be drooling over very soon!!   YIPPEE!!

   Okay, enough dreaming --  My afternoon did not go nearly as well as my morning, so I only have two to share.   My first card was inspired by the color combo this week over at The Outlawz these are the colors the gals had for us this week --

  And this is my card which I had started yesterday, using some of the new inking techniques we had learned in Summer Card Camp.

    In addition to the Color Combo Challenge, this card is also being submitted to the new 'Anything Goes' Challenge over at the Simon Say Challenge Blog.    Oh and if you are looking for the newest releases from Hero Arts - Simon Says Stamps is one store you'll want to hit!!   You can find ALL the newest goodies HERE!!

   I am really enjoying working more with inks again and as much as I LOVE my Copics and love to color, the idea of changing around and using a variety of techniques has been really fun.  Today's new inspiration at Summer Card Camp is absolutely wonderful and again looking at the cards that the guest designers have shared has been really fun.   At first I thought I would CAS one of their cards today, but then I started feeling really tired and sore, so I decided to work on something that would be easier and try and do something even better tomorrow.

   I'm not loving how this card came out and the vision I had before I started had it looking better at the end, but I just can't quite figure out what it needs.   I think that the heat and humidity are finally getting to me today and as good as I felt this morning.....I feel lousy now.   Bummer!

    This is my latest card and again....it's not a favorite.  I really like the card I have for the Color Combo Challenge much better and I can see that when I don't' feel well...my cards quickly go downhill.  It's always one of those days that I've gone from good to bad very quickly and now I am simply rushing to finish this post, so I can go rest!!

    My favorite parts of this card are the tree, which is one I cut with one of my new Memory Box Dies.  I also really like the bottom background layer which was created with the Hero Arts - Flower Dots Stamp, along with Barn Door Distress Ink, both stamped on a price of Watercolor paper that I had colored yesterday with Distress Inks and Perfect Pearls Mist.  I think my 'Taupe' tree looks off color and I think that may be why, I'm not loving this.  I may take it apart, (tomorrow) and see what else I can do to improve?

    I'm off now...and ready to give in, hit the recliner and put my feet up!!   See you tomorrow !