AWOL-I'm back

Wow! I have been AWOL since mid October. It all started in September with a trip out of town for a wedding, then home a few days but not much time to craft because I was trying to get my gardens ready for winter. Then company for a few days, then a death in the family (15 year old niece hit by car at school bus stop) that knocked us for a loop. Then at the end of October my oldest sister passed away, which meant company for a few days again. She had been in ill health for many years, so that was really not as much of a shock, but leaves a gap, none the less. Then it was out of town for 4 days for a crafting retreat (which I desperately needed by that point). Two days after I got home from that company arrived and they were here for 12 days, including through Thanksgiving. Then it was getting ready for our church Christmas Bazaar (baking, baking, baking!). And then we were into the Christmas season, a wedding mid December, holiday shopping, more baking, decorating, and all that good stuff for the holidays. Life was just busier than usual. Or maybe it's just that I am getting older and it takes more time to do everything! My mind was in such a jumble, I have just not taken time to post or enter any challenges. But hopefully there will be no more weddings, funerals, trips out of town or company  for longgggggggggg stays (I mean I love my sister, but 11 days without being able to 'play' with my papers, makes for one grumpy grandma :), at least for a while.
So, now I am back in my normal routine again and here goes!


Today I have a card I will enter in a couple challenges (I had more in mind, but missed their deadlines).

For this card I used a snowman image I had stamped last fall when working on Christmas cards (I did manage to make enough Christmas cards to send out, but for the most part they were quite basic and not my best work). The stamp is a wood mount stamp from "Great Impressions". I believe it is stamped in Momento Paris Dusk.  I colored it with Copic markers, added some white flocking to the tassel and brim on the hat-which turned slightly blue! I added some white rhinestones to the snowflakes & scarf tassels. I added some blue circle Dazzles (Paper Wishes) for the buttons, and some Stardust Stickles to the snow under the snowman and the snowflakes in the air. I cut him out with Spellbinders Deckled Ovals, and the mat is cut from blue metallic CS with Spellbinders Beaded Ovals. The snowflake DP is from K&Co. "Let it Snow". I ran a piece of Radiance Pearl White paper through my Marvy Wavy Crimper, then cut out to look like snowbanks, and sponged some Memento Paris Dusk on the edges. The sentiment is mounted on ovals cut with SU Oval & scalloped oval punches. I mounted the ovals on the card with SU foam dimensionals.
I will enter this in the following challenges: http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/ theme is 'winter', and http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/designers-choice-challenge/dcc12-make-it-snow/.