Guess what day it is!

Did you know that we're celebrating the Queen's birthday this week? Well...the Queen of Stencils, Lynell Harlow, that is. Actually, her birthday is on Saturday, but here at Dreamweaver Stencils we're surprising her by posting birthday cards in her honor today. Nothing like making you feel OLD sooner than necessary, right Lynell? You'll even see a few familiar names in our lineup, as some of the teaching team are whooping it up for her as well.

In addition to our birthday party, we are also beginning a new year and a new monthly challenge. In honor of all those resolutions we hope to achieve, our challenge is "Losing the Weight...AKA Clean and Simple (CAS)". If we all try really hard to simplify our design-work without losing our creativity, we can all say at the end of the month that we've lost some weight! Maybe not off of our waistlines, but at least off of our cards! Gotta start somewhere!

I used Dreamweaver Stencil LL 379, Tall Palm Trees, for Lynell's card as she spent a good deal of time in Hawaii and I know that's a place near and dear to her heart.  I lived there myself for four years and it's truly one of the most beautiful places on earth.  In case you're wondering, my card says Happy Birthday in Hawaiian.  I airbrushed the background with Copics and then brush stenciled my design with chalk inks.  I went back in with a flat brush and added a little more detail on the trees.  I kept my card very simple as that's our new challenge this month.  My papers are Neenah, Bazzill and Little Yellow Bicycle's Splash.  Be sure to leave Lynell some birthday love!  Here's the hop list so you don't miss a thing:

Dream It Up!
Laura Drahozal
Lyn Bernatovich 

Pam Hornschu
Heidi Erickson
Louise Healy
Cyndi Bundy

Lee Kellogg
Liz Martin
Terrece Siddoway
Lea Kimmel (Me!)

Cherylynn Moser 

Kristi Parker Van Doren

Lynell, I wish you the happiest of birthdays and I hope you enjoy your special day!  Thanks for stopping by today and I'll see you again soon!

Hugs,
Lea