(gah)

If it's October, it must be time for the Pink Christmas challenge at Jingle Belles. It's a card challenge with a purpose... not just the usual one, to build a stockpile of Christmas cards before the holiday crunch sets in, but to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. The challenge owners, Lauren and Steph, even donate $2 for each pink Christmas card linked up. 
This, however, does not explain my post title, does it? In addition this year, Steph and Lauren are remembering and honouring Leslie Hanna, she of Crooked Stamper fame. Leslie was not a big fan of the colour pink, and always wrote the colour as (gah) pink. Regardless, she was a big supporter of the Jingle Belles challenges, even the pink one. ;) (Here's a card from last year's challenge.) As well, she was a funny and loyal friend to many of us in blogland. Sadly, she died Christmas Day last year. We miss her. 
This is my third year playing along — I felt an extra urge to do so this year. Here's mine:

I have not been to the Antarctic, so I feel perfectly confident in giving these penguins a pink sky. I sponged two different pinks as well as a little mauve for the sky. Normally, I'd have masked the skyline or added a snowy layer, but decided I liked the soft border where the sponging stops. A splatter of sparkly mist adds some snow to the Christmas scene of penguins, their tree and some presents. 
Feel like joining in on the pink Christmas fun? The challenge ends Wednesday, so you still have time! 

Supplies: white & black cardstock, Strathmore mixed media paper, Lawn Fawn Toboggan Together stamps & dies, Unity Greetings of Christmas stamp, Versamark, Versafine onyx black, Brilliance galaxy gold & spun sugar, picked raspberry, shaded lilac & bundled sage distress inks, Zing clear, Hero Arts sparkle & PSX verdigris embossing powders, MFT Inside & Out diagonal stitched rectangle die, Zig clean colour real brush markers, Perfect Pearls white confetti mist, Wink of Stella clear glitter marker, pop-dot tape