What is Black and White and Green all over?

This post!  First the green:

This card is for PTI's Make It Mondays challenge of using partial embossing.  Instead of just leaving part of the cardstock off of the impression plate as shown in their video, I cut a scrap piece of paper using the fillable frames #4 die and placed that between my green cardstock base and the impression plate, as shown here.  Then I placed the embossing mat & B plate on top and sent it on through.  It still left a slight impression--maybe I'll try some chipboard (aka Quaker Oatmeal Breakfast Cookie box--people, have you tried these yet?  They are so yummy!) next time.  The stamping was all done with Peeled Paint distress ink. I used the Mat Stack 2 die to cut out some Echo Park paper, and the Limitless Labels dies to cut the circle & scallop circle.  The paper & ribbon are Ripe Avocado.

This one was made for a VSN challenge.  I used some more Echo Park paper for the Limitless Labels and Mat Stack 2 dies.  The small frame around the sentiment also came in the PTI stamp set.  I added some ribbon tails, but something was still missing, so I picked out a card-sized piece of kraft paper and was about to run it through the cuttlebug to emboss it when I ended up turning it over and seeing this already pre-stamped on it!  I had made it for another card, but the flourishes ended up not lining up right or something, so I had put it back in my scrap pile.  It ended up being perfect for this card!  Luck of the Irish, indeed!

Now for the black and white part: I've gotten a lot of books read in the past couple of weeks, since it was state testing at school (which means no planning to do!) and this week is my spring break (woohoo!).

Book #5: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.  Man, talk about a tough life--for both the mom and the kids!  Very interesting memoir about being a Chinese mother in the US, but I must admit the last few chapters she kind of wimped out and went all Sesame Street "I guess we can learn and adapt from both types of parenting."

Book #6: A Red Herring Without Mustard: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley.  Now this series is just a pleasure to read: a smart little girl (who dabbles in chemistry), 1950s England, and a little mystery.

Book #7: The Sound of Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey.  A quick read about a woman confined by illness and the pleasure she gets from her new roommate: a common garden snail.  Not a book for everyone, but a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Book #8: The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  Believe the hype: it's as good as everyone says it is.

What are you reading or creating?  Let me know in the comments! :)