Hello! Retro Sketch Challenge

Today, my inspiration is coming from a new (to me) stamping challenge. Retro Sketches, "where every sketch is a blast from our past," hosts a weekly sketch challenge. I've been lurking over there for a while and I figured I'd better stop lurking and start stamping! I like the sketches because they're usually clean and simple (CAS), and as someone commented on my blog: "Once you go CAS, you never go back." I'm betting that I'll prove that adage wrong because I still love my throw-everything- but-the-kitchen-sink-at-it--and then add a button--style! But I do love CAS!! Here's this week's challenge (retrosketches #102).

And here's my take on the sketch.  Once I pulled out the Six-Sided Sampler, I knew just what I was going to do. I've seen the checkerboard hexagon done in Night of Navy and thought it was stunning. I paired that with Raspberry Ripple. Those two colors are so crisp together. Add some Whisper White and the combo just makes me happy. Even though this is CAS, I added the Arrows Embossing Folder because I just have to have some texture in the "blank" spots.

(Stamp Set: Six-Sided Sampler; Ink: Night of Navy; Card Stock: Raspberry Ripple, Night of Navy, Whisper White; Accessories: Arrows Embossing Folder, Night of Navy and Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon)

Love & Laughter

A very sweet couple at my church is getting married soon. The shower is next weekend, so I pulled out the Love & Laughter stamp set and made this card. These colors weren't what I originally had in mind, but I didn't have any Soft Sky Seam Binding--if I had, this card would have gone in another direction. I did find some Soft Suede Taffeta, so I started with that. I think these two Soft colors look great together. They're not the "typical" wedding colors, but I think they're elegant. I stamped the image and sentiment in Early Espresso because I didn't want that to get lost behind the Soft Sky sponging. I added a few basic pearls to give the card a bit of bling, but still retaining that softness without going overboard. 

And the layout is clean and simple--how about that? I must be starting an addiction! Seriously, CAS was hard for me at first, but now I'm starting to get the hang of it. Stay tuned for next week's creations. I'm sure I'll be back to my "more is more" style!!

(Stamp Set: Love & Laughter; Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Sky; Card Stock: Soft Sky, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla; Accessories: Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls)

Trying My Hand at Clean & Simple (CAS #30)

The Addicted to CAS challenge is hosted this week by one of my fave stampers, Shana Gaff. Each week the challenge uses a keyword. This week the keyword is NEW. I decided that I would play along using a NEW stuff from the NEW Occasions mini catalog.  I used the "You & Me" and heart stamps from the NEW Perfect Pennants set. These are stamped on a piece of Very Vanilla cut with the NEW Angled Tag Topper Punch which is tied with a piece of the NEW gold baker's twine.  I used a few strips of the NEW Gold Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape to finish off the card. I started off just using Baked Brown Sugar ink on the tag--one heart is stamped off first--but the card was just a little too monochromatic for me so I added a pop of real red. Yep, that was just the POP this card needed, IMHO!!

(Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants; Inks: Baked Brown Sugar, Real Red; Card Stock: Baked Brown Sugar; Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape, Gold Baker's Twine, Angled Tag Topper Punch)

Splitcoast Challenge--Clean and Simple

Last week's Clean and Simple (CAS) challenge was to CASE (copy and steal everything) another Splitcoast Stamper's work.  Since I have so much trouble making clean and simple cards, I thought this was a good opportunity to play along.  It's easy enough to CASE someone else's work.  I do it all the time when I'm fresh out of my own ideas.

The card I CASEd is here.

And here's my version.  I was sooo tempted to add ribbon, but I restrained myself.  I did have to add some bling.  I just couldn't stop myself!

(Stamp Set: Sweet Essentials; Ink:  Strawberry Slush; Card Stock:  Whisper White, Strawberry Slush; DSP:  Quatrefancy Specialty; Accessories: Mosaic Punch, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder; Basic Rhinestones)

Hello Lovely Clean & Simple

The Clean and Simple style--sometimes known as CAS--means a card with a lot of "white" space, clean lines, and very few embellishments.  Sounds easy enough, but it's hard to do.  Sometimes my attempts at clean and simple are really lame, but I think I may have mastered this style with this card.  Believe me it was a challenge NOT to put on a few more embellishments.  What do you think?  Did I nail it?

(Stamp Set:  Hello Lovely; Ink:  Island Indigo;  Card Stock:  Pistachio Pudding, Island Indigo, Whisper White; Accessories:  Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Whisper White 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon)