Retro Thank You

Wow! It's been a long time since I've played along with the Retro Sketches challenge blog. I can't let that happen again. I love the sketches here and the great artwork of the Retro Sketches design team! Here's this week's sketch.



I wanted to use the "Watercolor Thank You" a la carte stamp in a different way--well, different than using a color wash background. I had a piece of the diagonal striped "Typeset" DSP on my desk and thought that would fill the bill nicely. I noticed the sketch had the sentiment under the two squares, so I pulled out my fave sentiment from the "Timeless Talk" set. I thought it was ironic to have a BIG thank you as the main image and a tiny "Thanks BIG Time!" sentiment. I had to add some bling, too. I just couldn't help myself!

I'd be thrilled if you would leave me a comment and tell me what you think of my design!

(Stamp Sets: Watercolor Thank You, Timeless Talk; Ink: Black Stazon; Card Stock: Real Red, Very Vanilla; DSP: Typeset Specialty Paper; Accessories: Basic Rhinestones)

 

That'll Teach Me To Stamp in a White Blouse!

Disaster struck as I was making my card for this week's Fab Friday sketch challenge. I mounted my clear mount stamp on the block, tapped it into some Cherry Cobbler ink, turned it to stamp onto the Typeset DSP panel, and the stamp fell off the block onto my white blouse. Oy. I sprayed it with some Stampin' Mist which spread the stain. So I grabbed some Stazon Remover and ran to the sink. I rinsed and scrubbed and used Stazon Remover and a laundry stain stick and I think I've gotten it down to a dull pink that might not be too noticeable. That'll teach me!

Then when I came back to the stamping room, I saw that when I'd chucked the stamp, it had landed on the panel that I was attempting to stamp on. Really??!! Out with the Gorgeous Grunge...the "eraser" of all stray marks. I grunged up my panel with Cherry Cobbler and Basic Gray stamped off twice before applying to the main image.

Here's the wonderful sketch from Fab Friday.



And here's the disaster-causing card I made. I think everything turned out in the end. (I just hope my blouse turns out OK in the end, too!)

(Stamp Sets: Timeless Talk, Gorgeous Grunge; Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray; Card Stock: Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler; DSP: Typeset; Accessories: Very Vanilla Seam Binding)

Thanks, Big Time--Creating with Connie & Mary

This week's Create with Connie & Mary challenge is a great sketch. The design team made some great cards based on the sketch. You really should check them out--you will be inspired! I know I'm always inspired.

Here's the sketch to inspire you:

 

And here's my card:

(Stamp Sets: Mixed Bunch, Timeless Talk; Inks: Hello Honey, Blackberry Bliss; Card Stock: Blackberry Bliss, Sahara Sand, Whisper White; DSP: Moonlight DSP Paper Stack; Accessories: Blossom Punch, Small Oval Punch, Envelope Punch Board (to round corners), Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Hello Honey Stitched Satin Ribbon)

The card base is the yummy new in color, Blackberry Bliss (although it looks black in the photo--go figure). And both pieces of DSP are from the Moonlight DSP pack--I used the colors from the DSP to decide my color scheme. The Hello Honey Stitched Satin Ribbon ties it all together (see what I did there?).

Addicted to Wheels

I've gotta admit:  When I saw the codeword WHEELS for this fortnight's Addicted to CAS challenge, I thought, "Well, I guess I'll have to pull out Timeless Talk again." It's the only set I have that has anything at all to do with wheels. But I also have to admit, Timeless Talk was the first set to go on my wishlist when the 2013-14 catalog came out. It was vintage, but it was fresh. That's kind of my style. Plus I really liked the sample cards shown on page 18 in the catalog--they're just one bright color on whisper white. Totally CAS! Here's my take on that idea.

(Stamp Sets: Timeless Talk, Pennant Parade; Ink: Calypso Coral; Card Stock: Calypso Coral, Basic Gray, Whisper White; Accessories: Chevron Embossing Folder, Calypso Coral Chevron Ribbon, Calypso Coral Bakers' Twine)

I had some Calypso Coral Chevron Ribbon, so that decided my color scheme. I also had some Calypso Coral Bakers' Twine to add to the mix. I used the Chevron Embossing Folder on the top half of the card to mimic the ribbon. When I was about finished, I had a brainstorm to add a teeny, tiny sentiment and I found just the right one in the Pennant Parade set. Cracks me up that "Wish Big" is so tiny! I used a panel of Basic Gray to give just a little bit of pizzazz and pop to the monochromatic theme.

"Ugly Paper" Challenge

One of my fave stampers, Lyssa Zwolnek, has an entry on her blog today called "What To Do With Ugly Paper."  One of the sheets of the Sale-a-Bration Sweet Sorbet is not like the others. I can see why some would call it "ugly," but I actually like it. I've seen some great samples using that particular sheet of Sweet Sorbet. Lyssa has some wonderful examples, too!

This week's Paper Craft Crew Challenge is a sketch challenge. I decided I'd follow Lyssa's lead and see what I could do with that "ugly" paper for the PCCCS #86. Here's the sketch.



I used the "ugly" paper as my accent piece and built the rest of the card from there. The banners are pieces of the other Sweet Sorbet sheets. The Champagne Glimmer Paper circles are from this month's Paper Pumpkin! I think they add a nice bit of bling.

(Stamp Sets: Label Love, Timeless Talk; Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party; Card Stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White; DSP: Sweet Sorbet. Accessories: Artisan Label and Banner Punches, In Color Boutique Details)

Have a Cuppa CAS

The current Addicted to CAS challenge keyword is "coffee." Well, out came my Perfect Blend set. I adore this set--it's relatively inexpensive ($10.95 for the 3 stamp set in clear) and it actually is pretty versatile! I started with a scrap of Soho Subway DSP for the coffee cup sleeve and that gave me my color scheme. I embossed an Early Espresso (get it?) panel with the Arrows Embossing Folder 'cause you know I like texture. I had my first flash of brilliance when I added the Burlap Ribbon--which looks like a coffee bean sack, don't you think? Then I had my second flash of brilliance when I thought of using the thought bubble stamp (get it?) from the Timeless Talk set for the sentiment. I fussy cut the coffee cup, the sleeve, and the thought bubble and popped them all up on dimensionals.

I love it when everything comes together!

(Stamp Sets: Perfect Blend, Timeless Talk; Ink: Early Espresso; Card Stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; DSP: Soho Subway; Accessories: Arrows Embossing Folder, Burlap Ribbon)

Biking in to Say Hi

Today I'm playing along with another of Connie & Mary's fabulous sketch challenges (CCMC289). Here's the sketch:




And here's my card.

(Stamp Sets: Timeless Talk, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Pacific Point; Card Stock: Old Olive, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White; Accessories: Pacific Point Striped Ribbon, Banner Punch, Modern Label Punch, Arrows Embossing Folder, Old Olive Candy Dots)

I'd already inked up this bicycle stamp in Pumpkin Pie from the Timeless Talk set and it was just waiting to become part of a new card. I looked at my Color Coach to see what combinations I could use with Pumpkin Pie and came up with Old Olive and Pacific Point. Yay! I have some brand new Striped Pacific Point ribbon from the Occasions catalog that I hadn't used, so I got that out to play with and made the larger pennant. Then I used one of the stamps from the Sale-a-Bration Banner Blast set for the smaller pennant. I used the Arrows Embossing Folder from the Occasions catalog and embossed a strip of Pumpkin Pie card stock and cut one strip of arrow for the diagonal piece. I finished off the card with the Happy Birthday Sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes using the Modern Label Punch set off with Old Olive Candy Dots.

When I showed my DD the card (she is my best critic--I really value her opinion even if she's only 14!), she said, "Did you use a staple? That's new." I think she approved.

Hello There! Color Challenge

I know I'm a little bit crazy, but I've made it a goal to post something to my blog every weekday this year. So far, so good. Today was a bit of a challenge.  I usually have a few projects made in advance, but today I had bupkis. I knew I was going to play along with the Splitcoast Stampers color challenge (CC464) today, so all day long I was creating a card in my head.  Actually, the card just "came" to me! I love it when that happens! I'm usually CASEing someone else's work, but this design is mine, all mine mwhahaha!

Here's the crazy part:  I left my job at 6:30 this evening, rushed to make it in time to Bible class at my church, followed by a parents' meeting that lasted until 9:00. Then I had to drive home and pick up something really nutritious fast food because my neglected children hadn't eaten dinner and our microwave is broken so they couldn't even make popcorn. I got home at 9:40. We all wolfed down our food. I sorted the mail (bill, bill, recycle, recycle) and then ran up to my stamp room to create this card. I got 'er done in record time (even after I made a few alterations to my design), snapped a pic of it with my iPad, edited the photo and uploaded and blogged about it here and it's 10:40. Wowza! I must be the Flash tonight.

(Stamp Set: Timeless Talk; Ink: Pumpkin Pie; Card Stock: Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Primrose Petals, Whisper White; Accessories: Chevron Embossing Folder, Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon, Window Frames Framelits, Word Window Punch, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Pumpkin Pie Candy Dots)

The challenge was to use Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Primrose Petals and a neutral of our own choice. For a "bonus," we were challenged to add an interesting background. I also paper pierced around the Primrose Petals medallion. I know! Pretty cute card (IMHO) that I pulled off in record time. (You do NOT want to see my stamp table!!) 

What will I do tomorrow?! I guess we'll all be surprised!

How About a Snow Day Color Challenge? (CC462)

I was pretty productive last week during our mini snowmageddon. I checked Splitcoast Stampers for some inspiration and saw the color challenge for the week: a wild blushing primrose (CC462). In other words: Wild Wasabi, Blushing Bride, and Primrose Petals. 

Love, love, love, these colors together. And wouldn't you know it? These are the colors I had in mind when I started down the path to create something with my new Petite Petals stamp set and matching punch (until I was distracted by Connie & Mary's color challenge).
 
This time, instead of cascading the flowers, I just randomly adhered them around the greeting. I used my bone folder to curl the petals and popped up the flowers on dimensionals.  I used the tiniest pearls from the basic pearls in the center of each flower and on the greeting label. The "dessert" part of the challenge was to add a button with something, like a pearl, on top. So I did just that! 

(Stamp Sets: Petite Petals, Timeless Talk; Inks: Wild Wasabi, Blushing Bride, Primrose Petals; Card Stock: Wild Wasabi, Blushing Bride, Primrose Petals, Whisper White;Accessories: Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon; Petite Petals, Modern Label & Word Window Punches: Basic Pearls; Whisper White Designer Button; Adorning Accents Edgelits and Embossing Folder)

There are loads of stamping challenges on the various stamping sites. You should never be without inspiration! I hope my little blog inspires YOU!!

Another Convention Quality Swap

In my previous post, I told you all about Lyssa's Convention Quality Swap (CQS) and showed the card I made for the swap.  In today's post, I have another card I made for this swap...but ended up not swapping it.  See, I was an "angel swapper."  What's an "angel swapper"?  Well, for organized swaps, everyone makes a set number of cards.  For Lyssa's swap, we made 20 cards so we would swap with 20 other stampers and get 20 different CQS cards in return.  But sometimes one (or more) of the stampers doesn't show up for whatever reason (couldn't find the swap, isn't feeling well, "flakes"--i.e., didn't fulfill their obligation).  So I volunteered to be an angel swapper, hoping I could get into another CQS swap.  Fortunately for the swappers (and a little sad for me), all the CQS swappers showed up, so I wasn't needed.  Even still, Lyssa made all the angel swappers a sweet little gift (cuz it had a whole bag of Hershey's kisses!) using the Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit (133463) in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Lyssa adapted the kit to make this gift packaging.  Isn't it wonderful??!!

(Artwork by Lyssa Zwolanek)

So here's the second CQS swap card I made.  Oh, and remember how sad I was that I didn't get into a second CQS swap? Well, my sadness immediately turned to joy because two of my fave stampers Mindy Backes (aka Minders) and Marla Reed were at the swap and they had extras to swap with me!!! I'm so honored to have a Minders and a Marla card!!  The rest of my angel cards were swapped in the general swap, so I didn't do all this work for nuthin'!

One crafty tip:  I used the Tangerine Tango chevron ribbon around the  DSP pieces, but it was too thick to tie the knot on top.  So, I cut the ribbon in half to tie around the thicker piece.  That gave it a shabby chic look, too.

(Stamp Set: Timeless Talk; Card Stock:  Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla; DSP:  Epic Day This and That; Ink:  Soft Suede; Accessories:  Calypso Coral 3/4" Chevron Ribbon, Labels Collection Framelits; Chevron and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folders)

Hello There!

I'm still playing around with my Thinlits Label Card Die.  I was poking around in my stack of Epic Day This & That DSP and found an awesome piece that I didn't remember was in there!  I love it when that happens!  My new favorite color combination is gray and yellow.  I really like Summer Starfruit and Basic Gray, but this DSP uses Daffodil Delight with Basic Gray, and that suits me just fine.

I got the "You're Amazing" stamp set at Convention last year and I haven't used it much.  I adore that elephant, but I could never come up with an idea to use him, try as I might.  The Epic Day This & That DSP started calling to me and my elephant and here's what I came up with.  I like the way the honeycomb embossing plays off the hexagons in the DSP, which has a "global" feel to me.  I'm pretty pleased with how this all came together.  What do you think?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

(Stamp Sets:  You're Amazing, Timeless Talk;  Inks:  Basic Gray, Island Indigo; DSP:  Epic Day This & That; Card Stock:  Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Smokey Slate; Accessories:  Thinlits Label Card Die, Word Window and Modern Label Punches; Antique Brads, Basic Gray 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon; Honeycomb Embossing Folder)

Timeless Talk

I bought the "Timeless Talk" stamp set to use for my swap cards at this year's Stampin' Up Convention.  This set can either be "very vintage" or clean and modern.  I think it's very versatile.  I love the sayings in the set and the little bubble that makes the element seem like it's talking.  So cute.  In clear mount, this set (126607) is a bargain:  7 stamps for only $16.95!

I only brought a few supplies with me on vacation, so I've been having my very own "limited supplies" challenge all week.  Fortunately, I brought a sponge with me so could sponge the stamped image and greeting to tone down the whisper white and make the card more vintage-y.   Here's the card I made with my limited supplies...turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

(Stamp Set:  Timeless Talk; Ink:  Island Indigo; Card Stock:  Summer Starfruit, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla; DSP:  Soho Subway; Accessories:  Word Window, Modern Label, and 1" Square Punches, Naturals Designer Buttons, Early Espresso Bakers Twine)