Another Challenging Challenge

I always try to play along with the Fab Friday challenges, but this week's challenge almost stymied me. I was thrilled, thrilled, I tell ya, to see that Minders announced the sex of her baby via this challenge. What a sweet idea! Congratulations, Mindy! I'm sooo excited for you. New baby. New home. So fun!!

But the sketch. Hmm, I had almost decided not to play along this week even though we were given loads of latitude with the sketch. It just wasn't coming to me. I had kernels of ideas, but I never seemed to get them to pop! (See what I did there?) I finally got an idea by starting with my color pallet first. I choose the Retro Fresh DSP for my background and went from there. I think I may have pulled it off. What do you think?

Here's the sketch:


And here's what I came up with:

(Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants; Inks: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana; Card Stock: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana; DSP: Retro Fresh; Accessories: Banners Framelits Dies, Retro Fresh Washi Tape)

A New Challenge!

I'm a member of a Yahoo group called "Late Night Stampers"--an appropriate name, if ever there was one! The members post their creations for all of us to ooh and aah over.  This morning, Diana Eichfeld posted a gorgeous card and I knew I wanted to CASE it right away! I went to Diana's blog, Stampin' Fun with Diana, and left her a comment on her card. (You should check it out and leave a comment, too!) Then I saw that she had created her card based on a new (to me) challenge group:  the Paper Craft Crew.

As luck would have it, I had to take the day off while the plumber replaced our water heater AND sump pump, so I had plenty of time to stamp today!! So I played along with the Paper Craft Crew! This week's challenge is a sketch: 



I had an idea, but it took waaaaay longer to actually pull off than I thought it would. I used This & That DSP as my panel and thought it would go great with The Open Sea Stamp set, but I couldn't get the colors and proportions the way I wanted them. Once I got the colors and proportions right, I went looking for a stamp that fit. Backwards, am I. Fortunately, I was going for a "travel" feel and the hot air balloon from You're Amazing fits that theme! I sponged a little Smoky Slate onto the Pool Party piece that the balloon is stamped on to tone it down a bit. And I sponged a little pool party on the sentiment, too. For some reason, I'm compelled to flip up the ends of any banners I use. I had the Gumball Green banner down flat, but couldn't stand it. I had to flip up the ends! I finished off the design with three Jumbo Rhinestones.

(Stamp Sets: You're Amazing, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Pool Party: Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Pool Party, DSP: This & That DSP; Gumball Green Core'Dinaton Specialty Paper; Accessories: Arrows Embossing Folder, Banners Framelits Dies, Jumbo Rhinestones)

Not Missing the Train This Time!

So, last week I was a day late and a dollar short for the Create with Connie and Mary Color Challenge. This week, I'm not missing that train!! Connie and Mary have great challenges every week and I love playing along. It really stokes my creative juices.

This week's challenge is a sketch. When I first saw it, I thought, "Meh, I'm not going to be able to come up with something for this." Then I set it aside for a couple of days and had a piano moment. What's a piano moment, you ask? Well, I play a brain teaser game at work and when someone gets the answer all of a sudden, they say it's a "piano." Like when the piano falls on Wile E. Coyote--the idea comes to them instantly. The idea for this card hit me like a ton of bricks grand piano!


Here's Connie and Mary's sketch for the week.
 

I've seen others use the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder with the See Ya Later stamp set. I think it's adorbs the way the dots mimic an aligator's skin. I used the Envelope Punch Board to round the corners on the tag. I think that makes the tag spiffier (and the corner rounder may be the reason I purchased the punch board. Crazy? IKR?!). Here's my piano creation.

(Stamp Set: See Ya Later; Ink: Gumball Green; Card Stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Pistachio Pudding; DSP: Sweet Sorbet; Accessories: Scallop Tag Topper Punch, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Pistachio Ruffled Stretch Trim, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Envelope Punch Board)

My Very Own Color Challenge!!

So, I've been playing along in a bunch of challenges. It's been fun and inspiring--and it's really what keeps this blog going. I think it's about time that I host my own color challenge!! Whee!!

Somehow I stumbled upon a site called Design Seeds (For All Who Love Color).  Every day there are two new photos and color combinations. The photos and colors are simply gorgeous! I've been drooling over the site every day for a couple of months now, wondering if I have the chutzpah to actually host my own challenge. (Well, hosting the first one is easy...keeping up the momentum is what's going to be hard.)

Let's try a fortnightly challenge--every two weeks. Every other Friday. How's that work for you?

Ready for the first challenge? Here's your inspiration.

(Website: http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/color-school)

Approximate Stampin' Up Colors from top to bottom: Soft Sky, Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray, Summer Starfruit, Smoky Slate. If you want to play along, post your card to the InLinkz link at the bottom of this post. You can also email me a photo of your creation and I'll post it for you!!

Here's my creation. I used two Framelits from the Apothecary Accents set. I cut the Soft Sky medallion in half to use behind the Whisper White Medallion. I used one of the hole punching thingies from the Chalk Talk Framelit set on the "ears" of the rectangular Apothecary Accent piece so I could tie on the ribbon.

(Stamp Set: See Ya Later; Ink: Bermuda Bay; Card Stock: Summer Starfruit, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Soft Sky, Whisper White; Accessories: Apothecary Accents and Chalk Talk Framelits, Decorative Dots and Square Lattice Embossing Folders, Bermuda Bay 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon)

An InLinkz Link-up

It's here! It's here!

That's what I always say when I open my mailbox and see my monthly Paper Pumpkin box. (I'm easily excited.) I get a tantalizing email a few days before it arrives to tell me that it's on the way and then I start stalking my mailbox.

This month's Paper Pumpkin has enough supplies to create 8 cards--Paper Pumpkin formerly only created 4 cards--but now you get TWICE as many for the SAME price! Not only that you get Stampin' Up's exclusive photopolymer stamps that are only available through Paper Pumpkin. I'm really liking the photopolymer stamps. They stick so well to the blocks! And this month I got not one, but TWO Stampin' Spots inkpads--one in Island Indigo and one in Calypso Coral. Wowza! Again this month, the envelopes come with gold foil liners. I think that really makes the card extra special.

The featured item this month are wood cut-outs: one says "Congrats" and the other says "Thank You." I used my stamp pad to color the one of the wood pieces. Check out the photo. I've got some ideas for stepping up this set, but alas, it's bedtime and I'm dog-tired, so I just followed the directions...except for coloring the wood piece.

After you OOO and AHHH over the two card samples in the picture below, keep scrolling down and see an awesome video from Stampin' Up showing ALL the goodies that came with this month's Paper Pumpkin.  I think they've really done a great job giving PP subscribers real value for the monthly subscription cost! 

Don't forget: If you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin by the end of this month, you'll get a set of In Color Stampin' Write Markers--FREE!!!! Just click on the link over there on the left--don't forget to put me down as your demonstrator!

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

For some reason I'm always a day late to actually participate in the weekly Create with Connie and Mary challenges. The challenge that just ended was a color challenge. The colors really speak to me--I love anything with pink and green and  black. You should go ahead and check out the entries and the winners--they're fabulous!! Maybe I can get my card posted before the challenge closes next week. You'll just have to wait and see.



I totally CASEd Lyssa's Petite Petals "Blossom Grid" card. I thought it was so soft and pretty. With the challenge colors, the card is more bold and dynamic. After I'd assembled the card, I wished I had embossed the Primrose Petals panel, but I think it works without the embossing. Let's just say it's clean, but not so simple.

(Stamp Sets: Petite Petals, Perfect Pennants; Inks: Primrose Petals, Old Olive, Basic Black; Card Stock: Old Olive, Basic Black, Primrose Petals, Whisper White; Accessories: Petite Petals and Small Oval Punches, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stripes Embossing Folder, Basic Pearls)

Quick & Easy Retro Birthday

This week's challenge over at Retro Sketches looked easy enough, but everything I came up with (in my head) was reminiscent of a previous card I made from a similar sketch. So I thought I'd challenge myself to come up with something out of my box by using one of my least favorite sheets from the Sweet Sorbet DSP.  Once I chose the striped DSP, it seemed to overwhelm the design, but I persevered and think I came up with something workable.  The design process stymied me for a bit, but once I got my design mojo on, the card was quick and easy to make. 




For my take on the sketch layered a panel of Crisp Cantaloupe onto the Smoky Gray card base.  I used the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch in Smoky Gray and Whisper White for the focus piece--I cut the tag to about a 2" by 2.5" piece--and stamped the birthday greeting from Petite Pairs in Pool Party. I tied a piece of Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon around the tag. I was almost finished, but I thought the card still needed a little somethin'-somethin'. So I went through my basket of embellishments and found a Summer Starfruit Dahlia. Yep! That hit the spot!

(Stamp Set: Petite Pairs; Ink: Pool Party; Card Stock: Smoky Slate, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White; DSP: Sweet Sorbet; Accessories: Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon, Summer Starfruit Dahlia)

Lucky Clean & Simple

I'm back from my business trip and so glad to have had a snow day today. I know. I know. Everyone is sick of winter and snow. Not me! I'm still thrilled every time it snows and I love the bonus of a snow day!   

Today I'm playing along with the Addicted to CAS crew. The codeword for the challenge is LUCK. Well, it is St. Patrick's Day, but I don't really celebrate it and I don't have any St. Paddy's day stamps. I wanted to go for something that was less obvious that green leprechauns and pots of gold. I was having trouble coming up with something, so I looked up the word "luck" on the online dictionary. I found that a synonym for "luck" is "blessing" and I do have the "Blessings from Heaven" set that I love, but rarely use.

I went way off the obvious and used Blushing Bride, Whisper White, and Basic Black. I think this color combination lends itself to clean and simple. Of course, I can't leave the blank background blank, so I embossed the Blushing Bride panel with one of my favorite embossing folders: Perfect Polka Dots. I also thought the Whisper White Organza Ribbon was a little lost, so I tied on a piece of Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.

(Stamp Set: Blessings From Heaven; Ink: Basic Black; Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Blushing Bride; Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Deco Labels Collection Framelits, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon)

Guest Artist Series: Just Because SAB Floral Card

I'm sad that today is the last day of my guest artist series. Lynn has made some beautiful projects, hasn't she? I hope that you're leaving comments on this blog if you like Lynn's work. I'll be sure to pass on your compliments!!

Today's card is made with a number of Sale-a-Bration items that can be earned for FREE with a $50 order. Lynn started with a card base in Whisper White. She added a strip of Sweet Sorbet DSP (SAB item), a strip of Crisp Cantaloupe embossed with the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder (SAB item), and trimmed with some Pool Party Ruffle Stretch Trim. That whole ensemble is wrapped with a piece of Pool Party Baker's Twine from the Sweet Sorbet Accessory Pack. 

The focal point of the card stamped in Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, and Crisp Cantaloupe using the Petal Parade set from the SAB  catalog. Lynn also added some splotches in Basic Black from the Gorgeous Grunge set. The fabulous script sentiment is from the A Dozen Thoughts stamp set. The stamped piece was cut with one of the Label Collection Framelits and mounted to the card with dimensionals. And what card is complete without a little bling? The finishing touch is a Basic Pearl at the top.  The matching envelope is picture  behind the card. What a beautiful card!

Thanks Lynn and Jane for letting me share your stampin' creations while I'm away!!

(Stamp Sets: Petal Parade, A Dozen Thoughts, Gorgeous Grunge; Inks: Pistachio Pudding, Summer Starfruit, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, Basic Black; Card Stock: Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe; DSP: Sweet Sorbet; Accessories: Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Label Collection Framelits, Pool Party Ruffle Stretch Trim, Pool Party Baker's Twine, Basic Pearls)

Guest Artist Series: Sending Good Thoughts

Today, guest artist and BFF Lynn, has created a card using several items from the Occasions mini catalog. She created this card for a mini stamp camp we held a few weeks ago. The gals loved making this card!

Lynn used the fabulous Scallop Tag Topper punch to make the tag that's the focal point of the card. She added a panel of the Fresh Prints DSP Pack backed by a panel of Pool Party card stock. Lynn embossed a panel of Crumb Cake with the Argyle Embossing Folder and mounted it to a Crumb Cake card base using Stampin' Dimensionals. The Tea Lace Paper Doily behind the tag is such a great touch! She used the Perfect Pennants stamp set in Real Read and Crumb Cake. See that teeny, tiny stripe of Real Red at the bottom of the tag? That's a teeny, tiny strip of the Fresh Prints DSP! Awesome!

(Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants; Inks: Real Red, Crumb Cake; Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Very Vanilla; DSP: Fresh Prints DSP Pack; Accessories: Scallop Tag Topper Punch, Argyle Embossing Folder, Tea Lace Doily, Real Red Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Pool Party Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones)

Guest Artist Series: Good as Gold Take Two

A while back, in mid-January, I showed you one of the cards made from the Sale-a-Bration Good as Gold Simply Sent Card Kit. You can get this awesome kit for FREE with a $50 order during SAB. There are enough supplies (sans adhesive) to make 8 cards, including the fabulous gold liners!!

Our guest artist, my BFF Lynn, wasn't satisfied with just a Good as Gold card. Oh no! Her creativity couldn't settle for following the instructions that come with the kit. She had to go outside the box and make something completely different. Lookie here:

The card a mini gift box are perfect together. Who wouldn't like getting a little surprise in the box with the accompanying card?!

Guest Artist Series: Watercolor Treat Bags

My BFF Lynn is the next artist in my guest artist series. Lynn is my stamping inspiration--she got me into this mess in the first place (no wait, I think it was Jane....) Anyway, Lynn is a phenomenal crafter and stamper and she inspires me all the time. (She inspires me in spiritual things, too, which is another reason Lynn is my BFF!!)

Lynn made these super cool treat bags for a stamp camp she held during Sale-a-Bration (which is STILL GOING ON TO THE END OF MARCH). I helped out and was nervous because the treat bags are made using the Envelope Punch Board which I haven't played with much. But they are actually super easy to make. They'd be great favors for any occasion--a baby shower, a wedding shower, classroom treats.

Here's how to make them: Start with a 5"x5" piece of DSP. Line the left side of the paper with the 2" mark on the Envelope Punch board and punch and score. Rotate your paper counter-clockwise until the score line is lined up with the pointer on the Punch Board. Punch & score. Rotate your paper counter-clockwise again until the score line is lined up with the pointer on the Punch Board. Punch & score. Rotate your paper counter-clockwise once again until the score line is lined up with the pointer and punch, but do not score. Use the corner rounder on the Punch Board to round all your corners. Fold the sides in and adhere. Then fold the bottom up and adhere. Done! 

Lynn tied some ribbon around her treat bags and added a label from the Label Love stamp set tied on with Gold Baker's Twine. Super Cool! Super Easy!

(Stamp Sets: Label Love, Fabulous Phrases; Inks: Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight; DSP: Watercolor Wonder; Accessories: Envelope Punch Board, Summer Starfruit and Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon, Gold Baker's Twine, Artisan Label Punch)

Guest Artist Series: Look What Jane Made!

I'm kicking off a week of guest artist creations while I'm away on a business trip. I hope you enjoy the projects my friends have made!

One of my besties in all the world, Jane, asked me to help her make a crafty project as a gift for her niece, Phoebe, who is about to turn 13. Jane had purchased three frames and she wanted to put her niece's initials in the frames. Fortunately, my BFF Lynn had some leftover banner panels from the Build A Banner Simply Created Kit from the Stampin' Up Holiday Mini Catalog. (I sure hope they bring these banners back because they are really nice canvas--perfect for stenciling!!)

Phoebe's room is purple and turquoise, so we stencilled Perfect Plum and Island Indigo inks on the banners. I had some retired DSP in these colors that were perfect for the background. I think this project turned out wonderfully and I hope Phoebe likes her aunt's handiwork. Jane and I had a great time crafting together. We don't get to spend much quality time together since we're both running here and there with our families, but the evening we spent together was splendid!!