Clean and Simple Colors

I made this card last Wednesday, posted it on SCS, but not here. Since I have done virtually no stamping for 3 days, I decided to post it here. Sorry for the bad picture. It was dark and rainy! But you know how I love color challenges, so I am putting up with the weak photo!

Last Tuesday's Color Challenge on splitcoaststampers (SCS) was baja breeze, cajun craze, and wild wasabi. I always start by grabbing card stock in the colors, and staring at it, wrapping my brain around the palette...

Hmmmm...this one was tough. Probably because I had a fund raiser on my brain! Finally, I decided to use some retired baja breeze satin ribbon (my retired ribbon could circumvent the globe!) and naturals white card stock. I went with a CAS design...one layer. I stamped the flower from Three Little Words, colored with my cajun and wasabi markers, then used a oval cut out to mask around it with baja breeze. The sentiment is from the same stamp set, stamped in basic black.

I am so happy with this...wish it had not taken me forever to create it! I plan on using this idea for a gift set. Whatcha think??

I hope to stamp more this week. I have a boatload of ribbon to use up!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}{

Busy Busy Sketch!

I cannot believe how hectic and busy this card looks! I mean, I kinda like it...but I think it is pattern overload! But, it has been a hectic week, so art imitates life! heehee I have the largest fund raiser of the year for the ministry TOMORROW! Gasp!! It is our Walk for Life...and I have been lining up volunteers, speaking at churches, finding sponsors, talking to media...busy indeed! (Hey, if you wanna sponsor me...let me know!)

The sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers this week was a great one to feature designer paper. But I also like making my own (you know that!) so I did both for this card! I used leaves and the acorn from Day of Gratitude...a fantastic stamp set in the Holiday Mini. The dsp is Autumn Spice, also in the Holiday Mini. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, and I added a glimmer brad (Holiday Mini again!) The leaf was cut out on the Big Shot with the Sizzix Leaves die, then embossed with the perfect polka dots impression folder. Ink and cardstock colors are more mustard, cajun craze, old olive and early espresso. You can barely see, but I stamped on the Very Vanilla layer inside, as well. Everything is from Stampin' Up!

I know LOTS of people with fall birthdays...someone will receive this soon!!

Inky{{{HUGS}}}

Twice as Daring

This week's Color Dare was a tricky one! Not Quite Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Poppy Parade, and Pumpkin Pie...wow! I love not quite navy, so I opted to use that as my card base. Living in Fighting Illini (orange and blue!) territory, I let pumpkin pie take 2nd chair, with taffeta ribbon and some retired summer dsp. The poppy parade was the stumper, but with this retired 2-step stamping set, Watercolor Garden II, it added dimension to the pumpkin pie for my fall tulips. The turquoise is seen in the sky and the ice round brads. And guess what...the sentiment is NOT from Teeny Tiny Wishes! LOL! Instead, I used Three Little Words, stamped in not quite navy, and it also fits in the modern label punch. I had to add old olive for the stems and leaves. Hope the color police don't come after me! The final detail is in the scallop trim punch. I LOVE this punch!





I finally did last week's Color Dare. This is not what I envisioned, but hey, it's done! LOL The color scheme was right up my alley...Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Regal Rose, and Elegant Eggplant. I knew immediately that I wanted to use my Lovely as a Tree stamp set, and to try a brayered or sponged sky. However, I got so busy with last week's Club and my upcoming fundraiser (this Saturday!) that I kept putting this off! Finally made this card yesterday. I got too lazy to pull out my brayer...so I sponged an already cut piece of glossy white. Messy! LOL! It is hard to tell, but I punched out a circle to mask a full moon (yesterday was a full harvest moon!), sponging around it...then removing the mask and dabbing just a hint of not quite navy so it would not be too stark. I used post-its to mark off the hill side, and sponged the olive for the ground. The tree is stamped in basic black, but I used markers to color it (old olive, always artichoke, close to cocoa and early espresso). I had this little scrap of eggplant pattern paper, added olive, and use the Hostess Level 1 Silhouette Sentiments. Finally. rose red ribbon. Gotta have ribbon, right?

Inky, Messy {{{HUGS}}}

Operation Write Home

Here is a quick Christmas card I made over the weekend. I came across a blogg post from va.sunshine...an amazing stamper! She came up with this sketch for Operation Write Home. We were to create a holiday card for one of the troops to use. I decided to open my new Jolly Holiday dsp. The large scallop circle and middle strip, with scallop border, are very vanilla. The image is from Fun and Fast Notes, colored with markers in crumb cake, early espresso, marina mist, cherry cobbler, daffodil delight, and old olive. More yummy cherry cobbler seam binding! LOVE this stuff!!

I hope to make 6 of these, then send them on to OWH. Here is their website...maybe you can send holiday cards too!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Bright Butterflies

A friend of mine requested that I make a belated birthday card for her mom. Actually, it wasn't supposed to be belated, but she mentioned it one day while we were at lunch, and I completely forgot! She called me after the birthday...wish she had called to ask how I was doing on it. You know, a reminder call. Oh well. I can't go back in time. I guess she got a regular card...this will be a bonus card.

I made this card for yesterday's Featured Stamper challenge on SCS. Here is the card I CASE'd.
I changed the color palette (by request) to this bright scheme...so out of my comfort zone!! I used retired colors lovely lilac, pixie pink, and lavender lace, along with tempting turquoise. Stamp sets are Fifth Avenue Floral, On Your Birthday, and Flight of the Butterfly. I had fun using my butterfly punch...also the scallop oval and word window. The gemstones are non-SU.

Next time,I hope to be ON time!! LOL!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

A Night at the Club

Stamping Club, of course!!

My September hostess loves cards, but wanted some unique techniques or folds. It was great for me...my full-time job has been extra busy prepping for the Walk for Life. I could have easily resorted to the same-ol'-same-ol' stuff.

Instead, we made 2 very different cards. The first is an easel card. I had never made one before, but received one in a demo swap. It is an easy technique with a great "wow" factor. Here is a tutorial. I used crumb cake, baja breeze, very vanilla, not quite navy, and garden green card sock, and elegant soiree dsp. My new bird punch got a good work out...I love how you get the branch, body and wing with one punch! Inside, I added a big designer button from the Candy Cane collection, found in the Holiday Mini, with a bit of hemp twine. The sentiments are from On Your Birthday, stamped in not quite navy. Fun, huh?

Next, we made this warm autumn card. Years ago, my hostess and I were in a club with a different demo, and we made a card with glossy white card stock and a brayer. Well,my hostess wanted to try that again...so here is a card using the serigraph technique. I learned this technique for Virtual Stamp Night early this year. Here is a tutorial. (Note: I did not use white embossing powder...but instead used clear powder over chocolate chip craft ink.) The card base is more mustard, with a layer of cajun craze. On the glossy white card stock, we randomly brayered old olive,more mustard, and cajun craze classic ink. I stamped the large medallion and sentiment from my new Day of Gratitude stamp set, found in the Holiday Mini. I added a large brad from the ice rhinestone set, and a bit of old olive grosgrain ribbon. It is hard to see, but inside we placed a strip of the new Autumn Spice dsp on very vanilla...Yummy!!

Thanks for coming by!! Wanna order some of this stuff? Just click here for shopping 24/7!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}{

Out from Under a River Rock

Have I mentioned I don't really like the color "river rock?" Have I said how bummed I was when it came out of retirement to make the core color collection? Have I mentioned how many of my stamping friends insist it will grow on me if I just give it a chance??

Well, I used river rock for a new catalog swap...back in JUNE...and never touched the stuff since! This weekend, as I was stamping a lot, I decided to try it again. I used basic black and not quite navy (including the must-have-pattern-paper-stack). I stamped a flower from Fifth Avenue Floral randomly, and added dazzling diamonds in the center. Tried to at least. Looks like I need some heat and stick powder! My scallop oval and modern label punch are here again with Teeny Tiny Wishes. Grosgrain ribbon and rhinestones finish it out. The sketch is from a challenge blog...here is a link.

So...do I like river rock yet? Hmmmm...the jury is still out!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Colorful Challenges

Here are 2 recent color challenge cards from splitcoaststampers. All products used are from Stampin' Up!

This clean and simple card was made with always artichoke, blushing bride, and marina mist (this week's colors). I used some patterned paper from the Hostess Level 1 In-color pack. The cute little bird is from Fun and Fast Notes, colored with markers, and mounted on a bit of artichoke patterned paper. Everyone should get these Patterns Designer Series Paper Stacks! So versatile...such a great way yo add interest in a short time. I accessorized with artichoke seam binding and flower brads from the brights collection.





This next card was for a swap, and for last week's color challenge...pear pizazz, peach parfait, and concord crush. I added a bit of daffodil delight and baja breeze too. I actually started this swap before the color challenge was posted, but it took me forever to finish!! I have somehow lost my oval punch. How did I do that??? My efforts to find theovl so I could use a particular sentiment failed...so I resorted to the fail-proof Teeny Tiny Wishes. My faithful scallop oval and word window punches got a work-out, as I needed to make 30 of these! You probably recognize the Awash with Flowers images too, for 2-step stamping. I think I am going to tuck them away for the fall/winter season now. That way they will feel like new next April! More patterned paper...and how 'bout that FABULOUS twill ribbon!? It comes in each of the 5 In-colors! I *need* some more!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{HUGS}}}

Thank You's!

As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I have lots of samples...including samples of all of the great designer series paper. I have a binder with baseball card-sized samples. I had to take out last year's samples, but saved them in a little baggie. Every now and then, I pull out the 6 samples of a package, and make coordinated cards. This set features retired crushed curry and dusty durango card stock...I have to use it up...and the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP. The image is also retired, from Greetings Galore, but I used the new large scallop circle punch...which is perfect for these images! In fact, I can't wait to use this punch for the current Fun and Fast Notes too! The image was colored with markers, and I added some retired polka dot ribbon to each card.

I won't bore you with all of my sets! I already completed cards with other patterns, but had to get them into my ministry office right away! But I'll show you a few every now and then!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Color Dare is Back!

The Color Dare took a break for a while, but came back with a fun combo last Wednesday...Garden Green, Pretty in Pink, Cherry Cobbler, and Very Vanilla. Many samples were Christmas cards, but I needed a Get Well card. I pulled out Fun and Fast Notes stamp set, which came with my SU Demo starter kit. I colored the image with my stampin' write markers, adding a bit of daffodil delight to brighten it up. The main panel is very vanilla, cut out with the Top Note die in my Big Shot. Corduroy buttons from the clearance rack, some twine, and cherry cobbler seam binding found in the holiday mini finish it up.

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

I'm Back!

I have stamped quite a bit this week...though not as much as I'd like...but I have had no time to post pictures. Not to mention, last Friday and Saturday mornings were rainy, so the natural light my hubby relies on for good pictures was lacking.

Any way, here are a couple of cards I made recently...both using color challenges. Yep...I have discovered the internet is filled with them!

This first card uses all Stampin' Up! products. Only the ric-rac is retired. The challenge called for early espresso, crumb cake, very vanilla, and tangerine tango. I ran the early espresso through my Big Shot using the Elegant Lines impressions folder. The little circles are great for placing self adhesive pearls randomly on your card. I used Pocket Silhouettes stamp set for the simple image in crumb cake and espresso...and punched it out with my NEW Decorative Label punch. The sentiment, in tangerine tango is from...you guessed it...Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched out with the word window. I am sending this to a good cyber friend!!


Next, I found a color challenge from There She Goes...kraft, black, and teal.
Fortunately, I still have some retired taken with teal card stock and ink. All of my card stock, the ink, and the brads are from Stampin' Up! The images are from There She Goes, and the embossing folder was from a craft store. This card also fits the week's sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers. In have a friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer, but she is remarkably joyful! Still praising God in all things! This sentiment made me think of her!!

Hope to stamp and post more this week!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Clean and Simple Cards

Sometimes, I need a quick card. The CAS (Clean and Simple) challenges, posted each Monday on splitcoststampers, help this cause a lot! Today's challenge was a sketch...we just needed to make a card inspired by this one.

I have not played with the In-Color Poppy Parade much, but I had it easily in my reach last night as I was chatting with my Challenge Chaser friends! I used my scallop square punch and my Beautiful Wings embosslit die, and plenty of dimensionals! The patterned paper is from the In-Color Hostess Level 1 pack...6x6 pages of neat patterns in each of the 5 in-colors! The sentiment is from Hello Again stamped in basic black.


This next card was made last night for my brother-in-law. We saw him today, so I could hand deliver this bulky card! The card base is Early Espresso, I used a layer of espresso patterned dsp. I stamped from the retired Lexicon of Love in Cherry Cobbler on Very Vanilla, sponged with Soft Suede. I distressed both pieces. Then I added hemp twine and a cherry cobbler Big Designer Button from the Deck the Halls set. I like this look for a masculine card.


Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Blog Candy WINNER!

Bruce did not want to just say a number between 1 and 21. So he got a deck of cards. Ace through King of Hearts for 1-13...Ace through 8 of Clubs for 14-21.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle...

2 of Hearts!!! The Winner is Dawn Mercedes!! Famous splitcoaststamper gal! Free4All Challenge Hostess and Divine Secret Sibling Moderator!! Dawn said:

"Happy Bloggaversary!! I think you should celebrate it by: 1. Buy a new shirt or shoes or purse for yourself. 2. Go out to eat with Bruce. 3. Buy something new for your craft room!! Enjoy the next year as a blogger!"

Thanks Dawn! I'll go shopping this week...just 'cuz you told me too! Contact me in 48 hours with your info, and I will get the goods to you soon!! WooHoo!!!

Thanks for everyone who played along! I promise that I won't wait a whole year to do this again!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

And Yet another Challenge Card!

NOTE: Today is the LAST DAY to enter for a chance to win my Blog Candy!!! Look at the post below!!!


Here is another double challenge card...color and sketch. The colors are Always Artichoke, Pretty in Pink and Cherry Cobbler...LOVE this combo! The sketch is from a couple weeks ago. I really like that challenges on splitcoaststampers are open ended. You can do them any time!!

The flower image is from Silhouette Sentiments, which is a Hostess Level 1 set...available for free if you have a $150 workshop or customer order! I colored it with markers, and lightly sponged the very vanilla panel with baja breeze and always artichoke. I embossed the pretty in pink and cherry cobbler layers with my perfect polka dot impressions folder to mimic the polka dots on the patterned paper. That patterned paper and the striped layer are both from the Regals Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack. The sentiment is from Thank You Kindly. Gold brads and cherry cobbler seam binding (from the Holiday Mini) finish it off.

Definitely need to duplicate this one! I really like how it turned out!

Time to stamp some more! Long weekend...lots of creating to do! WooHoo!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Blog Candy and my 1st Blogaversary!!!

Hi Stampin' Friends!

Editted: Well, I have to change up the colors of the corduroy buttons! The SU clearance rack items are going quickly! Phooey! I wanted baja breeze and kiwi kiss buttons for blog candy AND me! Fear Not! I will include some fabulous kiwi and baja ribbon to go with that Urban Oasis DSP!

Blog candy entries can still be posted until Saturday at 11:59 PM. Scroll down the page for more recent blog postings.


Tuesday, August 31st is my 1st Blogaversary! I can't believe I have kept this active, even increasing posts lately! It has been fun, and your comments give me lots of encouragement to keep going!

In honor of this "great event" I am giving away some fun supplies! I'll post a picture soon, but the Blog Candy includes these retired Stampin' Up! items: Corduroy buttons in kiwi kiss, baja breeze, and pretty in pink, full package of Urban Oasis dsp, Eggcellent Egg Kit, Rich Regal buttons, purely pomegranate satin ribbon, and a variety of retired dsp in 6x6" sheets.

Sound fun?? Comment on THIS blog post any time between now and Saturday Sept 4th...then I will have my hubby/photographer pick a number. Good luck!!

This Week's Sketch Challenge...

...combined with last week's color challenge on splitcoaststampers.

I love purple and green tones together, so this color palette was right up my alley! Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point, and Old Olive. My sketch is off a bit...the razzleberry panel should have been wider to the right. Oh well!

I need a birthday card, and planned on using all current Stampin' Up! products. Well, the corduroy brads, posted on the Clearance Rack are gone...phooey! I was going to buy more! Once that was settled, I went ahead and added a bit of pacific point ribbon to balance things out. I used the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set, including the tiny flower to make my own designer paper. My razzleberry card stock was embossed with the perfect polka dot impressions folder run through the big shot. I also used the fun butterfly punch, and popped it up with a dimensional (of course!)

Now, to get this mailed to a fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator! (Maybe YOU!)

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

This Week's Color Challenge

Wow! What a tough color combo this week! Melon Mambo, More Mustard, and Baja Breeze! As I was cyber chatting on splitcoaststampers with my "Challenge Chaser" friends late Monday night, one of the gals (Hi Wendy!) first saw this challenge and said "WHAT??" So, I needed to give it a try. After all, I always say I love color challenges, I can't be intimidated! Well, this one came close!

I immediately pictured flowers with the melon and mustard colors, and a baja breeze sky. At first, I was going to use more embellishments and layers, but decided to keep it Clean and Simple (CAS). I used Awash with Flowers, a fun 2-step stamping set. I could have lined things up better, but I wanted to see how quickly I could do this! The outlines are stamped in basic gray, and I added old olive to the stamps and leaves. I sponged olive for the ground, baja for the sky...then added a scalloped oval in baja breeze. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped in more mustard on whisper white. Just added two gold brads and dimensionals for the final touch. Making a birthday card with brads fits this week's Party Time Tuesday challenge, as well! This card took 5 minutes to make, maybe less! Not every card has to consume your entire day!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}