Thanks Again!

Here are MORE thank you cards! I made all of these on Saturday! Yes, I really need to do something else...and I finally can take a break from these!

Once again, I used retired dsp as inspiration. The first set uses Cottage Wall dsp, and features old olive and rich razzleberry card stock and embellishments. There is also a touch of daffodil delight. In fact, the Free 4 All challenge on Friday was called Hello Sunshine. I was outlining one of my image panels (Fun & Fast Notes) with my daffodil delight marker, when it slipped! Aack! So, I just colored in a big bright sun!! Easy fix!

The second set features Bella Bleu dsp, crumb cake, bordering blue (retired), very vanilla, and not quite navy card stock. I have this bag with punched out shapes...and sure enough, I had some butterflies made with the big shot and beautiful wings embosslit. I was only going to add the butterflies on a few cards...but decided to cut more out and use it on all 6! I also used some basic pearls and retired earth element brads, which included not quite navy. The sentiment is from Thank You Kindly.

Hope these inspire you to sit down and make a big stack of cards!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Happy Featured Stamper!

I told you I'd be right back!! *wink*

Today's Featured Stamper challenge led me to another new gallery...Elaine, aka Quixotic. She has a lot of very nice detailed cards, but shucks I was tired! I needed something Clean and Simple! LOL! This card fit the bill perfectly! I used daffodil delight for my card base, and added a layer of Ice Cream Parlor dsp...available only through THIS Thursday for Sale-a-Bration! I stamped "happy" from Define Your Life in pacific point, and mounted it on pacific point card stock. Just a touch of pumpkin pie taffeta ribbon was added. Finally, I used 2 Ice Cream Parlor buttons. I did not add thread...then they looked bare (gasp!) so I stuck pearls in the center!

I made another card featuring melon mambo instead of pacific point. With the word "happy" I could use these for LOTS of occasions!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Duo Challenges!

Happy Stampin' Sunday!
I have been stamping a LOT this weekend. It feels great! I have a card I made Friday night which incorporates 2 blog challenges: Create with Connie and Mary (a sketch challenge this week) and my first ever Color Throwdown (old olive, pumpkin pie,and marina mist).

I used retired pumpkin pie dsp from the Tropical Party package. I stamped my Pocket Silhouettes on whisper white in olive and pumpkin, punched them out with my scalloped square and circle, then lightly sponged with marina mist. The circle is popped up with dimensionals. I paired the marina and pumpkin taffeta ribbons together. The sentiment is from Thank You Kindly.

Thanks for stopping by...I'll be back soon with my other weekend projects!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

On Time for the ColourQ!!

I decided to peek at the ColourQ blog again...and the palette is right up my alley! Check it out:

All of the products used are from Stampin' Up!, though a couple of things are retired. I am on a roll with thank you cards, and I toyed with various stamp sets...but this little bird is great for springtime! It's from Fun & Fast Notes. I stamped the image in stazon black, then colored with markers. Since there is no marker for kiwi kiss, I used my blender pen, just lightly dipped in my ink pad. There is a touch of daffodil delight as well for his beak and feet.

With a very dark concord crush card base,I really needed to brighten things up. I ran whisper white through my big shot with the square lattice impressions folder, then sponged a bit of bashful blue so it wouldn't be too stark. Using kiwi kiss ribbon that is retired, along with retired bermuda bay pattern paper is really helping me work my stash! The ticket corner punch adds just the right detail for the main image.

I may make some more of these...this ribbon has been idle too long!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Can't Say (or STAMP) Thank You Enough!

Hey there Friends!!

Quick post... I made 2 new cards tonight, but the batteries in my camera are dead! Oops! So, I am going to post 2 sets of thank you cards that I made the last 2 nights. Last year, I purchased some samples of DSP to show to club members. With the new catalog out, most are now retired. But they are still quite usable! These squares all had a hole in one corner for the ring that held them together. I challenged myself to use the squares as is...then either cover the hole or work with it!

I used all Stampin' Up products. These cards are heading to my office to be used for recent donations and faithful volunteers!

The first set uses so saffron tempting turquoise, certainly celery, and garden green card stock, along with Flock Together dsp. The sentiment is from Thank You Kindly. I dry embossed some layers, added some ribbon and buttons...ta-dah!

The second set uses Sahara Sand for the card bases and retired colors ruby red and taken with teal, along with basic black and whisper white. The dsp is Holiday Lounge. It is meant to be a Christmas pack, but many patterns are neutral enough. I did make one into a nice holiday thank you with my ornament punch and a few pearls. The sentiments are from Thank You Kindly, and I added a few brads and ribbon on some of the cards.

I hope to make more Thank You's this weekend...there are always reasons to be thankful, and sharing that gratitude can bless someone's day!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Sale-a-Bration is Almost Over!

Hello Stamping Friends!

Today was a slow day for me...wasn't feeling great. Oh well, at least I made one card!

My Sale-a-Bration items were within reach, and I needed some bright cheery colors. Today's sketch challenge on SCS was a challenge indeed, but I had fun with it!

My card base is pacific point, and I added layers of daffodil delight, old olive,whisper white and melon mambo. Several layers were sent through my Big Shot with the perfect polka dot impressions folder. The DSP is called Ice Cream Parlor, and is available for FREE if you get $50 in merchandise before March 31st. Just click on my site for more details. The ribbon and button are also available as a nice accessory set (buttons come in daffodil,melon, and pacific point).

My stamp is retired, from Graceful Words. We give cards to our volunteers at the ministry, acknowledging their time and talent is a blessing to us! I used my bird punch to add the final detail.

It is definitely a BRIGHT card...but sometimes you gotta brighten things up!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Right Rose or Wrong Rose??

I sound a bit like Scooby Doo...Ruh-row!

Today's Color Challenge on SCS was posted late last night. So I gathered some materials (all from Stampin' Up!), stamped an image...but then headed to bed since it was nearly midnight. I thought the colors were so saffron, pear pizazz, and rose red. I even colored some basic pearls with my markers, and cut a strip of retired rose red grosgrain ribbon. I finished the card after work (including a lovely dinner out with some ministry friends!), then looked up the thread to post my card.


Ruh-row! I need REGAL rose, not rose red! Thankfully the color police did not show up at my house! LOL! I took the other half of my so saffron sheet for another card base, and made a quick card...again. The "dessert option" was to include items that begin with the letter "P". I used my perfect polka dot impressions folder with the big shot. I also used my extra large scallop circle punch with the polka dotted pattern paper. Both cards have pearls, and this cute little pig from a retired set called Very Punny. The dsp in the 2nd card is retired...but it has a nice plaid pattern to it! The pear pizazz pattern paper in card #1 is from my beloved hostess level 1 stack! The pig images are stamped with stazon black ink and colored with marker, including a bit of pear pizazz grass. The pear pizazz ribbon is thick and heavy, so I secured it with some sticky strip around the back.

Then it hit me again...gee, those polka dot circles look similar. Oh No! I used melon mambo on the 2nd card. Good grief! Well, the pig is colored with a regal rose marker...I promise!

Both cards were easy to make...clean and simple design.

I guess a rose is a rose is a rose...in all sorts of shades!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Retired Stampin' Up Products can Help Pregnancy Centers!!

Hello everyone!


I am taking a slight detour on my blog to share some special info:

I work for a prolife pregnancy ministry in Danville. We work closely with a national affiliate group known as NIFLA. (Nat'l Institute of Family & Life Advocates)

NIFLA provides training, guidance on policies, and keeps us informed of various cultural and legal issues affecting our clients. Like our local ministry, Women'sCare Clinic, NIFLA is a Christian organization.

NIFLA is holding an online auction to raise funds. I contacted Demo Support at Stampin' Up to see if they would make a donation...and they did! Because I arranged the donation, 50% of the proceeds from the SU items will come to us in Danville...WooHoo!

The auction runs through March 28. (Just One More Week!) You can go to this page to see the various craft items available:
http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Browse.action?categoryId=124503979&auctionId=115598334

There are 2 bundles of SU products, each valued over $200. Retired items make great door prizes for demos...and they always work for personal hobby time!

Of course, you can bid on any item...there are hot air balloon rides, restaurant and hotel gift certificates, golf course stuff...even a baseball signed by Albert Pujols and a football signed by the Packers... LOTS of neat things. The proceeds go to a great organization which helps pregnancy help ministries across the country!!

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

I was Late for my Q!!

The ColourQ, that is!!

I just found another color challenge blog, and it caught my eye with this sophisticated color palette. I made my card on Saturday, and thought I had until midnight Sunday to upload with a chance to be "Queen." Well, I was wrong! Noon was the deadline...oh well. Not a biggie, I had fun making my card, and that is what matters!


The colors to be used are daffodil delight, kiwi kiss (retired) old olive and early espresso and whisper white...inspired by this table cloth. Many of the DT samples had flowers, so I decided to try something different. My nephew likes to skateboard, so I think he will like this!

I brayered ink on to my presto pattern specialty paper. Sadly my daffodil ink pad is MIA, so I used summer sun instead, then added kiwi and olive, with an extra sponging of olive in the corner. I stamped the Extreme Skateboarder with craft chocolate chip ink, and used clear embossing powder and my heat tool to emboss. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, and I sponged it with kiwi and summer sun. The larger circle and the espresso layers are embossed with the square lattice folder...the circle is sponged with espresso ink. I punched out one modern label, then cut it in half, attaching with gold brads to opposite corners.

Looks like he's jumping off a cliff! Careful, James!!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Featuring Colors and Ruffles

Happy Sunday!!

I have been having fun in my stamp room today! Among other things, I needed to check out the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS. Today's FS is MaryBeth, aka MBRCutie25. I was not familiar with her, but oh my! What a lovely gallery! I chose this card to CASE.

Instead of stamping on the base directly, I mounted my whisper white on a daffodil delight card base. I kept the same sketch...a sentiment on the left, flowers on the right, and a band along the bottom. I used On Your Birthday with markers, and Awash with Flowers, which is a 2-step stamping set. My colors are old olive, daffodil delight, and night of navy...all from one of my favorite combos from Color Challenge #303. The night of navy is highlighted with a scallop trim border.

This is the first time I have tried this ruffled ribbon technique. I put a line of sticky strip on the navy, then attached my old olive satin ribbon. Essentially, you manually scrunch the ribbon, pressing each "valley" into the sticky strip. Some people have even peaks, some random...mine are random 'cuz I am not very good at it yet!! LOL!! Another thing: it takes a lot of ribbon! I thought my piece was long enough, but I began to run out. Solution? Leave one side flat and add pearls. Ta-dah!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Softly Expressing Sympathy and Thanks

This week's color challenge on SCS uses Soft Suede, Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake. Like many people, I brought out my Elegant Soiree DSP. I made 2 cards, because I forgot to round my corners of the dsp on one, so I set it aside. I started over and came up with this sympathy card for my good stampin' friend, Kathy.

Everything used in these cards is from Stampin' Up! I used the new Thanks for Caring set, found in the Occasions Mini, and inked it up with markers. I thought this butterfly would go with the swirls on the paper...don't you agree? The polka dot ribbon is retired...but the seam binding in baja breeze and crumb cake is still in the Mini...get it before the end of April! I also added some pearls, and lightly sponged the scallop circle, popping it up with dimensonals.

Sending cyber {{{HUGS}}} to my friend!




I then decided to turn the other card into a much needed thank you card. It is quite similar...just more polka dotted ribbon, and I used the Thank You Kindly set. My corner rounder punch wasn't used as much, but it still came in handy.

This is a lovely,soft palette of colors...give it a try!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Free 4 All Challenge

Happy Friday, friends!

Just finished stamp club a little while ago...I even cleaned up afterward! Gasp! I worked so hard to get things clean for an event earlier this week (non-stamping related) and I want to keep it that way...at least until April! LOL

Today's Free 4 All Challenge on SCS was posted by my dear Stampin' Friend Wendybell...SU Demo and NEW member of the exclusive Dirty Dozen design team on splitcoaststampers! We simply needed to make a project inspired by a garden, and the Mini Occasion set "Nature Walk" was a perfect match! In fact, I made this card BEFORE she posted the challenge, by just a few minutes. Yep...totally in sync across the miles!! Ha! Truthfully, we are probably both just anxious for spring to arrive and STAY!

I made this card as a sample for my club so I could highlight this lovely DSP (Botanical Gazette) and the stamp set, since we will not meet next month. Thought the sample might inspire them...and then I decided, let's go ahead and make it! Well,I already had magnets planned, and bookmarks, as requested by the hostess. Good thing, because her face revealed an otherwise hidden truth...she doesn't like the distressed look! Oops! I reassured her that it was no big deal. I still have the kits made up...so we may try this design in a less stressed look on another day! The other projects kept us busy enough tonight.

But hey, I like it...hope you do! The card base is early espresso, and I used this lovely pattern from Botanical Gazette. (I lined the inside of my card with very vanilla and a small strip of the opposite side of this paper.) I crumbled the paper in my hands, opened it up again, and sponged with early espresso ink. Even the marina mist satin ribbon and chantilly lace trim are sponged. I stamped the butterfly in espresso, then used my blender pen to color it in with marina mist and crumb cake, punching it out with the scallop circle, and yes, sponging again! I stamped the sentiment from You're a Gem in cherry cobbler, sponged and used my modern label punch. An antique brad holds it together, popped up with dimensionls.

We still used the Nature Walk stamp set, creating this bookmark. I cut out natural ivory and always artichoke with the 2 Tags die. We used markers to color the flower image. The sentiment is another one from You're a Gem, stamped in marina mist. I lined the ivory layer, just barely with my daffodil delight marker...the club members actually colored the border in more, up to the perforations. Pretty always artichoke seam binding and daffodil delight taffeta ribbon finish it off. Guess my knot is not practical for a bookmark...but it IS pretty,right??

We made another bookmark, but I don't have a picture...yet. I'll update later.

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky (and apparently distressed) {{{HUGS}}}

Ice Cream Parlor Magnets!

I mentioned on Sunday that we played with the magnet sheets and my Big Shot last weekend. Oh. My. Goodness! What fun!! I wasn't sure if my little hands could get the material through the Big Shot, but it was a breeze! (Note...the watermark uses my name, but these are original designs by these girls!)

I used the scallop square Sizzix die, which makes 2 different sizes. We also ran some DSP from the Sale-a-Bration "Ice Cream Parlor" collection. Some of the die cuts were also used, along with buttons and ribbon from a separate SAB item.

Now, in the first magnet, Jenna used Ice Cream Parlor DSP, but used the Mini Occasion Catalog Set, Eat Chocolate. She colored the image with Stampin' Write Markers, and punched it out with the large decorative label punch. A big button from the Sew Sweet collection finishes it off.



Her smaller magnet uses the other side of that Ice Cream Parlor dsp, and the image is from Morning Cup, which you can find in the regular Idea Book & Catalog (IBC). Markers came in handy again, as did a little dimensional!




Lauren also made 2 cute magnets. She used the Ice Cream Parlor dsp and die cuts for the large magnet, and stamps from Cute by the Inch (Hostess Level 2 set) and Hello Again (available as a free Sale-a-Bration set). I love how she colored with markers, and added one tiny button from the Ice Cream Parlor collection.

Now check out her next one...those dots behind the cupcake (Also from Cute by the Inch) are hand colored!! I am serious! She took the markers and painstakingly colored the polka dotted background! I don't know about you, but I am impressed!! Love the ribbon detail too!











Finally, my own magnets. The picture was taken a different day in a different space. Oh well! I also used the Ice Cream Parlor dsp, and buttons, and ribbon! My large magnet uses a retired stamp (from Best Yet) and my small magnet uses a stamp from You're a Gem, found in the Occasions Mini.


Tomorrow night is my bi-monthly club. We'll also make magnets, but some other projects as well. I'll be posting those this weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Perfectly Tempting Daffodils

Hi Friends! More from my Stampin' Sleepover.

I encouraged the girls to come up with their own color challenge. They were initially stumped, but then came up with some lovely spring ideas! Today, I'll feature Lauren's combo: Perfect Plum, Tempting Turquoise,and Daffodil Delight.

The pictures are a little off...Bruce, aka photographer and hubby, was gone when we made these cards. The lighting around noon on a cloudy day wasn't great...but you'll get the idea! Oh, another note: my watermark indicates I made these,but the girls really did. I don't have time to adjust my watermark (can barely remember how!)

Since Lauren came up with the colors, I'll show hers first: Wow! I love how she embossed the lower panel of plum with the vintage wallpaper impressions folder, and used a few rhinestone jewels for a touch of bling. She wasn't sure what image to use, but when she saw this great stamp from All Holidays, it was perfect! The ticket corner punch adds a nice detail. SU markers were used to color the different words. The top half features Greenhouse Gala DSP. She added some daffodil satin ribbon and a non-SU ribbon to finish off the card.

Jenna decided to CASE a card I made with the Sale-a-Bration set "Bliss." She helped me clear some stash,as she used a retired striped grosgrain ribbon, and polka dot turquoise dsp from last summer's Tropical Party. She stamped the butterfly and flower, then added some pearl basic jewels. Love these things! She decided to use a plain layer of daffodil (not patterned) so the polka dots on the turquoise would stand out more. Smart girl! This card just make me wish for spring even more!


Finally...my card. Since the girls had chosen plum and turquoise card bases, I went with daffodil. I just got this stamp set, Morning Cup, and decided to play. I embossed the white layer with the square lattice folder, and added a layer of Greenhouse Gala DSP on the outside and inside. I used my markers to color the tea cups, which were stamped with stazon ink. The image was punched out with the large decorative label punch, and another piece of turquoise also punched out. I cut out the middle, then attached the side pieces on the back (great tip from Mary Fish's blog.)The sentiment was tiny, so I actually cut of the ends of the word window and modern label punches. I added brads from the bright collection, as well as daffodil and turquoise (retired) ribbon. Hope you like it!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Dare to Share a Dare!

More from this weekend's Stampin' Sleepover!

As I mentioned, we started with Riley's Color Dare...basic gray,marina mist, and cherry cobbler. I made a baby card to take to the Clinic...it is a CASE of a card I made for a swap last year. I love this little monkey from Fox and Friends! The sentiment is rarely used in my house, but it is from the famous Teeny Tiny Wishes. I used the circle die to make various sizes, then ran most of them through my Big Shot with the perfect polka dot impressions folder. A few silver brads and the corner rounder punch finish it off.



Lauren loves birds, so she enjoyed using the Aviary stamp set. We all felt sorry for the owl...what's he doing in this set? Owls don't belong in bird cages! LOL!! Any way, as she chose the taller bird cage, stamped in Stazon Black, we wondered what to use to accent it. Well, I just bought the 2 Tags Big Shot die...perfect! The patterned paper stacks were used for the other layers. The sentiment is from "Hello Again" which is available through Sale-a-Bration with a $50 order. She used my scallop trim punch and just a touch of retired riding hood red ribbon to finish off this fantastic card.

Jenna saw one of my cards and decided to CASE it...and she did it with flair! I love this Clean and Simple design, leaving out several "extras" I had used. She used the Vintage Wallpaper impressions folder, and punched out a large scallop circle. She stamped the sentiment from "You're a Gem", which is available from the Occasions Mini Catalog on a 1-3/8" circle. A Fire brad adds just a touch of red to complete the color challenge. Fun!

Almost forgot...the girls also used some dimensionals. I have taught them well!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Stampin' Sleep-Over!!

Hi there, Stampin' Friends!!

This weekend was a so much fun at my house!! I had a Stampin' Sleepover with 2 teens (waving "Hi" to Lauren and Jenna!) on Friday night. It was gonna be 3, but one had to cancel at the last minute...I think she's pretty bummed about that. Hmmm...maybe I'll have to try another one! LOL

We stamped from about 8:30 pm Friday until 12 noon on Saturday. We slept...ummm...not one bit! I'm serious! I may be 45, but I can still hang out with the young girls!!

I took some pictures and my hubby took some pictures. I'll post them here through a couple of blog posts. You will be impressed by the artwork of these young women!! Everything used was from Stampin' Up, with the exception of 2 embellishments. We started with this week's Color Dare (basic gray, marina mist and cherry cobbler). The girls each designed one card, then duplicated each other! They found out how long it takes to design, and how quickly you can reproduce! Could come in handy for Christmas cards later. ;-) Then we had a LOT of fun with the magnet sheets, my Big Shot, and the Sale-a-Bration "Ice Cream Parlor" paper pack. I now know that I will be stocking up on the magnet sheets to make quick gifts...SO easy to use! I also introduced them to my brayer and the Presto Specialty Designer Paper.

Around 2 a.m. I could tell we were all getting sleepy, so I talked about the projects we would do later. The girls' eyes lit up, and we caught our 2nd wind!! They got excited about making chipboard books with kits I bought from the Clearance Rack. It was a long project, but when you have all night, you gotta fill the time, right?

After breakfast, made by my dear hubby, we made Fancy Favor treat bags. Then, each of the girls came up with their own color challenges. I used one to teach the Baby Wipe technique. I'll post those pictures later.

As you can imagine, I was exhausted when all was stamped, said, and done! I crashed on the couch, and eventually got to my real bed until I awoke for church this morning! But it was so worth it!!

I must admit, if I ever schedule this again, it won't be on Daylight Savings Time weekend! Bad time to lose an hour of sleep! LOL!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Dare to Sketch!

Hello everyone! Work still has been quite busy...so my stamping has been very limited. But, I just had to stamp today... Today is Wednesday, so that means another Sketch Challenge on SCS and a Color Dare. This week's colors are basic gray, cherry cobbler, and marina mist. One of the men on our Board of Directors just earned his PhD...so I decided he needed a card, of course! I'll be calling him Dr. Dave for a while!

The sketch has some nice strong angles...and it was an easy sketch to execute!! I used 2 retired Stampin' Up sets...Tassel Time and Picture This. The cherry cobbler angled piece is embossed with the square lattice impressions folder. I used the mat pack and paper piercer to line up holes for my vintage brads. The grad cap is popped up with dimensionals.

A quick card...I think it's worth duplicating in various school colors. Whatchya think?

Thanks for stopping by...

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Dare to Be Late!

Shucks, I'm late all the time! With challenges, that is! Since I was out of town for several days, I am definitely late on the color challenges posted last week. On SCS, the color challenge posted Tuesday listed always artichoke, perfect plum, and rose red. Then, Riley's Wednesday Color Dare was always artichoke, perfect plum and a neutral of choice. Very similar palettes! (Not coincidentally, I updated my blog with greens and purples...love these colors together!)

I am anxious for spring to arrive, so I used some flower stamps. My Color Dare card is very clean and simple...and it fits Monday's CAS challenge to be inspired by "The Great Outdoors." I love purple coneflowers. I colored the large stamp from Inspired by Nature with my SU markers; my neutral is early espresso. I stamped directly on a card base of Naturals Ivory. Artichoke seam binding, combined with a bit of chantilly crochet trim add a soft touch. The modern label and word window punches meet up with Teeny Tiny Wishes again.



I struggled more with the SCS challenge, mostly because I kept changing my design ideas. LOL! The card base is artichoke, and I added the two panels of plum, which I ran through my Big Shot with the square lattice impressions folder. That wildflower image is from the new Nature Walk set found in the Mini Occasions catalog. I colored the stamp with markers, stamped on very vanilla, sponged with plum, then mounted on a layer of rose red. I used my neglected ticket corner punch for some detail (TLC challenge 314). The embellishments are the chantilly crochet trim, always artichoke seam binding, and an antique brad. At the last moment, I added the Teeny Tiny Wishes sentiment to make this a thank you card. Not what I envisioned...but not a total loss! LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}