Paper Players and a Preview

In just a couple of hours, the Stampin' Up Holiday Mini catalog goes live! I decided to post another preview, just in the knick of time! My pictures stink...late night, bad lighting, but I did not want to wait until tomorrow! LOL! The Paper Player's Challenge is another sketch this week. I had a small piece of the Flirtatious dsp within reach...and the rest came quickly. I love shades of green and purple together, and the new wisteria wonder is fantastic with concord crush and lucky limeade!

Here's how I layered things: wisteria card base, Flirtatious dsp, then concord crush dry embossed in my big shot with the Petals-a-Plenty impressions folder. I used my extra large scallop circle punch with the lucky limeade. Next, I pulled out the new You are Loved stamp set, coloring this floral image with markers. (Like I said the other day, this set goes WAY beyond Valentine's Day!) I even added some shading, by coloring the flowers in wisteria first, then adding a bit of concord crush to the image before stamping on whisper white. It's too large for the "regular" scallop circle, so I cut it out...which is something I usually dread! I do think it highlights the image quite well, so it was worth the effort! This sentiment fits perfectly in the modern label punch, and while it is a bit of a diversion from the sketch, I needed to "say something!" The last detail is some retired kiwi kiss ribbon. I don't have the new limeade ribbon...yet. Next order! Promise!

Hope you enjoy this! Be sure to check out the Paper Players challenge!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Some More Previews!!

In just 2 days, the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini catalg goes live! There are soooooo many great things in there! I ordered a healthy stash for my pre-order, but I have wish list waiting for Thursday! I thought I would show you a couple more cards...

This first card was my prototype for the demonstrator swap I just completed. Its a very fat card...so the actual swaps did not have so many layers in the middle, and no pearls. Have to exercise self-control when making 24!! The color palette is based on the dsp Beau Chateau...soft suede, marina mist, pink pirouette, and very vanilla. I used a marina mist card base, with pink pirouette covering the front. The pink was embossed with the elegant lines impressions folder. I used two different patterns of the dsp for strips along the side, highlighting with the eyelet trim border punch. The sentiment is from the new set You Are Loved, which is not just for Valentine's Day! I will use this set a LOT...great for friends, for any ocassion!. I stamped it first in soft suede, punched it out with the decorative label punch. Then I punched a piece of marina mist with the same punch, cut it to make the lower layers...then thought "Why not add another?" Why not? Well, if you want to save postage or if you must make 2 dozen, that's reason why not to add more...but hey, this was the first one. I had to try! Any who, I stamped gain in pink pirouette, then just used the large oval punch to cut out the center only, which I adhered to the soft suede layer. I embellished with pearls and satin ribbon...could I get any more girly? Funny thing...I am not usually drawn to pinks, but this pink pirouette is so pretty!

The next card uses Always Thankful again, with the Spice Cake dsp. This was so fast and easy! Now, I gotta tell you...usually in every dsp package there is a pattern or two that I don't like. Maybe wirey trees and stockings, or funky amoeba-looking blobs (admit it! you feel the same way too!) ...but this Spice Cake is AMAZING! I love every pattern! I am trying to figure out how many more packages to buy already! Anywho, I used a pool party card base and a layer of spice cake dsp. The image and sentiment are stamped on very vanilla card stock. I used blender pens and sponging for coloring, with soft suede, more mustard, pear pizzazz and pool party inks. My scallop circle and scallop oval punches came in handy for quick details. Finally, I added pool party ribbon...you NEED this ribbon!! LOL!!

Hope you like my cards! If you want to order anything, check out my demo site here. September 1st is just around the corner!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup!! Featuing a Holiday Preview!!

It's a fantastic Friday...time for a fantastic Friday Mashup challenge!! This week we have a challenge from Lesley:

1. Make a project using the sketch shown

2. Make a project using dry embossing

3. Or Mash it Up! and make a project using the sketch and dry embossing

Well, I recently received my Holiday Mini pre-order, one of the fun perks of being a Stampin' Up demo, and it included the "Spice Cake" product suite. Ironically, I chose a different stamp set for this card, because I am working on a demo swap, but the other goodies are from that suite. I started with a pool party card base. It is lovely and soft, and typically I would not use it for an autumn themed card. But, the Spice Cake dsp blends pool party, more mustard, soft suede, and pear pizazz into this surprising blend...LOVE it! So, I used some of that dsp, but also some fabric cut with my Tasteful Trim die and the Big Shot. Yep...still don't sew, still love ribbon...ta-dah! I placed the fabric over a strip of suede and mustard card stock, dry embossed with the houndstooth embossing folder. The stamps are from "Always Thankful" which is a fabulous set for watercoloring. The main image is stamped in soft suede on very vanilla card stock, and I used blender pens to add pool party, more mustard, and always artichoke ink. (I know...should have used pear pizazz!) I stamped the sentiment straight onto the card base...something I rarely do. With circle in the sketch, I figured it was the perfect chance to use one of these fabulous buttons, also in the mini, with a bit of linen thread. Love my buttons! I am doing a simplified version of this for my demo swap...need 24! I'll be up late tonight finishing them!

I hope you join us for the Friday Mashup this week. Be sure to use keyword FM21 in your online gallery. Check out the other design team entries here. Today is Jen's last day as a Guest Designer...she has been fabulous! Now I have another blog to follow! LOL

Also, there is still time to submit an idea for the Fan Favorite! Check out the details and be sure to send us your very own Mashup idea!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Non-Stamping Related Announcement!!

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo excited to share this news with you! I realize followers of my blog come from all walks of life, so this may not be your cup of tea. BUT hey, it's my blog and I wanna share!!

I am now officially represented by a professional, national speakers bureau!!! WooHoo!!

I hope to travel, share my testimony, and maybe even meet some stampin' friends!

To learn more...if you want: Single Source Speakers

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Simple and Lighthearted

Hello Everyone!! I did a lot of stamping the last couple of evenings...feels great! I have been playing with NEW stampin' goodies from my pre-order of the Stampin' Up Holiday Mini Catalog, which becomes available on September 1st. I am making some card fronts for a demonstrator swap, but I also made some full size cards. Today I am featuring the set "Lighthearted. It's cute and easy to use! I also used various designer series papers...there is a special through the end of August!

Today's sketch challenge on SCS is perfect for this stamp set. I started with a basic black card base and added 2 layers of Frightful Sight dsp. I stamped the sentiment in basic black and cajun craze ink onto whisper white card stock, then layered it with old olive and basic gray card stock. I finished it off with large silver brads and dimensionals.

Last weekend, I was working on the swap with my new recruit. She also made a Halloween card with this stamp...featuring another pattern of the same dsp pack and some polka dot scallop ribbon.

I decided to make cards with the other stamps from the same set. This one has a basic gray base with cherry cobbler layered on top. I added a striped grosgrain ribbon, whih makes a great "layer" in lieu of paper. The sentiment is stamped in cherry cobbler on whisper white, layered over basic black. I punched out 3 hearts from the neutrals and regals pattern paper stacks, popping one up with dimensionals. The last detail is a basic jewel rhinestone on the sentiment.

The next card features Big Top Birthday dsp and the Top Note die. I used daffodil delight, tempting turquoise, real red, and whisper white card stock. The turquoise strip was embossed with the square lattice folder in my big shot. Real red and tempting turquoise grosgrain ribbon and daffodil delight brads finish it off.

The last card has a different feel; more elegant. The card base is not quite navy, and I used Timeless Portrait dsp. The sentiment is stamped in cherry cobbler on very vanilla, then layered with cherry cobbler and river rock. I embellished with NQN taffeta ribbon and chantilly crochet trim, as well as basic jewel pearls.

Whew!! One stamp set, different dsp...lots of possibilities! Hope you like them!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Colors and a Paper Players Sketch

Hello Stampin' Friends

Today's card is for the color challenge on SCS, as well as this week's Paper Players Challenge found here. The colors are bold, the sketch is Clean and Simple...made for a quick, fun card!

I started with a night of navy card base. I added whisper white and real red, which was embossed with the square lattice folder in the big shot. I used the 5-petal flower punch, with daffodil delight and real red card stock, and embossed them with the perfect polka dots. I added glimmer brads from the brighg and subtles collections (so saffron since there isn't a daffodil delight glimmer brad). The sentiment is from a new Hostess Set called "Perfect Words," bstamped in night of navy ink. I also added a few touches with my white gel pen. I finished it off with white, red, and daffodil grosgrain ribbon.

This will make a great thank you card...or a thinking of you...or any note to a good friend!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Sweet as a Button!!

Happy Friday, Stamping Friends! Todayy we have a playful challenge over at the Friday Mashup! I hope you join along!

1. Create a project using Buttons
   


2. Create a project featuring Cupcakes
   


3. Or Mash it Up and create a project using Buttons and featuring cupcakes!!
   

For some added flair, the design team also added some touches of paper piecing and/or paper piercing! Go check them out at the Friday Mashup blog!

For my card, I used a LOT of retired products. Just had an itch to clear out some stuff....maybe because my holiday pre-order arrived this week!! LOL! I started with a garden green card base, and added a layer of blushing bride, embossed with my Big Shot and the perfect polka dots impression folder. The layer is 4-3/4" square, and a little bit was not embossed, so I added some paper piercing at the top and bottom. My cupcake is constructed with the retired dsp... Candy Cane something-or-other. I just have a little left, so I want to finish it up! I used my large sizzix scallop circle die for the top, and embossed it with elegant lines impression folder, like swirled frosting. If you look closely, I did some paper piercing around the top of the cupcake too. The bottom portion features a scallop trim border to dress it up. For embellishment, I added some retired baja breeze striped ribbon, and a big designer button in real red. To dress up the button, I added some current bakers twine. The sentiment is from Your a Gem, stamped in garden green and punched out, popped up with a dimensonal, and trimmed with some retired silver cord.

With all of these retired goodies...maybe I need to find a recent retiree who needs to "Enjoy" her new life!

Be sure to check out everyone's ideas, and play along!! Use the keyword FM20 in your online gallery. Also, we're looking for another Fan Favorite Challenge!! Be sure to click here to learn all the fun details!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Wings and Bling!

Hello Stampin' Friends! It's Friday! You know what that means...time for another Friday Mashup challenge!! This week, Kasey brings us a fun and colorful challenge, and I hope you play along! Here it is:

Create a project with butterflies and bling
Create a project using Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, plus ONE other color of choice and ONE neutral
Or Mash it Up and create a project with butterflies, bling, and the color combo

My original intent was to use daffodil delight as my other color...even pulled out card stock over last weekend. But instead, I decided my wild wasabi was lonely since I haven't used it for a while. (I think it would look better with both, but that doesn't fit the challenge!) I started with a wasabi base and added a piece of perfect plum dsp. This is one of the retired patterns (I have scraps) but you can get the Subtles Pattern Paper Sack with the current patterns by going to my Stampin' Up site. I cut 2 squares each in marina mist and whisper white. Using my Flight of the Butterfly 2-step stamp set, I made one square of my own designer paper (love the tiny flower) and used one of the sentiments on the other square. I love setting squares off on this angle as diamonds...I think it adds interest. I then stamped a butterfly in marina mist and perfect plum, punched it out with the must-have butterfly punch, and popped it up with a dimensional. For the bling, I added rhinestones off to the sides, and 2 on the butterfly itself. Finally, I added some organza ribbon...'cuz I love this ribbon!!

Be sure to check out the rest of the DT cards...they are lovely and great for inspiration!! Then, show us what you come up with and link it up to the Friday Mashup challenge blog. Be sure to use keyword FM19 in your online gallery.
Can't wait to see your creations!

Inky{{{HUGS}}}

Just in Time!! Paper Players Challenge!!

Hello Again!! I spent a lot of time uploading cards to my splitcoaststampers gallery. Then I decided to check some blog challenges...and lo andbehold! The Paper Players Challenge has a Friday night deadline! Thank goodness it's on Pacific time! Well, not to be dismayed by a fast-approaching deadline, I made this very fast card. Very fast...not necessarily very good! (The picture is worse! LOL!) It's actually not bad, and with some tweeking, could look rather nice, I think!

I needed a thank you for an amazing ministry supporter. Monday morning, he brought his wife by the Clinic. She is a volunteer nurse. When they arrived, they saw graffiti spray painted on our building. I had not yet arrived, because I was scheduled to work 12-8. When I did arrive, this man was outside, with a power washer, paint thinner, etc. He was working for hours in the summer heat to clean up the mess! What a blessing! All of my thank you cards are so girly...and this is the first chance I have had to make something a bit more masculine.

All of the products used are from Stampin' Up! The card base is early espresso. I added a layer of not quite navy and the new Well Worn dsp (love it!) which had been cut with the Top Note die and my big shot. I taped them together, then ran it through the big shot with the square lattice folder. Don't forget the fun option of embossing your designer paper! Next, I stamped Kind Thanks from "Thank You Kindly" set in early espresso on very vanilla card stock. Next, I did a bit of paper piercing. This is a rare feature for me. My left hand is quite weak, so I did not hold my mat pack/template very still...need some practice. I used the new cajun craze striped grosgrain ribbon, a cajun button from the regals collection, and linen thread to finish it off.

So...this card goes to Dave...a great guy with a great heart!

Maybe next week, I'll join thePaper Players a little bit earlier!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup!! True Love Sparkles!

Hello Stampin' Friends!!

I have had a busy week with not much stamping and even less blogging! I hope to post cards this weekend from a few other challenges. But first, I am here to tell you about a fabulous new Friday Mashup! Lisa gives us a great challenge this week!

Here is your challenge:

• Create a project using glitter


• Create a project for an anniversary


• Or Mash it Up!! Create an anniversary project that uses glitter!!

True confessions here: I have been so busy at work that I did this card last night! Since it was late, I thought "bling" not "glitter"...so my card is almost a Mash-Up! LOL!! The irony is that today is the 27th anniversary of my oldest brother and sister-in-law! Thank goodness the challenge reminded me to make a card for them! So, the card was made on time but will arrive in their Florida home late. Sigh. Anyone have a stamp that says "Happy Belated Anniversary?"

Any way...here's what I used (all Stampin' Up products): Basic gray is my card base,with a layer of tempting turquoise. I used the square lattice impressions folder to emboss it in my big shot. The whisper white layer is stamped with Fifth Avenue Floral images in gray and turquoise. I added some basic gray taffeta ribbon (retired) as a soft accent. I stamped 2 words from Fabulous Phrases in turquoise on white, then punched out with the small tag, layered with a gray larger tag. The square ice brad is retired, but you can get round ones (or squares in the "fire" warm colors) from this year's Idea Book & Catalog. I added a bit of ribbon and some dimensionals to pop up the tag. The final touch is a few basic jewel rhinestones...almost glitter, right?? By the way, the colors were prompted by this week's color challenge on splitcoastsampers.

I hope you play along this week...it's fun to send a card to a couple who is celebrating years of love! Be sure to use keyword FM18 in your online gllery, and link to the Friday Mashup challenge blog here.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}