Winter Birthdays

Hello Stamping Friends!!

Well, dear hubby and I are back from vacation...and I spent lots of time in my stamp room.  Originally, I was going to finish my Christmas cards...but I got on a birthday card kick.  I signed some cards in my stash for a few upcoming birthdays, and made a couple of quick cards for other stamping friends (no pics), but I also had fun making these 2 cards.  Everything is from Stampin' Up!  **Editted:  My first card fits the current Friday Mashup challenge...yay!

The first one is for my aunt.  Honestly, I didn't know her birthday was coming up, but thank goodness for Facebook!  I couldn't possibly give cards to everyone, but I love adding some extended family to the card list.  This took very little time...I had this piece of baja breeze pattern paper in my scraps, and this piece with my own pattern made from Serene Snowflakes.  (Advantages of not cleaning up before vacation!)  Even this felt snowflake was left out!  The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, featuring the scallop oval and decorative label punches.  Ruffled ribbon and a rhinestone finish it off.  The colors in this card are concord crush, wisteria wonder, island indigo, and baja breeze.

The next card is for a niece, whose birthday I thought was in February.  Glad I checked!  (I will be making a new birthday calendar for myself this month!)  I used my Big Shot with the Tasteful Trim die to cut out some silver glimmer paper.  The image is from Snow Much Fun, colored with markers and a bit of dazzling diamonds. I added wild wasabi and a bit of pumpkin pie for contrasting colors Sarah loves orange...I always add some even if it doesn't seem to "go with" the rest of the card.  The sentiment is from On Your Birthday.  Bakers twine is the last detail.

It felt great to create again!  I hope to stamp even more in the New Year!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Another Snowy Wedding

Hello friends...

I made this card before I left for vacation.  We did not get a picture until the night before we left my mom's house.  Good thing, because this card won't be in my possession much longer.

My husband and I will be attending a wedding today...and once again, I opted to use my long-retired felt snowflakes as a feature.  The wedding color palette features some dark shade of blue:  I chose midnight muse.  (The lighter blue seen is baja breeze)  The card base is 5" square, and I added a layer off the same color that was embossed with Petals-a-Plenty and lightly sponged with shimmer mist.  I even added a strip inside.  In addition to the snowflakes, I have used stitched ribbon and rhinestones.  The sentiment is from Trust God, stamped in Midnight Muse.  I actually heat embossed it...these new SU classic ink pads are very juicy! The sentiment is paired with the scallop oval and decorative label punch.

We're near St. Louis now, and there is a fresh blanket of snow this morning.  I think this will be a beautiful day!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

More VSN cards!

Well, despite my grandiose plans to complete this weekend's VSN challenges, I only got 3 others done on Saturday (doped up on arthritis meds...ugh), and none on Sunday (church, Christmas shopping and a movie!)  I am sure I will do a few others just for fun.  These cards were done "on time" but not uploaded.  Good thing there is no deadline for my blog!  *wink*  My descriptions will be very brief tonight...gotta finish addressing Christmas cards!

This first card is for a challenge to feature red, and possibly a fire theme.  I feature Poppy Parade.  I did very little stamping on this card.  Instead I feature punches...the stocking, modern label, circle, and bird punch (for the flames) are all from Stampin Up.  The logs and fireplace are simply a wood patterned paper.  The sentiment is from Flexible Phrases.

The next challenge card uses pine trees, as well as a sketch challenge found earlier on SCS.  Love this Winter Lodge dsp, the taffeta ribbon...and just a bit of dazzling diamonds.  Of course, the image is from Lovely as a Tree.

I loved the VSN kids challenge to use felt!  I cannot believe I had these felt snowflakes for years...untouched...then I used them twice for the same VSN.  Hoarding can be a good thing!  Ha!  The card features blushing bride card stock and ribbon, baja breeze pattern paper, On Your Birthday sentiment in basic gray...and a fabulous glimmer brad.  Perfect for a January birthday!

I will be away from my stamping for a while as I celebrate Christmas and a wedding in the next 10 days.  Wonder if I'll experience withdrawal???

Have a Merry CHRISTmas!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Comfy & Cozy VSN!

Hello Stampin' Friends!

This weekend is Virtual Stamp Night over at Splitcoaststampers.  As much as i need to finish Christmas shopping, cards. etc, I am so happy to stamp a variety of cards.  I had a bridal shower today, 2 upcoming weddings, and several January & February birthdays.  Never a shortage of reasons to stamp, right?  I made 3 cards last night...and once I finish this post, I'll get right back to my stamps!

My first card was made for the sketch challenge, given to my friend Suzie at her bridal shower this morning.  I pulled out some retired DSP, which led me to a Christmas color palette.  But I used very little of it; just the chocolate chip pattern. I used the Big shot to cut out the scallop circle and dry emboss the garden green layer.  In looking for an image, I found this barely-used stamp from My Favorite Things.  (Can't remember the name, but it is from the popular Who's That Girl? series.)  The image was heat embossed, then colored with markers.  Now that I am done with my SU club, I will be using many other stamps!  The sentiment on the front is SU's Well Scripted.  The inside has a MFT "Clearly Sentimental" phrase.  A bit of sheer ribbon, some sponging and a punched heart finish it off.

The second VSN card called for a Cool Color palette of our choice, and I combined it with a recent SCS sketch challenge found here.  I had one couple in mind for this wedding card, but then this morning, the bride-to-be said her wedding theme is snowflakes.  Ta-dah!  My card base is wisteria wonder, with a layer of the same embossed with Plenty-of-Petals folder.  I used Serene Snowflakes to make my own pattern paper, using wisteria wonder, concord crush, pool party, and indigo island inks.  It needed some pop, so I layered with island indigo.  A small piece of concord crush dsp and some concord ribbon count for other layers.  The sentiment is from SU's "Trust God", on scallop oval and modern label punches.  The felt snowflake is long-retired from SU, but perfect with a polka dotted brad for this winter wedding card.  This is a FAT card...good thing it will be hand delivered!

My final card from last night is this quick one for a birthday.  The challenge was to use a quilt theme.  My card base is cherry cobbler.  I used a square punch with various patterns of Winter Lodge dsp, mounted on marina mist, then embossed with houndstooth folder. I added faux stitching with an early espresso marker.  The sentiment is from Happiest Birthday Wishes, punched with the extra large scallop circle.  Even my espresso ribbon is quilted!

Thanks for stopping by!  Time to stamp some more!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim
 

Color Challenge Meets Christmas

Hello Stampin' Friends!

It has been over a week since I blogged...it feels good to come back!  I still have LOTS of Christmas cards to make, so when I looked at recent color challenges on splitcoaststampers, I knew I needed to make something work for my stash.  This challenge "A Perfect White Night," caught my eye the week it was posted, but I have been busy with work.  Better late than never, I suppose!  Perfect plum, whisper white and night of navy...fabulous!

All products used here are from Stampin' Up.  My card base is navy, and I used my framelits in the big shot to cut out layers of plum and white.  The plum is also embossed with Plenty of Petals folder.  I used the "Come to Bethlehem" stamp set, stamping the main image in navy craft ink and silver pigment ink.  (I used my stamping spot for the navy and a sponge dauber for the silver, since the star is also part of the main stamp.)  I heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I then sponged with sahara sand, plum and navy...and added a rhinestone to the star.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set, used with the modern label punch and dimensionals.  2 of my cards have ribbon...but I preferred the look without it this time.

Once again, I made a dozen...so I am getting closer to my goal of 120 cards.  Sadly, I am only halfway done!  Oh. My. Goodness!

Better start another batch!  See you soon!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

A Couple of Random Cards

Hello Stamping Friends!

Just a quick post with 2 simple cards that I made recently...

The first card is for my aunt who has a birthday on Christmas day.  Poor girl needs a special card!  I used my SU "Dasher" stamp, colored with my markers.  I also used SU's "Happiest Birthday Wishes" and markers (chocolate chip, garden green, and real red) for the sentiment.  A couple of brads and this fun polka dotted ribbon, along with some pattern paper finish it off.





This other card took me 5 minutes...if that!  A very clean and simple design.  One of my brothers-in-law came by last weekend to help my hubby install a new bathroom exhaust fan/heater/light.  They spent lots of time in the snug attic space.  The card features pacific point and sahara sand.  The image is SU's "Totally Tool".  Ribbon, pattern paper and large brad are all retired...but it feels great to use my stash!



Today is my official last day as a SU demo.  I LOVE the products, but have a lot of, well, everything!  LOL!  Plus my regular job is getting quite busy (busier!) so I need to clear my plate a bit.  I was going to just go into pending...but that would leave me with months of temptation!  I called to cancel my demoship...just in time.  The winter pre-order starts tomorrow, December 1st...I would have been in trouble!  I am still stamping, but my blog will start highlighting some other items as well.  Hope you decide to stick around!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Those Other Color Cards...

So, when I posted in October, I bragged about doing 6 splitcoaststamper color challenge cards.  I posted 3 back then, and never posted the others.  I decided to post them now, as I am trying to get back in the habit of blogging.  Plus, they were fun cards!!

 The first card called for sahara sand, pacific point, and night of navy.  Made me cold just thinking about it!  LOL!  I brought out this polar beaer from "Zoo Review," a stamp set I hesitated to buy, but now I am happy I have it.  (Needed some non-bird animals!)  The navy was embossed with the square lattice folder, the dsp is a retired version of patterned paper, but you can find similar paper in the brights pattern paper stack.  I used "Happiest Birthday Wishes" adding a bit with a marker.  Brads and dimensionals make it pop.

  The next card was tough:  tangerine tango, perfect plum, and summer starfruit...with pool party as dessert.  Really??  Yes, I am not making this up!  I struggled a lot, deciding to use "Mixed Bunch" with an all-over pattern.  I did a bit of rock-and-roll on the largest image.  My decorative label and scallop oval punches, combined with "On Your Birthday" take center stage.  I messed up the ribbon placement...but that is what happens when you make things up as you go!  I am not in love with the starfruit color, but my hubby picked this out of my stash for his mom's birthday card.  "I like it," he said.  Who knew??

This final card is more my palette...rich, cozy, saturated colors!  The challenge colors were rich razzleberry, more mustard, and midnight muse; I added crumb cake.  The card features the top note die, "French Foliage" and "On Your Birthday" stamps.  My leaves are from the sizzix leaves die, embossed with the woodgrain impressions folder.  A bit of Autumn Spice dsp, big button and linen thread finish it off.  This went to one of my newest staff members, whose birthday was the week after she started working with me! 

Thanks for stopping by again to see some "old" cards!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Cards from LAST Month!

Hello Friends!

Last month, I made a few cards in a row and thought I was going to be updating my blog a lot.  Hmmm, didn't happen.  But I decided to post them now...better late than never!

 This first card is what kicked me back into stamping mode: an anniversary card for dear hubby.  I had no idea what to make that day (yes, I waited until the actual date!)  I got home from work, and Bruce was working overtime again.  I started by grabbing this fabulous autumn spice dsp.  As I looked at my stamps, my eye caught this cutie from SU's "For the Birds"  We have a bird bath in my back yard, and Bruce loves watching the birds play and splash.  I used my blender pen to color the image, and added a bit of sponging.  The colors featured are pool party, always artichoke, soft suede, and pumpkin pie.  (Not sure why I didn't use more mustard ink to match the card base...guess I wanted some contrast.)  The modern label punch makes a showing with the classic Teeny Tin Wishes.  Brads and dimensionals add depth.

The next card was done for this Friday Mashup challenge...I just never posted it!  I needed a baby card for our Medical Director, and the challenge color scheme was perfect for a baby boy!  The card base is basic black, and a layer of whisper white allows the pacific point, marina mist, lucky limeade, and gumball green to pop!  I used the long retired SU sets "Baby's Firsts" and "So Very."  The argyle impressions folder and baker's twine add texture.  Simple, quick card!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll be posting more stuff soon!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

More Christmas Cards

Hello again!!  I am catching up on blog posts...finally!  It feels good to get creative again, and fun to share it with you!


Today I am posting cards I made this past week.  My hubby and I visited family for Thanksgiving, and I decided to bring some stamping supplies.  Several of my young nieces enjoy stamping with me.  So, I grabbed a bunch of Christmas materials...stamps, ink, ribbon, punches, paper.  Well, the girls made a few cards, but after all the effort it took to travel with this stuff, I decided to make a dozen cards!  I didn't quite finish while at my sister-in-law's...but did finish the day after we got home.  I still have many more cards to make!

The card bases are either always artichoke or early espresso (I ran out of artichoke).  The pattern  paper is last year's holiday paper, vintage style...each card featuring a different part of those 12x12 sheets.  The image is the new SU  "First Christmas" stamped in cherry cobbler and crumb cake, with a tiny rhinestone for sparkle.  "Greetings of the Season" is featured on scallop circles.  Ironically, I didn't bring my cherry cobbler seam binding, in order to save it from young hands that may have gotten carried away....so the cards are ribbon free.  GASP!

Still have lots of Christmas cards to make...so stay tuned!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Christmas Cards...with Mom

Hello Stamping Friends!

Recently, my mom was here visiting from South Carolina.  She came earlier than first planned, and I told her that I wanted to finish some Christmas cards which I started a LONG time ago (early last year, I think!).  I get my creative, artsy side from her (musical side from my dad), so I knew she would love to help out.  I already had much of these done:  the card bases were completed, including the inside; sentiments stamped and sponged, pattern paper adhered, scallop circles cut out with my Big shot.  So, I stamped and heat embossed the main image in early espresso, which is from Our Daily Bread Design's "Joy to the World."  The pattern paper is SU's Bella Bleu, and the ribbon and pears are also from SU.  I love the neutral warm tones with not quite navy! 

Mom had fun sponging and assembling cards with me.  Wish she lived closer so we could do this more often!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Friday Mashup Breaks Tradition!

Hello Stamping Friends!

My hopes to get back into this blog fell short, didn't it?  Oh well...I am writing several posts today, including some cards that haven't been shown here.  Maybe there will be stuff to read this week!

I have been making Christmas cards...finally!  I usually have at least 5-6 dozen by now, but I only have 3 dozen finished, with another 2 dozen started.  I make 12 cards of a design so I don't get bored.  So, imagine my joy when I saw this week's Friday Mashup challenge:
 We were challenged to use an image not typically seen on holiday cards...and to use a messy technique such as spritzing.  I didn't mash it up...no messy stuff...since I made this rather late at night.  I didn't want a lot to clean up!

 As I pondered what stamp image to use, I came across this "Baby Prints" from Stampin' Up...perfect!  I used marina mist, bashful blue, and lucky limeade for my colors.  The ribbon is from last year's Sale-a-Bration...and if I make 12 of these, it may be all used up.  (Boohoo...I love this ribbon!)  The sentiment is from Our Daily Bread Designs, "Christmas Verses."  Very quick design...I should be able to mass produce this easily.  Considering my work at a pro-life ministry, I am thrilled with this new twist on a Christmas card!  My baby stamps are staying out for a while!  Thanks for the fun challenge, Heidi!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Catching Up with My Colors!

Hi Stamping Friends!!

I am getting my mojo back!  I did all 4 September color challenges from Splitcoaststampers, and the 2 October ones posted so far...all this weekend!  Some of these combos were very tough!  I'll put 3 on this blog post, and the other 3 on a post tomorrow...

This first card took a long time to conceive.  The colors are basic gray, chocolate chip, and gumball green...really??  Yep!  I had NO idea what to do...so when I just went with random strips for a color blocked look.  I placed the strips on a square of confetti white, and embossed it all with the woodgrain folder, then popped it up with dimensionals.  The sentiment is from Delightful Dozen...and the retired corduroy button works perfectly with the texture. 

The next card had colors I felt more comfortable with...midnight muse, cajun craze, and pumpkin pie.  I had this scrap of cajun dsp, and this strip with the edge punched already...love when I can use my scraps!  I love the striped ribbon with the dsp.  I am noot a big Halloween fan, but I love pumpkins...so I decided to make one by layering ovals.  The background was whisper white, transformed by sponging with the challenge colors.  Another Delightful Dozen sentiment is featured here, colored with markers.  No creepy Halloween stuff for me!

The last card for this post has a surprising spring palette...lucky limeade, primrose petals, and pink pirouette.  I used a very clean design, basic layers with a bit of embossing and sponging on top.  I brought out my bird punch; such a simple and whimsy touch!  The ribbon is from last spring's sale-a-bration, and I added a tiny heart to coordinate with the embossing.  The sentiment is from Well Scripted.  It's retired, but I'll never get rid of it!

So, that's a sample of my weekend stamping...it has been fun!  I have a full week ahead at work...training new staff, a speaking engagement, a conference proposal that is due, and I am hosting a baby shower Saturday!!  Hope to squeeze more stamping in sometime, too!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Inky {{{HUGS}}}

I am BACK with the Paper Players!!

Hello Strangers!!  It has been over 2 months since I have posted!!  In fact, with just a few exceptions, I haven't stamped for 2 months either!  Eeash!  Work has been extraordinarily busy...and I have been too tired in the evenings.  But this week, I am back!  Three days, three cards...which feels great!  I will post the other cards later,  but I wanted to post this card before I go to work.  Back into challenges with one of my favorites...The Paper Players! 

I love tea, so the theme was right up my alley!  Using this gorgeous cup from SU's set Tea Shoppe is perfect. I had some retired Bella Birds DSP sitting out (my room is a MESS!), so I put it to use.  I used my tag punch to make a teabag, and the rock and roll technique for my two-toned tea cup.  The ribbon and button are retired...sentiment is from Delightful Dozen.  Ink colors are so saffron, pink pirouette, and bordering blue.

The picture is a bit dark...my hubby leaves when it is dark and gets home when it's dark!  Hope his overtime slows down so we see each other more!

Gotta run!  But it feels great to be stamping and blogging again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Freshly Made meets DTGD

Hello Again!  2 posts in one day!  I guess you could say I am trying to catch up!  This is another Dare to Get Dirty challenge, which I combined with this Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  I LOVE this clean sketch,and I enjoyed pulling out my Top Note die again.  It was gathering dust...tsk tsk!  I did a very literal interpretation of the sketch.

My card features retired stamps but new colors of ink and card stock.  The card base is gumball green.  The strips on the side are primrose petals and raspberry ripple, embossed with the petals a plenty impressions folder in my big shot.  I also used the scallop trim border punch.  The large flower is from the retired hostess set Because I Care, colored with markers and stamped onto whisper white card stock.  I added a few rhinestones for sparkle.  The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, placed on a hand cut banner.

Well, it is late, so I should go to bed.  Who knows, maybe I will actually post again this week!  I hope so!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Mashing it Up with Dare to Get Dirty!

Hello!  Long time no see!  Last weekend I made 5 cards but did not post any here.  Then yesterday I made 9...and I realized I better post something for crying out loud!  Heehee!  The 14 cards I made were for a fabulous week of challenges on Splitcoaststampers...Dare to Get Dirty.  The Dirty Dozen is the amazing design team on SCS, and in July, we all get a chance to join in a lot of challenges.  I had high hopes of doing all 38 challenges, but shucks, my job got in the way!  None the less, I had fun...and I may have time to do a couple more before tomorrow night's deadline.  One of the challenges coordinated well with this week's Friday Mashup, so I am entering this card in both.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with a "Stick Pin on it."
2. Or Make a "Vintage" project.
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Vintage project with a Stick Pin on it."

Well, I don't have any stick pins, so I just stuck with the vintage portion of this challenge.  Trust me...it was hard NOT to mash it up!  My card base is soft suede.  The next layer is retired pattern paper, but I distressed it so much, you can barely see the original floral pattern!  I crumpled it, and sponged it with river rock and soft suede ink.  The image panel features images from Nature Walk in soft suede, cherry cobbler and marina mist, and then was also distressed.  The sentiment is from Kindness Matters, paired up with oval punches.  I added cherry cobbler seam binding with crochet trim, scrunched up for dimension. 

I made this card late last night...not bad for being sleepy, huh?    Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Freshly Made Christmas

Hello Stamping Friends!  Happy Sunday!
Today I am posting not just one, but 12 cards!  Well...it's just  one design!  Every year, I sign up for the Splitcoaststampers "Christmas Card Challenge" with the intention of making 12 cards from February to November.  I usually do some in the spring, then slough off and fall behind, so that in October & November I am scrambling!  Well, this year, I had not even started before this weekend!  Technically, I have some card stock cut for cards I meant to create last year and never finished...so I hope to wrap those up this week.  The designs were too detailed for my last minute pace in 2011.  Good grief...talk about procrastination! 

At the start of this month, the Paper Players posted a "Christmas in July" theme challenge...so at least I started thinking about my Christmas cards!  This week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge caught my eye as being perfect for some  new stamps that arrived on my doorstep this week.  It's a fabulous Clean & Simple sketch!

So here is my card...nearly everything is from Stampin' Up!  The only exception are the gold self-adhesive gems.  I have had them for years, but I don't remember the brand; I got them at a big box store.  I started with a confetti white card base.  My circles are the same size (cut with my circles die in the Big Shot), making it a slight variation on the sketch.  I used my new Midnight Muse card stock and new Lacy Brocade embossing folder (in the Holiday Catalog.)  The images are from "First Christmas" and the sentiment is from "Greetings of the Season," both in the Holiday catalog August 1st.  I got them early with my pre-order!!  I heat embossed everything with ink, to add shine and dimension.  I sponged baja breeze around the main image, anmd popped it up with dimensionals.  The gold gems were the final touch.  Took a while to make 12 of these with all of the embossing...but I am pleased with the result.

Friday Mashup...Celebrate!

Hello Stamping Friends!  Tonight I am posting a submission for a fun Friday Mashup challenge.  Amy is the hostess, and she lives in the UK.  This challenge is perfect, coming from her!  I am BARELY posting this on time!  Please forgive the icky picture!

1. Make a project with "The Olympic Colour Combination of Marina Mist, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi & Red."
2. Or Make a Project using "Multiple Circles."
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with the "Olympic Color Combo and Multiple Circles."

I needed a birthday card for a nephew, so I began with the colors as my inspiration.  I used the Extreme Dirt Bike image (heat embossed), along with Extreme Elements for the main panel.  I decided to tear 2 of the corners for texture.  The sentiment is from On Your Birthday.  In the spirit of the Friday Mashup, I just had to add some circles and rings!  I made them with my Circles Sizzix die and the Big Shot.  The final details include using the corner rounder punch, dimensionals, and striped ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!  Inky {{{HUGS}}}

VSN...Late Posting!!

Last month, I participated in a few Virtual Stamp Night challenges.  The theme was "Journey."  I posted my cards on SCS, but not on this blog.  So, here they are!  (Almost all of the products are from Stampin' Up!)




The 1st card was inspired by a song called "Don't Stop Believin'" from the band Journey.  It has a baja breeze base, and the new Floral District dsp with rich razzleberry and calypso coral layers.  The sentiment is from "Blessings from Heaven," and the image is the new "Praying Hands" single stamp. Coral ruffled ribbon and a glimmer brad finish it off.

The 2nd card features a non-SU image...LOVE this Snoopy in a convertible!  The card base is poppy parade, with some retired poppy parade dsp.  Snoopy was stamped in Stazon jet black, and colored with markers, and I lightly sponged baja breeze for the sky.  I then layered it with basic black and crushed curry card stock.  The retired polka dot ribbon goes well with the dsp, and I decided to add this simple sentiment from "You're a Gem" on another big "dot."

The last card is for a friend who ran a marathon in Paris!  She was raising money for a charity that uses purple and teal in their materials (t-shirts, website).  So I used a concord crush base, with a layer of retired bermuda bay dsp.  The image is from "Artistic Etchings",  and I sponged the sky with a setting sun.  It's layered on bermuda bay, apricot appeal, and wisteria wonder.  I used another sentiment from "You're a Gem" layered with an oval and scallop oval punch.  A few rhinestones finish it off.

In the future, maybe I'll post cards more quickly!  Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
 

Color Challenge Catch-Up

Hello there, strangers!  It has been quite a while since I have blogged.  I have been super busy at work, and exhausted when I get home.  I have done some stamping, but just haven't stopped by here.  So, today, I'm back!

My first challenge-love has always been color challenges, which I first discovered on splitcoaststampers.  I had not done one for a while, so today I did all 4 June challenges.  Here they are...

(Note:  Each card today uses all Stampin' Up...though some products are retired.)  The first card uses daffodil delight, certainly celery, and pool party.  I rarely create a card with just subtles, so this was tricky.  I used my markers to color this delicate image from a retired hostess set, Up in the Air.  I decided to keep the card clean and simple, just adding a band of embossing and some taffeta ribbon.



The next card is much more my style, in terms of color:  baja breeze, cajun craze, and cherry cobbler.  Very unique, but I love these rich colors together!  The "dessert option" was to use lucky limeade, such as for stems and leaves.  Well, I forgot all about it...but I'm glad.  I decided to use butterflies instead of flowers, so I pulled out this image from the long-retired "God's Beauty" set.  I also stamped from Word Play onto a sponged panel.  The lower layer is baja breeze from the subgtles pattern paper stack.  Some cherry cobbler baker's twine and basic black brads finish it off.

Now this third card features "Field Flowers" which I finally bought...love it!  The 2-step bloom is gorgeous!  The color challenge called for tangerine tango, chocolate chip, and always artichoke.     I rarely use tangerine, so it was a good chance for me to get reacquainted with it.  I cheated a bit by sponging pool party for the sky...oh well!  The sentiment is from Kindness Matters, on oval punches.  Used my beloved seam binding to make a big bow.



Finally, this card is for the most recent challenge...island indigo, pool party, and whisper white.  Basically monochromatic.  I was tempted to add a pop of something, but held off!  I used my new argyle impressions folder, which goes so well with the kites from "Send me Soaring."  My accessories are retired larger brads, a big designer button, and some silver cord.  This is also the third card with "fussy cutting!"  I'm kinda surprised at myself!

It was a fun day of stamping...hopefully more tomorrow.  It's too hot to do anything outside, so I'll stay in the A/C!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Mashin' Up with Paper Players!

Hello Stamping Friends!!  I am FINALLY posting some cards!  I actually made 15 cards this past weekend, and 30 the weekend before!  Many are in simple sets, but today I am featuring 2 challenge cards.  It felt great to visit the Friday Mashup (couldn't stay away long!) and Paper Players challenges again.  It was also nice to bring out some new Stampin' Up stuff.  I am winding down my days as a demo to put more energy and time into my speaking events.  But of course, I had to place a BIG order first!  LOL! 

The Friday Mashup challenge uses this fun sketch combined with a bird theme.  The hardest part was deciding which bird to use!  The Paper Players challenge gave us a fun and playful color combo.  I decided to flip the sketch and put it all together!




My first card has a basic gray card base with a layer of lucky limeade from the patterned paper stack.  This stack was available last year, but I just ordered it...how fun to tear into a new stack of paper!!  I added two strips of retired melon mambo ribbon...it's almost gone!  I nearly forgot the center piece, but decided to make my own DP using the challenge colors with these cute birds from "Aviary."  The many image is NEW...from the set "For the Birds."  I used blender pens to color it, then layered it on basic gray and black.  The gray layer is wide enough to add a row of rhinestones, which go perfectly with the retired "You're a Gem" set.  The inside piece of dsp is from an old SAB stack.  Feels good to use retired goodies, along with the new stuff!  This card will be perfect for one of my minstry donors...they support us soooo much!  Hope you like it!!





I made another card for the Friday Mashup.  I just had to play with some of the new colors!  The colors come from this new DSP called Comfort Cafe (I think...since I am not selling stuff now, I am not memorizing names!)  The card base is soft suede, with a layer of very vanilla, embossed with the Big Shot and new chevron impressions folder.  I used this new stitched satin ribbon in the new Midnight Muse color...pretty!  I used 3 patterns from this new dsp...the vertical stripe, the layer under my image, and a piece inside.  I think it's my favorite new pack!  The floral image is from Sale-a-Bration, but I think it goes well with the paper.  I used markers in soft suede, pool party, cajun craze and NEW midnight muse and summer starfruit to color it.  My bird is from "Elements of Style" in pool party and midnight muse, using the rock and roll technique.  My circle punch and sizzix circle die came in handy for the sentiment again!

It feels to post to the blog again!  I'll be sure to come by again soon!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}