Spring Colors for a Cold Winter Day

Hello, and Happy Tuesday!

Today is the last Tuesday of the month, which means it is my last week as a Guest Design Team member over at SCS.   BooHoo!  I have had so much fun!  I will continue to play along with these  challenges because they always get my creative juices flowing!

This week, the other Kim has asked us to use Blackberry Bliss, Pear Pizzazz, and Pool Party...completely my kind of color combo!  I know I will use this again!


I rarely use basic black for a card base, but it made sense with this silhouette image from SU's "Just Believe."   I embossed a layer of black with the fancy fan folder, then wrapped some pear pleated satin ribbon around it...it really pops off the black!  I stamped the flowers in black, then sponged pear and pool party in the background.  The image is mounted on Moonlight dsp, and popped up with dimensionals.  I stamped the sentiment on pool party, so that it would look nice against the sky.  The modern label and scallop oval punches make their appearance together again.

I have no idea where this card will end up.  I think I may have a hard time parting with it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Mashin' Up some Colours and Sketches!

Hello, and Happy Monday!

I went several days without touching my stamps.  I had a keynote presentation last Thursday, so my attention was diverted there.  It was good to get back to some ink this weekend!  I made a card for tomorrow's SCS Color Challenge...be sure to come back and check it out!  But I also made 2 cards to cover 4 different blog challenges!  WooHoo!

First, I have this card for both the Colour Me...! challenge and The Friday Mashup. I love this palette: pool party, so saffron, and real red.  I have used it a few times before, so it was fun to try again.  When I saw the mashup (sketch plus something in flight) I considered using butterflies at first.  But March is just around the corner, and I always think of kites in March.

The card is pretty self explanatory.  My card base is saffron.  My layer of pool party is dry embossed with the Cloudy Day embossing folder.  I used the SU set "Send Me Soaring" in the challenge colors.  For a bit of depth, the kites were fussy cut, then popped up with dimensions.  The other vertical parts of the sketch are made from this fabulous polka dot ribbon, and some so saffron pattern paper.  The whole panel is also popped up. I wanted just a little something else...and candy dots won out!  Overall, a clean and simple design.

Next, I have a card for the Freshly Made Sketches and ColourQ challenges.  I really love purple tones, and I love diagonal lines, so this was fun to make! I really like the addition of metallic gold to brighten up this palette.

My card base is blackberry bliss...LOVE this color!  The next layer is wisteria wonder; they go so well together. I masked off a space for the diagonal line...sadly I made it too high on the whisper white, but it was late!  LOL  After masking, I took the small flower from "Flight of the Butterfly" and stamped in the challenge colors, then lightly sponged more wisteria wonder.  The sentiment is from "Feel Goods" stamped in raspberry ripple, with more wisteria sponged on the edges.  I added gold brads and gold cord, which would not cooperate, so I left it in one of those trendy circles! Lots of dimensionals on this card.  A young friend of mine has recently accomplished a major personal goal, so I'll be sending this to her.



Thanks for coming by first thing this week.  Tomorrow is my last week as a Guest DT member for the color challenge...be sure to see what gorgeous colors are in store!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Eight Scoops of Color!

Hello and Happy Tuesday!!

It's time for another Color Challenge over at SCS. It's my 3rd week as a Guest Designer...I am having lots of fun!

Mary is the hostess, and she gave us a palette inspired by the SU dsp ""Lullaby" which includes 5 colors: pistachio pudding, crisp cantaloupe, baked brown sugar, hello honey, and coastal cabana.  We were challenged to use all 5 or just 3 of the colors.  I used just 3: pistachio, cantaloupe, and brown sugar...sounds yummy!

I have a grand daughter who is turning 8 later this month.  I decided to use the retired "Sweet Scoops" set to make her card.  It's pretty self explanatory...just added some Dazzling Details for the sprinkles, and thick bakers twine.  The greeting is from "On Your Birthday."  I always include DQ gift cards with birthday cards to family...perfect in this particular case!

Hope you can play along...there is NO deadline for challenges on Splitcoaststampers!  WooHoo!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Double Challenge Card

Happy Monday!!

I am not a Monday person, but I am trying  to put a spin on this cold gray day!  I got up a little later than I had hoped, did my morning prayer, and decided to quickly make a card for these 2 challenges (both have deadlines today.)

The Colour Me...! challenge is very nice for Valentine's Day, but since that is over, I made a general card.  I combined it with this Freshly Made Sketch challenge.










My card base is cherry cobbler.  I embossed a layer of whisper white with the petals-a-plenty folder.  The left panel is pink pirouette.  My image and sentiment are from "Because I Care."  I used markers to color the flower, including smoky slate.  I tried "thumping" the cherry marker...maybe should try again!  LOL I combined the decorative label and scallop oval punches for the sentiment.    I added a few rhinestones to the flower, and a small row in the lower right-hand corner.  The image panel is popped up with dimensionals.  I needed something else, so I added a bit of doodling on the pink pirouette layer...something I used to do a lot.  It's a bit messy.  But it IS doodling, so I am excused, right?

Any way, this was very quick.  I guess I could make lots of cards if I always had a deadline!  They may not be fancy, but they are still fun.  Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Mooooooo-sh Up!

Hello, and Happy Wednesday!

Today, I am posting a card that I started days ago.  I was trying the Technique Lovers Challenge from SCS (which was also a Friday Mashup challenge recently, but one that I missed), and wasn't thrilled with it.  But it is nearly the deadline for the Friday Mashup, so I quickly made the rest of the card to post.

The TLC was to use embossing folder stamping, and a tutorial can be found here. The Friday Mashup asked us to use red. pink, and white...with a love theme.  Easy enough, right?

Well, my background is a bit messy and the shimmer still comes off on my fingers, days later.  Yikes!  I need to figure something else out next time.

I used sponge daubers to add real red and strawberry slush ink to my Cuttlebug hearts embossing folder.  Instead of plain water, I sprayed my water/shimmer paint/alcohol mix on to the folder, then pressed a piece of watercolor paper onto the ink.  Unfortunately, my mister was not giving me a fine spray...it was more like big drops of water.  What a mess!  It took a long time for the paper to dry, and the hearts are barely distinguishable.  Oh well.  I intended to try again, but had other things (work stuff!) going on.  Any who, I added this cute sentiment from the "Chubby Chums" set, stamped in Stazon jet black.  I stamped the cow onto very vanilla, punched him out with the large scallop circle, and added just a bit of color.  After wrapping ruffled ribbon around the background, I popped up my cow with dimensionals and placed it all on a real red card base.  The black enamel hearts are from Anna Marie, purchased online at a scrap book site.  

I think the card turned out okay, all things considered.  But now I have shimmer stuff on my fingers...and my keyboard!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky (and shimmery) {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Time for Another Color Challenge

Hello, and Happy Tuesday!

Today I am posting my card for the Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge.  I am having fun as a Guest DT member, and I hope you can participate in this week's challenge!

The blue-green palette (bermuda bay, old olive, and coastal cabana) can go along with a cool wintery look, or something for spring.  I went for the spring look, because I am seriously ready for sunshine, warm breezes, and fresh flowers!  This week's dessert is to use at least 4 layers.  I forgot about dessert, but did it anyway.  I love layers!

My card base is old olive.  The next layer is whisper white, on which I stamped some grass from "Inspired by Nature."  I also dry embossed the top portion with the cloudy day folder, then sponged coastal cabana over the clouds.  I added a strip of textured bermuda bay, and wrapped some coastal cabana ribbon around these layers.  The image panel features "Field Flowers," a great 2-step set.  I realize these colors are unlikely to be seen on one flower, but I like this any way!  I wasn't sure where to place the sentiment.  Once I decided to place it on the bottom half, I stamped more of the grass,  I lightly sponged the image and sentiment layers.  I also added a silver brad and some bits of ribbon.  Of course, there are some dimensionals too...I rarely make flat cards!

Be sure to check out the color challenge...I'll be looking at the gallery to see what you create!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Happy Anniversary, Paper Smooches!

Hello, and Happy Monday!!

I set this post up LAST Monday...good grief!  Any who, I am excited to celebrate the Paper Smooches 4th Anniversary!  I was unfamiliar with this company, but then I won a gift certificate last fall from Hope You Can Cling To over at Splitcoaststampers.  I bought some goodies for Christmas, and I am having FUN with them!  I wanted to have 2 cards tonight, but I have to wait for some background paper to dry.  So, just one card in this post.  I have made other cards featuring Paper Smooches that you can see HERE, HERE, and HERE.

My card is for the ColourQ challenge, along with the 2nd VSN Mini challenge, which was to incorporate a critter from the children's program "Little Bear."  I chose a cat.  I rarely put pink and orange together, so this color challenge was initially tough for me.  But I figured the pumpkin pie would work well for this cute kitty!

My card base is pretty in pink.  I added a layer of whisper white with 2 strips of what looks like pattern paper.  But they are actually stickers from a scrap book kit that was a part of Sale-a-Bration several years ago!  Use that stash!!  My image panel includes this cat from Paper Smooches "Chubby Chums."  I colored her with my pumpkin pie and creamy caramel markers, and a touch of pretty in pink for her nose.  The sentiment is from the same set and I simply swooshed my melon mambo marker underneath, then layered it all on real red pattern paper.  The enamel hearts are from Anna Marie, and were purchased online at a scrapbook site.  My final touch is the melon mambo organza ribbon from SU.

I am seriously in love with these Chubby Chums!  If my other card dries on time, you will see an edited version of this post with another critter!

Thanks for stopping by!  

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Dare to Make a Quick Card!

Hello Stamping Friends!!

I pondered this color combo from The Color Throwdown, but had not come up with anything.  I figured the time had passed, but when I checked the blog, there was still 55 minutes before the Linky expired.  So of course, I had to try something!  Of course, since it is nearly 5 pm here, there is virtually no natural light.  But I loved the adrenaline rush while making and uploading a card in less than one hour.

All of the supplies are from Stampin' Up! I actually needed a sympathy card, and this fits the bill.  My card base is pool party.  My layer of night of navy is embossed with the chevron folder.  On whisper white, I stamped these images from "Thanks for Caring." I used markers to color them: night of navy, tangerine tango, and garden green.  After stamping, I embossed with the cloudy day folder.  I sponged garden green for the grass and pool party in the sky.  I added a simple strip of pool party seam binding.  The greeting is from the same set, punched with the scallop oval and popped up with dimensionals.  

That's it...quick, clean,and simple.  Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

VSN MINI! I Treasure You!

Hello Stamping Friends!
Tonight is the Mini version of Virtual Stamp Night...WooHoo!

I am a hostess for one of the challenges for the Main VSN next month, but I wanted to participate in tonight's challenges too.  The first VSN Mini challenge asks us to use blue and sand.  I opted for night of navy, so that I could also do this Colour Me...! challenge.

Sorry for the bad lighting... I am giving this card to my husband, so I had to take the picture myself.  I am an awful photographer!  LOL  The card base is night of navy with a plain sahara sand layer added.  I then dry embossed another layer of navy with this retired SU folder; it had a snowflake name, but it looks more like stars to me.  Using a white gel pen and basic rhinestones, I highlighted some stars.  The large sentiment is from Stampabilities.  After stamping it on a sahara sand circle, I ran it through my Big Shot with the decorative dots folder.  I think it looks like craters on the moon!  The globe image is from SU's "The Open Sea," stamped on very vanilla.  I trimmed it up to fit on the lower corner.

Next, I made a card with a more beachy theme, since Lee's challenge had a beachy inspiration photo.  My card base is marina mist.  I stamped images from "By the Seashore" in marina mist, sahara sand, and crisp cantaloupe on very vanilla.  I added 2 layers of large scallop circles in vanilla and sand, sponging the edges.  The greeting is from "Polka Dot Party."  To coordinate with the sketch challenge from My Favorite Things, I added marina mist satin ribbon, and 3 punched out flowers with enamel dots. 

I still need to make a card for the 2nd VSN Mini challenge, but I have until February 14th to upload.  So do you!  Hope you can participate!

Thanks for coming by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

More Colorful Sketches

Hello, and Happy Thursday!

As I continue my focus on sketch challenges this year, I must admit that I cannot leave color challenges alone.  They are my favorite!  In fact, I am participating in a fairly new color challenge today, from the My Favorite Things blog.  I don't have MFT card stock, so the colors are approximations, but there are some unique colors in their palette.  I'm sure I'll try some in the near future!  (The blueberry looks yummy!)  I paired their color challenge with this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  

Once again, I pulled out kiwi kiss card stock, as it seemed the closest to MFT limelight.  (I really should find my retired dsp that works with kiwi, before I finish it all off with these challenges!)  So, on top of the kiwi kiss, I have a layer of whisper white that is embossed with the Cloudy Day folder on top, and sponged with pool party; then stamped on the bottom with the grass from "Inspired by Nature."  The horizontal strip is wisteria wonder and a layer of white stamped with "Mixed Bunch" and "Thoughts and Prayers."  I used old olive (it was out already) night of navy and wisteria wonder inks.  I used my SU big butterfly die for both butterflies, embossing them together with the fancy fan folder.  Some baker's twine and non-SU lime colored gems finish it off.

I have several other sketch/color combos to work on, but not tonight.  Hope to stamp some more tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Exciting and Colorful News!

Hello, and Happy Tuesday!!

Anyone who follows my blog knows that I LOVE color challenges.  Well, imagine my excitement when I received a private message on SCS asking me to be a Guest for the Color Challenge Design Team!!  WooHoo!  I squealed so loudly, my husband asked what was going on!  He is happy for me, even though he doesn't know a garden green from a wild wasabi!  LOL

So, this week's colors are melon mambo, pink pirouette and whisper white.  The dessert is to use vellum. This was tricky for me on two counts.  First, I often use pink with other colors, but rarely feature so much pink on one card.  Then there was the vellum.  I wasn't even sure if I had any, but then remembered a small stack of 4x6 pieces in different colors and patterns.  I decided on this white piece with swirls.  I like it over the pink pirouette, and I think it goes well with this stylized flower from "Friends Never Fade."  Yes, I use this image a lot...but I LOVE it! In addition to the 2 shades of pink, I also used my smoky slate marker, then cut it all out with the scallop circle punch.  I used "Teeny Tiny Wishes" again with the word window punch.  My accessories are the melon mambo organza ribbon, and some silver beads from a big box store.  They are part of my stash that I am continuing to whittle away.

I hope you can join the challenge this week.  I'll be visiting galleries to see what everyone creates.  Thanks for checking out my blog again today!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Super STAMP Sunday!

Hello Everyone!  It's Super Bowl STAMP Sunday!

For the last few years, I have invited some stamping friends to my house on this festive occasion.  I really don't care about football, especially if there are no Midwest teams involved.  I was hoping for a Packer/Colts showdown, but we all know how that turned out!

Anywho, the big winter storm was hardly big, so I had 3 friends join me.  As I was stamping my second card, I realized the deadline for Our Daily Bread Designs Shine Your Light challenge was looming.  It's "Anything Goes" this week, so I quickly made my first Easter card of the year.

Ironically, last week's card also had soft pink and green.  I think I want spring to show up!  LOL  My card base is certainly celery.  I added a layer of celery pattern paper with a strip of pink pirouette pattern paper, both with a scallop trim punched out.  I used an image and greeting from ODBD "I Am the Way" set, which is perfect for Easter.  Using my blender pens, I colored with the celery, pink, and so saffron inks.  I used my SU framelits to cut it out, then sponged bashful blue.  I added several candy dots, and popped the entire panel up with dimensionals.

I think it needs ribbon...I'll probably make more of these and dress it up a bit more.

The next two cards are not for challenges.  I'll come back later to add details, but I want to link up the challenge card.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim