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}}}

Virtual Stamp Night...Again!

Here are the last 2 cards I made for the March 2012 Virtual Stamp Night Challenges at splitcoaststampers.

The first one was for a tough challenge...Steam punk! Hard to explain, but check out these cards in the SCS gallery. Turns out, last fall while visiting my mom in South Carolina, I purchased some non-SU items at a cute local stamp shop that worked perfectly. These gears and the embossing folder make a fun masculine card. Everything else is from Stampin' Up!

My next card uses the fabulous new Tea Shoppe stamp set with the lovely retired Urban Garden dsp. I'll never tire of this color combo!!

Thanks for stopping by again!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Playing with Tea Cups

Hello everyone! I finally had time to play with a new fabulous Stampin' Up set called "Tea Shoppe" from the Occassions Mini Catalog. I am preparing for a workshop this weekend, and so I have made several samples. I am featuring just 2 here today. One is for the Paper Players challenge seen here: (First, I have to say how excited I am that I was chosen as "A Cut Above" for my Extreme Guitar guy card last week! WooHoo!)

My first card features the new Twitterpated dsp also found in the Stampin' Up mini occassions catalog, mounted on a baja breeze card base. LOTS of lovely patterns! I stamped the tea cups (3 on one stamp) in coordinating colors (indigo island, riding hood red, & baja breeze,) then cut them out to go with the sketch challenge. I hate cutting things out...but a girl's gotta practice, right? Each cup was mounted on a blushing bride circle, mounted on whisper white and indigo island layers. How 'bout this GORGEOUS ribbon?? New pleated ribbon is found in the mini in 4 colors (I have them all now!) and I hope we have more in the future! The sentiment is also from Tea Shoppe, stamped in riding hood red, and used with the word window and modern label punches. Ta-dah!

The next card is quick, clean, and simple! Lucky limeade card base, with a layer of Everyday Enchantment dsp from the Sale-a-Bration catalog. I stamped this large, pretty cup in pool party, then used the rock-n-roll technique to add a bit of limeade ink on very vanilla card stock. I sponged the edges with soft suede ink, and added a SAB brad. The sentiment is from Delightful Dozen,punched out with the circle and popped up with dimensionals. My other embellishments are basic pearls and pool party ruffled ribbon. Hope this card makes someone feel better soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Get Well, Mark!

Hello, Stamping Friends! I have a card today created for a good friend of mine. No challenges, no swaps...just a personalized card. I LOVE when I can do that! I have known my friend, Mark, for almost the entire time I have lived here in Danville. He plays guitar at church for the more contemporary choir. I have sung with the choir for most years, but I would take a break for one reason or other. But Mark rarely misses a Sunday, plus he often helps with special prayer services or kids' programs. He played guitar for my wedding, and my husband and I sang in the choir when Mark married his wife Brenda. Our music is rather mild, but we often hear Mark before Mass messing with some classic rock tune! Well, Mark had knee replacement surgery this past week, so he will be out of commission for a while. I decided to make a Get Well card, and my Extreme Guitar guy was the perfect stamp choice! It may be retired, but I paired it with these stars and splotches from "Extreme Elements" still available from Stampin' Up. My card base is basic black. I added a layer of lucky limeade, stamped with stars then embossed with the square lattice impressions folder. I placed a layer of basic gray pattern paper on an angle, added 2 silver brads, and popped it up with dimensionals. The Extreme Elements were stamped in limeade and basic gray on whisper white, and the guitar guy is stamped in basic black, then heat embossed. More dimensionals since this card will be hand delivered later today! The sentiment is from Delightful Dozen, punched out with a circle and layered over a basic black pattern star. The star punch is a bit small...and retired...guess I should buy the star dies next!!

The chor members signed the card...and I think Bruce may try to make some food to deliver with the card. Hand-crafted card...homemade dinner...should make Mark feel better, dontcha think?

Inky {{{HUGS}}}