Still Catching Up!

Happy Monday, Stamping Friends!

I have a couple of cards for the Color Throwdown today.  I initially planned to do more, and I may get a couple done today, but I want to get this post done before today's deadline.

I have a hard time with pastel palettes, and there have been several recently.  Perhaps if I dug in to complete them instead of ignore them, I'd be more comfortable by now!  LOL  As I looked at this week's colors I decided a baby girl card would be perfect.  In fact, a young couple in town has a new baby girl.  The circumstances are incredible.  They have lost 2 babies in infancy in the last 3 years.  But earlier this month, they were blessed with a precious baby through a private adoption!  I bought this stamp set from My Favorite Things, "My How You've Grown," before it retired, but it has sat unused.  So you know I had to use it for this card!  My card base is thick whisper white, with a layer of smoky slate, embossed with my hounds-tooth folder.  I added pleated blushing bride ribbon and seam binding in daffodil delight.  The image was colored with blender pens and markers using daffodil delight, smoky slate, blushing bride, and blush blossom inks, then matted in blushing bride.  A few enamel dots finish it off.  

Next, here's a card I intended to make during DTGD.  I had the stamp set, SU's "Summer By the Sea," on my table, and the bordering blue card base ready, but my mojo fizzled.  Nonetheless, I really like this palette, so I decided to put this together last night.  I had scraps of real red and so saffron on my table, and this sketch just happened unexpectedly.  Using my blender pens and some sponging, I colored the scene with bordering blue, so saffron, real red, smoky slate, always artichoke, and creamy caramel inks.  The sentiment is from  "Wetlands," on a scallop oval and popped up.  Enamel dots and bakers twine are the final touches.

I still have a lot of 2017 Color Throwdown challenges to complete for my personal goal, but I am determined to get them done!  I have been having fun with these color palettes, and realize (again) that color challenges are, by far, my favorite!  Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

More Daring Cards!

Happy Saturday!

Feels kinda weird posting again...but it feels good, too!  I'm still working on Dare to Get Dirty challenges.  My pace has been slow, despite hubby working loads of overtime last week. The good news is that I have until Wednesday at midnight to play along.  Today, I'm posting several cards that do not incorporate other challenges.  I'm still catching up on birthday cards!

I had several strips of this beautiful designer paper which I used for some recent sympathy cards.  I taped them onto a piece of card stock, then ran it through the Big Shot with the top note die.  It is layered on embossed early espresso on a crumb cake card base.  My sentiment is from "Happiest Birthday Wishes" in more mustard.  I added some punched out branches, an old felt flower with a brad, and some thick backers twine.












Next, a cute card for one of my great-nieces.  The image is from Paper Smooches, "Chubby Chums."  There was a coordinating sentiment, but I think it fell into the garbage a while back, because it is nowhere to be found.  Fortunately, SU had a chicken-themed set recently, so I can still say Hey Chick!  The pattern paper is years old, from DCWV...I think its called Granny's Kids.  I colored with markers, doodled a bit, and sponged the large scallop circle.  Satin ribbon in tangelo twist wraps it all up.











A little over a year ago, I bought this retiring lace ribbon from SU in all of the outgoing in-colors (that sounds strange!) because I *needed* them.  Well, I have barely touched them!  Ribbon hoarding us a thing, people!  Well, as I created this summer birthday card, my watermelon stamp needed watermelon wonder ink and ribbon.  Pairing that with cucumber crush and basic black make this bright and simple.  The stamps used are all SU:  Mouthwatering, Polka Dot Party, and On Your Birthday.

Now a card that ended up quite different than planned.  Let's just say that I made some errors in cutting, so I had to be strategic in my layers!  Even so, I like the final result.  My card base is delightful dijon, and I used more of that lace ribbon!  My vanilla layer is dry embossed with the honeycomb folder, then sponged.  I also added a layer of black.  The image is from SU's "Every Moment," colored with markers and mounted on always artichoke pattern paper.  I used raspberry ripple pattern paper to mount the two sentiments from "On Your Birthday" and "You're a Gem."

A simple beach scene is next, using soft sky, crumb cake, and very vanilla card stock.  I sponged soft sky, baja breeze, and crumb cake on this layer cut with a labels framelit.  For texture, I added dazzling diamonds and mica flakes to the sand.  The palm tree is from Lawn Fawn's "Life is Good."  The birthday sentiment is from "Wetlands."  I added bakers twine and enamel dots.

Now for a completely different look:  faux metal.  After sponging crumb cake and black on this very vanilla (and using a Tim Holtz embossing folder for the gears), I put lots of versamark all over it, and coated it with copper embossing powder. It really shines when it hits the light! The sentiment, from "Happiest Birthday Wishes" is also copper embossed, on SU brushed silver card stock.  (I have just a few sheets left.  I miss it!)  Large brads from Spare Parts and some copper thread are the final details.  I have a nephew-in-law who is a welder, so making something like this seemed perfect for him.

Finally today I have another masculine card with a touch of copper embossing and loads of Tm Holtz washi tape.  I RARELY use washi tape, but this was a fun, quick card.  I will likely use this idea for other occasions.  Maybe I'll actually use the washi tape in my stash!

That's it for now...time to eat dinner.  Then, hopefully I will get one or two cards made tonight. Tomorrow, I plan on commenting on some blogs and DTGD gallery entries. Should be a relaxing day!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim 

Challenging Friday

Hello, and Happy Friday!!

Once again, it has been a while since I have been here.  Still trying to get out of a rut.  I had a good friend visit last weekend who gave me some encouragement.  While I may be far behind in many projects for home and church, I just need to take small steps in order to catch up.  (That's my free advice for the day!  Haha!)

Today, I have cards for a couple of challenges.  One is the sketch challenge from The Paper Players.  A while back, I was going through a box of supplies.  I quickly realized they were items I received in a swap.  Among them was a small stack of positively luscious pattern  paper in earthy tones that are right up my alley.  I must have set them aside to plan a big project.  Alas, that didn't happen, so I finally put them to use this week.  Because the patters are so pretty, I thought they would be perfect with this clean sketch.  My card base is crumb cake; the sentiment is from SU's "So Sorry," stamped in early espresso and baja breeze on a large scallop circle.  Espresso satin ribbon is used for the horizontal layer.  I have 3 friends from my diocesan group who each lost a brother in the last few weeks.  This was a quick way to get sympathy cards done.  I hope to make more this weekend, so I have them on hand.

The other card is for today's Free4All challenge, Machines and Tools, on SCS.  It works well for a masculine card, and I needed something for my dear hubby.  As I mentioned, I have been going through a rough phase, and my husband has been so wonderful and patient!  Add to that, he is a mechanic for the local Quaker oats plant...fixing machines that make and package Chewy granola bars, Honey O's cereal, and Aunt Jemima pancake mix.  Today's theme has his name written all over it!  Somewhere in my mess, I have some gears to add to my cards, but I couldn't find them.  Fortunately, I had this small Tim Holtz embossing folder, and sponging with early espreso and indigo island inks helps to accent the gears.  I used early espresso, very vanilla card stock, and SU "Soho" dsp.  The sentiment is computer generated using RGB codes I found online. Memory Box brads and Tim Holtz thick twine finish it off.




It feels good to create again; hopefully I will do some more this weekend.

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Playing in a Virtual Ocean

Hello and Happy Friday again!

So one of my 2016 stamping challenges is to complete all of this year's Paper Player challenges, and I have fallen behind again. I was at a women's conference last week, and prayed about how I am spending my time as a self-employed person.  Frankly, my work...writing and speaking...truly needs to garner more of my attention if it's truly going to kick off.   That means I will stamp and blog here less often (it's been slow any way!) but I still want to complete my goals.  I considered doing the three most recent PP challenges, and I may update this post later tonight just because.  *wink*




This week's challenge at The Paper Players is a nice clean sketch.  I wanted to combine it with a VSN challenge, even though that event is over, out of courtesy to my fellow hostesses.  I decided on Jeanne's challenge to "Dive Right In."  Next I searched for a color challenge that used lost lagoon, so I could incorporate this "Moonlight" dsp since it fits the water theme.  There are very few color challenges with lost lagoon, and I had already completed the most recent ones on SCS.  But this one is from the end of 2015: island indigo, lost lagoon, and pea pizzazz.  Perfect for an ocean scene!  I used markers to color the script stamp from SU's "By the Tide."  The coral is stamped in black.  The fish is also stamped in black, colored with markers, cut out, and popped up.  The scene is on a piece of whisper white cut with a Labels framelit.  I added the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" birthday greeting, along with SU bakers twine and sparkly enamel dots from Hero Arts.  I made this quickly, but really like the final result!

Ok, so now I am adding to my original post.  This card fits Paper Players #299, Jan's VSN challenge to use red white, and blue, and today's Free4All challenge on SCS, which has a beach theme.  I used a sahara sand card base, and dry embossed my cherry cobbler layer with the diagonal stripes folder.  On whisper white, I created this beach scene, using stamps from Lawn Fawn's "Life is Good."  I colored with markers and sponging, using sahara sand, creamy caramel, cherry cobbler, and not quite navy.  (I don't have any dapper denim.)  I should have made the shoreline uneven instead of rigid, but I forgot.  I so rarely create scenes like this! My sentiment is from SU's "Happiest Birthday Wishes," stamped on a scalloped oval.  I had one tiny scrap of cherry cobbler bakers twine which barely wrapped around my card!

Well, I better clean up today's mess.  Hope to be back before next Friday.  Thanks for stopping by!




Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Good Morning, Monday!

Hello fellow stampers!
I am not often quite so chipper on a Monday, but it is GORGEOUS today!  It is a brisk 54 degrees, with clear blue skies and a soft breeze.  I slept in a bit, after having a full day yesterday with church and our annual picnic.  #LifeisGood!

I made this card last night, and I am trying to post it while my hubby makes pancakes (he spoils me!).  This great color palette from Colour Me...! was exactly what I needed for a teen boy's card.


I will post, eat breakfast, and come back with the details.








Breakfast was delicious!  Okay, so on to my card details.  It's a simple card that was quick to create.  My card base is garden green.  I added a tilted layer of basic black.  On whisper white, I stamped images from SU's "Extreme Elements" in the challenge colors, plus silver ink for some stars.  I stamped the "Extreme Guitar" in basic black, and sponged the whole panel with indigo.  I added a strip of black grosgrain ribbon (still have a bunch!) and used two punches for two sentiments.  The get well is from "Delightful Dozen," and U Rock is from "Perfect Words."  Both are stamped in pacific point; the latter one using a marker, so I could leave off "my world".

This card is for the 13-year old son of some good friends.  He has spina bifida, and with that various health complications.  He has been in and out of the hospital a lot this year.  Despite that, he has an amazing disposition...cheerful, smiling.  He even had his guitar with him at one point this summer, playing on the days between two surgeries!  He is home now, but I know his health is always at risk.  He also has two younger brothers, so his parents have their hands full...but never complain.  This is a family filled with faith and love...they inspire me so much!



One more thing before I go.  Last week, I posted a few cards for various Colour Me challenges.  One had a butterfly on it (seen here, 3rd card), and I mentioned that I actually cut out two butterflies.  Here is the card I made with the larger one.  The die is tricky to work with if you forget to include wax paper in your Big Shot sandwich.  Ask me how I know. *wink*

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Let's Hear it for the Boys

Hello, and Happy Friday!

I have a VERY quick card today for The Paper Players challenge to create a masculine card.  I needed a card for my oldest brother.  It needed to be quick, because it is late!  Oh, and because the deadline to link this up is in 10 minutes!  LOL

I actually had different dsp sitting out for a WEEK, but just couldn't get inspired.  So I pulled out this stuff from SU's "Well Worn," which is one of my favorites.  I used one side for the vertical panel, then the flip side to mat my sentiment.  The stamp is from SU's "Delightful Dozen," stamped in not quite navy on very vanilla.  After adding 2 NQN brads, I popped the panel up with dimensionals. The final touch is the kite string.  Easy-peasy!

The other reason I wanted to get this post in is to let you know that TONIGHT is Virtual Stamp Night!  It starts at 6 pm  Eastern time.  I am hosting a challenge at 7 pm Eastern.  The overall theme is "Happy"...hope you can come and play!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Back to Playing with Paper

Happy Friday!

I am still trying to get back into a regular stamping/blogging routine again.  I took a peak at The Paper Players challenge, and realized I had not played along for a while.  I really like the color combo LeAnne selected and decided to put something together.  I figured this palette would work for a feminine or masculine card.  A gentleman from the church choir had surgery recently, so this card is for him.

This is a clean and simple design, which should be easy to duplicate with various sentiments.  My card base is sahara sand.  The next layer is dry embossed with the Cuttlebug divine swirls folder, then sponged with lost lagoon ink.  I added three pieces of thick bakers twine.  My image is SU's "Sail Away," stamped in Stazon jet black on very vanilla.  I sponged both sahara and lagoon  ink around the edges.  Since I wanted more of the pistachio incorporated, I used it for the sentiment layer; a simple circle on the corner.  The sentiment is from "Delightful Dozen."

Thanks for stopping by...I'm going to keep stamping this afternoon!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

YES! I am STILL Here!

Hey there, Stamping Friends!

I have been absent from this blog for over a month...tsk tsk!  I had only made 2 cards since the last post, until today.  I kept thinking I would get back into my creative mode, but it just wasn't happening.  But I have been very busy with other things.  I attended a conference in St Louis right after Easter and I sang at two different women's events in the diocese.  I am most excited about having a Mother's Day column PUBLISHED in our diocesan newspaper this week!  WooHoo!  Additionally, that article prompted an on-air interview yesterday on SirusXM radio!  Hopefully these media accomplishments will help with my speaking events!

If you want to read my column, just click here.

I have made 3 cards today, plus I mailed 8 cards from my stash!  Feels good to start catching up!  I will post pictures of the new cards tomorrow (I hope).  But I decided to post a picture of the card I made a couple of weeks ago, but had not yet posted.

I have 2 nephews with late April birthdays,and I had no guy cards in my stash. I wanted to do a Freshly Made Sketch challenge, and I actually made this on time for the deadline.  However, I didn't like my photo...and I had to mail both of the cards immediately (I made duplicates.)  I'll probably do the challenge again for fun.

This card features SU's "Soho Subway" dsp...which I bought 2 years ago and had NEVER used!  This made me realize that I do NOT need to by the soon-to-retire dsp this month.  Must.Not.Spend. LOL Anyway, I thought the pattern with all of the numbers would be fun for a birthday card. The card base is early espresso.  The little turtle is from "Fox and Friends" stamped in not quite navy, and the sentiment is from "Just Sayin'" stamped in early espresso.  After punching holes, I added just a bit of summer starfruit thick bakers twine.

I like how these turned out, and may end up using that Soho paper after all!

Thanks for helping me dust off my blog!  I hope to be back tomorrow...hmmm, not sure.  It's Mother's Day!  If not tomorrow, I'll see you Monday!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Mashup for the Guys!

TGIFM!

Thank Goodness it's Friday Mashup!

Hello everyone!  I have had so much fun as a Guest Designer for the Friday Mashup this month!  What I enjoy the most is visiting so many blogs to see YOUR creations!  Such a fabulous variety!  This week is my last as a guest designer...but you will see me playing along as much as I can in the future!

Today's challenge comes from Bree.  It's a fun sketch, or a masculine card...or Mash it Up to make a masculine card using this sketch.  Of course, I am Mashing things Up!

It's been a while since I have made a square card, but once I chose my image an started gathering elements, I knew I needed a wider layout.  But as I began assembling pieces, I realize that I varied the sketch...just a bit.  My card base is sahara sand, and I used two different patterns from "Nautical Expedition" dsp (plus one in the photo!)  My image is SU's "Sail Away." I colored it a bit with blender pens using sahara sand, cherry cobbler, and not quite navy. I also sponged a bit of not quite navy in the water and sky though it is hard to see in the photo.  For the scallop detail, I used some denim cut with my Sizzix circle die in my Big Shot.  The denim is from an old shirt that my husband has, errr, ummm, outgrown.  The fabric is in good shape, so yes, I saved it!  Since this card is for him, he'll get a little bit of his shirt back!  Ha!  Each scallop is starting to fray a little, but I like this unexpected detail.  The sentiment is from SU's "Happiest Birthday Wishes."  The enamel dots are Prima brand, and the bakers twine is from SU.

My picture isn't great, but I can't ask Bruce to take the photo since the card is for him.  His birthday is in July...can't believe I am this early!

Thanks for stopping by!  I sure hope you join us by playing along with this week's challenge!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Mashin' Up a Sketch

Hello Stamping Friends

I am posting a card for The Friday Mash-Up...barely on time.  I had a different plan for this card, and I made a huge mess with some black embossing powder.  Oh my.  So, in a pinch to get this uploaded, I made a simpler version.  This is also for last week's sketch challenge on SCS.

I am going to add details after church tonight.

Oops...it is now Thursday morning!  HA!  Any way, here is what I used.  My card base is crumb cake.  I embossed a piece of basic black with this Tim Holtz folder that has gears on it.  I distressed a piece of Limited Edition dsp by crinkling it up and sponging it with crumb cake ink.  Another Tim Holtz folder has this "umbrella man" which has a vintage feel.  Originally, I tried to do the embossed embossing with this figure.  What a mess!  Getting the black powder on that skinny umbrella handle; keeping the shape of the figure crisp and clean...yeah, that wasn't happening!  So, I embossed another piece of very vanilla, and simply sponged crumb cake on it. I added 2 black brads, and placed it on the dsp with dimensionals.  My next glitch?  I planned on using the word bubble that says "You're how Old?" to use this for my brothers birthday card.  BUT the direction of the bubble was wrong...it would have been as if someone off scene was asking umbrella man how old he is.  Oops.  So I used this other sentiment from "Just Saying'" and cut it out with the Word Bubble framelit.  I think it works well with this image.  Finally, I added some kitchen string, just because the card "needed" something else.  Thankfully, I uploaded to the Friday Mashup blog just in time!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Get Well, Jason

Hello everyone!  Here I am, blogging my 3rd card of the year...2nd card today!  I started my week by listing all of the cards I need for this month.  It was quite a list, since I have 2 new great-nieces, 2 people I know having surgeries, 8 birthdays, a cousin whose long-time boyfriend passed away, and my nurse manager preparing to retire February 1st.  Oh, not to mention those last minute 2012 Christmas cards!  LOL!

Today's card features the sketch challenge on SCS found here.  At first, I had no interest in using it, but decided to give it a go.  It isn't a complete match, but close! One of my nephew-in-laws had out-patient surgery today.  He loves cars (works as an auto mechanic), and hopes to get back to work soon.

My card base is soft suede textured card stock.  My layers are river rock and 2 patterns from Well Worn dsp, and I used my ticket corner punch.  The sentiment is from SU's Thoughts and Prayers, stamped in not-quite-navy.  The two embossed images are from Tim Holtz, as are the metal gears, which I attached with Tombow glue.  I sponged with soft suede and not quite navy ink.  My dusty durango ribbon is a little low for the sketch, but I did not want to cover the car!

I had fun creating this, as it is always a challenge to make guy cards.  I hope Jason likes it!  Even more, I hope he truly does get well soon!

Thanks for coming by again!

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

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}}}

Friday Mashup!! Sketchy for Dad

Hello Dear Stamping Friends! It's Friday, and that means it is time for another Friday Mashup challenge!  http://www.fridaymashup.com/  Today is my final project as a Design Team member...BooHoo!  This was my first ever DT gig, and I had a BLAST!  I am so grateful to Holly for giving me a chance to participate.  It has been a great year with so many fantastic challenges!  I have learned a lot, and have *met* so many fabulous stampers!  This week's challenge was a little tricky, just 'cuz I was packing for vacation, and my mojo was stalled out.  Yep...as this post goes live, I will be in Virginia and DC...WooHoo!  So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :



• Make a project for " That special Man in your life ".
• Or Make a project with the " Sketch ".
• Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Masculine card using the above Sketch ".

Well, when I first made this card, I felt like it needed something more.  But after wandering around the forests and hills of Virginia this week, I think it is just fine!  My husband loves enjoying nature, and so I think he will enjoy this card.  I began with a search for designer paper...intending to use Woodland Walk (I think that's the name) but couldn't find it.  No worries...Lisa used it on her amazing card!  Having little time to spare before I finished packing, I came across an older retired fall package of DSP.  No clue what the name is, but that is where I got the color palette.  My card base is soft suede.  The lower squares (including the more mustard layer) are dsp.  For the top square, I stamped the leaves from Lovely as a Tree in always artichoke on whisper white.  Using my blender pen, I colored with retired mellow moss ink.  Then I embossed it with the square lattice impressions folder in my Big Shot, and sponged with both soft suede and always artichoke, then popped up with dimensionals.  I added the sentiment from (Trusty) Teeny Tiny Wishes with the usual word window and modern label punches.  A big designer button and baker's twine finish it off.

I hope you join us this week for this great challenge!  Masculine cards can be tricky, but we all need them sometime!  Be sure to use keyword FM60 in your online gallery.  See the other DT cards on the Friday Mashup blog!  http://www.fridaymashup.com/

While I am signing off as a DT member, I most certainly will visit the Friday Mashup again!  How could I not?  Long-time DT members, plus the new faces...These girls are FABULOUS!!  See you around the paper-crafting-blogosphere!!

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}}}

Let's Celebrate a Double Challenge!

Hello everyone! I am so excited to be posting today! I have been busy for weeks making wedding invitations, Valentines for the fund raiser, and Friday Mashup cards...but nothing else. Today, I had the chance to work with 2 blog challenges I enjoy but haven't played for a long, long time! I combined this week's ColourQ and Paper Players challenges.

The colors for the ColourQ are, well, a bit odd to me! For one thing, I never liked dusty durango that much. It seemed almost tragic to combine it with my beloved baja breeze! LOL! However, when I looked at the Paper Players, challenging us to make a masculine card, I decided that would be the way to use these colors.

The colors make this card appear to have a lot going on, but it really is clean and simple! All of my products are from Stampin' Up! I started with a dusty durango card base. I only have a few sheets left, and I really wondered if I'd ever use them! I made my own pattern paper using the challenge colors (dusty durango, lucky limeade, baja breeze, and basc gray) with the Extreme Elements stamp set on very vanilla. Next, I stamped the Extreme Guitar guy with basic gray ink, which I "swiped" across the image to give more grundgy look. I layered it on baja breeze, and added cajun craze brads (from the regal brad collection.) My star and oval punches came in handy, and I added a sentiment from On Your Birthday, popped up with dimensionls. That's it!

I stamped the images inside as well, plus added a belated birthday sentiment from the same On Your Birthday set. This stamp gets way too much use! LOL! Time to send it to my nephew-in-law. I'll add a DQ gift card; who cares that the card is late, right?
Be sure to check out the ColourQ challenge here.

The Paper Players challenge blog has a design team call out right now. Looks fun, but too much happening at work in March and April for me. I'll have to stick around as a fan!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Manly Valentines!

Hello Stamping Friends! I am posting a couple of Valentines which are geared a bit more toward guys. I hate to stereotype...but let's face it. So many Valentines are frilly, sparkly and filled with pink! As a card maker, it is tough for me to create interesting guy cards to begin with. Add that challenge to a holiday marked by roses and chocolate, and it's easy to get stumped! But with a little outside-the-box thinking, I came up with some fun creations!! I actually CASED myself on both of these...but hey, if you like a card, why not tweek it just a bit for a new purpose!! My new purpose is a small fund raiser. I am selling Valentines for a local network of service organizations. You can read about my busy project by clicking on the tab Projects for LIFE!

This first card is a combo of elements from this anniversary card and this get well card. I started with a basic black card base, adding a strip of black pattern paper. Using my Extreme Elements stamp set I stamped in cherry cobbler and basic gray ink. The Extreme Guitar is heat embossed...black craft ink AND black embossing powder to get it solid! I added a star in cherry cobbler and a sentiment from the Hostess set Perfect Words punched out with an oval punch. Silver brads, and long-ago retired red twine finish it out.

The next card features the Nautical Expedition dsp and The Open Sea stamp set. I CASE'd this birthday card I recently made for my brother-in-law. My card base is early espresso, and I used early espresso bakers twine. I stamped with not quite navy, cherry cobbler, and early espresso ink on whisper white card stock. The sentiment is from Word Play...isn't it perfect for a Valentine?

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

Friday Mashup! Birthday Pastels!

Hello Stamping Friends! It's the first Friday of the year, and we are ready to roll (and stamp!) at the Friday Mashup!!

1. Make a Birthday project



2. Make a project using Pastels
   


3. Or Mash it Up and make a Birthday project using pastels
   

Many times we think of pastels for women...soft tones, even pastel shades. But I needed a card for another brother-in-law (I have 8 of them!) whose birthday is next week. Like his brother (my hubby), George spent many years in the Navy. So, using "The Open Sea" and the retired Nautical Expedition dsp was the perfect choice. I started with a basic gray card base, and added various pieces of the Nautical Expedition dsp. I stamped the 2 images in versamark on whisper white card stock. The ship was colored by using a sponge dauber and not quite navy Stampin' Pastels, "thumping" the color into the image. I used ruby red for the compass (it's a retired set of pastels!). I used pastels also on the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes. My punches came in handy...the word window, modern label and circle punch. Dimensionals and baker's twine are the final details.

So, feminine or masculine looks, I hope you can join us this week at the Friday Mashup! Check out the challenge blog and see some great inspiration!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}