Late and Final Mashups

Hello and Happy Friday Saturday!!

I started this post yesterday around lunch time, and posted the badges and one card, but really wanted to get the other card done also.  I made it last night, but too late to feel like blogging.  Any way...

Earlier this year, I set my stamping goals:  complete all of this year's Friday Mashup challenges and all of this year's SCS Featured Stamper challenges.  Well, I was doing fine with Mashups, until Holly announced she was retiring that blog.  I left two undone...and I just can't have that!  So here they are...

I needed two birthday cards for guys in the family; one my side, one Bruce's side.  Is it cheating that I made the same card for them?  I don't think so!  I really liked this sketch, and decided to also pull out a past SCS color challenge. (The other part of the Mashup was to do an Easter card.  I opted out of that part, for obvious reasons.)  Despite all my stamping goals, color challenges are still my favorite!  The colors to use were lost lagoon, basic gray, and hello honey.  I absolutely LOVE lost lagoon!  These colors are used in SU's paper stack "Moonlight," so that is what I used for the diagonal stripes.  The image is "Sail Away," colored with markers and some sponging, then mounted on gray.  I added a sentiment from "On Your Birthday" stamped on an oval. Simple bakers twine wraps it all up.


Next, this Friday Mashup gave us color and shimmer to combine.  I really did add shimmer,but you can't see it in the photo.  I needed yet another baby girl card.  The card base is pink pirouette.  I added a simple layer of tempting turquoise. On whisper white, I stamped these feet and hand prints in pink pirouette and melon mambo.  I used markers to add color variation to the sentiment.  The pretty in pink circle is dry embossed and brushed shimmer spritz.  After punching out the sentiment, I dabbed more shimmer on the scallops. The pretty organza ribbon has a touch of shimmer also.

So, that's it.  My belated farewell to the talented and fun ladies of The Friday Mashup.  I still follow a bunch of them, because they are still talented.  Hope to run into them again in some other challenge blog!  Since the Friday Mashup is retired, I switched my blog challenge goal to The Paper Players.  I am almost caught up with them...stay tuned!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Summer VSN Sketch!!

Hello Stampers!!

Tonight begins the Summer Virtual Stamp Night!! (The VSN badge has the wrong dates...sorry!)  I am hosting again, and I hope you can join my sketch challenge!  I love layers and angles...and you will find those in this sketch.
I made two summer themed cards, flipping the sketch for variety.

My first card features 2 previous In-Colors that are back in the "regular" palette for Stampin' Up...Bermuda Bay & Crushed Curry.  The images are from "By the Tide" and the sentiment is from "Word Play."  I like the Wish Big with a fish!  This will be for one of my brothers-in-law, who has a summer birthday.  Button, ribbon, and baker's twine finish it off.

My next card features long-retired DSP called Tropical Party.  I kid you not...I have a drawer with leftover card kits from my demo days, and that is where I found this turquoise card base and dsp.  Felt great to actually make a card that I will actually mail!  Very simple, using the "Tropical Party" and "On Your Birthday" stamps.  Colors are rose red, old olive, tempting turquoise, and pumpkin pie.

Hope you join the VSN challenges this weekend!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Hello Stamping Friends!

Life is crazy...and that means my blog gets ignored.  Sigh!  Frankly, my stamps have been ignored too!  But recently I completed 4 SCS Inspiration Challenges in one day!  It was a lot of fun...and I managed to get them uploaded on my SCS gallery, but not here.  So I am just going to do a quick write up...

The first inspiration challenge had lots of beautiful carved items, wood tones with some portions painted white.  I used this piece of retired creamy caramel, white craft ink, and the Just Believe stamp set as main highlights.  The wood grain embossing folder, lace trim and butterfly embosslit add some details...and let's not forget Teeny Tiny Wishes!









The next challenge had us look at photographs from major cities around the world. I was inspired by a photo of the fabulous Ferris wheel on Chicago's Navy Pier.  I used this Sentimental stamp set from Sale-a-bration (which has 3 wonderful vintage images) and The Open Sea to make my own pattern paper on a piece cut out with the top note die.   I added some baker's twine and striped ribbon, with On Your Birthday again.  The colors are night of navy, cherry cobbler, and soft suede.  The card also works for a recent sketch challenge.






My third card was tricky, but fun to make.  The inspiration site had lots of fabulous fabric and accessories.  I was inspired by this piece.  I have a cajun craze card base, used Paisley Petals stamp set, and went to town with blender pens.  Not exactly what I envisioned, but overall, I like it!  The black satin ribbon adds some drama, and the sentiment (Blessings from Heaven) softens things up.

My final card for this post is a quick, CAS card.  I was inspired by a cute tote...which I cannot link now because it sold out!  LOL.  It was woven, simple color block with reddish-brown leather straps.  *wink*  My card is crumb cake, pacific point, touches of cajun craze and vanilla.  The sentiment is Thank You Kindly.  My ribbon is retired dusty durango, hiding the polka dot side.  The large brads are from a craft store.

Whew!  At least I am catching up!  Thanks for stopping by again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Late for the Mash-up!

Hello Friends!

So this was a Friday Mashup challenge, which I completed "on time" but never uploaded.  In fact, I am uploading it hear LATER than this post indicates.  I don't mean to bear false witness...just trying to catch up on some blogging without jamming up my posts!  Holly had a triple challenge... 1) use you brayer (I brayered various colors over my new embossing folder I got with my SU Sale-a-Bration order) 2) use butterflies (I used my favorite embosslits to make this batch) and 3) use the sketch she  presented...which was a simple array of butterflies and a sentiment.  Ta-dah!  I added bashful blue satin ribbon and basic rhinestones.  My card base is confetti white, as is the embossed layer.  The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, on a scalloped oval.  The colors...daffodil delight, certainly celery, and bashful blue were for a SCS color challenge.

Quick...easy...and very fun!

Thanks for stopping by to help me dust off my blog!  *wink*

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Friday Mash-Up-Catch-Up!

Hello Stamping Friends!

Today I have not one, but 2 cards for The Friday Mashup!  You see, I did this week's challenge last night...but I never uploaded last week's challenge.  So I decided to just post it today any way for fun.  My first card Mashes-up the color palette of so saffron, pool party, and real red (and a neutral) with a baby theme.  I had been eyeing this adorable stamp set from My Favorite Things for MONTHS, but held off since I was focused on SU demo work.  But last fall, MFT had a major clearance sale...I spent a big chunk of moolah...and finally bought this set, called "Baby Bump" from the "Who's That Girl?" series.  (Ironically, this set was NOT on sale...but since I saved money elsewhere, I bought it!)

Since my ministry focuses on pregnant teens and women, it's perfect!  We have a program where needy moms can earn points by doing healthy things (finish a semester of school, keep pre-natal appointments, complete a budget plan, attend church, etc.) and then she "buys" baby items with her points.  Sadly, we have a waiting list (but points are earned during that time too)...but when a spot becomes available, she goes through an orientation process where she sets goals.  Basically I want to make cards to welcome women to the program!  I doubt they will all be this involved though!

The colors were set by the FM challenge...the sketch by MFT Stamps.  Each month, they give stampers a chance to complete a challenge for a chance to become  Guest DT member for a month.  Oh Joy!  The sketch called for a circle, but this image has a rectangular outline, so this is a variation.  My card base is pool party, and I added a pattern in pool party found in Comfort Cafe dsp.  The real red and so saffron are long retired SU patterns.  I stamped this shoppin' mama in basic black craft ink, and heat embossed with black powder.  I also stamped the image on each of the colored patterned papers for paper piecing.  VERY tricky!  The rest of the image is colored with SU markers or sponged (creamy caramel on the skin, going gray on the boots, sahara sand on the sidewalk).  The sentiment is from the same set (our clients can actually shop long after the "drop"...until baby turns 1 year old!)  SU ribbon and button add needed details, and dimensionals add a pregnant-worthy bumpy card!

What I love about the Who's That Girl stamps is that there is no ethnicity seen...you can color skin to personalize the card...which is perfect for our ministry needs!  Plus the open images are fun to color in so many ways.  Face it...no one really out grows their love for coloring!  I may not paper-piece as much as the MFT team, but I am having fun expanding my options!  Each of the MFT images come with a variety of sentiments with matching fonts...so mixing and matching is fun and easy to do!  If I had the blessing of joining them, I would be so excited to show that mix and match feature!

Last week's Mash-up had a sketch and bunny option...so here comes Flopsey!! (also from My Favorite Things)  I also combined this with a color challenge on splitcoaststampers that I had skipped (chocolate chip, crumb cake, certainly celery).  I have a friend with a March 17 birthday.  This cutey is actually holding hearts, but I used my heart punch and created a shamrock.  This sentiment from SU's On Your Birthday.  Details include SU's fancy fan embossing folder, framelits, punches, and ribbon.  The brads are from a mixed pack from HL.

It has been fun playing with my buddies at the Friday Mashup again!!  And it has been fun stretching my creativity with new stamps.  Too bad the clean-up isn't any fun!  LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

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

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

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

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}}}

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}}}

Friday Mashup!! Scurrying is a "Learned Art"

Hello and Happy Friday, everyone!! Time for another Friday Mashup! http://www.fridaymashup.com/ We have a fun challenge this week from Holly...

1. Make a project using your "Favorite Muppet color combo"
2. Or make a project "for kids"
3. Or make a project "For kids...using your favorite Muppet color combo"

WooHoo!! I love the Muppets! Very silly, but oh so adorable! The toughest part was deciding which Muppet to use as my inspiration. Of course, there's Kermit...and I love Animal and Gonzo! But I decided to pick the sassy and always hungry "Rizzo the Rat." He's the only rat I enjoy watching!! ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enrMChZPOc8 )

Everything here is frm Stampin' Up. My card features the colors riding hood red, chocolate chip, river rock, basic black and (retired) crushed curry. Hey...gotta use up my stash! I embossed the chocolate chip with the houndstooth folder in my Big Shot. The small and mid-sized circles were punched out; the large circle was made with the Sizzix circles die. I embossed most of the circles with perfect polka dots. The little fox (in lieu of a rat!) is from Fox and Friends. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday. I used my chocolate chip marker for the dots on the large circle to keep it flatter. The striped ribbon is long-retired...again, trying to use up stuff. I like the way the stripes contrast with the circles. Hope you do too!

Be sure to check out this week's challenge http://www.fridaymashup.com/ ...and play along! Use keyword FM54 in your gallery...and tell us who your favorite Muppet is!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Double Challenge for a Nephew

Second post today!! I made this card for the color challenge (lucky limeade, peach parfait, and pool party) over at splitcoaststampers, plus today's sketch challenge.

Very quick card! Basic black card base with a layer of whisper white, sponged with the challenge colors. I heat embossed this Extreme Skateboard image. I added the word window punched out pieces at the top (embossed with poladot impressions plate), and a circle in the opposite corner to match the sketch. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday.

Lots of nephews with birthdays coming up soon! Thanks for stopping by!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Luck of the Irish!

Hello Stamping Friends!! It's Friday...WooHoo! I have had an intense week at work, so I a sooooooooooo ready for the weekend! I am doing a Stampin' Up workshop tomorrow, which will be a fun change of pace. In the meantime, it's time for another Friday Mashup challenge...and Rita is the hostess with the mostest! The theme is perfect for March, and truly perfect for ths little Irish gal! Hope you play along!

1. Make a project for St. Patrick's Day

2. Make a project using at least 2 punches

3. Or Mash it Up and make a project for St. Patrick's Day using at least 2 punches

I went back and forth in this challenge. I have 2 customers who have birthdays on March 17th, so I figure a birthday card would be good. Then there was this funky color challenge on splitcoaststampers. I decided to Mash it all up!!

I started with a river rock card base. My verse, the famous Irish blessing, is from another stamp company (Our Daily Bread Designs.) I stamped it in basic black on very vanilla. Next, I punched out 4 hearts, placed them down with dotto (temporary adhesive) and sponged all around with river rock ink, then garden green ink. I nearly forgot a stem...but it's barely there! I added this delicate ribbon in lucky limeade (FREE Sale-a-Bration goodie!). The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, in lucky limeade, mounted on very vanilla and garden green in the familiar duo of the word window and modern label punches. That's it...very quick, clean, and simple!

Be sure to play along...use keyword FM48 in your online gallery, and link up to the Friday Mashup blog, where you will see some very fun inspiration projects!

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}}}

Friday Mashup! Delinquent Penguin!

Hello and Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Mashup challenge...and sadly I am a bit behind this week. (Ergo, the "delinquent" penguin!) It is actually Saturday...I had a rough week at work. I am datingthis post on Friday, hoping to get other stamping done and posted this weekend. We'll see! But before I tell you about this week's challenge, I need to let you know that we are having another "Fan Favorite" Challenge! WooHoo!! YOU get a chance to create an upcoming challenge! Just check out this post on the Friday Mashup blog to learn more. Now this week's challenge from Lisa is a fun one! Here it is:

1. Make a project using the "Spotlighting Technique"



2. Make a project featuring "Penguins"



3. Or Mash it Up...and make a project using the Spotlighting technique and Penguins!

Well, I have just one penguin stamp which I bought years ago at a big box craft store from the dollar store. It's not really good for the spotlight technique (instructions seen here)...plus Iam deliquent already! So I did not mash things up this week.

Everything other than the penguin is from Stampin' Up. My card has an indigo island base, with a layer of whisper white which I ran through the Big Shot with the perfect polka dots, then sponged with wisteria wonder and pool party ink. I then added some layers of whisper white which I stamped with Serene Snowflakes. I tore the edges, sponged with wisteria wonder and added dazzling diamonds. My penquin was stamped with craft ink, and I added black embossing powder, then heat embossed. The imageis cut out and popped up with dimensionals. Instead of balloons, my penguin is holding snowflakes which I cut out with some sizzlits. I added wisteria wonder baker's twine, found in the Ocassions Mini catalog. Finally, the sentiment is from On Your Birthday, layered with an oval and scallopoval punches. Keeping the delinquent theme...the inside mentions this is a belated birthday card! LOL!!

Hope you check out the other design team projects...they are so fun! Join us this week, and use keyword FM45 in your gallery.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup!! Shake, Shake, Shake, Senora!!

Hello Stamping Friends! My post is a bit late...guess who fell asleep on the couch in front of the TV last night? Sheesh! Yesterday was my first day back to work after vacation, and it was BUSY! Thank goodness I have the weekend coming just around the corner! LOL!

This week's Friday Mashup http://www.fridaymashup.com is a lot of fun! It comes from one of our newer Design Team members, Rita. I LOVE her creations! But wow...she really challenged me this week! Ready to be challenged? Here ya go!

1. Make a project featuring a "Shaker card"
2. Make a project featuring a "Winter Theme"
3. Or Mash it Up and make a Shaker card with a winter theme!

I don't mind admitting that I had never made a shaker card before. Wait...just one, in a club before I was a demo. I forgot about that one. But I had no window sheets or foam tape...what to do, what to do?? Well, Duh! I have these fabulous treat cups! Last time I used one, I filled it with candy, which was fun, but not the same effect. Today's card has pretty (but not edible!) Mica Flakes, found in the Stampin' Up Holiday Mini catalog. My card base is baja breeze, with some blushing bride, then a layer of whisper white stamped with Serene Snowflakes. My treat cup is surrounded by a scrap of retired Candy Cane dsp, with real red snowflakes inside. Weird to have red snowflakes, I know. But it goes with the dsp and I wanted them visible behind the flakes! The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, punched with the decorative label punch, and layered over garden green card stock. My ribbon is the fabulous blushing bride twill ribbon.

This card requires hand delivery or a big, padded envelope. I am sending it to a dear friend in Colorado. Then again, maybe she doesn't need anymore snow! LOL!

Hope you can join us again this week at the Friday Mashup! http://www.fridaymashup.com Can't wait to see what's shakin'!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup!! Everything's Coming Up Rosettes!

Hello and Happy Friday, Everyone!! It's time for another fun and fabulous Friday Mashup http://www.fridaymashup.com/ challenge!! This week, Holly has a great sketch for us, plus a "technique"...

1. Make a project using "Paper Rosettes"
2. Make a project using the sketch above
3. Or Mash it Up and make a project with paper rosettes using the sketch above!

Aye, aye, aye!! I really struggle with paper flowers (other plain punches! LOL!) I have the new Simply Score tool from Stampin' Up...but my fine motor skills stink!! So, while many of the uber talented design team members created some FABULOUS rosettes, accordion-style, I took a different approach. I TRIED the great accordion flowers...several times. Tried the spiral-cut-scallop-circle-flower-...Nada.

So, you get a PUNCHED "flower!" Hey, at least I got the sketch right! LOL!

The sketch is flipped, since I had this piece of card stock cut and ready to go. My card base is early espresso. I used some Paisley Petals dsp, plus made some of my own with the Paisley Petals stamp set (arrived in my home this week!) My hand made designer paper was stamped on whisper white card stock, using early espresso ink and colored with blender pens. I used river rock, soft suede, pear pizazz and not quite navy ink...then sponged with river rock and pear pizazz. I pulled out my neglected ticket corner punch for the stamped panel and layer of not quite navy. For the flower, I punched out an extra large baja breeze scallop circle, sponged with not quite navy ink. I layered it with a large designer button found in the Holiday Mini, and added a sentiment from On Your Birthday. I still have 2 birthdays to take care of this month!!

Hope you join us foer this week's challenge! Be sure to check out the inspiration pieces from the design team on the Friday Mashup blog! http://www.fridaymashup.com/

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup!! Let's hear it for the Girls!!

Happy Friday, everyone!! As you are reading this, I am enjoyinga long weekend in South Carolina! I have a speaking engagement in Rock Hill tomorrow, then I'll spend a couple of days with my mom. Should be fun! But before heading out, I had fun with this week's Friday Mashup, brought to us by Kasey! Ready? Here it is:

1. Make a project featuring a Girly Theme


2. Make a project using Your Favorite Technique


3. Or Mash it Up...and make a project with a Girly theme, using your favorite technique.

Well, because I hosted a big party this past weekend, and I am traveling this weekend, I had to think FAST! And so I decided to Mash it Up with one of my favorite techniques from my earliest stamping days: Making my own Designer Paper!! I was inspired by my Stampin' Up designer paper, Flirtatious (girly title!), which was out on my table already since my nieces (young girls) were using it Sunday. But I wanted different colors, so I decided to make my own. I started with a wisteria wonder card base, then stamped randomly on whisper white with my Delicate Doilies (very girly!!) stamp set. I used wisteria wonder, lucky limeade, pool party, and concord crush classic inks. I embellished with concord twill ribbon and basic jewel rhinestones. My sentiment is from On Your Birthday, stamped in concord, with some limeade doilies...punched out with my scallop circle and layered overe an extra large scallop circle in pool party. Of course, the smaller circle is popped up with dimensionals.

I love lots of techniques...but embossing and watercoloring takes a bit more time. Don't be afraid to pull out some basics when you need a quick card. You could crank out a lot of these in no time!

...That is, if you don't have to pack your bags for a road trip! Be sure to check out the Friday Mashup blog for inspiration from the design team, and use keyword FM32 in your online gallery. Can't wait to see what you create!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Happy Birthday with a Double Challenge!

Tomorrow, I am hosting a birthday party for my mother-in-law, so of course, I needed a card. I combined this week's color challenge on splitcoaststampers (it's been ages since I have participated!) with this week's Paper Players blog challenge...due in 20 minutes!! Aaaack!! It is due on Fridays at midnight...but Pacific time. So yes, it is nearly 2 a.m. in my home. I should be in bed! LOL!!

The Paper Player's Challenge is Anything Goes, with a Fall theme. Well, the color challenge is a fabulous fall palatte...more mustard, always artichoke, and bravo burgundy. Easy to combine these challenges!!

All of the productgs used are from Stampin' Up except those 2 little gold beads. I have had them for years...just wanted some shine, and it was too late to add brads. (Yes, the leaves

were already attached!)
I started with an always artichoke card base, and added a layer of very vanilla which was embossed with the big shot and square lattice impressions folder, then sponged with mustard and burgundy inks. I stamped the sentiment from On Your Birthday in burgundy on vanilla card stock, tore the edges a bit, then sponged with artichoke ink. I layered it with some spice cake dsp and burgundy card stock. I used sizzix leaves die and the big shot, then embossed the leaves also with the square lattice folder. Some dimensionals make this a plump card...but it will be hand delivered! One more thing...I added 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in the challenge colors.

Now...gotta get some sleep. I have a lot of house cleaning to do before the party!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! That's a Wrap!!

Hello Stampin' Friends! It's time for another Friday Mashup...and I am your challenge hostess this week! I hope you have fun with it! I like to stretch myself by creating cards with different features or folds. One feature is the "belly band" which wraps around your project. I also like using twine as an alternative to my ribbon addiction. Both of these give us our challenge: That's a Wrap! (Blogger is giving me fits...hang in there with me!)

1. Create a project with a Belly Band

2. Create a project using twine

3. Or Mash it Up and Create a project with a belly band and twine!

For my project, I made a "squash card" which was a technique lover's challenge on splitcaststampers a few years back. This thread includes a tutorial. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/try-new-technique-f44/tlc201-fun-funky-fold-t406759-3.html#post12499784

I used "Pocket Full of Posies" dsp, cut down to 10x10, and folded to make a 5x5 card. This pattern is so fun, I didn't have to embellish much. The belly band is a one inch strip of the flip side. I added bakers twine in early espresso. Using my decorative label and 2 oval punches, I added a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes. The card stock is daffodil delight, pear pizazz and whisper white.

On the inside, I added layers of pear pizzazz and whisper white. I colored the large image from "Hello Friend" with my pear and razzleberry markers. The sentiment from the lower panel is retired. The top panel uses On Your Birthday and a smaller stamp from Hello Friend which I repeated along the top border. Both squares are also sponged. I did not add brads or other bumpy items inside so the card would close well, and the belly band would still fit.

You don't have to make a squash card. In fact, the design team has a great variety of inspiration projects to get you started! Have fun with jt! Check out the Friday Mashup blog, http://www.fridaymashup.com/2011/10/fm29-thats-wrap.html and upload your Wrapped projects by next Wednesday! I'll be looking for the Rock Star!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}