Virtual Stamp Night...Mini Time!

Hi Stamping Friends!

Last night was the Mini version of our winter Virtual Stamp Night over at Splitcoaststampers.  Our theme this time is "Holiday Stories," with challenges inspired by some off our favorite books!

For the Mini, the three VSN moderators (Lee, Misti & I) each hosted a challenge.  The full, VSN event will be Friday December 14 & Saturday December 15.

Misti started us off with "A Charlie Brown Christmas."  We were to use a Christmas tree on our  project - full or tiny like Charlie Brown's.  I couldn't believe my lack of Christmas tree images!  Fortunately, I had this one from SU's "Snow Much Fun."  I used my aqua brush and markers to color it.The upper portion is dry embossed and sponged, and I added ribbon that I have had for years (ballet blue!).  Mica flakes were glued on for snow, and a few rhinestones were added for even more bling.

I hosted the next challenge, inspired by "Little Women."  It isn't specifically a holiday novel, but many chapters take place during various holidays.  I challenged everyone to use vintage elements.  My card has an embossed background that looks like hand written script, much like Jo's letters in the book.  My stamps are from Our Daily Bread Designs, colored with a blender pen and heavily sponged after I tore the edges.  Crochet trim is paired with seam binding.


Finally, Lee asked us to be inspired by "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," using the classic color palette of green, red, and white (black in limited use.)  I opted for this Tim Holtz "Crazy Bird" topped with a hand drawn Santa hat.  The sentiment is from SU's "Tags til Christmas."  I know a few people who are eligible for this card!  LOL

I am looking forward to the Main VSN next month.  Be sure to check out the VSN Forum here and mark your calendars!  There are even a few prizes to be won! 


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

More Colorful Cards!

Happy Friday!

Wednesday was the last day to submit projects for the Dare to Get Dirty challenges.  I have been stamping off and on, combining DTGD with previous challenges from The Color Throwdown.  I started this post on Monday, thinking I would get more done before the deadline.  3 of these cards were done by then, but I did 1 yesterday, and 1 today.  I figured I would start with the newest Color Throwdown, then add some from months ago.  I am determined to do all of the 2017 challenges!

In addition to the color challenge and a DTGD challenge (which I cannot specify), this card is also for yesterday's Way to Use It challenge to use a faux technique.  I chose faux mother of pearl; something I have never done, but it is super easy!  My card base is coastal cabana, with a layer of Flirtatious dsp.  To create the mother-of-pearl background, I dabbed metallic acrylic white paint from Folk Art on glossy white card stock.  After it dried, I generously sponged pink pirouette ink over it, then wiped off excess ink to highlight the shimmer.  I stamped flowers from "Fifth Avenue Floral" in wisteria wonder and pink pirouette, then fussy cut them.  I added pink leaves made with my Sizzlit.  The sentiment is from "Sincere Salutations" on a decorative label, outlined in coastal cabana.  Ruffled ribbon adds a soft touch. 

This card is for a great-niece who has just turned one year old.  She is soooo cute.  Of course, I am biased!  I thought this palette (from February...can you tell?) would be cute for her.  The card base is chocolate chip, with a layer of pink pirouette pattern paper. The kitten is from Paper Smooches "Chubby Chums."  My sentiments are both SU:  "Teeny Tiny Wishes" and "Well Scripted."  I used my extra large scallop circle die, heart punch, and word label punch, plus my fluttering hearts embosslit die.  Ink colors are stazon jet black, creamy caramel, blushing bride, and real red.  Some sheer polka dot ribbon (from a swap) wraps it all up.  

Not sure what I think of this next card, but at least it's done!  The card base is basic black with a layer of dusty durango (surely, my last piece!)  I used SU stamps, "By the Tide," "Kinda Eclectic," and "Word Play."  After coloring the fish with tempting turquoise, summer sun, and dusty durango markers, I coated it with a versamarker and clear powder, then heat embossed.  The embellishments are tangerine tango striped ribbon, and non-SU shimmery enamel dots.  My fish looks a bit out of sorts, doesn't he?  LOL  

This past weekend, the mother of a dear friend lost her battle with cancer.  I wanted a card that would be easy to mail, but still have a lot of interest.  The card base is baja breeze, and I matted the main panel with chocolate chip.  The watercolor background took much longer than I expected!  I saturated my paper with water, then dabbed it with distress inks: dried marigold, stormy sky, frayed burlap, forest moss, and vintage photo.  After a few colors, I dried it with my heat tool.  I also splattered plain water, as well as diluted baja breeze and mellow moss inks.  After that layer dried, I stamped the leaves from SU's "Kinda Eclectic" in versamark, and heat embossed with copper.  It's my new favorite detail!  The main verse is from Our Daily Bread Designs, Scripture Series 3, stamped and embossed over baja breeze leaves.  The other sentiment is from the always-popular "Thoughts and Prayers" from SU.  The last detail is simple seam binding.  This is a larger card, measuring 5 x 7.

My last card today involves a very tricky color palette.  The pale green threw me for a loop, especially with the mustard tone, but I am happy with the result.  It uses this week's SCS sketch challenge.  My card base is rich razzleberry, with a layer of SU Venetian Romance dsp.  I stamped butterflies from "Kinda Eclectic" with razzleberry and pistachio pudding ink on very vanilla, then sponged with delightful dijon. The horizontal strip of delightful dijon is dry embossed with the chevron folder.  I colored the smallest flower from "Inspired by Nature" with markers in chocolate chip, delightful dijon, and garden green. The grass is made with pistachio and garden green.  Both stamped panels are outlined with markers to give an illusion of another layer.  Embosslit butterflies and enamel dots finish it off.

Now, it's time to clean up my VERY messy table!  If I had cleaned it completely before DTGD, I probably would have completed the challenges on time!  LOL   But I don't feel bad about this; I made - and mailed - more cards in the last 2 weeks than in the previous 3 months.  Back on the right track!

Hope to stay on track, too.  Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

I Did It!

Hello, and Happy Friday!!

I am sooooo excited to share a few cards with you today; cards that top off my goal to complete ALL of the 2016 challenges at The Paper Players!!  I started late, since I originally focused on a different blog.  After that blog challenge retired permanently, I switched and even decided to get work on early-month challenges.  I didn't do them in order (not even close!) but I got them done!  Of course, it helped that the talented ladies at The Paper Players are taking the last 2 weeks off for a Christmas break. Here goes...

This first card is for a holiday color challenge, and goes in my stack of Christmas cards.  The picture isn't great, but photographing a white card late at night when I finished this proved to be quite a challenge in itself! I used thick whisper white card stock for the base and top layer, which was embossed with the diagonal stripe folder.  Then, I pulled out my package of glimmer paper, which included several items already cut out: 2 gold ornaments and a silver scalloped piece made with the Tasteful Trim die.  The gold embroidery thread and silver beads are non-SU...no package left, so the brand is a mystery.  I added a Teeny Tiny Wishes greeting on a tiny word window piece for the final detail.  I may make a few more of these this weekend.  Still have many Christmas cards to finish!!  

Next, I am celebrating my great-nieces 4th birthday, which is about 2 weeks away.  This CAS challenge was one I started over the summer; not sure why I didn't get it done.  The blog badge sat in my folder, nagging me to get it done!  I should have finished it, because there was a chance for blog candy!  LOL    Making a birthday card was a nice reprieve from all of the Christmas cards I have been focusing on.  My card base is lovely lilac.  The dp is from DCWV (Nana's Kids); I have had this stack for years!  Lots of sparkle, which doesn't photograph well.  The image is from a swap...also years ago.  I colored it with SU markers.  The greeting is from "On Your Birthday," on a scalloped circle. With all of the sparkle, I opted not to add any embellishments.

Finally, another theme challenge.  When this first was posted, I thought I had nothing that would fit the theme.  In reality, I had a few items; a stamp or two, certainly some designer paper...but I used my initial thought as an excuse to SHOP!  I purchased this amazing silhouette set, "Ride 'em Cowboy," from Our Daily Bread Designs.  Again, I needed a birthday card, and I have a brother-in-law in Arizona.  He's not a cowboy, but I think he will like this.  The card base is cajun craze.  I used the direct-to-paper technique for the sky with rose red, cajun craze, crushed curry, marina mist, perfect plum and midnight muse inks, then sponged the edges.  This technique is trickier than I expected, but the random splotches kinda work, I think.  The main image is stamped in Memento Tuxedo black, and the coordinating greeting in midnight muse (though it looks lighter.)  I added some twine, striped dp, and enamel dots for the final look.  

That's it...ta-dah!  It has been lots of fun to work on this blog challenge goal.  I have a couple of blogs I am considering for 2017...stay tuned!  In the meantime, I have been busy prepping for Virtual Stamp Night, which is TONIGHT and TOMORROW!  As a hostess, I started making cards already so I can surf the galleries and comment on everyone's cards.  I hope you join me and the other VSN hostesses!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Featured Stamper Time!

Hello Stamping Friends!

If you have been following my blog at all, you know I have been busy catching up on the 2016 challenges at The Paper Players.  But the other half of my stamping goal is to complete all of the 2016 Featured Stamper challenges at Splitcoaststampers.  Honestly, before this past Sunday, I had only done 15 so far!  Yikes!  I probably won't be able to catch up,, but I'll see what I can do.

I decided to make a Christmas card each of these challenges, since I still need a lot of Christmas cards.  A few will be worth duplicating later on to help build up my stash.  I completed the four most recent Featured Stampers, along with the three oldest challenges that I had skipped.  Busy busy!  Here we go...

This week's Featured Stamper is Mary, aka octoberbabe.  I see her quite often in the gallery, including Virtual Stamp Night challenges.  I chose to CASE this card.  I kept the lost lagoon, even embossing it with the World Traveler folder.  I added a strip of All is Calm dsp.  The base and circle are brushed silver.  The sentiment is from "Greetings of the Season," stamped in pear pizzazz on a decorative label.  The image is from "Miracle of Christmas," stamped in lost lagoon.  The ribbon is from a gift I received a while back, because I always reuse my ribbons!

Last week featured another stamper I often see around VSN, Shannon, aka scrapaholic007.  I chose this Christmas card to CASE.  I used the thick whisper white for the base and image panel.  Using SU's "Work of Art," I stamped the background in sahara sand, marina mist, night of navy, rich razzleberry, and crushed curry.  The image is from "Come to Bethlehem," in tuxedo black...except the star, which was inked with versamark and heat embossed in silver.  I added a rhinestone for extra sparkle.  The greeting is from the same set, stamped in midnight muse.  

  

I spotted this card on the day Jan, aka Precious Kitty, was featured, and knew I wanted to CASE it.  I had to look quite a while to find this Sizzix die from SU, which I bought just before it retired.  I had not used it yet, but I plan on making a dozen of these!  I printed sheet music for "Joy to the World" on very vanilla card stock, and sponged the edges with crumb cake ink.  The card base is always artichoke, and the dsp is "Deck the Halls" from SU, slightly distressed.  The sentiment is from "Greetings of the Season" stamped in cherry cobbler and punched with a scallop circle.  Scrunched artichoke seam binding finishes it off.








Next, I chose THIS card from MommaPatti's gallery.  I kept a similar color scheme, featured pine trees, a bit of sparkle, and the same sentiment from "The Sounding Joy." (Mine is stamped on vellum and embossed in silver.  My base is pool party. The dsp is retired from a Valentine pack.  I used label framelits to cut out a piece of blushing bride and very vanilla.  The bb is embossed with Divine Swirls folder.  I stamped trees from "Lovely as a Tree" colored with creamy caramel and sage shadow.  I added a bit of dazzling diamonds, which is hard to see, and pleated satin ribbon.

Here is a card CASE'd from Kathy, aka MochaFrap's gallery.  I chose this card.   My dp is from an old stash of Creative Memories paper from my scrapbooking days.  The sentiment is from "Greetings of the Season," stamped in cherry cobbler on very vanilla, matted on always artichoke.  The flowers are made from the 5-petal stamped and a tiny circle stamp, using riding hood red, al;ways artichoke, and crushed curry.  Seam binding wraps it up.

Now, a card for a challenge posted in January!  I chose this card from Michele's (aka Whimsey) gallery.  The image and greeting afe both from Our Daily Bread Designs "Blessed Christmas."  I colored the image with markers, stamped on watercolor paper, and spritzed with water.  After cutting it out with the label framelit, I sponged with crumb cake ink.  The card base is early espresso, dsp is "Deck the Halls," and accessories are enamel dots, satin ribbon, and crochet trim.  

Finally, here is another card, this time featuring Minnur's gallery, CASE-ing this project.  I kept the tree theme, again using "Lovely as a Tree."  I used always artichoke, very vanilla, chocolate chip, and cherry cobbler card stock.  My accessories are the SU wood grain embossing folder and non-SU enamel dots.  Another "Greetings of the Season" is featured in this simple design.  I almost forgot...I also added some dazzling details.  A bit less messy than the dazzling diamonds! 

Of course, I still have a lot to do in a short time.  Stay tuned to see how many challenges I complete!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Time for DTGD!!

Hello and Happy Monday!
It's time for the Dare to Get Dirty challenges at Splitcoaststampers!  This is a week of about 40 special challenges for Fan Club members.  I got a late and slow start, due to a bunch of commitments, including being out of town most of today.  I have been updating my gallery, and now my blog.  I posted these cards to SCS yesterday, thinking I would stamp more today.  Nope. Didn't happen! Any way...here goes!

I am a week late on this Paper Players challenge...but I WILL get them all done this year!  I am DETERMINED!  I like this clean sketch.  I combined it with the current ColourQ challenge, plus Vicki's DTGD challenge.  I can't link that one, because it is exlusive to Fan Club members...but you should join!

The card base is rich razzlberry.  On whisper white, I used SU's "Mixed Bunch" to create my own pattern paper.  I dry embossed a strip of saffron with the chevron folder.  The sentiment is from "Whmsical Words," on a scallop circle.  Strips of satin and taffeta ribbon were used, along with a punched heart.











Next, I have a card that was for a special challenge, with a chance to win a Fan Club membership or renewal.  We were challenged to use something in our stash that we have had but never used.  I purchased a set of book mark stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs way back in January, but none of them had been used yet!  I decided this stamp would work well with a past ColourQ challenge.  (Completing those this year is not a specific goal,  but I really like this palette!)  It is also for Lydia's DTGD challenge.  The turquoise card base is large: 5x7.  I had pieces of poppy and daffodil pattern paper in my dp scraps...perfect!  I used blender pens to color the image, then mounted it on black to make it pop.  Enamel dots finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by!  There is NO way I will complete all of the DTGD challenges, with all of the stuff I need to do this week.  But I hope to get 10-12 completed.  Stay tuned!



Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Playing with More Challenges

Hello Friends!

It's Thursday, and I rarely post on Thursdays.  My internet was down for much of the day, so some work was not accessible to me.  I have some Audible books downloaded on my Kindle app, and decided to finish a novel.  I often stamp while listening, so that's what I did this afternoon.  Now, after rebooting my router I am able to get back on the computer.  I still have quite a mess to clean up!

My first card combines this week's challenges at both The Paper Players and Freshly Made Sketches.  One of my brothers-in-law was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday for numerous health issues.  He will be there a while, so I wanted to make a card.  A song at church is called "On Eagle's Wings," based on Psalm 91.  Inspired by that, I used this image and stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs.  The card base is early espresso.  I stamped on very vanilla, using soft suede for the eagle and midnight muse for the verse.  My sponge dauber created the sun, in crushed curry.  I started using a blender pen on my bird, but the suede ink smeared (duh!) so then I just used markers.  I sponged some river rock and pool party in the sky.  The strip of dsp is from SU's "Comfort Cafe."  Two enamel dots finish it off, and conveniently cover one of my smudges.

Next, I have a card for today's Way to Use It challenge
at SCS:  In Stitches.  I rarely play along with this one, and considering the theme, it's odd that I did.  We were challenged to use actual stitching, or sewing images...something along those lines.  I have no stamps that work with that. I thought I had an image from a swap, but didn't find it.  I did have these bulky designer brads from SU...don't ask me why I bought them but not the coordinating stamps or paper!  Any way, I used a different swap image (unknown name) which I colored with blender pens and water coloring.  I doodled my own stitches and added the brad and some ribbon.  The sentiment is from  "Because I Care."  This card also goes with an old challenge at The Paper Players...working on that 2016 goal!

Since I am trying to make two of my cards these days, I do have near duplicates made today.  That means I made 4 cards and 1 huge mess today!  Thanks for coming by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

More Sympathy Cards

Today's cards are a series of cards involving no blog challenges.  The challenge has been that I have needed so many sympathy cards already this year.  In truth, perhaps I am just being more intentional...actually creating a card when I hear about a friend losing someone.  Three of these cards are for families at church, the other for a colleague who lives in another state.  I took card bases that were already cut and scored, then found odds and ends from my pile of papers I haven't put away yet.  The cards were made on several different days; I just happen to be posting them at once.

This first card is for a long-time friend from church whose father passed away.  My friend plays guitar at church, and a song we frequently sing is called"On Eagle's Wings."  I knew this set from Our Daily Bread Designs would be perfect.  My card base is early espresso; I added a layer of "Soho Subway" dsp.  I stamped the eagle with Stazon jet black, then used blender pens to color it: chocolate chip, soft suede, river rock, crushed curry.  I used a SU framelit to cut it out.  The sentiment is stamped in soft suede, and sponged with river rock.  I added candy dots to finish it off.

Next, I have a clean and simple card using all Stampin' Up products.  The base is smoky slate.  I used the flourish stamp from "Elements of Style," thee butterfly from "Bliss," and the sentiment from "Thoughts and Prayers."  Inks used are bermuda bay, lucky limeade, and calypso coral, stamped on whisper white and layered on bermuda bay. Bakers twine, candy dots, and a scallop oval add the final touches.

Finally, and even simpler card.  I had stamped the sentiment (SU's "So Sorry") on this piece of soft sky months ago, but didn't use it.  I needed something quickly, so I just added a layer of basic black and some "Sweet Sorbet" dsp to pull the colors together.  Again, I added bakers twine and candy dots...easy to use and easy to mail.

I actually had this post set up over a week ago with pictures and no text.  I have been awful about blogging; busy with regular work stuff.  I hope to finish another half completed post tonight.  Then it's time for Virtual Stamp Night!  I am hosting a challenge THIS Saturday, and I am busy making samples!  Hope to see you in the galleries!

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

Inspired on a Sunday

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Quick post...(I finally updated Monday morning.)

I knew which stamp set I wanted to use.  I even had the embossing folder out ready to go.  And yet, I wait until ONE hour before the challenge deadline to start this card!  Crazy...but a fun adrenaline rush!  Dinner is in the oven, so I will update after I eat.

This week's challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs is an Inspiration challenge.


I made a very quick CAS card.  My card base is blushing bride.  I embossed some whisper white with the floral bouquet embossing folder, then lightly sponged with blushing bride and pear pizzazz, inspired by the colors in the photo.  I stamped this verse from ODBD's "Sing to the Lord" with Stazon jet black ink, cut it out, and sponged more pear pizzazz.  I chose this verse because of the musical elements in the inspiration photo.  My ribbon is blushing bride pleated satin.  It is thick, so the sentiment is popped up with dimensionals.

This simple layout is something I should repeat for more quick cards...perhaps for a gift set.  Oh, the possibilities!


Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

I love Wisteria Wonder!

Hello Stamping Friends!

As you know, I love color challenges.  But I have noticed that it is rare for SU's wisteria wonder to be included in the challenge palettes (at least challenges I participate in.)  So, I was excited to see 2 challenges this week that use this color:  the Shine Your Light challenge n the ODBD blog, and the ColourQ challenge.   I have a big trip tomorrow, so I made simple cards, both with a wisteria card base.  I am taking these pictures late at night...sorry about the shadows!






My first card uses 2 stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs: "Angel' and "Guardian Angel." I used the angel once for a Christmas card, but otherwise, these stamps have not gotten enough attention lately.  Time for that to change!

I embossed a piece of blushing bride with the fancy fold folder.  The concord crush pattern paper is from the long-retired hostess stack.  On whisper white, I stamped the Guardian Angel prayer in concord crush, and the angel is stamped over it in crisp cantaloupe.  I sponged the edges with blushing bride, then popped it up with dimensionals.  Concord crush twill ribbon and tiny basic rhinestone gems in the flower centers finish it off.  I have a special young girl in mind for this card.  She is going through a tough time, and could use a bit of encouragement.

Next, a very quick card for the ColourQ.  I had a scrap of pattern paper that
almost matched, and I colored an image in the challenge colors...then stopped for dinner.  After dinner, I realized that, while the colors matched, the styles didn't.  It looked awful!  LOL  So I started over, using the SU set "Work of Art."  This set is perfect for ultra-fast stamping!  I just made a random design on whisper white, and matted it with night of navy, then popped it up with dimensionals.  The melon DSP is from Razzleberry Lemonade.  Finally, I added a melon button and wisteria bakers twine.  This card has some bulk, but extra postage is okay when I send it to someone special.

It was fun to stamp today...especially with these cool colors!  Thanks for coming by to check out my cards!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim