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

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

Throwing Down Some Color

It has been MONTHS since I have blogged here!  No need to go into the reasons why, but I am happy to get things posted again!    Today I made a card using the most recent Color Throwdown blog challenge, along with a sketch from SCS.  I have other cards to post, but I want to hurry to make the ctd deadline...I'll edit soon!

For several years, I have set a goal to complete all of the challenges from a blog in that particular year, along with one of the weekly SCS challenges.  I decided on The Color Throwdown in January, but I did almost no stamping until March.  And then, it was largely in preparation for Virtual Stamp Night.  Well, today I am doing a bit of catching up...in the stamping and blogging departments.  I needed a sympathy card for a friend, and I really like these soft spring colors.  I paired them with the sketch posted last Wednesday on SCS.  My stamps are from SU's "Bliss" plus "Teeny Tiny Wishes."  I used crisp cantaloupe, so saffron, and pear pizzazz inks along with coordinating card stock.  Twill ribbon, an "Everyday Enchantment" SU brad and SU punches add the details.









Now, to some previous challenges.  I figure if I do 3 or 4 per week, I'll eventually catch up!  This is one of the first CTD challenges of the year.  I actually made this card last month...even mailed it then!  I didn't post, because I was wrapped up in VSN.  I really like the fact that these colors could work for feminine or masculine designs.  My grandson had a birthday last month, and I thought these SU "Extreme Elements" would work for his card.   The drum image and You Rock sentiment are from an old Inkadinkado set; can't remember the name of the set.  I used basic black, marina mist, and daffodil delight card stock and ink.  My diagonal stripe embossing folder goes with the sketch.  An "On Your Birthday" greeting stamped on an oval adds some contrast and enamel dots finish it off.




Here is another early challenge; but I just made this card yesterday!  I needed a (very) belated birthday card for my brother.  I threw this together quickly and started putting it in an envelope when I realized I needed a picture so I could post it.  My husband took the pic with the envelope! Ha!  I gave the card to my brother yesterday and just saw the pic today, so I'm stuck with it.  Good thing I used a vanilla envelope!  I used the very last of my riding hood red card stock, along with very vanilla and basic gray, then added crumb cake with ink.  The images are from SU's "Clockworks" and more "On Your Birthday" words show up today.  The embossing folder is from Darice, and the heavy twine was in the miscellaneous bin last weekend at Jo-Ann's.  Yay for bargains!

Well, it will take me a long time to catch up, and I'm going to be on the road when the new challenge is posted this week.  Nevertheless, I am ready to get back in the groove!  I may just start with posting cards I've already made...like those VSN  cards I mentioned.  We shall see!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Urban Garden Sketches

Hi strangers!

I'm focusing more on my business stuff, so blogging here is rare these days.  Every time I think I will get in a routine, I flunk!  LOL At least I am still stamping!

Last weekend, I made a batch of cards using a long-retired package of SU dsp:  Urban Garden. It features kiwi kiss, not quite navy, baja breeze and basic gray.  I needed a bunch of sympathy cards.  I also made a couple of thank you cards. I truly want to use up my supply of dsp, and one thing that helps is sketch challenges.  Now, my 2016 stamping goals do not include these challenges, but they don't stop me either! I made 2 of each card. The first two are the same sketch, but different because of the curvy cut. I just reversed and used both sides of the paper.  Stamps used are SU "Thoughts and Prayers" and "Teeny Tiny Wishes."  I used not quite navy, baja breeze, and lucky limeade ink.  Punches are word window and scalloped oval.  Embellishments: Beautiful Wings ebosslit, kiwi satin ribbon, limeade bakers twine, non-SU polka dot ribbon, brad and enamel dot.  Card bases are either basic gray or smokey slate.  

I used SCS sketches 606 (above)

       607

 608,

and 610.  

My layout for this post is weird, but you get the idea.  It felt good to create  cards!  Hopefully I will get some time to stamp later today too.


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

Sympathy in Red

Hello Stamping Friends!

I am trying to catch up on a few projects so I can clean up my craft room.  Virtual Stamp Night is coming up soon, and I have a bunch of hostess samples to create.  In the meantime, I have two sympathy cards which I made yesterday so they can be mailed tomorrow.  I have had to make a lot of sympathy cards already this year.  Sad, but at least it's a way to show someone I am praying for them.  The first card also works for a recent ColourQ challenge.  Too late to submit, but I can check it off my list.  

Recently a woman from Church passed away.  I know her two adult daughters and decided to create a card for each.  One sings in the choir with me, and the entire choir sang for her funeral.  I wanted to have cards made by then, but didn't.  Now I am glad.  You see, the woman who died was proudly Polish, and the family would wear red in honor of the nation's flag each time they had a family gathering.  In fact, I have never seen so much bright red at a funeral in my life...it was beautiful!  So I decided to use real red in both cards.  This first card has a basic black base with DP from S.E.I. called "Black Orchid."  I added a piece of red satin ribbon.  On a whisper white scallop circle, I stamped this image and sentiment, both from SU's "Love & Caring," using black, red, and gray markers.  Two candy dots finish off the clean and simple look.

Next, another black card base, this one with 2 different sides of SU  "Love Letter" dsp. The flourish is like the stamp from "Elements of Style," so I used the bird from that same set., stamped on very vanilla.  The sentiment is from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" on the word window.  Grosgrain ribbon and a single candy dot finish it off.

Both of these cards are ready to be mailed tomorrow.  Sad thing is, I still have to finish another sympathy card in the morning.  Sigh.

Any way...that is it for today.  I do plan on making some cards for happier occasions soon!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Virtual Stamp Night: Square Edition

Happy Saturday Sunday, everyone!  Forgot to finish this post!

I have several more Virtual Stamp Night cards again today.  Each of these uses a square sketch challenge from some time this year on Splitcoast. I like square cards, but stayed away from them because of the odd size envelope and extra postage.  I could have adapted these to a regular A2 card, but wanted to honor the hostess' vision.  So here goes!

First, this card is for VSN "The Heart of Africa."  We were given a photo of Victoria Falls as our inspiration.   It actually measures 4-1/4 x 4-1/4 because I didn't have a full sheet of wisteria wonder.  I cut a large scallop circle of watercolor paper out with my sizzix die, and two other strips.  On the circle, I did a watercolor wash with pink pirouette, calypso coral, and wisteria wonder.  The larger strip has pool party and wisteria wonder, and the smaller strip just wisteria.  My sentiments are from "Blessings from Heaven" and "Thoughts and Prayers."  My angel is from "Angelic Joy" intentionally stamped so she barely shows up.  I added ruffled ribbon for the last detail.  This card is for a couple whose teenage daughter died suddenly because of meningitis.  So sad!

Next, I have a card for the "Mother Russia" challenge.  This time, the inspiration was an amazing Faberge Egg...in bright blue with gold and exquisite details.  Now,, I had this sketch badge saved, thinking it is from 2015...nope.  It is from August 2014!  Oh well. Had fun doing this anyway.  On a pacific point base, I have brushed gold and whisper white card stock.  I used the same angel as befor, this time embossing her in gold.  The sentiment is from Our Daily Bread Designs "Christmas Verses."  I embossed some gold and pacific point card stock with the vintage wallpaper folder, punched out with the 5-petal flower and added a gold brad and 2 ice rhinestone brads.  The ribbon is from a wedding favor...never let ribbon go to waste!

And now, we head to The Netherlands where they have blue Delft pottery.  Once again, I have a pacific point card, this time with brushed silver.  The extra large scallop circle was embossed with vintage wallpaper folder, after I added ink to the folder.  The large sentiment is another from ODBD "Christmas Verses."  I also used Teeny Tiny Wishes on the duo of punches, over some metallic silver ribbon.

Here's the last one for tonight:  Scottish Plaid.  I used a marina mist card base.  The plaid DSP is from a retired Christmas pack (something with a lodge?).  The sentiment is from Inkadinkado, stamped in cherry cobbler, matted on garden green.  No matter what I do, a few letters never stamp well...same spot. Grr.  I popped the panel with dimensionals and added candy dots.

Whew!  That's enough for today!  Time for bed!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Mashin' Up with Some Embellishments

Hello, and Happy Wednesday!

Here is my card for the Friday Mashup challenge.  I finished it earlier today, but nearly forgot to upload.  Sometimes, my brain is on overload!  The challenge was to use the Ombre technique and/or a cluster of embellishments.  I just had to Mash things up!

Recently, one of my aunt's fell and broke her wrist.  I wanted a bright card to cheer her up.  I used some "Irresistibly Yours" specialty paper, and brayered ink in certainly celery, pear pizzazz, and wild wasabi, then placed it on a garden green card base.  I LOVE green, especially in the summer! I added a strip of pear pizzazz twill ribbon (which is almost completely covered up!) The sentiment is from Stampabilities, mounted on basic black so it pops.  I had these Prima flowers from a swap years ago, and added some SU flower brads.  The design was heavy in the lower half, so I added lucky limeade bakers twine on top.





Next, I am going to quickly add 2 cards.

The first is for THREE challenges on SCS:  color, sketch, and Free4All, which was to make a graduation project. My sketch is slightly varied, wit circles instead of squares. The colors are blackberry bliss, wisteria wonder, and pool party.  LOVE!  I love nearly anything with purple tones, second only to green.  Sometimes, it's a tie!  LOL

My card base is blackberry bliss.  I added some wisteria wonder plus more Irresistibly Yours specialty paper, where I brayered colors again.  Some seam binding is used at the dividing line.  I used 4 stamp sets on this card:  "Tassel Time" (for the books,) "Pure Gumption" for the cap (the other was too large,) "Just Sayin'" for the woohoo word bubble, and "Word Perfect" for the greeting.

Finally, a Clean and Simple card for a sad occasion.  The card is simply in pool party, basic black, and whisper white.  I used SU's "Little Angel" and "So Sorry" stamps, plus a non-SU baby hands stamp.  A young couple here in town recently lost their baby.  He was born prematurely after a difficult pregnancy.  He lived outside the womb for 5 weeks.  I know how hard it is to bury your own child. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  But this couple has tremendous faith, and has already given witness to the gift that their son is to them.  Very inspiring.  If you  are the praying  type, please keep this family in your prayers.

Sorry to end on a sad note.  But I guess as card makers, we know sometimes our craft is used to bring comfort to someone.  That is a blessing and a privilege, isn't it?  Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Colours for a Fresh Wednesday

Hello, and Happy Wednesday!

I should be doing some writing before I leave for a national conference next week.  Or perhaps, I should finish my reading for Saturday's Lay Dominican meeting.  But no, I am surfing galleries and blog challenges trying to decide what cards I should make!

So, here goes... I have a card featuring 2 challenges that were posted today:  Colour Me...! and Freshly Made Sketches.  I thought these would go well together for a clean design.  It's very weird posting these so "early" as opposed to my usual last minute routine!

I needed a sympathy card for a fellow stamper. I have never actually met her in real life, but we have chatted online and occasionally on the phone.  Her father passed away; and her mother died very recently also. Even though we haven't met "IRL" as they say, my heart goes out to her.

My card base is soft sky.  I put all of my elements on a second layer of soft sky to keep a clean monochromatic design. Initially, I thought of the half circle as a flower bowl or pot, which is why I chose this floral silhouette image from SU's "Just Believe."  But I decided to just make simple dp of my own with the flower and butterfly from "Bliss," so it does not really look like a pot.  (I usedthe extra large scallop circle Sizzix die.) It is hard to see the soft sky flowers, but they are there! The black strip is dry embossed with the new spring flowers embossing folder.  My white ribbon is from Offray.  The sentiment is from "Teeny Tiny Wishes."  Hopefully, this card will bring just a bit of comfort in a time of loss.

I intended to post other cards in this post, but I don't have good lighting for pictures.  I hope to be back tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!  Now, I'm zooming off to complete some actual work. LOL



Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

More Colorful Sketches

Hello, and Happy Thursday!

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

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

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

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim