Mashin' Up with a Colorful Technique

Happy Hump Day!!

I'm squeezing in a Friday Mashup challenge card, paired up with this week's ColourQ challenge.  The mashup invited us to use the Triple Layer Stamping technique, and flowers.  AND the Technique Lovers Challenge on SCS this week also used this fun layered style...win win win!



I have not used chocolate chip in ages, so it was fun to pull it out again.  I had seen this technique before, but had not ever used it.  No idea why...it's simple and packs a WOW effect without a need for fancy supplies.




My card base and mats are in chocolate chip.  The stamps are from SU's "Mixed Bunch" with chocolate and strawberry slush and coastal cabana on whisper white.  After stamping, I sponged crumb cake (kraft) in the gaps.  I added ruffled ribbon and a greeting from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" punched with the word window.  It's hard to see, but there is a tiny heart from the heart to heart punch.  (I had used a larger one earlier this week.)

I think I will use this technique again, hopefully soon, and maybe for some Christmas cards.

Thanks for stopping by again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Summer Mini VSN!!

Hello stamping friends

Last night was the Mini version of Virtual Stamp Night on SCS.  5 challenges were posted, but I just did 3.  Mojo is not up to speed!  Any way, the overall theme is "Dog Days of Summer" and the full VSN will be next month.  I am excited to be a hostess again...so you will see my challenge in June!



Here is a brief description of my cards... Challenge #1 asked us to use summer fruit, and what says summer more than watermelon?  The stamp is from "Mouthwatering", colored with my markers.  The "sweet" sentment is from long-retired "So Very" and of course Teeny Tiny Wishes is there.  My card base is real red, with some daffodil delight for contrast. The white piece was cut out with my Big Shot using the apothecary framelits.







The next card was for a hostess in Australia...and since Christmas comes in the summer for them, we had to make a bright Christmas cared (no snow!).  I pulled out the last of my glorious green card stock and added real red and whisper white. The stamps are from "The Sounding Joy" stamped in daffodil delight and real red. Ticket corner punch, white ribbon, and some gold beads finish it off.








Finally, the next challenge asked us to feature circles, and the hostess mentioned the summer sun.  I started with a completely different vision for this card (using punches) but instead let my glimmer brads be the feature.  I did some doodling with my watercolor crayons and aqua brush.  The sentiment if from Polka Dot Party.  The card stock is tempting turquoise, pumpkin pie, and watercolor paper.

It was a fun night of stamping!  If I ever get my room organized, I could do more of this!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Poor Flopsey

Hello Stamping Friends!

This weekend, I am focusing on Virtual Stamp Night over at Splitcoaststampers.  Not only did I join the team of hostesses for the first time...I got to host two challenges!!

The overall theme was "Birds and Bees and Creepy Crawlies".  I was thinking of the Itsy Bitsy Spider, and decided to use a "Rain or Shine" theme for my second challenge.  I have this adorable Flopsey stamp set from My Favorite Things...and he needed to get inked up!  There's still time to play!!

I used this month's sketch challenge from My Favorite Things for their Guest DT search.  I have followed some regular DT members for a while...so to join this talented crew would be AMAZING!  I love to color, even at the age of 47!  Like many of you, I am learning more about this option...so I look forward to growing in my skills.  I love that the fonts of many of their stamp sets match...so it is easy to mix and match sentiments on the front and inside!  I am a bit bummed that Flopset retired...but I snatched up many images during a great sale.  My other favorite stamp series are Clearly Sentimental and Who's that Girl.?  I hope to collect more of them, and other goodies soon!

For my VSN card, I wanted colors for a rainy day, and these patterns from long-retired Urban Oasis dp (SU) fit the bill.  Great chance to use up my stash, right?  I used the Cloudy Day embossing folder on the baja breeze and basic gray card stock.  I stamped Flopsey in basic black craft ink, added black embossing powder, then embossed so my coloring wouldn't smudge the little guy.  I used my blender pen with basic gray, baja breeze, kiwi kiss, and creamy caramel inks.  Not exactly "water coloring"...but close.  My spider?  Well that was the "dessert" option for my challenge!  Silly, I know!

  I also used my versamarker and clear embossing powder for the raindrops before sponging baja breeze around the image.  I wanted to use one of the sentiments from the same set, but I just could not get it to fit into the sketch, so I added one from Teeny Tiny Wishes, with a corduroy brad.

I had so much fun hosting two VSN challenges!  I'll post my other card tomorrow (if I can get Blogger to upload pics!)...and hopefully more cards will show up throughout the week.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Love Fest!!

Hello Friends

Splitcoaststampers held a new series of challenges for 11 days this month, called "Love Fest".  I did all of the challenges over the weekend...but have yet to blog any...so here goes!!  (I am just making BRIEF descriptions... too much to type otherwise!)

The first challenge called for items spelling LOVE.  I used Lilac card stock, Oval die cut, Vintage style, and Embossing (dry and heat).  The main image is from Elements of Style.
 

The second challenge:  A sketch challenge here...but I flipped it.  More retired dsp here.  In fact, all of the dsp I used in Love Fest was retired...as were many of the accessories.

The third challenge:  Add some Bling!  Rhinestones and my fave stamp "You're a Gem" went perfectly with this theme.  I love the Mixed Bunch stamps too! The colors also met a past color challenge.











The fourth challenge:  Make a card with a non-traditional fold.  I made an easel card, featuring this flower garden embossing folder and a new sale-bration button.

And the fifth challenge:  Use any dies...I used my sizzix stars, so I could have different sizes.  LOTS of retired products too...woohoo!


I used several punches and ribbons throughout.  I will post the other challenges later on.

Thanks for dropping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Stamping, yes...Blogging? Well...

Hello Stamping Friends!

So yes...it has been a while since I have posted.  That's what happens when stamping is, sadly, not my day job!  Plus, I had some minor surgery on my foot recently,and the pain medicine made me too dopey to stare at a computer screen!  I am just going to make quick comments on these cards, just to get back in the swing of things...here goes!

This first card was for a Saturday Inspiration challenge on splitcoast.  This was my inspiration piece.  I am not a huge fan of the color summer starfruit...but it is growing on me.  I really like it with black or basic gray.  I used several punches in this card...ornament, large oval, 3-step bird (branch), boho blossom,  and large scallop circle.  I also used my Big shot for the sizzlit leaves and lots of dry embossing:  the new SU spring vine (not sure of the name) and retired snowburst?  Good grief...ever since dropping my demo gig, I have forgotten so many names!  The dsp is from SU's Patio Party.  I just *had* to add color...so I have some of these in-color flowers, adhered with glue dots, in raspberry ripple and primrose petals.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped in raspberry.  Taffeta ribbon finishes it off.

My next card was the Valentine for my dear hubby.  He was in the Navy years before we met.  When this Flopsey image went on clearance at My Favorite Things, I snatched it right up!  Truthfully, I tried to paper piece...like so many MFT DT members.  But my fine motor skills stink!  LOL  So I stuck with my SU markers...and learned that even at age 47, coloring will always be fun!  I grabbed my old pack of SU Blueberry Crisp dsp.  (Still trying to use up some stash).  I used my Big Shot and Tasteful Trim die to make the various waves for the front and inside.  The card base is sahara sand,  and I stamped onto very vanilla.  The clouds are stamped in pacific point, clouds from SU's You Send Me Soaring.  Flopsey and his boat are colored with creamy caramel, sahara sand, pacific point, riding hood red, and pacific point.  I popped up the sentiment with dimensionals, and added striped grosgrain ribbon tags (also SU).  Inside, I wish I had stamped the sentiment also in riding hood red...oh well.  I added texture with the cloudy day embossing folder.


That wasn't very "quick", was it??
Thanks for stopping by this neglected blog!  Hope to read your comments soon!  

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Baby Amelia

Hello again!  2 days in the New Year... 2 blog posts!  WooHoo!

As I mentioned yesterday, I am sending some cards to my niece, including a baby gift and card.  The nursery is decorated in lavender and green, with lady bugs.  My card starts with wisteria wonder, and has polka dotted paper in wisteria, along with wild wasabi and baja breeze.  The flowers are from an OLD 2-step SU set called Fanciful Flowers.  I used concord crush for the outlines, wisteria for the petals and so saffron brads.  2 scallop circle punches make the bug, along with a small circle in basic black.  I used my marker for the antenna and dotted lines, and sponged the sky with baja breeze ink.  Teeny Tiny Wishes greets my great-niece!

Thanks for stopping by again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

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}}}

Friday Mashup #50!! Blog Candy!!

Hello, and Happy Friday!! It's a great day, because we celebrating Challenge #50 at the Friday Mashup!! And a celebration isn't complete without some treats! So this week, we have Blog Candy on each Design Team members' blogs! More on that at the end of my post.
But first, Heidi is hosting this week's challenge, and it's a beauty!! We have a great sketch and a fun technique!

1. Make a project using the "Sketch"
2. Or Make a project using the "Faux Mother of Pearl Technique"
3. Or Mash it Up! and Make a project using the "Sketch" and "Faux Mother of Pearl Technique"
   
   This is such a lovely technique that I had NEVER used before! (This DT gig has really expanded my horizons! LOL) If it is new to you, check out this tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.
   

My card is filled with fresh colors for spring! All products used are from Stampin' Up! After flipping the sketch, I started with a wonder wisteria card base, layered with lucky limeade and 2 sides of the same sheet of Cheerful Treat dsp (a hostess item in the Idea Book & Catalog.) I added some retired polka dot melon mambo ribbon, but you can get new ribbon with scallops! Next, I used shimmer paint on whisper white, and sponged with pink pirouette ink for the mother of pearl technique. I stamped this image from Bordering on Romance (from the Occasions Mini) with stazon black ink. Next I used my blender pens and re-inkers to color the image. After it dried, I punched it out with the extra large scallop circle punch, layered it with concord crush and popped it up with dimensionals. (Edited: The concord crush circle was made with the Sizzix Circle di found in the Stampin' Up catty) The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped with concord crush ink on more of the sponged/mother of pearl paper.

Now...about the BLOG CANDY!! For my collection, I have 2 rolls of non-SU ribbon, an unused non-SU stamp set (cute, but I just never touched it!), a scallop circle chipboard "scrapbook", and lots of rub-ons, including Christmas and Valentine's Day sets. So, how do you win? First, submit your submission to the Friday Mashup Challenge #50. (Deadline is Thursday 3/22 at 12:00 a.m. EST) Next, go to each Design Team member blog, and comment on each of their entries. Every DT member has blog candy, so there are lots of chances to win!! (Just one blog candy bundle per person, shipping just to USA and Canada). We are excited to see what creative projects you create!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! #43 - Never Be Afraiid to Try Something New!

Hello Stamping Friends! Happy Friday! I am so excited, because this week I am the hostess for the Friday Mashup challenge...WooHoo!! Creating new sketches isn't my strong suit, and when it happens, it's usually by accident! One thing I do like is using diagonal lines and contrasting them with round shapes.

I searched through my old cards (those pictures come in handy!) and found one using this sketch. I believe I had a piece that I had cut incorrectly, but decided to use it any way...Ta-Dah! Now, since the sketch is old, we have to contrast it with some NEW products in our stashes! I hope you got something new for Christmas...or maybe you recently spent money on new purchases. However you got it, let's see some new goodies! So here is your challenge:

1. Make a project using the Sketch shown above


2. Make a project using something NEW in your stash (paper, ribbon, stamps...anything!)


3. Or Mash it Up and make a project using the Sketch and something NEW from your stash!

Now, I was thrilled to take this opportunity to use some of my new Sale-a-Bration items! As a Stampin' Up demo I was able to earn some with my orders in December! Nice perk, huh?! Anywho, this card features several things. I started with a poppy parade card base, because this NEW "Everyday Enchantment" dsp goes with it perfectly! The middle strip is pool party, layered with more of the enchanted dsp, then embossed with my perfect polka dots impressions folder in the big shot. I used my poppy parade and lucky limeade markers to color the NEW image from "Fresh Vintage," another SAB goodie, stamping it on very vanilla. The ovals were cut with the ovals die in the big shot, and the limeade one also has polka dots. Both ovals are lightly sponged with soft suede ink. As if that wasn't enough, the gorgeous organdy ribbon (in calypso coral and lucky limeade) AND the designer brad are also SAB items! WooHoo! Not everything is new...note the Teeny Tiny Wishes sentiment punched out with the word window. Yup. I'm still rooted in "tradition!" LOL

I hope you join me and the rest of the design team this week! Checkout the Friday Mashup blog, and be sure to use keyword FM43 in your online gallery!

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}}}

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}}}

Friday Mashup!! Halloween Howl!

Hey there, Stampin' Friends!! It's Friday, and that means it is time for another great challenge at the Friday Mashup!! Today we have a great challenge from Holly!

1. Make a Halloween themed project


2. Make a project using the colors black, pumpkin pie, lucky limeade, and concord crush


3. Or make a Halloween project using the colors listed above
   

Now, I love color challenges and theme challenges...but Halloween is just not my cup of tea. We hand out candy, and put a few fall decorations and maybe cute jack-o-lanterns...but the gorey stuff, the horror flicks...I can't handle them! I jump during PG-13 movies! LOL!! So my Halloween stamps are limited to a few sentiments from sets that also feature other holidays. But I do have this fabulous Nature Silhouette set, with a howling wolf...perfect!

All of my supplies are from Stampin' Up! My card base is concord crush, with a layer of pumkin pie, then lucky limeade embossed with the square lattice impressions folder. I embellished with basic black striped grosgrain ribbon and 2 bright (pumpkin pie) glimmer brads. The tree and wolf were stamped in basic black craft ink, coated with basic black embossing powder and then heat embossed. With a small circle mask, I sponged the full moon in limeade, then sponged a bit above the grass. I continued sponging pumpkin then concord crush. I matted the image with pumpkin and concord card stock. The final detail is the return of Teeny Tiny Wishes with the word window and modern label punches, intentionally set off the edge just a bit.

It took me a while to come up with this, but I like the end result. Now...where do I send this card?? *wink*

Be sure to join us this week! Check out the fabulous projects from the design team on the Friday Mashup blog, then upload your own project. Use keyword FM27 in your online gallery. I can't wait to see what you create!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Behind Door Number...

Hello Stampin' Friends! It's Friday, and I get to be your Friday Mashup challenge hostess this week! WooHoo!! Funny thing is, this challenge even threw me off a bit! Sometimes I want to make a card, so I grab a piece of card stock, cut it in half, and poof...there's my card base. The biggest decision may be horizontal or vertical...hmmmm...kinda boring! I have to force myself to use a "fancy fold," which is silly, since some are not that hard. The gate fold is one of them, and now that I have my NEW Simply Scored tool (available in the Holiday Mini catalog now!), I get my folds just right! I have also started using chipboard...especially numbers since I have NO number stamps! Gasp! Numbers are fun for birthdays, anniversaries, or quirky "text" messages on your projects. So...here is your challenge:

1. Make a card using a gate fold...any variety of the gate fold
2. Make a project using numbers...any numbers, stamped (if you have them!), chipboard, die cut, stickers...

3. Or Mash it Up and make a gate fold card with numbers

Here is what I created:

A sweet couple who supports the ministry here every month...and who has been doing so for YEARS...is celebrating their Silver Anniversary this weekend. I started with a basic black card base. I added baja breeze and basic gray pattern paper from the neutrals paper stack to each side panel. I initially planned a sentiment for the center, but my numbers are big, so I placed them in the center instead. I used a sponge dauber to coat the chipboard in craft ink, then covered with silver embossing powder, heating it so it gets nice and shiny. I placed the numbers on an extra large baja breeze scallop circle. It's been a while, but note the return of the word window and modern label punches with Teeny Tiny Wishes!! Finally, I accessorized with basic jewel rhinestones and baja breeze seam binding.
I hope you join the party at the Friday Mashup! Check out the FABULOUS DT cards and be inspired! Be sure to usekeyword FM22 in your online gallery and link it here.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Happy Birthday, Dear Hubby!!

Today is my husband's birthday!! I made his card yesterday with a bit of old and some new stuff...fun!! Last Sunday, I saw this great color challenge at the Paper Players...but my mojo was nowhere to be found. Fortunately, many of the gals from the Paper Players are at the Stampin' Up convention, so I still had time to play along.

I started out with a Crumb Cake base. I added a piece of retired Poppy Parade pattern paper from last year's catalog. It won't be long before I need to buy the current larger paper stack! I stamped "Sail Away" in Basic Gray onto Whisper White card stock, sponging some Baja Breeze for the water and a bit in the sky. This stamp did not make the new catalog, but is available from the Summer Mni until August 31st. I layered it on Baja Breeze card stock, tearing the edges of both layers. My larger sentiment is from"Word Play" which I just purchased (finally!) I am going to use this set a LOT! It is stamped with Poppy Parade, but I stamped it again in Baja Breeze so I could cut out the globe and add it with a dimensional. I outlined that layer with my Basic Gray marker. I needed a little something, and decided to stamp the happy birthday from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" in Poppy Parade onto Crumb Cake card stock, punching it out with the curly label punch. Finally, I added some non-SU twine and a retired Basic Gray corduroy button.

I am really pleased with how this turned out! More importantly, Bruce loves his card, too! You should try out the Paper Players Challenge...it's a fun one!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

On Eagle's Wings

Hello Friends!

Quick post...it was a long, but good day at work, and I am exhausted! LOL!

Sorry about the picture...new camera and software...can't figure out how to edit properly.

This is a card I made this weekend for a dear friend...the husband of one of my ministry staff. In a nutshell, this man has been in the hospital since early April. Just 2 weeks ago, his kidneys were beginning to fail, and he was on a ventilator. So many of us feared he would die in a matter of days.

But in a moment of consciousness, he had a conversation with God. Seriously, he did! I don't know what they talked about, but he is heading home tomorrow!! No ventilator...no nasal oxygen. The hospital staff are calling his recovery miraculous! He will have a home health nurse and some physical therapy...but he is so much stronger! Praise the Lord!!

Now, I made this card on Saturday so Judie could take it to him yesterday. At that time, we did not know he would be coming home so soon. The verse and the eagle are from Our Daily Bread Designs...but everything else is from Stampin' Up! Turns out, unbeknownst to me, this verse from Isaiah is Greg's favorite scripture verse! How cool is that?

Hope you get to witness a miracle today too!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Happy Father's Day!

Today is a great day to celebrate Dads!! All week, my sister has been sharing memories of our dad on Facebook. Dad loved to sing and play guitar. I grew up singing with him, at home and at church. The links my sister shared were of songs dad would sing, but by the recording artists themselves. But today, she shared a recording of him singing "I Love..." which was originally sung by Tom T Hall, I think. My aunt found an old cassette recording of it, and shared it with our family at dad's funeral 6 years ago. Hearing it today brought smiles and tears to me... I love my dad very much, and miss him very much. I look forward to seeing him in heaven some day!

My own husband, Bruce is a great dad. We had one son, Gabriel, who was stillborn...and 41 foster kids over 8 years! Bruce loved all those kids so much...and one of them even called Friday night to wish him a Happy Father's Day! So neat that some of the kids stay in touch!

I made this card for Bruce. Even though we don't have kids in the house now, or in college for that matter, he is always a dad!

The card measures 5x5"...with a basic gray card base. I used Nautical Expedition dsp from the Summer Mini (one pattern on the front, another inside). The image panel features stamps from The Open Sea (also in the summer mini). I stamped on whisper white, using basic gray and cherry cobbler ink. I mounted the panel onto not quite navy. I embellished the card with cherry cobbler bakers twine and a retgire big designer button. The sentiment is predictably from Teeny Tiny Wishes...with the word window and modern label punch. I'm tellin' ya...great investment!!

I hope you are celebrating today...with your dad, or father-in-law, or husband, or grandpa...or maybe one of your own sons is a dad now. Whomever it is...have a great day withy the dads in your family!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Feel Better Soon!

(Another blogger note...I found that I can comment more often when I sign out of my gmail account completely. Then I go to blogger.com and start from scratch, commenting on the sites on my blogroll. Still a bit of a pain, but now I can share the love! I'll be visiting you all more often now!)

Happy Friday! Time for another Friday Mashup Challenge! www.fridaymashup.com

Summer vacations are upon us, and everyone wants to get out and play! Nothing dampens vacation plans like a poorly timed allergy-cold or bad case of sunburn! Sometimes we need to spread a little cheer to the ones we love who are feeling the ick-ies...and I never have enough Get Well cards around. Time to change that! Plus, using fabric in paper crafting is a fun trend...let's see what you can do with it! So here's the challenge...

1) Make a Get Well card

2) Make a project using fabric or some soft texture...denim, cotton balls...but ribbon doesn't count!

3) Mash it up and Make a Get Well card using fabric!

I pulled out some new DSP that I was able to get early in April...Paisley Petals. LOTS of incredible patterns and colors. I chose to highlight this image because it is so pretty! I sponged the edges with cherry cobbler ink. I added a strip of soft suede, which was embossed with vintage wallpaper folder and my big shot. For the fabric, I pulled out my never-even-opened-box of Deck the Halls fabric from the Holiday Mini. Turns out this fabric, and so many others are available in the new Idea Book and Catalog! I used the Tasteful Trim die to cut out this nice curvy strip. then used the new Four Frames stamp set, along with Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped with river rock and cherry cobbler on very vanilla, then punched out with the extra large decorative punch. I added another layer of cherry cobbler and an antique brad for the last details, popped up with dimensionals, of course! The whole thing is mounted on a river rock card base. I am so thrilled with how this turned out...now I have to think of who needs a pick-me-up!

I am gonna add another card which I was unable to post Monday. You see, I first tried putting fabric on some seam binding. Looks good, but couldn't get it to work with the over all design of my first card. I think the knot was bothering me! LOL! But I used it for this card...which features soon to retire dsp and a long-ago retired lady bug image. How cute is that bug??

After using NONE of this fabric for months, I think I may have found a way to have fun with it!

Can't wait to see what you create! Put MU#10 in your keywords for your online gallery.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Belated Friday Mashup!

Well here I am! The fund raiser in Chicago was great...then Bruce and I spent all day Friday at Navy Pier. We came home exhausted, but then I was ready to stamp! Hope to crank out a lot of cards this weekend!

Here is my Friday Mashup card...

I used the colors but left one detail off the sketch. Oops! These colors were an unexpected combo for me...but I love them together! The subtles look great on a regal background! I started with a navy card base, then used 2 sides of a sheet of pretty in pink pattern paper from the subtles paper stack. I outlined the horizontal band with my pear pizazz marker to add some contrast. The flower image is from Elements of style, colored with markers, stamped on whisper white, then punched out with my extra large scallop circle punch. I popped it up with dimensionals on a circle of Greenhouse Gala dsp, cut out with my circles die and the big shot, and that is popped up too! The bird, also from Elements of Style, is stamped in night of navy, and cut out, the popped up with 2 dimensionals so he is suspended over the flowers. I added a Teeny Tiny Wishes sentiment on a scallop oval, sponged with navy ink. Accessories are the basic pearls and pear pizazz twill ribbon. My corner rounder punch added the final details.

Don't forget, you can play along too! Check out the Friday Mashup challenge here!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Ribbons and Pearls, and all things Girls!

Hello, and Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Mashup challenge! Today, we are taking a complete 180 degree turn from last week. That monochromatic masculine challenge was tough...today we get to use girlie stuff!! Ribbons! Pearls! Anything for girls!

I decided to pull out a retired, but all-time favorite stamp from Summer by the Sea. This little girl is precious, and fun to color. I stamped the image in stazon black on SU watercolor paper. I then used my aqua painter to watercolor, grabbing colors from my ink pads. The colors used are blushing bride, perfect plum, blush blossom, so saffron, baja breeze,and pear pizazz. (The blush blossom ink pad is retired, but you can get that color in a marker.) I mounted the image on some baja breeze card stock, then layered on some blushing bride dsp from the Level 1 hostess pack, all on a blushing bride card base. Using my baja breeze marker, I colored some basic jewel pearls. Make sure you let them dry a long time. I actually have a sheet of pearls in various colors for future use! I added some certainly celery satin ribbon; my usual knot got in the way of my pearls, so I changed it up to a faux bow. Teeny Tiny Wishes and my punches finishes this off.

Now...I wanna see what YOU create! Make sure you use the keyword MU07 in your blog or online gallery.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Happy 50th Anniversary, Bill & Claire

I have been prepping for a conference workshop, and will be out of town for a week. But in the midst of prep, I realized that 2 of my best friends have a 50th wedding anniversary party the day I get home! So, before I left town, I looked at Saturday's Inspiration challenge from SCS to get me going. The inspiration site was Doodletart Glass, and I found this lovely piece.

I used sahara sand, basic black, whisper white, and very vanilla card stock. I cut out stem and flower fusion sizzlits, then taped them down on the black, and finally ran it all through my big shot, de-bossing with the vintage wallpaper folder. Gold glimmer brads and gold cord go with the 50th theme. I also added some white organdy ribbon. My Teeny Tiny Wishes was out on my table, so I grabbed it again!

I'll be away from my stamps for a week...but I have some blog posts in the wings. See ya soon!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}