How Many Colors Can I Post???

How many...in this one single blog post?? heehee!

Last week, splitcoaststampers Color Challenge #300 challenged us to go back and do as many color challenges from the past as we could in one week, before #301 gets posted.

I did none. Hmmm...so not like me!

Oh, I had good intentions, but my Christmas card mass production took priority. So, I am a week late on #300...and various weeks late on so many other challenges! LOL I have made a few cards, and I will post some today, finally!

The first card is this week's Color Challenge #301...Gray, Marina Mist, and Concord Crush. Since I still had 12 pieces of brushed silver, I decided to use that for my gray. The base is Marina Mist. I embossed the silver with the Northern Flurries impressions folder, found in the Holiday Mini. I layered it simply with some Concord Crush from the Hostess Level 1 In-Color Pattern Pack. I sponged a bit of concord crush on the snowflakes and around the edges for contrast. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday. Some more layers and satin ribbon finish it off.



Next, a bright, simple combo in Color Challenge #296...Tempting Turquoise, Poppy Parade, and Whisper White. I CASE'd a fun card from another SU Demo, Mary Fish. My card base is tempting turquoise, with a layer of retired Tropical Party dsp. (You could use the Brights Pattern Pack, as well.) I stamped Serene Snowflakes in turquoise, and punched out with the scallop square. I used On Your Birthday again, in poppy...which works great with these round fire brads. I wrapped some poppy parade twill ribbon as the last detail.



Finally, Color Challenge #299...River Rock (blech!), Real Red, and Old Olive. I was dreading this challenge, but amazingly, this is my favorite of the bunch! With a river rock card base, I added a layer of very vanilla, embossed with petals-a-plenty. I added satin ribbon in both red and olive. The main image is from Come to Bethlehem, stamped in river rock. I took my real red marker to outline it for contrast. Of course, I needed Teeny Tiny Wishes with the duo punches...word window and modern label. The last touch was a Jewel Basic Pearl (self-adhesive) on the star. I love the subtle elegance.

I have already mailed this card to our Medical Director. Good thing I have a picture so I can make more!!

So...3 cards...10 colors (including neutrals.) Not bad, huh?

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

A Colorful CASE

After cranking out so many Christmas cards, I realized that I also needed more thank you's for the ministry. (Seriously, I need to host another swap, but I will wait until after Christmas for that.) Any way, I found this cute batch of cards on splitcoaststampers, and decided to CASE it. (That's "copy and send to everyone.") It's a great CAS (clean and simple) design.

Yup...I CASE'd a CAS card! LOL!!

I used Color Dare #88...old olive, riding hood red, and very vanilla. All of the products used are from Stampin' Up! I simply ran the very vanilla through my Big Shot with the Petals-a-Plenty impressions folder, leaving some outside the folder so I could stamp from the "Thank You Kindly" set. I used my stampin' write marker to color in the flower centers. The ribbon is retired riding hood red taffeta. Still working on my goal to make room for new stuff!!

I will definitely try this in other colors throughout the year!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Heavy Metal Stamping!

Well, heavy in terms of time! This weekend, I knew I needed to make a LOT of Christmas cards...and so I needed simple designs. I also wanted to use up some of my stash that has been sitting neglected far too long! I knew I had partial packs of brushed silver and brushed gold card stock. In fact, I had the same amount of each!

My intent was to just use the silver and gold as card bases...but some of my folding was awful! So, I ended up cutting some to use as layers on the front.

As I was stamping this Baby Jesus image from a retired Stampin' Up set, I had a song in my mind. "Lord, You are more precious than silver..." The image is stamped in silver metallic ink, and the word "joy" (also retired) is stamped in night of navy. I used the large scallop circle punch and popped it up with dimensionals. The navy ribbon is retired. (I am trying to use up spools of ribbon before I buy new...but the new Mini Occasion catalog is screaming at me!)


The next line of the song is "Lord, You are more costly than gold..." The design is the same...but with gold and burgundy.

These Clean and Simple (CAS) cards were easy to duplicate...I made 12 of each. I have to admit that I was temped to add something else...but I held myself back!!












Finally, the next song line is "Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds..." I had enough gold left to use as front layers for another 12 cards. I embossed the layer with my new Vintage Wallpaper impressions folder and my Big Shot. I added organza ribbon and gold and silver elastic cord (retired). The rhinestones were the final elegant touch.

I have 12 silver card fronts left...I'll see what comes up, and hopefully post here soon!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Sketch for Christmas

Hello Happy Stampers!

Today is Sketch Challenge day on splitcoaststampers! Because I am dreadfully behind on my Christmas cards, I knew my goal was to create one, then duplicate it to build up my stash. I have 5 others like this in the works!

I started with a Color Dare (riding hood red, old olive and a neutral of choice) idea, but since I added so much chocolate chip, I'll try the Color Dare later! My card base is riding hood red, and I used old olive with retired Holiday Treasures dsp for the horizontal layers. The sentiment is also retired from All Year Cheer, and I colored it with my stampin' write markers. I pulled out the Scallop Trim border to add some interest, and popped up the panel on dimensionals. The chocolate chip corduroy buttons are available on the clearance rack, and I added a touch of red twine (retired). You can see that I used very vanilla and a bit of the dsp on the inside also.

I still have about 80 Christmas cards to make! Gasp!! This will be a good way to use up my retired stuff because there are some new goodies coming out in January from Stampin' Up! I must make room!!! LOL!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

A Crushing Dare!

Well, I missed the Color Dare the week of Thanksgiving, so I did not want to miss the next one. So, Riley posts last Wednesday for Color Dare #87, and it's Chocolate Chip, Concord Crush, and Perfect Plum. Oh my gosh!!! It really had me stumped!! I pulled out a few stamp sets, tossed ideas around...then made this last night. I had planned on adding an image (ice cream!) or an embellishment (bling!), but this time around, I felt less is more! Besides, I need lots of clean and simple thank you cards!

All of the supplies are from Stampin' Up! The card base is confetti white, with a layer of Concord Crush pattern paper from the Hostess Level 1 paper pack. I stamped the sentiment from the retired "So Very"set in chocolate chip, using it as a background type of pattern. I also used the retired "Small Script" then punched it with the large Decorative Label Punch, sponging it with perfect plum and popping it up with dimensionals. Concord Crush twill ribbon finishes it off.

Tomorrow, thee will be anew Color Dare. Hope I don't get stumped again!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Dasher Forest Swap

Well, by the look of my blog, you may have thought I forgot how to stamp!! But I have been busy with Christmas cards and some swaps. Today, I am showing a card I made for a swap on splitcoaststampers. My cyber-swapping friend, Jeanette, is known to many as Forest Ranger. She is hosting a swap with the theme "Forest Friends." Hmmmm...I don't have many stamps to go with that theme. I thought about Fox & Friends...but then I ran into Dasher sitting in my cabinet. This fun single stamp from Stampin' Up is a great image to have! I used the pine tree from Lovely as a Tree (a must-have set!), stamping off first, so the ink is very faint, keeping Dasher in the forefront. The trees are stamped in always artichoke and garden green, and I lightly sponged garden green and blue on the image. No snow yet apparently! LOL! I knew many people have their Christmas cards done already, but we all need some Christmas thank you's! So I used garden green, real red, and very vanilla card stock, with some retired designer series paper. Chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, non-SU gold beads, and my punches paired with Teeny Tiny Wishes wrap up the details.

Well, I have a lot of cards still to make! Hopefully I will post more soon!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

I'm Still Here!

Wow...over a week since my last post! Almost 2...good grief!

Well, with Thanksgiving last week, lots of family time, I did some stamping, but took no photos of my actual cards! Whoops!

But, this weekend, I am camping out in my craft room! I am sooooooooooo far behind on Christmas projects! Plus, I am prepping for my Stampin' Club Christmas party in just a few weeks.

I'll be back soon...Promise!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Celebrate In Blue and Silver

When I was creating cards for a Clean and Simple (CAS) challenge on splitcoastsampers, I decided to pull out my neglected brushed silver card stock. Love this stuff! Lots of shimmer with zero effort! I made 2 very similar cards...each use the silver, white organza ribbon, not quite navy ink, and Fabulous Phrases stamp set.


In the first card, I used the Circles Big Shot die to cut out the large circle from Candy Cane Christmas dsp, found in the Holiday Mini. Serene Snowflakes and some rhinestones sitting on a large scallop circle add all the detail I needed.

The second card uses the Tags til Christmas stamp set for the ornament, and the absolutely-gotta-have-itornament punch. Of course, some bling too!
Quick...Clean...Simple...Wow!
Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Clean and Simply Daring!

It's Wednesday, and that means another Color Dare!! Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, and Blushing Bride...hmmm...I RARELY use melon mambo. But that's why it's called a "challenge," right?

There was also a special Clean and Simple Challenge on splitcoaststampers that used ribbon, bling, and a decoration theme. I combined the 2 challenges, and came up with this card. More "paper crafting" than actual stamping in this card...but I like the results! All of the supplies are from Stampin' Up!

I used the Color Dare colors, punched out ornaments, then embossed with my Petals-a-Plenty impressions folder in the Big Shot. I then added a Rhinestone on each ornament. I wrapped blushing bride twill ribbon around the confetti white card base. The blushing bride pattern paper, from the Hostess level 1 pack, was punch with the scallop oval. Pacific Point ink, Teeny Tiny Wishes, the word window, and a few dimensionals finish out the card.

Hope you like it!! Now...where do I send this one? Hmmmm...

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

What Kind of Demo are YOU? *wink*

Do you ever find yourself looking at project ideas and thinking, “I wish I had that stamp set,” or that punch… or that ink color… or ALL of it? Then you need the “I Want It ALL Kit”, aka the Demonstrator Starter Kit.

Normally $175, now for $87.50, you can purchase the awesome “I Want It All Kit”. This kit is an excellent way to ensure you have all the necessary supplies to begin stamping or provide you with a wide variety of product to compliment what you already own.

There are 2 Starter Kits available:

• Standard Starter Kit...Click on the "Become a Demonstrator" at the to of the page to see a complete list
  
• Value: $310, Was: $175, SALE Price: $87.50, S & H: FREE

• Digital + Starter Kit...
  
• Value: $310, Was: $175, SALE Price: $87.50, S & H: FREE

*****************************************
Stampin’ Up! needs all kinds of demonstrators…

• Discount Purchaser-Likes the idea of buying stamps for personal use at a 20-30% discounted price. Occasionally sells to neighbors, friends, and relatives.

• Short-term Demonstrator- Sells for a short period of time. Wants to earn a specified amount. Stops demonstrating when the goal is met.

• Seasonal Demonstrator- Works hard at the business during October, November and December, doing demonstrations for seasonal money. Takes minimum orders and sales during the balance of the year.

• Hobby Demonstrator- Loves doing demonstrations and earning money when it’s convenient. Works a lot some months and very little other months. Likes to do demonstrations that are easy to book.

• Career Demonstrator- Views Stampin’ Up! as a viable income with a long-term career potential. Pursues management and wants to move up the career ladder. Loves attending Stampin’ Up! functions. Has developed close relationships within the business. Works at her business in a consistent and ongoing manner.

Do you see yourself as one of these kinds of Demonstrators?

If any of these ideas appeal to you, this is a GREAT time to get started at a fabulous discount. The Demonstrator Starter Kit “SIMPLY AMAZING” sale gets you $310+ of stamping and business supplies for only $87.50, which is like a 72% discount! WooHoo!!!

When I signed up 2 years ago, I was definitely a Discount Demo! Give me the goodies, please!! But I had so much fun sharing my stuff and teaching techniques, that I became a "Hobby Demo" with a monthly club and occasional in-home events.

Want to sign up? This special lasts just until November 30! Contact me to get information on how you can sign up online Today!! Click on the tab up top to get some more details!!

I still love what I do...and I am even getting ready to plan my 2011 Stampin' Calendar!! Watch for more details!!

Christmas Tags

I had a small, but very fun Christmas tag workshop today! 3 teens entered my Stampin' Space, looked at a few samples, then created a wonderful variety! Here they are, working hard...can't believe I managed to get a picture. All of the products used are from Stampin' Up...though some items are retired.

They really liked the Candy Cane Christmas DSP and Tags til Christmas stamps found in the Holiday Mini. We also got Dasher inked up for the first time...Gasp! Can't believe it took me so long to buy this fun single stamp image! He'll get plenty of attention now!

I had my hubby take a picture of just some of their tags, ready to tie onto fun gifts.

Actually, they joked that the tags may be the highlight, instead of the gifts themselves!







Stampin' Mission Accomplished!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Thanks, Cowboy!

Just a quick post today.

I am using up more of my samples of last year's DSP for thank you cards to use at the ministry. It's easy to make pretty, feminine cards. However, I struggle with masculine designs. My card bases are in always artichoke and chocolate chip. The dsp here is "To the Nines" which has some strong patterns that work well for guys (yes, I know...women are strong too!) and deep, earthy tones. I stamped the thank you from a very old retired set, Lexicon of Love. The twine was a nice alternative to my usual ribbon and bling. I did a lasso look on several cards...inspired by some of the patterns which reminded me of bandannas. My hubby punched out a bunch of stars, which rounds out the western look.

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Another Challenge Catch-up!

Just some various cards I have made recently...gonna squeeze them in. They're not related, except that they are each challenge cards, and all use just Stampin' Up goodies!

My first card was made for a Stamping Sisters in Christ challenge, which I found through The Daily Dare website. One of the Design Team members shared a scripture (Isaiah 55:10-11), talking about how, like the rain and the snow, God's Word will come down upon the earth, making it bear fruit. We needed a card that shows off weather!

The base is River Rock, and I added squares of Not Quite Navy (embossed with our Northern Flurry impressions folder, found in the Holiday Mini) under a Very Vanilla layer. I stamped Serene Snowflakes in Baja Breeze, and Not Quite Navy, and the flourish is from Baroque Motifs, in River Rock. Doesn't it look like wind? I got this idea from a world-famous stamper...Michelle Zindorf! I stamped and heat embossed Extreme Snowboarder in Night of Navy with craft ink and clear embossing powder. I added brads (retired earth elements) and a sentiment from On Your Birthday on a small square layer.


The next card was for the Clean and Simple (CAS) challenge back home...err, I mean, on splitcoaststampers! Yes, SCS is my second home! Any way, it was a color challenge inspired by projects seen in this year's Stampin Up! Idea Book and Catalog (IBC), page 156-157. The colors were crumb cake, pink (I choice pink pirouette) and olive, with the option of adding marina mist. I used wide striped grosgrain ribbon and the 1/4" grosgrain ribbon. I punched ornaments from the Subtles Designer Pattern Paper Stack, and popped them with dimensionals. This simple sentiment from All Holidays is heat embossed in basic black. Fun, isn't it?

Ok...when I started this post yesterday, I intended to have another card uploaded. Nope. Nada. Busy day at work! But hey, I got some good news there at the ministry...a mommy choice life for her unborn baby today! Now that's inspiring!! I should have something to show you tomorrow!!

Inky {{HUGS}}}

Dare to Double Dip!

Well, I am posting right away for this week's Color Dare: Soft Suede, Night of Navy, and Pear Pizazz. I double dipped my challenges by combining it with today's sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers. When I saw the colors Riley picked, I knew I was going to make a masculine card. I need to do that more often! This card is long overdue! I'll be giving it to a good friend from church who helped me with a couple of big events recently. I think he'll like it...I'm pretty sure his wife will! I've been trying to recruit her for my club! She recently retired and needs a new hobby! LOL!!

I started with a soft suede card base, then added a layer of the Presto Patterns Specialty paper, brayered with the navy and pear colors. The middle strip is also suede, run through my paper crimper for added texture. The sentiment and images are from Day of Gratitude, found in the Holiday Mini. I sponged the edges with the soft suede, used my 2-1/2 inch scallop circle punch, and popped it up with dimensionals. I actually stamped the leaves and acorns on the inside as well...with the tiny "Thank You" that you see peeking out. For accessories, I added my new pear pizazz twill ribbon, and designer buttons from the regal collection (garden green), with a bit of twine.

I like how this turned out...and it was quick! Great colors, great sketch, and Stampin' Up goodies make for fun creations in no time!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

What a Daring Family!

Today, I have the joy of uploading 3 projects...and I just made one of them!
My hubby and I hosted a birthday party for my mother-in-law today. We do it each year, and while the teens and adults are watching football, my younger nieces (Cecelia, Sarah, and Hailey) always enjoy coming into my stamp room.

Since I had not yet done this week's Color Dare, I thought I'd ask the girls to play along. We had a lot of fun...and the girls came up with a lot of there own ideas. I'm so proud of them!!

Here is my card...a rare square card. The Color Dare uses Garden Green, Perfect Plum, Blushing Bride, and Very Vanilla. The sketch is for splitcoaststampers Sketch #305. The plum DSP is retired, but everything else is currently available from Stampin' Up! Good thing I had the plum dsp...I am out of plum card stock! Time to place an order!


I used Fifth Avenue Floral to make my own DSP for the background. The plum and blushing bride pattern papers, as well as the sentiment panel, are all outlined in the garden green. I cut out one flower, colored it with my marker, and added a glimmer brad. I also used the Big Shot Little Leaves sizzlit die. The ribbon is pretty in pink taffeta (my blushing bride twill ribbon is due to arrive tomorrow! WooHoo!)





Here is Cecelia's card...isn't it cute? She chose how to use the colors (she was excited to see the Beautiful Wings embosslit die!) I suggested the modern label and word window punches, because, well, I use them so much, why not share the joy??



My great-niece Hailey saw my sample pull-out scrapbook, and decided to give it a try. Dinner and cake took up some of the time, so she will finish the inside details at home. She brought some of her own stamps, and wanted to color them with markers. I think these colors are perfect for a 9 year old girl!!



Sarah made cards in different colors, and sadly I did not get any pictures. I'll give her double billing next time!






Gotta clean up now. Or maybe I'll just stamp more!



Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Lots of Blues Just for You!

A few weeks ago, I went to Olympia Washington to visit some good stamping friends, and to share my testimony at a Respect Life event. We spent Sunday afternoon doing a lot of stamping, making a big mess! I brought some Night of Navy card stock with me to make some Christmas cards, but I created these instead to showoff some of the newer stamp sets! Gotta entice my friends to shop, right?

The first card was a quick...really quick...attempt at a brayered sky. Hmmm...my full moon is, well,blurred. But I love the silhouette images from Just Believe! I used a baja breeze card base and whisper white layer. The sky is baja breeze, not quite navy, and night of navy. The image is stamped in black, and I sponged some black on the bottom. The sentiment is stamped in not quite navy, punched out with the large oval punch. Silver brads, and non-SU ribbon were added to finish it off.




The next card uses the same colors, and the same stamp set...but the circle image gives a completely different look! I rounded my corners, so that it went well with the ovals and circles.










The final card was really fun to make! I pulled out the large medallion from Day of Gratitude. Instead of stamping in autumn colors, I decided to make a snowflake-type card. I inked up the stamp with retired Soft Sky, then "thumped" a Marina Mist marker over it...neat effect! Note the single rhinestone in the center. I layered it with Marina Mist dsp, and added some non-SU ribbon.

By the way...I have lots of ribbon. But my friend Kelly has even more...Far More!!!

Another Color Dare!

Riley has a great Color Dare again this week: Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, and Old Olive. I used to use night of navy a lot, but not so much now. I love this combo...classic, yet fresh! I used Baroque Motifs, stamping the small flowers, but adding brads for the centers. I rarely use more than 3 brads on a card...this felt quite indulgent! But I really like the effect! The DSP is Greenhouse Gala, and I used a bit of the striped grosgrain ribbon for the final detail.

I will definitely use this color combo more often...love it!!!

Everything used in this card is current from Stampin Up!

Check out Riley's Color Dare every Wednesday!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Featuring Thanks

Today is Sunday...time for another Featured Stamper Challenge on splitcoaststampers! The FS highlights gorgeous stuff from CherylQuilts...and what a gallery she has!! I chose this great Clean And Simple card to CASE. I needed more Thank You cards for the ministry, so I made 6 of these today. I changed the main color from bermuda bay to crushed curry so I could still use polka dot ribbon. I made the card vertical, so this Scripture verse would fit. The flower is from Stampin Up's Friends Never Fade, colored with artichoke and curry markers. The verse is from stampabilities, and I used basic black craft ink,clear embossing powder, and I heat embossed it. To make the main layer pop, I layered it on basic black. This will be easy to duplicate in other colors.


Yesterday was the Inspiration Challenge, highlighting the website Destiny's Creations, and I chose this bracelet. I decided to use Cajun Craze card stock and ink to mimic the copper. The flower is from Punched Posies, a retired hostess set, and I used the coordinating 5-petal punch. I originally tried to make a circle with the flowers, but it did not fit and looked awful! LOL! So I just used3 flowers scattered with a very vanilla layer which I ran through the Big Shot with perfect polka dots impressions folder. The sentiment is from Thank You Kindly, and I added a regal button, some twine,, and an old olive layer for contrast.

Time to stamp some more...my favorite Sunday afternoon activity!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

WooHoo!!!

I received some good news today!! My "Tricky Color Dare" card (posted 2 days ago) using Rich Razzleberry, Peach Parfait, and Sahara Sand, was chosen for Riley's Color Dare Featured Stamper this week! WooHoo!!! Now I need to think about this week's colors!!

Challenges Doubled-Up

Today, I am showing off 2 simple and quick cards. They are both challenge cards for splitcoaststampers, which is a FANTASTIC way to get your mojo going!! All products used are from Stampin' Up!

Tuesday is the SCS Color Challenge, and this week, it was posted early! I saw it late Monday night, fell in love with the color palette, and decided to play before I went to bed. The colors: Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, and Crumb Cake. I had a 1/2 sheet of crumb cake, my retired baja ribbon elements was on the top of a full basket, and the blushing bride pattern paper from the Hostess Level 1 pack is in the paper cubby closest to my laptop! I rolled my office chair to my stamp cabinet...and chose the lovely Serene Snowflakes. I combined the colors with a sketch challenge as well. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, and a glimmer brad (from the Holiday Mini) adds a nice shimmer. Almost forgot...I used Versamark to stamp on the crumb cake, giving a watermark look. Very simple!



This other card is for the CAS challenge to use gingham. I had just gotten this creamy caramel gingham ribbon off of the Clearance Rack. The button and twine are current accessories, placed on very vanilla card stock,mounted on bravo burgundy. I stamped Teeny Tiny Wishes in bravo burgundy as well.

Why 2 birthday cards? I have been so BAD about sending b-day cards this year, so I have a plan to make cards as I go...and I have a box ready to store 2011 cards! These cards are for a brother-in-law and sister-in-law who each have January birthdays.

We'll see how long this lasts!

Inky{{{HUGS}}}

Tricky Color Dare!

You know I love color combos, and this week's Color Dare gave me a challenge to stretch a bit! Peach Parfait, Rich Razzleberry and Sahara Sand would never have met in my home on one card if this challenge had not come up!

This card features lots of punches and dies. I used the Top Note die, then embossed with perfect polka dots. I also used Little Leaves sizzlit with peach parfait pattern paper from the Hostess Level 1 pack. I punched out 5-petal flowers in very vanilla, sponged with peach and razzleberry, and added glimmer brads from the Holiday Mini. I used markers for this wonderful sentiment from All Holidays, then added the Teeny Tiny Wishes birthday stamp on the word window. This is going to an area SU demo for a birthday card swap. I better make more!

I'll be working on the 2 Color Dares that I missed. Actually, I completed one (6 cards!), but sent them off for a swap before getting a picture. Hopefully I can get quality stamping time in this upcoming weekend to catch up! (Our silly jobs get in the way of stamping, don't they?)

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Same day...Another Post!!

Well, I thought I should post again, because I am gonna be busy again at work all week.

Sunday is Featured Stamper day on splitcoaststampers, and today's FS is Lynette, aka LynniePoo. Her gallery has lots of crisp, clean designs. Here is the card I CASE'd.

I changed the sketch from vertical to horizontal. I used my new Tasteful Trim Big Shot die to make the scallops, scored it a bit, and added pearls. I used the SU stampset, Thoughts and Prayers. The sentiment is in basic black, heat embossed. The image is colored with markers. Not very well, I might add! LOL I was in a hurry! Card stock is conferti white and always artichoke on rich razzleberry. Ink is basic black, razzleberry and artichoke.

Have a great stamping day!

Inky {{{Hugs}}}

Christmas-y Colors

The Color Challenge posted this past Tuesday on splitcoaststampers includes some luscious favorites of mine...the new Cherry Cobbler and Concord Crush, along with the standard old olive. I thought "Christmas!" and pulled out some sadly neglected stamps. I bought these last year from Our Daily Bread Designs, but fell behind in card making, so they never got inked.

The card stock, ink and ribbon are from Stampin' Up! The gold bling is from who-knows-where...sitting in an embellishment drawer for ages!

I heat embossed the main image, then colored with my blender pens. It is a thick card, with 2 layers popped up on dimensionals. I know, I know...extra postage! But shucks, it looks pretty good, dontcha think? ;-)

Hope to make a dozen of these, maybe next weekend.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Color Challenge Delay

I made this fun card 2 weeks ago, but took forever to get it uploaded! I thought I'd do it now before completing this week's challenge on splitcoaststampers. Work has been so busy that this week's challenge may show up 2 weeks late too!

The color challenge called for So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, and Rich Razzleberry. I considered using an autumn leaf motif, but somehow ended up with this. Do not ask me how!

The bird is from Elements of Style, and the sentiment is Teeny Tiny Wishes. I stamped the bird in so saffron first, tried rock and roll technique in tangerine, but the tangerine took over! Oh Well! I layered the image panel on razzleberry and added one single glimmer brad, found in the Holiday Mini. Love these things! The brightly colored panel is Presto Pattern Paper, brayered in the 3 colors...neat, huh? I added white ribbon, and placed it all on a tangerine card base. Fun fall birthday card, dontcha think?

Lots to do to get ready for Friday's Stamp Club! Hope to post projects soon!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

I'm Still Around!

...just too busy to post!

I had 2 speaking events,ministry related, last week. I returned from Olympia WA this morning, coming in on an overnight "red eye" flight. I am exhausted! LOL!!

I'm taking it easy tomorrow, opening up 2 big boxes from Stampin' Up! Can't wait to play with my goodies!!

I'll be in touch!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Happy Anniversary!

By the time this posts, I will be on the road with my hubby, to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary! Tomorrow marks the day, and Bruce has made all of the arrangements, keeping it a secret! No idea what's in store!

I made his card several weeks ago. My good friend Dawn posted a Free 4 All challenge on SCS, calling for the use of puns. Since Bruce loves puns and uses them more than I can handle, I thought I'd send one his way!

The card base is crumb cake, and I added cherry cobbler dsp and always artichoke card stock, embossed with the perfect polka dots in my big shot. I liked the contrast of the horizontal stripes and the dots. The main image is long retired, from Please Be Seated, colored with blender pens to coordinate with the real life color scheme of our den, and popped up with dimensionals. I added twine and a big designer button from the Holiday Mini. The sentiment is from Flexible Phrases, with regals brads. I outlined the phrases in cherry cobbler for contrast without more weight. This is a fat card!! LOL

Gotta finish packing!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Clearance Rack!!!

Stampin Up! just added a boatload of goodies to the Clearance Rack!! Ribbon, ink, rub-ons, card stock, watercolor crayons and more!! These items can only be ordered online...

Check it out by going to my website 24/7!!

Last Minute Dare!

I just barely got this card created and uploaded on time for this week's Color Dare! I love to enter Riley's weekly challenge!

I knew last Wednesday that I wanted to play...after all, it's a great combo: Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight, and Chocolate Chip. But as usual, my job kept me quite busy! Have to pay the bills and buy more stampin' stuff, right? Any way, I decided to try a late night card, and this is what I came up with. I took the picture because dear hubby is sound asleep. Maybe I'll have him take a better photo later on!

My card base is chocolate chip. I added a layer of daffodil delight, which I ran through the Big Shot with the Elegant Bouquet impressions folder, then lightly sponged with choc chip ink. I took some vanilla and Greenhouse Gala dsp, and cut it out with the Top Note die. The image is from Inspired by Nature, stamped with the daffodil, chocolate and always artichoke ink. Teeny Tiny Wishes and the modern label punch were already out on my messy table, so I put them to use! Finally, I added some retired corduroy brads and current crochet trim.

Designed, stamped, uploaded in 30 minutes! Whew!! That's gotta be a record!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Challenge Catch-Up!

I have not posted for a week, but I have stamped! So I am doing a long post...hang in there!

I did 4 challenges from SCS this week...Featured Stamper, Clean and Simple, Color, and Sketch. I also spent a bunch of time prepping card kits for my friends. I hosted a World Card Making Day event all day yesterday. Lots of fun...big mess! heehee! I even had a woman come and stamp for the very first time! I think she's hooked already!!

This is my Featured Stamper challenge card. "Hobbydujour" was the star of the day...very nice gallery! Here is the card I CASE'd. I loved the simplicity of one bright color and a neutral. I used Eastern Blooms for my flowers, Elements of Style for the flourishes at the bottom, and Teeny Tiny Wishes, all stamped in Melon Mambo. I used my ornament punch to make the vase. Just cut of the tip! The paper is from the neutrals paper pattern stack to go with the basic gray card base. Rhinestones and ribbon finish it off.


Monday's Clean and Simple challenge was a sketch, and it was perfect for me to make some more thank you cards. I have a couple of male board members who did a lot of work the day of the Walk for Life. I needed cards that were not too frilly! The card base is river rock (I'm trying to like it!), an I added cherry cobbler and very vanilla. The cherry cobbler was run through the Big Shot with a Texturz Plate from Backgrounds 1. I used Thank You Kindly and Pocket Silhouettes, stamped in Cherry Cobber and Soft Suede, respectively. I added some hemp twine and a button from the regals collection. I really love my buttons this year!

Next came Tuesday's Color Challenge...basic gray, daffodil delight, and regal rose, with the option of another color, since gray is a neutral. I added wild wasabi. I immediately thought of my numerous floral sets, but wanted to try something different. This is Love You Much, and I had rarely used it, but this was fun to make! I colored the image with my markers. I also had fun with my scallop trim punch and heart to heart punch (which makes 3 different heart sizes). I used more of my pattern paper stack, since I had some out from the featured stamper challenge! I added some 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon and one tiny rhinestone on the flower.




Finally, I made this thank you card for Sketch Challenge 300. Because of this milestone, lots of prizes are being offered by random drawing. I'll let you know if I win anything! The card base is cherry cobbler, and I added basic black, embossed with perfect polka dots in my big shot. Since I am making thank you's for each of my staff, I used the cute little bird in Fun and Fast Notes again, colored with markers and my blender pen. The DSP is from Love Letter. Fun patterns! The markers are blushing bride, daffodil delight, wild wasabi, cherry cobbler, and riding hood red. I also added some self adhesive pearls, and used my corner rounder a lot!

Hope you made through this mini-gallery! Time for me to stamp again!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Clean and Simple Colors

I made this card last Wednesday, posted it on SCS, but not here. Since I have done virtually no stamping for 3 days, I decided to post it here. Sorry for the bad picture. It was dark and rainy! But you know how I love color challenges, so I am putting up with the weak photo!

Last Tuesday's Color Challenge on splitcoaststampers (SCS) was baja breeze, cajun craze, and wild wasabi. I always start by grabbing card stock in the colors, and staring at it, wrapping my brain around the palette...

Hmmmm...this one was tough. Probably because I had a fund raiser on my brain! Finally, I decided to use some retired baja breeze satin ribbon (my retired ribbon could circumvent the globe!) and naturals white card stock. I went with a CAS design...one layer. I stamped the flower from Three Little Words, colored with my cajun and wasabi markers, then used a oval cut out to mask around it with baja breeze. The sentiment is from the same stamp set, stamped in basic black.

I am so happy with this...wish it had not taken me forever to create it! I plan on using this idea for a gift set. Whatcha think??

I hope to stamp more this week. I have a boatload of ribbon to use up!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}{

Busy Busy Sketch!

I cannot believe how hectic and busy this card looks! I mean, I kinda like it...but I think it is pattern overload! But, it has been a hectic week, so art imitates life! heehee I have the largest fund raiser of the year for the ministry TOMORROW! Gasp!! It is our Walk for Life...and I have been lining up volunteers, speaking at churches, finding sponsors, talking to media...busy indeed! (Hey, if you wanna sponsor me...let me know!)

The sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers this week was a great one to feature designer paper. But I also like making my own (you know that!) so I did both for this card! I used leaves and the acorn from Day of Gratitude...a fantastic stamp set in the Holiday Mini. The dsp is Autumn Spice, also in the Holiday Mini. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, and I added a glimmer brad (Holiday Mini again!) The leaf was cut out on the Big Shot with the Sizzix Leaves die, then embossed with the perfect polka dots impression folder. Ink and cardstock colors are more mustard, cajun craze, old olive and early espresso. You can barely see, but I stamped on the Very Vanilla layer inside, as well. Everything is from Stampin' Up!

I know LOTS of people with fall birthdays...someone will receive this soon!!

Inky{{{HUGS}}}

Twice as Daring

This week's Color Dare was a tricky one! Not Quite Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Poppy Parade, and Pumpkin Pie...wow! I love not quite navy, so I opted to use that as my card base. Living in Fighting Illini (orange and blue!) territory, I let pumpkin pie take 2nd chair, with taffeta ribbon and some retired summer dsp. The poppy parade was the stumper, but with this retired 2-step stamping set, Watercolor Garden II, it added dimension to the pumpkin pie for my fall tulips. The turquoise is seen in the sky and the ice round brads. And guess what...the sentiment is NOT from Teeny Tiny Wishes! LOL! Instead, I used Three Little Words, stamped in not quite navy, and it also fits in the modern label punch. I had to add old olive for the stems and leaves. Hope the color police don't come after me! The final detail is in the scallop trim punch. I LOVE this punch!





I finally did last week's Color Dare. This is not what I envisioned, but hey, it's done! LOL The color scheme was right up my alley...Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Regal Rose, and Elegant Eggplant. I knew immediately that I wanted to use my Lovely as a Tree stamp set, and to try a brayered or sponged sky. However, I got so busy with last week's Club and my upcoming fundraiser (this Saturday!) that I kept putting this off! Finally made this card yesterday. I got too lazy to pull out my brayer...so I sponged an already cut piece of glossy white. Messy! LOL! It is hard to tell, but I punched out a circle to mask a full moon (yesterday was a full harvest moon!), sponging around it...then removing the mask and dabbing just a hint of not quite navy so it would not be too stark. I used post-its to mark off the hill side, and sponged the olive for the ground. The tree is stamped in basic black, but I used markers to color it (old olive, always artichoke, close to cocoa and early espresso). I had this little scrap of eggplant pattern paper, added olive, and use the Hostess Level 1 Silhouette Sentiments. Finally. rose red ribbon. Gotta have ribbon, right?

Inky, Messy {{{HUGS}}}

Operation Write Home

Here is a quick Christmas card I made over the weekend. I came across a blogg post from va.sunshine...an amazing stamper! She came up with this sketch for Operation Write Home. We were to create a holiday card for one of the troops to use. I decided to open my new Jolly Holiday dsp. The large scallop circle and middle strip, with scallop border, are very vanilla. The image is from Fun and Fast Notes, colored with markers in crumb cake, early espresso, marina mist, cherry cobbler, daffodil delight, and old olive. More yummy cherry cobbler seam binding! LOVE this stuff!!

I hope to make 6 of these, then send them on to OWH. Here is their website...maybe you can send holiday cards too!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Bright Butterflies

A friend of mine requested that I make a belated birthday card for her mom. Actually, it wasn't supposed to be belated, but she mentioned it one day while we were at lunch, and I completely forgot! She called me after the birthday...wish she had called to ask how I was doing on it. You know, a reminder call. Oh well. I can't go back in time. I guess she got a regular card...this will be a bonus card.

I made this card for yesterday's Featured Stamper challenge on SCS. Here is the card I CASE'd.
I changed the color palette (by request) to this bright scheme...so out of my comfort zone!! I used retired colors lovely lilac, pixie pink, and lavender lace, along with tempting turquoise. Stamp sets are Fifth Avenue Floral, On Your Birthday, and Flight of the Butterfly. I had fun using my butterfly punch...also the scallop oval and word window. The gemstones are non-SU.

Next time,I hope to be ON time!! LOL!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

A Night at the Club

Stamping Club, of course!!

My September hostess loves cards, but wanted some unique techniques or folds. It was great for me...my full-time job has been extra busy prepping for the Walk for Life. I could have easily resorted to the same-ol'-same-ol' stuff.

Instead, we made 2 very different cards. The first is an easel card. I had never made one before, but received one in a demo swap. It is an easy technique with a great "wow" factor. Here is a tutorial. I used crumb cake, baja breeze, very vanilla, not quite navy, and garden green card sock, and elegant soiree dsp. My new bird punch got a good work out...I love how you get the branch, body and wing with one punch! Inside, I added a big designer button from the Candy Cane collection, found in the Holiday Mini, with a bit of hemp twine. The sentiments are from On Your Birthday, stamped in not quite navy. Fun, huh?

Next, we made this warm autumn card. Years ago, my hostess and I were in a club with a different demo, and we made a card with glossy white card stock and a brayer. Well,my hostess wanted to try that again...so here is a card using the serigraph technique. I learned this technique for Virtual Stamp Night early this year. Here is a tutorial. (Note: I did not use white embossing powder...but instead used clear powder over chocolate chip craft ink.) The card base is more mustard, with a layer of cajun craze. On the glossy white card stock, we randomly brayered old olive,more mustard, and cajun craze classic ink. I stamped the large medallion and sentiment from my new Day of Gratitude stamp set, found in the Holiday Mini. I added a large brad from the ice rhinestone set, and a bit of old olive grosgrain ribbon. It is hard to see, but inside we placed a strip of the new Autumn Spice dsp on very vanilla...Yummy!!

Thanks for coming by!! Wanna order some of this stuff? Just click here for shopping 24/7!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}{