A Sunday Night Post

Hello Stamping Friends!

I have a card for both the Colour Me...! challenge and the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  Usually I post these on Mondays, but I have a meeting out of town, and i am leaving early in  the morning.  I am posting quickly, and I will add updates after I get my briefcase ready.  *wink*

In a nutshell, I used the challenge colors to make my own dp with SU's "Vintage Vogue."  My buttons were getting lost, so I varied the sketch a bit, using this striped ribbon and just one button and enamel dot.





Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Quickly Playing with Paper

Hello...and TGIF!

I have a very quick card to post before the deadline for The Paper Players challenge.  I'll link it up, then add details.  (Edited the details on time too!  Whew!)








There is not much to say here.  The Designers Series Paper takes center stage on a basic black base.  It is SU's "Sweet Sorbet" from a few years ago, and it has some pretty funky patterns.  Took me a while to get into it; I still have most of the package left!  I wanted the tree to be highlighted, so I adapted my sketch just a bit.  I used another pattern from the same stack for the horizontal stripe.  I thought I still had all 3 of the dahlias in summer starfruit, but just 2...so I added this enamel heart from Anne Marie.  (Appropriate, since Anne Marie is the name of the DT member who gave us the sketch!)  The sentiment is from Stampabilities, in Stazon jet black.  My sister just had surgery and she lives out of town.  This will go out in the mail today.

It was fun to play another challenge...in crunch time!  Thanks for checking it out!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Triple Challenge Card!

Happy Wednesday!!

I finally completed the latest Friday Mashup challenge...literally linking up my card before I typed up the description!  2 minutes to spare...adrenaline rush!  LOL   Not only is the card for the Mashup, but it also uses the palette from the ColourQ challenge, which was extended a week (WooHoo!)  Finally, I used the sketch challenge posted today on SCS.  I adapted it a bit, maybe too much.  Oh well.  I am grateful that there are no challenge police!

My card base is strawberry slush, and the layer of whisper white is dry embossed with a Cuttlebug folder, then sponged with coastal cabana.  3 of my horizontal strips are from the SU brights pattern paper stack, in daffodil delight and tangerine tango.  The other 2 strips are my own dp, made with various stamps in the "Flight of the Butterfly" stamp set.

I made this wonderful butterfly using coastal cabana and the SU Butterflies thinlit die, which had been sitting in my drawer for 2 months.  I was a bit nervous about it.  Lots of little pieces to pop out, but I as able to do it easily with my finger or my piercing tool.  The lace is from a friend who sews a lot.  It was white, but I sponged it lightly.  Finally, the sentiment is from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" punched out with the word window.

This card is headed to one of my great-nieces.  She turns 14 next week...hard to believe.

Thanks for stopping by again.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Rainy Days and Mondays...

Good Morning, and Happy Memorial Day to all my fellow US citizens!

It has been windy, cloudy, and raining off and on all morning.  Every time I think it's going to clear up, the clouds roll in again.  Perfect day for stamping!  (My husband hopes the rain has stopped for the day; he drove to his brother's house and they plan to go golfing.  I think my odds of a good hobby day are better than theirs!

 The first card is for the Colour Me...! challenge.  I intended to pair it up with a SCS sketch, but opted to do this very quick design.  Why?  It's last minute, of course!

I already had this bermuda bay card base cut, folded and lined.  I must have planned to use it for a different project...long forgotten.  But it helped make this very quick!  I added a layer of so saffron.  On whisper white, I stamped swoshes from SU's "Work of Art" in the challenge colors.  I added this sentiment from SU's "All Holidays" along wit an old favorite silhouette image from SU's "Of the Earth."  Some pear pizzazz ribbon and non-SU enamel dots (forgot the brand) fill in a bit of the white space.   

Next, I have a card using the current SCS color challenge (hello honey, blackberry bliss, smoky slate, basic gray, and lost lagoon) along with the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  I took some liberties with the sketch (more layers!)

My card base is basic gray, with layers of slate, lost lagoon, and whisper white.  On the white, I stamped the 2-step image from SU's "Field Flowers."  I sponged the sun in the corner, sing a post-it to help me sponge some rays.  I added blackberry ribbon and the sentiment from the same stamp set.  The butterflies are from the SU embosslit. No fancy techniques, but I really like the final result.

Clouds are moving in again.  I should be able to get more cards made!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Mash Up Grad

Hello, and Happy Wednesday!!

I have a quick card for The Friday Mashup.  It was easy to make, but my hands are a mess!  The challenge was to make a celebration card and/or use the color combo of night of navy, bermuda bay and crushed curry.  I have several graduation cards to make, and many of the schools have some shade of blue and gold...perfect!

My card base is night of navy.  I combined plain whisper white with the embossed specialty paper, cut on an angle.  I simply sponged the challenge colors over the stripes.  The sentiment is from SU's "Word Play," colored with markers.  Between the sponging and my messy navy marker, my fingers got full of ink!  The graduation cap is from SU's "Pure Gumption."  I wanted just one more detail, so I added the tab...made with the modern label punch and a gold brad.  The patterned paper is actually from the original year bermuda bay came out.  Good grief!

I've got more graduation cards to make...I'll see you later!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Colors that are Freshly Made

Hello, Hello, Hello!

So, I have set a goal to complete all of the 2015 sketch challenges on SCS as well as at Freshly Made Sketches.  I am so far behind!  Last week, I planned to do several FMS challenges, but managed only one.  I decided I better post it, then I can go back and work on others.  The cool thing is that  this card is already on its way to the recipient!  9 of the last 10 cards I have made have actually been used instead of being stashed away.  Of course, that just means that I held off on making a bunch of cards until I really needed them...LOL  Now I need to make graduation cards; same last minute rush!

Any way, here is the barely-current Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  I combined it with the SCS color challenge, incorporating the soon to retire SU In-Colors (coastal cabana, baked brown sugar, pistachio pudding, crisp cantaloupe, and strawberry slush.)  I am going to miss coastal cabana and pistachio pudding; the others? Meh.  I'll live!  I completely forgot to order ink refills, and I didn't stock up on the wonderful ruffled ribbon.  But considering how many other retired products I have sitting around, I am certain I'll be okay!

I needed a card for my almost sister-in-law.  I wish my brother-in-law would just hurry up and propose...hmmm...that's another story!  Any way, Christina is not a girly-girl.  She does like to relax with a cool beverage, and she likes to entertain.  I thought these images from SU's "Tropical Party" would be fun to use with the colors.  They are not truly as bold and bright as the tropics would be, but I still think it works.  Using twine instead of ribbon keeps it from being too frilly.  The coconut drink was colored with markers since the straw and umbrella are all a part of the same image.  I used my Sizzix circle die and scallop circle punch.  My angled cut is a bit high for the sketch, oops...but I like this look, so I will probably use this sketch again.  The sentiment is hiding in the lower panel.  It is from "Happiest Birthday Wishes" cut out with the modern label punch.

There you go...maybe I will have more completed sketches later this week.  I sure hope so!  Maybe I can catch up on this goal before the month is over!

Thanks for coming by.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Back to Playing with Paper

Happy Friday!

I am still trying to get back into a regular stamping/blogging routine again.  I took a peak at The Paper Players challenge, and realized I had not played along for a while.  I really like the color combo LeAnne selected and decided to put something together.  I figured this palette would work for a feminine or masculine card.  A gentleman from the church choir had surgery recently, so this card is for him.

This is a clean and simple design, which should be easy to duplicate with various sentiments.  My card base is sahara sand.  The next layer is dry embossed with the Cuttlebug divine swirls folder, then sponged with lost lagoon ink.  I added three pieces of thick bakers twine.  My image is SU's "Sail Away," stamped in Stazon jet black on very vanilla.  I sponged both sahara and lagoon  ink around the edges.  Since I wanted more of the pistachio incorporated, I used it for the sentiment layer; a simple circle on the corner.  The sentiment is from "Delightful Dozen."

Thanks for stopping by...I'm going to keep stamping this afternoon!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

My Q's Got Mashed-Up!

Happy Tuesday Wednesday!

So yesterday two days ago, I was making a card...a late Mother's Day card.  I called my mom on the big day, but didn't send a card.  As bad as that sounds, my mom also sends cards late.  I learned from the best! LOL

I used the colors from The ColourQ, but did not post it on time.  I am trying to get back into blogging mode.  I decided to use the Friday Mashup challenge as well (just in the nick of time!), which was to combine a project for mom with something recycled or re-purposed.  Nothing within my reach fit the bill, so I just did a mom card.

My intention for this post was to also include another ColourQ/Friday Mashup combination, but I had an unexpected long phone call about a speaking engagement for October!  Had to take that one!  I may edit this post with the other card after church tonight.  (ETA...I did!)

So...here we go.

When Poppy Parade was an in-color, I barely used it.  Now I like it.  Go figure!  I use it very rarely, but enjoy it when I have the chance.  For this card, I went crazy...poppy card base, patterned paper and ink!  I used coastal cabana and basic black to mount my image.  Yes, the image and sentiment are from the same set..."Messages for Mom"...that I used on Saturday.  I used my blushing bride marker and sponged with the calypso coral...they almost look identical.  The sentiment is too big for the modern label punch, so I just turned it into a banner.  Several dimensionals were used to plump this up.  Sadly, I pressed down to soon...it's crooked!  I tried to fix it, but started to tear the dsp.  Oops.  Years ago, that would not have bothered me...now it drive me crazy.  Thankfully mom is quite forgiving!










Okay, so here is my next card.  It uses the current ColourQ palette with a previous Friday Mashup.  The Mashup gave us a sketch, plus the prompt to use a retiring or retired or forgotten stamp.  Most of my stamps are retired SU!  My picture stinks, but I did not want to wait until the morning to add this.

I chose this cute image from SU's "Fun & Fast Notes."  It is long retired, but I used to use it all the time.  It has sat untouched for a long time.  I thought the image worked well with these colors.  I colored with my markers, adding a bit of doodled grass and sunshine.  The dsp is from a Christmas pack; can't remember the name, but yes it has gumball green!  The vanilla layer is embossed with the cloudy day folder, then sponged with bordering blue.  This used to be one of my favorites.  I still have several packs of card stock that I bought when it was retiring. Hmmm, hoard much?  Card stock...yes.




Thanks for dropping by again.  Hope to stamp and blog again later this week.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Colour Me with a Batch of Sketches

Hello Friends!

As promised, here are the three cards I made Saturday night.  I may even edit this post with 2 additional cards...we'll see!  Each of these cards takes a Colour Me...! challenge with a sketch challenge from Splitcoaststampers.

Monochromatic cards are tough for me, but I'm getting better at them (I think!)  CMCC#70 has crisp cantaloupe, which I paired with smoky slate.  I really like this sketch, as it combines circles and straight lines.  I also combined this with the Mini Virtual Stamp Night challenge to create a card for someone who makes you "Happy."

The dsp is from SU's "Sweet Sorbet."  I used my Sizzix circle die with the cantaloupe and whisper white card stock.  The stamped flower is from "Mixed Bouquet" cut out with the coordinating punch.  My sentiment is from "You're a Gem."  I added ruffled ribbon, then some sequins.  I have a horrible time getting those things on!  How do you people manage these?  I had glue in big globs, so I added my rhinestones...yada yada!  It took forever, though I am happy with the results.  Those sequins may last me a decade or more!

Oh my gosh...I just noticed that I left some rhinestones off.  I think I must have been too frustrated!  LOL  I will add them later...maybe.













Next, I have a card for the previous week's Colour Me challenge.  For CMCC#69, we had two choices; I opted for the cooler tones.  I added some black to make the colors pop.

My card base is coastal cabana.  I used stamps from SU's "Bliss" to make some easy patterned paper on whisper white, then layered it over basic black.  I combined cherry cobbler and rose red seam binding.  The main floral image and sentiment are from "Messages for Mom," stamped in Stazon jet black, then colored with markers.  My sentiment is a bit off, but my sister-in-law could still read it!  I sponged the edges before mounting it on basic black, then popped it up with dimensionals.  Coloring those flowers took a while, but otherwise,, this was a quick design!

The last card from last night is this funky one...for my nephew.  His birthday is today..oops.  I'll put it in the mail tomorrow.  Not too bad, considering my usual timing!  The melon mambo in CMCC#68 made this tricky, but I was determined to complete these challenges, and the other color combos were even less masculine.  With this sketch, the card is quite busy...not sure if I like it.  Maybe I will actually make something else in the morning!

My card base is night of navy.  I added a layer of whisper white.  The stamped images are from SU's "Clockworks."  I like the graphic look for a masculine card.  I added the melon mambo ink to the crushed curry with my marker before stamping.  This makes the melon less pink and more orange.  After stamping, I ran the white through my Big Shot with the argyle embossing folder.  The pattern paper is from the "Moonlight" stack. Both sentiments are from "Happiest Birthday Wishes."  Two simple enamel dots are the only embellishments.

It feels cluttered...but it will be mailed with a DQ gift card.  That will make him happy, right?

Well, that's it for now.  I had a busy day, but wanted to post at least a few cards.  It feels good to get back into my stamping routine.  I hope to create more tomorrow!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

YES! I am STILL Here!

Hey there, Stamping Friends!

I have been absent from this blog for over a month...tsk tsk!  I had only made 2 cards since the last post, until today.  I kept thinking I would get back into my creative mode, but it just wasn't happening.  But I have been very busy with other things.  I attended a conference in St Louis right after Easter and I sang at two different women's events in the diocese.  I am most excited about having a Mother's Day column PUBLISHED in our diocesan newspaper this week!  WooHoo!  Additionally, that article prompted an on-air interview yesterday on SirusXM radio!  Hopefully these media accomplishments will help with my speaking events!

If you want to read my column, just click here.

I have made 3 cards today, plus I mailed 8 cards from my stash!  Feels good to start catching up!  I will post pictures of the new cards tomorrow (I hope).  But I decided to post a picture of the card I made a couple of weeks ago, but had not yet posted.

I have 2 nephews with late April birthdays,and I had no guy cards in my stash. I wanted to do a Freshly Made Sketch challenge, and I actually made this on time for the deadline.  However, I didn't like my photo...and I had to mail both of the cards immediately (I made duplicates.)  I'll probably do the challenge again for fun.

This card features SU's "Soho Subway" dsp...which I bought 2 years ago and had NEVER used!  This made me realize that I do NOT need to by the soon-to-retire dsp this month.  Must.Not.Spend. LOL Anyway, I thought the pattern with all of the numbers would be fun for a birthday card. The card base is early espresso.  The little turtle is from "Fox and Friends" stamped in not quite navy, and the sentiment is from "Just Sayin'" stamped in early espresso.  After punching holes, I added just a bit of summer starfruit thick bakers twine.

I like how these turned out, and may end up using that Soho paper after all!

Thanks for helping me dust off my blog!  I hope to be back tomorrow...hmmm, not sure.  It's Mother's Day!  If not tomorrow, I'll see you Monday!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim