Isn't this "Krafty?"

Sorry for the bad pun! I am starting to feel sick...boohoo...and I am under the influence of decongestants!

I love color challenges (have you noticed?) and this week's splitcoaststampers challenge was a fun, easy one: Bermuda Bay, Real Red, and Kraft. The Kraft card stock will be renamed as Crumb Cake with the Color Renovation in the new catalog (IBC) this July, and will have coordinating inks! WooHoo! I have one more month to use my Bermuda Bay...but Real Red is staying! Life could not go on without this classic, right?

See all the layers? I wish it was my own creative genius, but No! It was a sketch challenge from 2 weeks ago. My top square is tilted the "wrong" way...but that's because of a little smudge on the layer below! LOL! I once read "There are no mistakes; only opportunities for embellishments!" AMEN!

Sketches like this are great for using various DSP patterns. I stamped the flourish from Elements of Style and the sentiment is from On Your Birthday. Add some brads and grosgrain ribbon, highlight the layers with basic black (all from Stampin' Up!), and Ta-dah!

Now...who shall I send this to? Hmmmmmmmmmm

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Swaps!

Just a quick post to "showoff" 2 cards I submitted for a recent swap on splitcoaststampers. Everyything is from Stampin'Up!

The first thank you card features some retired items (the pink pirouette striped ribbon and bella birds dsp, and the flowers in silhouette image)...but I'm hoping something similar comes in this summer since Pink Pirouette is coming back! WooHoo! I used my Ovals big shot die to get coordinated ovals, and the word window punch with Teeny Tiny Wishes. Ink colors are so saffron and chocolate chip to match the paper. The card base is the soon-to-retire bordering blue. I stocked up on this favorite!

The same hostess had a youth birthday card swap. I had no idea what to do, but looked at my retiring goodies. I decided to use ruby red card stock to make room for the returning riding hood red and new cherry cobbler! I also used very vanilla, close to cocoa, creamy caramel and brocade blue (very vanilla is staying, don't worry!). I ran card stock in my big shot with the Circles big shot die, and then two of them with the polka dots embossing folder. That cute monkey is from Fox & Friends, with chocolate chip and ruby red ink. The sentiments are from On Your Birhday and, what else.Teeny Tiny Wishes! Topped it off with brocade ribbon. I am making room for new goodies!!

Ink {{{HUGS}}}

Lotsa Mommas!

So, Mother's Day was last weekend, and I made lots of Mother's Day cards. For my mom, my mother-in-law, several sisters-in-law, and 2 nieces who have kids. Fun!

I used several designs, so I wouldn't get bored. The first was actually a Stampin' Club project in April. It features the Manhattan Flower textured impressions embossing folder. LOVE this! We sponged apricot appeal and pretty in pink ink to highlight the image. The sentiment is from a mini occasion set...hope it makes the new Idea Book and Catalog (IBC)! The card base is almost amethyst (I will miss this color!), with a layer from Tea Party DSP. Celery ribbon and the scallop oval punch added for detail.

I also made a card with one of my new favorite stamp sets...Elements of Style! It is in the Summer Mini-Occassions catalog. This set includes this luscious floral image, a pretty bird, a flourish, and 2 sentiments. (The sentiment here is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.) It's gonna be fun to create all summer long with this! My colors are always artichoke, dusty durango, and crushed curry. Not all Mother's Day cards need to use soft subtles, right? I colored the image with my blender pens...a can't-live-without-it tool. I also sponged the edges...love the aged look!

The last card I will feature here uses a new technique for me: Burnishing. I was inspired to try this technique and this fun new set, Awash with Flowers, by a world-famous Stampin' Up! Demo, "Jan Tink". (Her last name is actually longer, but everyone knows her as Jan Tink!) She had a tutorial on her blog...and it is so easy! I will definitely use this technique at a future monthly stamp club! All it takes is pressing color into the card stock with a sponge dauber, and gradually working the color outward. Wow! I enjoy using rich regals and earth tones together. This card actually features LOTS of colors...all sticking around (or coming back!) for the Color Renovation: Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy, Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, and Baja Breeze! The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched out with the word window punch. I'm telling you, those items get me to use the smallest of scraps! So cool! Hope you like this too! Be watching for the new IBC that arrives in July...and you too can own Awash with Flowers!!

I had about 5 other designs, but shucks, I don't want to bore you!! My next challenge will be to use all of these flowers in non-mommy cards. Hmmm...did I say that outloud? Guess I will have to really do it!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Take Care, Bold Brights

Yesterday's Inspiration Challenge on splitcoaststampers was a fun one! We were directed to an online store called Green Rainbow. Well, I found a cute snail puzzle painted in bright colors. It reminded me of the many colors that are on the Fond Farewell list. Even though the colors are going, I hope, hope, hope this adorable butterfly embosslit die sticks around! See the different textures? This little die cuts out 5 different butterflies at once! Just run it through your Big Shot! I LOVE it!!! And check out the polka dots...all made with my new polka dot embossing folder. I also used the word window punch and modern label punch. The sentiment is from a retired set. Even though I am not a fan of the bold brights, and I am glad many are retiring, this was fun to make!

I LOVE these colors!!

Ok, so I just have to post a bit of a teaser here...

I received my Stampin' Success today. That's the monthly magazine for Stampin' Up demonstrators. Well, they included 8x10 sheets of the 5 brand new colors! These colors are FABULOUS!! I haven't made samples yet...but wow!

The Cherry Cobbler is delicious! The Daffodil Delight is sunny! The Cajun Craze is cozy! The Early Espresso is rich! And the Marina Mist is Gorgeous!!

These colors will be available July 1st. Between now and then, make sure you stock up on your favorite retirees!

Time for me to go play now!!

A Color Renovation!!

I have been a Happy Stampin' Up customer for years...and a demo for about 18 months. Love so many products...ribbon, great card stock, designer series paper (DSP). I have most of the colors, and even last year's batch of In-Colors. I LOVE color! Mix 'em, match 'em....so much fun!!

Well, this week, the good people at Stampin' Up! made a major announcement...they are bringing on a Color Renovation! Freshening up, the color palette, and it looks great! Instead of color "families", we will have Color Collections. Some current colors, some returning In-Colors (like Baja Breeze! WooHoo!)...and some new colors! Check these out!


But with every hello, comes a good-bye, it seems. Many colors...29 in all...will be retiring this summer. This is a tough one for me...but as I looked at the list, I realized that I don't use a lot of these any way. Apparently, I am not the only one! LOL The good news is, if there is a favorite of yours on this Fond Farewell list, you can stock up over the next 2 months! SU! has said these items will be available until June 1st...and June 1st through June 30th, it is while supplies last. I will stock up on my beloved bordering blue and sage shadow...maybe pale plum and mellow moss. See which colors you want to buy...

(Editorial note...my attempts to change a pdf file to a jpg file resulted in removing the Stampin' Up! logo. All colors shown above are copyrighted by Stampin' Up!)

So, if you want to place an order for card stock, ink, markers...let me know. Just click on the IBC logo to the left!!

Gotta run! I have some work to do for my "real" job again! You know...the one that supplies my stampin' allowance! *wink* Seriously, I have a MAJOR fund-raiser in 2 weeks! Eeack!! Pray for me!!