Sketchy Wednesday!

Recently, I was asked to join the Sketch Challenge Team on Splitcoaststampers, and I am thrilled!  I get the sketches in advance, and post late Tuesday nights.  Deadlines are good for me!  I'll be on the DT April through September.




Today's Sketch #744 came from Cathy (cathymac) and it has lots of layers.  I love layers!  Great way to use designer paper, which I have in seemingly endless supply.  I pulled out SU's "Painted Blooms" dsp which has lots of wonderful colors.  My stamps are from Unity Stamp Company, "...So very Grateful."  My first attempt was watercolor, but the wc paper was too yellow for this designer paper.  At least I have a colored image to use later!  Instead, I stamped with Stazon jet black on whisper white, then colored with markers.  Couldn't find my blushing bride marker, so I used regal rose, along with rich razzleberry, blackberry bliss, daffodil delight, wild wasabi, and marina mist.  The sentiment is punched out and popped up, then adorned with a tiny enamel heart. 









Last week's Sketch was from Diane (DCinkit).  It's very different, with the multiple strips.  First, I started with a card base of sahara sand and SS pattern paper.  I then opted to create a scene, cutting it up.  I used SU's "Wetlands" and my aqua brush for the beach scene in sahara sand, bordering blue, and regal rose. The sentiment is from "Teeny Tiny Wishes," stamped in island indigo. I chose to keep it just on the word window punched piece so the original sketch is not obstructed.  Lots of baker's twine finishes it off. 

It's going to be lots of fun creating these sketch cards over the next 6 months.  Be sure to join in; there are no deadlines to upload on SCS!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Bright Color Throwdown

  I am posting a card I made last Wednesday for the Sketch challenge on SCS, along with  the Color Throwdown for the week.  I am finally posting here; still getting acclimated to my blog again.  The first card I made used vanilla instead of white, and the sketch wasn't quite right.  (It was also combined with a recent SCS Inspiration challenge.)  So I made a second card which I am much happier with.  The colors definitely look brighter on white!  I used very old SU stamps - "Three Little Words" and "Define Your Life." The card base is the thick style of whisper white.  I used daffodil delight pattern paper for the large layer, and a strip of real red pattern paper (from an old hostess 6x6 stack!) for the narrow strip.  Using real red and pear pizzazz markers, I colored the tulip and stamped three times on the oval die cut.  A scrap of certainly celery is finally used up as a matte for the sentiment stamped in pear pizzazz. Red enamel hearts are the finishing elements.  Feels Like spring!  

Here's my other card, which I still haven't uploaded to my gallery yet.  I looked on the Inspiration site, and found this item with lots of red.  That's why I chose it for the color throwdown, but it just didn't work for me.  Not a bad card, just didn't feel like the best fit for the challenges.  The feathers weren't showing up enough, especially in the lighter yellow and green colors.  Great excuse to make that other card!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Spring Virtual Stamp Night!

Hello Friends!

I am finally posting my Mini VSN cards here.  The Mini took place on March 8th, but there is actually still time to play!  Misti, Lee, and I give out "VSN Virtuoso" prizes for people who complete ALL of the challenges.  Since some people come by later, we don't want to punish them for missing the Mini.  But you have to upload your Mini projects by Thursday April 11th.  The Main VSN kicks off Friday April 12, and continues Saturday the 13th.  Our theme is "From Here to There," and you can come and chat about it HERE.

I hosted the first challenge, "Traveling Ink."  I challenged people to use the Rolling Marble Background technique, and I was thrilled to hear how much fun everyone had!  I used regal rose, lovely lilac, and lucky limeade for my backgrounds.  Cutting a full sheet of whisper white in quarters, it took me less than 10 minutes (easily) to make the backgrounds.  Then I had fun picking various stamps to complete four different cards.  The one with the bird features "Elements of Style."  The bicycle card features an image from Stampabilities.  The big prima-like flowers have been in my stash for years, as well as the big yellow brads.  That card will need extra postage! The card with the ruched ribbon is my favorite.  I colored white ribbon with markers and used my heat tool to scrunch it up.  Fun color and texture!  The stamps are from "Just Believe."

 


Next, Misti gave us an inspiration challenge, with photos of travel ready snacks.  Instead of picking ine snack, I just went with the image of compartments and colors.  I used lots of old 6x6 pattern paper from SU!  My elephant is an old SU image, but I don't know the set, since it is in a box of random stamps.

Finally, Lee had us use Arrows on our cards.  I only have one stamp with an arrow (from SU's Word Play), so I added some by using the photo corner punch.  A local high school has blue and gold for its colors, so this will make a nice graduation card.

I am looking forward to the big event in April!  Hope to get started on samples this weekend.  Mark your calendars for April 12 & 13!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Random Cards

Hello Stamping Friends!

In an attempt to catch up a bit, I am going to post some random cards here.  I went through photo files on my laptop, and thought, Good grief!  I am so far behind!  Here goes!


This was for a nephew and his new bride.  I love this die from Stampin' Up!  It makes fancy cards so quick and easy!  The glimmer paper is sweet sugar plum, and I think I had sparkles on my floor for weeks!






I have another nephew in the US Navy, stationed in Japan.  The Open Sea stamp set goes perfectly with this paper stack, also from SU, though I forget the name.  Plus, I think lost lagoon is a perfect color for ocean themed cards!




Now, a card for a niece.  I had to take the photo quickly before I stuck it in the mail.  Her sorority recently took group photos with everyone wearing burgundy, holding sunflowers.  I had a stamp set in mind; turns out I gave it away!  So I chose this Itty Bitty set from Unity Stamp Company. It's hard to tell, but the crown is gold embossed.  I brushed more mustard and delightful dijon ink around the bees, and sponged my embossed background.  And I love the lace as an added detail!

Another nephew (I have 12, not to mention nephews-in-law!) was in a musical recently.  It was put on by a group called The Penguin Project, and the entire cast is made if children with developmental or sensory disabilities.  I am so proud of Ethan being on stage, even doing a few dance steps and having a few spoken lines.  The "Broadway Bound" dsp from SU was perfect.  My penguin is from an unknown dollar bin source.

Finally, this card was made months ago for a friend in ministry who completed her term in leadership.  She was SO supportive of me, as I grew to understand my own role.  I am blessed to have worked with her.

I have lots of "get organized" goals for the coming months.  Not just here, but in reading more books, getting more exercise.  I better not wait until the New Year...no time like the present!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim  

I'm Back!

Hey there, Stamping Friends!

I am dusting off this blog!  I have been stamping fairly often this year, helping to moderate Virtual Stamp Night events on Splitcoaststampers, and always having fun with family birthday cards.  I actually have 4 or 5 posts in my drafts...clearly I thought I would be back sooner!

For several years, I chose a blog challenge and a SCS weekly challenge to focus on throughout the year.  Well, I have nearly ignored 2018 blog challenges so it is too late for that.  But I have been doing the Free 4 All challenges, which are posted on SCS every Friday.

So today, I am just going to post a few F4A cards just so this blog wakes up!  It is also a waay for me to warm up before the huge Dare to Get Dirty week of challenges which start this coming Saturday!

 This first card is for the most recent F4A, "Winged Things," along with last week's color challenge (smoky slate, berry burst, granny apple green.)  I don't have any granny apple green, so I used kiwi kiss.  The bird is from "Elements of Style," and the sentiment is from a new set, "Just Add Text." I am almost out of kiwi kiss card stock...after how many years??














The next card is for the challenge "Ride the Waves."  I literally had the card base and dsp (Sunshine & Sprinkles) together for weeks, but set this aside.  Then I had vacation and a busy VSN week.  I was happy to finish with this fun stamp my sister-in-law found for me at a thrift store.  It is SU's "Aquaria" or something like that.  I colored it with blender pens.  The sentiment is from "Whimsical Words."















Now, this card was made in June while I was on dawnmercedes team to make F4A samples.  The challenge was to make something inspired by a neighboring state.  I live in Illinois, and neighboring Missouri is home to the St Louis Cardinals.  My hubby is a HUGE cardinals fan, so I made this for his July birthday.  I used "Good Sport" and "Happiest Birthday Wishes" stamp sets.  I added a tiny bit of an imitation feather to top off the bird.  I chose yellow for the sentiment,. similar to the yellow bat in the St Louis team logo.












My next card was created way back in May on the weekend of the Kentucky Derby.  I have quite a bit of this "To the Nines" dsp, and this particular pattern goes well with this horse image from "Horse Frontier."  The greeting is from "Wetlands."  The only non-SU element is the thick twine, which I looped like a lasso.  I really like how this turned out!















Now, the last card I am posting is for a F4A challenge posted months ago, but I just did it in July, combining it with a VSN challenge.  VSN was "Going to the Zoo," and the F4A was specifically about zebras.  Easy combo!  I used melon mambo and lemon lime twist with the black and white paper from S.E.I. called "Black Orchid."  The zebra is from "Zoo Friends," and the greeting is from "Just Sayin'" on a word bubble framelit.  I sent this to my "tween" grand-daughter.


I have made many other cards, but posting them all would be silly!  I am just happy to get back on this platform.  I'll be checking out other blogs too to see what YOU have been creating!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Traditions of Fresh Sketches

Hello Stamping Friends!

I am still trying to catch up with some specific card needs, but sometimes it is good to just make a bunch of cards for my general stash.  The best way to do this?  Grab a pack of designer series paper and a bunch of sketches.  Over the last 3 days, I have been working on the remnants of a long-retired package:  SU's Autumn Traditions.  (I think it came out when soft suede was an In-color.)  I really need to use my supplies, so I dug in with several past Freshly Made Sketches, then peeked in yesterday to grab the current one.  Two of the sketches are squares, but I don't have any square envelopes, and just wanted to keep things simple, so all of these are A2 cards.  Here goes!

Instead of giving a play-by-play, I will list supplies here at the top, since all of the cards are similar.  I used SU card stock in more mustard, soft suede, always artichoke, elegant eggplant, and whisper white.  Along with the Autumn Traditions dsp, I used some eggplant paper and a bit of ruby red from my scraps.  The ink is more mustard, always artichoke, and elegant eggplant.  Punches and dies include circles, scallop circles, ovals, Sizzix leaves, SU banners and word bubbles.  Stamps used are all SU:  "Hello Again," "Happiest Birthday Wishes," "On Your Birthday," "Just Sayin'," "Wetlands," and "Blessings from Heaven."  Some seam binding, brads, and enamel dots are the finishing details.  Now, to get all of these pictures in place!

  

Whew!  I think these look pretty as a set.  I'd like to say all of this DSP is gone, but alas, I still have some scraps left.  I plan on throwing some cards together today with the rest, instead of putting them away to gather dust again.  Wish me luck!

Thanks for coming by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Challenging Friday

Hello, and Happy Friday!!

Once again, it has been a while since I have been here.  Still trying to get out of a rut.  I had a good friend visit last weekend who gave me some encouragement.  While I may be far behind in many projects for home and church, I just need to take small steps in order to catch up.  (That's my free advice for the day!  Haha!)

Today, I have cards for a couple of challenges.  One is the sketch challenge from The Paper Players.  A while back, I was going through a box of supplies.  I quickly realized they were items I received in a swap.  Among them was a small stack of positively luscious pattern  paper in earthy tones that are right up my alley.  I must have set them aside to plan a big project.  Alas, that didn't happen, so I finally put them to use this week.  Because the patters are so pretty, I thought they would be perfect with this clean sketch.  My card base is crumb cake; the sentiment is from SU's "So Sorry," stamped in early espresso and baja breeze on a large scallop circle.  Espresso satin ribbon is used for the horizontal layer.  I have 3 friends from my diocesan group who each lost a brother in the last few weeks.  This was a quick way to get sympathy cards done.  I hope to make more this weekend, so I have them on hand.

The other card is for today's Free4All challenge, Machines and Tools, on SCS.  It works well for a masculine card, and I needed something for my dear hubby.  As I mentioned, I have been going through a rough phase, and my husband has been so wonderful and patient!  Add to that, he is a mechanic for the local Quaker oats plant...fixing machines that make and package Chewy granola bars, Honey O's cereal, and Aunt Jemima pancake mix.  Today's theme has his name written all over it!  Somewhere in my mess, I have some gears to add to my cards, but I couldn't find them.  Fortunately, I had this small Tim Holtz embossing folder, and sponging with early espreso and indigo island inks helps to accent the gears.  I used early espresso, very vanilla card stock, and SU "Soho" dsp.  The sentiment is computer generated using RGB codes I found online. Memory Box brads and Tim Holtz thick twine finish it off.




It feels good to create again; hopefully I will do some more this weekend.

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Fresh Binge of Sketches

Hello Stamping Friends!

Today, I have several thank you cards to post.  Over the last couple of months, I have been busy prepping for a diocesan volunteer appreciation event.  It was held last week, and I finally feel like I can breathe!  So many things filled my calendar in March & April, so my stamping suffered a bit.  This weekend, I had fun creating again. Even though these cards are all related to last week's event, it felt like fun, not work.  Since I needed a lot of thank you cards, I decided to use one pack of designer series paper.  With that, I thought it would be fun to binge on some sketches...actually LOTS of sketches!  The clean and simple designs from Freshly Made Sketches provided the perfect solution!  I went to their page of past sketches, and printed off badges for #270-#285!  Since #285 is still current, I am posting that first.   A few of the sketches are off a bit, but that happens when you are trying to make lots of cards in a sitting. Hopefully, I'll finish the other cards tomorrow while hubby is at work. For simplicity, I'll post supplies here, then I'll add photos...

Paper:  SU thick & regular whisper white, SU night of navy, SU Floral Boutique dsp
Ink:  SU night of navy
Stamps:  sentiments from SU "Wetlands," "Very Versatile," "God's Blessings," "So Very Much"
Tools:  word window, decorative label, modern label, heart, scallop trim, flower punches, doily die, dimensionals
Embellies:  SU enamel dots, ribbon from Offray

It's been dark and rainy all weekend, so some of the navy details are hard to see.  All of the cards have a white base, except one.  I goofed, had to cut off the front, then mounted it to a navy base.

I love the hearts on this sketch!

The ribbon cuts off some of this huge sentiment, but with some tweaking, I'll probably make more of these.

It's tough to see the layers with the monochrome, but this is one of my favorites.

I made 2 of these, because I messed up (blurred) my sentiment...twice!  LOL

Another card where the layers are hard to distinguish, but I love this CAS sketch!

















Here's the card that ended up on a navy card base.  "One of these things
is not like the other..."

Plus, another blurred sentiment meant I had to pull out my punch for an extra element.  But it's close, right?













Finally, this sketch was turned...for fun!




Whew!   I hope I didn't bore you!  Kudos if you made it all the way through!







Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim