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

Mashin' Up with Paper Players!

Hello Stamping Friends!!  I am FINALLY posting some cards!  I actually made 15 cards this past weekend, and 30 the weekend before!  Many are in simple sets, but today I am featuring 2 challenge cards.  It felt great to visit the Friday Mashup (couldn't stay away long!) and Paper Players challenges again.  It was also nice to bring out some new Stampin' Up stuff.  I am winding down my days as a demo to put more energy and time into my speaking events.  But of course, I had to place a BIG order first!  LOL! 

The Friday Mashup challenge uses this fun sketch combined with a bird theme.  The hardest part was deciding which bird to use!  The Paper Players challenge gave us a fun and playful color combo.  I decided to flip the sketch and put it all together!




My first card has a basic gray card base with a layer of lucky limeade from the patterned paper stack.  This stack was available last year, but I just ordered it...how fun to tear into a new stack of paper!!  I added two strips of retired melon mambo ribbon...it's almost gone!  I nearly forgot the center piece, but decided to make my own DP using the challenge colors with these cute birds from "Aviary."  The many image is NEW...from the set "For the Birds."  I used blender pens to color it, then layered it on basic gray and black.  The gray layer is wide enough to add a row of rhinestones, which go perfectly with the retired "You're a Gem" set.  The inside piece of dsp is from an old SAB stack.  Feels good to use retired goodies, along with the new stuff!  This card will be perfect for one of my minstry donors...they support us soooo much!  Hope you like it!!





I made another card for the Friday Mashup.  I just had to play with some of the new colors!  The colors come from this new DSP called Comfort Cafe (I think...since I am not selling stuff now, I am not memorizing names!)  The card base is soft suede, with a layer of very vanilla, embossed with the Big Shot and new chevron impressions folder.  I used this new stitched satin ribbon in the new Midnight Muse color...pretty!  I used 3 patterns from this new dsp...the vertical stripe, the layer under my image, and a piece inside.  I think it's my favorite new pack!  The floral image is from Sale-a-Bration, but I think it goes well with the paper.  I used markers in soft suede, pool party, cajun craze and NEW midnight muse and summer starfruit to color it.  My bird is from "Elements of Style" in pool party and midnight muse, using the rock and roll technique.  My circle punch and sizzix circle die came in handy for the sentiment again!

It feels to post to the blog again!  I'll be sure to come by again soon!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Double Up!

Hello everyone! It's Monday...which means back to work for a lot of us. But the good news is I got a little stamping done this weekend. I combined 2 blog challenges...one is late and one is "due" today! Whew! The late one is from The Paper Players Challenge. I always want to play, but get home Friday nights exhausted! I need to just get to this challenge this earlier in the week. But I loved the colors...bravo burgundy, more mustard, cajun craze and very vanilla. So warm and cozy!! I combined it with a new challenge: Freshly Made Sketches. http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/2011/10/freshly-made-sketches-6.html You know, when you combine a color and sketch challenge, half the work is done for you! WooHoo!!

All of my products are from Stampin' Up! I started with a cajun craze card base, and layered bravo burgundy and more mustard, which I ran through the big shot with my square lattice folder. The main image is from Elements of Style (one of my faves!) I stamped it in early espresso, then used my blender pens to color the flowers with the challenge colors. The birthday greeting is from On Your Birthday. I stamped the bird in mustard with a bit of bravo burgundy, using the rock-n-roll technique. Then I cut it out, and popped it up with dimensionals. The horizontal strip features the flourish from the same stamp set. My dsp is from the Regals pattern paper stack, and I used the eyelet trim punch for some detailing. Both of my grosgrain ribbons are retired. Finally I added pearls. I love pearls, don't you?

Hopefully I can do these challenges again this week...the design teams give lots of inspiration! Have a Happy Monday!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Fan Favorite!!!

Happy Friday, everyone! Today, we have a treat for you! All of us at the Friday Mashup LOVE our fans...so we gave you a chance to host the challenge! Lots of great ideas were submitted, and when you voted, you chose Teresa's challenge! (If you have been a stamper for long, you know Teresa Kline is SUPER talented!) Here is Teresa's challenge for you:

• Create handmade flower or flowers on your project


• Create a project using turquoise, red, and black


• Or Mash it Up!! Create a project with handmade flowers that uses turquoise, red, and black!

Now, I'll admit I was SO excited to give this a try! A stamping friend had just shown me how to make a flower with a scallop circle, spiral cut, yada yada. Well, shucks, I just could NOT get it to work! Then, I wanted to try a tutorial from splitcoaststampers with a fringe flower...looked dreadful!! Good grief! So, I came up with this weird-not-really-a-flower-but-I-am-calling-it-a-flower-anyway-card! Funny thing is, I made this at least 2 weeks ago, with the intention of trying again, but time got away from me...that's life, right? So, let me tell you what I used to create this card. Everything is from Stampin' Up! My card base is basic black, with a layer of tempting turquoise. I ran my real red card stock through the big shot with the vintage wallpaper impressions folder. I stamped the flourish from Elements of Style in basic black on whisper white card stock. For interest, I offset those layers in different directions. I added a strip of basic black, embossed with perfect polka dots and lined with real red grosgrain ribbon. The sentiment is from You're a Gem (duh!) and I added a bright glimmer brad. My "flower" is constructed by loops of tempting turquoise grosgrain ribbon (back in this year's IBC!!!) and a bright glimmer brad in the center. I finished it off with a ring of basic jewel rhinestones...love those!

So, I hope you have fun making your own flowers and using this classic color combo! Have fun, and be sure to link your card to the Friday Mashup blog!!

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}}}

Featured Colors

Hello Again!



Sunday is Featured Stamper day on SCS, and I made this card that afternoon. Uploading...well, that has taken quite a while!! The Featured Stamper is Charlene (aka Willow01) and this is the card I CASE'd. I kept the same sketch, using dsp on top,as well. My sentiment (from Elements of Style) is in a similarly shaped layer, (I used my extra large decorative label punch), but I added a regal button instead of ribbon. Instead of the large felt flowers, I stamped my flowers, but I did keep the (basic jewels ) pearls on the card. My flowers are from the Sale-a-Bration set "Bliss." My color choices were dictated by last week's Color Challenge...not quite navy, cajun craze,and daffodil delight. The dsp is from Greenhouse Gala.

Not sure who will receive this card...but I am sure I can find someone on my mailing list to receive it!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Dare to be Square!

Hello Stamping Friends!!

Today's card combines three challenges from this week: the Color Dare (so saffron, poppy parade, and very vanilla), the Ways to Use It challenge (butterflies) and the Free 4 All challenge (at least 2 embossing folders.)

When Riley posted the Color Dare, I was not sure where to begin. But with the call for butterflies the next day, I had a plan. I rarely do square cards, but I think they are fun and eye-catching. The base is so saffron, and measures 5x5 inches. I added a layer of poppy parade pattern paper from the Hostess Level 1 pack. The vanilla layer is embossed with my petals-a-plenty impressions folder and the big shot. I also used the Beautiful Wings Sizzix die, which is a Stampin' Up exclusive. I stamped the flourish from Elements of Style in poppy parade, then ran it through the big shot with the vintage wallpaper impressions folder. I added just a bit of poppy twill ribbon. You recognize Teeny Tiny Wishes, I'm sure...with scallop oval, modern label and word window punches. The butterfly's body is basic black punched out with the word window, just without one curved end.

Combining challenges is fun, and easy to do...give it a try!

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}}}

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}}}

I Love these Colors!!

Today's Color Challenge on splitcoaststampers was a fun one. I must confess that I felt a bit like I cheated because I made this card last month when I got my new supplies, but while my camera was whacko! So, it never got uploaded here or on SCS! So it is not new to me, but it is to the world! LOL!! By showing it to you now, you get to see it with my watermark...how cool is that?

Why didn't I make a new card today? Well, work was exhausting but productive today. Began the day with prayer alongside my staff and volunteers and the ultrasound trainer. I am so proud of my volunteers! And my Nurse Manager has worked so hard getting them ready for this! She's a gem! It will be a blessing to see how many more moms will choose life for their precious babies in the future!!

I then did a lot of work for our upcoming Walk for Life...had a board meeting...budget for the new fiscal year approved...discussed some cases with my Client Services Manager... I was Too Tired to Stamp!! I am glad I had this card waiting for the gallery!! All of the products used are from Stampin' Up!

I love the new Concord Crush...it is such a deep, saturated color! The softness of Pear Pizzazz and Daffodil Delight balance it out. I used Elements of Style stamp set, and added some gemstones. (They were leftovers from the spring mini catalog...but you can get them now in the full-sized IBC!) The whisper white and pear pizzazz layers are texturized with my Big Shot Texturz Plates. I cut out the small sentiment, layered it on a large oval. Lots of ticket corner punch action here! The 1/8" taffeta ribbon in daffodil literally wraps it up!

Like it?? I do!! Guess I should send it to someone....

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

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}}}

A Night at the Club

Well...my monthly stamping club!!! We met last night and had a great time as always! We started with graduation cards. I gave them basic black and whisper white...then each card was personalized with school colors. Forgive my stereotyping, but I let them choose between a "His" and "Her" card...but I won't know where these end up!



Both cards feature Happy Grad from the Summer Mini and Itty Bitty Background stamps. I added Extreme Guitar to the guy card and butterflies made with the Beautiful Wings embosslit die. I decided to use black craft ink and clear embossing powder for heat embossing on the sentiment and guitar guy.











The inside uses (sadly) long-retired sentiment stamps and a simple panel with the slit punch for a gift card. In the picture, I just used my business card for keynote speaking! LOL!!




The other card we made is far more elegant, and I am really pleased with how it turned out! We used some of the Presto Patterns Specialty paper, and brayered rose red ink over it to make that gorgeous background layer!! I then stamped Elements of Style in black, and stamped a tiny portion of the image on a circle from my Big Shot Circles die. By coloring that little bit, and popping it up with a dimensional;, we get the "Spotlight" technique. Cool, huh? Added some ribbon, sentiment on an oval...and it is hard to see, but we spritzed the background and image with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz! Love this sparkle!!

I need 15 of these for a demo swap THIS weekend! Oh My! I will be changing up the sketch just a bit so I don't run out of presto paper. Everyone needs some, right? ;-)

Gotta run...I have more cards to make!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

A "Challenging" Weekend

Saturday mornings are fun with the Inspiration Challenge on splitcoaststampers. This week, we had an amazing website to peruse, called Jazz it Up, with stunning metal wall art. I chose a piece with butterflies, and came up with this card.

I used basic gray and sage shadow card stock, plus Nouveau Chic DSP. The butterflies are made with the DSP, my Beautiful Wings embosslit die, and my Big Shot. I added rhinestones from the retired Eggcelent Eggs kit, some gray satin ribbon, and my scallop and wide oval punches. Oh, almost forgot. The sage card stock was placed in Plenty of Petals embossing folder, and edges sponged with basic gray.




I enjoyed the website so much, I picked another wall art piece, then created this card.
More basic gray (1 piece of 8-1/2 x 11 card stock makes 2 "invitation" size card bases.)
I used a texturz impressons plate for the basic black. The "tiles" are in mellow moss, kraft, and bordering blue. I stamped the flourish from the new Elements of Style (found in the Summer Mini) in slightly darker ink...always artichoke, soft suede, and night of navy. Added brads and the word window punch with my famous Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Looking to step out of your creative block? Try a Saturday Inspiration Challenge!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}