Happy Birthday with a Double Challenge!

Tomorrow, I am hosting a birthday party for my mother-in-law, so of course, I needed a card. I combined this week's color challenge on splitcoaststampers (it's been ages since I have participated!) with this week's Paper Players blog challenge...due in 20 minutes!! Aaaack!! It is due on Fridays at midnight...but Pacific time. So yes, it is nearly 2 a.m. in my home. I should be in bed! LOL!!

The Paper Player's Challenge is Anything Goes, with a Fall theme. Well, the color challenge is a fabulous fall palatte...more mustard, always artichoke, and bravo burgundy. Easy to combine these challenges!!

All of the productgs used are from Stampin' Up except those 2 little gold beads. I have had them for years...just wanted some shine, and it was too late to add brads. (Yes, the leaves

were already attached!)
I started with an always artichoke card base, and added a layer of very vanilla which was embossed with the big shot and square lattice impressions folder, then sponged with mustard and burgundy inks. I stamped the sentiment from On Your Birthday in burgundy on vanilla card stock, tore the edges a bit, then sponged with artichoke ink. I layered it with some spice cake dsp and burgundy card stock. I used sizzix leaves die and the big shot, then embossed the leaves also with the square lattice folder. Some dimensionals make this a plump card...but it will be hand delivered! One more thing...I added 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in the challenge colors.

Now...gotta get some sleep. I have a lot of house cleaning to do before the party!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup!! Grateful to be On Time!

Hello Stamping Friends!! I cannot believe it is Friday already! Time for another Friday Mashup challenge! After being late with my project last week, I am thrilled to get back on track! I started feeling funky Wednesday afternoon, and was home sick yesterday. That makes my week disappear! I'll be playing catch-up at work today! But first, here's a fun challenge from Lisa!!

1. Make a project using heat embossing


2. Or make a Thank You (Grateful) project


3. Or Mash It Up and make a Thank You project using heat embossing

Now, I love heat embossing, but I don't do it often enough. This gave me a great excuse to plug in my embossing tool! All products are current and from Stampin' Up! I started with a soft suede card base. I added some Spice Cake dsp (in the Holiday Mini), including a bit on the inside. I stamped this wonderful image from "Always Thankful" (also in the mini) with soft suede craft ink on very vanilla card stock, coated in clear embossing powder, then heat embossed. The craft ink is available in little "spots" by color collection. I love them for dabbing ink all over an image. After heating, I colored the image with my blender pens, using pear pizazz, river rock, pumpkin pie, more mustard, and basic gray inks. I sponged the background with pear pizazz and pool party. I then mounted it on pumpkin pie and pear pizazz card stock, and adhered with dimensionals. I added pear pizazz poly twill ribbon and the sentiment is from the same stamp set, also heat embossed. After punching it out with the scallop oval, I lightly sponged with pool party.

Thank you cards are always needed...whether for my ministry work or for my numerous friends who are blessings in my life! I hope you join us in this challenge and make a fun Thank You project for someone special in your life! Be sure to checkout the inspiration pieces on the Friday Mashup blog from the Design Team, including our new November Guest Designers!! Then link up your project, and use keyword FM31 in your online gallery. Can't wait to see your project!

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! Another Fan Favorite!!

Hi Friends! Time for Friday Mashup #26...and it's time for the Fan Favorite Pick!!! It seems that everyone loves making cards with a fall theme! I know I do! This week's challenge idea came from Lisa Runyon...WooHoo!

1. Make a project with a Fall theme
   


2. Make a project using brads...lots of brads!



3. Or Mash it Up and make a project with a fall theme using lots of brads!!

I loved this idea...though I confess, I missed the "lots of brads" part. I'll blame it on the fact that I just had a major fund raiser last weekend! (The reason my blog posts have been few and far between as well.) But I used a very large brad that adds a big kick, so hopefully Lisa will forgive me! *wink*

I began with a river rock card base. One of my first stampin' cyber friends has loved river rock for years...I always hated it! But I confess, it has grown on me. I guess if you use it enough for challenges it becomes a staple in your portfolio. It does go with many of my favorites, which I used here as well. I used the stamp set French Foliage, beginning with stamping one leaf on the base with river rock ink for a tone-on-tone look. I added a layer of early espresso which was dry embossed with the square lattice impressions folder. After running some very vanilla through the big shot with the top note die, I cut it in half and stamped more from French Foliage with river rock, early espresso, cherry cobbler and not quite navy ink for some much needed contrast. Then I added cherry cobbler seam binding and this gorgeous brad from the "antique brad" package. The entire image panel is popped up with dimensionals. Finally, I stamped the sentiment from Thank You Kindly, also in not quite navy.

I certainly hope you play along with us this week! I bet you can use more brads than I did! LOL! There are lots of great cards from the Design Team and our Fan Favorite challenge hostess on the Friday Mashup blog! Be sure to check it out, and use keyword FM26 in your online gallery.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup!! Featuing a Holiday Preview!!

It's a fantastic Friday...time for a fantastic Friday Mashup challenge!! This week we have a challenge from Lesley:

1. Make a project using the sketch shown

2. Make a project using dry embossing

3. Or Mash it Up! and make a project using the sketch and dry embossing

Well, I recently received my Holiday Mini pre-order, one of the fun perks of being a Stampin' Up demo, and it included the "Spice Cake" product suite. Ironically, I chose a different stamp set for this card, because I am working on a demo swap, but the other goodies are from that suite. I started with a pool party card base. It is lovely and soft, and typically I would not use it for an autumn themed card. But, the Spice Cake dsp blends pool party, more mustard, soft suede, and pear pizazz into this surprising blend...LOVE it! So, I used some of that dsp, but also some fabric cut with my Tasteful Trim die and the Big Shot. Yep...still don't sew, still love ribbon...ta-dah! I placed the fabric over a strip of suede and mustard card stock, dry embossed with the houndstooth embossing folder. The stamps are from "Always Thankful" which is a fabulous set for watercoloring. The main image is stamped in soft suede on very vanilla card stock, and I used blender pens to add pool party, more mustard, and always artichoke ink. (I know...should have used pear pizazz!) I stamped the sentiment straight onto the card base...something I rarely do. With circle in the sketch, I figured it was the perfect chance to use one of these fabulous buttons, also in the mini, with a bit of linen thread. Love my buttons! I am doing a simplified version of this for my demo swap...need 24! I'll be up late tonight finishing them!

I hope you join us for the Friday Mashup this week. Be sure to use keyword FM21 in your online gallery. Check out the other design team entries here. Today is Jen's last day as a Guest Designer...she has been fabulous! Now I have another blog to follow! LOL

Also, there is still time to submit an idea for the Fan Favorite! Check out the details and be sure to send us your very own Mashup idea!

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}}}

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}}}{

Sketchy Swap

I had such a busy week, that my poor stamps have been neglected! After speaking for a local prayer & Bible study group early this morning, I buckled down and stamped away. Just 2 days ago, I signed up for 4 swaps...perhaps foolishly considering my work schedule for the next month! One swap is for sympathy cards. I had made a simple card quite awhile ago...expected too simply duplicate it...but then I looked at the sketch challenge on SCS. I kept changing things up...colors, sentiments...and this is the final product. I wanted something earthy for the upcoming fall season.

I started with Woodland Walk dsp...that led me to a chocolate chip card base, and layers of both garden green and wild wasabi. I added peach parfait for contrast. I used the retired stamp set Close as a Memory, coloring the image with garden green, peach parfait and pumpkin pie markers, then sponged the edges with crumb cake. The scallop trim border punch adds a lot, I think. I didn't have room for the sentiment that goes with the flowers, so Teeny Tiny Wishes is featured again with the modern label punch. The wide chocolate ribbon and corduroy button are retired, but the hemp twine is still available. And hey, the button works for the Ways to Use It challenge this week! Ta-dah!

I made 2 extra cards, but the rest will go postal to my swap hostess Monday morning.

On to my next swap!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Fall Cards

I am uploading a few cards tonight...all with a warm fall color scheme. I love this time of year! Making cards is easy when the color combos are so Yummy!!

This first card was a "Limited Supply Challenge" on splitcoaststampers. Hosted by my stampin' friend Wendy, it truly was a tricky challenge. The theme had to be fall which was easy...but NO embellishments! No ribbon, twine, brads! Back to the basics, baby! Well, I needed an anniversary card for my hubby. Bruce likes my cards, but he doesn't "need" all the extras, LOL! No embellies just screams Guy Card, dontcha think?? So here it is...the image is from Lovely as a Tree ( a Stampin' Up classic!) and the DSP is Autumn Meadows, found in the Holiday Mini. Card stock is close to cocoa, really rust, whisper white, and taken with teal. I used my photo corner punch and dusted off my paper crimper. Finally, I hand wrote the sentiment. It's kinda corny, but it made him smile!!


This next card was for a swap with 2 friends (I made 2 of them of course!) I love not quite navy with really rust. I used Pattern Pack paper, which comes out as a Hostess Level 1 item each catalog now. LOVE them! Several colors of DSP in 6x6 pieces. The image is from Gifts of the Earth, stamped with Stazon black, so it wouldn't bleed while I colored it with my aqua brush and Wonderwatercolor Crayons. I also used my oval punch, scallop oval punch and corner rounder punch, some brads, and some dimensionals. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.


Finally, I am gonna upload one of this weekend's projects from my Stampin' Mania Club. The Medallion background stamp is featured on a piece of very vanilla cut out with the Top Note die (my Big Shot fave!!). It is colored using the very messy baby wipe technique, using re-inkers in not quite navy, more mustard, and dusty durango. I texturized the strip of really rust with my Big Shot, and added a round "fire" brad. My image is not as crisp as some of my clubbies...but I think it looks distressed and old-world pretty! Another Teeny Tiny Wish on an oval! I'm hooked on this little detail!


That's it for tonight! Time to go to bed!! *wink*

Punch-y Cards

I am getting ready for this week's Stampin' Mania Club...and I realize I don't have last month's projects uploaded. Now I admit there are 2 main reasons for this: first, one of the projects was designed by my fabulous SU leader, Meg. I obtained a card kit for participating in a business challenge (one of my demonstrator perks!) from Meg...and it was perfect because the Club met the week before my biggest fund raiser of the year. So, I did not want to take credit for her creation. The other problem was my computer went whacky...then when I got back online, I forgot all about it! Tsk tsk!

So...I made a card for Halloween so the gals could order their own Halloween goodies with plenty of time too create. Problem is, I don't have any Halloween sets! Gasp! I have some sentiment sets with "Happy Halloween" but nothing else. And I knew my September hostess wasn't a big fan either, but I thought someone would be! After all, Halloween is second only to Christmas in retail sales.

So, I opted for a card featuring punches. I used my oval punch for the pumpkin...sponging each oval (cut from Pumpkin Pie, of course!) with a bit of Really Rust. Got that idea from a stampin' friend in Florida...thanks Michelle! The grass is a piece of Old Olive punched once with the scallop punch, then again, off-set a bit. The sentiments are from the hostess set Holiday Best, and matted with elegant eggplant, one also with pumpkin pie DSP. I made the stars with my gel pen and added bits of grosgrain ribbon in elegant eggplant, whisper white and old olive. The card base is basic black...and I should have used my bone folder..Oops!
The picture doesn't do justice to the colors...but they are fun!

By the way, turns out my entire group is not into Halloween! So they used the "give thanks" sentiment from the same Holiday Best stamp set...Go figure!