A Batch of Sketches and a Rainbow of Colors

TGIF!

Not sure why I am saying that...I am only working part time, and mostly from home, so most days are the same.  But I have been having fun playing with some challenges today.  I am continuing my 2015 focus on sketches.  I missed the Paper Players sketch, but this week's Friday Mashup has a sketch.  I also have the weekly sketches from SCS and Freshly Made Sketches.  Plus, I combined a color challenge with each one.  Whew!

This first card was LOTS of fun! I combined the Colour Me...! palette with FMS#171.  The stamped image and greeting are from Paper Smooches; more of my goodies that I chose with my gift card from the "Hope You Can Cling To" challenges last fall.

This is the first time I used tangelo twist card stock; it was still in my in-color sample pack.  I am not a big fan of orange, but this is actually very nice.  I added a layer of whisper white that is dry embossed with the fancy fan folder. For the vertical strips, I used a piece of indigo dsp from a SU holiday paper stack, a strip of long-retired razzleberry pattern paper, and then a strip of whisper white that I turned into my own pattern paper.  For that, I randomly stamped images from "Mixed Bunch."  I used my Sizzix scallop circles #2 die, then stamped the image and greeting from "Chubby Chums."  I colored the chickie with markers, and sponged indigo around the edges, then popped it up with dimensionals.  A few candy dots finish it off.  How cute is this little chick??  The entire stamp set is filled with adorable images!  A few years ago, I never would have tried these, but I am venturing more into whimsical, playful characters.  I think I have fallen in love with another stamp company...and I think my bank account is in jeopardy!

 Next, I have The Friday Mashup challenge paired with
The Color Throwdown (first time I have joined this one!)










I was debating between using summer starfruit and kiwi kiss for this one, and opted for the kiwi kiss because of this fun polka dot ribbon.  Plus, let's face it, kiwi kiss has been retired for a while...I need to finish it off!  LOL  I added a layer of concord crush pattern paper from the old hostess 6x6 pack.  The whisper white layer is embossed with the decorative dots folder.  My flower image is from SU's "Friends Never Fade."  I used markers to color it: tempting turquoise, concord crush, so saffron, and lucky limeade (no kiwi marker.)  I matted the pennant with more concord crush paper.  For a bit more of the so saffron, I doodled around the edge of the pennant with my marker, which is very hard to see in the picture.  The small greeting by the flower is from "You're a Gem," and I added one from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" also, punched out with the word window.  My accessories are the polka dot ribbon, a bright turquoise button, and some limeade bakers twine.

Finally, I have a card pairing up this week's color challenge and sketch challenge from SCS.  I had already participated in the color challenge, with a minor error.  The colors are real red, early espresso and crumb cake.  Well, with espresso and crumb cake, my brain went to cherry cobbler.  In fact, as I was getting ready to try again, I almost used cherry cobbler again!  Any way, I made this quick card. I'm not thrilled with it, especially compared to the other two...but it's done.

My card base is early espresso.  The next layer is confetti white.  I love this stuff for some things, but it is difficult to stamp on it cleanly.  My big sentiment is from Inkadinkado.  I think it is perfect for a Valentine.  For the horizontal layer, I decided to finally open up my spool of burlap, leaving the edges a little rough.  I also opened the spool of early espresso taffeta ribbon...because of course, I don't have enough spools of ribbon in use already (*sarcasm*).  Oh well! Using my heart punch and heart-to-heart punches and some pattern paper in real red and crumb cake, I added simple final touches.




Well, I had lots of fun with these.  I hope you enjoy them...and I hope you have time to play along with some of these challenges too!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

VSN Meets Freshly Made Sketches!

Hello again! I am posting another VSN card...but in a different post since it fits a different blog challenge as well. This card is for the Sunny Colors challenge at VSN, but also for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge #25. All of my products are from Stampin' Up...though some are retired.

I love this color combo! Daffodil delight, pumpkin pie, and pear pizzazz! Definitely sunny and citrusy! My card base is daffodil, and I used retired Greenhouse Gala dsp, along with pear pizazz and whisper white card stock. I stamped the sentiment from All Holidays, and added these flowers from "Friends Never Fade." The flowers were stamped with the rock-n-roll technique. The flower is nearly round, so I used it for the circle on the sketch, using a punch, of course!. My final touch is the pumpkin pie taffeta ribbon, and some dimensionals. Quick, bright...hope it brings a smile to someone's face! I may even mail it ths week!!

Thanks for hanging out with me!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Sketchy Colors!

Hello and Happy Friday!! It's time for another fun Friday Mashup Challenge!! This week, Lesley gives us a great sketch and lovely colors. So here is your challenge:

1. Make a project using the colors Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso, Old Olive, and Whisper White
   


2. Make a card using the sketch (above)



3. Or Mash them Up and make a project using these colors and this sketch!

In classic Mashup fashion, Icombined the challenges for this card:

My card base is early espresso, and I added a layer of pink pirouette from the Subtles Pattern Paper Stack. I then added a square of riding hood red retired dsp, but it was too plain, so I created my own dp. I stamped randomly from Friends Never Fade and Fabulous Phrases on whisper white then placed that over the riding hood red layer. I cut out a circle with the big shot and circles die, and used my markers to color another image from Friends Never Fade. I sponged the edges and added brads from the neutral collection. My ribbon is from a retired "ribbons original" but looks similar to the current grosgrain. I used my modern label punch, adding a layer of espresso on the edges. The final detail is a couple of basic jewel pearls colored with my pink marker.

This is a great challenge...and I can't wait to see what you come up with!! Be sure to link your card to the Friday Mashup blog and use keyword FM15 in your online gallery.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Dare to be Inspired!

Hey there! It felt good to get back into my stampin' room today after a very long work week! I peeked at today's Inspiration Challenge on SCS, and the top post on the Santa Barbara Chic blog had this picture of a noodle dish. I guess I was hungry, because I barely looked at the rest of the blog!! I also liked the picture, because it was perfect for this week's Color dare...bashful blue, peach parfait, and garden green. Everything used in this card is from Stampin' Up!

I used my Elegant Lines impressions folder to mimic the bowl of noodles. I used my Big Shot and Sizzix large scallop circle and ovals dies. The image is from Friends Never Fade, and I used Teeny Tiny Wishes again. I punched out some of the peach parfait pattern paper from the Hostess Level 1 pack, then layered it with the modern label and word window punches. Regal brads, candy cane designer button (retired), basic jewel pearls and twill ribbon add the finishing touches.

Hope you like it!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Featuring Thanks

Today is Sunday...time for another Featured Stamper Challenge on splitcoaststampers! The FS highlights gorgeous stuff from CherylQuilts...and what a gallery she has!! I chose this great Clean And Simple card to CASE. I needed more Thank You cards for the ministry, so I made 6 of these today. I changed the main color from bermuda bay to crushed curry so I could still use polka dot ribbon. I made the card vertical, so this Scripture verse would fit. The flower is from Stampin Up's Friends Never Fade, colored with artichoke and curry markers. The verse is from stampabilities, and I used basic black craft ink,clear embossing powder, and I heat embossed it. To make the main layer pop, I layered it on basic black. This will be easy to duplicate in other colors.


Yesterday was the Inspiration Challenge, highlighting the website Destiny's Creations, and I chose this bracelet. I decided to use Cajun Craze card stock and ink to mimic the copper. The flower is from Punched Posies, a retired hostess set, and I used the coordinating 5-petal punch. I originally tried to make a circle with the flowers, but it did not fit and looked awful! LOL! So I just used3 flowers scattered with a very vanilla layer which I ran through the Big Shot with perfect polka dots impressions folder. The sentiment is from Thank You Kindly, and I added a regal button, some twine,, and an old olive layer for contrast.

Time to stamp some more...my favorite Sunday afternoon activity!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Lots of Friends!

One of my new stamp sets from the Idea Book and Catalog (IBC) is Friends Never Fade. The solid images are great for quick cards. I have used the stylized flower before, with the thumping technique,. but these cards feature other stamps in the set.

This first card shows off the two sides of dsp from Greenhouse Gala. I made the card front for a swap, using chocolate chip and whisper white, then mounted it onto a base of baja breeze. The main image is stamped in chocolate, the other image in pumpkin pie. I used certainly celery satin ribbon.


Now this card features my favorite new color...Cherry Cobbler...along with basic black and river rock. I had to force myself to use river rock. When it was first around a few years ago, I stayed away...but now that it is a core color, I am playing with it. Who knows...I may learn to like it! I used Versamark ink to get a tone-on-tone look on the river rock, along with the cherry cobbler. The main image is stamped in cherry on vanilla, with 2 basic black brads. The black layer is texturized with a Texturz plate and the big shot.




Finally, this is an old color challenge card I had not yet posted...baja breeze, so saffron, and rich razzleberry. LOVE this combo!! I made my own dp by stamping the tiny flower from Because I Care in the 3 colors. The pre-made dsp is from Greenhouse Gala. Saffron brads and white organza ribbon finish it off.

Isn't it fun to see one stamp set in 3 different cards? Have fun being versatile!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Thinking Outside the Card Box

This card features last week's SCS Color Challenge (blushing bride, riding hood red, and early espresso) with last week's sketch challenge. The card used for the sketch example was created by my good friend Dawn (aka dawnmercedes) so I had to give this a try.

I need more Thank You cards for the ministry, and I already know who will receive this! Everything used is from Stampin' Up!

The main riding hood red card base is just 3-1/2" wide, so it still fits in a standard A2 envelope, even with those layers sticking out. I used 3 stamp sets: Friends Never Fade, Teeny Tiny Wishes, and Define Your Life. The stylized flower is colored with stampin' write markers on very vanilla card stock, (petals colored with blushing bride, "thumped" with riding hood red, center colored in so saffron, stems in early espresso) lightly sponged with blushing bride. I cut the oval using my Big Shot and the Ovals die. I used pieces of paper from the Regals and Neutrals Patterned Paper Packs, reinforced with blushing bride card stock. The self-adhesive pearls add a bit of elegance, and I also used Crystal Effects and Riding Hood Red re-inker for the faux brads. I LOVE this new detail, and will be using it a lot!

It was tough, but definitely fun to make a card that is not a rectangle, square, or even a circle! Sometimes we need to be challenged to think outside the box...give it a try!!

Dare to Use Old and New!!

It's Wednesday, and my camera works! That means I completed AND can post another Color Dare challenge card! WooHoo!!

Riley (Color Dare hostess) pulled out some blues and greens that I never would have put together on my own. (Thanks, Riley!) Taken with Teal and Kiwi Kiss are retired, but I have a healthy stash still around. The other colors are Baja Breeze, Always Artichoke and Very Vanilla. My first instinct was to bring out whisper white, so even using very vanilla as my neutral was a challenge!

All materials are from Stampin' Up! The card base is kiwi, layered with the teal and vanilla. I ran the vanilla through the Big Shot with Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. The main image, layered on artichoke, is from the new Friends Never Fade stamp set. I colored this stylized flower with markers, adding a bit of So Saffron. I had fun with the blossoms...colored with baja first, then I "thumped" my teal marker on the stamp to add more color. The sentiment is from Because I Care, a new Level 1 Hostess set. I used 3 punches; ticket corner, large oval and scallop oval. The baja ribbon is retired...but you can make some by using a baja breeze re-inker with white satin ribbon! The buttons are "retired" but currently available on the Clearance List!

Hope you like this card...I liked making it!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}