Sketch a Resolution

I am a week late on a splitcoaststampers sketch challenge, but it has nice clean lines, so I decided to do it any way! The sketch is turned in a vertical orientation, instead of the horizontal shown on the challenge thread. I decided to combine it with a Free for All challenge hosted by my friend Dawn (dawnmercedes). She encouraged us to make a project reflecting a New Year's Resolution...but the trick was it could not be a stamping resolution! Gasp! Well, I looked at my numerous stamps, and came across these 2 sentiments about prayer. I realized I really want to re-focus my prayer life this year. Two of my ministry volunteers...both retired men who have done so much to help the clinic grow... are struggling with serious health issues. So, I decided they need a little note. I want them to know I am thinking of them a lot!

Even though Dawn said the card should not be about a stamping resolution, these two are. By using retired kiwi kiss card stock and retired dsp, I am working on my resolution to use my goodies...not just hoard them!! I am sure she'll understand! The other card stock colors are basic gray, whisper white, and not quite navy. I used vintage brads and dimensionals. The verses are from a craft store.

If you made any resolutions,I hope you can keep them! ...at least until February!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Pearly Pinks

Today's Color Challenge on SCS was perfect for me as I am preparing for two Valentine stamping days. The colors: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, and Cherry Cobbler. I would never have put the melon and cherry in the same card...but hey, that's why these are challenges!

I used I {Heart} Hearts to make my own dp with the two lighter colors stamped on whisper white. I decided that rounding the corners would add just a touch of detail. My scallop oval punch and modern label punch were already out on my messy table, so why not pull out Teeny Tiny Wishes for the perfect sentiment? I stamped it in cherry cobbler and used my melon mambo marker to outline it. The Subtles Pattern Paper Stack provided a nice polka dot to coordinate with one of the stamped images. Satin ribbon and basic pearl jewels finish with a soft feminine look.

Need some Valentines? Check out the Filled with Love promotion from Stampin' Up!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Very Quick Cards

Today I am posting two very quick cards. Both were made for challenges on SCS, but also fit the "clean and simple" concept. This past Thursday, the Ways to Use it challenge called for twine. Well, I have this retired blue twine which has been making a mess in my basket! I decided to use it...and with this design, I should be able to duplicate this card a lot. I need lots of thank you cards now! I have a sahara sand base, then took my sponge daubers with sahara sand, bravo burgundy and night of navy ink to lightly dab a random pattern. Cool, huh? My 2-hole punch was used so I could lace my twine. I then stamped from Thank You Kindly in navy on very vanilla, outlining it with a marker, and popping it up with dimensionals. Super easy!

Next, Friday's Free For All challenge prepped us for Valentine's Day. We had to use pink, purple, and a heart. Check, check, and double check! If you follow this blog, you may recognize this. I CASE'd myself! Instead of ornaments, I punched hearts from the subtles pattern stack. (Actually, the perfect plum is a retired pattern, but the new patterns come in the same stack as the pretty in pink.) The elegant eggplant ric-rac is retired. But that fabulous striped grosgrain is still around! I used naturals ivory for the card base, and All Holidays for the sentiment.

Hope you like them!
Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Dare to Try Again!

This week's Color Dare is bright and summery...a great diversion from the cold of January! I made one card...and it was like a snowball rolling down a hill! Stop! Too much!! LOL!! So, I tried again, and I am happier with the results. I thought about making one more attempt...but with two 12th Day of Christmas parties this weekend, there was no time.

The Color Dare assigned us tempting turquoise, tangerine tango and pear pizazz. I had some retired tangerine ribbon which I really want to use up. On the new side, I have this adorable Stampin Up! set called Aviary. It had not seen ink yet, so I pulled it out for a debut. It is quite a cute set! My extra large scallop punch and Circles big shot die came in handy. The card base is tempting turquoise, and I added some pear pizazz pattern paper from the Hostess Level 1 pack. I ran some whisper white through the Big Shot with perfect polka dots...but just part way, so I could stamp the sentiment. This cute 'hello' is from "Hello Again," a set in the Idea Book and Catalog (IBC) but also available soon as a FREE set when you place a $50 Sale-a-Bration Order! Contact me for more details!

Back to the card...since I had already added the ribbon, taped on the back...oops...and I needed more tangerine, I took my marker and outline the white layer. I also added a tiny bit on the bottom of the cage.

Just for fun, I'll post my reject card. Here, not on SCS. More limited views on my teeny tiny blog! LOL!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Hugs and Kisses to Volunteers!

Today I have a party which has become a fun tradition. My husband and host a 12th Day of Christmas party for staff and volunteers from the ministry where I work. Bruce always makes 3 big pots of soup, and everyone brings a dish to pass. The evening includes a rather competitive "white elephant" gift exchange. At the end of the evening, I try to present them with a small token. This year, I made up treat bags, using small cellophane bags from Stampin' Up. I also cut out some retired Christmas DSP with my Top Note die in the Big Shot, and folded it over for a simple decoration. Each bag had a scallop circle in ruby red (yep...clearing out more retired stuff) and 1-3/8"circle in very vanilla. The sentiment is from All Holidays, and says "hugs and kisses". The bags were filled with chocolate kisses and life-savers...'cuz we're a life-saving ministry!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Mission: Get Organized!

Organized??

I'm sorry...you have the wrong blog.

Or, at least, the wrong day.

Check back with me later.

*wink*




Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Dare to be Colorful!

Last week's Color Dare was fun...but I failed to upload it on time! Oops!! But hey, I can still post it here. Riley asked us to use Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, and Very Vanilla. Big Oops here...I used whisper white instead. Oh well! I thought the colors would be fun for a snowflake card. I used Serene Snowflakes to make my own designer paper. I cut out the large snowflake, to fit the Sketch Challenge on SCS. The layer of baja is from Candy Cane Christmas dsp, sadly now retired and unavailable. I used three punches; scallop trim, modern label, and word window. Teeny Tiny Wishes turned these snowflakes into a winter birthday card. One glimmer brad and 1/4 inch ribbon give the final touches.


This other card is for last week's CAS challenge on SCS...calling for kraft (or SU Crumb Cake) Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Cake and Whisper White. I love when the CAS challenges are color combos! Since it had to be clean and simple, I had to restrain myself from adding some contrasting colors or more embellishments. I needed a masculine thank you card. I ran my wild wasabi through the Big Shot with the perfect polka dots impression folder. I stamped with Dasher and Lovely as a Tree, as well as Thank You Kindly. This is the first time I used a jumbo brad...fun, isn't it? My sentiment was colored with my wild wasabi marker, then "thumped" with my chocolate chip marker. I outlined that layer with the marker to give the allusion of another layer without the bulk.

I just love playing with color!!! Hope you get to play today!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}