Well Worn Birthday

Hello again! As I mentioned earlier, we are hosting a birthday party for my mother-in-law, but one of my nephews also has a birthday coming up. He is in his early 20's. I don't know about you, but guy cards are tough for me, especially young adult cards.

Well Worn designer series paper from Stampin' Up to the rescue! I simply placed this pattern which has a fleur du lis pattern on my basic black card base. I added extra large silver brads at the corners. The sentiment is from Delightful Dozen, stamped in not quite navy ink on very vanilla card stock. I also lightly sponged with river rock and basic gray and layered it on river rock card stock. The final detail is tearing the edges and sponging with more basic gray ink.

Hope he likes it! The DQ gift card inside should help the cause!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

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}}}

Belated Friday Mashup!

Happy Halloween, Stamping Friends!

So, I was gonna post this after work on Friday after work. Oops. Then I was gone all weekend. Double oops. So...I am finally posting my Friday Mashup #30 project!!

As a reminder...the Friday Mashup has a fun challenge from Heidi this week.

• Create a project using the sketch above


• Create a project using something that is recycled or repurposed


• Or Mash it Up and create a project using the sketch and using something recycled

Well, I admit I am not great at recycling...hoarding, yes! But recycling?? Hmmm... I did make a bunch of altered tins 2 years ago for Christmas gifts. I wanted to try something similar. Well, I had this cute little jar. It had some fresh sage leaves from my sister-in-law's garden, but once they were gone, I saved the jar. I really did not know if I'd ever use it, so this challenge was perfect! I simply wrapped some (retired) old olive striped grosgrain ribbon around the jar. I attached a simple tag, made with both of the tag punches, pumpkin pie and very vanilla card stock. The sentiment is from You're a Gem, stamped in old olive ink. The twine is actually a snippet from a gift I received from some friends a few months ago. I made the pumpkin with my ovals die in my big shot. After they were cut out, I embossed with a non-Stampin Up embossing folder, and sponged with cajun craze ink. I ran a strip of old olive through my paper crimper for the stem. I then attached the pumpkin to a straw wrapped in old olive ribbon, and attached to the jar. The final touch is a bunch of peanuts and candy corn! Too bad I don't have a Halloween Party to attend!

I hope you have fun and join us for the Mashup!! Check out the challenge blog here, and use keyword FM30 in your online gallery.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup!! Recycle What??

Hi Stamping Friends! It is Friday...time for another Friday Mashup challenge! I have to apologize, since my project is NOT here. Shucks, it's not finished! It has been a very busy work week. I had to make about 48 pastor appreciation cards to give to pastors of churches that support the ministry. Had I started them earlier...well, you know. I also was on the road with another staff member, delivery cards and gifts to the Walk for Life top 10 churches this Wednesday. So my plan is to relax in my messy craft room after work tonight. I started a project...and it is NOT a card! Gasp! You'll see later! So here is the challenge:

1. Make a project using recycled/re-purposed items
2. Make a project using the sketch shown above
3. Or Mash it Up and make a project using the above sketch with recycled/repurposed items

Maybe you can beat me to it...checkout the design team inspiration pieces...it's a wonderful collection! I'll be checking your projects out all week! Be sure to use keyword FM30 in your online gallery and linkup to the Friday Mashup!




Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Paper Players for Christmas

Hello Stamping Friends! I am actually posting a Paper Players challenge ON TIME!! Gasp! Please don't faint...just check out my card! LOL!! (Looking for the Friday Mashup? Scroll down one post)

This week's challenge asks us to make a Christmas card in the classic red and green color combo...and in a Clean and Simple style. My Christmas cards tend to be rather involved (except the last batches made at the last minute!) I really had no idea what to do...but I decided to bring out my alphabet dies and red glimmer paper, and the rest fell into place. My card base is retired green galore and I embossed the whisper white layer with the Northern Flurries impressions folder. I really like the look of gold with red and green, so I used gold brads and retired gold elastic gold. There it is...clean and simple! Hope you like it!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! That's a Wrap!!

Hello Stampin' Friends! It's time for another Friday Mashup...and I am your challenge hostess this week! I hope you have fun with it! I like to stretch myself by creating cards with different features or folds. One feature is the "belly band" which wraps around your project. I also like using twine as an alternative to my ribbon addiction. Both of these give us our challenge: That's a Wrap! (Blogger is giving me fits...hang in there with me!)

1. Create a project with a Belly Band

2. Create a project using twine

3. Or Mash it Up and Create a project with a belly band and twine!

For my project, I made a "squash card" which was a technique lover's challenge on splitcaststampers a few years back. This thread includes a tutorial. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/try-new-technique-f44/tlc201-fun-funky-fold-t406759-3.html#post12499784

I used "Pocket Full of Posies" dsp, cut down to 10x10, and folded to make a 5x5 card. This pattern is so fun, I didn't have to embellish much. The belly band is a one inch strip of the flip side. I added bakers twine in early espresso. Using my decorative label and 2 oval punches, I added a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes. The card stock is daffodil delight, pear pizazz and whisper white.

On the inside, I added layers of pear pizzazz and whisper white. I colored the large image from "Hello Friend" with my pear and razzleberry markers. The sentiment from the lower panel is retired. The top panel uses On Your Birthday and a smaller stamp from Hello Friend which I repeated along the top border. Both squares are also sponged. I did not add brads or other bumpy items inside so the card would close well, and the belly band would still fit.

You don't have to make a squash card. In fact, the design team has a great variety of inspiration projects to get you started! Have fun with jt! Check out the Friday Mashup blog, http://www.fridaymashup.com/2011/10/fm29-thats-wrap.html and upload your Wrapped projects by next Wednesday! I'll be looking for the Rock Star!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}