I Double Dare Ya!

I am posting 2 cards which each use 2 challenges: the sketch challenge from splitcoaststampers, and the Color Dare. Once again, I am relying on my photo-shooting skills instead of my hubby. Oh well! All card stock, stamps, ink, and accessories are from my beloved Stampin' Up!

Last week's Color Dare called for tempting turquoise, Bermuda Bay and crushed curry. The sketch was simple and clean. I used a floral image from Eastern Blooms, and a sentiment from Thank You Kindly. The dsp is from Razzleberry Lemonade. It's hard to see, but I added some rhinestones to the flowers...and of course, Ribbon!!





This weeks Color Dare could have looked Christmas-y, but I tried to stay away from that. Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla, and Old Olive look great together! I sponged a bit of creamy caramel on the main image panel too. The stamp set is a soon-to-retire Hostess level 1 set: Of the Earth. A small, old olive ribbon tag and ruby red brads finish it off.



I have to run to get dinner ready before my hubby gets home!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

It's a Tropical Party!!

Last night, I held my monthly Stampin' Club...and we had a great time in the tropics!! My hostess-with-the-mostest (Waving Aloha to Patti!!) loves parties with themes. So, we decided to focus on great items from the Summer Mini Catalog. I chose to feature Island Oasis DSP in all three projects. Patti even encouraged us to wear bright colors, and brought floral leis and yummy snacks featuring pineapple. We need to do this more often!!

Our first project was a quick Birthday card using the cute set Tropical Party. LOVE this set! I had actually made a different card the night before club, didn't like it...so I made this after work in 5 minutes! These solid image stamps are PERFECT for a very quick card! The only embellishment is a tiny bit of ribbon scraps. We stamped the inside too, because, well...it was easy! Love the colors together...tempting turquoise, rose red, pumpkin pie, old olive.





Next we made a drink umbrella, using the same Island Oasis DSP and my new scallop circle Big Shot die. I will confess that it was tough for me to explain the scoring. We struggled with this a bit, but had a great time laughing about it! No drinking was involved... seriously! An outsider looking in may have questioned that!! For a great tutorial on this little umbrella, check out my cyber-friend and fellow SU Demo, Rhonda.






Our final project was a Pull-out scrapbook. I found the tutorial on splitcoaststampers. Patti is a scrapbooker, so any project that gives her a chance to showoff photos is a plus. This little book takes some time, but it is so well worth it! When finished, you end up with room for 14 small photos! The only stamp used was from Define Your Life. Some chose "journey", others chose "memories." (This set is way more versatile than I realized!) We embellished with grosgrain ribbon, and used several punches, including the corner rounder, the photo corner, 5-petal flower and Extra Large Fancy Flower. A pumpkin pie corduroy brad adds the final touch.






Our Tropical Party was a great way to spend the evening! Let me know if you want to join the fun!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

NEW Catalog Preview!!!

...and with that, a new blog template. I picked this in about 30 seconds...I have zero patience to go through so many blog templates! LOL! Hope you like it!

So, I got some new goodies with my Stampin' Up preorder! What's that, you ask? It's one of the great perks I get for being a demonstrator! Several stamp sets, designer series paper, card stock, ink, and accessory items were available to choose from before the new catty (catalog) goes live on July 1st. I got a good stash!!

I know a lot of people don't or can't buy so much at once. But you can get some great stuff to add to your current supply of goodies! You also can chat with me about your style and wish list, and I will help you plan what to order when. Don't forget about the retiring goodies, too! click ----->

This first card features the NEW dsp "Greenhouse Gala," cut out with the oh-so-classic top note die on my big shot. LOVE this floral pattern! I already had the chocolate chip and whisper white cardstock...and the baja breeze was admittedly from it's In-color year! Glad I stocked up! Come July 1st, we can all order it again! I used my NEW baja breeze marker to color just a bit of white taffeta ribbon (had that already, too) to make a small ribbon tag. The stamp is from All Holidays (already had it), and I colored it with NEW pear pizzazz and baja breeze markers.


And now...something completely different.


Believe it or not, the dsp in this card is from the same Greenhouse Gala! This zig-zag pattern is great for guys!
I decided to cut along the zig-zag for interest. The pattern has some chocolate chip, but I went ahead and mounted it on the new Early Espresso card stock. Can we say "YUM!"?? LOVE the rich brown-black shade. This stamp is also from All Holidays, colored with baja, real red, and espresso markers, and layered on pumpkin pie and baja breeze. NO accessories! Gasp! My husband took the picture and said he loved it. Too bad it isn't for him!

2 cards...3 new markers, 1 new pack of dsp, 1 new card stock color...everything else in my stash already. Not bad, huh?

I'll be back with more..I'm having a great time experimenting with my new goodies!!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Last Chance!

Well, every year at this time, Stampin' Up! puts out a list of stamp sets and accessories that are retiring June 30. This year, the list is LONG! Lots or ribbon is going buh-bye...I am sure new ones are on the horizon for the new IBC available July 1st. Lots of dsp is leaving...a bunch of stamps...some punches and big shot items...ink and other coloring tools.

I still have to review the list to see what I cannot live without. I am always sad to see ribbon go, so I have to find strength not to order ALL of it!

If you want to order anything now, just click on the last chance list picture over to the right and it will take you to a beautiful place where you can order beautiful things!


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}}}

Dare to Sketch

It's Wednesday...and that means it's splitcoaststampers' Sketch Challenge day and Color Dare Day with dancerriley! Once again, I combined the two challenges into one card. Everything used is from Stampin' Up!

The sketch challenge sample was made by a good cyber friend, Kelly. WooHoo! She was so surprised and thrilled to see it posted last night! And since my hubby had called to say he had to work overtime, I made this card before I went to bed! The Color Dare was another tough one...rich razzleberry, crushed curry, soft suede, and old olive. I am not a big fan of crushed curry, and it is retiring June 30, so this was a great way to use some of my supplies. The main image is from Awash with Flowers...a 2-step stamp set that will be found in the new IBC on July 1st. Of course, I did some sponging, and I used Teeny Tiny Wishes on the modern label punch. ;-) Problem is, I have misplaced my teeny tiny "happy birthday" stamp! Oh No! So, I decided to make this a Thinking of You card. The soft suede layer in the middle was supposed to be on top of the image panel, but I goofed. So I just added soft suede and old olive ribbon to the front...ta da! The dsp is a combo of rich razzleberry pattern paper and the retired Hello Neighbors dsp. You can't tell, but I ran them through my Big Shot with a Texturz plate...really, I did! I think I like this one...what do you think?

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}}}