Playing with Paper Spice Cake

Happy Friday, my friends!!

I am continuing to work on my goal to complete the 2016 challenges at The Paper Players.  I made a card for this week's sketch, as well as a sketch I missed a while back.

I used SU's retired DSP, "Spice Cake," which is one of my favorites.  This week's sketch is clean and very versatile.  My card base is pool party, and I added a layer that is dry embossed with the "Vintage Wallpaper" folder.  The leafy stamps are from "Pocket Silhouettes" stamped on a scallop circle. The sentiment is from "Happiest Birthday Wishes."  I used more mustard, soft suede, pear pizzazz and pool party inks.  I added early espresso satin ribbon and suede brads as the final touches.













Next, a card that I made quickly earlier this week and mailed immediately!  I needed a birthday card for one of my many sisters-in-law.  This sketch helped me create something in a hurry.  The photo was taken in the late afternoon sunlight before I had to stick this in the mail...which I caught with just minutes to spare!  The card base is soft suede, and again, I used "Spice Cake" dsp.  The sentiment is from "Suite Sayings," stamped in more mustard.  Espresso brads and thick bakers twine finish it off.





My final card was made from various supplies on my desk after I finished the other 2.  No challenges involved, except to use my stash!  The sentiment is from Stampabilities, stamped on an oval made with my Sizzix die.  The "Vintage Wallpaper" embossing folder was used again, as well as seam binding.  I think I will make a few more cards this afternoon, before watching the Chicago Cubs play in the World Series tonight!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

I'm Back Playing with Paper

Howdy Strangers!!

On Sunday, I spent time trying to catch up my card making.  I should have posted these cards earlier, but I was really hoping to make one more for a past Paper Players challenge from early in the year.  As of this moment, that hasn't happened, so I am going to quickly post these cards so I can upload the current card before the Challenge deadline.  I'll have to edit the post this afternoon.  Even my photos aren't edited yet!  All fixed now. I am sooooooooooo far behind!

This was super quick for the challenge posted on Sunday at The Paper Players.  My leaves had been die cut and dry embossed before for a different card, but were leftover.  I love being able to pull out items from my stash!  My card base is cajun craze.  I have a layer of Comfort Cafe dsp, plus a layer of very vanilla.  The sentiment is from SU's "Wetlands".  I added garden green brads, and some non-SU bakers twine.  The leaves were cut with the retired Sizzix Leaves #2 die, in cajun craze, crushed curry, and garden green, embossed with the wood grain folder.

This card is for the FIRST Paper Players challenge of 2016!  At the start of the year, my blog challenge goal was to complete everything from The Friday Mashup.  After that blog retired, I switched to The Paper Players.  I have gradually worked on catching up (though I fell back behind this fall.)  I needed a special card for a special lady's 100th birthday.  She likes red, so I used real red card stock and satin ribbon.  The velvety pattern paper is SU's "Mocha Morning."  On a die cut framelit, I stamped the sentiment from SU's "Memorable Moments."  I added a scattering of gems from Recollections.  

I combined this Paper Player challenge with last week's Color Challenge at SCS.  I used a confetti white card base.  Using a Cuttlebug heart folder, I dry embossed a piece of sahara sand and strawberry slush.  I stamped the flourish from SU's "Baroque Motifs" in crumb cake.  The sentiment is from the same set.  After sponging with sahara sand and crumb cake, I added a bright heart from "Work of Art."  The ruffled ribbon adds the final girly touch.

This one was lots of fun.  I had some summer starfruit card stock out, since it goes with my Comfort Cafe dsp.  But I set the dsp aside, and opted to use basic gray and strawberry slush for a different look.  The sunbeams are from a Tim Holtz stencil.  I added rain drops and tiny hearts, pljs a sentiment from SU's "Rain or Shine."  The heart is dry embossed with the Cloudy Day folder, and placed over gray bakers twine.

This sketch gets a bit lost in the pattern paper, but I still like the final product.  The card base is cajun craze.  I used Comfort Cafe dsp for the full layer, large circle, and butterfly.  On a scalloped circle, I stamped the large F (from "Vintage Vogue") in summer starfruit, then used my cajun craze marker to add contrast. A cajun craze brad and pool party thick bakers twine finish this off.




It feels great to stamp and blog again.  It also feels good to work on my stamping goals.  Thanks for stopping by!!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Paisley Set

Hello, and Happy Monday!

I had grandiose plans for Saturday, which was World Card Making Day.  Usually, I am out of town on the 1st Saturday of the month, but there was a change in plans, so I thought "I'll stamp all day."  Instead, I ended up working on my speaker blog posts, since I have 2 presentations later this month.  (It's Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month, so I shared some thoughts here.) BUT, I did manage to make 4 cards, then 2 more yesterday.

My first card uses the Freshly Made Sketches challenge seen here.  I had only glanced at my reminder email, knowing I needed a pennant.  Now I see it is lower than the top of the card.  Oh well...I'm happy with the results any way!  As I look at this, I realize I still need to finish off the inside of these cards before I mail them.

The second card uses a SCS sketch found here.  It's definitely modified because of the size of that quote.  In addition to WCMD, Saturday was the Feast of St Therese of Lisieux.  She's a "rock star" among Saints in the Catholic Church, known for her "Little Way."  Mother Teresa's (now St. Teresa of Calcutta) quote here is actually inspired by Therese, so I thought it was a perfect day to bring out this stamp.










Each feature "Paisley Petals," like my header on this blog!  One of my favorite ways of using a lot of dsp (especially if I have been hoarding it for a long time) is to use sketch challenges.  I only did that with 2 of the cards; the others were made with no challenges.


The materials are as follows:

• Card stock: river rock, bravo burgundy, not quite navy, whisper white, and very vanilla
• Ink: not quite navy, river rock
• Stamps: Stampabilities (Praying), Mother Teresa quote from a big box store, unmarked
• Embellishments: bakers twine, enamel dots, brads, twill ribbon, taffeta ribbon 
• Tools: Beautiful Wings embosslits, scallop circle punch, Vintage wallpaper embossing folder

While I didn't stamp as much as I thought I would this weekend, I am very happy with the cards I did complete. Thanks for stopping by!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Featured Stampers Again

Hello again!

Today, I have a few Featured Stamper challenge cards.  I made a couple weeks ago, but the first one was made tonight.  I better post here before I fall further behind!  LOL

Today's Featured Stamper is Penni (aka razldazl).  I chose THIS card to CASE.  I used SU stamps, "Avery," "Thoughts and Prayers" (the branches) and "Teeny Tiny Wishes."  The black and white dp is from SEI's "Black Orchid."  The card stock is pumpkin pie, whisper white, and basic black.  The sketch is from the current challenge at The Paper Players.   Penni made a set of 4 yellow/black cards; I hope to make three more cards later this week.   

My next card also combines a FS challenge with The Paper Players.  I CASE'd THIS card from Jen's (aka JenCarter) gallery.  I was inspired by the colors.  The circle motif made it easy to combine challenges.  My card base is smokey slate; the layer of basic gray is dry embossed with the decorative dots embossing folder.  I used Urban Garden dsp for three of the circles; the scallop circles are in baja breeze and whisper white. The sentiment is from "Blessings from Heaven."  Some long-retired kiwi kiss polka dot ribbon finishes it off. 

The next card is one for FS Helen (aka helekins).  I chose THIS card to CASE.  I used similar colors, water coloring and butterflies as in the original.  My image is from SU's "God's Beauty" and the sentiment is from "Happy Home." My card stock is pool party, calypso coral and whisper white.  I used my aqua brush with pool party, calypso coral and daffodil delight ink.  Enamel dots and bakers twine wrap it all up.

It has been fun working on these challenges.  Hope to stamp more this week!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Urban Garden Sketches

Hi strangers!

I'm focusing more on my business stuff, so blogging here is rare these days.  Every time I think I will get in a routine, I flunk!  LOL At least I am still stamping!

Last weekend, I made a batch of cards using a long-retired package of SU dsp:  Urban Garden. It features kiwi kiss, not quite navy, baja breeze and basic gray.  I needed a bunch of sympathy cards.  I also made a couple of thank you cards. I truly want to use up my supply of dsp, and one thing that helps is sketch challenges.  Now, my 2016 stamping goals do not include these challenges, but they don't stop me either! I made 2 of each card. The first two are the same sketch, but different because of the curvy cut. I just reversed and used both sides of the paper.  Stamps used are SU "Thoughts and Prayers" and "Teeny Tiny Wishes."  I used not quite navy, baja breeze, and lucky limeade ink.  Punches are word window and scalloped oval.  Embellishments: Beautiful Wings ebosslit, kiwi satin ribbon, limeade bakers twine, non-SU polka dot ribbon, brad and enamel dot.  Card bases are either basic gray or smokey slate.  

I used SCS sketches 606 (above)

       607

 608,

and 610.  

My layout for this post is weird, but you get the idea.  It felt good to create  cards!  Hopefully I will get some time to stamp later today too.


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

I'm Back...with some Featured Stampers!

Hello Again!

Wow...it has been quite a while since I have posted!  I still haven't posted the rest of my Dare to Get Dirty cards, though one is included here.  My husband and I took a fabulous 2 week vacation in early August, and upon returning I was busy with laundry, mail, and general catching up.  But I have started getting back into my ink and stamps this last week, and it feels great!

I decided I needed to get serious about my goal to complete all of the 2016 SCS Featured Stamper challenges.  Here we go!

I actually made this one last Sunday (the day Mary, aka Stamps-n-Lingers was featured), but didn't get a decent picture for days.  I chose THIS card to CASE.  I chose a similar color scheme(perfect and pale plum, not quite navy, pool party, baja breeze), and a variation of sponging (daubers).  Instead of a line image, I featured a silhouette. In place of sparkly ribbon, I chose tiny rhinestones.  The stamp is from SU's "Thankful Thoughts," and features a quote from Mother Teresa, who will be canonized tomorrow!







Next, I went to the previous FS challenge which features Donna, aka didlet.  I chose THIS masculine card to CASE.  My card base is midnnight muse, and the front panel is a combo of Comfort Cafe dsp and confetti cream.  I used SU "Extreme Elements" and the birthday stamp from "Delightful Dozen."  My inks are soft suede, crushed curry, and midnight muse.  The sentiment is also stamped on a scalloped circle, layered over some burlap ribbon.







Next, I CASE'd this card from Amy, aka amymay998.  Initially, I was going to stick with the monochromatic palette, but I had this strip of midnight muse on my table.  Keepin' it simple!  The card base is early espresso, and I used espresso ink to sponge a layer of crumb cake pattern paper.  I stamped butterflies from "Kinda Eclectic" in midnight muse and espresso.  The strip is textured with my paper crimper.  The sentiment is from "Wetlands," on a decorative label with a touch of taffeta ribbon.






Finally, this card is for THREE challenges!  I started it before vacation, but the background wasn't dry.  It actually was for a DTGD challenge, plus a SCS color challenge, and a Featured Stamper:  Rita, aka scootsv.  Rita stops by my gallery and makes friendly and encouraging comments.  I chose THIS card to CASE.  I didn't have the exact colors, but came close.  I used poppy parade ink which seemed to be close to the watermelon wonder lace ribbon.  The pear pizzazz was used in the background as well as leaves stamped from "Kinda Eclectic."  And instead of peekaboo peach,, I used peach parfait.  This challenge helped my budget:  no need to buy every color, right??  By the way, the background is just a watercolor wash, trimmed with my scallop border punch.  I used the butterfly thinlet and scallop circle punch, plus a sentiment from "Whimsical Words."  All of this on a soft suede card base.

Whew!  That's a lot...plenty for a comeback I think.  I have other cards to post...gosh I hope I can catch up this week!  Thanks for stopping by!



Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Playing Tic-Tac-Toe

Hello Stamping Friends!

I have a couple off cards today that used some sot of Tic-Tac-Toe challenge.  I'll start with this week's challenge from The Paper Players, which I combined with a recent SCS color challenge, along with Julie's DTGD challenge.  I am still a bit obsessed with color challenges, so the DTGD challenges are helping me "catch up."  My card base is textured pacific point (opened up a retired pack of 12x12 in-colors!).  I added a bit of soft sky, embossed with the Cloudy Day folder.  SU's "Summer by the Sea" is a classic, and here I colored it with my blender pens.  The sentiment is from "Perfect Words."  A bit of gingham ribbon and enamel dots finish it off.

Next, I pulled out an early 2016 challenge at The Paper Players, hoping to catch up on my 2016 goal soon.  This also meets a past SCS color challenge and Alba's DTGD challenge.  This card is definitely more girly!  My card base is mossy meadow.  On some glossy white, I spread blushing bride and elegant eggplant ink, plus I spritzed it with my shimmer mix.  I added this poly-twill ribbon, finishing off a roll (though I still have 1 more!)  Using markers, I colored this image from "Friends Never Fade," mounted it to some eggplant card stock, and added a glimmer brad.  Another "Perfect Words" sentiment is used, plus another bit of bling.  I love all of the shimmer!

I have a few other DTGD challenges done; hopefully will post tomorrow.  I didn't come close to completing all of them, but I did more this year than last year...WooHoo!  Thanks for stopping by!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim