Misty Morning (TLC175)

I really liked today's Technique Lover's Challenge. It's called, "Chalk Pouncing." First of all, I had a piece of white card stock that I scored to make an embossed frame, but that didn't look right, so I set it aside in my scrap basket. I took that piece and trimmed very close to the scored lines. If you look closely (click on the photo), you can barely see the embossed frame. I used a cotton ball to rub on Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, and Ruby Red Chalks. Next, I stamped the trees with Versamark and "pounced" on the black chalk. You can just blow off any excess. I matted the main image panel on Basic Black and then on Summer Sun. There's a layer of Western Sky designer paper over the Ruby Red base card. I distressed the Summer Sun piece and the DSP and sponged with Close to Cocoa. Before adhering the DSP, I added the Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon and knot. This technique is so EASY! I will use it for my next club.

• Stamps: Lovely As A Tree
• Papers: Ruby Red, Summer Sun, Basic Black, White, Western Sky DSP
• Ink: Versamark, Close to Cocoa
• Accessories: Chalks, Cotton Ball, Sponge, Basic Black GG Ribbon

Thanks for visiting today!

Christmas Mice (FS73)

Today's Featured Stamper is Michele (chelemom). She has a great gallery! I could CASE her all day. The card I chose to CASE is called, "Pal." I loved her coloring and the layout of her card (shown at left).

I don't own any House Mouse images, but I've received some stamped images from friends, and I borrowed several stamps from a friend here locally and stamped several images from each one. This image is one that I stamped from my friend's collection. Using this image changes the theme of the card from friendship to Christmas, so the colors and patterned paper had to be changed as well. Changing the colors changes card stock, ribbon, and brads, too. With my image, I couldn't use the circle and HPH as an embellishment because it wouldn't fit, so I found this candy cane and bow in my stash. I think I took it off of a gift tag. I have lots of those! I also added the Cuttlebug embossing to the plain panel. My matted main image panel is popped up on foam dots. I liked this layout and probably will use it again.

• Stamps: House Mouse Christmas Mice
• Papers: WW (base card), Real Red, Old Olive, GP White, Dashing DSP
• Ink: Stazon Black
• Accessories: WCW Crayons, Aquapainter, Cuttlebug Spots n' Dots EF, Red Satin Ribbon, Candy Cane Embellishment, Real Red Brads, Foam Dots

Thanks for stopping by!!

"S" Is For "Smile" (IC134)

The photo at left shows the "State Fair Bedding" which was our inspiration piece for today's Inspiraton Challenge. I got my inspiration from a couple of the pillows. One pillow in the front is red with white flowers, and there's another one that is polka dotted.

The base card is Real Red and the rest is pretty much scraps. First, there's a piece of Real Red Prints designer paper; then, there's a strip of Real Red that has "Fresh Cuts" flowers embossed in white. The tag stamp was from a promotion (2006) where you got the Tag Punch with about 6 or 8 tag stamps plus some Stampin' Spots all in a metal box (like the 3-4-U punch box). Anyway, that's where I got the tag stamp, but I don't know what it was called.

• Stamps: Fresh Cuts, Tag Punch Box Stamp (2006)
• Papers: Real Red, GP White, Real Red Prints DSP
• Ink: Versamark, Real Red
• Accessories: White EP, Large and Small Tag Punches, 1/8" Punch, Jump Clip, WW GG Ribbon

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Two Challenges (ssnotime41 & WSC53)

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge worked great in combination with Sharon's (notimetostamp) 10-Minute Tuesday (on Saturday) Challenge. I was able to use up some scraps to make this card, and it really didn't take long at all!









The base card is Pretty In Pink. I had scraps of Glossy White that I embossed with the Swiss Dots folder. I also had some scraps from my Prints Pack of designer paper. I actually used three pieces of paper on the front; two are the Glossy White, and the designer paper was pieced in the middle. The taffeta ribbon and layered flower completed the sketch, and I stamped the sentiment directly onto the Prints DSP. Very simple, very easy...and quick, too!

• Stamps: Short & Sweet
• Papers: Pretty In Pink, Glossy White, Prints Pack DSP
• Ink: Pink Passion
• Accessories: Flowers, 3-4-U Punched Flower, Soft Subtles Brad, Pretty In Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Medium Glue Dot

WES Card

I've joined a thread called, "Challenge Chasers", and there are 45 members. Judith (StampinQueenJAR) is the hostess for a "White Elephant Stampede" where we find items that were gifts or we just shouldn't have bought in the first place and send about $20 worth to another Challenge Chaser who has signed up for the Stampede. She draws the names for us. My baby elephant is Billie (myboys). One of the requirements is to make a card with a white elephant on it. The card also has to be made from scraps. I don't know why I had that piece of striped ribbon in my scrap ribbon jar, but it works. I also had several pieces of Whisper White card stock in my scrap basket that were leftovers from another project and were already cut and scalloped. Everything except for the base card came from my scrap baskets. I even just had two of those baby buttons. At least she might be able to use this card for a baby boy gift some day!

• Stamps: Year After Year (retiring)
• Papers: Bashful Blue, WW, Prints Pack
• Ink: Bashful Blue
• Accessories: Baby Buttons, Glue Dots, Pop Dots, Ticket Corner Punch, BB Striped Ribbon, Fiskars Sunflower Scissors

Thanks for stopping by!

Celebrate You! (LSC174)

This Limited Supplies Challenge was to use brads to enhance the stamped image. Being that the supplies are supposed to be limited, no other embellishments were allowed. That's where I went wrong; she specifically stated, "No Primas." Well, I blew it because I forgot that part and added those two Primas with brad centers. My whole point of this card was to use brads for the froggie's eyes, so I could have left those flowers off! Oh well, I have a Stamp Camp this afternoon and this evening, so I don't have time to make another card. Just pretend you don't see those two Prima flowers! I used a Stampin' Write Journaler to color in the pupils on his eyes. It really gives the froggie so much dimension. I also used the Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles embossing folder for the turquoise background. The oval frame is a pre-made frame that was in my scrap booking stash.

• Stamps: All Night Media Frog, Celebrate Everything
• Papers: Yoyo Yellow, Tempting Turquoise, Tempting Turquoise Prints DSP, Pre-made Oval Frame
• Ink: Garden Green, Yoyo Yellow, Tempting Turquoise, Black Stazon, Black Journaler
• Accessories: Blender Pen, Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles EF, Primas, Medium Yellow and Turquoise Brads, Small White Brads

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Olive Birdie (WT172)

Today's Ways To Use It Challenge was to use birds. A lot of stampers used the same bird, but all the cards look so different! I wish you could see the shine here. The stamp was inked with Versamark and then with Old Olive and heat embossed with Clear embossing powder. This card was made with lots of things I got from other people. The flower and brad are from a scrap booking kit I got for Christmas. The scalloped oval nesty came with some images I snagged on a PIF (Pay It Forward) thread on SCS. I traded some Cuttlebug card fronts for some die cut ribbon sliders and used a white one here. It was fun gathering up all the goodies and using them on one card!

• Stamps: Always, All Holidays
• Papers: Old Olive, GP White, Unknown shimmery green (Nesty)
• Ink: Versamark, Old Olive
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls EF, Scalloped Oval Nesty, Die Cut Ribbon Slider, Olive Twill Ribbon (Mini Occasions Catalog), Sponge, Flower, Brad, Clear EP

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Happy Hellos (SC182)

Today's Sketch Challenge was a tough one for me for some reason. I had a hard time deciding what to put in that center square. Since the motifs are circle designs within squares, that's what I decided to do.

I went to a thread on SCS where you can get stamped images from other people; then, you post your list of stamp sets and someone will "snag" something from you. I did it twice; one was for a Riley image that will be great for next St. Patrick's Day, and the other I can't even remember because it never was sent to me. The lady who sent the Riley images included a couple of scalloped and embossed shapes probably done with Nestabilities which I don't have. One of the shapes was the scalloped square in the middle of this card. I cut a 2" X 2" square to go in the center of the die cut piece and sponged it with Groovy Guava. I stamped the sentiment with Close to Cocoa and punched it out with the 1-3/8" Circle Punch. I used the Scallop Circle Punch to punch out a Groovy Guava piece to use as a mat. The scalloped circle is popped up and the scalloped square is also popped up. I got those motifs with a bunch of scrap booking stuff that I got on eBay several years ago. They just happen to go well with Groovy Guava and Close to Cocoa card stocks!

• Stamps: Lots of Thoughts (2008 SAB)
• Papers: Groovy Guava Textured CS, Close to Cocoa, GP White
• Ink: Close to Cocoa, Groovy Guava
• Accessories: Square Motifs, Die Cut Scalloped Square, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Sponge, Foam Pop Dots

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Aboriginal Birthday (CC172)

I'm back from a weekend trip to the cabin. We had a great time, but now I must get back to work preparing for an upcoming workshop and my Summer Fun Stamp Camp. First, however, I had to participate in today's Color Challenge which was to use Wild Wasabi, Taken With Teal, and White. Now, this is a masculine birthday card for my son-in-law. He spent some time in Australia years ago and has a couple of Aboriginal artifacts. The set I used for this was given to me as a gift from an online friend who is a Stampin' Up! Demo in "The Land Down Under." They don't have the Ticket Corner or Tag Corner Punches in their catalog, so I sent her both as a gift. In return, she sent me the "All Aboriginal" set which is only available down there.

• Stamps: All Aboriginal, All Year Cheer II
• Papers: Wild Wasabi (Textured), Taken With Teal, GP White, Afternoon Tea DSP (for tab)
• Ink: Teal Stazon, Wild Wasabi
• Accessories: Blender Pen, Corner Rounder and Small Corner Rounder punches, 1/8" and 1/16" punches, Metallic Eyelets, Round Tab Punch

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Blast Off! (LSC173)

Today's Limited Supplies Challenge was called, "It's NOT Hip to Be Square." We were to make a card that was not a square, rectangle, or a circle. It had to be some other shape. I thought of doing the bikini top or bottom, but I figured I've already done that one. I could have done a purse, but I thought there might be several of those. Anyway, I finally decided to design my own card. I based my design on the rocket stamp in the "Pun Fun" stamp set. The photo at left shows my "artist's concept" drawing.

The first part of the card that I cut out was the "bullet" shape of the rocket. I used a 6" X 4-3/4" piece of Real Red. I folded it in half to make it 3" X 4-3/4". I used the largest oval in my Coluzzle Kit to make the arc at the bottom. I marked the center of the top and put another mark on each side about 2" down. I drew a curved line by hand from the center, down to the side marks to create the nose cone of the rocket. I cut along the hand drawn lines. I cut a circle out of Yoyo Yellow with the Coluzzle and punched another circle out of Tempting Turquoise. I found these to be to large later on.

I placed the cut out piece of Real Red on a piece of Brilliant Blue that had been cut to A2 card size. I traced around the red piece (main part of the card); then, I drew the fins and the rocket boosters (tail pipes?).

I cut around the blue, creating the full rocket shape which was to be the base card. (Sorry about all the red, but I have a red plastic table cloth on my work table, and that's where I took all the photos!)

I laid the red main card part on the blue base card to determine where the "band" around the rocket would go. I used a 3" X 3" piece of the blue card stock and cut the arcs at the top and bottom with the largest oval in the Coluzzle set (to match the bottom arc on the red piece). I also punched the yellow circle with the 1-3/8" Circle Punch and the turquoise circle with the 1" Circle punch. I traced the rocket boosters on Going Gray and cut those pieces out as well.

I laid out all the pieces on my Coluzzle cutting pad so you could see them before they were assembled. This was quite a project!
Once I had assembled the whole card, I punched Going Gray with a 1/4" Circle Punch. I also punched Yoyo Yellow with a 1/8" Circle punch. I laid them out to get the spacing right and adhered the gray dots with glue dots. Finally, I adhered the yellow dots to the gray dots with a 2-Way Glue Pen. Above, the front of the card is shown.

The photo on the right is the finished card when it's open. Phew!

• Stamps: Pun Fun
• Papers: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Yoyo Yellow, Tempting Turquoise, Going Gray, GP White
• Ink: Brilliant Blue
• Accessories: Coluzzle Kit, Pencil, Snips, Adhesive, Glue Dots, 2-Way Glue Pen, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

Snakey Ric Rack (WT171)

The Ways To Use It Challenge today was to use ric-rac. I guess I felt kind of playful this morning or even down right silly! I used paper ric-rac; actually, it's card stock. I have a bunch of punch-out borders and shapes in my scrap booking stash. I think you can actually still buy them. They come in a package of several sheets of brightly colored card stock, ready to be punched out. There's pointy zig-zag borders as well as this wavey kind. I used the wavey kind and coordinated it with the snake image. I went with the turquoise and orange color combo because I think it's kind of wacky! LOL! Well, this isn't even my best workmanship, but this card still makes me smile. The patterned paper is from a large tablet of papers I got for Mother's Day. I think this card will cheer someone up!!!

• Stamps: Zoofari, Smarty Pants
• Papers: Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, GP White, WalMart DP
• Ink: Black Stazon, Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange
• Accessories: Blender Pen, Ric-Rac Border, Orange Brads, Mat Pack (to align brads), Pop Dots

Thanks for visiting my blog!!!

Free Standing Pop-up Card

Instructions for the Free-Standing Pop-Up card can be found here. Just change the 11" X 4-1/2" to 11" X 4-1/4".

This Free-Standing Pop-up card is the first instructions I ever downloaded from SplitcoastStampers.com. I haven't made one in a while. I'm going to teach my Thursday Nighters Club how to make these. We will decorate the base by stamping instead of covering it with designer paper. You are also supposed to have a sentiment on the front of the base. I will make another card just like the club will be doing and post it here later.

• Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment
• Papers: Groovy Guava, Naturals Ivory, Darling Doodles DSP (retired)
• Ink: Brocade Blue
• Accessories: Adhesive, Paper Trimmer, Scoring Blade or Embossing Stylus, Gold Sequin

Time With Friends (SC181)

Today's Sketch Challenge is very versatile. You can do so much with it. I had thought about coloring in the word "Friends", but I decided to let the flowers be the focal point. I have decided one thing though: I need to stop using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder on so many cards! I love that folder!

The white and green panels are matted on one black panel after scalloping the green strip. Then, the Black Gingham Ribbon was added. The base card (and green strip) is Glorious Green with the white Cuttlebugged panel is matted on Basic Black and adhered to the base card. The main panel is popped up, and the flowers and brads were added last.

• Stamps: Time Well Spent
• Papers: Glorious Green, GP White, Basic Black
• Ink: Stazon Forest Green
• Accessories: Prima Flowers, Mini Flower Brads, Small Glue Dots,Black Gingham Ribbon, Med. Scallop Scissors, Pop Dots, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF

Thanks for visiting!!

Summer Fun Stamp Camp Projects

Project #1 is the easiest of our Stamp Camp projects. I may switch the base card from Creamy Caramel to Naturals Ivory, but I have to remember to order it! We will use the "Something Fishy" Jumbo Wheel on Naturals White and cut the waves at the top. The sun is stamped and punched out with a circle punch. The boat and extra fishy are stamped and cut out. The sun and the extra fishy are popped up, and the sentiment is stamped directly.

• Stamps: Something Fishy Jumbo Wheel, Life's A Breeze
• Papers: Creamy Caramel, Naturals White
• Ink: Bashful Blue Jumbo Cartridge, Yoyo Yellow, Real Red, Brilliant Blue
• Accessories: Snips, 1" Circle Punch, Wheel Guide, Pop Dots
  

Project #2 is our patriotic design as promised. This is pretty much the same card as I made for one of the challenges on SCS. A panel of Old Olive is embossed with the Cuttlebug Distressed Lines embossing folder, matted on Basic Black and adhered to the Old Olive base card. The image is stamped on white with Black Stazon and water colored with Water Color Wonder Crayons and the Aquapainter. The star embellishment is basically a large sequin. I do all the embossing in advance.

• Stamps: The Free and the Brave
• Papers: Old Olive, Basic Black, GP White
• Ink: Black Stazon
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Distressed Lines EF, WCW Crayons, Aquapainter, Star
  
  

Project #3 is this lighthouse. If you're doing a summer theme, you just have to include a lighthouse! The River Rock piece is embossed with the Cuttlebug Mesh folder. (Remember, I do all the embossing ahead of time.) The hemp twine has three knots in it; one of the knots holds up that shell bead. The main image is stamped with Blue Bayou on Naturals Ivory, trimmed closely, and matted on Blue Bayou, River Rock, and Basic Black. The scripture from Psalms that comes with the set is stamped on the inside.

• Stamps: A Light Unto My Path
• Papers: Blue Bayou, River Rock, Naturals Ivory, Basic Black
• Ink: Blue Bayou
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Mesh EF, Natural Hemp Twine, Shell Bead, Pop Dots

Project #4 really looks so much better in real life. To make the shells, the stamps were inked with Versamark and then with Creamy Caramel, stamped on Glossy White, and embossed with Clear embossing powder. After the embossing was done, they were sponged with Blush Blossom and then cut out. The large shell was adhered directly to the panel, and the other two were popped up. The sentiment was stamped, sponged, and popped up. The ribbon at the top is Creamy Caramel Gingham.

• Stamps: Seaside, Life's A Breeze, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
• Papers: Naturals Ivory, Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, Glossy White
• Ink: Versamark, Creamy Caramel, Blush Blossom
• Accessories: Clear EP, Sponge, Creamy Caramel Gingham Ribbon, Snips
  

Project #5 is the most complicated of them all, but I have already cut and scored the main pieces, AND I've created my own tutorial. The ladies will get to skip several of the steps, but I will demo those steps on a couple of cards I left uncut. We will still have to stamp the background, stamp the main image, punch the flowers and emboss and sponge them, punch the top with the circle punch, and add the ribbon. Besides all this, the card will be assembled with adhesive and Sticky Strip. It's really a fun project!!

• Stamps: Pretty Petals BG, Fresh Cuts, Elegant Cheer
• Papers: Soft Sky, GP White, River Rock, Soft Sky Prints DSP (scraps)
• Ink: Soft Sky, River Rock
• Accessories: Spring Bouquet Flower Punch (retired), Rhinestones, Sponge, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Narrow Ribbon

baby (CC171)

I just love today's Color Challenge: Kraft, Basic Black, Soft Sky. I have another grandson due in September, so I made mine a baby card. The main panel is popped up, the rhino's body is popped up, and the rhino's head is popped up on top of that. I traded some Cuttlebugged card fronts for a baggie full of die-cut sliders. The ribbon slider is one of those. The baby feet charm came from WalMart. They have lots of cute things to use for baby shower favors, invitations, and cards.

• Stamps: Zoofari, All Year Cheer II (retired)
• Papers: Kraft, Soft Sky, Basic Black, Soft Sky Prints DSP
• Ink: Basic Black
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF, Die-cut Slider, Basic Black GG Ribbon, Baby Feet Charm, Foam Dots

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Birthday Pocket (DC056)

I couldn't do the Technique Lover's Challenge today because you had to mix a certain product with water and ink and spray it on your project. I don't have the product. Instead, I did the Demo Challenge for today. I like doing these pocket cards, and I'm sure people like receiving them as well. I'm working on using up my In-Color card stock and designer papers. I still have a few pieces of the Wild Wasabi Card Stock Special to use up. In fact, I have two unopen packages of it that I'm going to sell. Anyway, I used one of those pieces for the base card.

• Stamps: Sincere Salutations, Infinite Goodness (Level 2 Hostess Set)
• Papers: Wild Wasabi (Textured CS Special), River Rock, Soft Sky, Afternoon Tea DSP
• Ink: Soft Sky, Whisper White Craft
• Accessories: Black EP, Wasabi DS Ribbon, Silver Brads, Pop-up Glue Dots; Punches: Round Tab, Corner Rounder, Five Petal, Boho Blossoms, 1/16" Circle

Tickled (FS71)

Our Featured stamper today was Denise (DiniDill). I saw her card using "Very Punny" and decided to make just one more card with that set. It's in my "For Sale" pile, but it's on hold for one of my club members.

The changes I made were: 1) Colors, 2) Same set, different stamp, 3) Bigger scallops, bigger dots, 4) Hand embossed rectangular frame because I don't have Nestabilities.

• Stamps: Very Punny, 3-4-U (Dots)
• Papers: Pink Passion, GP White
• Ink: Black Stazon, Only Orange; Marker: Pixie Pink
• Accessories: 1-1/4" Square Punch, Sponge, Paper Trimmer, Embossing Stylus, Jumbo Scallop Scissors, Orange Brads, Pink and Orange Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!!

Shawna's Workshop Projects

Shawna's workshop isn't for a couple of weeks yet, but I have so many projects for other events to design, I thought I should get these projects taken care of while I have the chance. Project #1 looks fairly simple, but I think simplicity looks so elegant. What will take time is for all the ladies to choose which definition they want to use.

• Stamps: Define Your Life, Defining Alphabet
• Papers: Groovy Guava, GP White
• Ink: Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF, Ticket Corner Punch, Groovy Guava DS Ribbon, Silver HPH

Project #2 will be this patriotic card just in time for 4th of July! Mine is going to my nephew in Iraq. I used Encore Gold ink for the main image. I like how it makes the eagle look. I used the Cuttlebug machine for both cards which is a lot of work for me, but it just adds so much texture. The main panel is popped up. It's a lot of pieces to cut, but you just have to have red, white, and blue!!

• Stamps: The Free & the Brave
• Papers: Brilliant Blue, Real Red, GP White
• Ink: Encore Gold
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Distressed Lines EF, Real Red Striped Ribbon, Star Button, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!

Love (IC132)

We had some choices for the Inspiration Challenge this week. I chose the bedding in the third photo, specifically, the pillow with the turquoise design on it. I stamped with Versamark, then Taken With Teal, and finally I embossed with clear embossing powder.

I'm sorry my fingers are in the photo, but I had to hold the card up a bit so you could see the shine from the embossing powder. I didn't get enough teal on the stamp before I stamped the image, but I really like how it turned out. I'm using this card as an anniversary card.

• Stamps: Kind Thoughts
• Papers: Taken With Teal, Naturals Ivory, Basic Black
• Ink: Versamark, Taken With Teal
• Accessories: Clear EP, Heat Tool, Black Gingham Ribbon, "Love" Charm

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Sneak Peek

I got permission to use the above photos from Annette at Ink-Paper-Scissors...Rock! She got the photos from someone who was fortunate enough to go on the SU! Bermuda Cruise. The first two photos are of the new "In-Colors". The pink looks lighter than Pretty In Pink, the red is lighter and brighter than Real Red, the tangerine is lighter and brighter than Only Orange, Kiwi Kiss is similar to but lighter than Old Olive, Baha Breeze is similar to last year's Blue Caribbean and darker than Soft Sky, and the Pacific Point is more of a royal blue and brighter than the In-Color blues we've had for the last couple of years. I'm excited to see these new colors in real life! It's the first thing I will be ordering!!!

The "Owl Together Now" stamp set will be one I'll get some use out of! I can't wait to see it in real life, too!

Thanks to Annette for allowing me to post these photos, and thank you for stopping by!!!

Ladies' Night Out June Projects (LSC172)

Ladies' Night Out Club is next Friday, so I've been busy getting things ready for that and two other events the following week. I didn't do yesterday's challenge because I've been too busy; imagine that!

Project #1 will make use of the "Word Search" background stamp. The one shown here is a gift card holder for my grandson. Inside, it says, "Find:
1. THINK
2. HAPPY,
3. AUGUST
4. BIRTHDAY
5. BOY!
6. LOVE
7. ALWAYS
Then it's signed.

For club, we will make a tent folded card and everyone will have a choice of colors and images to add to the front. It could be a baby card, a birthday card, or whatever! I will also supply a selection of card stock colors, but they will be all "In Colors" since I'm trying to use them up.

Did you think Project #1 was too easy? Well, there's a method to my madness! I've spent most of the day taking photographs as I went along making the card for Project #2. I put my photos in the tutorial and rewrote some parts of it to fit what we will be doing. Project #2 will be this Double Slider card. The first project had to be easy to allow us enough time to complete this project. I know everyone will be happy with what they've made.

Project #2 is also for today's Limited Supplies Challenge which was to use knots. I knotted the Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon. I used a Blender Pen and ink pads to color the images, and I sponged all the edges.

Supplies for Project #1:

• Stamps: Word Search BG
• Papers: Blue Bayou, Naturals White, Afternoon Tea DSP (for gift card holder only)
• Ink: Basic Brown; Marker (inside)
• Accessories: Small Star Punch (For Gift Card: Word Window Punch, Small Oval Punch)

Supplies for Project #2:

• Stamps: Blooming Beautiful, Weathered BG
• Papers: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black, Naturals Ivory
• Ink: Black Stazon, Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Really Rust
• Accessories: Word Window Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Purely Pomegranate DS Ribbon, Vintage Brad, Blender Pen, Sponge

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stinky (SC180)

When I first saw this week's Sketch Challenge, I just wasn't sure I'd like it and had no idea what to do. Once I got going, though, I became more and more happy with it. I'm very happy with the final result.


I started out by choosing my main image. Since it's a skunk, I just had to go with black and white, and I think black, white, and red is one of my favorite color combinations.

The main image panel and tilted square are both popped up. I punched and embossed the flowers and used peel-and-stick rhinestones for the centers. The sentiment was stamped and then punched out with the Word Window Punch. A narrow strip of Real Red was cut to size and punched with the Small Corner Rounder for the matting. I colored in the flower the skunk is holding with the Real Red Marker and added the rhinestone in the center there, too. The Real Red layer is embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.

• Stamps: Pun Fun
• Papers: GP White, Real Red, Basic Black
• Ink: Black Stazon, Real Red Marker
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF, 3-4-U Punch, Embossing Stylus, Peel-and-Stick Rhinestones, Word Window Punch, Small Corner Rounder Punch

Thanks for visiting my blog today!!

Enjoy Your Summer (CC170)

I think I bought this ladybug stamp at WalMart a few years ago. I made a card for one of my grand-daughters who happens to like ladybugs, then I used it to stamp students' papers after they were scored and corrected. This card was made for this week's Color Challenge which was to use Real Red, Regal Rose, and So Saffron. I liked the red with the yellow (So Saffron), but I sure had trouble trying to figure out how to incorporate the Regal Rose. I finally settled on making Levi tags. Those black dots in the lower right corner are just that, black dots. I wanted to make a card that I could mail for $0.42, so I didn't include any brads or other hardware.

• Stamps: StampCraft Ladybug
• Papers: So Saffron, Real Red, GP White, Regal Rose
• Ink: Black Stazon, Real Red Marker, Black Journaling Marker
• Accessories: 1-3/8" Square Punch, Sheer Dotted Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

All The Best (TLC172)

Today's Technique Lover's Challenge was really interesting. I've never made a "Surprise Pop-Up" card before! I think we will make one for my next Stamp Camp. It's a lot of tricky cutting to do on twenty cards, though! Information on this challenge and a tutorial may be found here.

• Stamps: Pretty Petals BG, Fresh Cuts (New 2008 Fall/Winter)
• Papers: Soft Sky, GP White, River Rock
• Ink: Versamark, River Rock, Soft Sky
• Accessories: White EP, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, White Eyelet, 1/8" White Satin Ribbon, Spring Bouquet Flower Punch, White Brads, Sponge, Embossing Stylus and Mat Pack

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!!

Frosty (CCC08-June)

I've been participating in the Holiday Card Challenge since January. This is my June submission. I made 12 cards; six are colored with SU! Markers, and the other six are left plain. After seeing this photo, I've decided I need to color all twelve. They are all embossed entirely with Blue Tinsel embossing powder. I wanted a simple card this month that wouldn't cost a fortune to mail!

• Stamps: Frosty (retired)
• Papers: Not Quite Nave, GP White
• Ink: Versamark, Bold Brights Markers, Basic Black Marker
• Accessories: Tinsel Blue EP, Ticket Corner Punch

Thanks for visiting!

All In A Row (WSC51)

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge is pretty neat this week. I like the lines with everything going in a horizontal direction. More information on this challenge is on Beate's blog which is here.

I used "Older & Wiser" (Level 3 Hostess Set) which was given to me by one of my ladies who knew I liked it. I thought I'd never be able to get it. She was hostess last month for my Ladies' Night Out Club. She's such a sweetheart of a lady!

This is a very simple card to make. I should use this sketch for my next workshop. Yes, that "buckle" is actually a soda can pop-top. It came off of an energy drink. That's why it was already red. I do paint them sometimes! The main panel is popped up, and the sentiment inside says, "All lined up in a row! HAPPY BIRTHDAY."

• Stamps: Older & Wiser (Level 3 Hostess)
• Papers: Yoyo Yellow, Real Red, GP White, Brilliant Blue Prints DSP
• Ink: Bold Brights Markers
• Accessories: Real Red Striped Ribbon, Soda Can Pop-Top, Pop Dots

Thanks for stopping by!

Gift Cards (IC131)

The Inspiration Challenge for today was for us to be inspired by a master bedroom suite. There were three views of the room, but this one caught my eye. I love those white panels on those light blue closet doors. I decided to use that white on blue to make some gift cards as a gift set. Once I got going, I actually made four pink and four yellow cards to complete the set.

I only photographed the blue cards for the challenge. I got a chance to use those Cuttlebug Mini Embossing Folders that I hardly ever use!

• Stamps: Kind Thoughts (on the envelopes)
• Papers: Bashful Blue 12 X 12 Textured card stock, GP White
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Flowers and Formal Squares Mini EF's, Snips, WW Mini Envelopes

Smell the Flowers (LSC171)

Apparently, today is National Doughnut Day, Gardener Day, and Yo-yo Day. For the Limited Supplies Challenge, we were to make a card using one of those themes. In honor of National Yo-yo Day, I made the base card Yoyo Yellow. For National Gardeners Day, I made a seed packet and actually put some Sunflower seeds in it. On the back of the packet, it gives all the info about the seeds. Now, as I've told others, if you look very closely, you will see a family inside that little house enjoying doughnuts! LOL! How else could I cover National Doughnut Day as well? *wink*

• Stamps: All God's Children
• Papers: Yoyo Yellow, Whisper White, DCWV Matstack
• Ink: Tempting Turquoise
• Accessories: Handmade seed packet, 1/8" Punch, 1/16" Punch, Bold Brights Eyelet, Fiskars Sunflower Scissors, Hemp Twine, Tempting Turquoise 1/4" GG Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Bright Thank You (SC179)

We had an interesting sketch today. Lots of people who have giga and mega scallop or regular circle punches used those for the circle, but some of us chose to use a large Prima flower. I got this flower in a scrap book kit for Christmas. I hope whoever receives this card can use my layered flower for scrap booking!

The base card is Ruby Red with a layer of So Saffron Prints Designer Paper. The horizontal and vertical strips are also Ruby Red card stock. Layered on the red flower are Summer Sun (scallop circle), Pumpkin Pie (1-1/4" circle), So Saffron (Boho Blossoms), and a large yellow flower brad. The sentiment in the upper left was stamped with Ruby Red ink.

• Stamps: Short & Sweet
• Papers: Ruby Red, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, So Saffron Prints DSP
• Ink: Ruby Red
• Accessories: Prima flower, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Flower Brad

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog!

1st Thursday & Tuesday Nighters June Projects (CC169)

I killed a lot of birds with one stone with this one! Stone #1: Today's Color Challenge was to use Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, and Real Red. Stone #2: I needed a graduation gift card holder for my nephew. Stone #3: I wanted to make this gift card holder for my 1st Thursday Club and my Tuesday Nighters.

My nephew will get this card with a gift card in it, but my club members will not be using this color combo. They will be using various colors of card stock to match various designer papers. We will be using mostly papers that have the current "In-Colors" in the design. I plan to use up all, if not most, of my "In-Color" card stock and DSP in the next couple of months. I'll be making way for the new colors that we will be using starting in August.

The base card here is Blue Bayou, with a layer of Soft Sky that has been stamped with the "Twill" BG stamp. I used "Sweet Serendipity" for the sentiment with Real Red ink.

The DSP on the inside is Afternoon Tea. I like the way the gift card fits into a slot in the middle of the card inside. The grad cap is from "Year After Year", and the sentiment is from "All Year Cheer II" (retired).

• Stamps: Sweet Serendipity, Year After Year, All Year Cheer II (retired)
• Papers: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, GP White, Afternoon Tea DSP
• Ink: Real Red, Black Stazon
• Accessories: Dimensionals, Star Buttons, Word Window Punch, Small Oval Punch

For Project #2, we will be doing the faux postage technique. I used the birdie from "Spring Solitude" (Level 2 Hostess) for my "stamps". Please note that I remembered to change the amount to $.42!!! The base card is Soft Sky. The Blue Bayou layer is embossed with Cuttlebug Script embossing folder. The sentiment is from "Elegant Cheer". This is such a fun technique!

• Stamps: Spring Solitude (Level 2 Hostess), Elegant Cheer
• Papers: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, GP White
• Ink: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou
• Accessories: Acetate, Sponge, Cuttlebug Script EF, Mini Scallop Scissors, Faux Postage Template

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!!!

CASEing Maren! (FS69)

Today's Featured Stamper was Maren (mmbc). She has a great gallery, and it was very hard to choose which card to CASE. I don't know why my photo of my card came out so dark; I'll have to work on that.

I changed the colors, papers, brads, and ribbon. I only paper pieced the parachute; I used the ink pads and Blender Pen to color in the rest. Also, I did not use textured card stock. I used a background stamp with the same ink as the card stock instead.

• Stamps: Older & Wiser (Hostess, Level 3), Twill BG Stamp
• Papers: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, GP White, Afternoon Tea DSP, Soft Sky Prints DSP
• Ink: Basic Brown, Creamy Caramel, Soft Sky, Groovy Guava
• Accessories: Groovy Guava DS Ribbon, Snips, Vintage Brads, 1/4" Circle Punch, Dimensionals