Love & Sympathy (CAS154, TLC361)

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!! It is now the year of the Dragon! I sent my son and daughter-in-law my Asian card that I made a week or so ago. My daughter-in-law is Chinese. Anyway, back to the challenges!!

This is for two challenges: The Technique Lovers Challenge is for us to be inspired by Belleek pottery. The way in which we were to do that was to choose and embossing folder with negative spaces, ink it up and emboss. I used the Vintage Wallpaper folder and my brayer, using Sahara Sand ink to ink up the folder. It turned out pretty cool, I think. The Clean and Simple Challenge was a color challenge. We were to use Pink, White and Certainly Celery. I used the "Love & Sympathy" set, colored the flower image with Pretty In Pink and Certainly Celery Markers and stamped. Then, I stamped over it with the sentiment in Black Stazon. I used Labels Framelits for the Whisper White panel and then traced around the same one with pencil on Pretty In Pink to create the mat. The base card is also Pretty In Pink. Thanks for stopping by!!!

Twined (CAS153, TLC360)

This is for two challenges. The Clean and Simple Challenge was a sketch by Loll Thompson. Her card was called "Fall Colors". The Technique Lovers Challenge was called "Twine It". I Twined it! Imagine a rectangular planter box with rope around it. That's the look I was going for! LOL! The card stocks are Always Artichoke, Naturals White and Not Quite Navy. The inks are More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Always Artichoke. Instead of sponging all three blocks, the bottom one is card stock with the Naturals Hemp Twine wrapped around it several times. The stamp set is "Just Believe". Everything here is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Hot Hello (CAS132, TLC339)

Well, let's go back to Monday of this week since I've been kind of busy and haven't had a chance to post. There are two Monday challenges represented here: Clean & Simple and Technique Lovers Challenge. The Clean & Simple Challenge was for us to be inspired by the word, "Hot." I used warm colors, and flip flops which remind me of summer. The Technique Lovers Challenge was to go into our Favorites Folder and find the very first card we uploaded there. Mine was this one by Glittergal which she uploaded in 2004! I changed the theme from winter to summer, changed the colors and I eliminated one panel by coloring, cutting out and popping up the flip flops directly onto the crimped panel. Everything except the small "hello" EF is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

The Party's Over (CAS129, TLC336)

The Clean & Simple Challenge is to make a belated birthday card, and the Technique Lover's Challenge is to stamp the sentiment over the main image. I tried to make it look like the balloons were falling to the floor where there's a mess of confetti. It looks like I missed the party! LOL! I cut out that confetti from used tissue papers years ago for some scrap book pages. I saved the leftovers in a baggie. I still have a lot left. The balloons are from "Crazy for Cupcakes" and the sentiment is from the new hostess set, "Happiest Birthday Greetings." I water colored the balloons before stamping the sentiment. The card stocks are Whisper White and Daffodil Delight. Everything except the home made confetti is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Patchwork (CAS123, TLC329)

The Clean & Simple Challenge was to follow a sketch by mocjen. The Technique Lovers Challenge was to do a patchwork design with scraps of patterned paper. Well, the sketch is patchwork and so is the technique, so that worked out well. I wonder if the two challenge hostesses got together on this one. I used Confetti White for the base card and SU! DSP scraps for the quilt design. I stamped the big flower from "A Touch of Kindness" in Real Red on Whisper White and then punched it out with the Scallop Circle Punch and popped it up with a Dimensional. Everything used to make this card is from Stampin' Up!! Thanks for stopping by!

Get Whale Soon! (CAS122, TSC328)

The Clean & Simple Challenge is "Play on Words", and the Technique Lovers Challenge is to decorate the envelope to match the card. The "Pun Fun" set is perfect for this although it's retiring at the end of the month. I stamped the whale on Tempting Turquoise DSP from the Brights Collection. The waves were punched from Tempting Turquoise card stock and adhered to both the card and the envelope. Since I mounted the images and sentiments on separate sides of the blocks, it made it easy to put the corresponding sentiment in the lower right corner. I used Naturals White for the base card and Black Stazon ink. Everything except the wave punch is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Two CAS Cards (CAS119, TLC325)

The Clean & Simple Challenge for this week is a Word Inspiration Challenge, and the word is "Gift". I was going to put a little gift bag on the front of my card. I had it out and ready to go, but then I decided to make the card look like a gift. I used Daffodil Delight for the base card and the Key Tag Punched piece and Rich Razzleberry DSP. The ribbon is also Rich Razzleberry. VERY Clean & Simple!! Everything used to make this card is from Stampin' Up!!
The Technique Lovers Challenge is to make paper buttons. You can find instructions for those in the SplitCoastStampers Resource Section here. Now, if you want a particular color or shape of button that you don't have in your button stash, this is the way to go! I wanted to use a brown button in the middle of my yellow flower, so the problem was solved. I used the 3/4" and 1/2" Circle Punches to make my button out of Chocolate Chip card stock. I used the Flower Daisy #2 Die for the flower die cut from Daffodil Delight. I used Wild Wasabi for the stem, grass and punched leaves (Blossom Petals Punch). I tied the button with Early Espresso Bakers Twine and used "Elegant Cheer" (retired) for the sentiment. Everything used to make this card except the grass edge punch came from Stampin' Up!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Twisted Thanks (TLC323)

The Technique Lover's Challenge is to make a Twisted Easel card. There are instructions on Laura Lipe's Blog. I did mine almost exactly like Laura's except for a change of colors, sentiment and no sentiment in the scallop circle flower at the bottom. I used Tangerine Tango for the base and Pumpkin Pie DSP from the Brights Pack. I stamped the flowers from Petals Pizazz on Whisper White with Tangerine Tango and Pumpkin Pie inks. The centers were punched from Whisper White and Tangerine Tango scraps with the Punch Pack Flower, and Basic Pearls were added to the centers. The sentiment is from a Sale-A-Bration set, "So Happy For You." The ribbon is Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, and the center of the scallop flower at the bottom is from Sweet Pea DSP. Everything used to make this card came from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Trellis Card (TLC316)

This is for the Technique Lover's Challenge which is to build a trellis. There's no stamping here. I decided to leave the sentiment for later, maybe just on the inside. The base card is Naturals White, but you can't see it. I covered the whole front with Springtime Vintage DSP. I used Spellbinders Labels Nesties for the cut-out and the frame. The Whisper White panel is embossed with the Square Lattice folder, and those "slats" are 1/8" wide Whisper White pieces. The flowers were actually in a jar and had been punched with the Flower Trio Punch. I embossed them and added gold Stickles to the centers. The leaves were die cut with the Little Leaves Sizzlit. Everything except the Nesties is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Springtime Smiles (SPRINGSC11, TLC315)

The Technique Lovers Challenge is to make a card in any shape except for square or rectangle. There's also a special challenge on SCS to make a card that represents spring. When you follow the directions and link to the thread, your name is included in a drawing for $500 in products from EK Success Brands. You can enter as many times as you like, and this will give you more chances to win. I'm going to make as many spring themed cards as I can for the challenge. I'd sure like to win those products! I used the Circle, Scallop Die from Stampin' Up! plus the Elegant Lines folder to make this card. The sentiment from "Easter Blossoms" was embossed with Heat & Stick Powder and the retired Stampin' Flock was added. I wanted to see how that flock works on a sentiment. It works fine, but SU! hasn't carried that product in years. My little flowers and leaves were pre-punched with the Flower Trio Punch and MS Leaf Punch. The bow is made from Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon. The butterfly was pre-cut as well using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit. I added a Basic Pearl for the butterfly's head. Everything is from Stampin' Up! except for the leaf punch. Thanks for stopping by!!

Sliding Pop-up Bear Card (TLC311)

This is for the Technique Lovers Challenge which was to make a Sliding Pop-up Card. The instructions are in the Resource section on SCS or you could go to the bottom of the page here on my blog to find Kim Score's video tutorial. I've been a fan of Kim Score for some time now. In fact, the "Surprise Teddy" is one of the punch art instructions I got by buying Kim's Christmas package. I thought I should make it worth it to make that sliding pop-up card! LOL! First, I made the punch art bear, then, I made the card according to the video tutorial. Put them together, and what do you have? You have a sliding pop-up card with a punch art bear! This will be for my oldest daughter's birthday. Everything used to make this card is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Silhouette (TLC308)

This week's Technique Lovers' Challenge is to use silhouette stamps. That's easy enough; I have quite a few of those. This one is "Nature Silhouettes." I stamped the tree and then the deer with Black Stazon on Whisper White. Then, I punched a 3/4" circle and used it as a mask for the sun. Finally, I sponged with So Saffron, More Mustard, Regal Rose and Perfect Plum for a sunset. The embossed panel is Pear Pizazz embossed with the Elegant Lines EF. I added three black eyelets for embellishments just to keep it masculine. Everything used to make this card is from Stampin' Up! Thanks again for stopping by!!

Ribbon Bookmark (TLC305)

Two posts in one day! Well, I'm not getting much else done around here! I wanted to try the Technique Lovers challenge which is to make a ribbon bookmark. It was fun to make this bookmark. I used the 1-1/4" Striped Ribbon. I also used my new Eyelet Circle Nesties. I embellished with Real Red Satin Ribbon and Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon along with the red roses from Michael's. The bugs and sentiments came from "Bugs & Kisses" and they are all embossed with red EP. Thanks again for stopping by!!

All Pink (CAS86, TLC292)

I combined the Clean & Simple Challenge which was to be inspired by cookiebaker's sketch and the Technique Lover's Challenge which was to stamp on tissue paper. Joan Ervin even gave us a tutorial on how to stamp on the tissue paper! I used pink tissue paper from a gift bag. I spritzed with water and dried with my heat tool. THEN, I read her instructions! LOL! I spritzed again with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz and dried it again. I laid it on white card stock and stamped the Upsy Daisy image and then cut it out. Wherever the edges lifted, I put 2-way glue pen glue. The horizontal strip was punched with the new dotted scallop border punch, and I used a Soft Subtles Button with Linen Thread as my embellishment. The main image was popped up on Dimensionals. All products used to make this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Autumn Tag (TLC291)

Today's Technique Lover's Challenge was simply to make a tag. The large pumpkin was embossed with Black Embossing Powder, and the other one and leaves were embossed with Clear EP after inking up with Versamark and then Chocolate Chip ink. After embossing, they were water colored and then cut out and popped up on the scrap of DSP which was matted on a scrap of Kiwi Kiss and then added to the tag. I used the Word Window Punch for the embellishment along with a brad. I also used an eyelet and Hemp Twine to finish it off. Everything used to make this tag was from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Autumn Harvest
• Ink: Versamark, Chocolate Chip
• Papers: Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie DSP
• Accessories: Black EP, Clear EP, Heat Tool, Snips, Dimensionals, Word Window Punch, Brad, Eyelet, Corner Punch, Hemp Twine

Cardboard Pumpkin (TLC288)

I decided to check out the Technique Lover's Challenge on SCS today. We were to recycle cardboard. I had a box on top of my trash can that was already torn. I was going to tear it into smaller pieces so that it would fit nicely into my waste wheeler. I tore off a chunk and used it for the BG. I didn't even sponge it! I used a piece of the lid and die cut the pumpkin, stem and leaf. I ran some scraps of DSP through the Big Shot with the same die to cover the cardboard rather than sponging or coloring it in some other manner. I backed the die cut pumpkin with a piece of Basic Black card stock to show through the eyes, nose and mouth. I also used a piece of cardboard that comes with things like ink pad kits or papers. I stamped the sentiment, punched and sponged the piece before using a Pop-Up Glue Dot to adhere it. The little ghost is a foam sticker which I sponged a little, too. The "Scary" is the ghost and the "Sweet" is the polka dot jack-o-lantern! Everything is from Stampin' Up! except for the die and the foam sticker. Thanks for stopping by!!

Polka Dots & Plaid (CAS78, TLC284)

Today, I combined two challenges: The Technique Lover's Challenge which was called Plaid Silhouettes and the Clean and Simple Challenge which was to use polka dots. For the technique, I inked up the whale from the "Animal Stories" set with Bashful Blue, then tapped it with the edge of Night of Navy and the edge of Riding Hood Red in the opposite direction. You make your own plaid!! It's so simple, and I love the look! For the Clean and Simple Challenge, I used DSP with tiny polka dots and, of course, the Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon. The only item used here that's not from Stampin' Up! is the Labels Nestability. Thanks for stopping by!!

Beary Birthday (TLC275, C4C39)

I haven't had the chance or taken the time, I guess, to do the Technique Lovers Challenge lately. Today's challenge was to make a "Tent Card". It was easier than I thought. I adjusted mine from 6" X 6" to 5-3/8" X 5-3/8" so it would fit in the square (medium) Stampin' Up! envelopes. At the Crazy 4 Challenges blog on Saturday, the challenge was also to make a "Tent Card." I used Nestabilities for the ovals, but everything else is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Beary Best Friends, On Your Birthday (on the back)
• Papers: Pixie Pink (retiring), Sweet Pea Designer Paper, Whisper White
• Ink: Black Stazon
• Accessories: WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter, Snips, Jump Rings, Flower Trio Punch, Mat, Stylus, Tiny Silver Half Pearls, Blue Sheer Ribbon

Simple Mother's Day (CAS65, TLC271)

The Clean & Simple Challenge was to make a Mother's Day card or a May flowers card, and the Technique Lovers Challenge was to emboss vellum. This covers all that. This was so simple! I embossed a piece of blue vellum with the Stylized Flowers folder, adhered it to the Shimmery White base card, added the sheer ribbon, die cut the Labels One Nestability, stamped the sentiment with Baja Breeze and popped up the panel on Dimensionals. The ribbon really makes this card. At Mark's Finest Papers, you get 25 yards for only $6.00!! Thanks for stopping by!!

More Orange! (TLC270)

The Technique Lover's Challenge was to take one of our Clean and Simple cards and add more to it...More is More, or we could take one of our highly embellished cards and make it clean and simple. See the post just before this one to see my CAS design that I embellished here. I added a strip of Sweet Pea DSP with the recycled sheer ribbon. I also added another layer of orange and white, punching the orange layer with the Scallop Trim Corner and Border Punches. Thanks for visiting my blog today!!