August 30, 2010

I recently purchased a necklace (shown in the picture) with colors that I thought would look great on a card. I have tried a few cards in the color scheme, but this is the best to turn out so far. I think I'll try another sometime soon. :) Any excuse.... LOL

This one I made for the Stamping 411 challenge. I didn't get around to stamping over the weekend, and was happy to get this made today! I stamped this hydrangea quite a while ago, but just never got around to getting on a card (lack of inspiration, I guess). I cut it out to use for this card. I felt it was just kinda there, so I decided to coat it in Crystal Effects and that helped just enough! To get the dual colored effect, I inked it in Marina Mist then sponged Perfect Plum onto it before stamping.

Supplies:

Stamping Sets: Because I Care, Watercolor Trio

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi (NQN is lightly sponged onto the Vanilla oval, and MM is sponged/swiped on the edge of the label piece and the oval)

Paper: Sahara Sand, Perfect Plum, Not Quite Navy textured, Very Vanilla textured and smooth

Tools: Coluzzle Cutting System, Eyelet Border punch, Big Shot, Matchbox die (label), Square Lattice Embossing Folder, paper snips!!!

Embellishments: 1/8" Taffeta ribbon Very Vanilla, Antique Brads, Crystal Effects

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August 26, 2010

Hey! Our weather today was gorgeous! Quite a relief from the suffocating heat we've had and a tantalizing taste of Fall. :)

I've been contemplating this Diva Challenge since it was posted yesterday. I admit I struggle more with a layout challenge; I prefer color challenges. Often when I sit down to make a card, I pick colors first and move from there. So a color challenge is hardly a challenge for me! It's good for me to branch out, then, huh? After much deliberation, I thought of using this paper with the stripes on the 2 "side bars" going the opposite direction as the center piece. I also felt due to make a masculine card. And this is what resulted:

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Occasional Quotes
Ink: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake

Paper: Crumb Cake, Elegant Soiree DSP, Basic Gray textured, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla

Tools: Tearing Edge (I got this by accident - a hostess received 2 in an order that was to only contain 1. I don't think I could justify spending $20 on it, but getting it for free - I LOVE it! It's handy!)

Embellishments: Designer Buttons Neutral, Linen Thread, Twill tape

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August 25, 2010

The Stampin' Royalty challenge this week: a monochromatic card, using shades of only one color and a neutral. After much deliberation, I chose pinks. I was leaning towards blue (Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist & Bashful Blue), but I'm using all the Not Quite Navy card stock I have for the Christmas card down below -- I officially decided to use that for the upcoming swap! I do have some textured Navy, so I may get a blue one made yet... :) Plus, I did this when I was feeling really tired (even though it was only 9pm). It felt like using the blues required to much thought for some reason.

I inked the silhouette in Pink Pirouette then sponged Regal Rose and Rose Red, both from the bottom up, right on the stamp and, behold!, a shaded silhouette. (And Pastor Tim said no one uses "behold" these days... a little funny only those who were at our church Sunday would appreciate!) I also sponged some Regal Rose lightly on the edges of the oval to help it stand out a bit as it's white on white and I used a dimensional to adhere it.

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Just Believe, Watercolor Trio (I really hope we see that again in the next big catalog!)

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Rose Red

Paper: Rose Red, Blushing Bride, Whisper White

Tools: Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Top Note die, Large Oval punch, a sponge

Embellishments: Basic Pearls (LOVE these!), 5/8" Satin Ribbon Whisper White

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August 23, 2010

It's time to start thinking about Christmas cards!!! :)

I made this card for the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge #165.

In just a couple weeks, I am participating in a Christmas-themed card swap with fellow demonstrators. (Card swaps are awesome: you come up with a card and make one for each participant; then you swap your card for their card and all participants then have a excellent assortment of cards!) This is one that I'm considering, but I haven't decided for sure what card I want to make for it. I've come up with a few other good options! The tab with "Merry Christmas" was cut with the Big Shot. However, there is a punch almost exactly like it in the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog called Decorative Label. (I'll be ordering that soon for sure!)

Below is a picture of the inside.

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Come to Bethlehem

Ink: Not Quite Navy, VersaMark/VersaMarker

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Brushed Silver, Whisper White

Tools: Big Shot, Top Note die, Matchbox (labels) die, Elegant Lines EF, Circle Scissor Plus (3.75" and 3.5" circles), Silver Embossing Powder, heat tool

Embellishments: Basic Pearls

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August 20, 2010

I'm on a roll! Or maybe I'm just addicted to participating in challenges. :)

This card is for a color challenge from Stamping 411. Definitely a combination I was unlikely to come up with on my own, but I see its potential!

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Thank You Kindly

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Certainly Celery (sponged onto the edges of all white pieces)

Paper: Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, Certainly Celery textured, Whisper White

Tools: Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, 1" and 1 1/4" Circle punches, Large Oval and Scalloped Oval punches

Embellishments: Jumbo Brads 5/16" Neutrals, Designer Buttons Neutrals, 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon Certainly Celery

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August 19, 2010

I made these cards for the Just Add Ink challenge to use Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake (Kraft) and Real Red. This combo easily lends itself to Christmas projects. But since that was quick to come to mind, I wanted to go farther and do a non-Christmas one, too! This Christmas card uses an embossing folder from the 2010 Holiday Mini, active Sept 1st!

Supplies for Christmas Card:

Stamps: Sparkly & Bright

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, VersaMarker

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Crumb Cake

Tools: Big Shot, Top Note die, Northern Flurry EF, glue stick
Embellishments: Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, 1 1/4" Wide Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Chocolate Chip (color retired, ribbon available in other colors)

Supplies for Thank You Card:

Stamps: Punched Posies, Occasional Quotes

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red

Paper: Real Red, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip textured

Tools: Big Shot, Top Note die, 3/4" Circle punch, Word Window punch, 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon Chocolate Chip, Sending Love Epoxy Brads in Real Red (from the last Occasions Mini)

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August 18, 2010

I hope to start posting much more regularly so I decided to title with dates. Otherwise, I waste time trying to come up with a "clever" title (term used loosely!!). The cards I am posting today are more challenge-responses! I've found even one more blog with challenges.... as if I needed more. :)

Last night I found Stampin' Royalty and their great color challenge this week. Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Not Quite Navy and Old Olive - a fabulous combination! I think I will tuck this combo away for future use. AND I actually found another SplitCoast challenge forum: Free 4 All. This weeks challenge was to make and give a "Get Well" card. My mom has been fighting a cold the last few days, so I made this for her and Adam and I took it over to her with a packet of Peach Tea.

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Punched Posies (flower and the dots on the twill tape), Wellness Wishes, Texture wheel

Ink: Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy

Paper: Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Not Quite Navy DSP (retired) and textured, Old Olive DSP (retired) and textured, Cherry Cobbler

Tools: 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Corner Rounder punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Backgrounds 1 Texturz plates, Dots dry embossing template (retired), stylus, dimensionals

Embellishments: Twill tape

Then I made my way over to the Diva Coffee Break site for Design Challenge #190. The colors are Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive. I came up with this:

Supplies:

Stamps: For All You Do

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight

Paper: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Tools: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Embellishment: Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon

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I Love Challenges!

If you are ever hurting for inspiration, participate in challenges! I am quite addicted to them. You can find challenges on SplitCoastStampers (I prefer the Clean and Simple card challenges, myself). Stamping 411 is a blog I recently found with several challenges per week. Diva Coffee Break Designs is another blog with great challenges. And these are only a few - which is enough to keep one busy, but you may find others out there that suit you better!

This card is what I made in response to this past weeks challenges on Stamping 411 - a sketch (layout) challenge AND the color challenge. It has a great vintage feel (vintage is the current trend)!

Supplies:

Stamps: Vintage Labels (this was from 2010 Sale-A-Bration )

Ink: Perfect Plum, Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette (sponged onto the edges of the oval -- I don't have a Blushing Bride ink pad)

Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Perfect Plum, Blushing Bride

Tools: Coluzzle Cutting System (could have used Wide Oval punch), Big Shot, Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, Scallop Edge punch

Embellishments: Antique Brad

Color Challenge Card

Made with some of the (still) new colors! :) I wonder how long they will be "new." Hmm... Anyway, I've had lots of fun playing with the colors and the new stamp sets and embellishments I got last week. I actually made this one to play along with the Diva Coffee Break Design Color Challenge #188; my first time!

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Just Believe

Ink: VersaMark

Paper: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight

Tools/Accessories: Heat tool, White Embossing Powder, 1 3/8" Circle punch, 5/8" Satin Ribbon in Whisper White