Hello

 Happy Thursday!  The weekend is thisclose to being here.  YEAH!!!

We had some rain this week so evening sports were canceled and I was able to sneak in some stamping.  Hoping this long holiday weekend I'll be able to get some time in doing some more as well so I'll have lots to share.

I grabbed a color and sketch challenge and made a quick set of 4 cards.  I love it when then the creation comes together so easily.  This week's Color Throwdown was not a color combo I'd reach for so it was working outside the box for me on this one, but like how it turned out.  I kept it very simple with the new Freshly Made Sketches for this week as well.

I used a set that is new to me from Papertrey Ink called Wonderful Words: Hello. I've used it a few times already-loving the die with the sentiments.  I grabbed some strips of cardstock and next time I use this sketch I think I'd throw in a patterned paper strip or maybe emboss them to add some texture.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a safe holiday weekend!

Card details:

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink-Wonderful Words: Hello & Die

Inks:  Gina K. Designs amalgam ink obsidian, Distress Oxide Pickled Raspberry

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up Basic Black, Calypso Coral, Rich Razzleberry, Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz & Rustic White

With Sympathy

Well hello there!  I know I'm hit or miss on this blog but I'm still creating.  Just don't seem to remember to take pictures and post like I used to.

I got energized a few evenings this week and broke out some of my crafty stuff so hope over the next few weeks I'll have a few more to share with anyone stopping by to visit.

Combining a sketch challenge from Freshly Made Sketches and a color challenge from Color Throwdown I had a good time coming up with this card, although never a fun card to have to send out.  I broke out my Minc foiling machine and some new Heidi Swapp foil I got.

My new Ginko Bundle set from Taylored Expression had just arrived in the mail so I was anxious to break it out and use it on this card.  Can see this being a favorite of mine on cards in the future, I'm a sucker for any type of floral stamp...so I am pushing myself to do some masculine cards that I'll be sharing as well.
Hopefully, you can see the shine from this foil in some of my pictures.  I also added a little score tape and foiled over that and think that adds a great little touch and is so easy to do.  I'm a pretty clean and simple stamper most of the time but have so much stuff I'm trying to experiment a little more with some of my supplies.

Thanks for stopping by to visit me and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Thankful

Last night my great friend and sister-in-law Heather came over with my brother for dinner and some crafty time.  This is the 2nd time in a month we've made time in the evening to do some stamping (me) and Project Life (her).

I only got a few cards done, but this was one of my favorites and probably took me the longest to accomplish due to all the layers with it.

I used the newest Operation Write Home Sketch #243 which involved a lot of layers-but love they provide measurements for you!

I was also drawn to the colors in the latest Color Throwdown Challenge #319 and new this set I had just received was perfect for it.

Hope you enjoy your Sunday-ours is cold and rainy but on the flip side...a perfect day to stay indoors and do some stamping!

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Card details:

Stamps: Favorite Flowers from Simon Says Stamp!

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Blushing Bride, Rustic White, Certainly Celery

Inks: same as cardstock

Embellishments: pearls

{Thanks}

Card details:
Stamps: Color Wash by Pink Paislee
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Rustic White
Inks: Old Olive, Cameo Coral, Sahara Sand
Embellishments: Gold stickles

Be Brave

I received some wonderful stamps from Unity Stamp Co. about a month ago but had not put any of them to use until this past weekend.

I don't know the names of them because they were just a grab bag of different ones, but had fun creating my own background paper on this one.  Think I may go back and add a pearl or jewel to the middle of the flower that I paper pieced.

Thank you so much to the girls at the Color Throwdown for including me as their guest designer this month.  I had a lot of fun stepping outside my comfort zones with some colors and seeing how the other gals incorporated the colors on their creations.

This week is a beautiful combination below:

Hope you will hop on over there and play with us this week!

Baby Fleur-Think Spring

Today over at Stampotique Designer's Challenge Sue has us thinking spring:

"Here in the Northern Hemisphere today is officially the first day of Spring.  It's been a long cold Winter so let's cheer ourselves up with some Spring colours and/or images and chase away the Winter blues."

I've combined my card with the latest color combination over at the Color Throwdown.  At first I was a bit stumped as to how to use the green and red without looking too Christmas'ey, but then I came across this darling little image who made me think Spring.

  

Make sure you join us over at Stampotique Designer's Challenge with your Spring theme and at Color Throwdown with the color combination above.  To see some more color inspiration, please visit the Color Throwdown girls:

** Barbara ** Broni ** Denise ** Joan **

** Kerri ** Lynn ** Tammy ** Wanda ** Lori **

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Card details:

Stamps: Baby Fleur 1 9143 and Thinking of You 5234 from Stampotique Originals

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Echo Park for the Record 2, Gina K. Luxury White

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, copics

Embellishments: dimensionals, Dare to be a Diva Red ribbon

Hi Angel

Today over at Color Throwdown where I am guest designing this month the colors are Pink Piroutte, Pumpkin Pie, Kraft and Certainly Celery.  I wasn't keen on this color combo as I had a hard time with where to add in the pink, but I think I managed to make it work.

Over at Stampotique Designer's Challenge this week Maria has given us a sketch to work with, so of course I couldn't resist using one of her new Zara bunnies.

I turned mine on the sides and eliminated the stars from my card as my focal circle ended up being a little bit larger than shown on the sketch.

Stop over and visit the other design team members from the Color Throwdown here:

** Barbara ** Broni ** Denise ** Joan **

** Kerri ** Lynn ** Tammy ** Wanda ** Lori **

Hope you will join us over at the Color Throwdown as well as Stampotique Designer's Challenge.

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Card details:

Stamps: You Give Me Wings 7312 and Alphabet Lower 7177 from Stampotique Originals

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery, Crumb Cake 

Inks: Memento Rich Cocoa, copics

Embellishments: Bossy Joscie flair-Lime Assortment 2, washi tape, circle dies from Spellbinders

Learn to FLY

I am honored this week to have been asked by the Color Throwdown team to be their guest designer for March.  I love being able to combine color challenges with some sketches, or just use the color challenges as my starting point.  It definitely takes some guess work out of my stamping when I'm in a slump or wanting to get a quick card made.

I also used the sketch from Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge which worked great with these little birds.

Sam is our hostess over at Stampotique Designer's Challenge this week and here is what she has challenged us with:

"I have often been inspired by songs to create something, it could be the song title, the message behind the song or just a line of the song that resonates with me. So I'm excited to be inviting you to create anything that makes you smile using a song for your inspiration. There is no right there is no wrong it's just the way you sing your song!"

I picked a song related to a show I had watched the other day on Palladia TV featuring the Foo Fighters.  I love their music and this biography of the band was very interesting.  I love Dave Grohl!!  The song I chose was Learn to Fly by the Foo Fighters, but I have another favorite from Tom Petty called Learning to Fly.  I'm a huge fan of Tom Petty, he's awesome in concert!

So, where does the flying come in?  Well, don't these little birdies look like they are wanting to take off and flap those wings or maybe Jailhouse Rock would have been more appropriate for this line-up?

Hope you will join us over at Color Throwdown today and why not hop on over and combine it with the Stampotique Designer's Challenge, we'd love to see your creations!

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Card details:

Stamps: Birdy Up 4021 and FLY word 3049 from Stampotique Originals

Cardstock: Barely Banana, Cameo Coral, Trensetter Blue, Whisper White, My Mind's Eye Be Amazing

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, copic markers

Embellishments: seam binding, dimensionals, button, cream twine

Happy Bird-day!- BC206 (Birds)

Today at Blogger's Challenge our theme was to use "birds".  I have a quite a few bird stamps but this pretty one just arrived not too long ago from Stampotique.  I love how bold they look!

I watercolored the birds with my Aquapainter and ink pads.  I added a big prima flower (using up some of my tons of these that I HAD to have) with a button in the middle.

I pulled the colors from the Color Throwdown #134 Challenge from last week.

Hope you will join us at Blogger's Challenge with the bird theme by linking directly to your card below.  Make sure to mention the Blogger's Challenge in your post as well, the more, the merrier that play!

Card details:

Stamps: Bird Tiles and Happy Bird-day  from Stampotique

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Marina Mist

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Watercolors

Accessories: Aquapainter, rhinestone

Hot Stuff...

I love these Kenny K images.  This past week I've been bringing images with me to the kid's practices and doing some coloring while they are doing their thing.  Sometimes I only get one image colored, but most of the time I get at least two of them completed.

While I wanted to get this one done in time for the Play Date Cafe Challenge, I didn't quite make the deadline for that but pleasantly surprised to see the Color Throwdown Challenge this week was similar colors.  Don't look too close at my card-my Copic is low on ink and the face didn't color so well-have to get that refill I've been putting off.

 Miss Thang is hot stuff isn't she?  And this color scheme just screams hot stuff to me.  I used some Basic Grey paper & some rhinestones to accent this card.

Have a great Thursday! 

It's Your Birthday

I made this card for a friend with two of my new sets that I received this week from Clear & Simple Stamps- Banner of News and In Bloom. I love both of these sets and I see so many possibilities with Banner of News.

I combined 2 challenges with this card and I tell you, I'm in love with this card and not sure I can mail it off to my friend, although I know she will love it as well...since she's the one who got me addicted to the stamping in the first place!

The first challenge was the Color Throwdown to combine Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand & Black/Brown and then I finally got some time to complete Mercy's Sketch Challenge this week.

I didn't to color in the flowers on this card as I thought it would be too much so I used my sponge dauber with some baja breeze on it, I think it turned out perfect.

Card details:
Stamp Set: Clear & Simple Stamps- Banner of News and In Bloom
Cardstock: Basic Black, Night & Day DSP, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze
Inks: same as above
Accessories: corner slot punch

Color Throwdown Challenge sponsored by Clear & Simple Stamps

This weeks Color Throwdown Challenge is sponsored by Clear & Simple Stamps. Join us in the challenge with the chance to win the prize pack here.

The color challenge today was to use chocolate chip, perfect plum and certainly celery or your closest colors. I love these colors but using them together had me stumped big time. I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with for this challenge. I knew it would be a fairly easy challenge using a floral stamp, so I tried to go out of the box and use something other than that.

For the first card I pulled out my Golf Darling set. I love the Golf sets that are available from Clear & Simple Stamps, great for women & men. I kept it fairly simple with no embellishments on this one.

Primary Stamp Set	Golf Darling
Paper / Cardstock	Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum
Designer Paper	Au Chocolat
Embellishments	paper piercer
Inks	Basic Brown
Markers / Colored Pencils / Chalks	Copic YR21, R20, C1, O, V17, V15, W3, C4, E00, G82

For the second card I tried to combine with the Julee's Mojo Monday sketch using the new Traveller set. My sketch is a little off kilter but I think it came pretty close.

BTW- Traveller is by far one of my most favorite sets. I love the sentiments in it as well as this palm tree!!! You can't tell from the close-up picture but you can see in the larger one I covered the palm tree with Cyrstal Effects. For this image I just direct colored with my marker onto the stamp.

Hope you enjoyed the samples and that you will join in with us over at the Color Throwdown Challenge!

Primary Stamp Set	Traveller
Paper / Cardstock	Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum, Chocolate Chip, Fabriano Medioevalis
Designer Paper	Au Chocolate (retired SU)
Embellishments	5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, unknown ribbon (cream), Marvy Uchida scallop circle punch, Nestabilities circles, purple prima, Crystal Effects
Inks	Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip

Blogger's Challenge 86: Valentine's

Our challenge this week was Valentine. While Valentine's in my house takes on a whole new meaning, we don't do a lot of celebrating of Valentine's Day...it's hubby's birthday instead. Do you know how hard it is to find a birthday/Valentine's Day card in one??? So I decided to make my own this year, saves me on a little money. I used the CTD29 colors this week using Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip & Regal Rose. I also broke out a stamp set I have had for about 8-9 months and never inked up. Thought it would be a perfect Valentine's stamp.

I had this big night out planned for him with some friends, going to a hockey game. Unfortunately for us, our oldest son is in a baseball tournament this weekend and of course they scheduled us for a late evening game so we had to scratch our plans. We still are going to try to do a late dinner and maybe a movie. Have to play it by ear.


Join us in the challenge this week, show us what you come up with using keyword BC86 on SCS or linking a post on any of participants blogs. Make sure to see all the other creations to the right ----> under the Blogger's Challenge logo.

Card Details:
Stamps: Ollie & Olivia by Stampendous, Simple Sayings by Stampin' Up! (heart- outlined with black)
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, PTI White
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Versafine Onyx Black, Aquapainter, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Stickles, rectangle nesties, label nesties, chocolate chip ribbon, script CB folder, Copic C1, sentiment printed on computer using SU Fonts

I've been trying to get a little therapy stamping in each day. While the cards are simple, I'm enjoying using more of a variety and really need to participate more in the color challenges to get me using colors outside my norm.

For this card I kept with the theme of yesterday's card using Fantastical Floral by Unity Stamp Co. I started out with the Color Throwdown #26 Challenge (Kraft, Pink Passion, Basic Black) along with the Limelight Papercrafts Sketch/Stamp Challenge (use 2 different stamps). It also met the challenge FC25 using sewing on Embelllish-It online.

While I did stray a little with my prima flower (which is gray) the butterfly itself was colored with black refill so I just lighted it for the watercoloring.

Off to enjoy a night out with some friends tonight (kids included). Our friends' little guy is just over a month old and I can't wait to see how much he's grown.

Card Details:
Stamps: Fantastical Floral by Unity Stamp Co, Sentiment by Amuse Stamps
Cardstock: Kraft, Pink Passion, Basic Black, Whisper White
Inks: Versamark, Pink Passion Refill, Basic Black Refill, Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Primas, Janome Sewing, Copic marker (YG03) and Flower Brads by SU!

Happy Harmony

For some unknown reason I keep on referring to this set as Heartfelt Thanks! Luckily I had not gotten rid of this set because as soon as I saw Tammy Hershberger's card this week from Stamp Happy, I knew I had to CASE it. I decided to go with Color Throwdown Swatch #7 colors which were Apricot Appeal, Bashful Blue and Ballet Blue. I had this card and colors in mind when I heard my friend was a little down and the dumps so hopefully when she gets this card it will bring a smile to her face.

Tammy was awesome and told me to go ahead and post my creation, make sure to check hers out as it is FABULOUS!!!! Thanks Tammy for letting me share my card with my blog readers and for inspiring me!

Card details:
Stamp Set: Happy Harmony
Cardstock: Whisper white, Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Apricot Appeal
Inks: Same as above and certainly celery, Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Hodgepodge hardware, Crystal Stickles, Bashful Blue ribbon, sponge, ticket corner punch