Color Throwdown 362-Many Thanks

It's time for another Color Throwdown!  Vickie is our hostess this week and she's shared a color combination that's perfect for fall---dark brown, orange, red, and green.  I paired the colors with the current sketch from CAS(e) this Sketch and Lawn Fawn stamps and dies.

I used the Stitched Leaves dies to cut a bunch of different colored leaves, then played around with the arrangement of the different shapes and colors until I came up with one I liked.  I considered doing some inlaid die cutting, but in the end, decided I was too lazy to do that!

The leaves were arranged to leave enough room for the die cut Scripty Thanks.  I cut the word several times from brown cardstock and stacked them, then adhered the layered word to the panel.  The "many" from the Happy Harvest set was stamped just above the start of the word using brown pigment ink.  The finished panel was adhered to a cream card base.

To play along, just create a paper crafted project using these colors as a starting point and add a direct link to your finished project using the linky tool found at the end of this week's CTD post. As always, if you don’t have exact color matches, something close works just fine. Just be sure that the challenge colors are the dominant ones in your project. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD362. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd362 and #colorthrowdown. You can find us on Instagram (and on Facebook!) with the username colorthrowdown. Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team, our September guestie Kelly Latevola, and this week’s guest star stamper, Karola.

 ** Barbara ** Broni ** Joan ** Jodi **

** Monika ** Tammy ** Vickie ** Wanda **

** September guestie Kelly Latevola **

** Guest Star Stamper Karola**

Materials Used:
Happy Harvest stamp set, Stitched Leaves and Scripty Thanks dies (Lawn Fawn); Memento Luxe Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Chocolate Chip cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Green Acres and Kraft cardstock (WPlus9)

SugarPea Designs CCC5-Wishing You a Spooktacular Birthday

*** Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for the new TCP Tuesday challenge at The Cat's Pajamas! *** 

A new color challenge is underway at SugarPea Designs! With Halloween coming up quick, we're featuring a fun, seasonal color combo--black, purple, green, and orange.
 

I stamped the ghost from the Eek-a-Boo stamp set in white pigment ink on white vellum, then heat embossed the image.  The banner and bowtie were colored on the reverse side using Copic markers.  The colored image was cut out, then adhered to a purple Scattered Stars Journal Card die cut.  I backed the journal card with silver paper to create shiny, sparkly stars.

The starry journal card and ghost were layered on an angle on a black panel with a piece of dotted orange patterned paper at the bottom.  I combined a few of the set's sentiment pieces and stamped them in black ink on an olive cardstock strip, then added that to the panel.  The final element was a crescent shaped moon, cut from the same orange dotted paper as I used at the bottom of the panel.  I adhered the finished panel to an olive card base.
 

Want to play along with the color challenge?  The rules are very simple…

• Create a new card or project using the colors provided.  SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated 
• Upload to the SugarPea Designs blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: CCC5 so that we may check out your beautiful work.
• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz in the SugarPea Designs blog
• One randomly selected winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs Online Shoppe. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $15

For more inspiration before you get started, be sure to head on over to the SugarPea Designs blog for a list of designers sharing their take on the challenge colors.

Materials Used:
Eek-a-Boo stamp set, SugarCuts Scattered Stars Journal Card (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Wedding Dress inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Basic Black, Old Olive, and Elegant Eggplant cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); Tiny Polka-Orange Tonal designer paper (The Paper Studio); Recollections Snow embossing powder (Michaels); circle punch (EK Success); foam tape

TCP Tuesday 300-CASE the Cat

We're celebrating our 300th TCP Tuesday challenge at The Cat's Pajamas with a CASE the Cat challenge.  That's right--we're challenging you to CASE one of our TCP creations.  Each member of the Cat Pack has picked one card to feature for the challenge.  For the challenge I selected the card that I first shared in this post.  You can find all of the cards for the challenge on the TCP blog.

With such talented Cat Pack teammates, I couldn't resist playing along in the challenge, too.  I CASE-d a card created by the newest Cat Pack member, Julie Elak.  My design kept a similar layout and color scheme, but I changed up the image and sentiment for my version.

I made the hot air balloon flying big eared bunny from the Drop In set my focal image here.  The image was colored with Copic markers, then adhered to an aqua dotted patterned paper panel using foam tape.  I layered the patterned paper on to a red card base, then topped it with a shimmery white die cut "cloud" made with one of the speech bubble dies from the CutUps He Said, She Said die set.  To give the cloud dimension, I adhered it with more foam tape.  The "hello" sentiment from the Show Me the Monkey stamp set was stamped on the speech bubble in black ink.  I surrounded it with some red enamel dots for emphasis.

Ready to play along?  I hope so!  Here are the challenge details:

1. Every other Tuesday a new challenge will be posted on The Cat’s Pajamas blog as well as on our Facebook page.
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design to The Cat’s Pajamas blog page using the InLinkz button found on the blog.
3. You must have your project posted by the Monday, 11:55 EDT before the next challenge to be eligible to win the Cat Cash.
4. Cards and projects are not required to use a Cat’s Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die but if you do the Cat Cash amount increases.
5. On the following TCP Tuesday, the week’s winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $10 or $15 if a TCP product is used.

Materials Used:
Drop In and Show Me the Monkey stamp sets, CutUps He Said, She Said die (The Cat's Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Real Red and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Aqua Mist patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); red enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape 

The Challenge 44-A Monster of a Birthday Bash

*** Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for this week's Mojo Monday sketch challenge! ***

The Challenge is back again with a new challenge!  This week we have a theme challenge--birthdays!  You can choose to make any project with a birthday theme or you can take your inspiration from the photo seen above. 

It's been a while since I inked up my Little Uglies from Clear and Simple Stamps and as soon as I saw the theme and the photo, I knew I'd be using them for my card.  The set's monster images and sentiments are so fun to use!  I combined the Uglies with another pair of CSS sets to make a fun monster themed birthday invitation.  I used my MISTI to lay out the different stamps for the invitation--it was a real time saver!  It would make mass producing these for a party quick and easy.  The colors for the filled in text, the images, and the border were picked out from the photo.  For dimension, I stamped one monster on a cardstock scrap and colored it, then cut it out and used foam tape to adhere it to the invitation.

Check out what the rest of the talented team at The Challenge has created based on this week's birthday theme.  Here's where to find them:

Anita Madden
Claire Broadwater

Kim Heggins

Kimberly Wiener
Lee Ann Barrett

Lesley Croghan, challenge creator

Lori Tecler--you're here!
Michele Ferguson

Nance Salkeld

Alanna Moses, September featured designer
Stephanie Severin, guest designer

Materials Used:
Little Uglies, Taglines:  Uglies, Party Elements:  Baby, and Sweet Dreams stamp sets, Dare to Be a Diva Red, Party Teal Dawn, and A Blanc Check cardstock (Clear and Simple Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Pear Tart inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); foam tape

Mojo417-A Whole Latte Love

Happy Monday!  It's time for a new Mojo Monday sketch, and since it's the last Monday of the month (how did that happen??!!), the sketch calls for a tall and skinny card.  I used the limited time, free Latte Love digital download Julee generously created for the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop for my card.

I resized the sentiment and one of the cup images, then printed them on cream cardstock using my laser printer. I got a laser printer last year to use for preparing materials for my classroom and now I really see how much nicer it is for printing digi images!  Because they always smeared when I printed them with my inkjet printer, then colored them with markers, I really didn't use them much.  With a laser printer, I just might use them a bit more.

I trimmed the sentiment panel, then matted it on green cardstock before adhering it to a houndstooth patterned paper panel.  After wrapping the panel with some twine, I added the cup image using foam tape for dimension.  Before adhering the panel to a green card base, I placed a trio of copper brads along the right side of the panel.  The coppery color is the perfect accent on a fall card!

Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for more inspiration from the design team and to add your own take on this week's sketch!  You can also find all of the Mojo Makers at their blogs here:

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Carole Burrage
• Justin Krieger
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

 
Materials Used:
Latte Love digi stamps (Verve Stamps); markers (Copic); Ripe Avocado cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Lakeside 6x6 paper pad (Pebbles); twine (Hemptique); copper brads (Michaels); foam tape

Paper Smooches SPARKS-Batty in Love

***  Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! *** 

This week’s Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is a Designer Draft challenge based on the sketch seen above.  I used the sketch for a somewhat Halloween design with a love-themed twist.

I stamped the bat image from the Falling for You set on a matching die cut, then colored the image using Copic markers.  The image was adhered to a gray panel, positioned so that the bat was "hanging" from a branch made with a Trees 1 die cut.  Yes, it's meant to be a tree, but it works perfectly as a branch for the bat, doesn't it?  I heat embossed the "batty in love" sentiment next to the bat using silver embossing powder for some sparkle and shine.

Since I colored the bat using blue violet tones instead of gray, I brought out some more of the purple tones by covering most of a light purple card base with a dark purple cardstock panel.  I adhered a strip of light purple cardstock to the right edge of the panel and accented it with bands of gray and silver paper, then added the image panel on top.

We hope you’ll join us and share a project using Paper Smooches stamps or dies. One participant in this week’s challenge will win a $30 gift certificate to the PS store! Before you head off to start your own creation, don’t miss what the rest of the SPARKS team has created for this week's challenge. Here’s where to find them:

Karin Åkesdotter

Larissa Heskett

Lori Tecler--you're here!

Lynn Mangan

Savannah O'Gwynn

Materials Used:
Falling for You stamp set, Trees 1 and Falling for You dies (Paper Smooches); Memento Tuxedo Black and Delicata Silvery Shimmer inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Elegant Eggplant, Chocolate Chip, and Almost Amethyst cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Smokey Shadow cardstock (Papertrey Ink); silver paper (Target); silver embossing powder (American Crafts)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 288-Best Witches

It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! I used this week's sketch for yet another witch themed card using the Seen on Halloween stamp set and coordinating witch die from Lil' Inker Designs. 

I stamped the witch image in black pigment ink on a matching die cut, then used foam tape to adhere the witch to a silver stitched circle die cut "moon." The circle was adhered to a black panel.  After matting the panel with silver paper, I adhered it to a gray striped patterned paper panel over a long gray fishtail flag die cut.  The image was accented with a trio of sparkly silver enamel dots.  I love the monochromatic look of this design!

To play along, just create a card based on the sketch and link it up on the SSSC blog.  Be sure to stop by the blog to check out what the SSSC team has created using the sketch.  And, don't forget to check in on Wednesday to see one of our favorite cards made with the sketch!

Materials Used:
Seen on Halloween stamp set, Bats and Broomsticks and Stitched Circle dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); Steel Grey cardstock, Die-namics Fishtail Flag Stax dies (My Favorite Things); Let's Polka 6x6 paper pad (Lawn Fawn); silver glitter enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

I Think You're Spectacular

Here's my card for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  I let the fun patterned paper do most of the work here.

I started out by creating a wide black frame from a stitched rectangle die cut. The patterned paper filled in the frame's opening.  After adhering the patterned paper and frame to a white card base, I added the sentiment on top.  The red mat sets it off nicely from the rest of the card.  To bring in a bit more red, I cut a red fishtail flag strip and adhered it to the top of the card.  I accented it with a pair of shiny silver die cut hearts.

Materials Used:
Geek Is Chic stamp set, Die-namics Blueprints 24 and Staggered Heart Border dies (My Favorite Things); Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Real Red and Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); Paper and Glue 6x6 paper pad (Echo Park); foam tape

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters Fall Blog Hop

Even though I'm not a coffee lover (I know, I know!), I'm joining in on today's Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  Despite my disinterest in drinking coffee, I do love coffee themed stamps and have a nice collection!  I inked up the Be a Barista stamp set from Reverse Confetti for this card.

To go with the hop's fall theme, I created a thank you card.  The textile-like pattern on the patterned paper I used also reminded me of fall, even though it isn't a traditional fall color palette.  I colored the coffee cup image with Copic markers to coordinate with the patterned paper, then used foam tape to adhere it to a kraft tag die cut.  The thank you sentiment was stamped in brown pigment ink on a pink banner strip that I tucked underneath the card.  A paper doily and some taffeta ribbon threaded through the tag and secured with twine added a bit of texture to the design.

Be sure to stop by the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog for a full list of blog hop sponsors and links to amazing coffee-themed crafty creations!

Materials Used:
Be a Barista stamp set, Confetti Cuts Tag Me and Caffeinated Cups dies (Reverse Confetti); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Toffee Crunch and Rich Cocoa inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); So Saffron and Pink Pirouette cardstock, Kraft taffeta ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); Cedar Lane 6x6 paper pad (Pink Paislee); twine (Hemptique); white paper doily; foam tape

Hugs and Kisses and Rainbow Wishes

Here's my card for this week's Paper Smooches SPARKS Anything Goes challenge.  Even thought it's fall, I inked up the Luminous Spring set for my card.

I made the set's cloud and rainbow image the focal image on my design.  I stamped the image once, then, with the help of my MISTI, turned the image around and stamped it a second time to lengthen the rainbow.  Super easy!  The stamped image was colored with an array of Copic markers.  The clouds were lightly coated with my clear Wink of Stella pen.  Love the subtle sparkle!  For even more sparkle, I studded the rainbow with a trio of silver sequins.  The set's "hugs and kisses and rainbow wishes" sentiment was stamped to the left of the image in black ink.  I layered the panel on to a silver mat, then adhered it to a dark purple card base.  The purple looks pretty black in this photo, but I promise that it really is purple!

Materials Used:
Luminous Spring stamp set (Paper Smooches); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Elegant Eggplant cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); clear Wink of Stella pen (Zig); silver sequins)

SPD20-Falling for Fall

*** Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for this week's Color Throwdown challenge! *** 

Today marks the official start of the fall season here, so we're marking the change in seasons with a Falling for Fall theme challenge at SugarPea Designs. I used the new SugarCuts Stitched Autumn Icons dies and the current sketch at CAS(e) this Sketch to put together this fall design.

I die cut the pumpkin, acorn, and leaf from earth toned cardstock scraps.  I inked the pumpkin and acorn with some coordinating distress inks to add some extra depth to the pieces.  They're arranged on a kraft panel with rounded edges.  I left just enough room at the bottom of the panel to stamp the "thankful for you" sentiment from the Bountiful Blessings stamp set on the panel in brown pigment ink. 

After matting the kraft panel on dark brown cardstock, I adhered it to a cream cardstock panel,  using foam tape for more dimension.  I looped a length of hemp twine beneath the image panel, then tucked pieces of a green banner strip underneath the panel's edges.  I accented the image panel with a trio of brown enamel dots.  The finished panel was adhered to a kraft card base.

Want to play along with us?  We only have a few rules…

• Play along with ANY stamps and dies you’d like – Winner is chosen at random to keep things fair, but if the winners project features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the voucher to $15.
• Feel free to combine our challenge with any other challenge(s).
• Upload to your blog or other online gallery using keyword: SPD20 so we can easily find your work.
• Add your name and link to your card or project in the InLinkz on the SPD blog.

Be sure to stop by the SPD blog for links to the rest of the design team members playing along today to provide you with inspiration!

Materials Used:
Bountiful Blessings stamp set, SugarCuts-Stitched Autumn Icons  and Gift Tag dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Luxe Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Tea Dye, Antique Linen, and Dried Marigold distress inks (Ranger); Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, and Old Olive cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); twine (Hemptique); brown enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); corner rounder; foam tape

Color Throwdown 361-Soda-lighted

It's time for another Color Throwdown!  Tammy is our hostess this week and she's chosen a fun, fresh color combination--yellow, lime green, black, and white.

I paired the colors with the current sketch from Retro Sketches and the Soda Pop stamp set from My Favorite Things.  I used the coordinating Soda Pop Bottle dies to make a pair of soda bottles, layering a white vellum die cut on top of a white cardstock die cut to give the bottles a frosted look.  The contrasting yellow and green labels were stamped with a lime slice image using green pigment inks.  The bottles were arranged on a white card base using foam tape for dimension.  I stamped the "you are soda-lightful" sentiment next to the bottles in black ink, then arranged a trio of green enamel dots around the bottles.  The finished panel was adhered to a green card base.

To play along, just create a paper crafted project using these colors as a starting point and add a direct link to your finished project using the linky tool found at the end of this week's CTD post. As always, if you don’t have exact color matches, something close works just fine. Just be sure that the challenge colors are the dominant ones in your project. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD361. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd361 and #colorthrowdown. You can find us on Instagram (and on Facebook!) with the username colorthrowdown.

Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team, our September guestie Kelly Latevola, and Guest Star Stamper Marci Sharp.

** Barbara ** Broni ** Joan ** Jodi **

** Monika ** Tammy ** Vickie ** Wanda **

** September guestie Kelly Latevola **
** Guest Star Stamper Marcie Sharp **

Materials Used:
Soda Pop stamp set, Sour Apple and Lemon Drop cardstock, Die-namics Soda Pop Bottles dies (My Favorite Things); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Pear Tart inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Celery ink (Avery Elle); white vellum (Stampin' Up!); green enamel dots (Michaels); foam tape

You Mean the World to Me

Here's my card for this month's Reverse Confetti Sketch for You to Try.  I paired Reverse Confetti's  My World stamp set with the Globe die for this sweet design.

I die cut the globe from traditional blue and green, plus some neutral gray for the frame.  I adhered the frame to a green cardstock panel set on a piece of blue dotted patterned paper, then used foam tape to place the pieced globe inside the frame.  The "you mean the world to me" sentiment was stamped on a pale blue cardstock strip in darker blue pigment ink, then adhered to the panel with one end tucked beneath the globe's frame.  I added a trio of different sized light blue enamel dots around the globe as an accent, then adhered the finished panel to a pale blue card base.

Materials Used:
My World stamp set, Globe die (Reverse Confetti); Memento Luxe Bahama Blue ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Smokey Shadow cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Green Galore, Pacific Point, and Soft Sky cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Dots and Stripes Fresh 6x6 paper pad (My Favorite Things); light blue enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

Hello Pumpkin

Here's my card for this week's Viva la Verve sketch.  I used the sketch to create a fall themed card using Verve's Bountiful Harvest set.

I stamped one of the set's pumpkin images on a cream panel, then stamped the "hello pumpkin" sentiment directly beneath it.  The pumpkin was colored with Copic markers.  Now that I look at it again, I probably should have cut out the colored pumpkin and adhered it to the panel with foam tape so the card wouldn't look so flat . . .  Anyway, I wrapped the top of the colored panel with twine and twisted the ends of the twine around my paper piercing tool to give them a curly look like the little vines on the pumpkin. 

I matted the panel on rust cardstock, then adhered it to a dotted patterned paper panel over a woodgrain fishtail flag strip.  After auditioning some different combinations of sequins and enamel dots as accents, I settled on using a trio of cream enamel dots around the image panel.  The finished panel was adhered to a kraft card base.

Materials Used:
Bountiful Harvest stamp set (Verve Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Really Rust cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Haunted Hallows 6x6 paper pad (Teresa Collins); The Sweetest Thing-Tangerine 6x6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); Die-namics Fishtail Flag Stax dies (My Favorite Things); cream enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

The Challenge 43-Fresh Cut Floral Thank You

*** Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for this week's Mojo Monday sketch! ***

The Challenge is back again with a new challenge!  This week we have an inspiration challenge based on the photo seen above.  There are so many great elements in the photo to choose from!  I used the watering can in the forefront of the photo as my starting point.

I stamped a watering can from WPlus9's Fresh Cut Containers set in shimmery copper ink, then added an array of flowers and leaves from the Fresh Cut Containers set and the Fresh Cut florals set.  After settling on an arrangement that I liked, the watering can and flowers were adhered to a woodgrain patterned paper panel.  I used foam tape for some of the pieces to give them a bit of dimension.  I stamped the "thank you" sentiment next to the watering can and flowers in bright pink pigment ink, then arranged a trio of pink sequins around the image.  The finished panel was adhered to a pale gray card base.

Check out what the rest of the talented team at The Challenge has created based on this week's inspiration photo.  Here's where to find them:

Anita Madden
Claire Broadwater

Kim Heggins

Kimberly Wiener
Lee Ann Barrett

Lesley Croghan, challenge creator

Lori Tecler--you're here!
Michele Ferguson

Nance Salkeld

Alanna Moses, September featured designer

Materials Used:
Fresh Cut Florals and Fresh Cut Containers stamp sets, Dove Gray cardstock, Fresh Cut Florals and Fresh Cut Containers dies (WPlus9); Memento Luxe Angel Pink, Olive Grove, and Rose Bud inks, Memento Pear Tart, Bahama Blue, and Summer Sky inks, Delicata Celestial Copper ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Cedar Lane 6x6 paper pad (Pink Paislee); sequins (Avery Elle); foam tape

Mojo Monday 416-Sending Smiles

Happy Monday!  It's time for another Mojo Monday sketch to start off the week.  I took a few liberties with this week's layout, but I think you can still see the bones of the sketch in my card!

I replaced two of the circles with clouds die cut from shimmery white cardstock.  I adhered the clouds and a pale blue stitched circle die cut to a piece of blue chevron patterned paper.  A red dotted airplane from Reverse Confetti's Here We Go set was added on top, using foam tape for dimension.  I ran a strip of turquoise grosgrain ribbon from my scrap pile along the bottom of the chevron patterned paper panel, then added the sentiment from the All About You set on top, again using foam tape for dimension. The finished panel was adhered to a turquoise card base.

Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for more inspiration from the design team and to add your own take on this week's sketch!  You can also find all of the Mojo Makers at their blogs here:

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Carole Burrage
• Justin Krieger
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Materials Used:
Here We Go and All About You stamp sets, Here We Go dies (Reverse Confetti); Memento Love Letter and Gray Flannel and Memento Tuxedo Black inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Tempting Turquoise, Soft Sky, Real Red, and Shimmery White cardstock, turquoise grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Fresh Squeezed Chevron 6x6 paper pad (My Favorite Things); Stitched Circle and Stitched Clouds dies (Lil' Inker Designs); corner rounder; foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 287-If the Broom Fits

It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!  I went with another Halloween themed design this week using stamps and dies from Lil' Inker Designs.

I made the large panel into a nighttime scene by starting with a piece of dark purple cardstock, then topping it with a silver stitched circle die cut "moon."  I adhered a lighter purple strip across the dark purple panel and stamped the "if the broom fits" sentiment from the Bats and Broomsticks set at the right side of the strip in black pigment ink.  The set's crosshatch witch image was stamped on a matching die cut, then adhered to the scene using foam tape.   A few sparkly silver enamel dot "stars" completed the design.
 
To play along, just create a card based on the sketch and link it up on the SSSC blog.  Be sure to stop by the blog to check out what the SSSC team has created using the sketch.  And, don't forget to check in on Wednesday to see one of our favorite cards made with the sketch!

Materials Used:
Bats and Broomsticks stamp set, Bats and Broomsticks and Stitched Circle dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst, and Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); silver enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

Sending Sunshine

I used this week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches to put together this cheery design using dies (and a single stamp!) from WPlus9.  It's kind of bright, but I don't think it's too bright!

I started out by using the Sunshine Layers dies to cut the word "sunshine" several times from yellow cardstock.  After layering the die cut words, I adhered the stack to a light blue panel with a narrow orange strip along the bottom.  Once the word was in place, I did my only stamping on the card--placing the word "sending" from the Love Showers set just above the layered die cut word in neon orange ink. I forget that I have these fabulous neon inks from Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts in my stash--I need to use them more often!  I filled in the panel with a die cut sun and a pair of shimmery white clouds.  The stitched detailing on these dies really helps them to stand out.

After matting the panel with yellow cardstock, I adhered it to a white cardstock panel over a piece of multicolored plaid cardstock.  The finished panel was adhered to a coordinating yellow card base.

Materials Used:
Love Showers stamp set, Sunshine Layers dies (WPlus9); Radiant Neon Electric Orange (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Yoyo Yellow, Soft Sky, and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Summer Sunrise cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Springtime 6x6 paper pad (Doodlebug Design); foam tape

You + Me

Here's my card for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  I stretched the layout to make it into a standard A2 sized card, but kept the large circle as a focal point of the design.

The negative space inside the circle was filled in with a cream panel stamped with the Wood Plank Background stamp in kraft pigment ink.  To frame the circle, I layered a piece of dark brown cardstock with a slightly smaller round opening beneath the kraft panel that I used to top the card base. For dimension, the kraft panel was adhered to the card base using a lot of foam tape.

I stamped the "you + me always" sentiment from the Wood You Be Mine? set on a contrasting red pierced heart die cut, then used foam tape to adhere it to the card.  A slant edged chocolate cardstock strip, anchored with a single silver brad and adhered to the circle on the opposite side from the sentiment, balanced the design. 

Materials Used:
Wood You Be Mine? and Wood Plank Background stamps, Die-Namics Pierced Heart Stax dies (My Favorite Things); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Toffee Crunch inks (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Chocolate Chip and Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); circle dies (Spellbinders); silver brad (Michaels); foam tape

Hello Honey

This week's Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is a Picture Perfect challenge. I was inspired by the hexagon and triangular shapes in the photo.  Those shapes led me to the idea of honeycomb, which resulted in this bee themed design.

I started off by using a stencil and some light modeling paste to make a triangular pattern on a white cardstock panel.  After the modeling paste dried, I used an ink blending tool to apply two shades of yellow distress inks over the raised images.  I stamped the bee image from the Giddy Bugs set on white cardstock and colored it with Copic markers, then carefully cut it out.  It was adhered to the panel using foam tape for dimension.  The "hello honey" sentiment from the Bee Mine set fit perfectly in the space between the stenciled triangles, just next to the bee image.  The panel was adhered to a coordinating yellow card base.  I thought about adding some sequins or enamel dots, but in the end, left the design super simple. 

Materials Used:
Giddy Bugs and Bee Mine stamp sets (Paper Smooches); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Mustard Seed and Squeezed Lemonade distress inks (Ranger); markers (Copic); Daffodil cardstock (My Favorite Things); light modeling paste (Liquitex); triangle stencil (Heidi Swapp); foam tape

SPDSS30-You're the Tricera-tops

There's a new sketch challenge this week at SugarPea Designs!  I just love the Prehistoric Pals set and coordinating SugarCuts Prehistoric Pals dies from this month's release, so I pulled them out again for my card using the sketch.

I built a little scene featuring the set's triceratops image on a blue panel cut with the new SugarCuts Woodgrain Journal Card.  The texture from this die is great!  I added a strip of green grass along the bottom and a round yellow sun at the top, then topped the piece with the colored triceratops image.

The finished scene was layered on a card base covered with a piece of patterned paper with an animal skin-like print.  The diagonal strip across the card front matches the neutral card base.  I stamped the set's "you're the tricera-tops" sentiment on a yellow hand-cut fishtail flag strip and layered the strip on top of the cardfront.

Want to play along?   The rules are very simple…

• Create a new card or project using the SugarSketch provided. SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated :) 
• You may rotate/flip the sketch & replace shapes – so long as the original sketch layout is recognizable. 
• Upload to your blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: SPDSS30 so that we may check out your beautiful work. 
• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz shown HERE. One randomly selected winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs Online Shoppe. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $15

Materials Used:
Prehistoric Pals stamp set, SugarCuts Prehistoric Pals and Woodgrain Journal Card dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Old Olive, and So Saffron cardstock (Stampin'  Up!); A Boy's Life 6x6 paper pad (Echo Park); Grass punch (Fiskars); foam tape