Hello, Baby

I'm up on the SugarPea Designs blog today, sharing a bit of sweet SPD inspiration for you.  I put together a pretty in pink (and gray) baby card based on the current sketch at The Paper Players.

This layout is a great one for using up scraps--and I have a lot of those!  To make it easier, my patterned paper scraps all came from the same paper pad.  I went with a simple pink stripe and a small scale heart pattern and balanced them out with a solid pink strip.  The scraps were arranged on a pale gray panel, then adhered to the pink cardstock. 

I used yet another scrap for the chevron onesie.  The image from the Welcome Baby set was stamped on the scrap, then die cut with the matching die from the SugarCuts Welcome Baby Accents dies.  I used foam tape to adhere it to the card.  The "hello, baby" sentiment from the Bundle of Joy set was stamped on a pale gray banner die cut with one of the SugarCuts Stitched Flags dies.  A few white sequins scattered around the cardfront completed the design.

Be sure to check out the creations that some of my other SPD teammates are sharing today on their blogs:

Brianna Loeffelbein
Jenny Peterson

Materials Used:
Welcome Baby and Bundle of Joy stamp sets, SugarCuts Stitched Flags and Welcome Baby Accents dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Sweet Blush cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Grout Gray and Bubblegum cardstock (My Favorite Things); Special Delivery paper pad (Pebbles); foam tape

Color Throwdown 386-Celebrate Your Day

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

I paired the colors with the current sketch at CAS(e) this Sketch.  I stamped the pretty script "celebrate" sentiment from Avery Elle's Sentimental set near the top of a white panel in lime green ink, then added the smaller "your day" just beneath it.  Once the sentiment was stamped, I placed the wide teal cardstock strip beneath it.   A lime stitched star die cut, rescued from my scrap pile, was adhered to the left side of the teal strip.  I used foam tape to give it a bit of a pop.  A trio of silver sequins were scattered around the panel to go with the festive theme.  The finished panel was adhered to a matching lime 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 CTD386. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd386 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 March guestie Leslie Miller, and this week's Guest Star Stamper, Jen.

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

** Lisa ** Lynn ** Vickie ** Wanda **

** March guestie Leslie Miller **
** Guest Star Stamper Jen **

Materials Used:
Sentimental stamp set (Avery Elle); Vivid Wild Lime ink (Clearsnap); Tropical Teal and Limeade Ice cardstock (Papertrey Ink); stitched star die (Lil' Inker Designs); silver sequins

Have an Awesome Birthday

Here's my card for March's second Viva la Verve sketch.  I put together a masculine birthday card using Verve's new Simply Amazing stamp set and coordinating Amazing Adjectives dies.  These are quickly becoming favorites of mine!

I stamped the "have an" and "birthday" sentiments in brown ink on a light blue panel, then filled in the space between them with the die cut "awesome."  To add dimension, I cut the word three times from brown cardstock and layered the die cut pieces.  The sentiment panel was adhered to a green cardstock panel with a strip of plaid paper along the bottom.  I accented the words with a trio of shiny silver stars. The finished panel was adhered to a bright blue card base.

Materials Used:
Simply Amazing stamp set, Amazing Adjectives dies (Verve Stamps); Memento Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Lakehouse cardstock (WPlus9); Simply Chartreuse cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Chocolate Chip and Pacific Point cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); Ecology-Go Green designer paper (Luxe Designs); circle die (Spellbinders); stitched star dies (Lil' Inker Designs); foam tape

The Challenge 66-You're a Lifesaver

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

The Challenge is back with a new challenge!  Next up in our rotation is a masculine photo inspiration challenge.  I took my inspiration from the photo's nautical theme and elements and from the current sketch at Match the Sketch.

I knew I had some striped paper in my stash that looked like the pattern on the couch in the photo.  It took a couple minutes to locate it, but once I did, I cut a panel of the paper to serve as the backdrop for my card.  I adhered a coordinating strip of blue cardstock across it, then added the sentiment panel on top. The thank sentiment, from the Paper Smooches Wicked Nauticool stamp set, was stamped in blue ink on a cream panel.  I matted the panel with red to set it off from the rest of the card.

I stamped the set's sailboat image on a matching die cut, then colored the image with Copic markers.  It was adhered to the edge of the sentiment panel using foam tape.  I accented it with a wood veneer anchor to finish the design.

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
Broni Holcombe
Claire Broadwater
Diane Jaquay
Jinny Newlin

Kim Heggins
Laurel Seabrook

Lori Tecler--you're here!

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth
Rachel Bergfeld
Anita in France, March featured designer

Materials Used:
Wicked Nauticool stamp set, Nauticool dies (Paper Smooches); Memento Bahama Blue and Tuxedo Black inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Real Red and Pacific Point cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Sasparilla-Rustler designer paper (October Afternoon); wood veneer anchor (Studio Calico); foam tape

Mojo Monday 441-Somebunny Loves You

Happy Monday!  It's time for a new Mojo Monday sketch.  Since it's the last Monday of the month, we're switching things up a bit and making square cards.  Mine features Verve's new Hip Hop Bunnies stamp set and coordinating Bunny Hop dies.

I stamped the bunny on white cardstock and colored it with Copic markers, then cut it out with the matching die.  I built a background for the bunny on a white card base covered with two coordinating patterned paper panels from a spring themed paper pad--a busy floral pattern and a simpler green dotted one.  The cardfront was topped with a pale aqua cardstock panel.  I added the bunny on top, using foam tape for dimension.  The "somebunny loves you" sentiment was stamped on a pink cardstock strip and set just beneath the bunny.  A pair of hearts, die cut with Verve's Heart Quartet die, were set next to the bunny image to match the sweet sentiment.

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:
Hip Hop Bunnies stamp set, Bunny Hop and Heart Quartet dies (Verve Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Sweet Blush and Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Garden Party 6x6 paper pad (Pebbles); foam tape

My Fabulous Friend

Tracey's beautiful floral card for this week's Muse Challenge inspired me to do a little watercoloring of my own! When I try to do subtle watercoloring, it never quite works out for me, so my take on Tracey's card features a much bolder bloom.

The flower image is from Papertrey Ink's Friends 'Til the End stamp set.  I heat embossed it in white on a piece of watercolor paper, then used Clean Color markers and an aqua painter to fill in the image.  The "my fabulous friend" sentiment was stamped above the image in black ink, then heat embossed to give it the same shiny finish as the flower's outline.  I accented the painted flower with a trio of iridescent sequins.  After matting the panel on coordinating berry cardstock, I adhered it to a pale blue card base.

Materials Used:
Friends 'Til the End stamp set, Berry Sorbet cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Memento Luxe Wedding Dress and Tuxedo Black inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Clean Color markers (Zig); Lakehouse cardstock (WPlus9); white and black embossing powders (Michaels); iridescent sequins (Darice)

You Make My Heart Melt

Here's my card for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge. I thought about using a bunny for a spring theme, but ended up going in a completely different direction with a penguin front and center!

I built my card around the pretty rainbow plaid paper.  After adhering the large panel to a blue card base, I added a green pierced rectangle die cut on top, then the pair of coordinating fishtail flag strips.  I die cut the popsicle holding penguin from white cardstock, then stamped the matching image from the Penguins in Paradise set on the die cut.  It's colored with Copic markers.  I added a bit of Stickles to the top of the popsicle to give it an icy look.  I used foam tape to adhere the penguin to a white panel.  The "you make my heart melt" sentiment was stamped just beneath the penguin in black ink.  I adhered the panel to the cardfront to finish the design.

Materials Used:
Penguins in Paradise stamp sets, Die-namics Penguins in Paradise, Pierced Rectangle Stax and Fishtail Flag Stax dies (My Favorite Things); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Lakehouse cardstock (WPlus9); Tropical Teal, Simply Chartreuse, and Lemon Tart cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Hello Spring-Pretty in Plaid designer paper (Little Yellow Bicycle); Diamond Stickles (Ranger); foam tape

Magical Birthday Wishes

I tried, but I couldn't resist the adorable unicorn themed stamp set Reverse Confetti released earlier this month!  I inked it up for this monochromatic girly birthday card using March's Sketch for You to Try.

I colored the unicorn with Copic markers, using super pale shades of pink and gray.  The tail and mane were filled in with some Sparkly Fluff from the now-closed Our Craft Lounge.  It's perfect for a unicorn!  The image was adhered to a rounded rectangle die cut with foam tape.  I stamped the "magical birthday wishes sentiment just beneath it in black ink.

I used a mix of light pink and bright pink cardstock along with some scraps of two different pink patterned papers for the panels on the cardfront.  I matted the large pink panel on shiny silver paper and adhered it to a bright pink card base.  A trio of silver glitter enamel dots were arranged beneath the image panel as a final fun accent.

Materials Used:
Unicorn Wishes stamp set, Unicorn Wishes and Class Act dies (Reverse Confetti); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); I'm a Princess Pink cardstock (Clear and Simple Stamps); Raspberry Fizz cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Pink Tonal dots designer paper (Michaels); Sunny Side 6x6 paper pad (Pebbles); silver glitter enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); hot pink Sparkly Fluff (Our Craft Lounge); foam tape

Egg-a-licious Easter

It's almost Easter (how did that happen??), so I thought I'd ink up the SugarPea Designs Egg-a-licious stamp set to put together a card for the holiday.  My inspiration came from the current challenge at The Card Concept.  Those luscious pink dyed eggs in the inspiration photo are so eye-catching!

My original plan was to create a design with eggs in a similar vivid pink shade. I ended up with something on the softer side--much softer, actually!  The egg trio was stamped in a pale pink pigment ink.  Each image was cut with the matching SugarCuts Egg-a-licious die.  I arranged the eggs over a doily set at the left edge of a striped patterned paper panel.  I pulled out my long-neglected sewing machine and used it to stitch around the edges of the panel before adhering it on an angle to a kraft cardstock panel.  The set's "Happy Easter" sentiment was stamped in kraft pigment ink on a pale pink SugarCuts Stitched Flags die cut.  I tucked it underneath one of the eggs, then added a pretty seam binding bow to top them off.  The finished panel was adhered to a cream card base.

Be sure to check out the creations that some of my other SPD teammates are sharing today on their blogs:

Brianna Loeffelbein
Jenny Peterson

Materials Used:
Egg-a-licious stamp set, SugarCuts Stitched Flags and Egg-a-licious dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Luxe Toffee Crunch ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Pixie ink (Avery Elle); Insulation Pink cardstock (My Favorite Things); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); designer paper (My Mind's Eye); seam binding; white paper doily; sewing machine; foam tape

Color Throwdown 385-Happy Birthday

It's time for another Color Throwdown!  Jodi is our hostess and she's shared a monochromatic color scheme with a pop of sparkle--teal, aqua, and gold.

I was inspired by the shapes in the mug's pattern and by the current sketch at CAS(e) this Sketch.  I started out with an aqua panel, then stamped a trio of streamer images from Papertrey Ink's Birthday Style stamp set along the bottom of the panel in teal and gold pigment inks.  Now that I look at the card again, I probably should have heat embossed the images for texture and pop . . .  I stamped the "happy birthday" sentiment from the Bountiful Banners set above the streamers in teal ink. For a final touch of sparkle, I added a trio of iridescent sequins in among the streamers.  The finished panel was matted on gold cardstock, then adhered to a teal 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 CTD385. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd385 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 March guestie Leslie Miller, and this week's Guest Star Stamper, Betty Keefe.

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

** Lisa ** Lynn ** Vickie ** Wanda **

** March guestie Leslie Miller **
** Guest Star Stamper Betty Keefe **

Materials Used:
Birthday Style and Bountiful Banners stamp sets, Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Memento Luxe Teal Zeal and Delicata Golden Glitz inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Taken with Teal cardstock (Stampin' Up!); gold paper (Target); iridescent sequins

Happier Than a Bird with a French Fry

It's been a while since I inked up my WPlus9 Happy Birds set, so when I saw all of the circles on the layout from the current Sunday Stamps challenge, it was the perfect opportunity to break out this fun set.

I colored up one of the set's birds using Copic markers, then cut out the image with the matching die.  I used foam tape to adhere the bird to a pale blue cardstock background.  One of the set's sentiments was stamped beneath the bird in navy blue pigment ink.  I replaced the rest of the layout's circles with clouds cut from shimmery white cardstock.  Two of the clouds were accented with white sequins.  The finished panel was adhered to a navy blue card base.

Materials Used:
Happy Birds stamp set, Happy Birds dies (WPlus9); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Gray Flannel and Nautical Blue inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Spring Rain cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Night of Navy and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); white sequins; foam tape

The Challenge 65-I Love You

***  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 with a new challenge!  Next up in our rotation is a photo inspiration challenge.  I took my inspiration from the photo's vibrant flowers and the gold accents.

My flowers are just a bit less vibrant as the ones in the photo, but I think they're just as pretty!  I heat embossed the two flower outline images (and leaves) from the Paper Smooches Lovely Thoughts set in gold on watercolor paper, then watercolored them with Clean Color markers and an aquapainter.  After cutting the colored images out, I arranged them on a pale pink cardstock panel over half of a white paper doily.  I placed a gold paper strip on the panel, tucking one end underneath the flower pair.  The " I love you" sentiment from the Word Salad set was stamped on the opposite end of the strip in gold ink, then heat embossed in gold. The finished panel was adhered to a cream 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
Broni Holcombe
Claire Broadwater
Diane Jaquay
Jinny Newlin

Kim Heggins
Laurel Seabrook

Lori Tecler--you're here!

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth
Rachel Bergfeld
Anita in France, March featured designer

Materials Used:
Lovely Thoughts and Word Salad stamp sets (Paper Smooches); Delicata Golden Glitz ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Clean Color markers (Zig); Sweet Blush cardstock (Papertrey Ink); watercolor paper (Ranger); gold paper (Target); gold embossing powder (American Crafts); white paper doily; foam tape

Mojo Monday 440-I Think You're Pretty Awesome

Happy Monday!  It's time for a new Mojo Monday sketch.  I used some new goodies from Verve's latest release for my card.

I made my own patterned paper using one of the flower images from the Simply Amazing set.  It was stamped in orange ink on a yellow cardstock panel.  After matting the panels on orange cardstock, I layered the panels on to a kraft card base covered with some (very) old patterned paper from my stash.  I'm really trying to work my way through some of what I've collected . . .

I made a sentiment from the Simply Amazing set and one of the words from the Amazing Adjectives die set the focal image for my card.  The "I think you're pretty" was stamped in orange-y ink on a cream panel, then the layered die cut "awesome" was placed below it.  I matted the circle on a kraft panel, then added it to the 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:
Simply Amazing stamp set, Amazing Adjectives dies (Verve Stamps); Memento Tangelo ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart, and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Oh Baby! Girl-Gracie designer paper (Basic Grey); circle dies (Spellbinders); foam tape

Hooray It's Your Birthday

Here's my card for this week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I flipped the sketch upside down to make a sweet moonscape using the Mama Elephant Space Bears stamp set.

I started out by watercoloring the background panel with shades of blue, purple, and pink.  While it dried, I stamped one of the set's bear images and colored it with Copic markers.  After cutting it out with the matching die, I coated the bear's  helmet with Glossy Accents to get a glass like look (and repeated this step a second time after accidentally poking the almost set and dry image with something and messing up the nice, smooth surface . . .).  The moon was made from a shimmery white circle with a debossed polka dot pattern.

Once all of the pieces were dry, I adhered the moon to the bottom right corner of the watercolored panel.  The bear was added on top using foam tape.  I stamped a few stars in the sky in silver ink. They were embossed in silver, as was the sentiment.  I edged the panel with a strip of dark purple cardstock on one side, then added it to a blue card base.

Materials Used:
Space Bears stamp set, Space Bears dies (Mama Elephant); Memento Tuxedo Black and Delicata Silvery Shimmer inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); watercolors (Michaels); markers (Copic); Brocade Blue, Elegant Eggplant, and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); circle die (Spellbinders); Polka Dot embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts); Silver embossing powder (American Crafts); Glossy Accents (Ranger); foam tape

You're Out of This World

Here's my card for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  When I saw the layout's large round panel, my mind immediately went to making it a sun or a moon.  I finally settled on making it a moon and using the Out of This World stamp set for my card.

The moon is a yellow die cut circle with a debossed polka dotted pattern.  I adhered the circle to a blue cardstock panel over strips of space-like star patterned paper and shimmery silver paper.  I stamped one of the set's space ship images on white cardstock and colored it with Copic markers, then carefully cut it out.  It was adhered to the moon with foam tape.  It's hard to see in the photo, but to give the windows a glassy look, I coated them with Glossy Accents. 

The set's "you're out of this world" sentiment was stamped beneath the image panel in silver ink, then heat embossed in silver for a nice pop against the blue background.  A few silver sequin "stars" add to the design's space theme.  I adhered the finished panel to a bold red card base to tie all of the card's colors together.

Materials Used:
Out of This World stamp set (My Favorite Things); Memento Tuxedo Black and Delicata Silvery Shimmer inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Not Quite Navy, Crushed Curry, and Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver cardstock (Michaels); Beachside 6x6 paper pad (Lawn Fawn); circle die (Spellbinders); Polka Dots embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts); foam tape

Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

I'm joining in on today's Spring Coffee Lover's Blog Hop.  My card features some of my favorite coffee-themed stamps and dies from one of the hop sponsors, SugarPea Designs.

The layout for my card comes from last week's SPD Sugar Sketch.  It was a great layout for using up some of my larger scraps of older patterned papers!  I paired the spring-like floral and leafy patterns with a coordinating green cardstock panel. 

The patterned paper panels are topped with a coffee cup made with the SugarCuts To Go Cup die. I dressed up the cup's sleeve with some floral images from the Funky Wreath-Spring Addition stamp set.  The set's "hello friend" sentiment was stamped in bright pink pigment ink on a pale green SugarCuts Stitched Flags die cut and added to the panel next to the cup.  I accented the cup with a few sparkly lime green sequins and a creamy pearl sequin flourish for steam.  Perfect for spring!

Be sure to check out all of the amazing creations linked up on the hop!

Materials Used:
Funky Wreath-Spring Addition stamp set, SugarCuts To Go Cup and Stitched Flags dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Luxe Angel Pink, Rosebud, and Pear Tart inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Abbey Road-Whirly Bird "Blossom" Floating Flowers and Quite Contrary-Jack and Jill "How Sweet It Is" Yummy Stripe designer papers (My Mind's Eye); LeCreme Finesse Swirls (Want2Scrap); lime sequins (Treehouse Studio); foam tape

Just a Note

My card stash was lacking some all-purpose designs, so I put together this simple design featuring stamps and dies from SugarPea Designs.  The layout is based on the current sketch at Retro Sketches. 

I stamped the paper airplane image from the Special Delivery set on white cardstock, then cut it out with the matching die from the SugarCuts Special Delivery Accents set.  After shading it a bit with Copic markers, I used foam tape to adhere the plane to a light blue cardstock panel. 

The "just a note" sentiment from the Noted set was stamped next to the plane in navy blue pigment ink.  I filled in the panel with a crystal flight trail for the plane. The panel was adhered to a white card base on an angle.  It's anchored with strips of red grid patterned washi tape placed at the top and bottom of the panel.  I scattered a bunch of different sized silver sequins above and below the plane to finish the design.

Materials Used:
Special Delivery and Noted stamp sets, SugarCuts Special Delivery Accents dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Nautical Blue inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); marker (Copic); Bashful Blue cardstock (Stampin' Up!); crystal flourish (Prima); silver sequins (Michaels); red grid washi tape (Love My Tapes); foam tape

Color Throwdown 384-Floral Thank You

It's time for another Color Throwdown!  Barbara is our hostess this week and sharing a fun color combination--lavender, red, and green.  Isn't the purple bicycle in the photo fabulous?

I went floral for my card for the second week in a row.  This time, instead of using die cuts, I used stamped florals in a similar modern style. The stamps are from Right at Home's Abstract Floral set--so fun to mix and match.  I started with a solid lavender base, then added the scribble layer in red pigment ink and the center in green pigment ink.  The little dots were added with more red ink after the solid green image set.  I cut out the flowers and leaves with my scissors, then arranged them on a white panel over a lavender-ish cardstock strip.  The "thank you" sentiment from the Script Greetings set, also from Right at Home, was stamped on the panel's open space in lavender ink.  I matted the panel on red cardstock, then adhered it to a lavender card base on an angle.

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 CTD384. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd384 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 March guestie Leslie Miller, and this week's Guest Star Stamper, Lee Ann Barrett.

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

** Lisa ** Lynn ** Vickie ** Wanda **

** March guestie Leslie Miller **
** Guest Star Stamper Lee Ann Barrett  **

Materials Used:
Abstract Florals and Script Greetings stamp sets (Right at Home); Memento Lulu Lavender and Memento Luxe Love Letter inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Celery ink (Avery Elle); Winter Wisteria cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); foam tape

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge-Rainbow

It's time for a new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!

We hope you'll play along!  The LEAD of this challenge will be invited as a Guest Designer in a future challenge!  Please visit the Curtain Call Challenge blog for all the challenge info and deadline.

The rainbow on my card is made from narrow cardstock strips arranged on an easel die cut from Paper Smooches.  I arranged the easel on a white panel over a mess of shimmery silver thread.  To ground the easel, I adhered a strip of kraft cardstock, inked with a bit of brown distress ink, along the bottom of the panel.  The "you add color to my life" sentiment from the I Heart Art stamp set was stamped on a gray Flag Tag die cut in silver ink and heat embossed in silver for extra shine.  The sentiment was added to the top of the panel. I accented it with a silver glitter enamel dot, then added two more near the bottom of the easel.  The finished panel was adhered to a pale blue card base.

Make sure you visit each of the designers' blogs for more inspiration:

Rainbow Designers

Betty Wright
Kim Singdahlsen
Laurie Willison
Leigh Penner
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler
Lynn Mangan
Marisa Ritzen
Maureen Plut
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Silke Ledlow
Sheri Gilson
Stacey Schafer
Tara Godfrey

Follow us:

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge Facebook Page

Curtain Call Pinterest Boards

Stop by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Rainbow for the challenge details and to play along with us!

Materials Used:
I Heart Art stamp set, Easel and Flag Tags dies (Paper Smooches); Delicata Silvery Shimmer ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Tea Dye distress ink (Ranger); Real Red, Only Orange, Yoyo Yellow, Green Galore, Pacific Point, and Lovely Lilac cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Smokey Shadow and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); silver embossing powder (American Crafts); silver thread (Michaels); foam tape

The Challenge 64-Whale Done

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

The Challenge is back with a new challenge!  Next up in our rotation is a color challenge.  This week we're featuring the combination of navy, lime, blue, and gray.

I used the colors along with Avery Elle's Whale Hello set to make a simple scene.  One of the set's whales is my focal image. I colored it with Copic markers, then cut it out with the matching die.  The image was adhered to a blue dot embossed card front over a pair of navy blue die cut waves.  The edges of the waves were rubbed with white pigment ink to highlight the edges.  I filled in the empty space on the cardfront with a pair of die cut clouds, then added the "whale done" sentiment on a narrow lime green strip set across the clouds.

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

Anita Madden
Broni Holcombe
Claire Broadwater
Diane Jaquay
Jinny Newlin

Kim Heggins
Laurel Seabrook

Lori Tecler--you're here!

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth
Rachel Bergfeld
Anita in France, March featured designer

Materials Used:
Whale Hello stamp set, Whale Hello dies (Avery Elle); Memento Tuxedo Black and Nautical Blue and Memento Luxe Wedding Dress inks (Tsukineko/Avery Elle); markers (Copic); Baja Breeze and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Simply Chartreuse and Enchanted Evening cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Spotted embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts); CutUps Stitched Cloud dies (The Cat's Pajamas); Die-namics Scenic Safari dies (My Favorite Things); foam tape

Mojo Monday 439-Love You?

Happy Monday!  It's time for a new Mojo Monday sketch.  I used this week's sketch to put together a fun love themed design using stamps and dies from Lil' Inker Designs.

I used an earthy color scheme along with the giraffe image from the Lovie Friends stamp set.  The giraffe was colored with Copic markers, then cut with the matching die.  I used foam tape to adhere the giraffe and a die cut golden yellow heart to a white stitched circle panel. 

The image panel was adhered to a green cardstock panel right about at the point where the green dotted paper and kraft cardstock panel that I layered on to it meet.  The punny love sentiment was stamped to the right of the image panel in black ink.  Hope it doesn't offend anyone!

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:
Lovie Friends stamp set, Lovie Friends, Stitched Circles, and From the Heart dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Spring Moss, Harvest Gold, and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Lush Green Houndstooth designer paper (My Mind's Eye); foam tape

You Are Freaking Amazing

Here's my card for the current My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  It's kind of a loose interpretation of the sketch, but I think it still works!

I used the Doubly Amazing dies and the coordinating Amazing stamp sets for my design.  I cut the lowercase "amazing" several times from a sheet of berry cardstock, then layered the words together for dimension.  The layered piece was adhered to a piece of green striped cardstock with a confetti-like pattern on one side.  I stamped the rest of the sentiment above the die cut word in my favorite ink for sentiments, Versafine Onyx Black.  After edging the panel with narrow strips of berry cardstock, I adhered it to a coordinating mint green card base.  A few clear sequins scattered around pick up the confetti dot pattern and carry it through the rest of the card.

Materials Used:
Amazing stamp set, Spearmint cardstock, Die-namics Doubly Amazing die (My Favorite Things); Versafine Onyx Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Berry Sorbet cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Twirly Girly 6x6 paper pad (Chickaniddy Crafts); Sparkling Clear sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

I Would Be Lost Without You

Here's my card for this week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  My card features freshly washed laundry--from Lawn Fawn's new Loads of Fun stamp set!

I stamped the laundry basket and single sock images on white cardstock and colored them with Copic markers, then used the matching dies to cut out the colored images.  They're adhered to a light blue cardstock panel using foam tape for dimension.  I stamped the "I would be lost without you" sentiment over the images, splitting the text into two lines to fit the panel.  I edged the panel with a strip of red striped patterned paper edged with a narrow darker blue strip to coordinate with the laundry pile.  The finished panel was adhered to a white card base.

Materials Used:
Loads of Fun stamp set, Loads of Fun dies (Lawn Fawn); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Spring Rain cardstock, Pure Poppy patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Ballet Blue cardstock (Stampin' Up!); foam tape

Love You

It's been a while since I played along in the Muse challenge, but Michele's pretty card for this week's challenge caught my eye and I couldn't resist trying my own take on her die cut technique.

On my version, I placed a layered die cut word at the intersection between a pattern and a solid.  My pattern comes from a patterned paper panel.  I die cut Winnie and Walter's "love" die from hot pink cardstock a few times and placed it on the cardfront, nesting it in the space where I'd cut the word from the top of the patterned paper panel.  For the final layer, I added the patterned paper on top, giving the bottom half of the layered word a 3-d like look.  Now that I look at it again, I should have removed the piece from the open space in the "e."  Oh, well . . .

I tried to stop there, but I couldn't!  I stamped the word "you" from the My Precious stamp set beneath the layered die cuts in black ink, then added a trio of sparkly pink sequins around it.  The final touch was a simple die cut kraft stitched heart.  It was adhered to the bottom half of the "l" using foam tape.

Materials Used:
My Precious stamp set, In a Word:  Love die (Winnie and Walter); VersaFine Onyx Black (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Raspberry Fizz and Kraft cardstock, Dotty Biscotti patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Of the Heart die (Lil' Inker Designs); pink sequins (Treehouse Studio); foam tape