Big Bold Birthday Wish

***Scroll down to check out my i {heart} papers DT bling challenge card!***

I almost forgot about my good friend from high school’s birthday! I made this quick card to drop in the mail—hopefully it will get there in time. Unfortunately, I have a feeling it will be arriving a day or two late . . .

I used a retiring SU! set, Big Bold Birthday, for my main image. I stamped the top of the cupcake in craft ink and embossed the image with Iridescent Ice before cutting it out and attaching it to the cupcake base with a dimensional.

I used my Big Shot Texture Plates for the first time on this card. I used the dotted plate to add a subtle texture to the Close to Cocoa panel underneath the cupcake. Very easy!

Since I knew this card was going in the mail, I kept it pretty simple and flat. I added a sentiment strip, embellished with a single brad, to the left of the cupcake image, and a paper pierced strip with a contrasting scalloped border to the Close to Cocoa panel.

Materials Used (all from Stampin’ Up!):
Big Bold Birthday stamp set, Close to Cocoa Classic ink, Pretty in Pink Craft ink, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, and Whisper White cardstock, mat pack and paper piercing tool, dotted texure plate, scallop edge punch, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, silver brad, dimensional

i {heart} bling

The i {heart} papers Design Team is showing off projects with bling today. There are a lot of choices for bling in the IHP store, including Stickles, Shimmerz, Spica pens, gemstones, plus the ones I went with here—Zva rhinestones and sparkly papers.

I made a bling-embellished monogrammed card using some new-to-me goodies from Just Rite. I just got the 3 border set that fits the 1 5/8" wooden round stamper and includes the “from the desk of” border and the Brayton font set, so I had to try them out to make myself a monogrammed card.

I stamped the monogram using soft pink ink. I cut out the monogrammed piece with a circle die, then matted it on circles cut from shades of pink and melon to coordinate with the very sparkly, summery paper from SEI’s Mimosa line that covers most of the cardfront. I attached the panel to the card base using a dimensional.

For even more bling, I added a crystal swirl from Zva Creative. These are so easy to use and really add some “wow!” to your project. I can never get stuff lined up straight without moving and re-moving it, so I love how you peel these embellishments off of the backing paper and stick them on the paper—no need to adjust spacing or worry about dropping tiny stones on the floor (for Cosmo the crazy dog to eat, with my luck—LOL!). There are tons of different styles in the IHP store, so be sure to check them out, along with the other great sale items and brand new Basic Grey goodies.

And, be sure to check out what the rest of the DT has created using all sorts of bling. Here's where to find them:

Amber Kroening
Carolyn Mustopa
Cathleen Torina
Deb Felts
Dee Jackson
Kate Baldwin, owner
Loretta Lock
Lynn Mercurio
Meredith Socha
Tracy Schultz

Materials Used:
From i {heart} papers: Just Rite 1 5/8" wooden round stamper, From the Desk of/Library of/Kitchen of border set, Brayton font set; SEI Mimosa (Daiquiri) designer paper; Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies; Zva Creative small crystal flourish

Other: Sweet Blush and Melon Berry cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Classic Crest Solar White cardstock (Neenah); Pink Pirouette Classic ink, dimensional (Stampin’ Up!)

Happy Hour

***If you're here for Kitchen Sink Monday, scroll down to the next post.***

Here's my card for today's clean and simple challenge on SCS. The challenge was to make your project sparkle. I knew right away what I wanted to do. I made this in less than 10 minutes--a truly simple card.

What made it so simple is the fun crystal element I used as the focal image. i {heart} papers carries a great selection of these fun products (and I'll have more to show you tomorrow, so stop back). Here, I used the martini glass, layered on a pair of coordinating circles. The "happy hour" sentiment from the Martini Darling set from Clear & Simple Stamps is curved around the circular mats. I added a pale pink scalloped panel, embellished with a single large bold pink rhinestone brad to complete the card.

Materials Used:

Martini Darling stamp set (Clear & Simple Stamps); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, and Certainly Celery cardstock, scallop edge punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, dimensionals (Stampin' Up!); 1 1/2" circle punch (EK Success); rhinestone brad (Target); crystal martini glass embellishment (Zva Creative-from i {heart} papers)

Kitchen Sink Monday: Tropical Greetings

Last week, I shared with you that Kitchen Sink Stamps is retiring some old favorites to make room for new goodies. KSS will be releasing seven new sets next week, so be sure to stop by Maria's blog every day until the big release for some sneak peeks and a chance to win one of the new sets. Here's a card I made to tide you over while you're waiting for the new sets to be revealed.

Since summer has finally arrived here, I thought it was time to do a tropical card, KSS-style. I pulled out my 3 Step Aloha stamp set for this one. I stamped the dancing girl image with a combination of a bunch of different inks. The first layer was stamped in a neutral pigment ink (Dune from Color Box). For the rest of the layers, I used Blush Blossom (layers 2 and 3) and Creamy Caramel for the dancer's body and a trio of Memento inks for the grass skirt. The shape of the dew drop style ink pads made it easy to ink up just the skirt section of the image.

I used my Top Note die to cut out the image and a bold mat for underneath it. The sentiment is stamped alongside the dancer in Melon Mambo ink.

I covered the card base with some floral patterned paper and added a solid strip across the card with a bright pink ribbon. I embellished the image panel with a trio of jewel-centered flowers.

And, don't forget, you can always use the code LORI10KSS for a 10% discount on your KSS purchases.

For more Kitchen Sink inspiration, you can visit the rest of the Kitchen Sink Crew. Here’s where you can find them:
Angela Knopf
Connie McCotter
Dee Jackson
Julie Masse
Lisa Somerville
Lynn McAuley
Makiko Jones
Maria Colosimo, owner

Materials Used:
3 Step Aloha stamp set, Pear Tart, New Sprout, and Bamboo Leaves Memento inks (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Melon Mambo, Blush Blossom and Creamy Caramel Classic inks, Soft Sky and Melon Mambo cardstock, Top Note die (Stampin' Up!); Dune pigment ink (Color Box); New Leaf cardstock (Papertrey Ink); patterned paper (KI Memories); flowers (Petaloo)

Single Pink Rose

Here's my card for today's SCS featured stamper challenge. When I looked at Dawn's gallery, I noticed all of the beautiful floral cards. I decided to use images from Kitchen Sink Stamps to create my own version of one of her cards.

I used a soft pink card base, punched along the right side with the Morocco Lace border punch. I stamped the large rose image from the 3 Step Hearts & Roses sets in different shades of pink and red inks. To get a really soft look, I stamped off the last two inks (Regal Rose and Rose Red). I added a green stem and leaf, then a pretty pink grosgrain bow.

I stamped the "you're in my thoughts" sentiment in two lines in Rose Red ink, again stamped off once for subtle look. Even with all of the stamped layers, the entire card took less than 15 minutes to complete.

I'll be back tomorrow morning with another Kitchen Sink card.

Materials Used:

3 Step Hearts & Roses stamp set (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Kiwi Kiss, and Old Olive Classic inks, Pink Pirouette cardstock, Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Morocco Lace border punch (Fiskars)

Stamp TV Sketches

Here are a pair of cards for recent sketch challenges at StampTV. The first one is for last week's challenge. I’m enjoying trying out all of the images in Gina K's Eclectic Summer and matching Eclectic Sentiments set. On this one, I used the hot air balloon image and “you raise me up sentiment.”

I took Jessica’s extra challenge to pair three different designer papers on the card. I made it a little easier by choosing all of the papers from the same paper line—Carolyn Gavin’s Greenhouse line from K & Company. I colored the hot air balloon with Copic markers to coordinate with the colors in the paper, then carefully cut it out. I used a clear Stardust pen to add a little sparkle to it, too. It’s layered on a Soft Sky panel with clouds sponged on with matching Soft Sky ink.

I arranged the three different patterned paper panels on the cardfront. A matching pink ribbon is tied across the card base for another pop of color. I stamped the sentiment on a circle panel and added it to the cardfront using a dimensional.

Materials Used:
Eclectic Summer and Eclectic Sentiments stamp sets (Gina K Designs); Snow White Choice Cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Soft Sky Classic ink, Soft Sky and Baja Breeze cardstock, 1 ¼” and 1 3/8” circle punches, sponge, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); Hibiscus Burst Palette ink, Hibiscus Burst cardstock, Hibiscus Burst satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink); patterned paper (Carolyn Gavin Greenhouse line-K & Company); clear Stardust pen (Sakura); cloud template (Nicole)

Here's my card for this week's StampTV sketch. I used some of the new patterned paper I got at yesterday's scrapbook convention for color inspiration.

The paper is from Luxe's Sprinkles line. I used the circle patterned paper to cover most of the 4 1/4" square card base. I used a piece of the reverse side stripes for the smaller panel on the cardfront.

I stamped the small purse image from the Retro Boutique set twice, once on a white panel and once on a scrap. I colored the image on the scrap, cut it out and attached it to the panel. Since my image was small, I altered the original sketch to fit the smaller square card. I stamped the "purse-onally . . ." sentiment on a narrow aqua panel and embellished it with a pair of rhinestones before adding it to the card.

Materials Used:

stamp set (Gina K Designs); Classic Crest Solar White cardstock (Neenah); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Riding Hood Classic ink, Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss cardstock, dimensionals (Stampin' Up!); Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); patterned paper (Luxe); blue Tiny Twinkle (Taylored Expressions); red self-adhesive rhinestones (Studio 18)

Howdy

Here's my card for this week's sketch challenge at Paper Craft Planet. It uses images from a digital set from Pink Cat Studio that was released in honor of a special little boy who recently passed away after a brave battle with cancer. Profits from the purchase of this set will go to the Make a Wish Foundation.

In addition to the PCP sketch, I used Lauren's My Time to Color challenge for inspiration. The colors in the challenge (mustard, green, brown, terra cotta) were perfect for colors for a cowboy! The Cowboy Ethan image is colored with Copic markers (I added a few more to my collection earlier today at the Great American Scrapbook Convention). I sponged on some blue sky, then layered the image panel on a brown panel with pinked edges.

The trio of panels on the Kraft cardfront are strips of October Afternoon designer paper. I purchased a bunch of it at one of the booths today--love the colors and patterns! And, since it's double sided, it's easy to work with, too. I paired this with a strip of More Mustard paper with a grid pattern.

The "howdy" sentiment was printed out and then punched out with the word window punch. I added a wooden button, threaded with twine, to one end of the sentiment and a pair of screw brads as simple, boy-appropriate embellishments.

Materials Used:

Weiman Wranglers digital set (Pink Cat Studios); Classic Crest Solar White (Neenah); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); Bashful Blue Classic ink, Kraft and Chocolate Chip cardstock, More Mustard Patterns 2 designer series paper, word window punch, sponge, dimensional (Stampin' Up!); New Pencils patterned paper (October Afternoon-Weathervane line); circle and pinking circle dies (Nestabilities); wooden button, twine (Papertrey Ink); Gold Liquid Pearls (Ranger); screw brads (Michaels)

More Outdoors

Here’s another card I made by combining images from the DoodleFactory Great Outdoors set from Starving Artistamps.

This card uses cute little critter Pogue, set in the canoe image. I stamped Pogue first, created a mask with a sticky note, then stamped the canoe to make it appear that he’s sitting in the canoe. The image is colored with Copic markers. To give the background for the image a watery look, I covered half of the circle with a panel embossed with the Cuttlebug D’Vine Swirl embossing folder. The swirls kind of remind me of waves.

For the sentiment, I used my SU! My Way punch to make three arrows. I’ve had a hard time figuring out ways to use this punch, so I was excited to come up with this idea. I set the arrows going in different directions with the “Feeling a little lost?” sentiment on the largest one

Materials Used:
Great Outdoors stamp set and Outdoor Sentiment set (Starving Artistamps); Snow White Choice Cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pacific Point, Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, and Real Red cardstock, My Way punch, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); brown button (Papertrey Ink); D’Vine Swirl embossing folder (Cuttlebug); circle dies (Nestabilities); twine (Walmart)

And, here’s another Great Outdoors card featuring something I’d like to see get lost—mosquitoes! I have huge bug bite allergy issues, so I dread the appearance of these buggers. Even something as simple as standing my own backyard with Cosmo the crazy dog can be hazardous for me. I know I’ll pay for my outdoor time later.

Here, I stamped the mosquitoes in gray ink on a light blue panel. I highlighted their wings with some clear glitter pen for some sparkle and interest. The panel is layered on a red mat, then set on a soft gray card base.

I stamped the “caught a bug” sentiment in the same gray ink on a blue panel and layered it on a red strip. I added a single silver brad as a simple embellishment. I stamped the net image from the Great Outdoors set on a scrap of gray paper and trimmed around it, then attached it to the end of the sentiment panel to complete the card. Who would have thought that mosquitoes could be somewhat cute?

Despite the outdoor theme of my cards this morning, I won't be spending today in the great outdoors. Instead, I'll be at the Great American Scrapbooking Convention in northern Virginia instead. Since there aren't a lot of stamping and scrapbooking stores near me, I'm looking forward to the chance to check out the latest and greatest in person instead of on the internet!

Materials Used:
Great Outdoors stamp set and Outdoor Sentiment set (Starving Artistamps); London Fog ink (Memento); Baja Breeze and Riding Hood Red cardstock, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); Soft Stone cardstock (Papertrey Ink); clear Stardust pen (Sakura)

No Fair Friday

Here’s my card for this week’s Stamping Bella Bellarific Friday sketch challenge. It’s a small 4 ¼” square card, but I managed to squeeze a lot on to the small space.

I used the cute No Fair Girl image along with patterned paper from the Happy Bird-day Collection from 3 Bugs in a Rug. Come to think of it, I'm kinda wearing the same expression as No Fair Girl right now as I continue to wait for the completion of a service call that was scheduled to happen between 12-4 (it's 8:30 as I write this . . .). I really like the interchangeable sentiments that come with the image. No Fair Girl is colored with Copic markers to coordinate with the colors in the patterned papers and matted on a pink panel.

I arranged two coordinating pieces of patterned paper on the cardfront, then tied a matching piece of ribbon around the card. I layered the image over the card using dimensionals. The last part of the sentiment is stamped on a small oval panel and attached to the lower right corner of the card.

Materials Used:
Tiddly Inks No Fair Girl image and sentiment (Stamping Bella); Snow White Choice Cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette cardstock, Pink Pirouette striped grosgrain ribbon, oval punch (Stampin’ Up!)

Blogger Challenge: Week 105

This week's blogger challenge was to create an altered item. I dug through my stash of stuff (as I tried to clean up my creative chaos in preparation for today's visit from the DirecTV people to add a receiver in my stamp room) and found an inexpensive package of wooden hearts. I had picked them up at Michaels and thought that I could do something with them someday.

I decided to make the heart into a picture frame of sorts using some supplies from i {heart} papers. I traced it on to a piece of shimmery patterned paper and cut out the shape. I used my ATG to attach the paper to the heart cutout (no bubbling, no waiting for it to dry--needed to get back to cleaning!). I added a few simple embellishments to the front. The "xoxox" sentiment from the Inkadinkado Chelsea Sentiments set is stamped on the heart with berry ink. I embellished a pink twill bow with a button and attached that under the sentiment at an angle.

To make the stand for the photo frame, I used a hot glue gun to attach a clothespin to the back of the heart. This helps it to stand up straight and allows you to change pictures in and out easily. I put in a photo of Cosmo the crazy dog and my sister's dog, Bella, when she was a puppy. I really like how this turned out! And, it was a quick and easy project, too--it may even qualify as a Five Minute Friday project (give or take a minute or two . . .)

For more altered ideas, you can visit the rest of the challenge players. Links to their blogs are in the sidebar on the right.

Materials Used:

from i {heart} papers: GCD Studios Love Squares designer paper; May Arts pink twill; Inkadinkado Chelsea Sentiments stamp set

other: Berry Sorbet Palette ink, Sweet Blush button, twine (Papertrey Ink); wooden heart (Plaid); spring clothespin

Birthday Blog Skip, Hop & Dance

Welcome to the Birthday Blog Skip, Hop & Dance sponsored by Stamping Bella! If you've just happened upon my blog, you can CLICK HERE to start from the beginning at Bloggabella.

I think Stella would be a fabulous guest at any party, so I used the Birthday Cake with a Stella in it image for my birthday card. I colored the image with Copic markers and added some fun sparkly embellishments to Stella and the cake. I inked lightly around the edges of the oval panel in soft pink ink so it would be less bright against my colorful background.

This striped paper panel was lying on my desk leftover from another project and it fit perfectly with the festive look and feel I was after here. I tied a piece of pink grosgrain ribbon around it before layering my matted image on. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the “put your party hat on” sentiment on a circle punch (notice Stella’s candle “hat”?). I originally got this sentiment to go with another stamp, but when I was making this card I realized it would work perfectly with this image, too.

Thanks for hopping by today. Your next stop is Tink's blog, Tink Time. Enjoy!

Be sure to leave comments as you hop along. In addition to the fabulous eye candy, there’s a prize hidden somewhere along the hop! One pre-selected blogger will draw a random winner from the comments on her post, and the winner will receive a $40 Gift Voucher to Stamping Bella!!! The fun part is...we're not telling you who it is! So as you hop, make sure you leave comments so you have a chance to win!! The winner will be announced in the Stamping Bella SCS Forum on Monday.

Materials Used:
Birthday Cake with a Stella in it image and sentiment (Stamping Bella); Snow White Choice Cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette and Tempting Turquoise Classic ink, Tempting Turquoise and Regal Rose cardstock, mat pack and paper piercing tool, Flower Fusion Too felt flower ,5/8” Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, 1 ¾” circle punch, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); patterned paper (Imaginisce); oval and scalloped oval dies (Nestabilities); 1 ½” circle punch (EK Success); turquoise brad (Making Memories); Yellow Stickles, Petal Pink Liquid Pearls (Ranger); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); Pink Shimmerz

V (Five) from Verve

I’ve been hard at work completing the 5 sketch challenges from Verve’s upcoming release challenge. Here's a look at the results of my efforts.

Here’s card #1. I went for a masculine look on this one. The card started with a piece of designer paper from Cosmo Cricket that I used for the color inspiration. I used both patterns from the paper to make the panel that covers most of the cardfront. I used a wide piece of grosgrain ribbon to divide the two patterns.

I stamped two of the star images from Verve’s Polka Stars set in Riding Hood Red ink on kraft cardstock. I layered the panel on a piece of moss cardstock to coordinate with the color in the patterned paper. The sentiment panel, also stamped in red on kraft, overlaps the right edge of the large star panel. I combined images from the So Happy and Happy Thoughts sets to get this combo. The empty space under the words is filled with a trio of copper brads. I added a narrow brown ribbon loop, embellished with a wooden button, as the final embellishment.

Materials Used:
Polka Stars, So Happy, and Happy Thoughts stamp sets (Verve Stamps); Riding Hood Red Classic ink, Riding Hood Red, Mellow Moss, and Kraft cardstock, 5/8” and ¼” Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, 1 ¼” and 1 3/8” square punches, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket-Lil’ Man line); wooden button, twine (Papertrey Ink)

This is card #2. It’s actually the first one I made. I had a really clear idea in mind for this one, so it’s where I started. I placed one of the hot air balloon images from the Up, Up and Away set in a cloud patterned paper sky. The balloon is paper pieced from the same pattern that I used for the four square panels on the cardfront.

The sentiment comes from the Great Expectations set. It’s stamped in Pumpkin Pie ink and layered on a circle embellished with a tab made from coordinating seam binding tape.

Materials Used:
Up, Up and Away and Great Expectations stamp sets (Verve Stamps); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pumpkin Pie Classic ink, Pumpkin Pie and Bashful Blue cardstock, 1 3/8” circle punch, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); 1 ½” circle punch (EK Success); patterned paper (DCWV-Citrus Mat Stack, K & Company-Actopus to Zelephant Mat Pad); seam binding tape (Martha Stewart)

For card #3, I used the Sweet on You set. To match the “you color my world” sentiment that I chose for the focal image, I found some multicolored patterned paper for the wide band across the card. The sentiment is stamped in coordinating Rose Red ink on a soft gray panel and layered on a Baja Breeze scalloped oval. I added a button-embellished bow to the top of the sentiment panel.

To continue the dotted elements from the patterned paper, I used a dotted border embossing folder along the top and bottom edges of the card base. Unfortunately, the bumps made it hard to get the patterned paper to lie flat on my card when I went to attach it . . .

Materials Used:
Sweet on You stamp set (Verve Stamps); Rose Red Classic ink, Rose Red and Baja Breeze cardstock, Baja Breeze stitched grosgrain ribbon, mat pack and paper piercing tool, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); Soft Stone cardstock, Scarlet Jewel button, twine (Papertrey Ink); oval and scalloped oval dies (Nestabilities); patterned paper (We R Memory Keepers-Nonsense line); dotted border embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Card #4 features the Little Star Plain Jane stamp. The circle panel in the sketch was a perfect fit for this image.

To get the two different colors on the image, I inked the stamp with a pair of Memento Dew Drops. The size and shape of these inkpads made it easy to get the colors where I wanted them. I used a series of Nestabilities dies to cut out the image and create contrasting mats.

I used some star patterned paper in coordinating colors for the panel in the lower left corner of the cardfront. The light blue panel is embossed with the Lines & Circles embossing folder for texture and interest. I added a trio of yellow rhinestones as a sparkly embellishment to match the star sentiment.

Materials Used:
Little Star Plain Jane image (Verve Stamps); Dandelion and Summer Sky inks (Memento); Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, and Whisper White cardstock, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); Lemon Tart cardstock, Lemon Tart satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink); circle and petite scalloped circle dies (Nestabilities); patterned paper (K & Company-Itsy Bitsy); Lines & Circles embossing folder (Sizzix); yellow self-adhesive rhinestones (Studio 18)

And, finally, if you're still with me, here's card #5. I went floral on this one since none of my other cards used any floral images. The focal image is from the Floral Symphony set. I stamped the flowers in Rose Red ink, then used a blender pen and Pink Pirouette reinker to fill in the flowers. There's a tiny dot of Pink Petal Liquid Pearls at the center of each flower.

I used a panel of Cosmo Cricket patterned paper along the left side of the card and a scrap from the retired SU! Fall Flowers set along the bottom of the card. No ribbon here--that's unusual for me!

Materials Used:
Floral Symphony and Circular Sayings stamp sets (Verve Stamps); Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, and Pink Pirouette Classic inks, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, and Whisper White cardstock, blender pen, Fall Flowers designer paper, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches (Stampin' Up!); patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket-Girl Friday line)

Dotted Daisy

Here’s my card for today’s SCS sketch challenge. It features the very first stamp set from Kitchen Sink Stamps—the 3 Step Daisy set. This set was our introduction to the innovative multistep images that KSS has become known for and I’m so sad to see it on the list of sets that will soon retire.

The daisy image is stamped in shades of yellow ink, then cut out and attached to the white panel with a dimensional. I coated the image with a light layer of Butter Cream Shimmerz for some sparkle.

I kept the rest of the card simple to let the pretty daisy image shine. I used a pair of dotted paper panels underneath the image and added a coordinating dotted background panel using papers from the My Mind's Eye Grow Collection Kit. The "many thanks" sentiment from the Never a Loss 4 Words set is stamped directly on the cardfront.

Don’t forget that the annual KSS 6 Months Until Christmas sale begins tomorrow (Thursday) and runs through Saturday. It’s your last chance to get some of your favorites—and at a discount, too!

Materials Used:
3 Step Daisy and Never a Loss 4 Words stamp sets, pearl Dew Drops (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise, Ripe Avocado, and Dark Chocolate Palette inks, Summer Sunrise cardstock (Papertrey Ink); So Saffron, Certainly Celery, and Close to Cocoa Classic inks, Old Olive and Whisper White cardstock, dimensionals (Stampin' Up!); patterned paper (My Mind's Eye Grow Collection Kit); Butter Cream Shimmerz

Unity Addicts Challenge: Let's Hang Out

This week’s Unity Addicts challenge comes from Latisha. She challenged us to use red, white, and blue. Usually, red, white and blue leads to a patriotic kind of card, but I didn’t have any Unity stamps with those kinds of images, but I did have my new June kit of the month just waiting to be inked up, so I used an image from that.

I used the adorable clothesline image as the focal image on my card. I colored it with Copic markers and sponged in a sky and some grass. I stamped the little dress and tiny overalls a second time on a scrap of paper, colored them, and cut them out so I could attach them to the colored image panel with dimensionals.

I used the faux denim technique to add some interest to the blue panel covering the card base. It seemed like a good match for these colors. I added a bright red ribbon around the panel before adding the image panel on an angle. There was just enough room for the matching “let’s hang out” sentiment in the bottom right corner.

Materials Used:
June Kit of the Month (Unity Stamp Co.); Snow White Choice Cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, and Kiwi Kiss Classic inks, White Craft ink, Riding Hood Red and Brocade Blue cardstock, stipple brush, sponge, dimensionals (Stampin Up!); red ribbon (Martha Stewart)

ChocoBerry Cupcake

Here's my card for Dawn's latest Raspberry Suite color challenge. The colors here are Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet, Dark Chocolate, and Cream. Doesn't this combination of yummy sounding colors call for a card with an edible image?

I thought it did, so that's the inspiration behind this card. The layout of my card is based on Mary Jo's latest sketch challenge. She always has great sketches--and if you participate in this week's challenge, you can enter to win her blog candy prize, too. I used one of the cupcake images from the DoodleFactory Sweets 'N Hearts set from Starving Artistamps for my focal image. I paper pieced it using scraps of melon, berry, and chocolate cardstock, then layered the cupcake on a cream panel. I had to make the panel across the cardfront wider than it was in the sketch to accommodate my image.

I stamped the "Thanks, sweetie!" sentiment from the Simple Sweet Sayings set in berry ink on the melon panel and added a cream ribbon underneath it. The chocolate panel that covers most of the cardfront is embossed with a polka dot pattern.

Materials Used:

DoodleFactory Sweets 'N Hearts stamp set and Simple Sweet Sayings sentiment set (Starving Artistamps); Berry Sorbet Palette ink, Berry Sorbet, Melon Berry, and Dark Chocolate cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Very Vanilla cardstock, Dazzling Diamonds, dimensionals (Stampin' Up!); cream satin ribbon (Target); Polka Dot embossing folder (QuicKutz)

Woodgrain Thanks

Here’s my card for Kristina’s latest color inspiration challenge. This week’s colors are mustard, rust, gray, and cream. These colors have a fall look and feel to me—definitely a change from the bright, summery colors I’ve been leaning towards lately.

Since I first saw the new SU! Animal Stories set (one of the sneak peek sets available to demos prior to the release of the new catalog), I thought it would be fun to combine the owl image with the branch from Cheep Talk, so that’s exactly what I did here. The owl is stamped in More Mustard ink and sits on a Really Rust branch. The thanks sentiment is stamped in gray ink.

I used the Hero Arts woodgrain background stamp over the gray cardfront. I thought the woodgrain pattern was a nice match for the owl and branch image. Since I didn’t want to cover too much of the cool woodgrain pattern, I kept the rest of my layout simple. I added a panel of More Mustard designer paper behind the stamped image panel. A button-embellished bow fit nicely in the empty top corner of the image panel. I paper pierced around the lower right corner of the image panel to complete the card.

Materials Used:
Cheep Talk and Animal Stories stamp sets, Really Rust, More Mustard, and Basic Gray Classic inks, Really Rust, More Mustard, Basic Gray, and Very Vanilla cardstock, More Mustard Patterns designer series paper, mat pack and paper piercing tool (Stampin’ Up!); Woodgrain background stamp (Hero Arts); Summer Sunrise button, twine (Papertrey Ink); gray grosgrain ribbon (Michaels)

Drinks On Me

*****If you're here for Kitchen Sink Monday, scroll down to the next post.*****

Starving Artistamps is sponsoring this week's sketch challenge at 2 Sketches 4 You. Their sketches are always fabulous!

Here's my summery version of this week's sketch. I used Cliff from the DoodleFactory Tropics set as my focal image. Cliff is what I'd like to be doing instead of working today--enjoying a tropical drink on a lounge chair. I created a sandy backdrop for the image by tearing strips of mustard cardstock, inking them along the torn edges, and layering them along the bottom portion of the blue circle mat.

I used some flip flop patterned paper to cover most of the cardfront. I alternated strips of coordinating yellow cardstock, orange scalloped cardstock, and light orange grosgrain ribbons along the left side of the card.

I stamped the "drinks on me" sentiment on a scrap of yellow cardstock, matted it, then attached it with a dimensional to finish off the summery card.

Materials Used:
DoodleFactory Tropics set and Tropics sentiments set 2 (Starving Artistamps); Snow White Choice Cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Summer Sunrise Palette ink, Lemon Tart and Summer Sunrise cardstock, Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon (Papertrey Ink); More Mustard Classic ink, More Mustard, Bashful Blue, and Pumpkin Pie cardstock, scallop edge punch, sponge dauber, dimensionals (Stampin' Up!); circle and pinking circle die (Nestabilities); patterned paper (Memory Box-Beach Collection)

Kitchen Sink Monday: Countdown to the Holidays

For this week’s Kitchen Sink Stamps Monday, the Kitchen Sink Crew is starting the countdown to the holidays. That’s right—it’s only six months (give or take a few days) until Christmas. So, that means it’s time for the annual KSS “6 Months Before Christmas Sale.” From Thursday, June 25 through Saturday, June 27, everything in the KSS store will be 15% off with the promo code HOLLY.

And, Maria’s finding that the Kitchen Cupboards are too full, so she’s announcing the first ever retiring KSS sets. You won’t want to miss out on some of these KSS classics:

1. 3 Step Daisy (KSS top seller)
2. Background & Borders

3. Forever & Always
4. Love & Luck

5. Playful Christmas
6. Snow Flurry

7. Playful Frames & Journaling
8. Playful Ovals

You can purchase these sets paired as you see in the list above at a special price. They’ll also be available for purchase individually.

Here's my holiday card. I used my 3 Step Bells set to make this one. The bells are so amazingly detailed IRL! I used 5 different inks for the bells, starting with shades of yellow, then a sparkly gold in the middle, and finishing with some browns. I stamped the top bell first, then masked the image and stamped the lower bell using the same color combination. I added a piece of satin ribbon to the top of the bell.

I kept the layout simple to keep the attention focused on the lovely bell images. I matted the image on a matching gold scalloped panel and added the "Happy Holidays" sentiment, also matted on gold. I arranged the image and sentiment panels on a piece of patterned paper that coordinated with the burgundy of the ribbon and layered that on a gold panel, then on a matching card base.

For more Kitchen Sink holiday inspiration, you can visit the rest of the Kitchen Sink Crew. Here’s where you can find them:
Angela Knopf
Connie McCotter
Dee Jackson
Julie Masse
Lisa Somerville
Lynn McAuley
Makiko Jones
Maria Colosimo, owner

Materials Used:

3 Step Bells stamp set (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Crushed Curry, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, and Bravo Burgundy Classic inks (Stampin' Up!); Scarlet Jewel cardstock, Scarlet Jewel satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink); circle and scalloped circle dies (Nestabilities); patterned paper (SEI's Poppy line); gold paper (Target)

Some Sunshine

Here are my last two cards for this month's weekly Viva la Verve sketch challenges. Both cards include some bright and sunny elements.

This card is for last week’s challenge. The twist for this one was to use lots of white space.

I think I got the white space part covered here! I used my ScorPal to make a grid pattern on a white cardstock panel. I paired the grid with Verve’s “Hey, there sunshine!” Plain Jane stamp, appropriately stamped in Pumpkin Pie ink.

The sentiment panel is layered over an upside-down scallop edged strip. I added a dot of clear Stardust glitter pen to each scallop. I found a bold orange Prima flower in my collection as a simple embellishment. I added an orange rhinestone to the center for a little sunshine-like sparkle.

Materials Used:
Hey There Sunshine Plain Jane (Verve Stamps); Pumpkin Pie Classic ink, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White cardstock, 1 ¾” circle punch, Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); orange flower (Prima); circle punch (Marvy Uchida); clear Stardust pen (Sakura); orange self-adhesive rhinestone (Studio 18); ScorPal

Here's my card for this week's challenge. The twist here was to be inspired by patterned paper. I used a scrap of bright, glossy striped paper I had on my desk as inspiration.

I based the colors I used on my card--Pink Pirouette, Hibiscus Burst, and Summer Sunshine--on the colors in the stripes. I chose the softest color for the card base and used the striped panel along the bottom of the card. I stamped one of the flower trios from Verve's Floral Symphony set on a Hibiscus Burst panel in matching ink. A trio of matching Dew Drops is alongside this panel.

I used an oval die to cut a Summer Sunrise panel for the sentiment. The sentiment is stamped in Hibiscus Burst ink. I added a matching Prima flower with another Dew Drop center as an embellishment.

Materials Used:

Floral Symphony stamp set (Verve Stamps); Hibiscus Burst Palette ink, Hibiscus Burst and Summer Sunrise cardstock, Hibiscus Burst satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink); Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin' Up!); oval die (Nestabilities); flower (Prima); Dew Drops (Robin's Nest); patterned paper (?)

Life's a Beach

Here's my card for today's SCS featured stamper challenge. It's based on this card in Christy's gallery. She has a ton of fun Stamping Bella cards in her gallery, so I had to pull out a Bella image of my own for this challenge.

I went with bathing beauty Betty Bombshell for this one. I stamped Betty in black ink, then colored her with Copic markers. I dipped a piece of nubby towel in some blending solution then dabbed it on the "sand" to make the grainy, textured look. It's much more sand-colored IRL, I promise! The sky is sponged in with some Cool Caribbean ink. I also added some Angel Wings Shimmerz to Betty's wings.

I found some wavy patterned paper in a K & Company mat stack pad for the front of my card. The strip across the front is a piece of paper from Fancy Pants. Originally, I was going to cover the cardfront with this pattern (and colored my image based on it), but decided it would be too much.

I stamped the "life's a beach" sentiment on the patterned paper in Pacific Point ink. Instead of adding layered flowers as an embellishment, I added a pair of purple brads to the torn paper strip. The flowers would have drawn attention away from Betty--and I definitely didn't want to do that!

For more beach-themed inspiration, be sure to stop by the Paper Craft Planet June DT gallery. The Supernovas have been sharing some fabulous projects around this month's theme.

Materials Used:

Betty Bombshell image and sentiment (Stamping Bella); Snow White Choice Cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pacific Point and Cool Caribbean Classic ink, Pacific Point cardstock, sponge (Stampin' Up!); Citronella designer mat pad (K & Company); Sublime designer paper (Fancy Pants); purple brads (Making Memories); Angel Wings paint (Shimmerz)

Bar Mitzvah Boy

Tonight I'm headed to a celebration for a Bar Mitzvah. I needed a special gift card holder to hold the gift card I bought for the Bar Mitzvah-ed boy, so I whipped up this simple design.

Since this was for a boy, I kept the design clean and fuss-free. I used Papertrey Ink's Mazel Tov set for the images and sentiment. I am so glad to have this set for occasions like this! I stamped the torah image in a grid-like pattern in Brocade Blue ink on matching Brocade Blue cardstock. It's backed on a panel of silver paper, then attached to the navy gift card holder.

I stamped the "Mazel Tov" sentiment in Versamark, then heat embossed it in silver to match the silver panel on the gift card. I added a pair of brads as an embellishment.

I had to come up with a way other than ribbon to keep the gift card holder closed. I ended up using a pair of Basic Grey magnetic snaps, one hidden under the image panel on the front of the gift card and the other between the two layers of the sentiment strip. The strip is secured on the back of the gift card and lifts up in the front so the gift card can be opened.

Materials Used:

Mazel Tov stamp set (Papertrey Ink); Brocade Blue Classic ink, Brocade Blue and Night of Navy cardstock, Versamark, silver embossing powder, word window punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, silver brads (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); magnetic closures (Basic Grey)

Summer BBQ

Here’s my card for this week’s sketch challenge at Paper Craft Planet. Sankari is our challenge hostess this week and she’s shared a sketch with lots of possibilities.

I went with a summer themed card using images from the BBQ Darling set from Clear & Simple Stamps. The small food and condiment images were a perfect fit for the squares in the sketch.

I stamped 3 of the images on white cardstock, colored them with Copic markers, then punched them out with a 1 ¼” square punch. In the fourth square, I stamped the “BBQ” sentiment in red ink on a light blue circle and added a single silver brad, then layered the circle on a red circle before attaching it to another square piece.

I used some bright striped paper from Memory Box’s Beach Collection to cover most of the cardfront. To divide the striped and solid sections of the card, I layered a piece of narrow red grosgrain ribbon across a wider light blue grosgrain piece and added a scalloped border underneath. I used my Swiss Dot embossing folder to emboss the solid panel at the bottom of the card.

If you decide to give the sketch a try, be sure to use the keyword sk062009 when you upload to the Paper Craft Planet gallery so it will be placed in the album with the rest of the cards using the sketch.

Materials Used:
BBQ Darling stamp set (Clear & Simple Stamps); Snow White Choice Cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Real Red Classic ink, Real Red and Bashful Blue cardstock, 1 ¼” square punch, 1” and 1 ¼” circle punches, silver brad, Real Red grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); patterned paper (Memory Box-Beach Collection); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); light blue grosgrain ribbon (Morex); Threading Water border punch (Fiskars)

Bellarific Friday Rocks

Here’s my card for this week’s Bellarific Friday challenge from Stamping Bella. This week’s challenge was a sketch and I almost didn’t try it. It took me a while to figure out what to put in to the four square panels, but once I came up with an idea, the card came together pretty quickly. For some reason, my card didn't make it to the "showcase" on Emily's blog, but I wanted to show it off here anyway.

I used Ipodabella, stamped 4 times, for the square panels. She’s colored with Copic markers and embellished with some silver gel pen (her iPod) and some tiny twinkles (her hair bow). I matched the colors for the image to the colors in the dotted patterned paper from We R Memory Keepers that I used to cover the cardfront.

I thought the “you rock!” sentiment was appropriate here, so I stamped it on a scrap of white cardstock and layered it on a Kiwi Kiss strip. The end of the sentiment panel is embellished with a blue chipboard star. Bella definitely rocks!

Materials Used:
Ipodabella image and sentiment (Stamping Bella); Snow White Choice Cardstock, Tiny Twinkles (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Kiwi Kiss and Bashful Blue cardstock, 1 3/8” square punch, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); patterned paper (We R Memory Keepers); light blue grosgrain ribbon (Morex); chipboard star (American Crafts); silver gel pen (Signo)

Blogger Challenge: Week 104

This week’s blogger challenge theme is manly cards. Even though Father’s Day is this weekend, I decided to go with a non-Father’s Day themed card. Instead, I created a masculine thank you card, something I don’t really have enough of in my stash.

I used the SU! Totally Tool set for the focal image. This is a great set for masculine cards! I stamped the wrench image on a scrap of Basic Gray cardstock and carefully cut it out, then layered it on a cream circle.

I kept my layout clean and uncluttered. I used some grid patterned paper from the current hostess paper pack for one panel on my cardfront and accented it with a paper pierced and distressed strip of Night of Navy cardstock along one side. I layered a Night of Navy panel over this, then attached the circle with the wrench. To keep it masculine, the only embellishments I added were a pair of silver brads. The sentiment fit nicely in the lower right corner of the card.

For more masculine card ideas, you can visit the rest of the challenge players. Links to their blogs are in the sidebar on the right.

Materials Used (all from Stampin’ Up!):
Totally Tool stamp set, Basic Black Classic ink, Sahara Sand, Night of Navy, Basic Gray, and Very Vanilla cardstock, Basic Gray Patterns Pack II designer series paper, 1 ¾” circle punch, mat pack and paper piercing tool, distressing tool, silver brads

i {heart} a good sale

If you're like me, you don't like to miss out on a good sale. There's a great one going on right now at i {heart} papers. Over 400 items are now on sale, including Nestabilities and lots of stamps. Also, if you've been wanting to try out some Flower Soft, that's on sale, too. As always, shipping is free with all orders over $40 US.

Just Rite products are among the ones that are on sale. I really like the Tiny Word Borders and Centers set that includes a tiny stamper and 10 interchangeable pairs of borders and centers.

I made a fun baby card using the "cutie pie" center as the focal image. I stamped the center image in red ink and punched it out with a circle punch. The border image was stamped in blue ink on coordinating blue paper, then punched out witha slightlyl larger circle punch. I used Nestabilities dies to make the pair of circle mats that I arranged under the stamped image.

I picked the circle colors to coordinate with this fun dotted designer paper from Sassafras Lass. I also added a layered ribbon strip across the cardfront, starting with a piece of white twill and tying a piece of rose silk ribbon around it for a bit of color. Clean and simple--and cute!

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Sassafras Lass Jungle Bungle-Bungle Dots designer paper, Just Rite Tiny Words Borders and Centers set, May Arts 1/4" rose silk ribbon and white twill, Ranger Silver Pearl Liquid Pearls, Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies

other: Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze Classic inks, Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze cardstock, 7/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches, dimensionals (Stampin' Up!); Lemon Tart cardstock (Papertrey Ink)

Three for Thursday

Here's a trio of cards using images from Clear & Simple Stamps, all based on different blogger sketch challenges.

Here's one based on Jen's Sketch for You to Try. I actually made this one earlier in the week, but wanted to wait until I was sure the recipient got it before I shared it here.

I used the gumball machine from the Sweet Tooth set for my focal image. The image is colored with Copic markers and layered on a Riding Hood Red mat. I found some brightly colored patterned paper with a circle pattern, picking up the shape of the gumballs, to use for the trio of panels on the cardfront.

Since this was serving as a thank you card, I stamped the "you're so sweet" sentiment in matching Riding Hood Red ink. I embellished the panel with a felt flower and a button. I used a little trick here--I drew on the thread using a white gel pen.

Materials Used:

Sweet Tooth stamp set (Clear & Simple Stamps); Snow White Choice Cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Riding Hood Red Classic ink, Riding Hood Red and Pumpkin Pie cardstock, white gel pen (Stampin' Up!); patterned paper (We R Memory Keepers); felt flower (American Crafts); button (Walmart)

I made this card for Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. I used one of my very first CSS sets, Gourmet Darling, on this one. Because of the size of the image, I had to change the sketch to a standard sized card instead of a square one to get things to fit.

The Darling is colored with Copic markers to coordinate with the patterned paper along the bottom of the cardfront. I matched the colors on the card to SU!'s Riding Hood Red, Blue Bayou, and Baja Breeze cardstocks. The panel on the right is embossed with a QuicKutz embossing folder with varying sizes of polka dots.

I added the "what's cooking?" sentiment on a pair of circles. I used a wooden button as a simple embellishment.

Materials Used:

Gourmet Darling stamp set (Clear & Simple Stamps); Snow White Choice Cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Riding Hood Red Classic ink, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, and Blue Bayou cardstock, 1 3/8" circle punch, white grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals (Stampin' Up!); circle dies (Nestabilities); Polka Dots embossing folder (QuicKutz); 1 1/2" circle punch (EK Success); wood button (Papertrey Ink)

And, here's my final sketch card. This one uses images from the new release Live Life. It's a narrow, tall card based on this week's Mojo Monday sketch.

I based the colors for my card on the ones in the K & Company patterned paper I used for the panel along the bottom of the card. I inked the silhouette flower image using a pair of small Memento ink pads in Rhubarb Stalk and New Sprout. The tiny size and shape of the ink pads let me place each color just where I wanted it pretty easily.

I layered the stamped image over a red mat, stitched along one side. The "live out loud" sentiment is stamped in matching red ink and layered on a blue oval. I added one of my long- hoarded flower shaped ribbon sliders as an embellishment to complete the card.

Materials Used:

Live Life stamp set (Clear & Simple Stamps); Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, and Riding Hood Red cardstock, small and large oval punches, ribbon slider, Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Rhubarb Stalk and New Sprout inks (Memento); cream grosgrain ribbon (Papertrey Ink); patterned paper (K & Company Wild Raspberry line); sewing machine

Tea Party Butterfly

Here's my card for today's SCS sketch challenge. I pulled out Flight of the Butterfly, one of my favorite SU! sets for making quick and easy cards, for the challenge.

I used a pair of patterns from the Tea Party paper pack for the panels on the cardfront. The soft pastel colors in these papers are pretty and delicate--a perfect match for the butterfly image. I used coordinating solid So Saffron and Certainly Celery panels for the rest of the layout.

The butterfly image is stamped in Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose inks on a Pink Pirouette panel. The sentiment is stamped in Regal Rose, too, so it will stand out against the soft pink. I added a second butterfly image, stamped on vellum and glued over the first, just at the center, to create a look as if the butterfly is in motion. So pretty!

Materials Used (all from Stampin' Up!)

Flight of the Butterfly stamp set, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink ink, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, and Pretty in Pink cardstock, Tea Party designer series paper, white vellum, Rich Regals brads

Scrappy Giggle Grove

This week's Unity Addicts challenge comes from Cyndi. She gave us a two parter--use only stuff from your stash that's already open or is a scrap AND use your first Unity kit.

Before I started the challenge, I had to go back through my blog posts to identify my first Unity kit. Before I went through my archives, I guessed that it was Giggle Grove--and I was right. This set is perfect for using scraps since it really lends itself to paper piecing. That's what I did here. The leaf/tree is paper pieced with a scrap of patterned paper and the bird is paper pieced from a scrap of Pacific Point cardstock.

I used more scraps for the bottom section of the card. I added a strip of dotted patterned paper, topped by a scalloped strip left over from another project. I found some wide lime green ribbon in my ribbon jar and layered that across the card. I added a button-embellished bow to it, too.

I used the "thanks" sentiment from another one of my early Unity purchases (maybe not the first, but pretty early on . . .), Flirty Flowers. I stamped it in bold Pacific Point ink along the side of the card, filling the empty space.

Materials Used:

Giggle Grove and Flirty Flowers stamp sets (Unity Stamp Co.); Rich Cocoa ink (Memento); Pacific Point Classic ink, Baja Breeze and Pacific Point cardstock, Certainly Celery Prints Series designer paper, scallop edge punch, dimensionals (Stampin' Up!); green grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); brown button (Papertrey Ink); twine (Walmart)

Ruby Breeze Paisley

I made this quick card for today's SCS color challenge and this week's clean and simple (sketch) challenge. This came together in less than 15 minutes--gotta love that!

I used one of the Basic Grey mini sets from i {heart} papers to make the paisley pattern on the white panel using Ruby Red and Baja Breeze inks. Kate has a bunch of these mini sets available at a great price--go check them out! There's a dot of Silver Pearl Liquid Pearls at the center of the flower in each paisley image.

I added the "celebrate!" sentiment from the Chelsea Sentiments set across the panel. It stands out nicely stamped in black. The only other embellishment I used was some fabulous narrow light blue silk ribbon tied around the image panel.

Materials Used:

from i {heart} papers: Basic Grey Paisley stamp set, Inkadinkado Chelsea Sentiments stamp set, May Arts 1/4" light blue silk ribbon, Ranger Silver Pearl Liquid Pearls

other: Ruby Red and Baja Breeze Classic inks, Ruby Red, Baja Breeze, and Whisper White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento)

Green Bird, Green Bird, What Do You See?

Here’s my clean and simple card for this week’s Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. I paired Papertrey Ink's New Leaf, black, and cream to make this card--fun color combo!

The sparkly bird sticker seemed like a perfect match for the New Leaf color, so I built my card around it. Somehow, I got two packs of these sparkly creature stickers, so I need to put them to use! I layered the bird on a cream circle, showing off the vivid color and the sparkle, too. A black button is attached to the panel to fill the empty space near the bottom.

I used a piece of grid patterned paper that is just a bit more yellow than the New Leaf color for the panel on my cardfront. I matted it on cream cardstock, then created a layered ribbon strip to go across the panel. I stamped the “a little birdie told me” sentiment from SU!’s A Little Birdie Told Me set in the bottom corner in black ink. I wonder what the birdie has to say . . .

Materials Used:
A Little Birdie Told Me stamp set, Very Vanilla and Basic Black cardstock, eyelet border punch, dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!); New Leaf cardstock, New Leaf tiny dot satin ribbon, Black grosgrain ribbon, black button (Papertrey Ink); patterned paper, bird sparkle sticker (Colorbok-Friendly Forest line); circle dies (Nestabilities); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); twine (Walmart)

At Home Collection

*****If you're here for Kitchen Sink Monday, please scroll down to the next post after you check out this one.*****

Today is the release day for the At Home Collection from Clear & Simple Stamps. I’ve shared previews of two of the sets in the collection already (Freedom and Real Estate Darling). I have a sample to share today using one more set from this release.

But, before I get to the new stamp set, I want to give a warm welcome to the new design team members we're introducing today. We are thrilled to have these talented ladies joining our team!
Erin Bigler
Jen Tapler
Kim Howard
Neva McMullen
Robyn Weatherspoon
Sue Berker

Now, here's my card, made with the new Live Life set. This set has a beautiful silhouette image and a variety of sentiments to mix and match. I went bold and bright on this card, using Raspberry Fizz paper with black accents. I used what’s called the chalkboard technique for the focal image. The image is stamped in white pigment ink, then covered with shimmery chalks. The chalks cling to the pigment ink. It looks so nice against the black background!

I layered some matching polka dotted raspberry paper, matted with black, on a raspberry card base. I stamped the sentiment in black ink directly on the patterned paper, then wrapped a piece of raspberry ribbon around the card. I layered the stamped image on the card at an angle and added a trio of shiny Dew Drops as an embellishment.

The rest of the Clear & Simple Stamps DT has samples from other new sets. Here’s where you can find them.
CSS Blog
Beth Matson
Maria Levine
Nancy Beauchamp
Nicole Ritts

Materials Used:
Live Life stamp set (Clear & Simple Stamps); White Craft ink, Basic Black cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Raspberry Fizz cardstock, Bitty Dot Basics patterned paper, Raspberry Fizz grosgrain ribbon (Papertrey Ink); jewel tone Pearlescent Chalks (Pebbles, inc.); metallic Dew Drops (Robin’s Nest)