Color Throwdown 790-Thank You for All You Do

It's time for another Color Throwdown! Wanda is our hostess this week with a fantastic color combination--yellow, green, and aqua.

Today is Administrative Professionals Day, so I used the colors to make cards for the two amazing ladies who keep our school's front office running smoothly. The layout for my design is based on the current challenge from CAS Colours and Sketches. I used a mug and saucer die to cut a trio of mugs and saucers for each card. For interest, I mixed and matched the colors and adhered the pieces to the white card base with foam tape. I angled the mugs a bit to get at the idea that the job requires a lot of balancing skills! I combined sentiments from a pair of Avery Elle stamp sets--Many Thanks and Sentimental--to get my message of appreciating across. The text was stamped in aqua ink to match the mug in the middle. A clear crystal flourish of "steam" extending from the top of the stack of mugs completed the design.

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 CTD790. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd790 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.

** Amy Rohl **  Amy Rysavy ** Broni **
** Kelly ** Lisa ** Lynn **
** Susie **  Vickie ** Wanda **
** Guest Star Stamper Rachel Evans **

Materials Used:
Many Thanks and Sentimental stamp sets (Avery Elle); Sprinkles ink (Taylored Expressions); Coffee Break dies (Honey Bee Stamps); New Leaf and Bright Buttercup cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Cool Caribbean cardstock (Stampin' Up!); clear crystal flourish (Recollections); foam tape

Have a Brilliant Day

Here's my card for the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  I represented the sketch's five uneven rectanglar-ish elements with a portion of a crayon image from the Honey Bee Stamps Brilliant Day stamp set.  After covering the "extra" crayons on the image with sticky notes, I inked up a section with just five crayons and stamped it at the top of a white cardstock panel.  The crayons were colored with a rainbow array of Copic markers.  For the sentiment, I stamped the set's "have a brilliant day" sentiment just above the crayons.  The panel was matted on black cardstock, then adhered to a cheerful yellow card base.

Materials Used:

Brilliant Day stamp set (Honey Bee Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Yoyo Yellow and Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!)

The Perfect Blend

Here's my card for the current Honey Bee Stamps Buzzworthy challenge.  The challenge theme is "thankful," and since I didn't really have any Honey Bee sets with a thankful theme or image in them, mine's kind of a loose interpretation...

I colored up a pair of to go cups from the Coffee Break stamp set using Copic markers, then cut out the cups using the matching dies.  I used foam tape to position the cups on a soft beige cardstock panel with a contrasting red cardstock strip across it.  The friendship sentiment from the Perfect Blend set was stamped to the right of the pair of cups.  To get the positioning and spacing right, I tried it out on a stamp positioner panel that came with my old-school Stampamajig until I got it right.  The finished panel was adhered to a kraft card base to match the color of the sleeves around the to go cups.

Materials Used:
Coffee Break and Perfect Blend stamp sets, Coffee Break dies (Honey Bee Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers and Sepia multiliner (Copic); Fine Linen and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Riding Hood Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); twine (Hemptique); foam tape

Simply Sending Sunshine

Here's my card for the current challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches.  I used the sketch for this sunshine themed design.  My sunshine background was made by using a set of layering stencils and two distress inks on a light yellow card base.  I added shimmery white die cut stitched clouds over the sun, using foam tape for dimension.  The "sending sunshine" sentiment from the Honey Bee Stamps Sending Sunshine stamp set was stamped just to the left of the circle that forms the center of the sun.  A trio of clear sequins positioned underneath the clouds completed the simple design.

Materials Used:
Sending Sunshine stamp set, Sunburst Layering Stencils (Honey Bee Stamps); Versafine Clair Nocturne ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Mustard Seed and Dried Marigold distress inks (Ranger); Lemon Tart cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Crystal Stardust cardstock (The Paper Cut); crystal clear sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); foam tape

Be Strong

The current Honey Bee Stamps Buzzworthy challenge is to create a clean and simple card.  This one is right up my alley!  For my clean and simple design, I did a bit of masking with the mug image from the Coffee Break set to create this stack of coffee mugs. After coloring the image, I used my Scan 'n Cut to cut out the stack. It was adhered to a white stitched rectangle panel using foam tape for dimension.  I stamped the "be strong" sentiment from the Perfect Blend set to the left of the stack in black ink. The finished panel was adhered to a pale pink card base to complete the design.

Materials Used:
Coffee Break and Perfect Blend stamp sets (Honey Bee Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Pale Peony cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Stitched Rectangle dies (Lil' Inker Designs); foam tape

You Make Me Smile

The current Honey Bee Stamps Buzzworthy challenge is to create a card using one of their Honey Cuts dies as the focal point.  I love the Smile die, so this was a perfect challenge to show it off.

I used distress inks and water to make a rainbow-like background panel on watercolor paper.  While the inks dried, I die cut the word from both black cardstock and craft foam. After layering the two pieces for dimension, I adhered them to the rainbow panel.  To complete the sentiment, I stamped the "you make me" from the coordinating Smile stamp set just above the word in black ink.  A narrow strip of black cardstock was adhered just beneath the text and accented with a trio of silver glitter enamel dots. The finished panel was adhered to a green card base, matching the middle color in the rainbow panel.

Materials Used:
Smile stamp set, Smile die (Honey Bee Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Mermaid Lagoon, Mustard Seed, Festive Berries, Wilted Violet, Carved Pumpkin, and Twisted Citron distress inks (Ranger); Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Sour Apple (cardstock My Favorite Things); silver glitter enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); craft foam

Color Throwdown 501-What's Brewing?

It's time for another Color Throwdown!  Amy Rysavy is our challenge hostess this week with a neutral combination with a pop of color--gray, yellow, kraft, and white. 

I paired the colors with the current challenge at Sunday Stamps.  I stamped a trio of to go cup images from the Coffee Break stamp set from Honey Bee Stamps on a white panel, positioning them as shown in the challenge layout, then coloring the images with Copic markers.  The stars on the sleeves on the cups were stamped with a pretty golden yellow ink.  I adhered a golden yellow cardstock strip to the bottom third of the stamped panel.  After wrapping some gray twine around the panel and securing it with a bow, I stamped the "what's brewing?" sentiment from the Perfect Blend set just beneath the twine.  The finished panel was adhered to a gray 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 CTD501.  If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd501 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 July Guestie Kathy Schweinfurth, and this week's Guest Star Stamper, Svetlana Kalajda.

** Amy Rohl **  Amy Rysavy ** Barbara ** Broni ** 

 ** Jodi ** Lisa ** Lynn ** Vickie ** Wanda **
** July Guestie Kathy Schweinfurth **
** Guest Star Stamper Svetlana Kalajda **

Materials Used:
Coffee Break and Perfect Blend stamp sets (Honey Bee Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Daffodil ink (My Favorite Things); markers (Copic); Harvest Gold and Weathervane cardstock (Papertrey Ink); gray twine (Hemptique)

What's the Buzz?

I'm not a big coffee drinker (okay, I'm really not a coffee drinker at all ...), but I do love coffee themed stamps!  The to go cup from the Coffee Break set from Honey Bee Stamps is another image I colored as part of The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge.  I used the matching die to cut out the colored image, then adhered it to a cream panel using foam tape.  The image panel was adhered to a golden yellow panel with a hexagon/honeycomb pattern stenciled onto it with some distress ink. I stamped the "what's the buzz?" sentiment from the coordinating Perfect Blend set beneath the image panel in brown ink. The golden yellow panel was wrapped with some twine just beneath the sentiment and secured with a simple bow.  A bunch of cream enamel dots positioned around the image panel completed the design. The panel was matted on contrasting dark brown cardstock, then adhered to a kraft card base to match the mat underneath the image panel.

Materials Used:
Coffee Break and Perfect Blend stamp sets, Coffee Break dies (Honey Bee Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Scattered Straw distress ink (Ranger); Harvest Gold and Kraft cardstock, Hexagon Cover Plate (Papertrey Ink); Chocolate Chip cardstock (Stampin' Up!); twine (Hemptique); cream enamel dots (My Mind's Eye); foam tape

Sending You a Smile

Here's my card for the current Honey Bee Stamps Buzzworthy challenge.  The challenge theme is watercolor and I'm the first to admit that watercolor is not my most favorite medium!  I gave it a go here, using a watercolor set to create a gradient background for a sentiment. 

I went with shades of greens and blues, masking the panel for clean edges.  Once the panel dried, I added narrow silver cardstock strips at the top and bottom of the watercolored section.  I die cut  "smile" from both teal cardstock and craft foam, then layered the pieces for dimension. I even managed to keep track of the dot for the "i"!  The layered word was adhered to the watercolored section.  I stamped the "sending you a" sentiment from the Smile stamp set just above the die cut to complete the sentiment.  A trio of teal dots were arranged around the sentiment as an accent.  The finished panel was adhered to a teal card base to match the sentiment. 

Materials Used:
Smile stamp set, Smile die (Honey Bee Stamps); Cookie Monster ink (Taylored Expressions); Bermuda Bay cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Recollections Silver cardstock, watercolor set (Michaels); teal enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); craft foam

What's the Buzz?

I made this coffee themed design for the inaugural Honey Bee Stamps Buzzworthy challenge.  To play along, your project needed to feature one of Honey Bee's signature bee images.  My bee was a free-bee image I got with a purchase from Honey Bee.  I used the image to dress up the sleeve on the to go cup from the Coffee Break stamp set.  The bee was stamped on a scrap of white cardstock, colored with Copic markers, and cut out.  I added a bit of sparkle to the bee's wings using a glitter brush pen, then added it to the colored and die cut cup with foam tape.

To go with the to go cup, I die cut a donut using the coordinating coffee break dies.  The sprinkles were heat embossed in white on a kraft "donut" base, then I lined up the die cut pink "icing" on top so that the stamped and embossed sprinkles showed through.  After stenciling a hexagon pattern on to a pale pink card base using pink distress ink, I added the cup and donut on top, using foam tape for dimension.  Some silver thread looped around behind the images added a fun detail.  I stamped the "what's the buzz?" sentiment from the Perfect Blend set to finish the design.

Materials Used:
Coffee Break and Perfect Blend stamp sets, Coffee Break dies (Honey Bee Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Wedding Dress inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Spun Sugar distress ink (Ranger); markers (Copic); Sweet Blush and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Recollections Snow embossing powder, silver cord (Michaels); foam tape

But First, Coffee

It's Friday, so I thought a coffee themed design would be a good way to end the work week!  This one is inspired by the current CASE the Designer challenge at Global Design Project.  I was inspired by the repeated stamped image and pretty watercoloring on Connie's card.

For my card, I repeatedly stamped then heat embossed the to go cup from the Honey Bee Stamps Coffee Break stamp set on a kraft panel. The panel's edges were inked with distress ink to add some warmth.  For a pop of color, I used a red Clean Color marker to watercolor in the round element on each cup.  The panel was matted on dark brown cardstock to set it off, then adhered to a kraft card base.  For the sentiment, I stamped the "but first, coffee" sentiment from the Perfect Blend set in white pigment ink on a dark brown cardstock strip, then heat embossed the words.  After wrapping the end of the panel with some twine to bring in the twine element found in Connie's card, I adhered the sentiment to the stamped panel to finish my design.

Materials Used:
Coffee Break and Perfect Blend stamp sets (Honey Bee Stamps); Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Tea Dye distress ink (Ranger); Carmine Red Clean Color marker (Zig); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Chocolate Chip cardstock (Stampin' Up!); twine (Hemptique)

Stenciled Sunshine and Smiles

Here's my card for the current Fusion challenge.  I combined the sketch and the sunshine theme from the inspiration photo to create my design.  Most of my card was made using stencils.  I started out by creating the sun with a Honey Bee Stamps stencil and yellow and orange distress inks.  Then I moved on to the layers of clouds.  They were created with a stencil from My Favorite Things and light blue distress ink.  I rotated the stencil with each "line" of clouds to use all of the different edges and create a varied look.  Once the background was done, I stamped the sentiment from Honey Bee's Sending Sunshine stamp set over the stenciling in gray pigment ink.  The finished panel was adhered to a blue card base.

Materials Used:

Sending Sunshine stamp set, Sunburst Layering stencils (Honey Bee Stamps); Memento Luxe Gray Flannel ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Tumbled Glass, Mustard Seed, and Wild Honey distress inks (Ranger); Cool Caribbean cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Cloud stencil (My Favorite Things) 

Sending You a Smile

I turned to the Smile stamp set and coordinating die from Honey Bee Stamps for another feminine design.  This one is based on the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches. 

I die cut "smile" from blue and dark gray cardstock, then layered the die cut words, offsetting them slightly for a shadow-like look.  The layered word was adhered to a pale gray cardstock panel.  I stamped the "sending you a" text block just above the die cut word in aquamarine pigment ink. 

The finished panel was adhered to a darker gray panel, again offset just a bit and again giving a shadow-like effect. I layered the sentiment panel on to a gray card base covered with a pretty floral patterned paper and a bold strip of blue cardstock.  I thought about adding some enamel dots, but in the end, decided to let the words speak for themselves.

On another note, the soft gray I used here is quickly becoming one of my favorite neutrals.  It's perfect for when white is just too bright.

Materials Used:
Smile stamp set, Smile die (Honey Bee Stamps); Aquamarine ink (Avery Elle); Hawaiian Shores cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Grout Gray and Steel Grey cardstock (My Favorite Things); Record It- Here Is Happy 6x6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye)

You Make Me Smile

Here's my card for the current sketch at Retro Sketches.  The card uses stamps and dies from a new to me company, Honey Bee Designs.  I couldn't resist their versatile Smile stamp set and coordinating word die!

I made the die cut word the focal image of my card by cutting the word from kraft cardstock and craft foam.  The die cut pieces were layered for dimension, then adhered to a simple cream die cut tag.  I stamped "you make me" just above the die cut in brown ink.  The top of the tag was dressed up with a scrap of pink dotted organza ribbon secured with a piece of twine.

I covered a pink card base with a pink on pink patterned paper panel, then added a strip of kraft cardstock to the left side of the cardfront. The tag was placed on top. I accented it with a pair of pink die cut stitched hearts.

Materials Used:
Smile stamp set, Smile die (Honey Bee Stamps); Memento Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Sweet Blush, Lovely Lady, and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Style Essentials-Lt. Pink Quatrefoil designer paper (Echo Park); Die-namics Traditional Tag STAX dies (My Favorite Things); Of the Heart dies (Lil' Inker Designs); pink dotted ribbon (Michaels); twine (Lawn Fawn); foam tape