Color Throwdown 829-Bunches of Birthday Wishes

It's time for another Color Throwdown! Vickie is our hostess this week with a botanical inspired mix of colors--blue, lime green, and green.

I paired the colors with the current Sunday Stamps challenge for this fun birthday card. The balloons represent the two round panels in the sketch. Mine are made with dies from Lil' Inker Designs. I used foam tape to adhere them to a lime green card base with a strip of blue cardstock along the bottom. The blue panel is edged with a narrow strip of green to tie all of the elements together. I brought in a bit more green by stamping the "bunches of birthday wishes" sentiment in green and adding a trio of green enamel dots around the balloons.

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 CTD829. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd829 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 **  Broni ** Tammy **
** Kelly ** Lisa ** Lynn **
** Susie **  Vickie ** Wanda **
** Featured Stamper Jolande Johnstone **

 

Materials Used:
Balloon Builders stamp set, Balloon and Balloon String dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Bamboo Leaves ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Limeade Ice. New Leaf, Blueberry Sky, and Soft Stone cardstock (Papertrey Ink); green enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

Color Throwdown 800-Big Congrats

 

It's time for another Color Throwdown! Wanda is our hostess for this milestone 800th challenge. She's picked a perfect mix of colors for the upcoming July 4th holiday--kraft, red, and blue.

The layout for my design comes from the current challenge at Sunday Stamps.  I made a large kraft star the focal point of my design. It was die cut using a stitched star die from Lil' Inker Designs. For extra pop, I used foam tape to layer the star on a navy stitched circle die cut, then on a slightly larger red circle die cut. The circles were adhered to the center of a navy cardstock panel. The red really pops against the navy background! I matted the panel on kraft cardstock, then centered it on a red card base matching the color of the circle layered behind the star. The "big congrats" sentiment from LID's Sending You set was stamped in watermark ink on a navy stitched sentiment flag die cut, then heat embossed in copper. The rustic look of the copper finish goes so nicely with these colors! I used foam tape to place the flag on the left side of the cardfront, slightly overlapping the star focal point.

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 CTD800. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd800 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 Lee Erwee **

Materials Used:
Sending You stamp set, Stitched Stars and Stitched Sentiment Flag dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Versamark ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Red Punch and Navy cardstock (Recollections); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); circle dies (Spellbinders); Classy Copper embossing powder (Stampin' Up!); foam tape

Color Throwdown 789-You Rock

It's time for another Color Throwdown! Vickie is our hostess with a great mix of colors--red, gold, and navy.

I paired the colors with the current challenge from TGIF Challenges for this fun design. I used a die from Lil' Inker Designs to create six red stitched stars. The stars were positioned on a navy cardstock panel at the bottom of a red card base. I used foam tape underneath each star for dimension. I added a strip of shimmery gold paper to the top of the panel to visually separate the navy from a red on red dotted patterned paper panel positioned above it. A narrow red strip tucked beneath the top edge of the gold panel makes a nice transition between the two pieces. To finish the design, I stamped "you rock!" from LID's Seriously Awesome stamp set on a strip of red cardstock and used more foam tape to place the text on the cardfront overlapping the dotted and gold panels.

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 CTD789. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd789 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 Stephanie Severin **

Materials Used:
Seriously Awesome stamp set, Stitched Stars dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); navy and red cardstock (Recollections); gold paper (Target); Tiny Polka-Red Tonal designer paper (The Paper Studio); foam tape

Color Throwdown 738-You Are Appreciated

It's time for another Color Throwdown! Lynn is our hostess this week with a spring-like mix of colors--yellow, dark green, mint, and white.

I paired the colors with the current challenge at Sunday Stamps to create this teacher appreciation card. The stitched apples were cut from mint-y and yellow cardstock scraps using a die from Lil' Inker Designs. After adding dark green leaves and kraft stems, I used foam tape to place each apple on a white cardstock square. The squares were adhered to the middle of a yellow gingham panel. I wrapped a length of green twine around the trio of die cut apples and secured it with a simple bow before adding the panel to a coordinating yellow card base. The "you're appreciated" sentiment from LID's Teacher Talk stamp set was stamped beneath the apples in green ink to finish the design. I like to have a stash of these ready before Teacher Appreciation Week so I can give them to my amazing colleagues!

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 CTD738.  If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd738 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 and this week's Guest Star Stamper.

** Amy Rohl **  Amy Rysavy ** Broni **
** Kelly ** Lisa ** Lynn **
** Susie **  Vickie ** Wanda **
** Guest Star Stamper Nancy Elrick **

Materials Used:
Teacher Talk stamp set, Apple Shaker dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Cottage Ivy ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Gable Green and Garden Green cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Bright Buttercup cardstock, Lemon Tart patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); green twine; foam tape

Color Throwdown 682-Happy Birthday Hats

It's time for another Color Throwdown! Barbara is our hostess this week with a spring color combination inspired by some fabulous sweet treats--orange, lime green, blue, and kraft.

I paired the colors with the current challenge from The Paper Players to create a fun birthday card. My focal image is a pair of party hats cut with dies from Lil' Inker Designs. I used foam tape to position the hats on a white stitched oval die cut, staggering and angling them for interest. The oval was adhered to a kraft panel over a festive dotted orange strip that I edged with contrasting turquoise cardstock. I stamped the "happy birthday" sentiment from LID's Mom and Dad Sentiments set on a narrow orange cardstock strip, then used foam tape to secure it over the hats. The finished panel was adhered to an orange card base matching the sentiment strip.

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 CTD682.  If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd682 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 and this week's Guest Star Stamper.

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

** Broni ** Lisa ** Lynn **
** Susie **  Vickie ** Wanda **
** Guest Star Stamper Toni Maddox **

Materials Used:
Mom and Dad Sentiments, Stitched Ovals and Party Hats dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Tempting Turquoise and Only Orange cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Limeade Ice and Kraft cardstock, Orange Zest patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); foam tape

Color Throwdown 676-With Love

It's time for another Color Throwdown! Lisa is our hostess this week with a trio of colors inspired by an elegant cake--red, cream, and gold.

I paired the colors with the layout from the current challenge at Sunday Stamps. The layout's round element was replaced with a stitched heart die cut that I created from gold foil cardstock. I used foam tape to adhere the heart over a pair of red and cream patterned paper panels matted on a cream cardstock panel. The target-style element repeated in the pattern seemed like a nice match for the heart! For the sentiment, I stamped "with love" from the Lil' Inker Designs Sending You stamp set on a red stitched sentiment flag die cut. The flag was positioned at the bottom of the heart using more foam tape. The cream panel was centered on a red card base matching the sentiment strip to finish the card.

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 CTD676.  If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd676 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 and this week's guest star stamper Papierelle.

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

** Broni ** Lisa ** Lynn **
** Susie **  Vickie ** Wanda **

**  Guest Star Stamper Papierelle  ** 

 

Materials Used:

Sending You stamp set, Stitched Heart and Stitched Sentiment Flag dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Versafine Clair Nocturne ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Riding Hood Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Gold Foil cardstock (Recollections); Men of Life Collection designer paper (Papertrey Ink); foam tape

Color Throwdown 671-Holiday Wishes

It's time for another Color Throwdown! Amy Rysavy is our hostess this week with a pretty mix of colors--pink, gray, silver, and white.

I paired the colors with the current challenge at The Paper Players. I mixed and matched patterned paper panels in shades of pink, gray, and white, arranging them on a shiny silver mat once I settled on an arrangement I liked. The trio of panels was topped with a gray square with a single die cut shimmery white stitched snowflake at the center. I stamped the small "holiday wishes" sentiment from Mama Elephant's Holiday Messages stamp set beneath the gray square in black ink. I used my MISTI so I could stamp the delicate text multiple times to get a bold, crisp impression. The finished silver panel was adhered to a gray card base matching the mat behind the snowflake. I thought about adding a clear crystal to the center of the flake, but decided it would be easier to mail if the flake was flat. I may go back and add a large silver sequin, though...

o 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 CTD671.  If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd671 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 and this week's guest star stamper Nancy Thomas. 

 

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

** Broni ** Lisa ** Lynn **
** Susie **  Vickie ** Wanda **
 ** Guest Star Stamper Nancy Thomas **

Materials Used:
Holiday Messages stamp set (Mama Elephant); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Weathervane cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Crystal Stardream metallic cardstock (The Paper Cut); silver paper (Target); Hello Sunshine Remix, Let It Shine and Let It Shine Snowflakes 6x6 paper pads (Lawn Fawn); square dies (Spellbinders); stitched snowflake die (Lil' Inker Designs); foam tape

You're Appreciated

Here's my card for the current challenge at The Paper Players. I took a few liberties with the sketch, but I think you can still see the bones there! One of those liberties was the shape of the focal panel. Instead of using a rectangle, I went with a stitched apple cut with the Apple Shaker dies from Lil' Inker Designs. After assembling the apple, I used foam tape to position it on a kraft stitched rectangle, angling it for interest. Again, I went with a different "slant" than the sketch, but the idea is there! For the sentiment, I stamped the "you're appreciated" from LID's Teacher Talk set in black ink on a strip of green cardstock matching the color of the leaf on the apple. The sentiment strip was adhered to the card so it overlapped the right side of the apple image. The finished panel was adhered to a red card base matching the die cut apple. I'll be taking this card to school with me this week since I'm sure there will be an occasion (or more) to thank another staff member for helping to welcome me to the building and to my new role as the library media specialist!

Materials Used:
Teacher Talk stamp set, Apple Shaker and Stitched Rectangles dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Riding Hood Red and Chocolate Chip cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Simply Chartreuse and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); foam tape

You Rock

 

Here's my card for the current challenge at Global Design Project. I used a similar layout for my take on the challenge--a square card with a single shape that has negative space at the center. For my focal image shape, I created a gold foil star with stitching detail. The negative space inside the star was filled in with scraps of paper in varying shades of pink. I used foam tape to place the star on a white card base over a nest of matchinng gold thread. The "you rock" sentiment from the Lil' Inker Designs Seriously Awesome stamp set was stamped just beneath the star in black ink to complete the design.

Materials Used:
Seriously Awesome stamp set, Stitched Stars dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Versafine Clair Nocturne ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Sweet Blush, Lovely Lady, and Berry Sorbet cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Gold Foil cardstock (Recollections); gold thread; foam tape

Wishing You Joy

Here's my card for the current challenge at Perfectly CAS. The theme is embossing, so I used some silver heat embossing on this simple holiday card design.

My embossed snowflakes are from the Lil' Inker Designs Winter Greetings stamp set. I arranged them in a triangle and stamped them in silver ink, then heat embossed the images. When I stamped the flakes, I purposely left space for my sentiment in the center of the triangle. The "wishing you" from LID's Jolly and Joyful stamp set was stamped in silver ink and heat embossed. After cutting the word "joy" from black cardstock, I placed it on the red cardfront just beneath the "wishing you." A small clear crystal was positioned at the center of each snowflake for a final touch of extra sparkle.

Materials Used:
Winter Greetings and Jolly and Joyful stamp sets, Joy Word dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Delicata Silvery Shimmer ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Red Punch cardstock (Recollections); Basic Black cardstock, Sterling Silver embossing powder (Stampin' Up!); clear crystals

Seriously

Here's my card for the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches. I used the layout for a fun multipurpose card made with stamps and dies from Lil' Inker Designs.

I die cut the Seriously Word die from red and black cardstock, then layered the pieces slightly offset for a shadowed look before adhering the word to a blue cardstock strip. The "you rock" sentiment from the Seriously Awesome stamp set was stamped beneath the word in black ink. After edging the blue panel with narrow red cardstock strips, I placed it at the top of a piece of arrow patterned paper on an angle. The panel was accented with a trio of gold stitched stars die cut from gold foil cardstock and arranged on the panel using foam tape for dimension. I adhered the panel to a blue card base matching the sentiment strip to complete the design.

Materials Used:
Seriously Awesome stamp set, Seriously Word and Stitched Stars dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, and Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Gold Foil cardstock (Recollections); 24/Seven 6x6 paper pad (Simple Stories); foam tape

For a Great Teacher

Here's my card for the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches. I used the layout for a teacher themed design. The trio of elements in the sketch were represented with die cut apples created with the Apple Pieces dies from Lil' Inker Designs. The apples were arranged over a red cardstock strip that runs down the center of a kraft card base. To set the panel off from the background, I edged it with dark brown cardstock. The red apple was adhered with foam tape so it would stand out from the red background. I stamped the "for a great teacher" sentiment from LID's Apple of my Eye stamp set above the apple trio in dark brown ink to finish the card.

Materials Used:
Apple of My Eye stamp set, Apple Pieces dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Green Parakeet and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Chocolate Chip and Garden Green cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Red Punch cardstock (Recollections); foam tape

Sending Hugs

Here's my card for the current Paper Craft Crew challenge. I represented the layout's four shaped images with small die cut envelopes created with an envelope die from Lil' Inker Designs. They were arranged on a blue card base over a trio of contrasting panels--a narrow solid pale pink cardstock strip sandwiched between two fun wider heart patterned paper strips. To set the envelopes off, I used foam tape to adhere them to the cardfront and dressed up each one with a die cut red heart. The simple typewriter text style "sending hugs" sentiment from Lawn Fawn's Love Poems stamp set was stamped in red ink on one of the envelopes to complete the design.

Materials Used:
Love Poems stamp set (Lawn Fawn); Memento Lady Bug ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Cool Caribbean and Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Red Punch cardstock, Be Mine 6x6 paper pad (Recollections); Mini Envelope and Accessories dies (Lil' Inker Designs); foam tape

Sending Love

Here's my card for the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches. I represented the layout's five various sized round elements with a pair of die cut mini envelopes and a trio of red die cut hearts. The die cut pieces were arranged at the top of a pale gray plaid panel. For dimension, the envelopes were secured with foam tape. I combined a pair of stamps from the Lil' Inker Designs Sending You stamp set to create the "sending love" sentiment that I stamped in black on the lower right of the panel. After matting the panel on darker gray cardstock, I adhered it to a pale gray card base matching the patterned panel to finish the design.

Materials Used:
Sending You stamp set, Mini Envelopes and Accessories dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Versafine Clair Nocturne ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Grout Gray and Steel Grey cardstock (My Favorite Things); Riding Hood Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Soft Stone patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Special Delivery Accents dies (SugarPea Designs); foam tape

Color Throwdown 646-Bunches of Birthday Wishes

 
It's time for another Color Throwdown! Lisa is our hostess with colors from a cool inspiration photo--light gray, aqua, and navy.

I paired the colors with the current challenge at Sunday Stamps. The layout's pair of round elements are represented here with a pair of star-studded balloons cut with dies from Lil' Inker Designs. I added aqua strings to the balloons and secured them with a small bow before adhering the balloon bouquet to the bottom right side of a dotted aqua patterned paper panel. The panel was matted on light gray cardstock, then adhered to a navy card base. For the sentiment, I stamped the "bunches of birthday wishes" from LID's Balloon Builders stamp set on a light gray cardstock strip. The stamped sentiment strip was adhered to the top left of the cardfront to finish 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 CTD646.  If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd646 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 and this week's Guest Star stamper Sidan.

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

** Broni ** Lisa ** Lynn **
** Susie **  Vickie ** Wanda **
** Guest Star Stamper Sidan **

Materials Use:
Balloon Builders stamp set, Balloon dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Nautical Blue ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Enchanted Evening cardstock, Aqua Mist patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Grout Grey cardstock (My Favorite Things); Silver cardstock (Recollections); aqua baker's twine; foam tape

Color Throwdown 644-Sending Happy Thoughts

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

I paired the colors with the current Mojo Monday sketch for this mini slimline design. The layout was built on a golden yellow card base. For contrast, I matted the upper gray on gray striped panel and lower solid golden yellow cardstock panel on black cardstock before setting them in place on the cardfront. I replaced the layout's round element overlapping the two panels with a trio of overlapping images--a stitched sun and shimmery white stitched clouds made with dies from Lil' Inker Designs. For the sentiment, I stamped "sending happy thoughts" from WPlus9's Sending, Hoping, Wishing stamp set in black ink on the solid yellow panel. Now that I look at this again, I may go back and add a few sequin raindrops to the cardfront for a little sparkle... 

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 CTD644.  If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd644 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 and this week's Guest Star stamper Jill Cameron.

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

** Broni ** Lisa ** Lynn **
** Susie **  Vickie ** Wanda **
** Guest Star Stamper Jill Cameron ** 

Materials Used:
Sending, Hoping, Wishing stamp set, Sending, Hoping, Wishing Word dies (WPlus9); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Harvest Gold cardstock, Smokey Shadow patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Crystal Stardream metallic cardstock (The Paper Cut); stitched sun, stitched cloud dies (Lil' Inker Designs); foam tape

You're Appreciated

Here's my card for the current Paper Craft Crew challenge. I used the layout for another teacher themed thank you card featuring stamps and dies from Lil' Inker Designs. For the background, I cut a bunch of long, narrow cardstock strips from olive green and red cardstock. The strips were arranged on an angle across the bottom and top of a kraft cardfront. Once the strips were in place, I used foam tape to position a large die cut apple with stitching detail at the bottom of the cardfront, overlapping the strips at the bottom of the card. The "you're appreciated" sentiment from LID's Teacher Talk set was stamped in black ink on a narrow olive green cardstock strip. The strip was positioned at the bottom of the cardfront, extending partially over the apple, to finish the design.

Materials Used:
Teacher Talk stamp set, Apple Shaker dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, and Close to Cocoa cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); foam tape

Never Too Old

Here's my card for the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches. I used the layout for a fun birthday themed design made with stamps and dies from Lil' Inker Designs.

I designed my card around the fun striped paper that I used for the square in the lower right corner of the cardfront. The panel was matted on coordinating aqua cardstock before it was positioned on the green card base. I topped the panel with a festive party hat die cut with LID's party hat dies. The hat was backed with shimmery silver paper to fill in the star-shaped negative space. The "you're never too old to wear a party hat" sentiment from the You're Invited set was stamped on a white panel in aqua ink. The stamped strip was added to the patterned paper panel using foam tape. I accented the hat with a trio of iridescent sequins to finish off the design.

Materials Used:
You're Invited stamp set, Party Hats dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Cookie Monster ink (Taylored Expressions); Green Parakeet, Hawaiian Shores, and Bright Buttercup cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Silver cardstock, clear self-adhesive crystal (Recollections); designer paper (SEI); iridescent sequins; foam tape

Thank You for Helping Me Grow

Here's my card for the current Global Design Project challenge. I couldn't resist one more card for Teacher Appreciation Week! The layout's large round image is represented by an apple die cut I created with the Apple Shaker die set from Lil' Inker Designs. The apple was adhered to the top left side of a kraft card base. I topped it with the word "teacher" die cut from green cardstock. To finish the sentiment, I stamped the "thank you for helping me grow" sentiment from LID's Apple of My Eye set in brown ink on a narrow cream strip. The strip was placed just beneath the die cut word. The layout only called for one sentiment strip, but I think this still works...

 Materials Used:
Apple of My Eye stamp set, Apple Shaker and Teacher Word dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Kraft and Simply Chartreuse cardstock,Simply Chartreuse patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Close to Cocoa and Riding Hood Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!)

For a Great Teacher

I couldn't let Teacher Appreciation Week go by without sharing a teacher themed design! This one is based on the current challenge at Sunday Stamps. It's a loose interpretation of the sketch, but I think it still works...

My focal image is the large stitched apple I created with a die from Lil' Inker Designs. I positioned the apple at the right side of a kraft card base, then added a strip of green gingham patterned paper across the cardfront at the bottom of the apple. For texture, I wrapped a piece of cream twine around the strip and secured it with a tiny bow before adding it to the card. A strip of dark brown cardstock was tucked beneath the bottom edge of the gingham strip to set it off from the kraft cardfront. For the sentiment, I stamped the "for a great teacher" sentiment from LID's Apple of My Eye stamp set in red ink on a cream panel. The panel was matted on green cardstock and placed on the cardfront at the bottom of the apple using foam tape.

Materials Used:
Apple of My Eye stamp set, Apple Shaker dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Kraft and Simply Chartreuse cardstock,Simply Chartreuse patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); twine; foam tape