Girls Rule

Here's another take on the current (and very first!) sketch at Poppy Sketches, sponsored by Starving Artistamps.  You can find all of the challenge details, some amazing design team samples for inspiration, and a coupon code to use at Starving Artistamps here.

I used the princess stamp from the Starving Artistamps Royalty set for my card.I stamped the princess on white cardstock and colored some of the image with Copic markers.  The dress was paper pieced with a piece of dotted paper.  For a little sparkle, I colored her crown with a silver gel pen.

For the background, I found a piece of floral paper with the challenge color palette--peony pink, blush, and tangerine.  I matted the panel on a piece of dark pink cardstock, then adhered it to a pale pink card base.  I added a strip of wide rose colored ric rac along the bottom of the patterned paper panel, extending to the edges of the card base.  I used foam tape to secure the princess at the bottom of the card, overlapping the ric rac.  The "girls rule" sentiment was stamped on a piece of orange cardstock.  I die cut it with a fishtail flag die and tied a piece of narrow rose grosgrain ribbon around it, then adhered it to the top of the card.  A few pink sequins add a final girly touch to the design.

Starving Artistamps is offering a generous discount to Poppy Sketches fans through the end of April, so be sure to stop by and check out the store, too.  They have a great assortment of stamps and sentiments, too.  The Doodle Factory sets are some of my favorites--be sure to check them out.  Happy shopping!

Materials Used:
Royalty stamp set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black inks (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette cardstock, rose grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Summer Sunrise cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Hello Sunshine-Claire designer paper (Lawn Fawn); The Sweetest Thing-Tangerine 6x6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); Die-namics Fishtail Flag Layers Stax die (My Favorite Things); silver gel pen (Signo); pink ric rac (American Crafts); sequins (Avery Elle); foam tape

Poppy Sketches #1-Make a Wish

Today is the very first sketch at the brand new Poppy Sketches challenge blog!  I'm so excited to be a part of the talented team Laura has assembled and I'm looking forward to sharing cards based on her sketches. For a fun twist, each sketch will also include a pop of color palette.  This week the team is being sponsored by Starving Artistamps. 

Here's my card for the sketch, using the well image from the Exterior Elements set.  I colored the well with Copic markers and fussy cut it.  For the background, I set a piece of rose colored patterned paper on a pale pink card base.  I covered the bottom of the patterned paper panel with a strip of pale pink paper, then added a tangerine open scalloped strip on top.  A piece of rose grosgrain ribbon hides the seams between the different pieces and adds a little texture, too.  I stamped the "make a wish" sentiment from an older Starving Artistamps set next to the well directly on the patterned paper using gray ink.  I topped the card with a pair of banner strips and a rose button, tied with pale pink baker's twine.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Poppy Sketches team has created using the sketch and colors along with stamps from Starving Artistamps.   Here's where to find them:

Laura Davis, challenge owner
Lee Murphy, design team coordinator
Amy Crockett,
Amy Tsuruta,
Lisa Petrella,
Lori Tecler--you're here!
Renee' Dezember

After you've checked out the design team's creations, be sure to take a look at the Starving Artistamps store, too.  Tracey, the owner of Starving Artistamps, has generously offered a month-long discount to Poppy Sketches fans.  Happy stamping--and shopping!

Materials Used:
Exterior Elements stamp set (Starving Artistamps); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Gray Flannel inks (Tsukineko); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); markers (Copic); Sweet Blush and Summer Sunrise cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Regal Rose cardstock, Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Penny Lane-Feeling Groovy "Uniquely You" Individual Blooms designer paper (My Mind's Eye); Die-namics Fishtail Flag Layers Stax and Double Scallop Border dies (My Favorite Things); pink baker's twine (Divine Twine); pink button (Michaels); foam tape

Hey Chick

Here's my card for this week's SCS clean and simple challenge to use pale yellow, pale aqua, and white. Since it was (finally!) spring-like today, I went very spring-y with a chick themed card. I used Twee, the sweet chick from the DoodleFactory Country set from Starving Artistamps, as my focal image. The chick's colored with Copic markers and cut out. I used foam tape to layer the chick on an aqua panel that I covered with two patterned paper panels for a little contrast. A white scalloped border adds some interest to the aqua panel's edge. The coordinating "hey chick" sentiment is stamped on a yellow banner die strip and stretched across the patterned paper panels. A yellow button tied with some baker's twine anchors the strip. What a cheery chick! Materials Used: DoodleFactory Country and Country Sentiments #2 sets (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Barely Banana cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Aqua Mist cardstock, Bitty Box Basics patterned paper, Lemon Tart button (Papertrey Ink); Quite Contrary patterned paper (My Mind's Eye); baker's twine (The Twinery); foam tape

Somebunny Special

I'm so glad it's spring so I can pull out some of my favorite bunny images! I used one from the DoodleFactory Easter set from Starving Artistamps for this week's Paper Craft Planet sketch challenge, designed by Kim.

I stamped the Freckles bunny on white cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers. After cutting it out, I added some white flock for a fluffy, puffy tail. The bunny's set on a blue panel with a border punched grass strip along the bottom.

I went for a super spring-y look using bright papers from Echo Park's Sweet Summertime line. I picked a somewhat busy floral for the card base and a green gingham for the strip across the cardfront. The sentiment is stamped directly on the gingham panel. I edged the panel with a strip of yellow along the top and a dotted yellow ribbon with a matching bow along the bottom. The assembled panel is set on a yellow cardfront for a sunny finish.

If you play along with this week's sketch, be sure to add your card to the Linky Tools widget found here so everyone can check it out. I'm off to get ready to cheer on the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA basketball tournament. Go Red!

Materials Used:

DoodleFactory Easter and All About Easter stamp sets (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Soft Sky, Kiwi Kiss, and Crushed Curry cardstock, Crushed Curry dotted grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Hawaiian Shores cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Sweet Summertime designer papers (Echo Park); grass border punch (Martha Stewart); white flock (Stampendous); Bow Easy; foam tape

Can You Dig It?

Today's SCS clean and simple challenge was to make a humorous card. Mine's kind of on the gross, childish side of humor, but I still think it's funny.

I used Zed, one of the creatures from the DoodleFactory Creatures II set from Starving Artistamps for my card. Zed's colored with Copic markers and cut out. I used foam tape to attach him to a cork circle. Using textured items like cork is a great way to add lots of interest to a clean and simple card. I stamped the coordinating "can you dig it?" sentiment directly on the cork, using my stamp positioner to place the individual words.

In keeping with the challenge, the rest of the card is very simple. I placed a fun patterned paper panel on an aqua card base and ran a strip of coordinating grosgrain ribbon along the bottom edge of the panel. A big button, tied with some baker's twine, accents the end of the ribbon. I attached the cork circle at the opposite end of the ribbon. The whole card took me less than 30 minutes from start to finish. Clean, simple, and funny-all at once!

Starving Artistamps is one of my favorite sources for images with coordinating funny and witty sentiments. Definitely check it out if you haven't already. Tracey's running a great special right now through March 17--you can find all the details here.

Materials Used:

DoodleFactory Creatures II stamp set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist cardstock, Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon, Orange Zest button (Papertrey Ink); Alphabet Soup-Boy Collection Kit (My Mind's Eye); circle die (Spellbinders); cork (Creative Impressions); baker's twine (The Twinery); foam tape

Wish You Were Here

Jessica shared a great sketch for this week's Paper Craft Sketch challenge. I pulled out an old favorite set, DoodleFactory Final Frontier from Starving Artistamps, for a fun, space themed take on the sketch.

I made a little outer space scene for the image panel on a piece of navy cardstock. The space ship image was stamped on white cardstock and paper pieced with some shimmery silver paper for a metal-like look. I masked the ship, then stamped the alien image inside it. He's colored with Copic markers. I stamped the space ship image again on a piece of acetate and cut out the dome part of the image. It's set on the stamped image for a glassy look.

For some dimension, I added a layered "moon" in the corner of the panel. The top layer has different sized circle "craters" punched out of it and is attached to the solid bottom layer with foam tape. I spritzed it with some shimmer spray for a sparkly look.

The rest of the card is pretty simple. I used a light blue card base and attached a strip of blue on blue dotted patterned paper to the bottom. The image panel is layered on a green mat, coordinating with the alien's color. A strip of light blue twill ribbon runs along the right side of the image panel. I added a blue button, tied with baker's twine, to anchor it. The sentiment is heat embossed in silver to stand out against the patterned background.

If you play along with this week's sketch, be sure to link it up using the Linky Tools widget found at the end of this post on the Paper Craft Planet blog so everyone can check it out. You can also upload it to the PCP gallery using the keyword sk030511.

Materials Used:
DoodleFactory Final Frontier stamp set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink,Sparkle Shimmer Spritz (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Kiwi Kiss, and Crushed Curry cardstock, silver embossing powder (Stampin' Up!); Jet Black ink (StazOn); Little Boy Collection Kit patterned paper (Echo Park); silver shimmer paper (Recollections); circle dies (Spellbinders); circle punches (EK Success); Spring Rain twill, Enchanted Evening button, Enchanted Evening baker's twine (Papertrey Ink); foam tape; acetate

Who Rules?

Here's my card for this week's SCS sketch challenge. I went super girly with the princess image from the new Antidepresstamps Royalty set from Starving Artistamps.

The princess is colored with Copic markers. I dotted some pink Liquid Pearls on her crown for a fun sparkle and some dimension.

I used several shades of pink for the cardfront. The base is covered with a piece of striped paper. To add some texture, I used rose cardstock embossed with a dotted pattern for the panel on the left side of the cardfront. The "girls rule" sentiment is stamped on ribbon strip and set on a solid deep pink panel with paper piercing along the bottom. The colored image panel is set on the right end of this strip. Looking at it now, I probably should have added some bling along the edge of the embossed panel. I just might go back and do that later on . . .

Materials Used:

Antidepresstamps Royalty set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose and Melon Mambo cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Be Mine Collection Kit (Echo Park); Polka Dots embossing folder (QuicKutz); pink grosgrain ribbon (Morex); pink Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

And, in the interest of fairness, I figured I'd make things even and share a little boy card featuring the set's prince image. I used the colors from this week's Color Throwdown as inspiration for my card--they're perfect for a boy card!

I colored the prince with Copic markers and again dotted the crown with Liquid Pearls. Since this is a boy card, I went pretty simple. I built the card around a piece of Basic Grey's Marjolaine designer paper that matched the challenge colors.

I added a piece of twill, custom colored with a Copic marker to get a darker shade of green. I added some brown ric rac underneath the twill. A blue button, tied with baker's twine, anchors the trims and ties them together. I stamped the set's "boys rule" sentiment above the trims. The celery panel at the bottom of the card was a last-minute addition. It breaks up the pattern just enough. In the end, I'm not sure who rules--boys or girls--but both are cute!

Materials Used:

Antidepresstamps Royalty set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Ballet Blue and Certainly Celery cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Marjolaine paper pad (Basic Grey); circle dies (Spellbinders); gold Liquid Pearls (Ranger); twill, ric rac (Martha Stewart); button, baker's twine (Papertrey Ink)

Meeting Royalty

Today, I'm pleased to introduce you to the newest members of the Starving Artistamps family, the Antidepresstamps Royalty collection. You can check out the full collection here. I have a pair of cards to share today using images from the collection.

Let's start with the king. I put him front and center in this fun, perfect for Valentine's Day card with a bold, bright color scheme.

The king is colored with Copic markers in regal shades of red, blue, and gold. I added some clear crystal bling to his crown and used a little bit of Stickles on his sceptre.

A piece of blue paper with a bold circle pattern is set behind the king. I continued the circle element by using a panel of embossed red cardstock to cover most of the cardfront. The sentiment is stamped on a ribbon strip and set underneath the king's feet. I attached a small red felt heart to one end of the ribbon and dressed it up with a blue button tied with a little baker's twine--a sweet embellishment, but not too sweet for a masculine card.

Materials Used:
Antidepresstamps Royalty set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Riding Hood Red and Pacific Point cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Night Light Collection Kit (October Afternoon); circle dies (Spellbinders); Polka Dots embossing folder (Sizzix); button, heart die, red felt (Papertrey Ink); red grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); clear crystals (Imaginisce); Diamond Stickles (Ranger); baker's twine (Divine Twine)

And, here's the kingdom's lovely queen. I colored her in soft shades of pink. Her necklace is dotted with Liquid Pearls. A few clear crystals complete her elegant look. She's set on a fancy-edged panel using foam tape.

I went with a mostly monochromatic color scheme for the card. A panel of striped Echo Park paper runs across the pale pink card base. A strip of bold pink ribbon is knotted around the striped paper, breaking up the pattern a little. The panel's edged with a decorative strip in the same bold pink as the ribbon to tie the pieces together. I stamped the "it's good to be the queen" sentiment directly on the patterned paper.

Be sure to stop by the Starving Artistamps gallery for more design team samples using this new collection.

Materials Used:
Antidepresstamps Royalty set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette and Melon Mambo cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Be Mine Collection Kit (Echo Park); Labels 4 die (Spellbinders); Perfect Bracket Edge die (My Favorite Things); pink grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); White Opal Liquid Pearls (Ranger); clear crystals (Imaginisce); foam tape

Cutie Patootie

Here's my card for today's SCS featured stamper challenge. I picked this baby card to recreate using images from the DoodleFactory Oh Baby! set from Starving Artistamps.

I used the sitting baby Izzy image for my card. Izzy's in a similar position as the image on the inspiration card, so I thought she'd be a good fit. I colored her with Copic markers and cut her out, then attached her to a white circle with foam tape. Once I had her in place, I added three pink brads along the left side of the panel, opposite of the side the brads were on in the original design, but a better fit here. I slipped a dotted paper strip underneath the imag panel before layering it on an aqua circle that was large enough to leave a nice, solid border around the image panel. The "cutie patootie" sentiment was stamped on a white strip and attached to the image panel so it extends beyond its edge.

I used a pastel plaid paper to cover most of the cardfront. It seemed like a good, gender-neutral choice for a baby card. I machine stitched around it, even though the original card didn't have stitching. I just exchanged my new sewing machine, so I wanted to try it out and make sure all the stitches work, so I gave it a spin on the card (and, yes, the stitches all work). I ran a strip of green twill across the card, then layered on a piece of pink felt ric rac before attaching the panel to an aqua card base. Once all of that was in place, I added the Izzy image panel to complete the card.

Now that I've watched the Capitals beat the Penguins (and the Wisconsin Badgers defeat the Michigan State Spartans, too--I'm a big multi-tasker!), I'm off to take Chloe the cutie puppy for a walk in her new coat. She got a haircut this week and it ended up being a pretty close crop, so I got her a girly pink coat to keep her warm. We'll see how that works out for us . . . Then it's back home to watch the Super Bowl. After living in Wisconsin for five years during college, there's no way I couldn't back the Packers in today's game. Go Pack!

Materials Used:

DoodleFactory Oh Baby! and Sentiments Baby sets (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist cardstock, Bitty Dot Basics patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Sweet Pea mat stack (The Paper Studio); circle dies (Spellbinders); olive twill (Stampin' Up!); pink brads (Making Memories); pink felt ric rac (Joann); foam tape; sewing machine

Chill Out

Since much of the country seems to be snow-covered right now, it seemed only appropriate to go with a snow-covered card today. I combined today's SCS sketch challenge with this week's Color Throwdown colors--Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Early Espresso, and Kraft--for this chilly card.

I used a fun image from the DoodleFactory Arctic collection from Starving Artistamps for my focal image. I colored Dodge with Copic markers, adding a little white flock to his hat and cuffs. The image is cut out and added to the scene with foam tape. I used an embossing folder for the snowy texture, rubbing the raised flakes with a shimmery white ink for a little sparkle and added snow along the bottom of the panel with torn strips of shimmery white cardstock.

The scene is set on some snowflake patterned paper. I matted the paper on a So Saffron mat, then machine-stitched aroudn the edges. The set's "chill out" sentiment is stamped along the side of the image panel in dark brown ink. I added a pair of brads as an accent, then layered the piece on a kraft card base to finish the card.

Materials Used:

DoodleFactory Arctic stamp set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black and Brilliance Moonlight White inks (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Dark Chocolate ink (Papertrey Ink); The Winter Combo matstack (DCWV); Snowflakes embossing folder (QuicKutz); white flock (Stampendous); brads; sewing machine; foam tape

To the Moon and Back

Here's my card for today's SCS featured stamper challenge. I loved Emily's robot cards, so I remade this one using Dot from the DoodleFactory Final Frontier set from Starving Artistamps.

I went with a red, black and gray color scheme for the card. Dot is colored with cool gray Copic markers with just a little red. I cut her out, then coated her with a little shimmer spray for a metallic sparkle.

I used a heart patterned paper from BoBunny's Crush line for the panel on the cardfront. It's layered on a black mat, then set on a gray panel. I corner rounded the panel's edges, then machine stitched around the edges. I got better at going around the curves by the second curved corner--LOL! The stitched panel is set on a Poppy Parade card base.

Once the gray panel was in place, I attached Dot with foam tape. I debated for a while about adding the moon behind her and (as you can see) in the end I decided to put it in. I used a circle punch to make the crescent shape, then ran it through my Big Shot with a dotted embossing folder for a bumpy look. The matching sentiment is set at the bottom edge of the patterned paper panel. I accented it with a button tied with some black baker's twine.

Materials Used:

DoodleFactory Final Frontier and Urban Sentiments #2 sets (Starving Artistamps); Tuxedo Black ink, Frost Shimmer Spritz (Tsukineko); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); markers (Copic); Poppy Parade, Basic Black, Basic Gray, and Crushed Curry cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Crush 6 x 6 paper pad (BoBunny); circle punches (EK Success); Polka Dots embossing folder (QuicKutz); button (Papertrey Ink); black baker's twine (Divine Twine); sewing machine; corner rounder; foam tape

Bee My Valentine

Here's my card for today's SCS clean and simple challenge. Based on Cindy's great sketch, this bright Valentine's Day card came together in just about 15 minutes.

I stamped the Beezley the bee image from the DoodleFactory Valentine Remix set from Starving Artistamps on a scrap of white cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers. After I cut out the image, I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the bee's wings for a little sparkle.

I set the image aside while I set up the little scene panel. I stamped the "bee my valentine" sentiment along the bottom of the light blue panel in bold red ink. I added a die cut white felt cloud, extending just a bit off the edge of the panel. The bee is attached to the panel with foam tape. The completed scene is attached to a Daffodil Delight card base--matches the bee's color perfectly! I knotted a red grosgrain ribbon strip around the top of the card and cut notches in the end to complete the card. Too sweet!

Materials Used:

DoodleFactory Valentine Remix and Valentines Sentiments sets (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Real Red Classic ink, Daffodil Delight and Soft Sky cardstock, Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin' Up!); red grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); cloud die (Papertrey Ink); foam tape; white felt

You Drive Me Bananas

Now that the holidays are over, I'm ready to move on to new crafting themes. I made this fun Valentine's Day card yesterday for this week's Paper Craft Planet sketch challenge.

The focal image is Chip, one of the adorable monkey images from the DoodleFactory Valentine Remix set from Starving Artistamps. I colored the monkey with Copic markers and added in some grass beneath him, also using Copics. A small red felt heart, dressed up with a red button, fills in a little of the white space on the image panel.

I used two different patterned papers for the cardfront. A plaid one runs across the card, edged with a solid red strip on the bottom and a scalloped heart border strip on top. I've had these borders in my stash for a while, so it was nice to break open the package and put one to use. I wrapped some red baker's twine around the panel and tied the ends in a tiny bow. The coordinating sentiment is set on a white tab that's slipped underneath the patterned paper panel. All of the pieces are set on a yellow paper with a very subtle textured-looking pattern that I picked to coordinate with the yellow I used on the monkey image.

If you get a chance to try out the sketch, be sure to link it up using the Linky Tools widget on the Paper Craft Planet blog. And, you can always upload your card to the PCP gallery--be sure to use the keyword 010111 so it can be added to the album with the rest of this week's creations.

Materials Used:

Chip from DoodleFactory Valentine Remix and Valentines Sentiment sets (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (X-Press); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Riding Hood Red Classic ink, Riding Hood Red and Creamy Caramel cardstock (Stampin' Up!); A to KaZoo designer paper (K & Company); Made with Love collection designer paper (KaiserCraft); heart border (Martha Stewart); heart die, Pure Poppy button, Pure Poppy baker's twine, natural twine (Papertrey Ink); Corner Chomper; red felt

Forever and Always

Here's my card for Mercy's last sketch challenge. I'm sad to see her challenges end--I always enjoyed playing along and was so honored to be asked to join her team as a Guest Muse for September.

I used one of the new Juniper and Jupiter images from Starving Artistamps called Forever & Always. I stamped the happy couple on white cardstock and colored them with Copic markers, then carefully cut them out. They're layered on a white doily using foam tape.

The rest of the card's pretty simple. I used a pale pink card base to coordinate with Juniper's dress and added a patterned paper panel over most of it to add some interest. A brushed silver scallop edged strip runs across the card, but is mostly covered by the doily. I added a strip of rose ribbon along the top of the silver scalloped panel for a little more color. The "forever & always" sentiment is stamped beneath the image in black ink. The final touch was some White Opal Liquid Pearls dotted on to Juniper's jewelry. I saved that for last, hoping that it would help me to not smear the stuff--LOL!

Materials Used:

Juniper and Jupiter Forever & Always (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Couture Cardstock); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette and Brushed Silver cardstock, Pink Pirouette Patterns DSP, Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); large scallop die (Papertrey Ink); White Opal Liquid Pearls (Ranger); doily; foam tape

Jupiter Has a Surprise for You

Here's my card for today's SCS sketch challenge. I went with a simple blue color scheme to show off the sweet Surprise Jupiter image from Starving Artistamps.

Jupiter is colored with Copic markers in shades of browns and blues. I tried to keep it sort of masculine. I paired the colored image with two patterned papers from a DCWV holiday mat stack. I went with my standard dots and stripes combo, using dots for the background panel and stripes for the layers. I didn't mat the layers, but maybe I should have to make them stand out a little more . . .

A trio of snowflake buttons decorates the top of the card. I tied some baker's twine through the buttonholes for a pop of color on the white. The holes in these buttons were super tiny, so I used an old-fashioned needle threader to help me get the job done. I decided to leave the sentiment off so that the card would work for the holidays or for a birthday.

That's it for tonight. I'm off to bed shortly--have to be up early in the morning to drive to a training that's a while away in the unpleasant DC area traffic.

Materials Used:

Present Jupiter image (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Couture Cardstock); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pacific Point cardstock (Stampin' Up!); The Winter Combo matstack (DCWV); snowflake buttons (Blumenthal Lansing); Enchanted Evening baker's twine (Papertrey Ink)

Keeping Warm with Jupiter and Juniper

Here’s a simple winter card featuring the new Winter Jupiter image from Starving Artistamps. I used a great color combination from this week’s Color Throwdown for the card—Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, and Chocolate Chip. I love the blue/brown combo!

I colored Jupiter with Copic markers and cut him out. The pom pom at the top of his hat is covered with some white flock for a fluffy look. I made a snowy scene for Jupiter to sit in. The background is a Marina Mist panel, embossed with a snowflake pattern that’s been brushed with shimmery white ink to highlight the raised images. I added some torn shimmery white strips along the bottom of the panel for the snowy ground.

I attached the completed scene to some paper with a subtle snowflake pattern. The “let it snow” sentiment is stamped along the side of the image panel in Marina Mist ink. I added a glittery snowflake with a button center as a fun accent.

Materials Used:
Winter Jupiter image (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Couture Cardstock); Memento Tuxedo Black and Brilliance Moonlight White inks (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Marina Mist Classic ink, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); designer paper (DCWV); Snowflake embossing folder (QuicKutz); button (Clear and Simple Stamps); baker’s twine (The Twinery); acetate snowflake (Me and My Big Ideas); white flock (Stampendous); foam tape

I couldn’t show you Winter Jupiter without giving equal time to his female counterpart, Winter Juniper. So, here she is. I made this one a sweet Valentine’s Day card by using shades of pink and red along with some heart patterned paper.

Juniper is colored with Copic markers. I used some Sparkly Fluff to accent her coat, muff, and boots. She’s seated on a red satin ribbon strip. I added a button-embellished bow to the end of the ribbon, tied up with a little red baker’s twine.

I used a strip of Papertrey Ink’s Simple Valentine paper across the cardfront. The “you melt my heart” sentiment is stamped on a solid red panel and slipped underneath the patterned paper.

Materials Used:
Winter Juniper image, DoodleFactory Arctic sentiment (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Couture Cardstock); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette and Real Red cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Simple Valentine patterned paper, Pure Poppy button, Pure Poppy baker’s twine (Papertrey Ink); Sugar Sparkly Fluff (Our Craft Lounge); red satin ribbon (Michaels); foam tape

In the Meadow We Can Build a Snowman

It is December 1 (and the first night of Hanukkah!), but you wouldn’t have known that from the 60+ degree temperature here at the start of the morning. There’d be no snowman building in that kind of weather—and after last winter’s record snowfall, that’s okay with me! By the end of the day, storms had pushed through and dropped the temperatures to a much more seasonal level, so I feel a little better about posting this wintery themed card for today’s SCS sketch challenge.

I used the pair of snowmen, named Twip and Oslo, from the new DoodleFactory Tis the Season set from Starving Artistamps for my snowy scene. The snowmen were stamped on shimmery white cardstock and colored in with Copic markers, then cut out. I embossed a Soft Sky panel with a snowflake pattern and brushed it with shimmery white ink for a subtle twinkle to match my snowmen. Some torn strips of shimmery white cardstock make the snowy ground. The snowmen are attached to the scene with foam tape.

I used some of Echo Park’s Wintertime designer paper for the panel behind the snowmen and to cover the cardfront, too. A little red ribbon knotted at the side of the image panel adds some texture. I added the coordinating sentiment, stamped in red, on an oval panel. A red felt snowflake to the side of the sentiment finished the card.

Materials Used:
DoodleFactory Tis the Season and Casual Holiday Greetings stamp sets (Starving Artistamps); Memento Tuxedo Black and Brilliance Moonlight White inks (Tsukineko); Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, and Shimmery White cardstock, Dazzling Diamonds, felt snowflake (Stampin’ Up!); Wintertime designer paper (Echo Park); oval dies (Spellbinders); Snowflake embossing folder (QuicKutz); clear crystal (Studio 18); red grosgrain ribbon (?); foam tape

Naughty or Nice?

It's a very happy Saturday here in our house. We're celebrating a big Wisconsin Badger football victory and a possible spot in the Rose Bowl on January 1. I was lucky enough to attend the Rose Bowl in 1994 and cheer the Badgers on to victory in a mostly Badger fan-filled stadium--what a surreal, fabulous, and memorable event! I may have to pull out one of Cosmo the crazy dog's Badger bandannas for Chloe the cutie puppy to wear in honor of the big win. Unlike him, she's not a big fan of the bandanna and I'm not sure I'll be able to change that. She even chews on her own dog tags, so I can only imagine how hard she'll be on a bandanna . . .

Anyway, here's a festive card for this week's Paper Craft Planet sketch challenge featuring another of the new releases from Starving Artistamps. This image is from the new Juniper and Jupiter collection and is called Juniper Elf. The elf is colored with Copic markers. I used the out of the box technique on the image panel so Juniper's legs are extending beneath the bottom of the panel.

I found some dotted paper to use for the bottom panel. I purposely selected a pale color with a simple pattern so I could stamp the "naughty or nice?" sentiment on the paper. I ran a strip of red ribbon underneath the sentiment and wrapped some red and white baker's twine around the ribbon a few times. After knotting the ribbon, I added a small gold bell as a fun accent for this week's Just Us Girls challenge to add a 3D holiday embellishment to your card.

If you join us and play along with this week's sketch, be sure to upload it to the PCP gallery with the keyword sk112710 so it can be added to the album with the rest of this week's creations.

Materials Used:

Juniper Elf image and Casual Holiday Greetings set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Couture Cardstock); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Pear Pizzazz and Riding Hood Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Snow & Cedar paper collection (Poppy Stamps); red grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); baker's twine (Papertrey Ink); bell

Tis the Season

Starving Artistamps just released two brand new sets of images that are perfect for the holiday season. I used Berry the elf from the new DoodleFactory Tis the Season collection for this card for today's SCS sketch challenge.

The elf is colored in seasonal shades of red and green using Copic markers. I added some white flock to her jacket as a fun accent.

The rest of the card is simple, even though there are a lot of layers going on here. I built the card around the panel of Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper that runs across the green cardfront. I layered the image over red and kraft panels. Some green ribbon adds interest to the kraft and zig zag machine stitching along the edges dresses up the red cardstock panel. Once I finished putting everything together, there wasn't any room for a sentiment on the front of this small 4 1/4" square card. I think I'll stamp the "naughty or nice" sentiment on the inside . . .

Materials Used:

Berry image--DoodleFactory Tis the Season set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Couture Cardstock); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, and Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Eskimo Kisses collection (Basic Grey); Spring Moss grosgrain ribbon (Papertrey Ink); white flock (Stampendous); sewing machine

Chill Out

I pulled out an image from the DoodleFactory Arctic collection from Starving Artistamps for this fun, wintery card. I used Jen's Sketch for You to Try for as the basis for the card.

I colored Dodge (the skier) with Copic markers then carefully cut the colored image out. I added a little white flock on his hat and cuffs for a fun touch. Then, I dropped the not yet cleaned, still somewhat inked stamp on my colored image and had to start over from square one . . . So, what you see here is the second version of the colored image. Once I had version #2 colored, cut out, and flocked, I added it to a snowy scene made from an aqua panel with shimmery white torn strips of "snow" along the bottom.

I used colors to coordinate with the blue-greens in the wintery We R Memory Keepers papers I used for the panels on the cardfront. I managed to cut them to just the right sizes on the first try—glad something worked well on the first try for this card! After arranging the patterned paper panels on the aqua card base, I added a felt sun with a button, then layered on the image panel. It probably would have been more appropriate to add a snowflake instead of a sun, but I liked the pop of color from the sun, so I ran with it. I stamped the coordinating “chill out” sentiment so it fit nicely on two of the patterned panels to complete the design.

Materials Used:
DoodleFactory Arctic stamp set (Starving Artistamps); white cardstock (Couture Cardstock); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores cardstock, Harvest Gold felt, Harvest Gold button (Papertrey Ink); Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Merry January designer papers (We R Memory Keepers); Die-Namics sun die (My Favorite Things); white flock (Stampendous); baker’s twine (The Twinery); foam tape