Double the Challenge

Today I decided to work on the idea for Just Add Ink that I didn't have time to finish on Saturday.  After seeing this week's Mojo Monday sketch, I did change up things a bit.   I thought it was a neat sketch and lent itself to a more clean-and-simple card which is what I had time to make.  :)  

I chose primary colors for my card since it is meant for a teacher thank you card.  I added in a few other elements like the School Lines stamp and the spiral order punch.  Those both work perfectly with the school boy from Greeting Card Kids.   I stamped him on a scrap of Whisper White and then colored and cut him out.   He is popped up on dimensionals and stands out quite nicely.   :)    I will say that it is not a card that I'd normally make, but working outside our comfort zones is what makes us better stampers, right? 

Stamps: Thank You Kindly, Greeting Card Kids, School Lines
Ink:  Real Red, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede, Blush Blossom
Paper:  Real Red, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Brights DSP stack, Whisper White
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Stripes and Houndstooth embossing folders, Labels framelits, scallop circle punch, spiral border punch, blender pen

Just Add Kathy!

I hope you don't pass out when you see this post!   I actually did a challenge that I'm NOT on the design team for!   It feels like forever since I've done that.   I just had to play along with this one though.   The challenge this week at Just Add Ink is to CASE my awesome friend Kathy!   So, I did!  :)

Here's the card of Kathy's that I picked to do:

Gorgeous, huh? I thought so.  In fact, I got bought the square punch just to make similar cards!   I just hadn't found the time to do one yet, so this challenge was perfect!  I wanted to do a birthday card for mine, and here is what I ended up with:

My pictures never turn out that great anymore, but I promise this is just stunning in person.   I combined some of my favorite sets, both current and retired, along with one of my favorite colors, Early Espresso.    I didn't have the Neutrals brads, so I used some of the much-neglected Vintage Trinkets instead.   I think it turned out wonderfully and now I'm thinking up other stamp sets that would work with this design.   Thanks so much Kathy for the inspiration! 

Stamps:  Gently Falling (R), All Holidays (R), French Foliage

Ink:  Early Espresso

Paper:  Early Espresso, Naturals White

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, sponges, 1 3/8 square punch, Vintage Trinkets

Red and Pink Christmas

Well, I've said many times that I love non-traditional colors for Christmas, so here's a bit more proof!     When I saw the color combination at Just Add Ink this week, I knew I'd be doing a Christmas card.   Cherry Cobbler always makes me think Christmas and I knew I could somehow work in Blushing Bride with it.   One of my favorite products is Cherry Cobbler seam binding, so that was my first thought when I saw the Pals Paper Arts challenge to use ribbon.   Nothing makes bows quite like the seam binding.  I love it!

What do you think?   I have a friend who just loves pink, so I know where this one is going next month!   :)

Stamps:  Bright Hopes
Ink:  Versamark
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Blushing Bride, Whisper White
Tools/Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler embossing powder, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, embossing buddy, heat tool, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder

JAI 90: Sketch Challenge

First, I apologize for the lack of posts this week.  It's been one of those weeks mentally and my heart just wasn't in trying to create anything.   I decided to try making something today and here's my second card of the day.   The first one you'll have to wait on.  :)   My upline, Denise, was kind enough to lend me her Gently Falling stamp set so I've been putting it to work.   I'll definitely be sad to give this one back next week!  How gorgeous is that leaf?   I normally hate 2-step stamps as they don't fit completely in the lines, but I think I could manage to get over that with this one.  :)   Anyway, I thought it would be great for the sketch over at Just Add Ink.  I don't own an oval die, so I hope it was okay that I used a square!

Stamps:  Gently Falling, en Francais, Tiny Tags, Woodgrain
Ink:  Soft Suede, Pool Party, More Mustard
Paper:  More Mustard, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Scallop Squares duo die, Jewelry Tag punch, Pool Party ruffled ribbon, sponges

JAI 86: Just Add Snow

I was in a snowman kind of mood today, so decided to make a Christmas card using this week's Just Add Ink sketch.   The lovely snowflakes are from my new Northern Frost die that came in my order yesterday.  I love it already!  The different snowflakes are all so pretty.   I think it works perfectly with my Snow Much Fun stamp set.    Isn't he cute?  I added a bit of bling with some Dazzling Details and Basic Rhinestones.  (and of course you can't see my sparkly glitter, but it is there!   :)

Stamps:  Snow Much Fun
Ink:  Island Indigo, Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Staz On Black
Paper:  Whisper White, Pool Party, Island Indigo
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Northern Flurry embossing folder, Northern Frost sizzlit strip, Dazzling Details, Basic Rhinestones, blender pens

JAI84: Colour Challenge

This is my card for the Just Add Ink challenge this week.   They challenged us to use white plus one other color.   Now normally I would not pick Pumpkin Pie as a focus for a card, but the strip of designer paper jumped out at me as I was looking for a color.   I think it turned out beautifully!

Stamps:  Hello Doily, Tiny Tags
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Versamark
Paper:  Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Flirtatious designer paper
Accessories:  Pumpkin Pie taffeta ribbon, basic pearls, clear embossing powder
Tools: heat tool, embossing buddy, dotted scallop ribbon punch, jewelry tag punch, sponge

Two challenges

This first card was made for the colourQ challenge.  Of course I missed the deadline for that one; I always seem to have issues with that challenge deadline!    I need to do better next week and get it submitted on time.   The challenge was to combine a past colourQ challenge with a sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping.   I loved the fall colors of Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, and Peach Parfait from challenge #50, so I used those for my card.   I did do a bit of distressing, so it's not a total CAS card.     

While I had all those gorgeous colors on my desk, I decided to do a card for the sketch challenge over at Just Add Ink.    I left out the peach on this one and I think this just might be one of my favorite new color combinations!     It is a super fun sketch, so go check it out!

In Color Owl

Today is a lazy Sunday so I decided to keep my card simple. Mr. Owl is so adorable that he doesn't need much to make a card super cute. 

This card is for two challenges, the sketch challenge at Just Add Ink and the color challenge at Pals Paper Arts.

Stamps: Tiny Tags
Ink: Poppy Parade
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade, Whisper White, In Color Hostess paper
Tools: Big Shot, Little Leaves die, Lots of Tags die, Owl punch

Just Add Candy

Just Add Ink's challenge is super fun this week. It is a color combination, but most definitely NOT an ordinary one. You were to be inspired and create a card based on the colors of your favorite chocolate bar wrapper. Any idea what wrapper inspired this card?   I'll post the answer tomorrow.  :)

Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments (hostess)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Pacific Point, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Neutrals and Brights Designer Paper stacks
Tools: Owl punch, Itty Bitty Punch pack
Accessories: Basic Pearls

My idea was based on an Almond Joy candy wrapper, but I love Mounds too (dark chocolate...yum), so I think it probably ended up being more of a combination of the two.  I would have had to use a bit less red for a true Almond Joy look.    Great challenge!

Simply Sweet

Love free stuff? This card was made with the beautiful Sweet Summer stamp set. You can get for free right now during Sale-a-bration by placing a $50 order! I love it and I think it makes the most adorable cards.

This card combines two different challenges:
Just Add Ink's color challenge: http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/2011/03/jai-60-colour-combo.html
and the Clean & Simple Sketch: http://cleanandsimplestamping.blogspot.com/2011/03/early-132.html

Stamps: Sweet Summer (SAB), Watercolor Trio (retired)
Ink: Staz-on; Old Olive, Crumb Cake, and Rich Razzleberry markers
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, and Brights Designer Series stack
Tools: Scallop Border punch
Accessories: Basic Pearls

Just Add New Stuff!

Two benefits of being a demonstrator are getting sneak peeks and preordering merchandise from upcoming catalogs. There is going to be a new promotion coming up next month and here is just a little preview of what you have to look forward to. 

This is my take on the Just Add Ink sketch of today. 

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Four Frames (promotion set!)

Ink: Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz

Paper: Early Espresso, Whisper White, Paisley Petals Designer Paper (promotion paper!)

Tools: Designer Label Punch

Accessories: In Color Glimmer Brads, Regals brads, Early Espresso satin ribbon

Sorry about the bad picture yet again. The only issue with stamping at night is the lack of sunlight for good photos.