Stampin' Up! Branch Out

Playing along with the weekly color challenge over at Splitcoast. It was olive, suede, and gold, but I had to substitute because I don't have gold.  I feel like a one person anti-gold club.  lol I love silver, but I've never purchased gold paper that I can remember.  I don't know if I even have gold embossing powder.  It's probably gross by now if I do.

This card was a bit of a blast from the past for me. It's more the original style I started out as. And it's only Stampin' Up! products too.  I've been trying to declutter my room and figure out what I want to keep and what to donate/sell, so I thought I'd play around with some stuff before I decided on them. I'd never get rid of Branch Out EVER, but some inks and paper might have to go.  I have so much.  I may hang on to it for a while and see if I need it when I volunteer with the PTO this fall. Or maybe not. lol SO MUCH STUFF.

We haven't had any pictures of Laila done in ages because she just won't cooperate. Last month we went home to Kentucky to visit with family and I had my cousin try to do some.  She didn't cooperate of course, but he did manage to get a few good shots. Not posed studio ones, but ones that reflect her I feel.

Now I'm off to bed. It's been a long week and I'm pooped. Laila has play therapy at 8am, so we'll be getting up early.  Yawn

Splitcoast Challenges!

Before you ask, yes, I made this.  It is not my normal style, but isn't that the point of challenges?   We won't talk about how distressing I find distressing or how I cringe when I put things on crooked...let's just focus on the card.    What do you think?   I had to channel my friend Ann a bit on this one.   She is amazing at the distressed look and is the reigning queen of the color spritzer.   I need to ask her  for some vacuuming tips now that my floor is covered with little balls of paper from all the distressing.  :)

So what possessed me to make this and do all the tearing and distressing?    Nope.  It's not the lack of carbs for a week.   It was for this week's color challenge over on Splitcoast!   They asked us to use gray, turquoise, and white.   I love turquoise with red, but I wasn't sure about this gray thing.   I do like how it turned out though.   Now it was also for a secret challenge on Splitcoast as well.   This week they are having the Dare to Get Dirty challenges for fan club members.   So...if you aren't a member of the website. go sign up!   If you are but aren't a fan club member, do that!   It's fun.   Who doesn't like fun?  

Stamps:  Grunge Rock
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray
Paper:  Naturals White, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray, Brights DSP stack, Neutrals DSP stack
Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones
Tools: Big Shot, Stars #2 die, cutter kit, sponges

CC332: pool party with wasabi chips

Here is my card for this week's color challenge on Splitcoast.   We were asked to use Pool Party, Wild Wasabi, and Chocolate Chip.   At first I didn't like those together, but once I toned down the WW it went together much, much better.    This card was totally inspired by a beautiful work of art by Teneale Williams.   Her cards are some of the most amazing I've ever laid eyes on, so be sure you swing by her blog and check them out.  If you notice, I used Raining Flowers again; maybe we'll be friends after all.  :)

Stamps:  Raining Flowers, French Foliage, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:   Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, Pool Party
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, First Edition designer paper
Accessories:   Vintage Brads, Very Vanilla 3/8 taffeta ribbon
Tools:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder

Class Cards & a Challenge

I finally stamped this week!   I have had a pretty blah month, so I haven't felt like getting in my room and stamping very much.   I am trying to make myself go do it this week as it improves my mood so much.   I have a clean-and-simple class planned for next week, so I decided to work on some ideas for that and to do at least one challenge as well.   

This card was inspired by Maureen's card found here.   I love her style!    This one is my favorite of the three cards I'm posting today; I think it is lovely.   The layout uses the clean-and-simple sketch for this week's challenge on Splitcoast.  

Stamps:  Apple Blossoms, Vintage Vogue

Ink:  Baja Breeze

Paper:  Greenhouse Gala designer paper, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze

Accessories:  basic pearls

Tools:  mat pack, paper piercer, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies die

Here's another simple, yet elegant card.   Here I used one of my favorite colors, Pear Pizzazz to give Elizabeth her first inking.    I find this stamp to be a tad bit challenging, but I like how this turned out.  

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Elizabeth

Ink:  Pear Pizzazz

Paper: Greenhouse Gala designer paper, Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories:  basic pearls, Very Vanilla 3/8 taffeta ribbon

Tools:  Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Scallop Trim Border Punch

Finally, here is my challenge card for today.   This is for the color challenge on Splitcoast to use Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla.   This is one of those cards where the idea just didn't translate like I wanted, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it.    It might end up being one that I take apart or add to once I think about what needs to be changed to make me love it.  :)

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

Paper:  Jolly Holiday designer paper, Woodland Walk designer paper, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla

Tools:  Big Shot, Fancy Favor Die (I love the little border that it makes!)