Thanks a Latte

I found this fun sketch on Splitcoaststampers this week.  I used to try to play along there a lot and need to again.  They have at least one challenge of some sort every day of the week.  Here's the whole list if you want to check them out.  It's a great source for inspiration.  

Now before I post my card, I'll warn you that it's not all Stampin' Up!   I know, I know.   The problem is me.  I have an addiction to coffee and that carries over into coffee STAMPS!   I try not to buy too many, but every now and then I give in...   I did see a sneak peek of a new coffee set coming in the new catalog, so I'm already waiting on that baby!  If you have a good eye, you can see it on this video showing off the new wood mount cases.  

I did use the cute heart from Like It a Latte..does that count?  :)   All the paper is SU of course.  I pulled out Old Olive to try to start getting used to using it again.  It wasn't TOO painful, but I do still prefer Lucky Limeade.  

Stamps:  Hero Arts, The Cat's Pajamas, SU Like It a Latte

Ink:  Early Espresso

Paper: Early Espresso, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Neutrals DSP stack

My cats are going through a major adjustment this week.  Laila has mastered pulling up, so she's constantly trying to grab them.  They are going to have to move up a level!  

SCS424: Chocolate Bunny

I found a little stamping time yesterday, so I thought I'd play along with the new sketch challenge on Splitcoast.  I thought it was a fun one and immediately had an idea!  

I LOVE the Chocolate Bunny stamp.  I didn't buy it when it was current, but was able to purchase it from my friend Ann when she was ready to send it to a new home.  It's one of my favorite stamps and will always be in my collection for sure!  I used some of the gorgeous Sycamore Street DSP that you can get for FREE, yes, I said FREE, during Sale-a-bration!   A bit of embossing, a banner, and a button finish off this simple beauty!  

Jason and I have been kind of bad about taking Laila out to restaurants because we weren't sure if she'd be okay or if she'd get upset and we'd have to try to pack up things and scramble out of the building.   We were brave on Tuesday and went to Chipotle and she did great!   She sat in the highchair like a big girl and looked around the whole time.  It was great!  

We also rearranged my stamp room this week to make Laila a spot.  Well, now she occupies MOST of my room, but I can still stamp and not worry about her being in everything or possibly getting hurt.   Win, win I hope!  

Where is my mojo???

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you work on a card for a bit, but just can't seem to get it to work?   Or maybe you've made one that just wasn't really that great?   Yeah, that's the kind of week I'm having.  :)    I'm hoping my new order that  is arriving any minute now will help get my mojo up and running again!   

This card was made for the clean&simple stamping sketch and the Pals Paper Arts Halloween challenge.  The colors came from last week's Create with Connie & Mary challenge that I didn't get to do in time to submit.   I seem to be good at missing deadlines lately!

Stamps:  Wicked Cool
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie
Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Pumpkin Pie 1 1/4 striped ribbon (retired)
Tools:  Big Shot, Spider Web embossing folder, circle punches, scallop circle punch

This card made my head hurt a bit.  I started it last night but didn't like the way it was working out.   I picked it back up today and changed out some of the colors...and then changed out some of the colors...and then...  Yeah, it was one of those!   I normally don't use a lot of white on my cards, but it seemed to balance out some of the stronger colors on this card.  I think the flower centers could use some bling and a few pearls beside my sentiment would help, right?    This was for the Splitcoast Weekly Sketch Challenge.

Stamps:  Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder
Paper:  Whisper White, Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder
Tools:  Big Shot, Polka Dots embossing folder, scallop circle punch

I hope the next card is a bit less stressful and turns out much, much better!

Roar!!!!!

I love this new stamp set!    I couldn't wait to break it out and use it, so here's my card for today's sketch challenge from Splitcoast Stampers.   It was so fun to design and color.   I also used a few other new products, the houndstooth and stripes embossing folders.   Don't you love it?!    My BFF the Color Coach picked out the colors.  

Stamps:  Dinoroar

Ink:  Cajun Craze, Staz-On, Stampin' Up! markers

Paper:  Cajun Craze, Pear Pizzazz, More Mustard, Whisper White, In Color Hostess pack (retired)

Tools:  Big Shot, Stripes and Houndstooth embossing folders, circle punches

I thought I'd share a picture from our yard.  Eli's tree is all bloomed out now.   It always waits for his birthday month to really show how beautiful it is.

Finally...

I inked up one of the stamp sets we received at Convention today.  :)   Yay!  I figured I should try to use them all before my new stuff gets here.  

I jokingly told a friend the other night that combining a sketch challenge and a color challenge created 95% of the card for you.   This card made me eat those words a bit.  I used the colors from the colourQ challenge and paired them with the weekly sketch challenge on Splitcoast. I took me a bit to figure out where to use each color and what elements to add in, but I finally managed to get something that I liked.   What do you think?   I am not the best at coloring, so I'm trying to work on it a bit.  Just like I don't like things touching, I also don't like my coloring to go outside of the lines.   That makes watercoloring difficult, but I'm trying...  

Stamps:  Easy Events
Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Basic Gray, Tempting Turquoise, Bashful Blue, Staz On
Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Basic Gray, Tempting Turquoise, Bashful Blue, watercolor paper
Accessories:  Basic Pearls, Bright brads
Tools:  Big Shot, various embossing folders, scallop circle punch, circle punch, scallop trim border punch, aquapainter

Wednesday Sketch Challenge

I have been trying to work on my distressing skills and this paper and color combination lends itself perfectly to that look.   This is for the Wednesday sketch challenge over on Splitcoast Stampers.   It is a fun sketch that I'll definitely be using again!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Lovely as a Tree
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Garden Green
Paper: Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Woodland Walk designer paper
Accessories: Regals brads
Tools: Sponges

Sketchy Butterflies

This card is made for today's sketch challenge on Splitcoast Stampers.

You can find it at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/card-sketches-f41/sketch-challenge-324-3-16-11-a-t523013.html

Stamps: Four Frames (sneak peek!)
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Paisley Petals designer paper (another sneak peek!)
Tools: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Designer Label Punch
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding

We got out of the house today and went to the local arboretum.   Here are a few pictures that I took while we were walking around.   I love playing with my camera almost as much as I love stamping.  :)