Friday Mashup 200

Two of my favorite online stamping friends are part of The Friday Mashup, so I had to go play with their 200th challenge celebration this week.   For my card I chose challenges #121 (polka dots and the word Happy) and #59 (ribbon/bow and a decorative edge).   I used the March kit from Simon Says stamp again because I kinda love it.  :)  The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of girly cards is still going on, so I'm linking up over there as well.

I'll see you tomorrow with a Freshly Made Sketches card. Maybe...  I can't get the picture to look halfway decent, so I might run away this week!  lol 

Topsy-Turvy Color Celebration

  

I attempted to stamp again tonight to try to help get myself back in the creating mode.  My mojo and creativity are kinda still in the crapper, but I figure if I stamp enough maybe they'll improve.  One can only hope, right?   Anyway, I played along with two of my favorite challenges, the Paper Players and the Friday Mashup.

I love Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry, so I decided to combine some favorite colors with a stamp set that I love just as much.   I'm a huge fan of cakes, both looking at them and eating them, so Topsy-Turvy Celebration was one of the first sets I bought last year from the new catalog.  I'm not sure other people love it quite as much, so I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't hit the retirement list that's coming out soon.  

Stamps:  Topsy-Turvy Celebration

Ink: Island Indigo, Baja Breeze (sad face), Rich Razzleberry

Paper: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Brights DSP stack, Island Indigo DSP scrap 

Accessories:  Brights buttons, Island Indigo Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones

Tools:  Scallop Border Punch, Paper Snips

We went to our local arboretum today and walked around for a bit.  It's was such a gorgeous day here.  I think we are going to be enjoying a few days in the mid to high 80's this week before some storms and cooler weather hit.   I'm not sure what else we'll find to do, but I hope we get to enjoy it! 

Friday Mashup 100!

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project using "Your Favorite Challenge 1-99".

2. Tell us what you like about the Challenge You picked!

3. Link up for a Chance to win a "$25 Stampin' Up! Gift Certificate".

Rules for Giveaway: You must link up with an original project created for this challenge. Please provide a Link back to the Mashup in your Post. One entry per person in drawing for gift certificate.

The Friday Mashup is celebrating a huge milestone today.  100 challenges!  Isn't that exciting?   I was excited to get an email from Holly asking me to join them in celebrating.  After looking through all the previous challenges, I decided to do challenge #52 which was using kites and colorful twine.  I love baker's twine and I do miss using Send Me Soaring.  It's one of my favorite sets ever!

As I was making this I first used white was the background and it was just TOO white.  I tried to color in the sky but it looks pretty awful to say the least.   After a suggestion from my friend Marla, I tried Pool Party and coloring the clouds in and it worked perfectly!   I'm not sure the clouds should have went all the way down to the grass, but that's a whole other issue.  lol  I'm not sure what this card will be, but for now I'm thinking a very unusual graduation card.  :)

Stamps:  Send Me Soaring, Wishes Your Way

Ink:  White Craft, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade

Paper:  Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Cloudy Days TIEF, Cat's Pamajas grass die, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, Basic Pearls, Sponge Dauber

I love my cute, silly girl.   The teething has been taking away her laughter and making her fussy, but Tylenol seems to bring her back to her happy self.  I am so ready for these teeth to be in!  

Thank You Leaves

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with "Leaves".
2. Or Make a project saying "Thank You".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Thank You project with Leaves".

I'm the hostess this week at The Friday Mashup!  I'm sad to say that this is my last week as part of the team.  Life is just getting too busy and I can't keep up with everything I have on my plate.  I have so little stamping time these days and I need to devote it to my business as much as I can.   I've had such a wonderful time with this group of ladies and I'll definitely try to play along with some of the challenges if I get a chance.   

So on to the card, right?!   This is a NON-clean version of this week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  :) I loved it so much that I wanted to make another card but add in some sponging and distressing. 

I have had a few questions for my club cards from last month, so I wanted to do a similar card and answer a few questions.  The background is the new Core'dinations cardstock that has been embossed and sanded.  Easy!   The leaves use the oldest stamping technique that we've all been doing for years, rock n'roll!  I just LOVE French Foliage as it works so great with that technique!  

My little purple girl.   We needed a break from all the pink today! 

Keep Calm and Mash It Up!

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with "Dry Embossing".
2. Or Make a project using the colors " Daffodil Delight, Basic Grey & Basic Black".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with "Dry Embossing & The Color Combo".

Isn't this a great challenge from the Friday Mashup?   I think that picture is just gorgeous!   These are some of my absolute favorite colors together so I was happy when I finally found time to get a card made.  This week has been SO busy and I still have stamp club tomorrow night!   Thank heavens for coffee!  

Okay, so somewhere in the short distance between the laptop and my craft desk I forgot about the dry embossing part.  I pulled out some paper and I think I just got distracted by the polka dots.   I did get the colors though, so yay for something right.   I hadn't inked up this set yet, so I figured it was about time.   I wasn't sure about it at first, but I ended up getting when I had a little hostess money left over and wasn't sure what I wanted to use it for.   I think it's trendy enough that maybe it will help my card sales a bit.  *fingers crossed*

Stamps:  Carry On

Ink:  Basic Gray, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight

Paper: Basic Gray, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Perfect Polka Dots DSP, Whisper White

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Bitty Banner Framelits, White Baker's Twine, Dazzling Diamonds 

I love how happy she is most of the time!  

Mashed Up Window

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project "using the Sketch".
2. Or Make a project with "Rosettes".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with the "Sketch featuring Rosettes".

Time for another challenge at The Friday Mashup!  I didn't get to play along last week, but I got back in the groove this week!  :)  I combined the challenge with a Hope You Can Cling To one as well.  I used Kittie's challenge:  My challenge for you is to create a card with a Window of Hope. You may use window die cuts, window stamps, pictures of windows, hand cut a window using your craft knife, sketching a window, painting a window. The sky is the limit.

It's a bit of a different card for me, but I think it would be a nice birthday card for a dude.   I hope it does look enough like a window to fulfill the challenge.  :)

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Garden Green, Early Espresso, Bashful Blue

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, More Mustard, Very Vanilla

Tools/Accessories:  Sponges, Regals Buttons, linen thread

My little giraffe wasn't impressed with Halloween.   I think the costume was too hot and there was no reward of candy.   Maybe next year little one.  

Mashuped Up Ornament

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with a "Christmas Ornament".
2. Or Make a project with some "Sparkle".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Christmas Project with some Sparkle".

Amanda has a fun challenge at the Friday Mashup this week.   With October over halfway gone, it's time to get serious about those Christmas cards and this challenge is perfect to get started.   I am embarrassed to say that I had not inked up my Ornament Keepsakes bundle, so I just had to pull it out for this challenge!   I combined it with Bev's HYCCT challenge and here's the description for it:  Make a card (or project) using lots of sparkle. You know how much glitter you usually use (a little spot here or there)? Double it! Triple it. Shimmer and shake it, baby! We want to see your sparkle! 

I really loved Erna's card last week for my sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, so I inspired to try the sketch and ornament for myself.  I don't know why, but I was in a one color mode the day I put this one together.   I do love Island Indigo, so it was an easy choice.  The sparkle isn't showing up in my picture, but the ornament is embossed in Iridescent Ice embossing powder and there's some homemade shimmer mist on the Very Vanilla background.  It's pretty sparkly in real life, trust me!  :)

LOL  This was the end of the pumpkin patch for the day!  

Friday Mashup Flowers

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with the "Sketch".
2. Or Make a project using "Faux Washi Tape".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project using the "Sketch and Faux Washi Tape".

Tara is our hostess this week at The Friday Mashup and she challenged us with a technique and this cool sketch!  I didn't manage to mash mine up as I couldn't find the tape in our house, but if you want to, you can find the tutorial here.  

I had an idea for this card in my head for over a week but couldn't find the stamp set.   I finally found it the other day which was great because I didn't really have any other ideas!   It didn't translate quite how I pictured it, but I guess it's still okay.   

Stamps:  Inspired by Nature

Ink: Versamark

Paper:  Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Basic Gray, First Edition DSP, scraps for the flags

Tools/Accessories:  Heat Tool, black embossing powder, Scallop Edge punch, Neutrals buttons

I am a bit obsessed with cone flowers, so here's some I took a picture of at the arboretum the other day.  :)  

She just keeps growing so fast.  I'm afraid prom is just around the corner!  Ha! 

Apothecary Mashup

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with the colors "Pacific Point, Marina Mist, Gumball Green, and Lucky Limeade".
2. Or Make a project using "Rectangles".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with the "Color Combination and Rectangles".

Friday means a new challenge at The Friday Mashup!   I just love these challenges since they are always so different each week.   This week we have a color challenge paired with rectangles.  Fun, huh?   I'm not really sure that I truly mashed it up this week as my idea went straight to a particular stamp set and I couldn't get anything else to come to mind.  Maybe you can count the flag as a rectangle but that would be pushing it a bit.  :)

I had to pat myself on the back for actually using Apothecary Art.  I'm still scratching my head over that purchase. It's really not my style and I struggle to use it.   I think it looks okay here.  I colored in the flowers and leaves with the colors from the challenge and then used Pacific Point and Limeade on the rest of the card elements.   I think it turned out okay for using a set that I'm not normally comfortable with.  :)   

Stamps: Apothecary Art, Something to Celebrate

Ink:  Black Staz On, Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Lucky Limeade, Gumball Green

Paper:  Pacific Point, Whisper White, 2011-2013 In Color DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels collection framelits, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, blender pen, Basic Pearls

I bought Laila a new toy this week and she's not completely sure about it just yet.  :)   Wish me luck tonight as her dad and I are heading out for a date night.  She'll be in good hands with her aunt Crista, but I'm already a nervous wreck about leaving her even if it is just for dinner!   

FM78: Gently Falling Leaves

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a "Fall Leaves" themed project.
2. Or Make a project with "Twine".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Fall Leaves Themed project using Twine". 

Isn't this an awesome challenge?   I LOVE Fall and am so happy that it's here.   Well, not really in Texas but I can pretend, right? :)   Lisa, who likes to tease me about their MUCH cooler weather, has presented this fun fall challenge at The Friday Mashup to use fall leaves and/or twine on our cards.   Awesome, right?!  They are two of my favorite things to use on cards so I just loved this challenge!

What do you think?   I have to say, I sort of love it.   The Natural Composition DSP sponged with Early Espresso is my favorite part of the card for sure.  (and just FYI, if you sponge this particular sheet with Cajun Craze, it looks like bacon.   I'll try to post a picture of that fun mistake for you on a another post)  I love the leaves and the button tied with twine too.  Just a fun card and one I really enjoyed making.  I think Gently Falling is one of the best Stampin' Up! sets ever.   

Stamps:  Gently Falling, Day of Gratitude, French Foliage

Ink: Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake

Paper:  Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Natural Composition DSP, Autumn Spice DSP (retired)

Tools/Accessories:  Corner Rounder punch, Regals buttons, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, paper snips, sponges

And speaking of Fall, you know what that means...

Halloween costumes!  This was one of Laila's pictures from her 3 month photo shoot.  Can you believe she turned  3 months yesterday???  Time is just flying by....

Friday Mashup: Indian Summer

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a "Indian Summer" themed project.
2. Or Make a project with any three colors from "Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade & Early Espresso".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Indian Summer Themed project with the color combo". 

Now that we are starting to get a hint of fall, Heidi presented this great challenge to see out the summer days.   Be sure to drop by the Friday Mashup and see all the other lovely creations from the team. 

This was actually one of my cards for stamp club this month.  After I made it for the challenge I just knew it would be a fun one to do with my ladies.   I just love the Perfectly Preserved set!  It has so many possibilities and can work for a lot of holidays and occasions.  It's a pretty simple card, but I thought it was cute.  

Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved

Ink:  Cajun Crazy, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade

Paper:  Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Cajun Crazy, Whisper White, Orchard Harvest DSP

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Window Frames and Cannery framelits, Festive Paper Piercing pack, Early Espresso baker's twine, Linen Thread

Last week we got all dressed up to go to Target but after some fussing in the car and the threat of rain, we ended up coming back home.  Good thing as it came a total downpour about 2 minutes after we got back in the house!  

FM76: Starburst!

It's my turn to host the Friday Mashup challenge this week and I settled on this fun sketch and the starburst technique.   I used this great tutorial to do my card.  I'm thinking challenged lately, so having that tutorial to help my brain sure paid off.  I think having a baby somehow decreases your number of brain cells or something because I'm sure struggling with anything that requires memory or too much thinking.   It's almost scary!  Anyway, here's the Mashup and my card: 

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with the sketch.
2. Or Make a project with "Starburst technique".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project using the "sketch and starburst technique". 

Yeah, it's that darn cat again!  I just LOVE that thing!    I'm going to be sad when Halloween is over and I have to put him away for the year.  I combined him with the fun Halloween DSP from the holiday catalog.  I love that paper too and was gifted some sheets of it by my friend Mindy.   She's spoiled me with stamping stuff lately!  I really like the combination of Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray, and Basic Black.   

Stamps Frightening Feline, Tiny Tags

Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray

Paper:  Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray, Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP, Very Vanilla

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Spider Web embossing folder, circle dies, Jewelry Tag punch, Basic Black 1/4 grosgrain ribbon, Black Rhinestones (retired), sponges

She just looks too cute in yellow!  

FM75: Back to School

I'm attempting to get back in the swing of things with my design teams, so here goes!    Holly has a perfect challenge for this time of year at the Friday Mashup this week.   I think just about everyone is back to school now, so why not make a fun card or project to celebrate?!   

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a "Back to School" themed project.
2. Or Make a project with "Sewing".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Back to School project with Sewing". 

I didn't mash it up this week as sewing is a bad word in my house.  :)  I wanted to make up some teacher thank yous for the local shop so this challenge was just perfect.  I LOVE the colors so much!   That Color Coach is great at suggesting combinations that rock!   

Stamps:  Greeting Card Kids, Perfectly Preserved, A to Z (retired), Thank You Kindly (retired)

Ink:  Midnight Muse, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Blush Blossom marker

Paper:  Midnight Muse, Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Cannery framelits, Window Frame framelits, Festive Paper-Piercing pack, Paper-piercing tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, blender pen

My girl is learning to hold things! 

Sweet Sunday Mashup Cake

  
Last night I figured out around bedtime that I didn't have any clean pants to wear to the doctor today.  Last minute washing meant I had to stay up and wait to dry them, so I decided to stamp a bit while I waited.   I wanted to play along with my buddies over at The Friday Mashup so I used the colors from the latest challenge along with the sketch from the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge.   I thought they would work well together for my new favorite stamp set, Topsy-Turvy Celebration!  

I wish I'd embossed the Daffodil Delight DSP, but it takes me a while to get out of my chair these days.    I am thankful to have a hobby that I can sit down and lose myself in though.   This last month of pregnancy has been difficult and to have a distraction has been amazing!    I thought I wouldn't feel like creating anything but have really hit a nice streak of mojo.   I am sure that will end next week when Laila arrives, but I'm trying to enjoy it until then.   :)  

Stamps:  Topsy-Turvy Celebration

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Brights DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Brights buttons, Basic Rhinestones, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Dazzling Details

FM60: For the Boys

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project for " That special Man in your life ".
2. Or Make a project with the " Sketch ".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Masculine card using the above Sketch ".

Know that old saying better late than never?  Well, that's me this week!  I had actually decided to take this week off from The Friday Mashup because I was feeling so bad, but after some new medicine and a night of sleep, I felt like stamping a little today.  Holly has such a great challenge that I didn't want to miss out playing along.  Now this will be my last card before I'm "officially" on maternity leave, but I still want to try and do some of the challenges if I can fit them in.  It depends on how I'm feeling and then how recovery and motherhood go if that happens or not.  I can't believe it's only 38 more days!  Yikes!   Anyway, on to the card, right?!  

I pulled out some retired designer paper that I really need to stop hoarding use up and the classic Lovely as a Tree stamp set.   It's an easy choice for a masculine card.  I did a bit of "thumping" on the tree to get in some different shades of green; one shade was just a bit boring.  :)    It's a pretty simple card, but it's hard to go all out with embellishments when you are doing something for a man.  Ribbon and bling just don't work without some serious creative effort!  

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Woodgrain background

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Always Artichoke

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White, miscellaneous retired DSP

Tools/Accessories:  Vintage Trinkets, Color Spritzer, Linen Thread

I hope you'll come play along with us this week!  It's a great time challenge to get your Father's Day cards made before June hits!

FM59: Tasteful Trim with Ribbon

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project " with a Decorative Edge! "
2. Or Make a project with " Ribbon and/or a Bow. "
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project " with a Decorative Edge & Ribbon ".  

It's Friday Mashup time again!  Sadly this is our last challenge with the awesome Kasey.  :(   She is going out on a fun one though and challenged us to use ribbon and/or a decorative edge.  My thoughts immediately went to my favorite die, Tasteful Trim.  I love that thing!   It was such a great birthday gift to myself last year.  (I hope my Fun Flowers die doesn't see this post; I do love it too.) 

One of my recent goals is to work on clean-and-simple cards, especially those that are mostly one layer.   With a new baby coming soon, I know my budget and time are both going to be decreased and I figure the "less is more" philosophy is a good one for me to work on adopting.   I do find this style difficult, so you'll have to bear with me as I fumble my way through figuring it out.   I do like this one a lot and think it turned out nicely for such a simple card.   I even managed to fit in the decorative edge and the ribbon/bow without going overboard (I think anyway).    

I hope you'll take the time to come play along with us this week and to wish Kasey well as she moves on to future endeavors!