Inkspirations Challenge 86

One of the new stamps I got in my last order was this awesome snowman!   Isn't he adorable?!   I couldn't wait to ink him up and the Inkspirations colors were a perfect fit for a fun Christmas card.   To make it even more fun, I decided to try my hand at making a stair-step card.  Thanks to the new Simply Scored, it was so easy to do!  What do you think?   Cute, huh?   :)  In the creating process, I did realize that I could really use a snowflake die.    I'll have to add it to my wishlist!

Stamps:  Snow Much Fun, Season of Joy
Ink: Real Red, Marina Mist, Soft Suede
Paper:  Old Olive, Brights designer paper stack, Marina Mist, Whisper White, Real Red
Accessories:  Brights Glimmer brads, Marina Mist taffeta ribbon, Dazzling Details
Tools:  Blender Pen, circle punches, paper trimmer, Simply Scored, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack

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

Birthday Sketch

I wanted to play with a couple of my new stamp sets today and I thought they would be perfect for the sketch at Create with Connie & Mary.    I decided to focus on a birthday card so I could also play along with one of my favorite challenges, The Paper Players!   I've been in a more simple mode for my card making lately and I love the simple, clean lines of this one.  

Stamps:  Petite Pairs, Simply Soft
Ink:  Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Island Indigo
Paper:  Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Paisley Petals
Accessories:  Early Espresso satin ribbon (retired)
Tools:  blender pen

I love purple in any shade, so I was excited to play along with the colourQ challenge this week.   I think Orchid Opulence must have been before I was introduced to Stampin' Up!, so I did substitute the closest thing I had, Wisteria Wonder.  I also found a new sketch challenge to add to my list, The Stampin' Queens!

Did you see my new embossing folder?!  It is from the Holiday Mini and I LOVE it!  

Stamps:  Holiday Happiness, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry, Pool Party
Paper:   Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Pool Party, Brights DSP stack
Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones, Rich Razzleberry taffeta ribbon (retired)
Tools:  Big Shot, Snowburst embossing folder, Modern Label punch, Word Window Punch

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!

It's time!

It's here!   The fun new sketch challenge starts TODAY!   Are you are excited as I am?   I hope so!   Lesley started us off with an awesome first sketch.  Doesn't it look fun?!   I had a blast creating my card and I bet you will too if you'll play along with us!    Be sure to check out the blog and see what the other design team members came up with!

Now here is my take on the sketch.   I LOVE the new Spice Cake designer paper from the Holiday Mini!  Because my husband and I are following the South Beach Diet, real cake is a no-no for me.   I don't even care though!   This spice cake paper is yummy, calorie-free, and makes pretty cards.  Much better, right?    :)   We are going to say it is anyway.  I wanted to do some cards for fall, so I used my Day of Gratitude set for the beautiful sentiment and leaves.   Every card can use a bit of texture and embossing folders are a great way to add that while keeping your card clean.

I hope you'll join us and I can't wait to see what you create.

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude
Ink:  Pool Party, More Mustard, Soft Suede
Paper:  Soft Suede, More Mustard, Pool Party Spice Cake DSP, Whisper White
Accessories:   Regals brads
Tools:  Big Shot, Square Lattice and Houndstooth embossing folders, paper snips

PPA109

Last night and today I took some time off of "work".   I decided to just stamp with no thoughts of what was retired, what my customers might like, etc.  It's nice to just have a fun day doing whatever strikes your fancy.   My goal is to get back to participating in a challenge every day.   I enjoyed doing it before and my skills really improved during that time.  

This card was made for the Pals Paper Arts challenge to use Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red, and Basic Gray.   Not being a fan of the coral and red, I definitely found this one to be a challenge!   As I looked through my stamps, Paisley Prints caught my eye.   I LOVE paisley and had to buy this set last year right before it retired.   I figured it was time to use it again, so I inked up my leaves and got busy.   The slightly cooler temperatures we've had the last 2 days has really helped me get in the mood for fall.     I never thought 90 degrees would feel like fall, but when you've had a summer of 100+ temperatures it kind of does!  We have some nice lows at night this week, so I'll be cuddling up in my blanket and enjoying them!

Stamps:  Paisley Prints (retired), Falling Leaves
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red
Paper:  Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Neutrals DSP stack
Accessories:  Basic Gray taffeta ribbon (retired), In Color Dotted Brads
Tools:  Paper snips, paper piercing tool

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!