Celebration Time is Just Around the Corner!

It's almost here...CTD's celebration of their 100th challenge! You won't want to miss the LONG list of companies who are generously donating prizes!! Check out the Color Throwdown Blog for details and mark your calendar now for July 7! I am sad to see my month as guest designer is nearing the end. The time has passed by so quickly and it's been a lot of fun...but I'll still be playing in the weekly challenges! I LOVE this week's colors: Cream, Turquoise, & Chocolate. I used papers from Webster's Pages triple pack collection. The turquoise is a more muted shade but thought it would work. The flower is PTI's Blossom II die with sponging done on the edges using Rich Cocoa ink. The BG is a new EF by Sizzix that is one of my faves. I kept it clean and simple so I wouldn't cover up the embossing. So glad you stopped by...I appreciate your comments...

STAMPS: Delightful Dahlia (leaves) - PTI
PAPER: Webster's Pages petite papers, Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate
INK: Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: CB, Blossoms II die & Delightful Dahlias die (PTI), MS arch lattice border punch, Brad, MS twill tape, Diamond EF by Sizzix, Sponge

Courage

Just had to create something for Roxie's Sketch Challenge on SCS, so brought out some new goodies. Love this new sentiment with Verve's newly released Blue Skies set: Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.' It was stamped in navy on a saffron notebook page image (also from this set). I stamped the navy flourish on some yellow DP then ran it through the CB with the butterfly embosslit from SU where it die cut the shape plus embossed it. Later, I wished I had made the pale blue strip navy...but too late to tear it apart. It is what it is.
STAMPS: Blue Skies (Verve)
PAPER: 365 Degrees by PinkPsislee, Red Riding Hood
INK: Night of Navy
ACCESSORIES: Petals-a-Plenty EF, CB, Butterfly Embosslit (SU), Sheer navy ribbon (SU), Vintage button (PTI)

Beach Scene

Betty's Color Challenge on SCS was to use Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry & Bermuda Bay with a dessert option to add design or texture to DP. I ran the tropical floral border through the CB using Petals-a-Plenty EF. The Durango base was also CB'd using the Square Lattice EF. Love my new Die-namics ric-rac die which I thought simulated ocean waves. The layout is Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge. This is where I plan to be sitting next week...by the sea...watching the waves.

STAMPS: By the Sea Ovals (JustRite)
PAPER: Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Neenah Solar White, Citronella by K&Co
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Petals-a-Plenty & Square Latice EFs by SU, Die-Namics ric-rac die by MFT, Brads (BasicGrey), Copics, CM circle cutter, CB

New Verve!

COULD NOT BELIEVE IT! The Verve release party was this past Friday night and I got my new stamps TODAY! Now THAT is fast shipping! The Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge for this week was a doozy! I wasn't going to play until I saw the trio of stars image and the light bulb went off. :-) I placed a round Nestie on the vellum as a guide and stamped the image around the circle. I then punched some gingham stars and popped them with dimensionals. It's hard to see, but I stitched the four BG squares together. Time for some fresh squash and corn for supper...gotta go for now.

STAMPS: American Hero (Verve)
PAPER: Blue Awning by K&Co; Winter Song (gingham print) by S.E.I., Vellum
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Brads (BasicGrey), Small star punch (SU), Silver star stickers, Poppy satin ribbon (PTI)

It's Mojo Monday...

...and it's the last Monday of the month, so Julee's Mojo Monday Challenge offers us a round or square option with our cards. Circles are always more challenging for me, but I wanted to give it a whirl. I had a scrap piece of cork laying out, so went with that for the top half of the BG. Pretty straight forward...I did add some Crystal Effects to the center of the flower.

STAMPS: Petals & Stems (Verve), freebie sentiment with a Verve order
PAPER: Devonshire Collection by Kaisercraft, Very Vanilla
INK: Pumpkin Pie, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: CB, Nesties, Satin ribbon, Cork sheet (Mike's), Crystal Effects

Tag...you're it!

So...normally I don't consider collage stamping to be CAS...but I'll defend this tag as a CAS Challenge entry because it's one layer; the sentiment & butterfly are stickers and the polka dotted green around the fiber hole was a pre-punched die that came with the DP pad. Only a few swipes of a sponge and some quick stamping created the BG. I guess it's more simple than it is clean, but hope the challenge police won't be arresting me any time soon! Jen challenged us to use her signature line colors which are Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery & Pumpkin Pie. This also qualifies for ODBD's Shining Light Challenge to create a bookmark. I can't stay awake any longer...good night!

STAMPS: Letters to Friends (SU)
PAPER: Devonshire Collection DP by KaiserCraft, Very Vanilla
INK: Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Autumn Fibers by EK Success, Butterfly sticker by K&Co, Metal embellishment sticker (sentiment) by Making Memories, SU scallop border punch, Sponge

Popping the Cork!

No, I'm not hitting the bottle...I'm actually cutting some new cork sheets that I recently bought at Mike's. I like the added texture it gives to cards. This is a card for Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. I hope the curves of the ric-rac border qualify for the circle elements in the sketch. The butterfly is a sticker from Martha. The base CS is a pre-embossed card...also found at Mike's. This came together quickly and was a good way to wind down after a work shift. I was glad it was quiet so I could browse through the new SU cattie. Though I didn't get excited about too many of the stamp sets, I did love the new DP and some of the accessories!

STAMPS: Whimsical Words (SU)
PAPER: Devonshire Collection by Kaisercraft
INK: Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Cork sheets (Mike's), Butterfly sticker (MS), Ric-rac Die by MFT, CB, Nesties, Sponge

Embossed Butterfly

Yay, this is my 5th and last Verve challenge card to celebrate the release of new sets this Friday! Head over to the Verve forum on SCS and check out the contest details! I had fun with this butterfly...embossed him first by stamping in Versamark on watercolor paper, then heat embossing with black EP. Julia's Way to Use It Challenge was to heat emboss...symbolic of the heat wave that most people are experiencing. I then spritzed the image with water, dipped a brush in Only Orange reinker and a second one in Summer Sun reinker. I touched the brushes lightly to the image and the ink ran and filled up the embossed sections. I figured if the technique works on rose images, why not butterflies?! I liked the finished guy and perched him on the card to steal the show. The sentiment is one I especially like from Verve...I've been trying to follow it in my personal life as stressors get a bit overwhelming sometimes. We don't have to carry the load alone...we can cast it all on HIM and what a relief it can become for us!

STAMPS: Stipple Butterfly (SU), Vintage Vogue (SU) - floral BG on white panel, I Peter 5:7 (Verve) - sentiment
PAPER: Ambrosia (BasicGrey), Black, Watercolor, Neenah Solar White
INK: Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Summer Sun & Only Orange reinkers
ACCESSORIES: Brads, Black fine EP, Heat gun

Verve Challenge #4

This is the 4th Verve challenge card this week...let's hope all this effort leads to some free prizes! :-) Love the homespun feel of the polka dots, so had to pick up on this by used dotted ribbon and dotted DP. The layout is one of Amber's Viva la Verve sketches in April and is a fave of mine. With all the white BG and silver pearls, it's done in the infamous Silke Ledlow style that I always admire!

STAMPS: Petals & Stems (Verve)
PAPER: Green Tea DP, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Neenah Solar White
INK: Versafine Onyx Black, Certainly Celery, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry
ACCESSORIES: Kaiser silver pearls, CB, Oval Nesties, CB tartan plaid EF, Grosgrain ribbon (SU), Dimensionals

More spotlight on Verve...

This is the 3rd challenge card for this week's release celebration on Verve. I got some new SU goodies this week...LOVE the Level 1 hostess Patterns Pack III - it's got gorgeous colors in it! Also love the bitty buttons that have matching punches...no need to ever buy different colored brads again! Well, guess I wouldn't go THAT far - lol! I used stamps from 3 different Verve sets...one reason I love Julee's creations...they're so interchangeable! Check out the Verve forum on SCS...you can win free stuff if you participate!

STAMPS: Feel the Sun, Blessings, Miracles Blossom - all by Verve
PAPER: SU Patterns Pack III, Pre-embossed CS base (Mike's)
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Bitty buttons, Bitty Punch Pack, Gemstone stickers

Blushing Birthday

The Color Throwdown Challenge has an AWESOME color combo this week, thanks to this week's hostess, Barbara! It was perfect to use some DP from BasicGrey's Capella pad! This fabulous flower stamp is from Verve and is so fun to highlight with a Clear Star Sakura pen. The leaves were die cut with a Sizzix die then sponged with Rich Cocoa ink. Some Nestie dies, chocolate pearls and a Bow Easy bow complete the card. Will probably use this for my mom's birthday coming up in July. So glad you took time to look and comment...

STAMPS: Verve's 'One Person' (flower), Verve's 'Big Wish' (sentiment)
PAPER: Capella DP (BasicGrey), Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss
INK: Memento Rich Cocoa, Mellow Moss, Blush Blossom
ACCESSORIES: CB, Sizzix leaves die, Kaiser chocolate pearls, Ivory satin ribbon, MS large scallop border punch, Sakura Clear Star gellyroll pen, Labels Ten Nesties, Oval Nesties, Sponge

Be Strong...

This is my 2nd Verve challenge card (check out the contests on the Verve forum on SCS) to celebrate a new release this Friday. We were to pick one of Amber's February sketches for the layout. I went with SU's Afternoon Tea DP and highlighted the card with a pearl flourish, a prima with punched leaves, grosgrain bow & the fun new bitty buttons from SU! They have coordinating punches, so you can match them up with anything you're making. I added a green gemstone as they seemed to get a little lost without another pop of color. The sentiment is a Plain Jane (Psalm 31:24) by Verve. Play along for a chance to win new stamp sets!

Irish Blessing

Julee is releasing new Verve stamps this Friday so this is my first challenge card for the week using a sketch from Amber's Viva la Verve challenges. See the Verve forum on SCS for details. This is pretty straight forward...the flower was colored with Copics and layered for dimension. The base card is pre-embossed - found at Michael's.

STAMPS: Blessings (Verve), One Person (Verve)
PAPER: Mambi Basics DP, Black, Neenah Solar White
ACCESSORIES: Satin ribbon (PTI), Corner punch, Copics (YG00, YG03, YG06, Y18, R20, R24, R27, R29)

Seeing Stars!

I used Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for the layout, the colors from Betty's Color Challenge (Soft Suede, Almost Amethyst, Apricot Appeal), and the Verve set 'Seeing Stars' for Julee Tilman's Ready, Set, Stamp Challenge: Seeing Stars. Love this new EF by SU to give the suede layer a basketweave feel. I created my own star-studded DP, then stamped and punched and popped 3 different accent stars. The edges were highlighted with a Sakura Gellyroll Clear Star pen to add a hint of sparkle. TFL!

STAMPS: Seeing Stars (Verve)
PAPER: Vintage Cream (PTI), Soft Suede, Almost Amethyst, Apricot Appeal
INK: Soft Suede, Almost Amethyst, Apricot Appeal
ACCESSORIES: Star punches (SU), Optic Dot border punch (MS), Satin ribbon, Textured Impressions Square Lattice EF (SU), Corner punch (? name).

Mojo Monday 144

Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge was perfect to use a larger sentiment as the focal point. Some distressing and sponging around the 2 square panels, a punched bird and branch, ivy punched border...all came together easily. The purple tab was a die cut that came with the Lilac Avenue Collection pad. Time to head to work so have to hurry with this post. Happy summer to you...it's officially here!

STAMPS: Swan Song (Verve)
PAPER: Kioshi (BasicGrey), Lilac Avenue Collection (Kaisercraft)
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: English Ivy border punch (MS), 2-step bird punch (SU), Distressing tool, Sponge, Brad (BasicGrey), Satin ribbon (freebie from Ellen's store), Clear Star sakura pen (used on branch)

Island Oasis

Using Diane's CAS card sketch, I quickly put this card together. Great way to use up scrap pieces of DP! The Nestie was a leftover from a previous project...a couple of stamped trees, a punched lily and a quick touch of Crystal Effects to the coconuts and I was done.

Stamps: Relax by Verve
Paper: Island Oasis DP (SU), Neenah Solar White
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Labels Ten Nestie, MS pop-up water lily punches, Marvy scallop corner rounder, Brads

CASING Pam

Pam Hooten (aka IRIS on SCS), a former member of the dirt pile, was chosen as this week's FS. She has a fabulous gallery with so many things to inspire you, but I chose this floral card to CASE. I changed the image, the DP, the ribbon and kept the layout and theme the same. The ribbon is seam binding that I dyed using Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. TFL!

STAMPS: Art of Life (SU)
PAPER: Green Boutique DP (PTI), Hawaiian Shores (PTI), Old Olive, Neenah Solar White
INK: So Saffron (stamped off once to use as BG behind image)
ACCESSORIES: Seam binding, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (turquoise blue), Prima, Brads, Tombow markers #098 & 371 (used directly on rubber)

Vintage Birthday

I combined the sketch from Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge with ODB's Shining Light Challenge (see below):
Use three of the items from the flower recipe below:
f-flower
l-lace or lacing
o- Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, ovals, or embellishments with circle shapes including gems, pearls, brads,
w-water color, wedding
e-embossing
r-ribbon
s-stitching (faux or real), swirls
I actually used 6 items in my card: flowers, lace, ovals, pearls, ribbon, & stitching. The coral DP is from Webster's Pages and the remaining DP is from K&Co. The base is Vintage Cream from PTI. Thanks for taking time to check out my blog...

STAMPS: Vintage Labels (SU)
INK: Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Large oval punch (SU), Primas, 2-step bird punch (SU), Kaiser chocolate pearls, lace, Aqua Mist satin ribbon, Janome mini sewing machine, CM corner rounder