Technostamper Sketch Challenge

Good Friday everyone! I found a new (to me) challenge with a wonderful sketch this week: Technostamper Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge! Didn't I warn you earlier in the week you'd be seeing a stream of Christmas creations? :-)  This is a rather masculine version and it highlights a tree I created using 3 different images from SU's Work of Art set.  It also is a sneak peek of a sentiment and a star die that Our Daily Bread Designs will be releasing tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM EST, so check out that blog site HERE to see all the new goodies that will be available!

I used patterned paper from SU's Trim the Tree stack as my starting point. Let me just inject here how much I LOVE that they are making papers in smaller patterns (4 1/2" x 6 1/2") for us cardmakers.  The scale is so much better than many of the 12 x 12 patterns.  Anyhoo...it matches Sahara Sand so I stamped the tree in Garden Green on SS cardstock.  I had these light gold sticker gems from Recollections that were a good match.  Of course, every Christmas tree needs some sparkle, so the star is from SU's silver glitter CS.  I tweaked the ribbon placement (Soft Suede taffeta) slightly since my panels were sized differently from the sketch photo.  There you have it...a monochromatic, masculine Christmas card! Thanks for stopping by...I always love to hear from you!

Aqua Stars

I was burning the midnight oil after getting off work last night and created this card for two challenges.  First off, I have to give Amy Kolling the credit for inspiring me after seeing her gorgeous card on Pinterest!  I used a solid CS instead of DP and stamped stars instead of snowflakes, but the layout is the same.  This is a sneak peek of a new set being released by Our Daily Bread Designs on Nov. 1. There are 4 different sized stars and I've used all but the largest size to create the background.  Today's Ways to Use It challenge on SCS is to use our favorites and for me, it's the color and the use of embossing - both dry embossing for texture and heat embossing for the shimmer and shine!  It's also for Susie's HYCCT challenge to create your own background.

STAMPS: His Birth (ODBD)
PAPER: Coastal Cabana, White
INK: Coastal Cabana, Versamark
ACCESSORIES: Tag die by WPlus9, ODBD Sparkling Stars dies, Snowflake EF by SU, Silver cording.

Sneak Peek

 

Here is a sneak peek for the Nov. 1st release at ODBD!  Let's just say I've been seeing lots of stars in preparation for the new release - lol!  I used the layout for the Sketch Challenge on SCS to feature this new stamp set - His Birth. The Sparkling Stars dies will be a must have...not just for Christmas but for many other occasions as well.   The yummy designer paper is also part of the new goodies you will be able to purchase on Nov. 1.  I stamped the star in Rose Red ink then embossed with clear EP then popped with foam tape and layered it over some looped string.  Very quick and easy CAS design!

Color Throwdown

Happy Wednesday everyone! Monika has a gorgeous fall color palette for us on the Color Throwdown Challenge blog and it's open to TONS of possibilities! I decided to go with a non-fall creation and stamped a bold plaid background then added a sunflower image (stamped in Crushed Curry and sponged with Pumpkin Pie) with a freebie 'thanks' die cut sentiment that came with my last MFT order.

I should have warned you...you will need some shades for this one!  In hind sight, I wish I had broken up the busy plaid with a white textured border or some kind of horizontal panel.  Since I was really generous with my glue application, there was no changing my mind later! (Yes...you can serve cheese with my whine :-)

Congrats to Sue Rose, our guest star stamper this week!  Be sure to stop by her blog, Sue's Stamping Station, and check out her lovely card!

For more inspiration, be sure and check out the rest of the design team's creations with the links below:

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe 
Joan Ervin 
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler 
Monika Davis 
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)

Tara Godfrey - October Guest Designer

Here's what I used:
STAMPS: Splendid Sunflower (MFT), Plaid Background Builder (MFT).
PAPER: White (PTI).
INK: Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Pacific Point, Old Olive.
ACCESSORIES: Thanks Die-Namics (MFT), Splendid Sunflower Die-Namics (MFT), Black enamel dots by Recollections, Corner chomper.

Color Challenge

Vicki has some great colors for the Color Challenge on SCS: Gumball Green, Marina Mist, and Midnight Muse with the dessert option to use either a die sentiment or a large word stamp. I'm whittling away on my Christmas card list, so brace yourself for an upcoming onslaught of Christmas cards!  It was near 80 degrees today and is to be that warm again tomorrow.  Really hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit when it's that warm!

I stamped the grunge BG first then added the pine branch die (Impression Obsession).  I "hung" a couple of ornaments (Ornament Keepsakes by SU) and added the merry die cut sentiment (PTI) and stamped "Christmas" from WPlus9's Hand Lettered Holiday stamp set.  I'm trying to make two of every card I make at the suggestion of Jennifer McGuire.  While you have your supplies out, might as well double up on each element and you'll get your stash doubled in no time (or that's my hope).

Thanks for stopping by...it's the wee hours of the morning, so this gal needs to get to bed.  'Nite all!

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

I am seriously very behind on getting Christmas cards done for this year, so I'm going to zero in on that goal!  Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge was a perfect way to git 'r done!

Here's what I used:
STAMPS: Woodland Wreaths, Merry and Bright, Hand Lettered Holiday - all by WPlus9; Burlap BG by MFT.
PAPER: Christmas Eve Chowder 6x6 pad by Jillibean Soup, Crushed Curry, White.
INK: Crushed Curry (SU), Wild Mango, Coconut Husk, Mojito, Appletini - by WPlus9.
ACCESSORIES: Woodland Wreaths and Merry and Bright dies by WPlus9, Gold basic metal button by SU; Gold sequins by Avery Elle, Clear Wink of Stella shimmer brush.

CAS Spirelli

Are you scared yet? :-)  I made this quick CAS creation for the CAS Halloween challenge on SCS and the Technique Lover's Challenge to use the spirelli technique.  They might kick me out of the gallery, but I used what I call a minimalist spirelli version!  Not sure of the name of this corner punch, but it allows you to wind thread or twine around the edges to form a frame.  The criss-crossing on the back of the panel probably looks more like the spirelli technique should look - lol!  Using one of my fave go to layouts, I layered a couple of MFT's primitive pumpkins and some SU Sizzlets little leaves.  The horizontal grunge lines were embossed in gold which doesn't show up well in the photo.

STAMPS: Tape It (SU), Gorgeous Grunge (SU), Primitive Pumpkins (MFT).
INK: Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark

Mojo Monday

We're already in the last week of October (where did this month go???), so it's time for a tall and skinny sketch -created by Carole - for the Mojo Monday Challenge! 

I kept my design very clean and simple...starting with a Soft Stone (PTI) cardstock base.  The pink panel is from Recollections' Coordinates 12x12" pad which has a trio of die cut stitched squares added using textured black CS.  I fussy cut the sweet little envie and "sealed" it with a tiny heart - images from Verve's Take Note stamp set.  The quilled butterfly stickers were a quick embellishment. 

For more inspiration...check out the rest of the mojomakers' blogs below:

Carole Burrage

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen 

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen (you are here)

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Just Us Girls

My month of guesting at Just Us Girls went by so quickly and I want to say a big THANK YOU to the team for having me join them!  I enjoyed each and every challenge!  This last week is photo inspiration week and this fall scene is filled with gorgeous fall elements!  

I was inspired by the basket to use TCW's Mini Basketweave stencil with Wendy Vecchi's metallic gold embossing paste.  Sunflowers are my favorite fall flower, so I had to go with Flourishes "Sunflowers" stamp set.  I colored with Copics then fussy cut the images.  I sponged Pumpkin Pie ink on a Martha Stewart doily tag then layered some black thread behind the popped sunflowers. 

Be sure and check out what the other designers have created on the Just Us Girls challenge blog!  Hope to see you in the gallery!

ODBD October Release Reminder

Today, we are taking a look back at Our Daily Bread Designs' October release...

 

For my project, I decorated a plain, glossy white lunch bag by

creating an ornament tag - using the Noel Ornament stamp -  layered over a trio of designer paper flags. I created the background using the bokeh technique on Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock.  For a video demonstration of the steps, check out the YouTube video HERE.  I stamped the sentiment using Versafine Onyx Black ink then heat embossed with clear EP.   Hopefully I've inspired you to create some one-of-a-kind holiday gift tags this year!

For more inspiration, be sure to visit the ODBD blog and see what the other super talented designers have created with the October release goodies!  You can also visit their individual blogs by clicking on the links below:

Grace * Paula * Chris * Lori * Julie * Sandee * Cathy * Dawn * Stacy * Wanda * Audrey

PAPERS: Season's Greetings by Echo Park.
ACCESSORIES: Circle and Scallop circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders, Fishtail Flags Die-Namics by MFT, Gold cording, Satin ribbon, Label punch (SU).

Color Throwdown

Hey, hey, hey! It's hump day and that means a new Color Throwdown Challenge! 

 I used a couple of watercolor techniques for this fall greeting.  For the long rectangle, I used 3 different distress inks (Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed) by stamping the block onto the ink pad, spritzing the block lightly with water then "stamping" it on watercolor CS.  I took a second sheet of watercolor CS and put a water "wash" over the entire panel.  I then used 3 different Pelikan paint colors and swirled it randomly over the panel - adding water to blend.  I then die cut the leaves. 

Our star stamper this week is Bernadette Bliss!  You don't want to miss her gorgeous card!

For more inspiration, be sure and check out the rest of the design team's creations with the links below:

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe 
Joan Ervin 
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler 
Monika Davis 
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)

Tara Godfrey - October Guest Designer

What else did I use?

STAMPS: Autumn Splendor (Verve).

PAPER: Cajun Craze (SU), Vintage Cream (PTI), Watercolor CS by Tim Holtz

INK: Cajun Craze, Distress inks (see above).

ACCESSORIES: Banner flag die by Reverse Confetti, Tim Holtz Sizzix Tattered Leaves die, Herringbone EF, Brights Candy Dots by SU, Corner chomper.

Hey, Sweetie!

Loved Karen's fun sketch for the current Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and combined it with 2 SCS challenges: the Color Challenge (Real Red, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake) and Misti's HYCCT challenge to use a sweet treat image on our card.

Here's what I used...
STAMPS: Let's Chill (Reverse Confetti)
PAPER: Fresh Prints DP (SU), Real Red, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, White
INK: Real Red, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Let's Chill dies by Reverse Confetti, Enamel dots by Recollections, Circle Nestabilities, Flag It die set by Verve.

Mojo Monday

Good Monday everyone! It's Mojo Monday challenge time and Debbie Carriere has a wonderful sketch for us! I'm anxious to see all the interpretations for that large rectangle panel! I went with this elegant gold striped vellum paper layered over Vintage Cream CS. I lightly sprayed the back of the vellum with Elmer's spray adhesive to adhere it without any visible tape lines. Easiest for me is to place the paper face down on a paper towel in my trash can to avoid sticky overspray hitting the floor or desk areas. For the horizontal border, I die cut Verve's Rounded Scalloped Frame twice - once on textured black CS and once on Vintage Cream.  I embossed the center of the frame using a dotted swiss embossing folder (it doesn't want to show up well in my photo).  

If you'd like more inspiration...check out the rest of the mojomakers' blogs below:

Carole Burrage

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen 

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen (you are here)

STAMPS: Be Blessed (Verve), Bloom and Grow (Verve).
PAPER: Vellum w/Gold stripes and Textured black by SU, Vintage Cream by PTI.
INK: Versafine Onyx Black, Calypso Coral, Old Olive.
ACCESSORIES: Clear embossing powder (for sentiment), Elegant Leaves die, Sprightly Sprigs die, and Rounded Scallop Frame die - all by Verve, Gold brad.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Just Us Girls

I can't believe it's week #3 already, but I'm back again for my October guest designer gig for the Just Us Girls challenge!  This week is Color Week and I'll admit I was initially intimidated by the purple which is not one of my go-to colors.  I kept trying to think of a fall/Halloween theme, but finally decided to play once again with one of my fave images to watercolor.  You know...I ended up loving this color combination!  I guess that's why I enjoy challenges so much...they stretch me to work outside my normal box!

I started by die-cutting the flower pot from watercolor paper and coloring with a Faded Jeans distress ink marker. I picked up a small amount of water on a brush and blended the "scribbles". Then I die cut the flowers and leaves and applied more distress ink markers to the stamps, stamped them onto the watercolor CS shapes and blended with a brush.  Then I got to play flower designer and filled up the vase!  

Here's what else I used:
STAMPS: Pretty Peonies, Fresh Cut Containers - both sets by WPlus9
PAPER: Tim Holtz watercolor CS, Lucky Limeade (SU), White (PTI)
ACCESSORIES: Lattice BG die by WPlus9, Hand Lettered Thanks die by WPlus9, Clear Wink of Stella glitter brush marker, Clear rhinestones by SU.
TIM HOLTZ DISTRESS MARKERS: Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord, Crushed Olive, Forest Moss, Mustard Seed.

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you playing along with us this week!

Freshly Made Sketches

Before heading out to work, I made this quick and easy fall thank you card for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge. I used some neglected designer papers and tried out my new Reverse Confetti envie wrap die paired with a Roundabout stamped sentiment. TGIF and I have the weekend off!  Sun is out...finally...and I am loving the fall temperatures.  Enjoy your day!

STAMPS: Roundabout (Reverse Confetti)
PAPER: Vintage Cream (PTI), Retro Fresh (SU)
INK: Baked Brown Sugar (SU)
ACCESSORIES: Envie wrap die by Reverse Confetti, Wood veneer leaves by Hobby Lobby, Circle Nestie, Corner chomper.

Sketch Challenge

Happy Fall, ya'll! I thought I'd play along with the SCS Sketch Challenge and use one of my favorite fall images to color - this pumpkin with matching die from ODBD!   The papers from 7Gypsies have been in my stash for a REALLY long time and thought they screamed FALL with their warm tones.  Very easy card to put together!  Sequins are from Avery Elle's kraft collection.

I think my next card will include a sun, because we haven't seen it in days and it's pouring down rain again!  I keep telling myself to be thankful it's not snow. :-)  Hope you have a blessed day!

Color Throwdown

It's Wednesday and that means there's a new Color Throwdown Challenge on board! Lori is our hostess with the mostest this week and she has a warm and cozy photo for our color inspiration: pale pink, pale yellow and red.

I know...I know...you're thinking when am I ever going to stamp

with any set other than Pretty Peonies!  Yes, I have a problem!  I'm a fan of this easy watercolor look. :-)  I colored the stamps with Tim Holtz distress markers (Spun Sugar, Barn Door, Mustard Seed, Pumice Stone) and stamped on TH watercolor cardstock.  I did very little blending with a brush since I used 2 step stamping this time.  I found these "In Bloom" papers by MME that fit the colors very closely and thought this stamp set would coordinate well.  The layout is based on Freshly Made Sketches challenge #157.  The sentiment strip is barely visible, but it's there...stamped on vellum.

Our star stamper this week is the talented Lin Brandyberry!  You don't want to miss her gorgeous card!  

For more inspiration, be sure and check out the rest of the design team's creations with the links below:

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe 
Joan Ervin 
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler 
Monika Davis 
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)

Tara Godfrey - October Guest Designer 

STAMPS: Pretty Peonies (WPlus9), Hand Lettered Thanks (WPlus9).

PAPER: MME In Bloom 6x6 pad, Vellum, White.

Retrosketches & Color Challenges

More wind and rain today...one of those days when it's so hard to crawl out of bed. I finally did get moving and couldn't resist playing along with the 500th Color Challenge on SCS!! Wow! That is quite a milestone! They have a unique "seasons of color" option with 4 different color palettes to match the 4 seasons. I went with the fall combo: Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Bermuda Bay, and Baked Brown Sugar. It was perfect to break in the latest SU set (Work of Art) I ordered with our last stamp club meeting.  It pairs up well with Gorgeous Grunge and you know I love that set!  The layout is using the current sketch from Retrosketches Challenge.  I lined up the zigzag pattern using a Stampamajig.  Thanks for stopping by...

STAMPS: Work of Art (SU), Gorgeous Grunge (SU).
PAPER: White (PTI), Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry (SU).
INK: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Baked Brown Sugar.
ACCESSORIES: Wood veneer leaves by Hobby Lobby, Fishtail Flags Die-Namics (MFT), Soft Suede satin ribbon (SU), Jute twine.