Poinsettia and Stripes

I neglected to get this on my blog yesterday, so will add a quick post today. It's been a LONG time since I've played with the Tuesday color challenge on Splitcoaststampers, but the light and dark pink with a fresh summery shade of green were too hard to resist! Using stripes and creating a Christmas card were optional and I decided to use both options to get my Christmas stash going. I stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on X-Press It Blending Card and colored with Copics.

STAMPS: Poinsettia and Pine (Altenew).
PAPER: Sweet Tooth (MFT), True Black (PTI).
DIES: Poinsettia and Pine, Watercolor Stripes Cover Die by Altenew.

CAS(E) This Sketch & CC

My card was created using the colors for SCS Color Challenge (Sweet Sugarplum, Wild Wasabi and Daffodil Delight) and the layout for CAS(E) This Sketch challenge.  These fun florals are so easy to stamp and arrange!  I added Black Enamel Accents to the flower centers.  The sentiment strip and several of the flowers were popped up with foam tape.  Here is what I used...


STAMPS: Flashy Florals, Big Greetings and Burlap Background by My Favorite Things.
PAPER: Neenah Solar White.
INK: Sweet Sugarplum, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry - all by SU; Versafine Onyx Black.
DIES: Stitched Oval (Lil' Inker Designs), Stitched Sentiment Strips (MFT), Flashy Florals (MFT).

Friday Inspiration File

Kara Vrabel is celebrating 300 weeks of inspiration on the Friday Inspiration File.  This is a new challenge to me...thanks to the posting of Leigh Penner on FB.  SOOO many gorgeous cards are saved to Kara's Pinterest file here, but I finally went with one of my first blog idols - Laurie Schmidlin - to CASE her card here. Laurie's card inspired me to go with this adorable bear from Reverse Confetti's Bear Hugs set and I paired it with papers from RC's "True Love" pad and also Bo Bunny's "Crush" collection.  The doily is from Martha Stewart and the heart border is a PTI die.  The ovals are punches by SU.  I used Copics to color the image: T1, T3, T5, T7, R24, R29, Y18.  Now, I just need to decide which of my 3 grandchildren will get this card as happy mail. ❤️

I also used the colors - red, white, black - for the Color Challenge on SCS. A classic combo that never grows old for me!  Thanks so much for stopping by...

Sending Lots of Love

A quick and easy card using rose, gray and vanilla for the Color Challenge on SCS.  I'm also using the sketch for the current Sunday Stamps Challenge - subbing hearts for the stars.  

STAMPS: Crazy About You (Reverse Confetti).
PAPER: Secret Crush 6x6 pad by pinkpaislee, Smoky Slate by SU.
DIES: Hearts by The Cat's Pajamas.

Color Challenge

Mary has a wonderful fall color palette for the Color Challenge on SCS and the dessert option is to create a fall card.  Well, I'm really ready for some cooler temps after so many ongoing hot and humid days, so I was all over this challenge and pulled out my fave Falling Leaves from the Tim Holtz collection by Stampers Anonymous!  They were stamped using Garden Green, Crushed Curry and Cajun Craze inks.  I pulled the 4th color - Chocolate Chip - into the mix by adding it in narrow borders and with the sentiment.  The metallic leaf embellishments are from Lawn Fawn.  Stitched dies are all by Lil' Inker Designs. 

That's it for today...looking forward to another day off work and hopefully will get some fall decorating completed along with dusting!  I have dust bunnies that would probably qualify for the Guinness World Book of Records!

Rustic Hydrangea

I'm burning the midnight oil with this card...created for the Color Challenge on SCS to use Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and Emerald Envy. I skipped dessert which was to use a bird. I'm also playing along with the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge. I usually have lots of white space with CAS designs but decided to use patterned papers instead. The individual gluing down of the tiny hydrangea blooms probably will have the CAS police coming after me - lol!  It really is a fairly quick and simple process.  I used my MISTI to stamp the sentiment twice then topped off the stem with a tiny twine bow.  

STAMPS: Hydrangea Set by Impression Obsession.
PAPER: Color Ways by Paper House (Michael's), Real Red, Emerald Envy, White.
INK: Real Red, Emerald Envy, Memento Tuxedo Black.
ACCESSORIES: Hydrangea dies by IO; Jute twine.

Thanks so much for stopping by...it's off to bed for me now. 😴

Retrosketches & CC

A quick post this morning with a card I created for the current Retrosketches Challenge and it's using the lovely beach colors for the Color Challenge on SCS!  Maura has chosen Soft Sky, Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi and Crumb Cake for the colors.  I subbed distress inks so I could watercolor the background (Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Brushed Corduroy, Mowed Lawn).  I used Antique Linen to lightly watercolor this fun new sand dollar die by Reverse Confetti.  The sentiment (Fancy Word Coordinates by Reverse Confetti) was gold embossed on vellum.  The wonky stitched rectangles are by Lil' Inker Designs.

Thanks for stopping by...heading to get ready for work now.

Color Challenge Meets Paper Players

The Paper Players Challenge has a great CAS sketch this week, so I paired it with the Color Challenge on SCS to create a 70th anniversary card for an aunt and uncle. I built a plaid background with the 3 main CC colors: Watermelon Wonder, Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry (dessert option is to add green).  The happy die was cut 3 times and layered up to create more dimension.  I took some liberty with the 'any shape' element and went with a floral collage instead of a single shape.  Once again, my mighty MISTI came to the rescue and made it easy to line up the sentiment via the grid lines and then allowed me to stamp it twice to get a crisper image.

STAMPS: Mini Modern Blooms (MFT), Plaid BG Builder (MFT), Wet Paint (PTI).
INK: Watercolor Wonder, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Memento Tuxedo Black.

Birthday Flowers

I was inspired to create this card by Vicki's great color palette for the SCS Color Challenge to use Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo and Garden Green. I needed a sketch inspiration, so my next stop was at CAS(E) This Sketch. Because I'm needing a ton of birthday cards this spring, I'm also joining in the Seize the Birthday Challenge where anything goes this week!

I started by stamping the woodgrain BG by Altenew in Island Indigo ink.  I die cut it with MFT's Stitched Rounded Rectangle STAX Die-Namics and added some light sponging.  The sentiment is a new die and stamp set called Sending, Hoping, Wishing by WPlus9.  The flowers are from Altenew's Painted Flowers stamp set with matching dies. 

Color Challenge

Maura has chosen a pretty combination for the SCS Color Challenge - Elegant Eggplant, Bermuda Bay, Old Olive - with an optional dessert to use any kind of embossing. I guess you could call the stitching on the sentiment banner a form of dry embossing.  I'm actually CASEing one of my own cards from 9/2014 that you can see HERE.  

Here is what I used ...
STAMPS: Kinda Eclectic, Loving Thoughts - SU
PAPER: Bermuda Bay, White
INK: Bermuda Bay, Lucky Limeade, Elegant Eggplant
ACCESSORIES: Buttons (SU), Butterfly punch (SU), Stitched Fishtail Flags Die-Namics (MFT), Corner Chomper.

Metallic Gold Meets Vanilla

Check out Karen Barber's classy Color Challenge on SCS today! Metallic gold and vanilla.  I started with this striped vellum from SU and die cut the edge using a stitched border Die-Namics by MFT.  The Circle Scribbles dies and the Wet Paint sentiment die and sentiment stamp are all by Papertrey Ink.  Would you believe I still have some of the old SU cording from many years ago and am so happy to see it (along with silver) back in the Christmas catalog that goes live for ordering on September 1st.  So, now I'm ready for the next golden (50th) anniversary that might come my way! 

OILY TIP FOR THE DAY: Lemon essential oil came to my rescue recently when I had a large price tag sticker that had a ton of adhesive residue when I tried to remove it.  I remembered hearing that lemon oil was a much healthier alternative than the obnoxious odorous fumes of most adhesive removers.  I used 2 drops and took a tissue and it wiped off like buttah!  :-)  So quick and easy!  A friendly reminder...if you're using it on plastic, be sure and clean off the lemon oil with a little soap and water so the acid doesn't react with the plastic.  

There's a great deal on getting the Premium Starter Kit by Young Living through the end of August ($10 off the regular price for new members)!  If you have any questions how you can get these oils and a diffuser of your choice in your life, please let me know.

Color Challenge

A quick post with a CAS design for the Color Challenge on SCS: Wisteria Wonder, So Saffron, and Calypso Coral with a dessert helping of sequins. I'll have to admit...Wisteria Wonder is probably my least favorite SU color.  I simply couldn't make it work without a wee pop of green, so hope the challenge police won't head my way! :-)

STAMPS: Wonderful Words: Together (PTI); Diagonal Stripe background stamp by MFT.
PAPER: So Saffron, Calypso Coral, White, Green (?) from my scrap pile.
INK: Wisteria Wonder
ACCESSORIES: Circle Scribbles and Together dies by PTI, Layered Leaves Die-Namics by MFT, Sequins by Avery Elle.

Dare to Get Dirty and Color Challenge

I'm playing along with the Color Challenge on SCS to use Elegant Eggplant, Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow and Delightful Dijon.  I'm also playing in Anne's DTGD challenge and for details, you will need to be a Fan Club member.  If you are interested in joining...please check it all out HERE.

For my background, I took 4 different distress markers that were close to the SU colors and scribbled them on an acrylic block.  I then sprayed the block with water and "stamped" it onto the rough side of Tim Holtz water color cardstock.  I heat set it then die cut it using a stitched rectangle die (Lil' Inker Designs).  The image is from Flourishes' Dahlias set - a retired company that I always loved.  It's colored with Copics on X-Press It Blending Card paper and fussy cut since I was too lazy to hook up my Silhouette Cameo to crank out the cut file.  Also, the machine is VERY noisy and I didn't want to wake up my sleeping husband. :-/  The sentiment is from Greetings and Salutations by WPlus9 and stamped on the smallest tag die of their Timeless Tag 2 die set.  Thanks for stopping by...

Shaker Thank You

Playing along with the Color Challenge on SCS to use Rose Red (I  subbed Strawberry Slush), Mint Macaron and Tip Top Taupe and also used Karen Giron's layout for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

I added white embossing paste using TCW's Mini Basketweave stencil.  The stitched circles and rectangle are dies from Lil' Inker Designs.  I used the Prim Poppy die by Memory Box on Mint Macaron and Strawberry Slush CS.  The sentiment and banner die are from Lil' Inker Designs' Flags and Tags Stamps. I skipped the dessert option to use ribbon for the Color Challenge.

Heading out early to work today for a workshop at 1...thanks for popping by!

Color Challenge

I can't believe how quickly this month has flown by and it's already my last week as a guest designer for the SCS Color Challenge!  I want to thank the team for inviting me to join them - it's been a lot of fun!  Now, on to the new colors...

Mary Marsh has chosen these really yummy colors - Hello Honey, Cucumber Crush, Watermelon Wonder - with the dessert option to feature our favorite summertime sweet treat.  Well...I opted to skip dessert because this new SU set was calling out my name and

for me...summertime flowers ARE the best treat - maybe not the sweet kind, but they are a treat for my eyes and many of them smell sweet :-).   I colored the flower with Copics after stamping with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on X-Press It Blending Card, then fussy cut and adhered with a glue stick.  I used my MISTI to stamp the sentiment  and it's a good thing!  With stamping on a portion of the leaf, I didn't get a clear enough image with the first try, but the MISTI allowed me to ink up again and then it was perfect.  I have really loved having this tool in my arsenal!  Don't you love being enabled?! :-)


STAMPS: You've Got This (SU).
PAPER: Moonlight designer papers by SU, White.
INK: Hello Honey, Memento Tuxedo Black.
ACCESSORIES: Enamel dots by MME, Diamond Stickles, Copics.

CC Meets FMS

Hope you're having a terrific Tuesday! I'm guesting for the Color Challenge on SCS this month and Barbara has chosen Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight and Bermuda Bay with dessert to use a die cut or punch in our design. I'm also using the current Freshly Made Sketches layout.  All stamps and dies used are by My Favorite Things.  I colored the water lily with Copics then fussy cut and popped with foam tape.

The striped panel was made using the Plaid Background Builder

stamp set in Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight and Bermuda Bay inks.  The sentiment is from Sunflower Girl and the lily is from Flowers 3.  A lesson I learned 18 years ago from my very first SU demonstrator is to add a hint of yellow whenever you're coloring flowers or leaves.  It makes the images look so much more natural!

Dies: Dainty Lace, Stitched Rounded Rectangle STAX, Stitched Fishtail Flags STAX - all by MFT.

Color Challenge Guest

I had the honor of being asked to be a guest designer for the SCS Color Challenge for June! The
colors are Basic Gray, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Calypso Coral with the dessert option being the use of sky and leaves. You can use 2 or more colors for sky and leaves but they should be downplayed in the design. I knew right away I wanted to use the Fabulous Flamingo set from Reverse Confetti.  I hand drew some grass to ground the image with Copics G40 and G12.  I'm not sure what happened to the ink formula in my Basic Gray pad.  It stamps lighter than Smoky Slate (and it's still very "juicy" with ink), so may need to see if SU will replace it.  :-(  I used MFT's Burlap BG stamp with Smoky Slate ink on the same color CS for the horizontal element.  This is also for Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge - a fabulous CAS layout!

STAMPS: Fabulous Flamingo and Whole Lotta Dots - both by Reverse Confetti.
PAPER: Calypso Coral, Smoky Slate, White.
INK: Calypso Coral, Crisp Canteloupe, Smoke Slate.
ACCESSORIES: Stitched circle and stitched clouds dies by Lil' Inker Designs, Corner Chomper, MFT Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics, Avery Elle sequins.

Color Challenge

Vicki has chosen Very Vanilla, Coastal Cabana, Old Olive with the dessert choice to use black for the new Color Challenge on SCS!  I went with a very simple design using Reverse Confetti cuts and stamps. This is very self explanatory, so I'll get right to the enabler's list!

STAMPS: Petals 'n Posies (Reverse Confetti), Circle Sentiments (Reverse Confetti).
PAPER: Vintage Cream (PTI), Coastal Cabana (SU).
INK: Coastal Cabana, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Versafine Onyx Black.
ACCESSORIES: Petals 'n Posies, Triple Chevies, Scalloped Circle Confetti Cuts by Reverse Confetti; Stitched rectangle die by Lil' Inker Designs.