Let's Get Negative

...with using a negative die cut, that is! I'll have to admit, when I saw Steph's Ways To Use It challenge on SCS, I knew I wanted to CASE Bar Anders' card HERE by using the large leafy flourish Die-Namic from MFT.  I added a Certainly Celery panel to the inside of the card then embellished with some Perfect Plum roses and a Going Gray (with edges sponged with Elegant Eggplant ink) flower.  The sentiment is from the great Flags and Tags stamp set with flag die by 'Lil Inker Designs - totally LOVE that set and keep going to it over and over again!   I used the CAS design for this week's Sketch Challenge on SCS and also used Mona's gorgeous colors for the CR84FN challenge to use lavender, celery and gray.

Color Throwdown 194

It's Wednesday and that means it's Color Throwdown Challenge time.

Check out these great summertime colors by Barbara!

I knew I wanted to use this DP from the Beach Cottage pad by Creative Imaginations for my beach-themed card...

I ended up using a hodgepodge of stamp sets with the sailboat and shells from SU and the flag outline and sentiment by Verve.  I sponged Soft Sky and Real Red ink on the oval, but it's so light that it doesn't show up well in the photo.  :-(  The layout is using this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.

We hope you will play along with us and if you don't have the exact colors...no worries...you can choose a similar color.  For more inspiration, you'll want to see what the design team and our guest designer, Kittie, have created by checking out the Color Throwdown blog HERE!

STAMPS: Sail Away (SU), Stipple Shells (SU), Super Dad (Verve), Happy Hello (Verve)

PAPER: Beach Cottage DP by Creative Imaginations, Poppy Parade, Kraft, Soft Sky

INK: Versafine Onyx Black, Crumb Cake, Soft Sky, Soft Suede

ACCESSORIES: Oval Nesties, Chevron Die-Namics by MFT, Ribbon banner die by Verve.

Blushing Hydrangeas

Good Tuesday morning! I'm happy to have another day off work today and couldn't resist getting inky for the following challenges:

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge - create a thank you card

SCS Color Challenge

Karen Barber has an awesome color combination for the CC...love the Blushing Bride, Certainly Celery and Soft Suede trio she chose - and I combined it with Karen Giron's great sketch for this week! 

I used the Belleek-inspired technique by brayering Soft Suede ink on the plaid EF prior to running it through the Big Shot.  I colored this great new hydrangea image with Copics then fussy-cut it and layered it over the embossed panel.

STAMPS: Hydrangea (Flourishes), Joyful Blooms (Verve)
PAPER: Devotion (Creative Imaginations), Blushing Bride, Soft Suede, White, X-Press It Blending Card
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Soft Suede
ACCESSORIES: Oval tab Die-Namic (MFT), Ribbon by SU, Plaid EF, Brayer
COPICS: RV0000, RV10, RV11, YG11, YG13, YG63.

Christ's Love

Isn't this a great sentiment by Michael Card to highlight on this CAS card? I hadn't planned on including so many challenges in one card, but it all fell together, so here's the list:
SCS CAS Challenge: love theme
Card Patterns Sketch Challenge
ODBD Shining Light Challenge -  use colors pink, black and/or gray, white/vanilla
Moxie Fab World Spatter Technique Challenge
I used a color spritzer tool (or as I commonly call it - the "spitter" tool) to give a very subtle splatter effect.  I inserted a Tombow marker (#725) into the tool and "spit" the color onto the base panel.   I inked up this checkerboard stamp for the first time from Tim Holtz' Grunge Cirque set and LOVED the look of it!  What in the world was I waiting on?!  Some fave mini rolled roses over a black flag die and this was fast and easy to create! 

Hope all of my American friends are enjoying this Memorial Day and remembering those who served and are still serving to protect our freedom!  I thought the love theme was a very appropriate one for the day!  Thanks for stopping by...and as always, I cherish your comments!

The Open Sea

 It was a beautiful day off...got more flowers planted, picked up a flat of fresh, local strawberries (pretty much at the end of the season for us), did a mountain of laundry, ate supper out with our middle son, and managed to squeeze in some inky time to make this card for the Play Date Cafe Challenge (use colors - navy, light blue and red) and for the Deconstructed Sketch Challenge. I tweaked the circle placement a bit so I wouldn't cover up the red burlap border so much.

STAMPS:The Open Sea by SU
PAPER: Night of Navy, White, SU DP from a 6x6" pack
INK: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue
ACCESSORIES:  Large dotted EF, Large flag die by Lil Inker Designs (each side trimmed by 1/8"), Circle Nesties, Baker's twine, Anchor charm (Michael's-in jewelry section), Star brads, Burlap trim from Funkie Junkie.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Color Throwdown 193

It's time for another Color Throwdown Challenge and I happen to be the hostess this week.  I got my inspiration for the colors from this sweet floral bird cage arrangement.

You might need some shades for this bright version!  I used the square lattice EF by SU to emboss the summer sun panel and the bird's wing.   The sunflowers were colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped with foam dots.

You don't have to use the exact colors, but we do hope you stay close to them.  Add your creation to the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of the CTD post and use keyword CTD193 when you upload to a public gallery.  I look forward to seeing what you create!  Check out the inspiration from the design team and our talented guest designer for May - Kittie Caracciolo - by visiting the Color Throwdown blog!

My enabler's list...
STAMPS: Sunflowers by Flourishes
PAPER: "Handmade" 6x6 pad by LilyBeeDesign, On the Bright Side pad by MME, Summer Sun, Marvelous Magenta, Garden Green, White, Rustic Cream, X-Press It Blending Card
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Garden Green, Antique Linen distress ink
ACCESSORIES: Gingham ribbon (Flourishes), Jute twine, Birdcage die by Tim Holtz, 2-step bird punch by SU, Tiny Tags die by PTI, Foliage dies by Spellbinders, Labels Eight Nestie, Copics , Square lattice EF by SU, Chocolate pearl (eye).

Sunshine for My Soul

This yellow gingham is a ray of sunshine in my stamp room! When I saw the Moxie Fab World's Gingham Challenge, I knew I wanted to pair this paper with a new (to me) sunflower image from Flourishes!  I colored it with Copics and cut it out so I could position it a wee bit out of the box.  This is also for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge...another fabulous layout - and for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge to create a card with flowers! I added Crystal Effects to the sweet little ladybug perched on the one petal.

STAMPS: Sunflowers (Flourishes), Happy Hello (Verve) - sentiment
PAPER: Stella & Rose "Gertie" papers by MME, Black, X-Press It Blending Card, White
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Ribbon trim, Square lattice EF by SU, Flag die by Lil Inker Designs
COPICS: YG11, YG13, YG17, Y02, Y06, Y08, Y17, R24, R27, E55, E57.

Sketchbook Saturday Challenge

Chupa has a wonderful layout for her Sketchbook Saturday Challenge!   I started this card for the brocade challenge on Moxie Fab World, then realized I covered up the DP too much and it just looked floral at this point, so I scrapped that idea.  Because the colors were more muted, I wanted a very grayish, muted green for the leaves, so I dug into my archives for a piece of Mellow Moss - remember that oldie SU color?  The ribbon has a shimmery look to it...think this could possibly pass for a wedding card which I'll be needing in June. 

STAMPS: Small Celebrations (Verve)-sentiment; Sunny Days (Verve)-sprig leaves
PAPER: MME's 29th Street Market 12x12 sheets, Vintage Cream (PTI)
INK: Versafine Onyx Black, Mellow Moss
ACCESSORIES:  Prima, Ribbon by American Craft, Tiny Sprigs dies by Verve, Pearl and button w/pearl accents, Large flag die by Lil Inker Designs (I cut off 1/8" on each side to make it narrower).

Damask & Brocade Challenge

This card was created using Tilly's sketch on the SCS CAS Challenge today and it's for Moxie Fab World's Damask and Brocade Challenge.  I will be needing a wedding card soon, so this elegant brocade EF was just the ticket!  I brayered Blushing Bride ink on the folder prior to running it through the Big Shot...gives a subtle texture to the BG and is one of my fave techniques!  Isn't this Verve font just so elegant and perfect for the theme?!  Thanks for looking...I appreciate all your comments!

STAMPS: Love Notes (Verve)-sentiment; Text Objects (Verve)-hearts
PAPER: White, Black, Certainly Celery, Old Olive
INK: Blushing Bride, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Brocade EF, Brayer, Heart scallop border punch by MS, Foliage die by SB, Fern punch by MS, Prima by Blue Moon Beads (Michaels), Corner chomper.

CASing Candace

Today's Featured Stamper Challenge over on SCS features the ever so talented Candace Pierce aka candylou! Her gallery is full of wonderful eye candy and finally, I decided on THIS CARD to CASE.  I needed a baby card for our nephew and his wife's new little arrival: Cameron Andrew Cullen.  I used Candace's layout but changed the colors, the theme and went with paper piecing rather than coloring the image.

STAMPS: Emery Plain Jane (Verve), To the Moon (Verve)
PAPER: Nana's Nursery by DCWV, White, SU DP
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Picot Circle and Circle Nesties, White twine by SU, Button by SU, Vintage Floral border punch by MS.

Monochromatic Lacey Creation

**For my Raise the Bar post, please scroll down to the next entry** 

I wasn't planning on getting inky this morning, but when I saw the new Deconstructed Sketch on Jen's blog, I just had to play!  I've also been turning the wheels in my brain to come up with a creative way to use lace for the Moxie Fab World's Doilies and Lace Challenge.

OK...so this might not bring thunderous applause, but it's a tiny bit creative, don't ya think?  I cut out one of the flower motifs from this gorgeous imported lace from Flourishes and glued it over a kraft corduroy button brad.  The background panel is Vintage Cream CS embossed with a folder that was inked using Antique Linen distress ink before running it through the Big Shot.  I love this new shabby chic fabric flower that came with some happy mail yesterday from the Funkie Junkie!

STAMPS: Flags and Tags Stamps by 'Lil Inker Designs
PAPER: Fine Linen and Vintage Cream by PTI
INK: Antique Linen distress ink, Chocolate Chip
ACCESSORIES: Victoria EF, Postage Nestie, Fabric Flower, Lace, Corduroy button (SU), Flag die by 'Lil Inker Designs, Satin ribbon by PTI (Fine Linen).

Celebrating the Military

It's Friday and the bartenders at Raise the Bar are celebrating the military service men and women with their card creations!  Tomorrow is Armed Forces Day...a reminder to let those in service know they are not forgotten! I used some images from Our Daily Bread Designs that work so well with this theme!  I stamped them in Memento Tuxedo Black ink then colored with Copics - B95, R24, YG91, YG93, YG95, N3, N5. I distressed the edges and sponged with Tea Dye distress ink.  I wanted the sentiment to look like a dog tag, so chomped the corners.  You'll want to head on over to Raise the Bar's blog and check out the great cards by Joni, Thanh, Julie, and Peggy...as well as the guest bartenders!

CASE Study

<---What a stunning card by Agnieszka Malyszek- the amazingly talented May muse for the CASE Study Challenge!  I also wanted to play along with the Ways to Use It Challenge on SCS to use complementary colors - colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel.  Since I LOVE green, I wanted to keep it as the main BG color, so the complementary color is a violet-red.  I included the butterfly, lace and sentiment flag elements that Aga included on her card.  The butterfly was colored with Copics - RV14, RV17, RV19 - then fussy cut and popped with foam dots.  I sprayed it with Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist.

STAMPS: Everyday Miracles (butterfly) by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps; Mat Stack 3 Collection by PTI, Flags and Tags Stamps (sentiment) by Lil Inker Designs.
PAPER: On the Bright Side-Two by MME, White
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Pear Pizzazz
ACCESSORIES: Mat Stack die by PTI, Banner flag die by Lil Inker Designs, Lace, Pear Pizzazz pleated ribbon by SU.

Tuesday Trigger: Bright Bite

**For my Color Throwdown card, please scroll down**

Check out the bold and the beautiful!  With these vivid colors, I went with a clean and simple design.  My first impression of the photo was sunshine and watermelons, so I opted for the sunny theme while my mouth was watering for the taste of cold, sweet watermelon - YUM!  I included the circular and stacking elements in addition to the colors.  Be sure and check out the Tuesday Trigger Challenge on the Moxie Fab World web site and play along!  I was thrilled to find out yesterday that I was a Trigger Target winner for the Vintage Vogue challenge...so...as my mom always said, you can't win if you don't enter!  Go for it!

STAMPS: Let It Shine (Verve)
PAPER: Stella & Rose "Gertie" papers (MME), Daffodil Delight, White
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Circle Nesties, Flag die by Lil Inker Designs, Corner chomper.

Color Throwdown 192

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another Color Throwdown Challenge!  Tammy has some great spring/summer colors for us and we'd love to have you play along!

  I went with the sketch for the Card Patterns Challenge and found papers from the Sweet Threads pad by BasicGrey that included these colors.  I colored two flower images with Copics then layered them, popped with foam dots and added some Stickles.  The seam binding was hand-dyed using Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (English Ivy).

If you don't have the exact colors, feel free to substitute colors that are close! Make a card or paper crafted project and post it to your blog or online gallery. Then use the direct link and link it to the Color Throwdown blog using the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of the CTD post. If you post to an online gallery, please use CTD192 as your keyword.
So...are you ready to be inspired?? Check out what the other CTD designers, along with our talented May guestie, Kittie Caracciolo, have created by clicking HERE!

STAMPS: Delightful Dahlia by PTI
PAPER: Sweet Threads DP (BasicGrey), Melon Mambo, White (PTI), X-Press It Blending Card
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Corner chomper, Seam binding, Corduroy button by SU, Copics, Yellow Stickles, Butterfly sticker by K&Co.

Waltzingmouse Sketch

It's been a long time since I played along with the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge...so...I've remedied that by using this week's fun sketch by Lynn Mercurio for this shabby chic card. Edges were all distressed and sponged with Antique Linen distress ink.

What else did I use?
STAMPS: Say It Loud (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
PAPER: Devotion pad by Creative Imaginations, Vintage trading cards by Recollections
INK: Versafine Onyx Black, Antique Linen distress ink
ACCESSORIES: Lace and bling borders by Prima Marketing, Rose Red seam binding (SU), Pearl brad, Distressing tool.

The weatherman just reported we got 5 inches rain in the past 24 hours and it's still coming down!  I'm thinking I should take up watercoloring - lol!