Lego card!

I saw the basic idea for making Lego blocks on the Stampin' Up! Demo site, and then changed it up a bit, to come up with this birthday card today...

I used a Crumb Cake base, with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. Pacific Point, Real Red and Definitely Daffodil are the colors for everything else... the 1/2" circle punch created the dots, which I sponged the edges in the corresponding inks. And a little white pen to add a little more "pop". Some retired grosgrain ribbon, some matching DSPs, a star brad and a birthday stamp from Bring on the Cake finished it all off. I have a feeling I'll be using this idea again... what little boy doesn't love Lego?

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 118

Today is 9 years of wedded bliss for me and my darling hubby, and I really put a lot of thought into this card... only problem is, I spent so much time thinking and planning it, that I was left with little time to actually MAKE it, between the after-school rush, and hubby coming home from work. So, it's not QUITE what I planned, but it came pretty close...

I used Marina Mist and Crumb Cake CS, Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon, and the Spiral Binder punch, on Crumb Cake, sponged with Always Artichoke. The Loads of Love, stamped on Rich Razzleberry, and punched with the Full Heart punch. In fact, most of the card actually turned out just right... all of the issues I have are with the truck. I stamped it with Basic Black Craft ink, and planned on using the Always Artichoke and Marina Mist markers to edge the inside and the Blender Pen to pull it in and color the truck with nice shading. Unfortunately, I forgot to use Watercolor paper, and instead did it on Whisper White CS. So I ended up having to just fill it in with the markers, and got a richer, more solid look than I was hoping for. Also, I had planned on cutting out the windows and putting some window sheet in, so you'd see the Crumb Cake layer behind, showing through. But, since hubby was literally pulling up the driveway as I finished coloring the hearts in the back of the truck, I had to skip it.

That'll teach me to put things off to the last day ;) Fortunately though, hubby is far less critical of it, and loved it!

Here's the sketch I worked off of...

Dragon attempt

This was a birthday card for my 3 year old nephew... it looked so much better in my head :S I must admit, it's a fidgety die for cutting/reassembling, and with practice I'm sure I can use it again with better results. But it was still fun, and turned out pretty cute :) I have to admit though, by the time I was done making the dragon, I had no mojo left for the rest of the card... I'm really only going to pull this out for very special kids (like my nephew Jack, who got this one), and for scrapbook pages, or other more "lasting" efforts. I'd hate for this much work to go into the recycling bin at some kid's school party ;)

Two times a winner!

I don't know what it is, but the lovely ladies at HandStamped Sentiments, really like my style... they've picked my creations for their top 3, 2 challenges in a row!

http://handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com/2011/05/hss-anything-goes-challenge-67-artist.html

and

http://handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com/2011/05/hss-color-splash-challenge-66-artists.html

I just wanted to brag a bit, and send out a thanks to them for appreciating my stuff.

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #138

I used this sketch to make a baby card for my cousin, who just had a baby girl last night... I think this one really turned out great!

became...

I started with a Pretty in Pink base, and used the Nursery Specialty DSP for my main layer. For the bar, I used Chocolate Chip, with Whisper White squares. The Every Little Bit images were stamped in Early Espresso (honestly, because I was too sore from my workout yesterday to make another trip downstairs for my Chocolate Chip, lol!), and colored in with a combo of Watercolor Crayons and Pastels, and my Blender Pen. I had a cute little polka dot ribbon that looked great here, some silver heart eyelets, and I used the Sweet Little Sentiments, with a So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, undone and tied into a knot below it.

Workshop cards, Card Patterns Sketch 116 and SUO Challenge 20

Here are the cards for my next workshop...

A Father's Day card...

I used Soft Suede for the base and Crumb Cake, torn and run through the crimper, for the bottom. Some Red Riding Hood Striped Grosgrain, cut in half and frayed a bit, hemp twine for the laundry line, and the Best Dad Ever stamp set, from the new Summer Mini catalogue. The ties were done with Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist, Always Artichoke and Crushed Curry markers, and I used glue dots on the bottoms, to keep them from getting "out of line" :)

The other card we'll be doing is this fun birthday card. Well, actually it could be used for any cupcake worthy celebration ;) I used the Card Patterns Sketch 116 for this one, and had so much fun with it!

Here's the sketch:

And here's the card:

Pulling all my colors from the Celebrations DSP, I used Pear Pizazz for the base, Pacific Point, embossed with Perfect Polka Dots for my second layer. The large Scallop Circles #2 done on the DSP and sliced in half, and on Whisper White for the center created the last layers. On the center, I stamped a background from Extreme Elements in Pear Pizzaz, and the sentiment from the old hostess set, Sweet Little Sentiments, in Real Red. The cupcake was punched from more Celebrations DSP, and I used Crystal Effects on the cherry again... I love doing that :) Some scrunched Pear Pizzaz seam binding ribbon, wrapped around the intersection of the bottom two scallops tied it all together.

Color Throwdown #141 & Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #69

I thought this color scheme would be perfect for a little girl's birthday card I need for tomorrow, so I picked a sketch that I could easily use my favorite new Create a Cupcake stamp set and punch. Here's what I was working with...

And here's my niece's birthday card...

I added Crumb Cake for my base layers, and the colors I used were So Saffron, Rose Red, and I used Bermuda Bay for the aqua toned option. I created a wide, striped "ribbon" by embossing various borders on each color paper. Using Very Vanilla, sponged with Rose Red, for my cupcake square, and Chocolate Chip for the cup, I also punched the cherry out of Rose Red, used my Chocolate Chip marker for the stem, and then added Crystal Effects to make the cherry shine. Some random plastic fiber stuff glued on for yummy icing, and a So Saffron bow in the corner, finish it off. Oh, and I couldn't find my Bermuda Bay marker, so I had to use my Taken with Teal Stampin' Spot instead, but I can't tell the difference ;)

SketchFrenzyFriday050611 & SUO Challenge 18

I went ALL OUT on this one, and I hope I didn't overdo the embellishments, but I just had SO much fun with this combo challenge! The StampinUpOnly challenge was to use Butterflies, and the SFF sketch went perfectly with it...

Here's my card...

I wanted this card to be white and bright! I used Whisper White for the base and the large scallop die. Pacific Point, run through the crimper, for my main layer. The butterflies are Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie and Definitely Daffodil, all run through the Beautiful Wings Embosslits on CS and DSP. On the top Melon butterfly, I used a glue pen in the debossed lines and filled them with the silver glitter. The Office Accoutrements flower was stamped in Pumpkin Pie, and has embellishments from the Ice Cream Parlor sticker page. The leaves (from the Build a Flower #2 Sizzlits), and the sentiment strip (stamped with the Create a Cupcake birthday greeting, in Craft Whisper White, and clear embossed) are Pear Pizzaz. Which fortunately blended really well with the Old Olive in the Ice Cream Parlor ribbon and embellishments, and the Kiwi Kiss in the Hooray Designer Hardware. Last but not least, a Pacific Point corduroy button with an Ice Cream Parlor Daffodil button sewn on top, and some rhinestones... Phew! I think it'll be awhile before I'll be willing to give this one away ;) I want it to live on my display board for awhile first!

CPS 217 & HSS Anything GOES 67 challenges

For the HSS Anything GOES challenge, the goal was to make a 3D project, and a matching card. I started with my goal to improve on the luminary I did for my first Stampin' Up! workshop I did as a Demonstrator, and then made the card based on the CPS sketch below

I used the Always Artichoke ink and seam binding ribbon, and the flourish stamp from the Bliss Sale-A-Bration set, as well as the 1/2" circle punch, Very Vanilla Cardstock and Iridescent Ice embossing powder for the center of the flower.

Card Patterns Sketch 114

I wanted to stick with the butterfly idea in the sketch, so I started with the butterfly sticker, found a printed paper to match, and then discovered it went perfectly with my Dusty Durango, Soft Suede and Glorious Green, and it all fell together after that.

Color Inspiration #156 and CCMC 149 Sketch Challenge

When my sister and her hubby dropped her boys off for the evening, my brother in law whispered and asked if I could make him a Mother's Day card to give her in the morning... so here it is!

And here are the challenges I used to make it...

I used the Fun Flowers BigzL die for the flowers, and a petal Sizzlit from the Build a Flower Set #2 for the petals, which I ran through the Perfect Polka Dots folder. The Mother of Mine stamp created the bar across the card, and some retired, but striking ribbon and a black brad for the black accents. A layer of Basic Black paper behind the flower's rectangle would've been a great touch too, but I don't have any, and the cheap black cardstock I have on hand looks so pale and washed out against the beautiful Stampin' Up! papers and ribbon, so I couldn't even cheat with it ;)

Inkspirations Color Challenge #68 and CPS 216 Sketch Challenge

Combining color challenges and sketch challenges is my new favorite hobby ;)

Here's the sketch:

Here's the colors:

And my cute as a cupcake card...

I used the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder for the base, the Create a Cupcake stamp set and punch, and Certainly Celery ribbon, with an Itty Bitty Button and white thread for the bow. I Smooch Spritzed the Celery circle, and rubbed it in with my finger to give the whole paper a uniform sheen (Shimmer Paint would work better... I should add that to my list!). It's hard to see on the cupcake, thanks to the flash, but under the Iridescent Ice embossing powder, I used Watercolor Crayons to color on coordinating sprinkles. In real life, you can see them, but they're nice and subtle. Other colors used were Regal Rose for the cherry, and Chocolate Chip for the sentiment, stem and ribbon stamp. And Kraft with Versamark and Smooch for the cupcake base.

UPDATE: I just found another challenge using the exact same colors, so I'm entering it there too :) It's the HSS Color Splash Challenge #66 at

Things I haven't posted...

CPS 215 Sketch Challenge

This sketch was challenging for me, until I figured out that I could use my circle punch to create the corners...

I used Dusty Durango and Wild Wasabi for the main colors, but I thought it needed a splash of something else to brighten it up, so I picked out the Tempting Turquoise from the "dude" on the paper. Also, since this paper has some black in it, I used the opportunity to use my very rarely used Basic Black Craft pad. (Which was the first ink pad I bought, against my sister's advice, and the pad I almost NEVER use... I should've listened ;) The stamps I used were the Sanded block, Grunge Rock and Extreme Elements.