Blast Off!!!

When thinking about a card for my nephew's 5th birthday, I really wanted to use the Blast Off stamp set... only problem is, I don't have it yet! But I do have the Digital Ensemble for it on My Digital Studio :) I've never used it for a card before, so I figured now was the time... I used the DSP with the planets to create the background, and some stamps and embellishments to create the main image, and printed them on photo paper and trimmed them, matted them and added some real embellishments. I think I'll do this more often, since there is SO much versatile digital content to enhance my "real" stash.

Challenges used:

Seize the Birthday - (sketch below)
Play Date Cafe - (color palette below)
Southern Girls - Going Spotty Dot!
Ribbon Carousel - Celebrations
The ABC Challenge - N for Not just one (1 ribbon, 2 brads)
Fab and Funky - Ribbon and/or Lace

Alphabet Blocks

My youngest nephew's First Birthday party was coming up when I saw Just Add Ink's challenge to use Woodgrain, which immediately put the idea for these blocks into my head. Unfortunately, by the time I had a chance to sit down and make the card, that challenge was over but the color challenge they replaced it with was perfect, so I just used both ;) To make the edges of the blocks, I used the Peekaboo Frames die and sliced the door off. The white behind the letters is embossed with the same Woodgrain folder as the Crumb Cake layer, and the letters were cut with the retired Decorative Strip Billboard die. I'll definitely be making these blocks for a scrapbook page or two someday :) By the way, I think I'm finally getting the hang of the whole "clean and simple" thing... not that I'm about to abandon my urge to go overboard though!

Challenges used:

Just Add Ink - Midnight Muse, Lucky Limeade, Crumb Cake and Whisper White (and the honorary use of Woodgrain)

Craft Project Central - (see sketch below)

The Paper Players - Clean and Simple Masculine

Watercolor Butterflies

This butterfly stamp from the Best of Butterflies set must have been before my time, but I'm so glad to have it now! And it's a perfect friend for the Very Vintage roller, with a little accent coloring as well. I'll be sad to see these Build-A-Brads, and the Baroque Brocade folder go away though :(

Challenges used:

CAS(E) This Sketch! - (see sketch below)
Creatilicious - (see palette below)
SUO Challenges - Butterflies are so much fun!
By Lori Designs - Mommy & me
Creative Belli Blog - Mother's Day
Crafty Creations Challenges - Something Old/Something New
Fresh Brewed Designs - Flowers
CardzTV - There's no other like my Mother
Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes

"Birthday Basics" Exclusive Stampin' Up! Sneak Peek!

I am one of the very lucky few to have won an early package of the Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper from the upcoming 2013-2014 Stampin' Up! Catalog, coming in June. Can I just say, I L-O-V-E this paper SO much?!?! Especially these two sheets I used on this card... how much more fun and colorful can you get? And it gave me a reason to use some Basic Grey, which I rarely touch. Also used on this card is the Happy Birthday stamp from the new Hostess set "Banner Greetings". Such a versatile and simple set :)

(Please excuse the blurry edges on this picture... my camera won't behave today)

Challenges used:

Freshly Made Sketches - (see sketch below)
Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes
By Lori Designs - Use a Banner
Cute Card Thursday - Come Fly with me (balloons)
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Southern Girls Challenge - Sentiment
Creative Inspirations - Birthdays
Inky Impressions - Spots and/or Stripes
Crafty Sentiments - The Letter B (Balloons, Banners, Blue, Birthday)

Bye-Bye Button Buddies

Seeing as how I just got this set recently and hadn't had a chance to use it yet, I was sad to see it on the retiring list, so I figured I better use it to send off these cute little flower buttons as well, as together they make a cute Mother's Day image. Also retiring on this card is the Jewelry Tag punch (SO SAD!!!), the Cloudy Day embossing folder and the Color Spritzer tool used to give the base a splash of Rose Red. As well as the Floral District DSP and the color Baja Breeze.

Challenges used:

Pile it On - April Showers bring May Flowers
Create With Connie and Mary - (see sketch below)
Die Cuttin' Divas - Anything Goes (oval die)
Creative Belli Blog - Spring
SUO Challenges - Anything Sizzix!
Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes