CPS #228 and Color Roundup #40

This was a birthday card for my guitar loving, nephew's 9th birthday. I finally had a chance to use a new technique I'd been wanting to try... first, stamp your main image. Then, when dry, stamp over it, in Versamark, with a large solid-type image. Clear emboss, and then sponge another color on and around the embossed image. The stamp underneath the embossing will still be visible, thanks to the emboss/resist effect... such a great technique!

From:

I used: (all SU below)
- Dusty Durango and Whisper White cardstock
- Extreme Elements, Grunge Rock and Friends Rock stamp sets
- Versamark, Dusty Durango and Poppy Parade inks
- Clear embossing powder
- Corner punch
- Star brad

Non-SU
- embossing folder and foil sticker
- generic gray marker

Mojo Monday 200 and Color Throwdown 151

I was SO excited when Color Throwdown gave us the whole rainbow to work with!!! And I LOVED the sketch from Mojo Monday too!!! This is one of my favorite cards I've made yet (aside from, possibly, the pink butterfly... see comments below). I wanted my rainbow to pop, so I stuck with black and white for the base. I was also so excited for a chance to use my new Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, and I used the matching DSP in black, to tie the base layers together.

I think I'm going to change the pink butterfly later tonight, and I'll add a pic of the update when I do...

From:

I used: (ALL SU!)
- Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose,Basic Black and Whisper White cardstock
- Precious Butterflies stamp set
- Basic Black Patterns DSP
= Beautiful Wings Embosslit
= Old Olive, Pacific Point and Basic Black ink
- Ice Cream Parlor button
- Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder
- Old Olive ribbon

CPS 227, Color Inspiration Challenge #7 and HSS #76

I just discovered PaperCraftConnection and they have a fairly new color challenge... I LOVE color challenges... sometimes it means I get to use some of my favorites, and sometimes they force me outside of my comfort zone. I combined this one with the CPS sketch (which, this week, was out of my zone too) for this cute-ish card ;) I also stuck with HandStampedSentiments summer theme.

Here are the sketch and colors used:

Card Patterns Sketch 124 and ColourQ challenge #94

This card really took me by surprise... knowing my love for bright, fun cards, I assumed this color palette from ColourQ, and the unusual sketch at Card Patterns would inspire a really funky card! But, first I had to switch greens, and ended up with Pear Pizzaz (and Old Olive ribbon). And then I decided I wanted to use the Precious Butterflies Hostess set, to make a perfect birthday card for my friend... so it ended up being a pretty and soft card, despite the wild color challenge. Anyways, here it is...

And here are the challenges:

Stuff I used: (All SU, except the brads and rhinestone)
- Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White cardstock
- Rich Razzleberry and Daffodil Delight DSP Pattern Stack
- Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Rich Razzleberry inks
- Precious Butterflies Hostess set
- Extra Large Tag, and 1/2" circle punches
- Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder
- Old Olive ribbon

Way to go!!!

This was a quick and easy combo for 3 challenges, at ColourQ, SU-Only Challenges and Stamping 411... I didn't have any specific use for this card in mind, but I wanted to use a spinner, since kids LOVE them... maybe I'll give it to Wyatt when his floor hockey season ends :)

The SU-Only challenge was "For the Kids!", and these are the colors and sketch I used:

What I used: (All Stampin' Up!)
- Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White cardstock
- Take a Spin and Recess stamps
- Real Red and Whisper White inks
- Clear embossing powder
- Game spinner hardware
- Top Note die
- Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder
- Spiral Border punch
- Real Red/White stitched grosgrain

Creating my own sunshine!

Since summer is sadly misplaced this year, I took inspiration from 5 challenges, and created my own sunshine! It sure cheered me up :) I must admit though, once I finished, I realized that I had done it upside down, so the fold is at the BOTTOM of the card... yikes! While I could cut the front square off and remount it on a slightly larger card for an extra layer of framing, I think I'll just mount and frame this one instead... it'll actually go quite nicely on our bathroom wall!

Taking color inspiration (as well as the sunny essence) from the Just Add Ink, Pals Paper Arts and LateNightStamper photo challenges, the literal Sun challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments, and the sketch challenge at Card Positioning Systems, and of course some of my brand new Stampin' Up! goodies from the 2012 catty... I threw this together...

Here are the challenges:

Here's what I used: (All SU! unless otherwise stated)
- Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White cardstock
- Daffodil Delight dots from DSP stack and So Saffron dots from Tall Tales DSP
- Sizzlits Little Leaves die
- Precious Butterflies Hostess Stamp Set and Itty Bitty Backgrounds for the dots on the butterfly
- Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder
- So Saffron grosgrain ribbon
- Buttons from Ice Cream Parlor and Designer Subtles collections
- Pool Party, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo inks
- (non SU - generic rhinestones)

Hand-Stamped Sentiments Theme Challenge #74

I LOVE buttons, so I was very excited to play along with this week's challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments...

Here's the theme challenge, and I paired it with this sketch from Card Patterns, even though it was closed, because the instant I saw it, I saw what I could do with the button theme.

There's a lot of non-SU stuff on this one, but what IS Stampin' Up! is:
- Rose Red and Whisper White cardstock
- Something Sweet stamp set
- Rose Red, Gable Green, Only Orange, Yo-Yo Yellow and Pixie Pink inks (all those retired colors still come in handy sometimes ;)

Crreating Pretty Cards sketch #1 & Color Throwdown #149

Craft Project Central just started a monthly sketch challenge, and I'm so excited to play along! I also used the current Color Throwdown for this one (with a slightly altered palette)...

I usually don't end up following a sketch quite so literally (ie. the 3 flowers, with rhinestones), but this one just worked perfectly that way...

And the color challenge didn't quite work for me, since I have no Apricot, and little Wasabi, so I substituted with Pumpkin Pie and Pear Pizzazz...

Supplies used: (All Stampin' Up!)
- Greenhouse Garden and Silhouette Sentiments stamp sets
- Pear Pizzazz and Very Vanilla cardstock
- Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, Red Riding Hood and Always Artichoke inks
- Pear Pizzazz seam binding ribbon and Red Riding Hood 1 1/4" striped grosgrain
- Basic Rhinestones
- Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware
- Clear embossing powder
- Smooch Spritz
- And last but not least, these flowers could NEVER have been stamped without my trusty Stamp-a-ma-Jig ;)

Simple birthday cards, and belated challenges

Usually, when I make a card, I start with a layout, think of what I have, and just play with things in my mind until I'm ready to put something together. For class cards, I do plan ahead so I can order what I need in time, but those are generally simpler cards, based on a particular technique or stamp set I want to share with my students...

But, I have recently been invited to be a guest designer next month on a project tutorial blog, and have been seriously pre-occupied with brainstorming, sketching and planning my awesome, out of the box creation... which, is a lot harder for me, when I have to do it without actually having the materials on hand, while also making sure I think of EVERYTHING I need to order for it, and not missing a thing...

So, when I had some little boy's birthday cards to make, I decided to give myself a break and go for quick and simple... and I realized something... as much as I love to push myself, try new things and go crazy on a card, a simple card can still look super cute :)

This one is made with all retired stuff, aside from Baja Breeze, but if I like something enough to buy it, I usually still like it enough to keep it when it retires ;) I used the Inkspirations #76 color challenge (but substituting Dusty Durango for Peach Parfait, since I have NONE), and the CPS #225 sketch. I used the Cog Punch, Lots of Bots stamp set, and inks/CS in the colors mentioned, as well as a retired specialty brad. And of course Staz-on and my trusty blender pen for any watercoloring pics, as always! Easy Peasy :)

This one, I used ColorQ #92, and also a Create with Connie and Mary sketch challenge, which I missed the posting deadline for. I used Wild Wasabi, Basic Black and Whisper White CS; Tempting Turquoise DSP; Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder; Oval Scallop Frame Die; Fox and Friends and Party Hearty stamp sets; and Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive (I don't have Wild Wasabi) inks.

2nd Side Step card: Just Add Ink and Color Throwdown #148

I am loving the side step fold for fun scenes like these! This one is for a dinosaur-loving little girl...

This was done with the same Just Add Ink Fancy Folds challenge as the last card, but with the Color Throwdown #148 challenge for the color scheme. It took a LOT of finicky cutting, but it was SO worth it... I LOVE how it turned out!!!

Stampin' Up! products used:
- Tempting Turquoise, Definitely Daffodil, Regal Rose and Whisper White cardstock
- Paper Stack DSP
- Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Melon Mambo and Whisper White inks
- Prehistoric Pals, Itty Bitty Backgrounds and Happy for You stamp sets
- 1/2" circle and Pinking Hearts border punches
- Watercolor Pencil Crayons and White Uniball Signo gel pen
- Stamping Sponge, Mat Pack and Paper Piercer

1st Side step card, for Just Add Ink, and Stampin 411's Color Inspiration 160

This card has a story behind it... my dear sister let me drop my boys off for the day to go do a ton of groceries and errands... this is, in addition to her own 4 boys, and our other niece and nephew, who were there for the day as well...

I came to pick them up and discovered some SERIOUSLY muddy kids, and my niece hosing some of the boys off. Apparently, one of her boys decided it would be fun to dig a big hole in the dirt patch of the yard. Then, apparently, they decided to add water... well, we all know where that leads!

After cleaning my dirty boy off, thanking my sister profusely, and getting them home, I asked my oldest (fortunately, my little decided to hang out inside instead), whose idea the whole thing was. Fortunately, he did not suggest the digging of the large hole in the yard... BUT, he admitted that once it was dug, he thought it would be a great idea for them to fill it with water, just to make a nice lake to look at. And of course, it all went downhill from there...

So, I thought I should make my sister a Thank You card, which is really more of an apology card for my son's "bright idea" ;) So, here's my Muddy Monsters card...

Just Add Ink had a Fancy Folds challenge, and Stampin 411 had this color challenge:

All products Stampin' Up!
- Pear Pizzazz, Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White and Definitely Daffodil cardstock
- Island Oasis and Paper Stack Designer Series Papers
- Make a Monster stamp, Itty Bitty Backgrounds and Happy for You stamp sets
- 1" circle, 1/2" circle, corner rounder and Create a Cupcake punches
- Dusty Durango and Chocolate Chip markers
- Pear Pizzazz ink
- Watercolor Pencil Crayons and Blender Pen
- Pacific Point striped grosgrain and Chocolate Chip corduroy brads