Happy Birthday LeAnne!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEANNE!!

Today is LeAnne's (from the wee inkling) birthday!  And in celebration, Arielle set up a birthday blog hop.  Of course I had to send my fellow ColourQ DT member some special birthday wishes.  Hope you have a fabulous day today LeAnne!

In honor of LeAnne, I used the color combo from the Color Throwdown blog.  I also used the sketch from the Diva Coffee Break Design blog.

Two Card Saturday

Hi Stamping Friends!

Well I was gone so much this week, that today I'm stuck home doing laundry and.... STAMPING!  So I have two cards for today.

PETAL PIZZAZZ

This first card uses the color challenge from the COLOR THROWDOWN blog.  This is challenge #91.  The sketch comes from TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS.  This is sketch TESC112.  The colors and the sketch are so fun.  This sketch begs for some stitching, but since I don't sew, I had to opt for some faux stitching instead!

My next card is really an invite.  My oldest DS will be graduating from 8th grade.  We started homeschooling when he was in second grade.  After lots of prayers, we have decided to let him go to high school next year (he fell in love with water polo of all things!).  So this is a very big occasion for us and we are invited our family and close friends over to celebrate.  He is very excited about going to school in the fall and his mom is very... well I'm not sure yet.  I'm thrilled to watch him grow up into a wonderful person, but he's still my little boy (well, not so little, he's about 6"2")!  Come August 12th (first day of high shool), I'm sure a few tears will be shed. 

EXTREME ELEMENTS

I know I'm biased, but isn't he a handsome guy?!  And such a sweetie too.  What I love most about him is his soft heart.  I used this sketch from CARDS AND THINGS.  This is sketch challenge #30.  I flipped the sketch and made my vertical strip go over top of the center rectangle.  It mostly resembles the sketch... I think.  :)  Extreme Elements is one of the stamp sets that if you buy during the month of May, you get to choose a pack of Designer Brads for FREE!  Got to love a Stampin' Up! sale!

Anyhoo!  Best get back to the laundry.  And more stamping!  I need to make 20 of these invites, work on Arielle's next COLORQ challenge, and of course the next inspiration challenge over at the STAMPIN' CELEBRATION blog.  I hope you can play along in both of them!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

The Sweetest Sketch

Hi Stamping Friends!

I'm going to make this quick this morning.

This card combines the sketch challenge from Karen Giron's blog, the sweetest thing.  She always has fun, simple sketches.  The color challenge comes from one of me favorite color challenge blogs, The Color Throwdown.  Why don't you stop by and play along!  If it wasn't for challenge blogs, I wouldn't know what to stamp!  There is hardle a creative bone in my body.

Don't forget to stop by the STAMPIN' CELEBRATION blog and see who are fabulous Design Team members are.  We made sure to pick some of the best stampers out there!

Also, tomorrow I will be in a Stampin' Addicts Summer Mini catalog blog hop.  Stop by, join the hop and see lots of awesome stamping ideas using all the fabulous new products from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini catalog.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

2 Step Into Spring

Hi Stamping Friends!

Springtime is in full swing in my neck of the woods.  Just ask my kids who are suffering with horrible allergies this week!  Stampin' Up! has decided to celebrate spring with a special promotion on some of their Two Step Stampin' sets.  This special only lasts through the end of April, so be sure to order soon!  Today's card features one of the sets that are on sale, Fifth Avenue Floral.

This card fits three different challenges.  The sketch comes from my favorite Stampin' Up! online hangout STAMPIN' ADDICTS.  This is sketch SASC49.  Stampin' Addictsis  a great little community where everything is postively Stampin' Up!  If you are looking for fun ideas for certain SU! stamp sets, check out the Stampin' Addicts online gallery.  It is filled with lots of beautiful samples and it is organized by stamp set, so it is very user-friendly. 

The colors come from the COLOR THROWDOWN blog CTD87.  The colors are Pink, Gray, and Soft Olive.  The last challenges is for the PALS PAPER ARTS challenge blog PPA37.  This weeks challenge is a theme challenge and the theme is Flowers.  I have a feeling I'm going to more cards to post for that challenge!

The card base is Basic Gray, layered with Pretty In Pink and then layered with Certainly Celery.  The Celery layer is embossed with a NEW Impressions Folder that will be available May 1st from the Summer Mini Catalog.  It is called Square Lattice.  The stamp set is Fifth Avenue Floral and the sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  The bottom flower that is attached to the Basic Gray Satin ribbon is the Flower Burst Embosslit.

FIFTH AVENUE FLORAL   #113734   SALE PRICE $19.96

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

A New Year & A New Look!

Hi Stamping Friends!

I haven't been stamping lately, 'cause I've been so busy fixing up my blog.  What do you think?  I downloaded this Blog-In-A-Box from the Sweet Shoppe Designs.  I love it!  I've been having so much fun making sidebar buttons and rearranging all my Widgets.  But now I'm ready to stamp.

All my favorite challenge blogs are back in full swing after the holidays.  So today's double challenge card gets the sketch from the Stamping 411 blog SSC132 and the color combo from the Color Throwdown blog CTD74.

Keep in mind that I haven't stamped in awhile, so this card is pretty basic.  Suffice it to say that I'm not in love with it, but I just need to start stamping again to get in a groove!

I love pink, brown, and orange for Valentine's Day, but that Dusty Durango was hard to work with!  It's such a fall color to me.  The card base is Chocolate Chip layered with Regal Rose that has been embossed with the SU! Polka Dot Texturz Plate.  I haven't got my SU! Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder from the Occasions Mini, but it's on it's way!  The heart image is from the Priceless set and the sentiment comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes... LOVE this set!!  It has every sentiment for every holiday.

I guess I better get back to stamping.  I have over 180 cards I need to make for my Stamping For Missions fundraiser.  YIKES!

PRICELESS  #115052  $28.95

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Color Throwdown #71

Hi Stamping Friends!

Surprisingly enough, today's card is for only one challenge.  I know!  What happened?!  Well, I've been trying to finish up my Christmas cards and haven't had a lot of extra time for "fun" stamping.  But I really loved the colors form the Color Throwdown blog CTD71.  Here are the colors:

I just LOVE these colors!  They would be FABULOUS for Valentine's Day, but since I have Christmas on the brain, I used them to make this Christmas card:

It's hard to see in this photo, but I used the Faux Linen technique on the pointsettia and the leaves.  Looks so soft, almost like real petals!  I first inked up the flower image with Pretty in Pink.  Then using my sponge daubers, I inked up the edges with Real Red.  Then I stamped it on tissue paper.  After a minute to make sure it was dry, I crumpled it all up, and then un-crumpled it.  I glued it to a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and cut it out.  I did the leaves the same way, using Old Olive ink.  This is such a classic color combo.  I could use it year round.

Make sure you stop by Saturday or Sunday, as I will be participating in my very first blog hop!  Some demo friends (and I!) from my favorite Stampin' Up! online hangout, Stampin' Addicts, are having a Dormant Retiring Hop.  If you haven't bought some of these stamp sets, you better do it before January 4th, because after that they will be gone!  I will be showcasing one of my favorite sets, Grand Soiree.   So if you want to see what sets are retiring, come to our blog hop!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Mojo Throwdown

Hi Stamping Friends!

Today's double challenge card gets the sketch from the Mojo Monday blog MOJO113 and the color combo from the Color Throwdown blog CTD69.  Here are the challenge pieces:

Of course with these colors, I HAD to do another Christmas card!  And I finally cut into my flocked paper from the Christmas Cocoa DSP.  It just needed to be done!  And since Olive was one of the colors, I HAD to use my very favorite Striped Grosgrain ribbon.  Here's my card:

I did tweak the sketch a bit.  I flipped it and had the center strip cover the middle rectangle, instead of go behind it.  I did this simply because I wanted to see my Striped Gorgrain ribbon!  :)  For some of you, this may be considered "cheating".  I used to think the same way.  I'm a rule-follower by nature.  You won't catch me talking on my cell phone while driving!  But I've changed my tune on crafting "rules".  I realized that's what creating is all about.  It's taking an idea and making it your own!  So this is my version of the sketch.  And I hope you enjoy it!

The card base is Chocolate Chip layered with Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP that is FLOCKED!  This is paper that you just have to touch!  The Old Olive DSP comes from the Cottage Wall pack (another fave!).  The sentiment comes from Four The Holidays which is in the Holiday Mini.  The ornament stamp comes from Delightful Decorations set which is also in the Holiday Mini.  It is stamped in Chocolate Chip Craft ink and embossed with Clear EP.  What I love about this stamp set is the matching punch!  No hand cutting involved.  The Very Vanilla half-pearls come from the Pretties Kit.

Delightful Decorations  #116517  $21.95

Pretties Kit  #109114  $29.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Diva Color Throwdown

Hi Stamping Friends!

Today I have a double challenge card for you combining a sketch challenge from the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog DCBD153 and the Color Throwdown blog CT68.  I was kinda in the mood to  make some Christmas cards (finally!) but the color challenges so far this wek are no where near Christmasy!  When I first saw these colors, I was at a loss of what to do.  Then I saw the Diva sketch and an idea started forming.  Here are the challenge inspirations:

Really?!  Only Orange, Real Red, and Crushed Curry?  Wow!  Not the colors I was hoping for.  But I have to say, I really like how this card turned out.

Isn't it so bright and cheerful and fun?!  I love Gerbera Daisies and these colors remind me of them.  The Big Shot Daisy #2 die makes cutting these little guys out sooooo easy.  And best of all, you can make them in any color you want, unlike pre-made embellishements which cost a chunk of change and only come in a limited variety of colors.  Can you tell I love my Big Shot?!

The card base is Basic Black, layered with Real Red Textured cardstock.  The daisies are cut out of Real Red, Only Orange and Crushed Curry, with a Circle Fire Rhinestone in each center.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (LOVE this set!) and is punched out using the Modern Label Punch.

Flower Daisies #2  #114520  $19.95

SHOP NOW at my Stampin' Up! website.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Purple Lovers Challenge!

Hi Stamping Friends!

Today's double challenge card comes from the Color Throwdown blog CTD66 and from the Cards and Things blog.  Here's the two challenges:

If you love purple, then you HAVE to participate in this color challenge.  This is a purple lovers dream!  Me, not so much, but I still had fun playing!  Here's my card:

I haven't used Great Friend in quite awhile.  Doesn't seem like the right time of year to be getting out the butterfly sets.  Everybody is in to pumpkins or reindeer right now.  But I'm just looking to make some all occasions cards I can sell at Goodies Cookies in Visalia (if you're in the area, stop by and shop my card rack!).

Great Friend  #113792  $17.95

Finial Press Impressions Embossing Folder  #115963  $7.95

Thanks for stopping by!  Remember to tell your friends to stop by too!

Happy Stamping!

A New Challenge Find!

Hi Stamping Friends!

Well I'm so excited, because I found a new challenge blog!  And heaven knows I need more challenges to partcipate in!  :)  It's a Dutch blog called Cards & Things.  Doesn't their blog header look a little familiar?  This week they offered a sketch challenge:

It's a very masculine (to me!) sketch with no scallops, flowers, or frills.  This reminded me of the Color Throwdown Challenge CTD64 which is also perfect for a guy.  

So this is the manly (is that even a word?) card I came up with:

This would be a great card for a teenage guy, or an old surfer like my hubby!  Guy cards are always a little difficult.  You can give any woman a card with a flower on it, but you can't give just any man a card with a surfer on it.  KWIM?  My brothers, for instance would rather have a card with an old car or shiny truck on it.  But I haven't come across any stamps that have cool looking Peterbilts on them! 

The Extreme Surfer is stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  The DSP is retired Parisian Breeze Specialty Paper.  I miss this paper!  The card base is Basic Black, with a layer of Sahara Sand.  The Twill Tape adds some texture, as does the black button which is also retired.  I roughed up the edges of the Baha Breeze circle with my Distressing Tool and then sponged the edges with ink.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Pretty simple!  And manly!

Extreme Surfboard  #115173  $8.95

Cutter Kit  #106958  $16.95

Remember... today is the last day to order the Christmas Jingle Kit.  Contact me today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Techniques and Sketches and Colors... Oh My!

Hi Stamping Friends!

Well today I have a triple challenge card!  I love when I can play as many challenges as possible at one time.  My main inspiration this morning was to try out the Technique Challenge Tech29 over at Stampin' Addicts.  It was the Faux Silk technique that I have been avoiding, because it sounded too difficult to mess with.  When I read how easy it was, I wanted to try it out.  So I searched my favorite "challenge blogs" and came up with a color combo from Color Throwdown CTD63 and a sketch from Gretchen Barron at Inspiration in Action IA105.  Here's the challenges:

And here's my card:

Isn't it beautiful?!  I just love how this turned out!  Who knew that stamping on boring white tissue paper could turn out so gorgeous!  I used an Old Olive cardstock base, layered with Kraft and Razzleberry Lemonade DSP.  The blooms are stamped on white tissue paper and adhered to Very Vanilla and then layered on Soft Suede.  The image was stamped using Crushed Curry and Old Olive markers.  The only part I dislike is where I got a little over anxious with the sponging on the edges and added too much Soft Suede in parts.  But other than that, I'm so happy with this technique!  I can't wait to have my club girls try it out. 

Eastern Blooms  #111626  $21.95

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Remember to check out the Deals Of The Week at my Stampin' Up! website.  Click SHOP NOW and start saving!

Happy Stamping!

Woot! Woot!

Hi Stamping Friends!

Remember this card?

Well because of it, I was chosen as the Featured Stamper over at the Color Throwdown blog. How cool is that?! I just had to share my excitement. Can you see me grinning from there? :) I hope to be back later for another post. I'm working on a little fundraising project I want to share with all of you.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

PPA8 plus CTD60 equals a Double Challenge!

Aren't these colors fun?! So bright and summer-like. I was really excited to see the Color Throwdown challenge CTD60. I decided to combine it with the Pals Paper Arts challenge PPA8 which was to make a K.I.S.S. card. In other words Keep It Simple Stamper! :) Here was the challenge:

**Clean with lots of "white" space

**Simple Design

**Minimum time to create

**Limited Layer and Embellishments

This was VERY difficult for me to do. I always like to keep adding stuff to cards. I'm definitely a "more is more" kind of gal. Here's my card:

I think I took the "white space" stuff a little too seriously. It's not that I don't like this card, it just needs something MORE! :) But in staying with the challenge, I'm going to keep it simple. Maybe if I had added another ribbon loop. Maybe that would have helped. Or maybe I could have made the large Whisper White panel Barely Banana instead. Who knows! It is what it is. Obviuosly I was quite challenged with this challenge! I used the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set and finally opened my Butterfly punch. It works so awesome with this set. It's definitely a must have!

I also have another Christmas Jingle card to show you:

Hope to see lots of you on Nov. 14th and Nov. 15th at the Christmas Jingle Stamp Camp!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!