Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #30

Hi Stampers!!  We have lots of sparkle to share with you this week at the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge.  We hope you can play along with us.  This would be such a fun Christmas theme, but I also think it would be gorgeous as a New Year's party.  Everytime I see these beautiful challenge pictures, I'm inspired to entertain more often.  But with the crazy schedule of a busy household, I may have to wait a few more years. 

COME TO BETHLEHEM

I loved this stamp set as soon as I saw it when the new catalog came out back in July.  But I was good and didn't actually purchase it until November.  :)  This is the first card I made using it and I love how it turned out!!  The card base is Perfect Plum layered with Brushed Silver to give it some sparkle.  The Elegant Eggplant pieces are embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper IF.  My Elegant Eggplant stamp pad needs to be reinked, so I pulled out my Craft Spots and inked up my stamp with those.  It worked out perfectly, since then I could ink up my star in a different color.  Of course any star would not be complete with out a little shine from our Basic Rhinestones.  LOVE those things!!  And the finishing touch is some soft White Satin ribbon.

I found this perfect layout at Diva Coffee Break Designs.  A great SUO challenge blog that I visit when I can.  This is DCBD205.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

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.

It's Diva Time!

Hi Stamping Friends!

My double challenge card for today comes from two of my favorite challenge places.  The sketch challenge comes from the Diva Coffe Break Designs blog DCBD155.  I love that it is an SU! design team and challenge.  Don't get me wrong, there are lots of fabulous stamps out ther, I just happen to LOVE Stampin' Up!  :)  And I love to see what the design team has to offer.  They are a tlented group of stampers.  The color challenge comes from my favorite SU! online hangout, STAMPIN' ADDICTS.  They have a different challenge for each day of the week.  Come play along with us!  The Friday challenge is the color challenge.  This was last week's challenge, so I can't wait to see what the colors are today!  Here's the sketch:

The colors were Really Rust, Taken With Teal, Chocolate Chip, and More Mustard.  I needed to make a card for a family who just had a baby boy, and thought these were great boy colors.  Here's what I came up with:

The card base is Chocolate Chip.  The Designer Series Paper is retired.  It is from last years Holiday Mini Catalog.  It was called Autumn Vine.  I just couldn't resist using it, since it went so well with the color challenge!  The stamp set is Nursery Necessities.  The Taken With Teal layers are embossed with the Perfect Details Texturz Plate.  The sentiment is punched out with the Word Window punch and layered on to a piece of More Mustard that is punched with the Modern Label Punch.

While your shopping for all those holiday deals this weekend, don't forget to shop at the HUGE SALE going on at my Stampin' Up! WEBSITE, now through Monday.  You can save between 30%-50% on some of your favorite products!

Nursery Necessities  #113506  $31.95

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!

Keepin' It Simple!

Hi Stamping Friends!

My double challenge card today falls into the Clean and Simple category, also known as CAS.  This means it is not super fancy, doesn't have a ton of layers, and doesn't require twelve million tools to accomplish.  This is just simple stamping.  The sketch comes from the gals over at Stamping 411 SSC123 and the color combo is from the divas over at Diva Coffee Break Designs DCBD152.  Here's the details of the challenges:

And here's my card:

The card base is Creamy Caramel layered with Always Artichoke.  The stamp set is Falling Leaves, which I think makes wonderful CAS cards.  The design is very clean and modern.  The leaves are stamped in Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel and Always Artichoke.  The sentiment is stamped in Bravo Burgandy. The grograin ribbon is Bravo Burgandy.  After looking at this card again, I wish I would have stamped the middle leaf in Ruby Red and the other leaf in Creamy Caramel.  I think it would have had a little bit more draw to it.  Oh well!  It's still good enough to send to our Music Ministry Director and tell him how much he is appreciated!

Falling Leaves  #115368  $21.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Quadruple the Challenge...

Quadruple the fun!

Hi Stamping Friends!
Yes, you read that right!  Today I have card for you that consists of FOUR challenges!  I don't think I've ever been able to combine that many challenges into one card before.  I combined a sketch, color, technique and style of card challenge.  Here's where I got all my inspiration:  The sketch came from the Diva Coffe Break Design blog DCBD151.  The color challenge came from the ColourQ blog CQ4 (which I just realized I'm late in posting to, bummer!).  The technique is called Polished Stone and comes from the Tuesday Technique Challenge Tech31 at my favorite online hangout, Stampin' Addicts.  And finally, the challenge this week over at the Yahoo Group, Late Night Stampers, is to make a masculine card.  Here's the sketch and color challenge images:

I had a difficult time with this sketch.  There are so many elements to it.  I loved this color combo, but again, there are quite a few to work with.  I FINALLY got the Trendy Trees set (yes, I know I'm completely behind on this one!), so I just had to use it, even though it's not the most masculine thing out there.  I think it works though.  Here's my card:

I really had fun trying the Polished Stone technique and was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out.  I did end up with extremely inky fingers, since I soaked my cotton pad in too much alcohol.  I do think I will try this with my club gals though.  It's one of those techniques that sound messy, until you try it.  The card base is Bravo Burgandy layered with Old Olive that is embossed with the Perfect Details Texturz Plate.  The trees are stamped with Really Rust, Taken With Teal and the middle one is Old Olive with touches of Burgandy, Rust, and Teal.  The Hemp Twine helps to give it a more masculine look.

Trendy Trees  #113258  $17.95

Perfect Details Texturz Plate  #115962  $3.95

Remember to stop by my online STAMPIN' UP! store for all your crafting and gift-giving needs!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Techno Diva Day

Hi Stamping Friends!

Today's double challenge card uses a sketch from Techno Stamper TSSC92 (love her playlist BTW!) and a color challenge from the Diva's at Diva Coffee Break Designs DCBD150.

I thought these colors would make an awesome teen boy card, so I got out my Extreme Elements and Extreme Skateboard stamps.  Here's what I came up with:

I really like how this turned out.  Totally grungy!  The card base is Certainly Celery and then layered with Basic Gray and Old Olive.  The Old Olive layer is stamp with the Extreme Elements set in Old Olive.  The skater image is stamped in Basic Gray.  The stars from the Extreme Elements set are stamped in Really Rust.  I tried to use my Spritzer Tool again, to dirty up the image, but I'm just not having alot of luck with that thing!  I distressed the main image with my distressing tool from the Cutter Kit and sponged Basic Gray ink on all the layers.  The sentiment comes from the All Holidays set.  I was really happy with the Hemp Twine.  I used a Stamping Sponge and rubbed some Really Rust ink onto it.  Then I ran my Hemp across the sponge to color it.  Hemp in any color you want!

Extreme Skateboard  #115179  $8.95

Cutter Kit  #106958  $16.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Double Challenge

Hi Stamping Friends!

Today's card is a double challenge card.  The sketch is from my fave new online hangout Stampin' Addicts.  And the color combo is from the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog.  If you love challenges, Stampin' Addicts offers a different challenge everyday of the week.  The Diva girls post a new challenge every Wednesday.

Simple and easy!  Combining a sketch and a color challenge takes out all the guess work.  All you have to do is pick out a stamp set.  I chose to use the Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel.  I just got it yesterday and had to use it!  The embossing was done using the SU! Texturz Plates #4.  I added a little Hemp Twine and some Vintage Brads for texture.

Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel  #115626  $8.50

Only two more days left on this weeks DEAL OF THE WEEK!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Addicts Post Challenge

Hi Stamping Friends!

I've told you about my new online hangout called Stampin' Addicts.  They are fun stamping community that has lots of fabulous Stampin Up! ideas.  Today one of the moderators, challenged everyone to upload as many cards as possible, because they wanted to beat their own record of the most uploads in one day.  Stampin' Addicts just opened shop in February of this year, so they are a fairly new site.

Well you know how much I LOVE challenges!  So I used today's Stampin' Addicts Sketch Challenge SASC29 and combined it with the color challenge over at the Diva Coffee Break blog DCBD146. 

The colors are Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Real Red and Very Vanilla.  Not a combo I would have chosen on my own, but that's what I love about challenges... they get you out of your box!  I used the Circle Circus and Smarty Pants stamp sets.  The Soft Suede panel is embossed using the SU! Texturz plates for the Big Shot.  The button is from the SU! Playground pack. 

Of course I need to post another Christmas Jingle card.  I'm almost to the end of my 20 cards.  I think I only have 4 more left after this one. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping

Diva Disaster!

Hi Stamping Friends!

I couldn't wait to partcipate in the sketch challenge over at the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog DCBD145! I tried to use a stamp set I haven't touched in awhile. I tried to come up with an unusual color combo. I tried to be creative. But all I really ended up doing was making a mess! :)

So here's my first attempt at this sketch:




















UGH! Isn't it awful?! It's like a train wreck. Your eye doesn't even know what to look at 'cause there's so much (TOO MUCH!) going on. The stamp set is Fresh Cuts. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes. The DSP is Autumn Traditions, which is how I came up with the color combo... Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Ruby Red, More Mustard and Soft Suede. Really too many colors to try and fit on to one little card front! Because this card was such a disaster, I could not sleep until I had redeemed myself.

This is my second attempt at using this sketch:




















Isn't it so much cuter?! I used the Crazy For Cupackes set. The sentiment is from Wow Flowers. The DSP is Razzleberry Lemonade. The colors are Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, and Crushed Curry. The Pumpkin Pie panel is embossed using the new SU! Impressions Folder called Petals-A-Plenty in the Holiday Mini. Even though there are just as many panels and colors going on, this card is easier to look at!



Of course I also have another Christmas Jingle card to show you. We're on card #12. Only 8 more to go! We are going to have a blast at this Stamp Camp. You don't want to miss it!!















Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Diva Jingle!

Hi Stamping Friends!

I have two cards for you today. The first is for a fun Stampin' Up! only blog challenge at the Diva Coffe Break Design BLOG. It's been quite a while since I've done one of their challenges, so I decided to combine this week's color challenge DCBD144 with last week's sketch challenge DCBD143. The colors to use this week were: Soft Suede, Pale Plum, Bermuda Bay, and Rich Razzleberry. Quite an interesting combo. But I like it! This is what the sketch from the previous week's challenge looked like: And here's my card:
























I flipped the sketch on it's side. I used the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set, because I thought the colors had a funky, modern feel to them and it made me think of this set. Plus I needed to dust it off as it hasn't gotten enough love lately! The "Thank You" sentiment comes from the Enjoy Every Moment Set. I'm still trying to make enough thank you cards from my birthday!



My second card for today is the 6th card from my Christmas Jingle Stamp Camp. Can't wait to see all of you in November!























Thanks for stopping by! Happy Stamping!

DCBD122 and CTD37 and Easter!

Hi! Today's card is another combined challenge card. If I don't combine them, I don't get to play in as many as I want! Plus, when someone tells you what colors to use and what sketch to do, it makes it soooooo much easier to create! The colors for this card come from the Color Throwdown CTD37 blog. I love the color combos they come up with here are this weeks colors:










They are Cameo Coral, Sage Shadow, and Pink Piouette. Very pretty together and I would never have thought of it on my own!

The sketch is from yesterday's challenge over at Splitcoaststampers SC223.

And finally, I love playing in the Diva Coffee Break Design challenges because they do current Stampin' Up! only stuff. And you know how much I love Stampin' Up! They challenge this week DCBD122 is to use your Big Shot to make your card. I used the Daisies #2 Bigz die that makes a gorgeous flower when layered. Here's my card:


















I really love how this turned out! I think I'll give it to my MIL for Mother's Day. You can't tell from this pic, but I also added texture to the leaves using my SU! Texturz Plates. The leaves are from the SU! Birds and Blooms die set. I love that SU! has so many exclusive dies. The DSP is from Candy Lane and the pearls and hat pin are from the Pretties Kit. The sentiment is from All Holiday's.


These next cards I made for my week of Easter projects. I made 14 of these and sent them to family and friends. I love the SAB Delicate Dots DSP and have some left. I used it for these cards:













The cross is from Refuge and Strength, the sentiment is from All Holiday's. The leaves are cut using the SU! Little Leaves Sizzlet and the flowers are punched with the Trio Flowers punch. The Scallop Oval punch is new from the Occasions Mini. Don't forget about the great promotion Stampin' Up! has going on during the month of April. Purchase $40 from the Occasions Mini Catalog and choose one free "under $10" item from page 208 of the Spring-Summer Idea Book and Catalog. Free is always good!

Have a great day!
Happy Stamping!

Diva Coffee Break 121 and Inspiration 174

Two posts in one day... it must have been a good stamping weekend!

I love the Stampin' Up! Only (SUO) challenges over at Diva Coffee Break Designs DCBD121. This week was a sketch challenge. Here's the sketch:




















Saturday is always a fun challenge day over at SplitcoastStampers. It's the day they do the Inspiration Challenge IC174, which pretty much means look at some stuff, be inspired, and create anything that you want! It's one of the easiest challenges to participate in. This is what I was inspired by on the French Bull website:





















I loved the colors in this bedding. I have the hardest time coming up with fresh color combos. Too bad there weren't more color challenges out there in blog world. Maybe I should start one... HA!! Anyhoo, my colors are Pink Passion, Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White. Here's my card using the new Occasions Mini set Great Friend:





















I really love how this turned out! I would never have come up with this color combo of my own. The DSP is also new from the Occasions Mini called A Walk In The Park. It's hard to see, but the Pink Passion card base is embossed with the Texturz Plates. Behind the clear buttons is a 3/4" circle of DSP from Bella Rose. I'm so sad that Kiwi Kiss will be retiring in July, because that means almost all my fave DSP will be retiring too!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Diva Coffee Break Challenge 120

I wanted to partcipate in the Diva Coffee Break Design challenge DCBD120, because I love Stampin' Up! only challenges. I also love that it's CURRENT SU! stuff. Great way to get ideas for upcoming classes.

I also wanted to play in the Featured Stamper challenge FS112 over at SCS, because I love to be inspired by other talented stampers.

But I'm afraid I may have "cheated" on both challenges. The Featured Stampers challenge is where you are supposed to CASE another stamper. You need to change at least 2 things on your card, so it is not an exact duplicate. But this time, I changed pretty much everything, but the layout. So I'm not even sure it is considered a CASE. You can see JustPaintingAround's original card here.

For the Diva color challenge, we were supposed to use these colors:

Problem is, I added black to my card. I don't know if that is allowed or not. So all in all, I tried to do two challenges but ended up doing none! :) At least I was inspired by two challenges. If it were not for that, I would never had a chance to make this card:

Isn't it cute?! I couldn't wait for Friday to come, because I knew my little Choo Choo set was going to be in the box. I don't know if I'm going to sell a ton of this set, but that's not why I bought it. I bought it because it's so stinkin' cute! I also bought the coordinating wheel, Right on Track. I kind of think it looks like a picket fence, so I may play with that idea. Maybe put the rabbit from Forest Friends behind the fence, like he snuck into Mr. McGregor's garden!

Anyway, this card is fairly simple, nothing fancy. The sentiment is from Stem Sayings. I cut it out to look like it was part of the tracks. It's popped up with Dimensionals, as are the puffs of smoke.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope to post some Easter ideas this week, so come back again!

Happy Stamping!

Diva Coffee Break Challenge

While blog hopping, I ran across this fun site of all Stampin' Up! demos who post a challenge every Wednesday. It's called Diva Coffee Break Designs. The challenges vary, but the main idea is to use Stampin' Up! Only (SUO) supplies. The challenge this past Wednesday DCBD119 was a sketch challenge with a twist. The twist being to use Sale-A-Bration products.

Here's the sketch:








And here's my card:


















I used the sets Polka Dots and Punches, and Congrats from the Sale-A-Bration brochure. All the DSP is Delicate Dots from SAB. The only non-SAB products I used are the Celery brads, the Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, and Large Heart Punch and the So Saffron, Whisper White and Certainly Celery cardstock. I also used my Sizzix Scallop die.

I really love the idea of an SUO challenge. I hope to participate more in the future.
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a happy stamping week!