Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #4

Hi Stamping Friends!

Welcome to the fourth week of the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge!  This week we are celebrating Memorial Day, the holiday that kicks off the summer season here in the U.S.  Do you know the origins of Memorial Day?  It originally was called Decoration Day and is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.  You can find out more by checking out this blog: Memorial Day History.  Memorial Day always reminds me of my maternal grandma.  Every Memorial Day we would go to her house, pick some Sweet Peas that would be blooming in her backyard, then take her and my grandpa and go place the flowers on the grave of my uncle (their son) that was killed in the Korean Warwhen he was only 19 years old.  What a beautiful memory.  I wish I lived close enough to place flowers on their graves this Memorial Day.  This inspiration photo also reminds me of my grandma, because she always made homemade pies every Saturday.  YUM!!  I had a lot of fun with this Stampin' Celebration Inspiration pic.

COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF

I really liked the letterpress "Good Grub" invite.  I tried to mimic that with this invitation.  I used the sketch over at the Mojo Monday blog.  This is sketch #140.  The little pop of yellow also caught my eye.  Lots of fun colors in this inspiration piece.  I chose to use Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, and Summer Sun.  So glad that Riding Hood Red is coming back as a core color.  I love that shade of red.

TART AND TANGY

I thought it would be fun to create a little gift bag for all your BBQ/picnic guests.  A brown paper lunch sack makes a great "countrified" bag.  Fill with fresh cherries, popcorn, anything for your guests to remember your gathering long after they have gone home.

PILLOW BOX

Another item every BBQ/picnic needs is utensils.  This holder was made using the Pillow Box die.  I just cut the top off of one end, wrapped my utensils in a napkin and placed them inside, all nice and cozy like.  I like this combo of Kraft, Riding Hood Red, and Summer Sun.  Kind of looks like a bun with ketchup and mustard on it!

Make sure to check out the other Design Team members fabulous creations.  You can find links to their blogs by going to the Stampin' Celebration blog.  I hope you can play along with us this week.  Remember to enjoy all of life's celebrations!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

ColourQ #34

Hi Stamping Friends!

Arielle's fabulous color challenge at the COLOURQ blog came at just the perfect moment.  I needed to make a "welcome baby" card for a family in our church, and these colors are so adorable for a little boy. 

ANIMAL STORIES

I got the Animal Stories set free during SAB and this is the first time I've inked it up.  With my luck it will probably retire and this will be the only time it sees ink from me!  This fun sketch came from the UNSCRIPTED SKETCHES blog.  This is sketch #56.  I flipped it on it's side.  These animals fit perfectly inside the little boxes.  I hope you can play along with us at the ColourQ this week!  Be sure to check out the other fabulous creations from the ColourQ Royal Court (aka the desgin team!)

Sorry you haven't seen my around blogland lately.  Summer is right around the corner and one thing that I love to do in the summer is READ... ALOT!!  I'm just as addicted to reading as I am to stamping!  I started a little early this year.  I just finished a book by Michael Landon Jr. called "The Silent Gift".  It was fabulous!  I'm just super happy that our church has a library, so I don't have to buy books, I just check one (or two or three!) out every Sunday.  You probably won't be seeing every day.  But I will check in every few days and still have some stamping goodness to share with you.  And I'll also keep you updated on other great books I find.  And if you have any suggestions for a great summer read, let me know!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #3

Hi Stamping Friends!

It's already our third week at the STAMPIN CELEBRATION Inspiration Challenge blog.  And this week we have a beautiful wedding ensemble that Candace picked out.  We hope you an play along with us!  I love the purples and yellows in these pictures.

TEENY TINY WISHES

I chose to use the sketch challenge from the Clean and Simple blog.  This is FTL90.  You know me!  I had to go with a literal interpratation of the inspiration challenge and the sketch.  It was really difficult to position all those flowers so the didn't look like they were all lined up in a row.  That little swirly effect is hard to acheive.  This card isn't all that clean and simple.  Leave it to me to turn a CAS card into messy and complicated!  I also made this...

I think a wrapped candle like this would make a lovely wedding favor.  Maybe add a tag with the couples monogram on it.  Or maybe a little Thank You sentiment.  The color is a little off in the card pic, but I used Elegant Eggplant and So Saffron for both projects.  The EE cardstock is embossed with the Finial Press Textured Impressions Folder.  The SS flowers are made by using the Floral Fusion Sizzlet.  The ribbon is Whisper White Organza Ribbon.  I really like the look of this ribbon and it is very easy to tie.  I wish it came in more colors.  I sponged the edges of all the flowers with So Saffron ink.  It's amazing how much more depth a little sponging will do.  I should use this technique more often.

If you want to see more Stampin' Celebration Inspiration goodness, check out the other Design Team members.  They really amaze me every week with their fabulous projects.

ALLISON

CANDACE

KARI

ROCHELLE

I have my Stampin' Up! club ladies coming over tommorow night, so I'll try and post the projects we made.  I haven't had a ton of stamping time this week, and I won't this weekend either.  Our oldest DS is graduating from 8th grade and we are giving him a little celebration party.  Now I just need to come up with some creative centerpieces.  Any ideas?  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

ColourQ 33

Hi Stamping Friends!

Another fabulous Tuesday and another fabulous color "cue" from Arielle over at the COLOURQ blog. I LOVE these colors!  I also would haved loved to make tons of cards using these colors, unfortunatley I've been too unispired to stamp much lately.  As some might say, "My mojo has left the building."!  As it is, I made this simple card in about 15 minutes and posted it way late to Arielle.  I didn't make our Royal Court "deadline", but she's so sweet, she let me post it anyway.

FOREST FRIENDS

This sketch comes from the GET SKETCHY blog.  The owl image comes from the Forest Friends set. And don't you think the sentiment is perfect for my "late" card?!  It comes from A Little Birthday Cheer set.

For more wonderful creations using these colors, check out the other DT members blogs.  You can click on the links on my sidebar.  Stop back by on Thursday and see what I've made for the Stampin' Celebration challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

X-Treme Skater

Hi Stamping Friends!

I wanted to play in the color challenge at Stacey's Stamping Stage.  I was undecided about what direction to go, so I showed the challenge colors to my two oldest kids and asked them what stamp image tehy thought of when they saw these colors.  My almost (on Sunday!) 14yo DS said "skater".  So I pulled out my Extreme Skateboard stamp and my favorite boy stamp, Extreme Elements, and made this...

EXTREME SKATEBOARD

I used Stacey's ACT 29 Curtain Call Color Challenge and the sketch from the Eat, Sleep, Stamp Sketchy Thursday Challenge ESS83. 

The card base is Tangerine Tango, layered with Bordering Blue that was stamped with the Sanded BG stamp using Basic Gray ink.  The DSP is from the Sweet Pea Pack that was in the Occasions mini catalog.  If you buy the Extreme Elements set during the month of May, you get to choose one of our Designer Brads for FREE!  Contact me if you are looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I would love to help you out!

That's it for me today!  I'm heading to Senior Day at the Park, hosted by the Center on Aging.  I'm supposed to do a 45 minute scrapbook demonstration.  And I have NO idea what I'm going to say! 

EXTREME ELEMENTS   #115181   $26.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #2

Hi Stamping Friends!

Woo!  Hoo!  It's Thursday... time for another STAMPIN' CELEBRATION Inspiration Challenge!  Isn't this robot party just "out of this world"?!  I love the bright "boy" colors.  I found these images over at the HOSTESS BLOG.  There are so many fabulous entertainment blogs out there, that I could get lost all day looking at all the fun parties people have.  My 4 yo DS would love a party like this.  A couple of his favorite movies are Iron Giant and Robots.  Here's what I came up with for this challenge...

 

MATCHBOX DIE

Isn't this just too funny?!  I loved the little robot centerpiece and wanted to recreate it as a possible party favor.  I used three matchbox dies stacked on top of each other.  The top one is Yoyo Yellow, the middle one is Tempting Turquoise and the bottom is Basic Black.  I used the Brushed Silver cardstock, ran through the crimper, for his metal parts.  The only thing I'm not satisfied with on this little guy are his arms.  I should have scored them one more time so they would lay flatter.  He kind of looks like he's ready to fly into space with his wings!  You could tuck some fun candies in his head and feet.  Is middle is pretty much taped shut.  Then I decided to make a smaller scale version of this guy for a card...

ROBOT MAN

This would also work great for a party invite.  The card base is Tangerine Tango.  Since it is coming back as a Core Color, I thought I should start using it again.  The base is embossed with the Checker Texturz Plate.  I cut out most of the pieces with my Table Top cutter and used various punches for the other parts.  I had a leftover piece of crimped Brushed Silver cardstock laying around, so I made a quick something with it...

STAR HOLDER

I know, why another napkin ring?  And what's with all the straws?  Well I was thinking it would be a cute holder for Pixie Sticks, like in the inspiration pic.  But since I didn't have any Pixie Sticks in the house, and decided my children did not need to eat sugar from a straw, I just put some empty straws in there to give you an idea of what it might look like if I had some Pixie Sticks!  :)

I hope you can play with us this week at STAMPIN' CELEBRATION.  Remeber to post your projects by noon on Tuesday.  Then on Wednesday, we will reveal our Top 3 DT faves.  If I didn't inspire you enough, then you should take a look at the amazing projects the other Design Team members came up with.

Allison at SWEET IMPRESSIONS

Candace at CJ LAWLOR DESIGNS

Kari at STAMPIN' ESSENTIALS

Rochelle at I STAMP, I CREATE, I HAVE FUN!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

One Of The Good Ones

Hi Stamping Friends!

Most of the time when I particpate in any online papercrafting challenge, I always find myself taking the challenges too literally.  I do the sketch EXACTLY like it's shown.  I use the EXACT colors they say, and even when it's an inspiration challenge, I tend to make it look EXACTLY like the inspiration photo.  I love to see when other (more creative!) stampers take a sketch or inspiration and really make it their own.  I try to break out of my mold occasionally, but it's difficult!  It must be that first-born trait of mine to do things EXACTLY right.  Artistically speaking, it can be very frustrating!  That's what happened with today's card.  I think I just got too literal with both challenges.

SMARTY PANTS

For this card I used the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #58 from the HOPE STAMPS ETERNAL blog.  I usually use a cupcake image for this challenge, but when I saw this sketch from the SKETCH GIRL blog, the two just seemed to fit together.  So then I decided to recreate the cupcake tops on each of the four circles.  Again, too literal!

I do love this fun sentiment.  It comes from the Smarty Pants set.  I haven't given my mom her Mother's Day card yet.  I think I'll give her this one instead.  It's the perfect sentiment for her.  She is one of the "good ones"!  I think it's funny, now that SU! has announced the colors that are retiring, it seems that I keep using those colors!  I haven't used Green Galore in forever, and I think I've used it three times in the last two weeks.  Go figure!  The card base is Pixie Pink, layered with Green Galore and Sweet Pea DSP.  I hope they have something similar to the Sweet Pea pack in the next big catty.  That pack was so popular, that it sold out before the mini catalog ended!  The other two colors I used on this card are Only Orange and So Saffron.  The Sizzlets I used are: Little Leaves, Floral Fusion, Birds & Blooms, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, and the Paisley Texturz Plate.  That another thing I'm looking forward to seeing int he next catalog, what new Big Shot stuff they will have. I {LOVE} my Big Shot!  It is my most used stamping tool.

Make sure you stop back by tomorrow and see my creations for the STAMPIN' INSPIRATION challenge.  I hope you'll play with us this week!  Just to see what an out of this world challenge it's going to be, here's a little sneak peek...

SMARTY PANTS   #115070   $18.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

ColourQ Tuesday #32

Hi Stamping Friends!

Time for another fabulous COLOURQ challenge from Arielle!  This week's colors have a very modern feel to them.  So I decided to create a clean and simple card with minimal stamping.  I was really inspired by the pillow in the picture.  And thank goodness I still have some Groovy Guava cardstock!

TRENDY TREES

See!  The only stamping I did was the sentiment.  So different for me.  The color of this pic seems kinda weird to me.  Of course I always think that.  Just bad photography or I should say, just a bad photogtapher.  :)  I used the Saturday Sketch Challenge from the STAMPING 411 blog.  I thought it worked perfectly with my striped pillow.  Just about everything on this card is retired SU!, except the Kraft and Basic Black cardstock, and the Very Vanilla Brads.  Oh and the sentiment stamp.  That comes from the Trendy Trees set.

Be sure to check out what the other Royal Court members have created with these colors.  You can click on the links to their blogs in my sidebar.  I hope you can play along with us at the ColourQ this week!  Be sure to stop back by on Thursday to see what party is going on at the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge blog.  It's a fun one!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Cheep Talk Inspiration

Hi Stamping Friends!

I had a lot of fun making today's card.  I got to use lots of bright, cheerful colors and lots of happy DSP.  What's happy DSP?  Any patterned paper that makes you smile.  :)

CHEEP TALK

I used the inspiration challenge from the PALS PAPER ARTS blog.  This is challenge PPA41.  At first I was going to make a card using Real Red, So Saffron, and Baja Breeze.  Then I realized everyone was using those colors for the challenge, so I went with something totally different!  I used the fun bird plate as my inspiration.  It has lots of juicy colors to choose from.  The sketch comes from Karen Giron's blog, the sweetest thing.  This is Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 68.  Great sketch to use up scraps of DSP, and to add lots of color to your card.

The card base is Orchid Opulence.  The DSP is frm Pink Flamingo, Sweet Pea, and some really old stuff I am too lazy to look up the name to.  :)  The little birdie was stamped in Pacific Point with a Tempting Turquoise wing.  The branch is Green Galore.  The flowers are Yoyo yellow, and the sentiment is Tangerine Tango.  A nice mix of retiring and returning colors.  The ribbon is really old retired SU! stuff.  It's called Apple Green.  Speaking of retiring colors, if you want to stock up on them, you better place your order ASAP as supplies running low.  And once it's gone, it's gone!!

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow and see the awesome color combo Arielle picked for this week's ColourQ.  On Wednesday, I hope to have a cupcake challenge card and Thursday will be the second STAMPIN' CELEBRATION inspiration challenge.  Wow!  What a fun week of stamping goodness!

CHEEP TALK   #113204   $26.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

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!

Taylor and Stacey Challenges

Hi Stamping Friends!

Today's card was made for a dear lady in my stamp club.  She had knee surgery this past Monday, and I just wanted her to know that I was thinking about her.  Now if I could just remember to mail the thing!

A ROSE IS A ROSE

I used Taylor's Sketch Challenge TESC111.  And Stacey's color challenge ACT28.  I have some "go-to" challenges, and these are two challenges that I check out every week.  I may not have a chance to play in them, but I always see what they have to offer. 

The card base is Not Quite Navy, layered with Kraft that has been stamped with the En Francais BG stamp and Versamark ink.  The DSP is from the Sweet Pea DSP pack that was in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I'm not real thrilled with my "gathered" ribbon.  It looks like a big, pink inchworm, inching across my card..  Guess I need some practice in ribbon pleating!  The flower image comes from A Rose Is A Rose stamp set and the sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes. 

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!  I plan to do lots of stamping.  If you have extra stamping time this weekend, come play along with us at the STAMPIN' CELEBRATION Inspiration Challenge blog.  We would love to see what you create!

A Rose Is A Rose   #111560   $37.95

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!