Colour Me Up Late at Night

Happy Monday!

Long story short, my husband will be working third shift this week, and he started last night.  So I was up stamping & blogging while he was working hard.  I want to get my weekly Colour Me fix in!  I ended up making 2 cards (#2 and #3 in this post) before I went to bed.  The first card was made this morning, just in time for the Linky deadline!

This week, CMCC#34 has a very nice soft palette.  I also decided to combine this challenge with The Friday Mashup.  The FM challenged us to use the Bokeh technique (I have seen it, but never tried it) and/or die cuts.  The FM blog had a link to one tutorial, but I attempted THIS tutorial instead.  I give myself a D-.  LOL

First, the simple stuff.  Card base is crisp cantelope, with layers of lost lagoon and watercolor paper.  The cantaloupe and calypso coral butterflies are from the SU Beautiful Wings die, and they are dry embossed with the Beautifully Baroque folder and detailed with a string of rhinestones.  The sentiment is from "Work of Art," punched out with the scallop circle, and placed on top of coral ruffled ribbon.
 Now, the actual Bokeh technique, as described by Lydia in the tutorial, is supposed to look "dreamy".  I do not have an ink pad nor ink refill, just a marker in lost lagoon.  I wanted to have a sky look (like Lydia's card).  So, I colored on top of a plastic bag, then added water and swirled with my aqua brush.  I used a pencil eraser for the dots, but they either seemed all dark or barely visible.  Oh well.  To add shimmer, I then added my shimmer spritz to the lost lagoon ink (still on the plastic bag.) I made more dots, crossing over some of the darker ones.  It just didn't looked filled in enough, so I used my aqua brush with the crisp cantaloupe ink to swoosh color in 2 areas.  Oh my!
 If I wasn't running up against the Colour Me...! deadline, I would have tried again.  At least I have the correct colors for that challenge, and I have die cuts for the Friday Mashup...so it's not a total loss.

But let's move on!

I skipped this challenge last week due to time, but I am continuing my game up catch-up with the 2014 challenges.  CMCC#9 is a rich palette, and I am sure I will use it again.   

My card base is basic black, the smokey slate layer is dry embossed with the Cuttlebug Divine Swirls folder. I added a layer of bermuda bay pattern paper (the old kind, when it was an In-color!) accented with bermuda bay ribbon.  I pulled out an old favorite, SU's "Embrace Life," for this card, stamping with black ink on real red card stock.  I fussy cut each one, and added silver glimmer brads  The sentiment is punched out with the modern label punch.  

So... I posted #10 last week...here is CMCC#11.  These colors work well for a nearby university...the University of Illinois.  Go Illini! That means I should be able to find some kid or teen to give this card to. They also work well for Chicago Bears fans, but my card has a basketball, not a football.  I may need to make another one.  Sorry for the crooked picture.  Bruce took pics this morning...he was so tired!

The card base is tangerine tango.  I stamped this large image from SU's "Good Sport" in midnight muse on whisper white card stock.  I stamped the basketball on tangerine card stock, and popped it up with dimensionals.  The sentiment is from "Itty Bitty Banners" and cut out with the coordinating framelits.  Candy dots were added to finish this Clean & Simple Card.  

Thanks for coming by this morning...or whenever it is that you are reading this!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Featured Stamper Time!

Happy Sunday!

It's Featured Stamper day over at SCS, and we had an amazing gallery to peruse!  Christyne (aka coconutmuffn) is so talented!  I was not familiar with her work, and apparently she is new to many others as well.  According to her blog, she is also a PhD student in biotechnology...so she must be BUSY!

THIS is the card I chose to CASE.  The DP reminded me of a scrap I had of some paper, sitting on my huge pile of scraps.  I bought it quite a while ago from a big box store.  I kept the black matting and similar color in sponging a birthday sentiment.  Here is my card...

My sentiment is from SU's Happiest Birthday Wishes, colored with baja breeze and poppy parade markers, then sponged with lucky limeade.  It is punched out with the extra large scallop circle, punch and matted on the large circle from the Sizzix circle die.  I also used Fox & Friends for the turtle, and Just Sayin' for the other sentiment.  The Word Bubble framelits are my favorite!  Bakers twine wrap it all up.

I also want to show an update.  I recently posted a card for the Colour Me...! challenge, and decided to make more cards in seasonal colors.  Check it out!

I hope to make more of these to sell or give as gifts.

Thanks for stopping by!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Colour Me in Catch-Up Mode...again

Hello, and Happy Monday!!

I have this week's Colour Me...! challenge, plus 1 more in my on-going effort to do all of the 2014 challenges.  In intended to do 2 more, but got caught up in my Christmas cards.

 

 This week, we have tangelo twist and tempting turquoise with a neutral.  I chose basic gray as my neutral.  The butterfly and flower are from SU's "God's Beauty" (which I have been using a lot lately.)  Both images were stamped with basic gray and colored with markers.  I then covered them with my versamarker, added clear embossing powder and heated them up for this glossy look. The main panel is sponged for the sky.  I don't have the new tangelo twist ribbon yet, so I used the tangerine tango grosgrain ribbon.  My sentiment is from "Field Flowers" punched out with the oval punch and popped up with dimensionals.  This card design was inspired by today's Featured Stamper challenge and this card from Dianne (aka fionna51.)

Next, here is CMCC#10... another monochromatic card.  Eventually, I'll get the hang of these!  Since I had "God's Beauty" out already, I figured the leaf image would work well with this challenge.  I had confetti white cut out and folded for DTGD, with some left over.  I also had a piece of old olive on my cutting table that I trimmed down, then embossed with this vine street embossing folder.  The striped ribbon had been accidentally pulled from my ribbon caddy, so I cut off a piece instead of rolling it up.  I stamped on a piece of whisper white that had a messed up image on the other side...so it was on my scrap pile too.  Even the basic black pattern paper was on that pile!  So basically this is a card made with "leftovers" in about 5 minutes with a make-it-up-as-I-go-along design...and I love it!  Ha!  This will make a nice note card for a guy...I don't make many of those.

I made all of these yesterday...well, actually the first one was made for June VSN, so I made 11 yesterday.  I was too tired to blog about them last night...but I felt great getting so many cards created!  Good thing I had just enough time to post for Colour Me...!

Thanks for coming by again today.  I'm already looking forward to new color challenges coming up this week!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Colorful Works of Art

Hello & Happy Friday!

I have been playing with my friend's stamp set, "Work of Art," all day today.  Most of my cards use at least 2 of the new in-colors from SU, but then I realized that I needed to play with more colors.  I still had this week's SU color challenge, plus last week's.  I had tried to incorporate it with a DTGD challenge, but it didn't happen. So, today I am catching up on my favorite personal challenge...finishing up the 2014 SCS color challenges!

This week's color challenge features So Saffron, Bermuda Bay and Blackberry Bliss.  I am so happy to have this luscious blackberry bliss ink and ribbon so I could play along.  The "Work of Art" stamp set is sooooooo easy to work with...just stamp randomly!  I used some old bermuda bay pattern paper (from my scrap pile, of course!) for the lower layer.  The sentiment is from "Teeny Tiny Wishes."  Scraps of so saffron pattern paper and Moonlight dsp were used to surround the sentiment.  I used 3 punches: word window, modern label, and scallop oval.

Next, I have a card for last week's color challenge:  cherry cobbler, daffodil delight, wild wasabi, and pool party.  I decided to take the abstract stamps from the same set to create a summer scene.  I mounted that on pool party.  It is difficult to see, but I added a layer of cherry cobbler which is embossed with the chevron folder.  The sentiment is punched out with a scallop circle and sponged generously.  Satin daffodil ribbon adds a light finishing touch.

I really like how easy this set is to use, but also how versatile it is.  I'm kinda bummed that it isn't my set!  LOL  Hope to order my own set in the not-too-distant-future.



Thanks for coming by...





Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Freshly Made Art

Hello, Stamping Friends!

Today I have a card featuring new stamp goodies...finally!  Since I am not working, I really have to watch my spending.  But I could not handle being with out the new blackberry bliss in-color!  I ordered card stock, markers, this 4x6 dsp pack, and some blackberry ribbon, plus a few other supplies that had run out.  Happy happy!  My demo delivered them to my house yesterday, so I decided to play along with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  It's a great layout for showing off my new pattern paper.

The stamp set I used is the new "Work of Art," which is definitely on my wish list.  My demo took pity on me, and allowed me to borrow it for a while. (Thanks Ramona!)  I used the colors from the "Moonlight" pattern paper: blackberry bliss, hello honey, and sahara sand.  The stamps are fabulous for random, abstract stamping.  I did not order any hello honey ribbon (yet!) so I took the marker and colored a scrap of white organza ribbon.  I used my embossing gun just for a couple of seconds to help set the color, plus shrivel the ribbon, which I think goes well with the chevrons.  My corner punch added a simple final detail. 

I will be using these stamps a lot this week before they leave my house.  Hope I can get my own set soon.  Oh, and I should mention that Ramona also left a holiday catalog behind as well.  Pretty sneaky!  

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Mashin' Up Stamp Sets

Hello, and Happy Wednesday!

I am writing a quick post, so I can post this to The Friday Mashup blog challenge.

The challenge gave us a color combo (melon mambo, wild wasabi, basic black, and whisper white) with the option to mash it up with a wood element.

Instead of mashing up with the wood elements, I mashed up an old set with a NEW stamp set.  The flower is from SU's "Because I Care," and the sentiment s from the new "Work of Art."  I haven't bought it yet, but my demo came by today and let me borrow it!  I'll be making quite a few cards with it this week before I return it.  I colored the flower with markers.  The black panel is embossed with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder.  The tag punch, striped organdy ribbon, and candy dots add the final touches to this clean and simple card.

I will post some Dare to Get Dirty cards later this week, but for now, it is nice to make cards at a more relaxed pace!  Thanks for stopping by.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Colour Me Ready for the Weekend!

Hello, and Happy Saturday!

I am posting cards I have made throughout the week for the Dare to Get Dirty challenges.  Today, each of my challenges also work for Colour Me...!  I have a card for the current challenge, plus 2 more for past challenges, as I continue working on my goal to do them all!




The first card uses the monochromatic color theme for this week.  I am so grateful you can add a neutral, because monochromatic is hard for me! I decided to add basic gray to the pistachio pudding. My card base is confetti white (I had my hubby cut several card bases before DTGD started.)  The image and sentiment are from a very old SU set that I purchased from a friend.  It is called "Thankful Thoughts."  Silhouettes are hard for me to stamp, but I really like how they look.  I used oval punches, some ruffled ribbon, and dimensionals to finish off this Clean and Simple card.

Next, I have a card that I nearly didn't post.  It doesn't look right!  LOL!  But, I haven't had a chance to re-do this particular DTGD challenge, so I decided I would post it just to mark it off my list.  It works for CMCC#7.  My card base is textured rich razzleberry.  I used SU framelits to make a window...kind of...then added a valance with SU fabric from a couple of years ago.  I do not sew.  At all.  So my folds were all glued down.  What a mess!  I decided to make a scene with clouds and a kite from SU "Send Me Soaring."  It's weird, but it's done!  The sentiment is from "Hello Again," on oval punches.  A few candy dots finish it off.  Maybe I'll try this again later!

Finally, I have a much simpler card which fits CMCC#8.  Not that I am posting in the order I made these, but some of my DTGD cards have been pretty involved (for me).  This card was quick, easy, and I intentionally made it good for mailing.  I used 2 stamp sets:  SU "Nature Walk" and "Whimsical Words," all stamped on very vanilla.  My card base is baked brown sugar, and I added a layer of "Venetian Romance" DSP.  I used markers to color the flower.  Just a couple of candy dots and simple sponging finish it off.

It has been fun to combine the Dare to Get Dirty challenges with the Colour Me...! challenges.  I am definitely hooked!!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Even More Daring...

More Dare to Get Dirty, that is!

I have 3 more cards to post today.  Again, I can't specify what the challenges are, but I'll give a brief run down of supplies.

First, here's a fun summer card with bold color.  I used 3 SU stamp sets: Tart & Tangy, So Very, and Mouthwatering.  The inks I used were gumball green, riding hood red, yo-yo yellow, and basic black.  I colored the watermelon and cherries with my markers.  The gingham paper is quite old, and was in the scrap pile.  I still have a lot of this striped ribbon, so I am happy to use pull it out again.  This is one of my favorite DTGD cards so far.

Next, a much simpler color palette.  I used gumball green for the card base again, but just added basic gray and basic black (and white.)  The black is dry embossed with the dotted folder from Sale-a-Bration (I never remember its name.)  Stamp sets used are all SU: Extreme Skateboard, Teeny Tiny Wishes, and Send Me Soaring.  I used my scallop square die, and the oval and modern label punches.  The 2 jumbo brads means I will likely hand deliver this card!  

Finally, I needed 2 baby girl cards.  I had this striped paper and the sparkly pink paper on my scrap pile...cut both in half, and ta-dah!  Even the ribbon,which I received in a swap a long time ago, was just enough for 2 cards.  The flower is from an artificial lei, and I added an old, large pretty in pink brad.  The stamp set used is SU's Baby Prints.

I still have lots of challenges to do.  I have a cousin getting marries this weekend, out of town, so I won't be stamping Saturday or Sunday.  That means I won't get all 49 challenges done...but I hope to get half done!  Check back on Monday at midnight...that's the deadline!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

I Dare you to Mash things Up!

Happy Hump Day!!

Today, I have a card for both the Friday Mash-Up challenge and Dare to Get Dirty. Technically, I didn't mash up THE Mash-up...I mashed another challenge with it.  Got that?  *wink*






I have not made a pom-pom for years, which is clearly evident!  LOL   I think a key component is to tie the twine very tightly together before snipping the ends, and I just don't have the hand strength for that.  This thick bakers twine, in summer starfruit, was from Sale-a-Bration earlier in the year.  I could not get one to look right, so consider this a well-worn pom-pom after a festive party!

My card base is primrose petals, and I used Patio Party dsp on the front.  It was tricky to get this hat shape, but it went with the pom-pom theme.  The sentiment is from SU's "Happiest Birthday Wishes," stamped in baja breeze.  I used my scallop circle punch and Sizzix circle die.

This was a fun twist from my usual designs, and well worth trying again.  But I may BUY my pom-poms next time!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim 

Daring Trio

Hello Everyone!

I am moving very slowly through the Dare to Get Dirty challenges. I had this grandiose plan to make 4 of each card... 2 for me and 2 for Operation Write Home.  That means, I am spending a lot of time on a single challenge.  Tomorrow I will change that so I can get more challenges completed.  I can always duplicate later, right?

I posted one card yesterday...today I have 3.  Again, I can't specify what the challenges are.  These are fun extras for Fan Club members over at Splitcoaststampers.  However, I will give you some basic details on what is included in each card.

My first card uses some dsp from my scrap pile...yay!  Elegant Soiree and Bella Bleu are featured here.  My card base is baja breeze and the layer of crumb cake is tinted just a bit with some shimmer spritz I made (frost white shimmer paint + rubbing alcohol + not quite navy ink).  I actually dry embossed it first with the diagonal lines.  The not quite navy sentiment is from SU's "Blessings from Heaven" and the flower image is from "Thanks for Caring," colored with crumb cake and baja breeze markers, all on very vanilla and punched out with the extra large scallop circle.  Candy dots and kite string finish it off.

Next I have a Christmas card.  I planned on keeping it very simple with no coloring.  But I managed to get black embossing powder showing up in all the wrong places.  I used LOTS of different markers to color this image from  Paper Inspirations.  I sponged sahara sand and a combo of baja breeze and night of navy.  Touches of gold embossing were used for the crowns.  The entire image was cut out on my Big Shot, using the SU framelits.  My ribbon is long-retired purely pomegranate satin, so I used the matching ink for the sentiment (from SU "Come to Bethlehem.")  Oh...the card base is brushed gold, with the front embossed, using the fancy fans folder.

Finally, my favorite DTGD card so far.    Another baja breeze card base.  The second layer was embossed with the wood grain folder, then sponged with soft suede and pear pizzazz ink.  The image is a 2-step stamp from SU "Field Flowers." I used pear pizzazz, regal rose, calypso coral, and soft suede inks, plus sponged baja breeze all on very vanilla.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  I added just a strip of soft suede polka dot ribbon.  This is very mail-able, so I made 4...and will likely make more in different colors.

4 each of these cards is great for my stash, but I better get cranking on the other challenges!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Color Me Daring!

Hello and Happy Monday!


I am posting quickly so I get this in on time for the Colour Me...! challenge.  I'll be back to add more details.  On Saturday, I began my quest to complete the Dare to Get Dirty challenges, but I only got 4 of the 7 done.  One of them is posted below.  Another, which I combined with a previous Colour Me challenge was a mess...so I hope to redo that one and post later.  Essentially, during DTGD, my room is a mess and I take pictures later because I don't want to lose momentum!

But it is Monday morning, so I had to post the card I made combining DTGD with Colour Me...!  I opted for team Haley, because I just LOVE blues and greens!  Plus, I had a severe lack of masculine cards in my stash.  I can't say what the DTGD challenge was,because it's a SECRET!  If you are a Fan Club member on Splitcoaststampers, you can see what this and all of the other challenges are.

My card base is night of navy.  The layer of garden green is embossed with the woodgrain folder.  I stamped this image from SU's "Lovely as a Tree" in basic black, then sponged soft sky and garden green to fill the scene.  I added 2 strips of denim ribbon...probably will changed that to 1 next time!  The sentiment is from "Whimsical Words" punched out with a tag punched.  I sponged it generously, then added a tiny bit of linen thread.

I could not find my camera this morning, so his was taken with my phone.  I knew I should have had dear hubby play photographer yesterday!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

It Starts Today!!

Hello Stamping Friends!!

I am so excited!  Today is the first day of Dare to Get Dirty over on Splitcoaststampers!!  I didn't clear off my previous mess, so I better do that before I make a BIGGER mess!

If you are not a Fan Club member, you won't be able to see the DTGD challenges...so sign up!  It's so inexpensive, and gives you some nice perks!

Anywho...I'll be back later to post some new creations!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim