Colour Me Busy!

Hello and Happy Monday!

I am busy with the Hope You Can Cling To challenges over at Splitcoaststampers.  They run through the entire month of October.  I will be hosting a challenge on the 14th, plus I am making a few samples for other hostesses.  I am also having fun commenting on the gallery submissions.  Great stuff!  I am also busy trying to move posts over to my other blog.  I have redone my speaker/writer site, so I am moving my cards back over to my first Blogger site.  More people follow me there!  LOL  So yes, busy busy busy!

I have a card for the most recent Colour Me...! challenge, and even my husband likes how it turned out!  WooHoo!

I have an old designer paper stack from S.E.I., called Black Orchid.  I pulled it out recently for 2 other cards, and it is perfect for this challenge to.  The coral is a perfect match for SU's calypso coral.

I used my SU Framelits to cut out the layers of whisper white and this embossed black paper from SEI.  Using markers, I colored the stylize flower from "Friends Never Fade" in smokey slate, calypso coral, and crisp cantaloupe.  The sentiment of from "Trust God."  I added satin ribbon and bakers twine for final detailing.  This is a very flat card...because I am out of dimensionals!!!  GASP! But at least it will be easy to mail, right?  I can't place an order for at least 10 days.  Flat cards on the way!  LOL 

Now, I am posting a non-challenge card...just because.  Last Thursday night, my husband said he got me a "commission."  One of his co-workers needed an anniversary card for his wife...on Friday!  Yikes!  I asked about favorite colors, wedding colors, themes, anything.  The man just said something with copper or bronze.  Hmmm.  I remembered another S.E.I. paper stack from years ago, called Charlemagne. Took me forever to find it, but it was perfect.

Isn't that a rich pattern?  Can't believe how long I have neglected this beautiful paper!  Any who, I paired it with basic black and tempting turquoise card stock.  My turquoise is embossed with the fancy fan folder, and embellished with copper brads from Hobby Lobby.  The sentiment is from SU's "Loving Thoughts" and it is embellished with a copper spiral clip, also from HL, and a but of SU white organza ribbon.  The card is a bit larger than an A2 (I have some miscellaneous envelopes.)  Turns out the man was really impressed with the card, and he paid me more than I requested, since I did it last minute.

I told my husband he can keep working on those commissions!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll post when my other blog is ready to go.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Triple Challenge Card

Happy Friday!

Today I have a card I made on Wednesday.  I intended to  re-do it, because I wasn't thrilled with my execution...but I just started a new consulting job (WooHoo!) so I haven't had time to stamp.  Since one of the challenges is The Paper Players, I decided to go ahead and post it.  I used the center vertical row...green, embossing, and ribbon!

This card also works for the SCS Sketch challenge #503 (last week) and SCS Color challenge #494 (this week) which prescribed wild wasabi, melon mambo, and basic gray.

I started with a basic gray card base, and added some melon polka dot paper from the pattern stack.  I used the scallop trim punch on the bottom edge.  My wild wasabi card stock was embossed with the fancy fans folder, and I used a corner rounder punch on the outside panels.  The floral images are from SU's "Vintage Vogue" and the sentiment is from Stampabilities.  All of the stamping was done with versamark on whisper white card stock, then I used clear embossing powder.  With sponge daubers, I added the wasabi and melon ink, in the emboss resist method.  The center panel had flowers, then I realized I need a sentiment that fit the sketch.  When I re-do this, I'll make that panel fit better!  Melon mambo polka dot ribbon and candy dots finish it off.

So, I like my design...just need to tweak it a bit.  Tell me what you think!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Inspired by Pillows

Hello!  It's another post for a Monday!

Every now and then, I remember to look at The Card Concept blog.  It's still new to me, so I need to put it on my calendar, so to speak.  This one really caught my eye last week.  I actually made 3 cards; all the same design, but I was trying to get one "good enough" for a picture.  Fortunately, dear hubby was around today to take care of it!  This inspiration for the challenge is here:  

I instantly thought of the color summer starfruit and decided to pair it with smokey slate, as in the shadows of the photo.  I was also inspired by the pillows and the flowers, which I used in stamping and embossing.  I consider my card "Clean and Layered."  The top layer of smokey slate is embossed with SU's petals-a-plenty folder.  My stamped flower is from "Baroque Motifs" and the sentiment is from "Hello Again," all stamped on whisper white squares.  I added some stitched satin ribbon for the final detail.

This should be an easy design to make in many colors!  Now I am off to The Card Concept blog to comment on a few other submissions!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Color Me Addicted

I'm addicted to Monday morning stamping!!!

So, I wake up and realize "Today is the deadline for the Colour Me challenge!"  With the holiday weekend and various projects I had last week, I had barely given it a thought.  I mean, I don't HAVE to do this challenge every week, right?

So, I did morning prayer with my husband then we ate breakfast, and played a game of cards. (We play 500 rummy and keep track of wins in a notebook...it's a silly little competition which he is winning by quite a margin.)  Then I dazed at my Facebook posts and took care of a few other things.

Hmmm, and my mind went back to the challenge.  By this time I had 55 minutes to create a card and post it.  It became a challenge just to do the challenge, no matter what my card looked like!  

Here is the palette for Colour Me...! challenge #35.  A bit tricky, I must say.  I remember I wanted to do something with water and fish and make a shaker card (another blog challenge) but that wasn't happening in this rush!

When a color combo is tough for me, I often do a collage style in my stamping.  I used SU's stamp set "Bliss" for this card.  True confessions:  I stamped the large flourish once, then inked it up again to make a pattern, but I dropped my block.  The mistake turned into a new plan to stamp all over this vanilla card stock!  I decided I needed some interest, so I used my top note die.  The sentiment is punched out with the scallop oval and sponged a bit.  I added a scrap of pink pirouette that is dry embossed with SU's petals-a-plenty.  Satin ribbon, which is scrunched up a bit, and some large pearls add a girly touch.  Between the embellishments and dimensionals, this quick card turned out rather plump!  Ha!

Well, I am happy to say that I BARELY got this posted on time!  In fact, when I first posted, I only had the pictures in the post...I am writing up the details after the Linky closed.  I didn't even know where the good camera is, so I used my phone.  Clearly, there was no time to do past challenges in this post.  Perhaps I should start those this afternoon for next week!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

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

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

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 with 3 times the fun

Hello Stamping Friends!

Today, I am continuing my obsession with color challenges, by posting this week's Colour Me...! challenge #30.  Below, you will see that I am also still plugging away at past challenges.  I actually did one over the weekend and the other on Monday, but saved this post so I can include the current challenge.

I am combining the Colour Me and Freshly Made Sketches challenges this week.  I must admit that I struggle with combining metallic gold with certain colors (like daffodil!) but it seems to be all the rage right now.  SU has some new specialty papers that I haven't ordered yet.  I suppose if I had, this would have been easier!  Ha!

My card base is basic black, with a layer of melon mambo from the retired Razzleberry Lemonade dsp.  On whisper white, I stamped images from the SU set "Bliss", then sponged the edges generously.  I intentionally combined the daffodil and melon in the second butterfly.   My sentiment is from SU's "Feel Goods;" it is one of my favorites!  It's large, so it takes up quite a bit of room for this sketch.  My niece is going through a tough time right now, so I wanted to send her words of encouragement.  The strips in the sketch are done in black and daffodil satin ribbon.  My one touch of gold is the strip of gold beads.  I have had those FOREVER it seems!  They were the last part of an old package.  Again, my goal is to use my current stash!  Overall, I am happy with this card...hope Pammy is too!





Now...to some previous challenges...
Challenge #5 has a fun twist.  Anytime the month has 5 weeks, we get to choose our own colors on the 5th week...5 of them!  How fun is that?  My card uses these 5 colors: crumb cake, cherry cobbler, always artichoke, more mustard, and not quite navy.

I embossed the not quite navy with the vintage wallpaper (I think) folder.  I can't remember the name!  The DSP is from a Holiday paper stack from a couple of years ago.  I used markers to color the floral image, from SU's "Carte Postale," stamping on very vanilla.  It was cut out with the Sizzix oval die, and sponged generously.  The sentiment is from SU's "Trust God."  Always artichoke seam binding and candy dots are the finishing touches.

Finally, I have a card for CMCC #6 ...featuring a monochromatic palette.  I love wisteria wonder!  It is probably my favorite in the SU Subtles collection.  I was happy when they decided to put it in the regular lineup.  The hardest part was deciding what stamp to use for this lovely color! 

I ended up choosing SU's "Friends Never Fade."  I used the rose stamp, first in wisteria wonder on my whisper white card stock.  Then I stamped it with Versamark, and embossed with my previously unopened pewter embossing powder.  WOW!  I can tell that I will be using this stuff a lot!   Originally, I planned on using the rectangular stamp that actually says friends never fade...but I stamped a birthday sentiment inside before I finished the front.  Plus, I wanted to work with the round shape of the flower...but honestly, I am not thrilled with my sentiment (from "On Your Birthday") on this scallop circle.  It was late, though, so I just wanted to get it done!  LOL  I may try again with a different image.  At least I have another Colour Me...! challenge complete!  Oh, nearly forgot...the card base is brushed silver.  My embellishments are wisteria ruffled ribbon, silver elastic cord, and rhinestones.  Inside, I used some "Flirtatious" dsp to trim the lining.

Thanks for coming by my blog again.  Hopefully, I will posting some Christmas cards soon... I am way behind!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Weekend Projects

Hello, and Happy Sunday!

I have been stamping random cards for various challenges this weekend.  Since I may not have time to blog tomorrow, I wanted to include a few cards in today's post.

This first card is for today's Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS.  I chose THIS CARD from Karren's fabulous gallery to CASE.  I had seen her work around on a few blog challenges, so it was fun to pay tribute to her talent.  Her card reminded me of the color palette for The Card Concept challenge, so I am submitting for that also.  

Sorry for the dark picture...overcast day!  My card base is basic back.  On whisper white, I stamped kites from SU's "Send Me Soaring" then adhered to pool party card stock.  I embossed both layers together with the Cloudy Day embossing folder, then lightly sponged pool party between the clouds.  A bold, red sentiment comes from "Just Sayin" and is cut out with the Word Bubble framelit.  I even layered a solid red word bubble underneath for more contrast.  Some thick bakers twine and a red button wrap it up.  This is the "Clean and Layering" style over at The Card Concept...the style I use most of the time.

Next, I am plunging into this week's challenge over at The Paper Players.  I don't do monochromatic cards that often, so it's a good stretch for my creative juices!

When I needed some perfect plum card stock recently, I saw that I had a half sheet of pale plum left over.  I also had nearly a full 12x12 sheet of this plum pattern paper on my cutting table.  Time to use those "leftovers!"  I simply used a bit of both sides of the pattern paper, rounding off the corners.  The image panel features "Flight of the Butterfly" stamped with pale plum, perfect plum, and elegant eggplant.  I mounted it on eggplant card stock.  The birthday sentiment is from"Happiest Birthday Wishes, and is embellished with eggplant candy dots.  Plum taffeta ribbon finishes it off.  It looks gray...but yes, it really is plum !

Finally, I have a card that started out for a challenge, but it didn't work out...so I finished it Just Because! 

My card base is crumb cake, and I stamped the Fleur du Lis from"Carte Postale" on the base and on the very vanilla oval.  I also stamped a sentiment from "Trust God" in elegant eggplant over the fleur du lis, sponged generously, then mounted it on an eggplant oval which is dry embossed with the snowflake folder from SU.   The DSP strip is from Bella Bleu (more from my scrap pile!) sponged with always artichoke and mounted on cherry cobbler, with artichoke seam binding added. The bird is also from"Carte Postalle," colored with my cherry and eggplant markers, cut out, and popped up with dimensionals.

Considering how many times I changed this design, I am very happy with the result!

Thanks for stopping by again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim