Birthday Giraffe

Hello Stamping Friends!

Quick post here, just in time for The Friday Mashup deadline!  I really wanted to do both parts of this Mashup, which meant doing a shaker card.  But it just wasn't happening!  I still wanted to participate, so I did the other part which was to include an animal.

In my efforts to use scraps and such, I had this card base with this Autumn Spice DSP already attached.  So I decided to go with the earthy colors.  I pulled out SU's "Zoo Review" for this giraffe.  My mom absolutely LOVES giraffes!  I plan on giving  this to her later this year (her birthday is in November.)  I love how the hints of the color pool party in the dsp works for a clear African sky.  My image was stamped on vey vanilla card stock with Stazon jet black, and colored with more mustard and soft suede markers, then I added grass and sponging for the ground and sky and matted it on soft suede textured card stock.  I used "Inspire by Nature" for backbe ready for the nextground grass on the card base.  The sentiment is from "Teeny Tiny Wishes." paired with the word window and scallop oval punches.  Ruffled ribbon finishes it off.

Now, it's time to clean up my mess so I can be ready for the next Mashup to be posted in 2 days!  WooHoo!

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

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 

Colorful Sketches

Hello!  It's Hump Day!

I have 2 cards today, each using this week's color challenge over at SCS:  Bermuda bay, pool party, and calypso coral.  The first one also incorporates the Friday Mashup challenge, and the second one is for The Paper Players challenge.  Catch all that?

I have used this color combo before, though it has been awhile.  I am out of bermuda bay card stock (placing an order tonight, FINALLY!) and I don't often reach for coral.  But I have this amazing designer paper stack which I bought years ago at one of the big box stores. It's from S.E.I. and it is called Black Orchid.  It was virtually unused during my years as a SU demo, but I brought it out yesterday.  The coral is a great match, and the aqua tone is somewhere between pool party and bermuda bay.  Some of the sheets also have a fabulous lime.  I rediscovered why I bought this stack in the first place, and intend to use it quite a bit now.

Any who...the Friday Mashup gave us a sketch and encouraged us to try the Delft Tile technique.  I didn't do so great on the technique, but it was fun trying.  What I learned is that you really need to make DEEP score lines.  Something I need to practice more.

The card base is calypso coral, and I have a layer of that SEI paper below the "tile" layer.  I stamped the embellishment from SU's "Elements of Style" using pool party and touched of bermuda bay.  The sponging on the tiles is all pool party.  My bird is from the same stamp set, on a large scallop circle, also sponged.  The sentiment is from "Teeny Tiny Wishes."  I used coral bakers twine, candy dots, and button for final details.  Lots of dimensionals too!


This next card features more of the SEI paper.  Seriously glad I dug through my stuff to find this beautiful paper!
 

My main image is from SU's "Friends Never Fade."  The only ink used is bermuda bay, including a border around the whisper white, made with my marker.  I added the sentiment from "Teeny Tiny Wishes."  Black brads and dimensionals give this card some...dimension.  *wink*  I really like the addition of black.


Thanks for checking out my blog again!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Mashin' Up in the Tropics

Hello, and Happy Wednesday!

I have a card today that I am submitting for The Friday Mashup.  I nearly forgot about it, so I am barely getting it done.  I looked last Friday at the challenge, but set it aside in my mind because it calls for all new In-colors.  I have not purchased any of the new stuff (but I have a shopping cart full online, waiting for me to hit Submit!).  I think these other colors will work ok for now...


So, the Friday Mashup asked us to use Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, & Mossy Meadow, along with a summer theme.  I also decided to use today's Sketch challenge from Splitcoaststampers.






Instead of the listed colors, I used crushed curry, baja breeze, and always artichoke.  I pulled out my SU stamp set "Tropical Party," to make a simple layer of pattern paper.  For the smaller panel, I used a sponge dauber to make the sun, then sponged the sunbeams along the edge of a post-it note, then I lightly sponged the sky.  My sentiment is from "Happiest Birthday Wishes."  I rarely stamp directly on a card base, but this curvy phrase goes on easily, and hides and crooked stamping I may do.  Candy dots are the only embellishment on this quick, Clean and Simple card.

While the tropics make me think of summer, I sure wouldn't mind being there in the winter, either!



Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Mashin' Up with a NEW Christmas Stamp!

Hello Stamping Friends!


Today I am posting a card for a SCS Color challenge from April: Baja breeze, sahara sand, and so saffron.  I skipped this way back when because it didn't really "speak" to me.  But in my quest to do all of the 2014 SCS Color Challenges, I am finally doing it.  I am also submitting this for The Friday Mashup this week (just in time!)  We were challenged to use the watercolor wash technique and/or make a Clean and Simple card.  I did both.

Since I prefer rich, saturated colors, this combo was tough for me.  Give me one light color in combo with darker colors, and I am good to go.  But this is a very muted palette.

But inspiration struck with this NEW gorgeous stamp from Whipper Snapper Designs.  Well, it's new to me.  I had never looked at their website before, because I was only familiar with the cutesy images I often see used.  Just not my style.  But during the recent Virtual Stamp Night, I saw a Christmas card made with an image that grabbed my attention.   I decided to look it up, bought it...plus two other gorgeous Christmas stamps!  This Madonna & Child is one of them.

I am not very good at detailed watercoloring, but this watercolor wash technique is so easy!  I think it really allows the artwork of the image to come through.  After stamping the image in Stazon jet black, I spritzed a piece of very vanilla card stock with water and brushed on color using an aqua brush and re-inkers.  I used more saffron near the heads, to represent halos.  I kept more of the sand color on the skin, and the blue was used more around Mary's robe and head piece.  I never would have thought of these colors for Christmas, but with this image, I think it works!

My sentiment is from SU's "Greetings of the Season" punched with a scallop circle and sponged generously.  Baja breeze seam binding and some pearls finish it off.

I made this in a hurry, so I can post here.  But I need to take a bit more time...like let the wet paper dry before I trim it!  I definitely plan to make at least 11 more (I try to do 12 cards of each design for Christmas.)  With this technique, every card will be truly unique. I plan to stamp more this weekend, so I can also submit this to the SCS Christmas Card Challenge...WooHoo!

Thanks for stopping by again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Featuring a Colorful Hello

Happy Monday!

Once again, I am posting for the Colour Me...! challenge.  I actually made this card yesterday (gasp!) but left my craft room for dinner, then ended up watching silly TV all night.  So another Monday morning post it is.


In addition to the Colour Me...! challenge, I am also submitting this for The Friday Mashup.  We were asked to make a Hello card with sequins.  I have no sequins, but I thought these glimmer brads might do the trick.  It is also a Featured Stamper challenge card.  THIS is the card that I CASE-d.  I kept the honeycomb motif, and her colors are so similar to the Colour Me challenge, it was a win-win.  All materials are from Stampin' Up!  (including some retired items, as I try to make room for new goodies!)



My card base is daffodil delight.  I used a piece of long-retired Tropical Party dsp for the bottom layer and some hexagons.  Since the dsp had so saffron, I actually sponged daffodil to darken the color.  I ran some whisper white through the Big Shot with the honeycomb embossing folder, then sponged daffodil and pear pizzazz all over.  The lush chocolate chip satin ribbon was nice to use again.  I punched out a butterfly, embossed with polka dots, then added a bright glimmer brad.  My sentiment is from "Hello Again," paired with oval punches and a glimmer brad (from the days that pear pizzazz was an in-color!)





Overall, I am happy with this..and I hope to brighten someone's day with a summer hello very soon!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim 

Mashin' in the Summer Sun

Hello Stamping Friends!

Today, I have a card for The Friday Mashup challenge.  We were asked to make a project using black and white plus one other color. I had a half sheet of summer sun card stock sitting in a pile.  One edge had gotten wet, so I probably saved it just in case I would have a simple project to finish off this long-retired color.

My card base is basic black, and I ran the summer son through my Big Shot with the Fancy Fans folder.  The main image is an old classic..."Thankful Thoughts."  I thought this image was a perfect match for this word bubble from the set "Just Sayin'."  I used a framelit to cut out the word bubble, and popped it up with dimensionals.  Black brads and polka dot ribbon finish it off.

I really like how this turned out, and it would be easy to make again in a variety of colors.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

3 blogs...one card!

Hello Stamping Friends!

I am continuing my stamping binge.  When I took "inventory," I realized that I needed LOTS of graduation cards.  The good news is that many cards are going to different cities, so I can make 2 of each design!  Today's card will go to a young woman who just graduated from high school, but also to a friend who just earned her Master's degree!

On Friday, I checked out the Friday Mashup: use a tree and some embossing...I can do this, I thought to myself.  I had already checked out Mojo Monday sketch, which I have only done once or twice.  AND I discovered a new color challenge blog, Colour Me...!  Like I needed another one to obsess over!  Ha!  The colors are early espresso, primrose petals, and soft sky.

So when you have a theme, a sketch, and a color scheme it should be easy, right?  Think again!  Even though it took a while, I am happy with the end result.

All products used are from Stampin' Up!  Initially, I thought of using the classic "Lovely as a Tree" but decided to dust off this older set "Very Versatile."  The colors and badge image made me think of redbud trees, and I used my markers to get the effect.  Even though it's a bit late for the blossoms now, these beauties are one of my favorite sights of early spring.  The sentiment is from "Well Scripted."  I stamped it before I ran the white card stock through my Big Shot with the Cloudy Day embossing folder.  I STILL have NO soft sky card stock, so I sponged a lot of ink on the white.

I really wish I had paid more attention to the sketch before I stamped the sentiment, because my doily is a bit higher.  Just a small adaptation!  That doily is from a sizzlit which had not been used for a while, but I love it!  I used primrose dsp for the strips.  Quilted espresso ribbon and some butterflies from my embosslit finish it off.  While this card took a while (and has lots of bulk due to dimensionals), I think it will be worth the extra postage for 2 special people!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Time for a Mashup

Hello Stamping Friends
I want to make sure I get this card online, to meet the FM blog deadline, so that means I have 2 posts today!

For my second post, I have a card that is, well, not my favorite.  I don't know, maybe it will grow on me (hope so, because I made 2!)  I checked out this week's Friday Mashup, which is a sketch plus a get well card, plus a recent SCS color challenge.  Yep, I am determined to do each of the 2014 SCS color challenges...eventually!

The color challenge is pool party, basic black, and whisper white...so quite simple.  I decided I wanted to make a card that is gender neutral.  Last week's Friday Mashup encouraged the use of retiring stamps, so I pulled out SU's "Clockworks."  I just bought it, because a few times I have wished I had a clock image.    I thought the time piece might work with a get well "soon" sentiment, but now it seems kind of weird.  Oh well!  

As you can see, I used patterned paper for two of the layers.  Before placing them, I stamped a few images in pool party for a tone-on-tone look.  I added silver brads, including one in the center of the time piece.  The image panel was sponged with smokey slate and pool party ink.  The sentiment is from "Delightful Dozen."

Hopefully, I will get more stamping done this week...plus MAILING cards.  I am very far behind in actually getting these things postal.  Please tell me you can relate!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Mashing Up with a Mini Virtual Stamp Night!

Hello Stamping Friends... I'm Back!

My ministry fund raiser last week was a HUGE success!  We exceeded our goal of $110,000 and actually raised $134,000...WooHoo!  I have been busy doing follow-up calls and thank you notes, so I am thrilled to take a break with some stamping time.

Tonight is the Mini version of the Summer Virtual Stamp Night, and of course, it's Friday...so I had to check in with The Friday Mashup!  I combined the first VSN card with the mashup...so I have 3 challenges in one card!


All of the supplies are from Stampin' Up!  The mini VSN challenge calls for the focus to be on something that melts, so I chose this cute Popsicle from "Mouthwatering."  The Friday Mashup gave us a bright color scheme (tempting turquoise, wild wasabi, real red, and pumpkin pie, plus a neutral) mashed up with a kid card.

My neutral is baked brown sugar, which I used for the card base and the Popsicle sticks.  I colored the stamps with markers, and used one to add the year for this birthday card.  The sentiment is from "On Your Birthday," and I used circle and scallop circle punches.  The accessories are turquoise grosgrain ribbon, and bold bright candy dots.

I originally planned on 4 Popsicles, but they wouldn't fit very well.  I sure hope I know a kid who is turning 3 this summer!  Ha!

I will post the other Mini VSN challenge tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by!!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Friday Mashup is In Stitches!!

Hello Stamping Friends!!

I am taking a break from the VSN cards.  It has been a while since I have done a blog challenge...so here I go with The Friday Mashup!!

This week, we were asked to make a card using stitching and/or a masculine flair.  I chose to do both...but my stitching is of the "faux" variety!  Isn't it funny...faux just means fake, but say it in French, and we're all impressed!  LOL

My card is for a good friend from my Lay Dominican prayer/study group.  He broke his leg while cross-country skiing.  Ouch.  I just wanted him to know I was thinking about him.

Once again, I went to my scrap pile.  I had this piece of designer paper ("Well Worn,") plus a scrap of night quite navy and river rock.  My guess is that I intended to make something before, and never did.  Fortunately, I had enough to make 2 of these cards at once.  The card base is soft suede.

To coordinate with the striped designer paper, I embossed the NQN piece with the striped impressions folder.  I used SU's "Praying Hands," stamped in soft suede on very vanilla.  I tried to use my paper piercing kit...but with each hole, the guide moved a smidgen, so my holes are not straight.  Yep.  I can't even "faux" stitch in a straight line!  I used my early espresso marker to make the stitches, then sponged the paper with river rock.  The sentiment is from Stampabilities, in not quite navy on a decorative label punched piece of river rock.  Antique brass brads add the final touch.

I am starting to make 2 cards at a time, when I can.  That way, I can use one right away, but I add one to my stash.  Great way to make cards without too much design time.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope to stamp more this week!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

FIRST Card of 2014!!

Hello Stamping Friends!!

I have FINALLY started stamping in this New Year!  Why has it taken just over a month?  Well, I had a serious case of bronchitis,my husband had kidney stones, which led to surgery which led to an infection which led to hospitalization...  Let's just say I am happy January is over!

So, on Super Bowl Sunday, I typically stamp while the game is on for background noise...mostly for the commercials.  I like and admire Peyton Manning as a talented athlete and classy guy.  Too bad he didn't show up!  LOL

Anywho, I only made 2 cards that night...then one on Monday.  I hope to stamp tonight again.  As I decided to begin, I went with the Inspiration Challenge on SCS found HERE.  And of course, I had to join my cyber friends over at The Friday Mashup, with this week's challenge found HERE.  

The inspiration room from the Ethan Allen website is HERE.  The dark wood bookcases and feathery plants were the items I focused on, so it seemed to work with this sketch.  My card base is crumb cake.  The early espresso layers are dry embossed with the woodgrain folder.  Believe it or not, I still have kiwi kiss card stock.  I stamped SU's "Fine Feathers" using kiwi kiss, crumb cake, and summer starfruit, then sponged generously.  The text is from SU's "Feel Goods," stamped in early espresso.  Some quilted ribbon finishes it off.

It feels good to stamp again!  I hope to get back into regular participation in challenges, as well as blogging what I create.  Check back tomorrow to see the other cards I mentioned above.  And hopefully, there will be more later this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim