Color Me a Bit Early!

Happy Happy Sunday!

It took me a while, but I finally got my weekend stamping mojo going!  I was gone for most of yesterday, and surfed blogs in the evening.  After church and breakfast this morning, I caught in the quicksand that is Facebook.  Ha!  But I realized that I have a very busy day tomorrow, and would not have time to complete the Colour Me...! challenge. I decided I better do it today, which is "early" according to my usual practice.  This week is the monochromatic challenge...always tough for me!  

I had some different DSP out, from Garden Walk, or something.  I wanted to stamp over it with that big beautiful "Swallowtail"...what a mistake!  I can never get that image even!  LOL  So...I had some paper from the brights pattern stack.  I used this side that is a bit lighter, and stamped the large flowers from "Inspired by Nature" in basic gray ink.  In the upper left corner, my sentiment is from "Work of Art," and I sponged a sun with sunbeams in daffodil delight ink.  I added satin ribbon and large pearls to highlight the birthday wish from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" which is layered on various punches.  I have a friend who LOVES yellow, and her birthday is this week.  Perfect!







Now, since I am stamping "early," I am back to catching up with past challenges.  Just as a reminder, this blog challenge at the start of 2014.  I had already set a personal goal of completing each of the SCS color challenges this year (not necessarily in order) so when I found Colour Me, I decided to do the same.

Here is CMCC #12.  These subtle color challenges are almost as tough for me as the monochromatic ones!

The cool blue tones made me think of a cool winter theme.  I stuck with that, even with the warmer pear pizzazz color.  My card base is soft sky (FINALLY bought some!) On the strip of whisper white, I stamped SU's "Serene Snowflakes" in soft sky and coastal cabana, then sponged soft sky along the edges.  My pear circle was cut with the Sizzix die.  I brought out "Zoo Review" for this cute polar pear, which is stamped in basic gray.  After punching it out with the extra large scallop circle, I did some more sponging and stamping.  I also added some Dazzling Details on the ground beneath the bear's feet.  First time I have used this stuff...it was stashed away...and now I imagine it will be used quickly!  My sentiment is from "Happiest Birthday Wishes."  I added some silver ribbon for the final sparkling detail.

And finally for today, here is CMCC #13.  I LOVE this rich, vibrant palette!  This is more in my comfort zone, especially as fall is quickly approaching.

I decided to combine these rich colors in my own pattern paper.  I stamped leaves from SU's "Gently Falling" which is a 2-step stamp set.  After using the cajun craze, crushed curry, and rich razzleberry on very vanilla card stock, I sponged island indigo for a dark afternoon autumn sky.  I matted it with island indigo and placed it on a cajun craze card base.   My sentiment is from "Whimsical Words." I paired the scallop circle (very vanilla) and extra large scallop circle (crushed curry) punches, with dimensionals in between.  I added just a bit of cajun striped grosgrain ribbon for the final detail.




So, those are my cards from today's little stamp fest.  Lots of fun!  I hope you enjoyed them, too!

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

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 

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

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

My Colors are caught up!

Hello Stamping Friends!

Quick post here, because I am getting ready to greet stampers to my house.  It's a ht humid day; perfect for staying inside an air-conditioned craft room!

I only had 2 more 2014 SCS color challenges left to catch up...and here they are!

This first card is also for the week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  The colors for the challenge are pool party, tempting turquoise, and gumball green.

I used sponge daubers to make a fun pattern.  The stamps are "Fox & Friends" and "Just Sayin'" which I cut out with the Word Bubble framelits and popped up with dimensionals.  I *need* the pennant framelits, since mine are a bit uneven when I eyeball them.  I used the thick bakers twine from Sale-a-Bration.  It was too big for the button, so I unraveled it a bit, which makes it more delicate.  The embossing folder is also from SAB...what is that thing called??  LOL

I think the turtle is perfect with this silly word bubble, don't you?




The next card is...meh.  But I got it done, so I am posting it.  The colors are so saffron, smokey slate, and strawberry slush.  The stamps used are "Delicate Doilies" and "Whimsical Words."  I paired my own pattern paper with this long-retired saffron paper (it has close to cocoa on the other side...I think it was from a Valentine pack...yep, with pink pirouette and riding hood red.  Remember?) Some punches and ruffled ribbon finish it off.

Hopefully, I will stay caught up on these challenges...check back and see how it goes.  *wink*


Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

A Few Sketches

Hello, and Happy Thursday!

I have a few cards to post today, each for a different sketch challenge.

My first card is for this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  Last week, I spent some time going through lots of retired products to make kits for some friends who come by for stamping at my house.  I always include a 6x6 piece of dsp...because I have SO MUCH in my room.  I found this fun and lively print in a pack from years ago...when orchid opulence was still around!  It's called Shades of Spring.  I made up 2 kits for my friends, but decided to make a sample to give them an idea on how to use such a large print.  After I finished my card, I realized my circle and horizontal strips are a bit high...but I still like this.  My card includes the dsp, plus so saffron, regal rose, and whisper white card stock.  Stamps are SU's "Well Scripted" and "Bliss," stamped with black, so saffron,and pretty in pink inks.  The tools I used were the Sizzix circle die, large scallop circle punch, polka dot embossing folder, and dimemsionals.  The candy dots finish it off.


Next, I have a card that also features retired dsp...this time "Pocketful of Posies."  I have a lot of this left over; it has so many weird patterns, I find it hard to use.  But this hexagon pattern with the baja breeze on the reverse works well with this week's SCS sketch challenge.

The card base is crumb cake.  I added a layer of eggplant envy.  You read that correctly.  Eggplant envy, NOT elegant eggplant!  I had half sheets in a pack of rich regal card stock pieces I had hoped to sell ages ago.  At least, it is getting used now!  To coordinate with the dsp, I embossed the eggplant with the honeycomb embossing folder.  Using markers, I colored this sentiment from "Delightful Dozen" in baja breeze and early espresso, then sponged my circle with crumb cake.  My embellishments are bakers twine and candy dots.

My final card features last week's sketch challenge on SCS, plus this week's color challenge: sahara sand, night of navy, and hello honey.  I do not have any of the new in-colors yet (kinda miss my days as a demo!) so I substituted crushed curry for hello honey.

I decided to make a sympathy card, as I only have one in my stash.  I think yellow gives a glimmer of hope, both for emotional healing and for life after death.  My navy panel is embossed with the vintage wallpaper folder.  Again, I paired a sizzix circle die with my large scallop circle punch.  The sentiment is from "Thoughts & Prayers," stamped over a flower from "Thanks for Caring."The horizontal strip is comprised of images from "Bliss."  Lots of sponging, to add a vintage feel.  I paired up navy taffeta ribbon with crochet trim that I had also sponged.  A few tiny pearls add the final touch.

I made all of these yesterday; it felt good to focus on sketches again instead of just colors!  Thanks for stopping by!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Nautical Concept

Hello Again

I recently found a new  challenge:  The Card Concept.  This is the first blog challenge I have come across that encourages you to pick a style of stamping, along with the particular challenge (color, theme).


I am using the Clean & Layering style today.  All products are from Stampin' Up!

The card base is night of navy with a layer of Nautical Expedition dsp.  Using y framelits, I added cherry cobble and white pieces.  The main image is "Sail Away."  While leaving one framelit around the image, I sponged sahara sand and baja breeze, leaving a white frame as well.  I used blender pens for the rest of the coloring.  Teeny Tiny Wishes make an appearance with the duo of punches I love so much.  Cherry cobbler bakers twine wraps it all up.

I really like the, well, concept of this blog and hope to play again!

Thanks for coming by again...2 posts in one day!  WooHoo!



Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Color Me a Bit Sketchy

Happy Monday Morning!

Once again, I am having fun with the Colour Me...! challenge.  This week, I am combining it with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  The sketch shows a square card, but I decided to go with a standard A2 card since I don't feel like making a square envelope!  One of the DT members made an A2 card, so I think it should be okay.

I debated making a baby card, as the colors would be great for someone who just announced she is pregnant, but is unsure of the gender of her child. Then I realized that I always need birthday cards.  I am short on sympathy and thank you cards, too.

But I ended up with a general card that would be nice for any friend.  Everything used is from Stampin' Up!

My card base is strawberry slush, and I added a layer of whisper white on which I taped pieces of pink pirouette and pool party dsp.  Trying to get those on evenly took quite a while!  I lined up my white with grid paper to help, but it still took more time than I wanted.  It seemed a bit off, so I camouflaged it by embossing the whole thing with Petals a Plenty!  Because many on the sketch design team added images on top of the main layout, I decided to do the same.  This sentiment is from "Word Play," and I tilted it a bit for contrast.  Some punched out hearts and rhinestones finish it up.

This may have taken a while, but I like the end results.  Thanks for stopping by!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Colorful Queen!

Hello Stamping Friends!

Today I have a card that is for the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge, and the current SCS color challenge:  basic black, bermuda bay, crushed curry, strawberry slush, and whisper white.

 I went back and forth on these colors...even looked at other sketches...but somehow I ended up deciding to make a teen girl card.  I have a niece with a birthday several months away.  Can't believe her card is done early!

I layered whisper white and strawberry slush card stock on a basic black base.  I used my SU "Extreme Elements" stamp set to make the diagonal strip...VERY quick!  The main sentiment is from "You're a Gem," highlighted by the extreme crown, all popped up with a curly label punch and a touch of polka dot ribbon.  The other sentiment is from "On Your Birthday."  A few candy dots finish it off.

This card took very little time, but I am so happy with it! Clean and Simple wins the day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Virtual Stamp Projects Continue!

Hello Stamping Friends!

2 of the Virtual Stamp Night challenges were techniques I had never done before.  Today, I am showing my efforts with one of them:  Faux Tole.  Janeen gave us this challenge, which involves layering images.

I also used this opportunity to pull out yet another SCS color challenge I had skipped.  This one is right up my alley!  Raspberry Ripple, Old Olive, and Indigo Island.

I embossed the old olive with the Cuttlebug stylized flowers embossing folder.  I stamped SU's "Field Flowers" on a piece of whisper white, which was cut out with the Top Note die.  I stamped the bloom with the 2-step image, first on the top note, then 2 more times on a separate piece.  Once I cut them out, I curled the edges using a round-tip stylus, and layered them with dimensionals.  The sentiment is from "On Your Birthday" punched out with the curly label.  I did a lot of sponging the fill out the scene.  Pearls and stitched grosgrain ribbon are the final details.



This technique was easier than I expected...I'm sure to use it again!





Thanks or stopping by!  You can still upload your VSN projects until Saturday June 14th.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Cue Up a VSN Challenge!

Happy Sunday!
I'm going to start with a shameless plug (again).  I had to switch my stamping blog address...and I have NO followers here.  So sad!  I would love to have some of you join me!

I usually peek at the Featured Stamper challenge...but I am trying to wrap up my VSN posts.  This first card is for the "The Hills are Alive" challenge, but also for this week's ColourQ...a very fun palette!

I knew I needed some boy cards for upcoming birthdays.  I figured this color scheme would be great for a playful card.  All supplies are from Stampin' Up!

The card base is navy.  I embossed whisper white with the cloudy day embossing folder, then sponged with bashful blue.  I cut old olive to make my hills, then embossed it with the vine folder.  The main image is Extreme Bike, which i cut out and popped up with dimensionals.  I used the Just Sayin' set and coordinating framelit. On Your Birthday shows up on a scallop oval, with a touch of tangerine ribbon.  Finally, some lucky limeade twine literally wraps it up.  

I made 2 of these cards...good to build up my stash!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Virtual Stamp Night: Summer Vacation!

Hello!!  It's Virtual Stamp Night (Weekend!!)

Tonight and Tomorrow night, splitcoaststampers will be giving us a bunch of fun challenges...and I am hosting one again!  My challenge will be tomorrow night.

The theme is Summer vacation.  Fortunately, I had time to get a head start, since I am a hostess.  That means I can comment on cards that YOU post this weekend!

My first card for VSN is also being submitted for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  I realized too late that my stripes go down to far.  Oops.  Funny how making a quick card for VSN will affect the brain!  LOL   

Along with the FMS challenge, this is for the VSN challenge Hot & STICKY for all of that summer humidity!  I rarely use stickers, but I had am old scrapbook kit from Sale-a-Bration (years ago!)...and these strips and dots were perfect.  Plus I had a smidgen of this fabulous coordinating DSP left over.  My card base is pacific point; I embossed the whisper white with petals-a-plenty embossing folder.  I don't have a tag-topper punch...YET...so I just snipped the corners and punch a hole for my daffodil grosgrain ribbon.  The sentiment is from SU's On Your Birthday, in rose red (could not find my melon mambo marker...should have grabbed the ink pad, duh!) and punched out with a decorative label punch. 

Since this card is for 2 challenges, I am going to put other cards in later posts.  Blogger is slow tonight...must be a lot of stampers online!  LOL  

I hope you get a chance to play along with VSN.  Check back tomorrow for more cards, including my COLOR challenge!  (Yes, I just gave you a hit!)

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Featuring Feathers

Hello Stamping Friends

Today is Sunday, that means Featured Stamper day on SCS!  Today highlights the talent of Laurie, aka lhs43.  I found a lovely, delicate card set using the SU set "Fine Feathers."  Since the Ways to Use It challenge called for feathers, it was a perfect opportunity to double up on challenges.

Here's where it gets really fun:  instead of the soft palette of pool party and baked brown sugar, I chose to pull out this WOW summer bright palette from The ColourQ.

My card base is celery, with a layer of whisper white.  I stamped the feathers with versamark, and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I then used sponge daubers to randomly sponge the challenge colors.  The sentiments are from Polka Dot Party, Perfect Words, and Sincere Salutations.  Each of the cards have bermuda bay dotted ribbon, and 2 have a giant button...meaning hand delivery or extra postage!

Initially, I planned to have the colored layer over the whole card, with the sentiment in the center...but it was a bit much!  So I cut my sponged pieces in half, allowing me to make 4 cards instead of 2.  Yay!

Thanks for coming by!  Hopefully, I'll have more stamping throughout the week.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim