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

Paper Players Featuring...

Hello again!

Today I am posting the other card I made on Sunday.  I combined the SCS Featured Stamper challenge with this week's Paper Players challenge.

One thing I love about the Featured Stamper challenge is that we all get introduced to a stamper with whom we may not be familiar.  Such was the case, as I perused the delicate and lovely gallery of Daizy-Mae!  WOW!  Such a master at the clean and simple style...I sent a lot of time just gazing.  Because her style is CAS, it made sense to combine with PP196.

After searching Daizy-Mae's gallery, I chose THIS card to CASE.  I liked the pinks and oranges, with simple black images over the top.  I sponged rather heavily on my card, and the image is much heavier.

Again, all of my supplies are from Stampin' Up!  The only card stock I used is confetti white.  Using black craft ink and black embossing powder, I stamped this image from "Upsy Daisy."  Then using sponge daubers, I added colors for a sunset:  daffodil delight, pumpkin pie, tangerine tango, and melon mambo.  I used my journaling marker to add a few birds.  Next, I added the black polka dotted ribbon:  I chose to leave a strip without color, honoring the featured stamper's style.  My sentiment is also from Upsy Daisy, punched out with the decorative label punch, and sponged around the edges just a bit.

Dear hubby is at work, so the picture isn't great...but I am happy with the card.  That's what matters most, any way, right?

Hope to see you hear again soon.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Back in My Colorful Mode

Hello Stamping Friends

The last few weeks have been intense.  I won't go into the emotional and confusing details, but I resigned my long-held position as Executive Director of a prolife ministry earlier this month.  I am hopping from moments of grief to moments of relief...making it hard to move forward.

But yesterday afternoon, I did a bit of my own art therapy!  I made 2 cards; each fitting a blog challenge and a SCS challenge.  Makes it a lot of fun.

Today's card is for this cute sketch from Freshly Made Sketches (barely on time!) and this week's SCS color challenge: real red, old olive, and daffodil delight.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!  The card base is daffodil, and the square is from "Beyond the Garden" dsp.  I used a strip of old olive, embossed with the funky dotted folder I got from Sale-a-bration...no idea what it is called. The red polka dotted ribbon is from a Holiday catalog years ago, but I still have quite a bit! Using markers, I colored this stylized flower from "Friends Never Fade" then punched it out with the large scallop circle.The sentiment is from "Upsy Daisy."  A button with a touch of bakers twine complete the card.

I haven't been in touch with a particular friend for a while, so I will be mailing this card to her.  It's bumpy, but she is worth the extra postage!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Virtual Boat on the Water

Hello and Happy Saturday!

I made this card last night for the Mini Virtual Stamp Night...Summer Vacation!

The VSN challenge asked us to use water in our project.  In addition to the VSN challenge, I pulled out a recent color challenge on SCS (I have missed quite a few) which calls for old olive, bermuda bay, and night of navy.  I even almost did a featured stamper challenge.  I say almost, because this stamper has not been formally featured, but I CASE'd her card found here.  

All of the products used are from Stampin' Up!

My card base is confetti white.  My panel features the challenge colors.  I actually stamped the image, "Sail Away," on 3 pieces of card stock, using Versamark and embossing with white powder.  I then cut each piece into 3 pieces. This way, I will actually be able to assemble 3 nearly identical cards.  The thin strips were mounted onto a piece of white card stock, then trimmed to make sure it was even.
My bermuda bay card stock is the old textured variety; I don't have any smooth CS in that color.  That made embossing tough...but hey, it's not too bad.  VSN nights, you want to finish quickly in the right time frame!  I added this wide striped ribbon and a large button with twine for more detail.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched out with the word window.

I think this card would work for a man or a woman...so it is nice to have 3 of them.  For the moment; lots of cards to mail on Monday!

Thanks for stopping by again.

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

I Found Some Dynamic Duos!

Hello again!  2 days, 2 blog posts...maybe I am back on track.
(Who am I kidding?  My ministry Banquet for Life is on the 24th!  Stamping and blogging will be sporadic at best!)

While surfing the galleries on SCS, I decided to do more commenting.  I used to do that a lot...share the love...but drifted away from this simple and fun activity.  Saturday night, I clicked on gallery entries for the day and saw a few with this soft color palette.  I did a bit of digging, and found another color challenge blog!  Happy, happy me!  I was amazed to see the challenge creator is Lesley Croghan...she is EVERYWHERE!  LOL  I am convinced she doesn't sleep...though her cards never look sleep deprived!  Lesley is getting help from another super talented stamper, Ann Marie Hile who serves as challenge manager and a host of super talented ladies on the Design Team, including my cyber friend Holly Endress of The Friday Mashup.  When I see a great DT, I know that I want to participate, at least once in a while.  This is DD#98...where have I been???



I have always loved playing color challenges...especially on SCS.  I sometimes would get frustrated with people adding colors, because I thought it was "cheating."  (Add green to anything, and you can make flowers and stems!  LOL)  I learned to get over it, and just have fun.

Well, these challenge DT ladies are sticklers!  ONLY use the 2 colors given, plus neutrals.  That's right...don't add green to make pretty spring flowers in a field, or blue in the sky.  I LOVE this idea!

While the badge says wisteria and saffron, the blog post says soft purple & yellow.  I used this opportunity to pull out long-retired goodies.  I have a gazillion things that need to be used before I spend more money!  I used almost amethyst and barely banana.  The barely banana was embossed with the Cuttlebug divine swirls folder.  The pattern paper is from an old 6x6 hostess stack (remember those?) and the ribbon is from Michael's.  It is a perfect match to SU's amethyst!  I used the 2-step SU stamp set, Flight of the Butterfly, which will never leave my collection.  Finally the button and linen thread are also from SU, and bumped this card up to the Hand Deliver or Extra Postage category.  I love bumpy cards!

By the way, soft subtles are NOT my favorite, so I was itching to throw in some richer tones.  But I was a good girl, and played by the rules. *wink*  I think future DD challenges will, indeed, be very challenging!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

I'm Back!

Hello Everyone

It has been quite a while since I have stamped, and even longer since I have blogged about it.  I have been deep in regular work stuff (a major fund raiser on the 24th), and my home office/craft room is a ridiculous mess.  Makes creative juices flow like molasses!  Well yesterday, I just wanted to STAMP, even in the midst of my chaos.  I needed an outlet that had nothing to do with raising money.  I also needed more birthday cards!

                                 

So I made 4 cards...2 each of 2 designs.  Here is one of those designs that combines 2 challenges.  I really like this clean sketch from Freshly Made Sketches, because it is so versatile.  I combined it with Saturday's Inspiration Challenge on SCS, where I found these fun metallic strips to add to your nails.

I rarely use my markers this way, but I decided to just draw the lines to look similar to the nail art.  Even my card stock colors were inspired by the packaging of the nail art.  I have a basic black card base, with a layer of elegant eggplant which was embossed with diagonal stripes.  I added some real red pattern paper.  The markers used on the whisper white are marina mist,garden green, night of navy, real red, and elegant eggplant.  Both sentiments are from On Your Birthday.  2 gold brads add a touch of brightness.  Everything is from Stampin' Up!



Not sure if this card is masculine enough for a nephew of mine.  I made 2, so someone will get this card before too long!

It felt good to stamp again.  I will post my other card tomorrow.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim