TCPTuesday 195-XOXO

This week’s TCP Tuesday challenge is a fabulous sketch designed by our very own Leigh. As soon as I saw this one, this very card came to mind. I love when what I see in my head translates almost exactly like I imagined it once I get it on paper!

My focal image is Sprinkle behind her kissing booth from the Gimme Some Sugar set. This time, after adding a little color to Sprinkle’s hat with Copic markers, I paper pieced the booth with a dotted pattern and added the stamped banner strip in front along with the “happy heart day” sentiment. Sprinkle and the booth are cut out and attached to a kraft circle with foam tape.

I set her on a number patterned paper with rounded top edges, then added a fun banner beneath her. The pieces are made from cutting apart the dotted scallop edged strip from a CutUps Queen of Hearts border die cut. I stamped the lower case x and o from the Coolvetica Alphabet set on the pieces and threaded the pieces on some of TCP’s fabulous linen thread. Too fun!

I can’t wait to see other takes on this fun sketch! Once yours is done, upload it to the guestbook on Alma’s blog to be entered for this week’s Cat Cash drawing. She'll be sharing links to the rest of the Cat Pack’s creations based on the sketch.

And, while you're creating, don't forget about the Valentine Blog Hop we've got going on right now. You can share your Valentine card/project using stamps and/or CutUps dies from The Cat's Pajamas by adding a link to the project on the Inlinkz tool on Alma's blog. You have until February 14 to enter. Three randomly chosen participants (announced on February 15) will win $25 in Cat Cash. How's that for a sweet treat?

Materials Used:
Gimme Some Sugar and Coolvetica Alphabet stamp sets, Neenah White cardstock, Versafine Onyx Black ink, CutUps Queen of Hearts border die, beige linen thread (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Real Red and Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Love Me 6x6 paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); corner rounder; foam tape

You Mocha Me Crazy

Here’s my card for the last Viva la Verve sketch for the month of January. All four done by the very end of the month!

This week’s sketch is a clean and simple one, which is right up my alley. I started with a subtly patterned paper covering most of the coordinating card base. The paper's actually from a holiday-themed paper pad, but I'm finding that it works for lots more than holiday cards. I machine stitched around the edges to add detail to the simple design. A piece of kraft cardstock runs across the card.

I colored the the to go cup image from Verve's Better with You set a bit with Copic markers and cut it out. It’s set on a kraft cardstock strip with some foam tape. I stamped the set’s “you mocha me crazy” sentiment next to the cup, then added the set’s small heart image above it to complete the cluster of three elements.

Materials Used:
Better with You stamp set (Verve Stamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black and Rhubarb Stalk inks (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Ocean Tides cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Jingle Tiny Tablet (Lily Bee Design); sewing machine; foam tape

You Stole My Heart

It’s getting close to the time of year when everyone’s frantically working away on little treats to hand out at classroom Valentine’s Day parties. As a teacher, I remember those parties well (and I must admit that they were among my least favorite days of the school year—LOL!). I whipped up this quick and cute little treat box that would be a perfect classroom treat using one of the new Party Favor dies from Clear and Simple Stamps along with one of the critters from the Little Critters collection to dress it up.

I die cut the raccoon shape from gray cardstock, then stamped the matching raccoon image on the shaped piece. I added a few little details, like a pink nose (notice it’s an upside-down heart shape—too cute!) and some white flock on the tail. The Party Favor 1 box is cut from red cardstock and assembled with a little of CSS’s Simple Adhesive. I wrapped a band of black cardstock around the middle of the box, then used foam tape to attach the raccoon.

To decorate the handle, I die cut a tiny white tag using the smaller die from the Tags 1 set. After stamping the solid red outline image, I stamped the “you stole my heart” sentiment inside the border, accenting it with a tiny red heart. I used a bit of black baker’s twine and a red button to secure the finished tag to the handle.

And what’s inside? The box is filled with 5 Ghirardelli chocolate squares. Probably not what I’d choose to give a class of kindergarten students, but it gives you an idea of what the size of the box is. It would certainly hold a few candy kisses or mini candy bars—or even a non-sweet treat if you choose to go that route, and as a teacher, I’d thank you if you did!

Materials Used:
Little Critters Too, Taglines: Little Critters, and Trendy Tags stamp sets, Perfect Little Black Dress and Haute Red Couture inks, You’re Such a Gray-cious Host, Haute Red Couture, Perfect Little Black Dress, and A Blanc Check cardstock, Little Critters, Party Favor 1, and Tags 1 dies, Dare to be a Diva Red button, Divine Twine black baker’s twine, Simple Adhesive (Clear and Simple Stamps); white flock (Stampendous); foam tape

Love Is in the Air

Here’s my card for this week’s CAS-ual Friday sketch challenge. I made a sweet Valentine’s Day card based on the sketch.

My focal image is the hot air balloon from the Across the Miles set from Clear and Simple Stamps. The balloon’s colored with Copic markers and cut out. I used foam tape to attach it to a dot embossed light blue “sky” panel. A few die cut felt clouds dot the sky and give the panel a little more texture.

I added a red grosgrain ribbon strip beneath the image panel. It’s accented with a matching button tied with a little baker’s twine. The "love is in the air" sentiment’s stamped right on the kraft cardfront, squeezed in to the narrow space between the bottom of the panel and the ribbon.

Materials Used:
Across the Miles stamp set, Perfect Little Black Dress ink, Trendsetter Blue, Dare to Be a Diva Red, and Kraft Like a Rockstar cardstock, Copic markers (R12, R22, R24, R27, E23, E25), cloud die from Spring die set, Dare to Be a Diva Red button, Divine Twine red baker’s twine (Clear and Simple Stamps); Polka Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); white felt; foam tape

XOXO

This week’s Our Craft Lounge challenge theme is heart-“felt” creations, meaning to use fabric or felt in your project. I created a clean and simple card incorporating both trendy chevrons (perfect for last week’s challenge!) and seasonal hearts in one little design.

I started out by stamping the two different chevron images from the Every Heart Beat set repeatedly on patterned paper strips—the narrower one in pink ink on a pale pink strip and the wider one in red on a red strip. The papers are attached to form a long strip with a piece of red grosgrain ribbon hiding the seam between the two. The strip is attached to a kraft card base. For my fabric element, I die cut a pair of hearts from felt, layered them and attached them to the cardfront. The “xoxo” sentiment from the Notes of Love set is stamped in red ink on a cream strip and attached to the cardfront with a little red faux stitching—I figured a little stitching detail was a good match for the felt embellishment.

Materials Used:
Every Heart Beat and Notes of Love stamp sets (Our Craft Lounge); Riding Hood Red and Pretty in Pink Classic inks, Riding Hood Red, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Memento Lady Bug marker (Tsukineko); Heart Prints dies, Vintage Cream and Pure Poppy felt (Papertrey Ink); red grosgrain ribbon (Michaels)

Great Taste

I was lucky to be able to participate in one of Paper Crafts Magazine’s recent special issues, Stamp It! 3 Ways. Along with the talented Lindsay Amrhein and Julie Campbell, I worked with the Sugar Rush set from Paper Smooches and created a fun, summery drink mix packet holder as my project. You can see it on page 76 of the issue. It’s out on newsstands and in crafting stores now.

The photo in the magazine is so much better than mine, but here it is anyway. I went super summery, using an orange cardstock to make the bottle tag. I dressed it up with some coordinating dotted orange on orange patterned paper, matted on yellow cardstock. I picked yellow to tie it in with the colors I used when I colored up the glass image to look like a cool, refreshing glass of lemonade. The “you have great taste” sentiment is stamped in orange ink on a yellow sentiment flag piece. A little button tied with orange twine finishes it off. Once it’s hung from a water bottle and filled with a drink mix packet, you’re good to go.

Materials Used:
From i {heart} papers: Paper Smooches Sugar Rush Stamp set, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Tangelo inks, Copic markers (Y11, Y13, Y18), My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist-Fly a Kite 6x6 paper pad, Spellbinders circle dies, Divine Twine orange baker’s twine, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

Other: Daffodil Delight cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Sweet Mango cardstock (Gina K Designs); Lemon Tart button (Papertrey Ink)

Blue Skies

Here’s my card for January’s third Viva la Verve sketch challenge. I took a break from things love themed for this simple encouraging card.

I used images from one of my favorite Verve sets, Blue Skies, for the card. I stamped the set’s large butterfly image and colored it with several yellow Copic markers, then set a second stamped butterfly, this one done on vellum, over top of the colored image. Attaching the vellum butterfly only at the center allows the wings to fold up, giving it the appearance of having fluttering wings.

The rest of the card’s pretty simple. I used two coordinating papers from a My Mind’s Eye paper pad for the panels on the blue cardfront, matting them on yellow cardstock and machine stitching around the edges to add interest before setting them on the blue panel. The set’s “blue skies are coming your way” sentiment is stamped directly on the dotted yellow panel with a strip of yellow ribbon beneath it as an accent. The little crystal flourish extending from the butterfly was a last minute addition. I kept thinking the card needed just a little something else and I think the flourish was exactly the thing.

Materials Used:
Blue Skies stamp set (Verve Stamps); Baja Breeze and Daffodil Delight cardstock, Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon (Stampin’ Up!); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); white vellum (The Paper Co.); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Quite Contrary 6x6 paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); crystal flourish (Recollections); sewing machine

Heartfelt Thanks

Here’s my card for this week’s My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge. I used a seasonal color combination to make a sweet thank you card.

I used the heart-hugging girl from the Heartfelt set as my focal image. She’s colored in pinks and reds with a touch of white flock on her hat and mittens to add a little texture.

I used two different patterns from a Valentine-themed paper pad for the panels on the cardfront—a more subtle dotted one for the large panel and a fun heart patterned one for the strip across the cardfront. After putting the panels in place, I added a white lacey circle die cut and set the colored image over the circle with foam tape. I stamped the set’s “heartfelt thanks” sentiment on a pink notch-edged strip and attached it to the cardfront, slipping one edge underneath the raised image. Seasonal and sweet!

Materials Used:
Heartfelt stamp set (My Favorite Things); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black and Lady Bug inks (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Pretty in Pink and Real Red cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Sweet Cakes 6x6 paper pad (Doodlebug Design); lacey circle die (Spellbinders); white flock (Stampendous); foam tape

Whoo Loves You?

I just can’t get enough of the cute owl image from the new Little Critters collection from Clear and Simple Stamps! He makes another appearance here as the focal image on this card made with a sketch from the Clean and Simple Stamping blog.

For the sketch's large block panel, I repeatedly stamped the “whoo loves you” sentiment from the Little Critters set tone on tone in You’re Such a Gray-cious Host ink, staggering the placement of the words from line to line to add interest. One of the lines is stamped in red for a fun pop. The stamped panel is layered on a red scallop edged strip to match.

After adding a heart patterned paper panel edged with a strip of red grosgrain ribbon to the bottom of a pink card base, I added the sentiment panel on top.

The little owl from the Taglines: Critters set was stamped on a piece of gray cardstock and cut out. Its belly was paper pieced with a scrap of red cardstock. I used foam tape to attach the owl to a red circle, then set it on the card.

For more CSS inspiration, be sure to check out the CSS iPhone/iTouch app. A new project is shared daily, complete with step by step instructions. Here’s a sneak peek of my project that will be shown on the app tomorrow (January 28). You can get all the info on downloading the app here.

Materials Used:
Little Critters and Taglines: Critters stamp sets, You’re Such a Gray-cious Host, Haute Red Couture, and Perfect Little Black Dress inks, You’re Such a Gray-cious Host, Haute Red Couture, I’m a Princess Pink cardstock (Clear and Simple Stamps); Yours Truly 6x6 paper pad (Echo Park); circle punch (EK Success); scallop edge punch (Stampin’ Up!); red grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); foam tape

Blogger Challenge: Week 240

This week’s blogger challenge theme is texturize it. I’ve had the A Pocketful: Valentine set from WPlus9 for a while and hadn’t yet inked it up, so I pulled it out for the challenge to create a texture filled design based on the current Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

To get the textured theme started, I die cut a denim pocket for my focal image. After machine stitching around the edges (my sewing machine couldn’t believe it was actually stitching on fabric instead of paper!) and adding a scrap of red cardstock behind it to highlight the sort of heart shaped opening at the pocket’s bottom, I used foam tape to attach it to a kraft circle. The letter trio was stamped and cut out, then set on the panel so the letters appear to be coming out of the pocket.

For texture, I embossed the two bottom layers of the card. They’re both embossed with polka dots, but I used two different embossing folders, each with a different sized polka dot pattern to add interest while keeping the design unified. After machine stitching around all of the big rectangular panels, I layered them on a kraft card base. The image panel is attached over a kraft colored ribbon strip with notched edges. I stamped the set’s “love notes” sentiment beneath it, directly on the dotted patterned paper. Wish it showed up better than it does . . .

For more ideas incorporating texture, check out the link list below. And, if you’d like to join the challenge, add a direct link to your new project below.


Materials Used:
A Pocketful: Valentine stamp set, Love Notes dies (WPlus9); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Lady Bug marker (Tsukineko); marker (Copic); Crumb Cake and Riding Hood Red cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); With Love-be Mine designer paper (Pebbles); circle die (Spellbinders); Polka Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); Polka Dot embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts); Kraft grosgrain ribbon (Papertrey Ink); denim fabric; sewing machine; foam tape

Birthday Spotlight

This week’s Kraftin’ Kimmie challenge was to use part of an image or to use the spotlighting technique. I thought this cake and gift toting Moonlight Whispers Julie image would be a fun one to try out with the spotlighting technique.

I did not just one, but two spotlighted sections on the image. I chose to focus on the cake and the stack of gifts. Those sections were punched out of the stamped image with a 1 ¼” circle punch, then colored with Copic markers. I layered the colored pieces on 1 3/8” pink circles and set them back in place on the original image.

I kept the layout for the rest of the card pretty simple, attaching a pastel plaid patterned paper strip to the bottom of a pink card base and edging it with a coordinating solid green strip. I cut a narrow strip of the reverse side of the patterned paper—a bolder colored dotted pattern and set that across the plaid piece, then added the image panel on top. Instead of stamping the sentiment directly on the open space on the image panel, I punched out a tiny tag and stamped it on that. A blue button, tied with matching baker’s twine, anchors it to the panel and brings a little more color to the image panel along the way.

Materials Used:
Moonlight Whispers Julie stamp set (Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers, Gold Spica pen (Copic); Blushing Bride cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Hawaiian Shores ink, Hawaiian Shores cardstock, Hawaiian Shores button (Papertrey Ink); Hip-Hooray “Girl” Happy Day designer paper (My Mind’s Eye); circle punches (EK Success); tag punch (Fiskars); baker’s twine (The Twinery)

Classy Lady

Here’s my card for this week’s Waltzingmouse sketch challenge. I used my Cameo Maker set to put together this simple but elegant card.

I used one of the set’s cameo images and one of the set’s frames to make a layered cameo for my focal image. The cameo is heat embossed with a shiny pewter embossing powder. It’s not as solid as I would have liked, but it will have to do. After centering the cameo inside the stamped oval frame, I added a faux pearl necklace made with Liquid Pearls. I set the finished cameo on top of a shimmery white doily die cut.

I used a vintage looking lace patterned paper to cover most of the cardfront. It’s layered on a soft gray panel, then set on the darker gray card base. I used the same colors for the panels beneath the cameo. The “classy lady” sentiment from the You’re Lovely set is stamped on a vellum strip that’s machine stitched to the cardfront along the edges.

Materials Used:
Cameo Maker and You’re Lovely stamp sets (Waltzingmouse Stamps); Smokey Shadow ink, Smokey Shadow and Soft Stone cardstock, Doily Detail Collection die (Papertrey Ink); Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); white vellum (The Paper Co); Head over Heels Tiny Tablet (Lily Bee Design); Versamark ink (Tsukineko); oval dies (Spellbinders); White Opal Liquid Pearls (Ranger); sewing machine; foam tape

Color Throwdown 176-Let Your Dreams Take Flight

It’s time for another Color Throwdown! This week, Joan’s come up with a really pretty combination for us to try—Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Rose Red, and Chocolate Chip. I combined the colors with this week’s Our Craft Lounge Challenge to use chevrons to create a simple scene featuring a hot air balloon.

For my focal image, I colored the hot air balloon with a chevron pattern from the Love in the Air set using rosy red and chocolate markers, then carefully cut it out. It’s set on a dot embossed blue sky panel over a pair of die cut felt clouds.

To get a few more chevrons into the mix, I stamped a Crumb Cake panel with one of the chevron images from the Every Heart Beat set in matching ink to add a subtle pattern to the paper. The sky panel is matted on a Rose Red panel, then set on to the stamped Crumb Cake panel. I added the set’s “let your dreams take flight” sentiment on a Rose Red notch-edged strip that extends out from under the balloon. I stamped it in the same color as the paper so it doesn’t show up well in the photo, but it looks nice IRL.

To play along, just create a paper crafted project using these colors as a starting point and add a direct link to your finished project using the linky tool found at the end of this week's CTD post. As always, if you don’t have exact color matches, something close works just fine. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD176. Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team:

** Barbara ** Broni ** Danielle ** Joan ** Kerri **
** Keva ** Kristin ** Lynn ** Tammy ** Wanda **
January Guestie Stacy Morgan

Materials Used:
Love in the Air and Every Heart Beat stamp sets (Our Craft Lounge), white Copic blending cardstock (X-Press); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Rose Red and Crumb Cake Classic inks, Rose Red and Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Aqua Mist cardstock, cloud die (Papertrey Ink); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); white felt; foam tape

Papertrey Ink January Blog Hop

For this month’s Papertrey Ink blog hop, the challenge was to select and share a favorite project from 2011, then to create a second card that was inspired by that favorite project in some way.

The process of selecting a favorite project for today's hop took me a while! I went back and forth between several different creations before deciding on this fall themed project. You can see the original post featuring this card here.

I loved the clean and simple design, plus the color scheme. It also included only stamped elements—and stamping is what drew me in to paper crafting in the first place!

For version 2 of the card, I kept the layout pretty much the same but made changes to make the card more seasonal—as in Valentine’s Day appropriate. I used one of my favorite color schemes—aqua, red, and kraft—for the card and incorporated some fun textures to add interest to the design.

To get my remake started, instead of using the houndstooth stamp for the large panel at the bottom of the card, I stamped one of the heart border strips from the Heart Prints set repeatedly in Aqua Mist ink on an Aqua Mist panel. I kept the Modern Wood Mats panel the same and built a cluster of embellishments on that.

Instead of the leaves in the original design, I used a pair of die cut felt hearts along with a tag cut with the Tiny Tags die. I picked one with a heart cut out and added a scrap of red cardstock behind the heart-shaped opening to emphasize it and tied the top with a little Pure Poppy baker’s twine. The “hugs & kisses” sentiment from the Heart Prints set completes the remade version. Much the same, but definitely different in its own way!

Materials Used:
Heart Prints and Modern Wood Mats stamp sets, Aqua Mist and Dark Chocolate inks, Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Kraft, and Vintage Cream cardstock, Mat Stack 1, Heart Prints, Tiny Tags, and Double-Ended Banner dies, Pure Poppy and Aqua Mist felt, Pure Poppy baker’s twine (Papertrey Ink); Crumb Cake Classic ink (Stampin’ Up!)

TCP Tuesday 194-You (and K-Cups) Warm My Heart

For this week's TCP Tuesday stamp and die challenge, Susan's challenged us to use stamps (and dies!) with hearts. Given that Valentine's Day is coming up, this one's an easy one.

I thought I'd share the project I created for this month's TCP Project of the Month. I revised my the design of the K-cup caddy I'd originally created to hold a single K-cup caddy to hold two (or four) of the yummy coffee treats. You can find the full directions in printable form here.

To dress up my K-cup caddy, I used the sweet girl from the Merry Wishes set. She counts for the challenge since she's holding a tiny heart in her hand (look closely--I promise you'll see it!). I colored her with Copic markers, cut her out and added a little white flock to her hat for some texture.

The caddy is made from pink cardstock. I attached a dotted patterned paper to the front and sides to dress it up. A red strip die cut with the CutUps Anywhere Ribbon Slide and threaded with some rose seam binding is wrapped around the caddy. The tutorial has a little tip for how to make an extra long ribbon slide strip for projects like this one.

The colored girlie is attached to the holder with foam tape. The "you warm my heart" sentiment from the Like You a Latte set is stamped on a narrow pennant strip cut with the CutUps Easy Rosette die--it was a perfect match for the image and for the coffee theme. I slipped a CutUps Heart Rosette piece behind her to meet the challenge requirement of using a die with a heart.

I hope you’ll pull out your stamps and dies with hearts and play along with this week’s challenge for your chance to win some Cat Cash. Just upload your project to the photo album on Alma’s blog to enter—and be sure to keep an eye out for the links to the rest of the Cat Pack’s projects that she’ll be posting throughout the week. If you give the K-cup template a try, leave me a comment with a link to your project so I can check it out.

Materials Used:
Merry Wishes and Like You a Latte stamp sets, Neenah white cardstock, CutUps Ribbon Slide, Easy Rosette, Circus Panels and Heart Rosette dies, rose seam binding (The Cat's Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette and Regal Rose cardstock, Regal Rose Classic ink (Stampin' Up!); circle punch (EK Success); Snowday-Fireside designer paper (Pink Paislee); white flock (Stampendous); foam tape

Love {U}

Here's my card for January's second Viva la Verve sketch. I want to give you fair warning--it's kind of bright! Now that I look at it, I see lots of similarities to the Pepto Bismol I was downing over the weekend . . .

Anyway, as you can probably guess, I made a sweet Valentine using the sketch. The color combination actually came from a Doodlebug Design paper collection. I used two of the papers for the panels on the cardfront. Each panel is matted on light pink cardstock, then set on a heart and dot embossed darker (or brighter?) pink panel.

I die cut a heart from light pink paper using Verve's Jotted Heart die, then stamped the matching image over it in the same light pink ink. The "love" sentiment from the Love Notes set is stamped over that in darker pink ink. It's set on the card and accented with a pink button tied with pink baker's twine. At the last minute, I decided to add the die cut "{u}" to the cardfront. I think it was a good call!

Materials Used:
Love Notes stamp set, Jotted Heart die (Verve Stamps); Pretty in Pink and Pixie Pink Classic inks, Pretty in Pink and Pixie Pink cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Sweet Cake 6x6 paper pad (Doodlebug Design); Hearts and Dots embossing folder (Sizzix); pink grosgrain ribbon (Morex); pink baker's twine (Divine Twine); corner rounder; pink button

Just Bugcause . . .

Here's a quick card that combines both this week's SCS clean and simple challenge to use pink, celery and white and this week's featured stamper challenge. I based my card on this ladybug themed card. I knew right away that one of the bugs from Our Craft Lounge's Bug Hugs set would be perfect for remaking the design.

I colored up one of the set's bug images in pink, adding Glossy Accents to the hearts on the bug's shell for a little shine and dimension. The bug is cut out and set on a trio of die cut felt leaves with some foam tape.

I stamped the "just bugcause" sentiment from the Love Bug set in celery ink on a white oval. Instead of setting the sentiment on another same-sized oval that's just slightly offset, I layered it on an oval that's just a bit larger. The panel's set on a celery card base to frame the simple little scene and give it a finished look.

Materials Used:
Bug Hugs and Love Bug stamp sets (Our Craft Lounge); Memento Tuxedo Black and Pear Tart inks (Tsukineko); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); markers (Copic); Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink cardstock, oval punches (Stampin' Up!); Sending You dies, Simply Chartreuse felt (Papertrey Ink); Glossy Accents (Ranger); foam tape

Black and White Birds

A nasty case of the stomach flu came on suddenly and had me down for the count yesterday and I'm still not myself today. I'm hoping another day of rest at will help me to get back to normal. With not feeling well, a clean and simple card was pretty much all I could manage for today.

This card is for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge to make a card with just black and white in honor of Friday's penguin awareness day. I didn't go with penguins on my card, but did stick with the bird theme, using my new Sentimental Birds set from Sweet Stamp Shop. The silhouette image of birds perched on lines is perfect for a black and white card.

I stamped the large image on a white panel, trimming the panel's edges to fit the image. After layering it on a black panel, I added a piece of white vellum over the stamped image for a more muted look. A piece of black satin ribbon is knotted around the panel at the bottom of the image, hiding the adhesive I used to secure the vellum panel. I added one of the set's sentiments beneath the ribbon on a narrow white strip. To go with the sentiment, I found a clear crystal circle and placed it on the vellum to spotlight the pair of birds with the hearts between them. The crystal element was a fun way to add an embellishment while still keeping with the all black and white color scheme.

Materials Used:
Sentimental Birds stamp set (Sweet Stamp Shop); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); white cardstock (Stampin' Up!); white vellum (The Paper Co.); black satin ribbon (Target); clear crystal circle (Recollections)

Kiss Me

Here’s my card for the current Paper Smooches Sparks challenge. I focused on the spotted stuffed frog on the bed in the inspiration photo and built my clean and simple design around that.

I found a dotted green patterned paper to use to paper piece the frog image from the A Little Lovin’ set. After cutting the frog out, I used Copic markers to add some shading and to darken the spots on the frog’s back—an easy way to add a little interest and dimension to the otherwise flat image. I set it on a white panel with dimensional dots, then stamped the set’s heart image over it and colored it in red.

A strip of red and white dotted paper runs down the edge of the panel. I wrapped the dotted paper with black baker’s twine. The set’s “kiss me” sentiment is stamped on a tiny tag and threaded on to the twine. At the last minute, I decided to add the lip image over the words, stamping it off once before adding it to the tag for a softer look.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Paper Smooches A Little Lovin’ stamp set, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Rhubarb Stalk inks, Copic markers (R12, R22, R24, W-1, YG17), Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho and Blossom Soup 6x6 paper pads, Divine Twine Black Licorice baker’s twine, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other: white cardstock (Xerox); New Leaf cardstock (Papertrey Ink); tag punch (Fiskars)

Winter Woo-hoo!

Here’s my card for the current Lawnscaping Winter Wonderland challenge. I just love Lawn Fawn’s little sledding bunny and couldn’t resist setting the image in a simple snowy scene. And, with the wintery mix we've had here over night and this morning, this card definitely is a good one for today!

I colored the bunny with Copic markers and carefully cut the image out. After adding a little white flock to its tail, I set it on a patterned paper panel with torn and layered shimmery white strips of “snow” along the bottom.

To add to the wintery theme, I embossed a gray panel with a snowflake pattern and used that to cover most of the cardfront. After layering the image panel on a red mat, I set it on the cardfront at an angle, then added the “woo-hoo!” sentiment from the Critters in the Forest set underneath the image. A pair of die cut shimmery white snowflakes, each with a clear crystal at the center, makes the perfect accent for the little scene.

Materials Used:
Winter Bunny and Critters in the Forest stamp sets (Lawn Fawn); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Basic Gray, Real Red, Baja Breeze, and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Season’s Greetings 6x6 paper pad (Echo Park); Peace Be Still impression plate (Papertrey Ink); Die-namics Snowflake Trio die (My Favorite Things); white flock (Stampendous); clear crystals (Darice); foam tape

Happy Thoughts Are Coming Your Way

My mom requested a get well card for someone she knows, so I combined her request with this week’s My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge to make this sweet card. I thought the kite flying girl from the Pure Innocence Aim High set was a good choice for a card bringing a cheerful message.

The girl is partly colored with Copic markers and partly paper pieced. After cutting out the image, I added a little sparkle to the hearts on her dress and in her hair with a dot of Stickles. She’s set on a background panel made from a piece of cloud patterned paper with a die cut grass base. The set’s “happy thoughts” sentiment is stamped directly on the grass.

I used the plaid pattern on the reverse of the paper I used for the girlie’s dress to cover most of the cardfront. The image panel is set on coordinating solid panels, divided by a strip of aqua grosgrain ribbon. Once the image panel was in place, I added the kite, cut from solid melon colored cardstock to match the card base and attached to the girl’s hand with a little green baker’s twine. The kite was the perfect way to fit in the little accent element in the sketch and a fun switch from my usual go-to button or felt die cut piece.

Materials Used:
Pure Innocence Aim High stamp set, Die-Namics grass border die (My Favorite Things); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, and Simply Chartreuse cardstock, Aqua Mist grosgrain ribbon (Papertrey Ink); Lime Twist-Fly a Kite "Genuine" Sky and Good Day Sunshine-Pristine Plaid designer papers (My Mind’s Eye); Stardust Stickles (Ranger); foam tape

Blogger Challenge: Week 239

This week’s blogger challenge theme is “elements of time.” My interpretation of the theme’s a pretty loose one as you’ll see in the apology card I created. I used the vintage typewriter image from the Just My Type set from My Favorite Things as my focal image. I thought the vintage style of the image, combined with a sentiment referencing the past, would be a fun way to take on the challenge.

The typewriter shape was die cut from cream cardstock, then stamped with the matching image in black ink. I rubbed a little distress ink over it for a more aged look and did the same with the matching “paper” die cut, also cut from cream cardstock and stamped with the sentiment in black ink.

Since the image is pretty large and takes up a lot of space, I kept the card’s layout pretty simple. To go with the typewriter image, I knew I wanted to use a text patterned paper somewhere on my card. I found one with a great mix of type styles in a Cosmo Cricket paper pack and used that one for the panel directly underneath the typewriter. A piece of red faux suede ribbon tied at the bottom of the card adds a nice pop of color and some texture to the cardfront.

For more ideas using the elements of time theme, check out the link list below. And, if you’d like to join the challenge, add a direct link to your new project below.



Materials Used:
Just My Type stamp and die set (My Favorite Things); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); Tea Dye distress ink (Ranger); Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Sweet Corn cardstock (Gina K Designs); Circa 1934 6x6 paper pad (Cosmo Cricket); red faux suede ribbon; foam tape

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Here's my card for this week's Kraftin' Kimmie challenge. I adjusted the panels on the sketch just a little to work for a portrait-style layout to fit the wintery image I wanted to use. Fortunately for me, so far this winter has been snow free, aside from a freak pre-Halloween snowfall, so I haven't had to break out the snow shovel yet like the Moonlight Whispers Eva image I used for my card!

I colored the lovely Eva in shades of blue to match the patterned papers I used on the card. Her earmuffs are covered with a little white flock for a fluffy look. I set her on a snowy background panel made from light blue cardstock with layered strips of torn shimmery white cardstock at the bottom.

After attaching the coordinating patterned papers to the cardfront, I layered a piece of shimmery silver cardstock over them for a little sparkle. A piece of light blue grosgrain ribbon is knotted around the panel. I set the image panel on to the cardfront, slipping the edge of the sentiment panel underneath its right side.

Materials Used:
Moonlight Whispers Eva stamp set (Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver shimmer paper (Recollections); Midnight Frost 6x6 paper pad (Bo Bunny); light blue grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); white flock (Stampendous); foam tape

Runway Inspired Rainbow

Clear and Simple Stamps is sponsoring the latest Runway Inspired Challenge. The current challenge is based on this photo of trendy resortwear.


Check out the fabulous rainbow colors—and the added pop of green from the model’s shoes. Those elements are the ones that inspired my clean and simple creation.

I used the small heart border builder strip from the Hearts Plus set to make a rainbow striped panel for the cardfront. Once I was done stamping, I layered the panel on a green mat, then set it on a white card base. I stamped the “you color my world” sentiment from the Craft Room set in black on a white notch-edged panel and set that across the cardfront, accented with a green button tied with a piece of green satin ribbon.

Be sure to check out all of the challenge details here. CSS is offering up a great prize for the challenge winner . . .

Materials Used:
Hearts Plus and Craft Room stamp sets, Perfect Little Black Dress, Haute Red Couture, Creamsicle Cardigan, Say Yellow to All Your Fans, Green with Envy, Party Teal Dawn, and VIP Purple inks, Green with Envy and A Blanc Check cardstock, Green with Envy satin ribbon, Green with Envy button (Clear and Simple Stamps)

Thanking You

Here’s my card for this week’s Waltzingmouse Stamps sketch challenge. I went with a slightly vintage style for my design, which is out of my comfort zone. I came up with something soft and feminine, but in a somewhat non-traditional feminine color scheme.

The cardfront is covered with a pretty distressed-looking floral paper. I machine two coordinating dotted strips to the floral panel, creating a striped look. The papers are actually from a winter themed paper collection, but they worked nicely here for a completely different feel.

I used the Cameo Maker set to create a moss green on cream cameo as a focal image. The stamped cameo is layered on a green oval, then on the aqua panel that runs across the cardfront. I found some matching aqua seam binding in my ribbon scrap pile that was super crinkled from being stuffed deep into the container to keep it from Chloe the cutie puppy’s curious nose and mouth and used that to create a pretty bow to place at the top of the cameo. A trio of green buttons, threaded with cream linen thread, sits at the bottom of the cameo. I stamped the “thanking you” sentiment from the Cameo to Go set in green ink next to the cluster of elements to fill out the open space on the aqua panel. The end result is somewhat vintage-looking, but still pretty clean and simple.

Materials Used:
Cameo Maker and Cameo to Go stamp sets (Waltzingmouse Stamps); Spring Moss ink, Spring Moss and Aqua Mist cardstock, Spring Moss buttons (Papertrey Ink); Very Vanilla cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Winterland 6x6 paper pad (Fancy Pants); oval dies (Spellbinders); aqua seam binding (Martha Stewart); linen thread (The Cat’s Pajamas); Bow Easy; sewing machine

Sending Bug Hugs

Here’s another card using this week’s Color Throwdown color combo (see my previous post for all the details on this week’s challenge). I used the colors along with this week’s SCS sketch challenge to put together this kid-friendly Valentine.

I colored the creepy crawly creature from Our Craft Lounge’s Love Bug set with Copic markers and cut it out. The dots on the back of the bug are coated with Glossy Accents to add a little dimension and shine to the image.

I used a red dotted paper for the pair of strips at the left side of the card and a green plaid for the stripe that runs across the cardfront. Each patterned paper piece was matted on a coordinating solid cardstock panel before I attached it to a kraft panel. I wrapped the panel with green baker's twine before layering it on an olive card base. The "sending bug hugs" sentiment from the Bug Hugs set is stamped on a cream corner rounded panel that I slipped underneath the top edge of the green plaid paper. The creepy crawly creature sits just underneath the sentiment with the help of a few dimensional dots.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Our Craft Lounge Love Bug and Bug Hugs stamp sets, X-Press white Copic blending cardstock, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Copic markers (YG21, YG93, YG95, YG97, R21, R24), Jillibean Soup Blossom Soup 6x6 paper pad, My Mind's Eye Lime Twist-Out of the Blue 6x6 paper pad, Ranger Glossy Accents, Divine Twine Green Apple baker's twine, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other: Real Red, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla cardstock (Stampin' Up!); corner rounder

Color Throwdown 175-Owl Always Love You

It’s time for another Color Throwdown! This week, Danielle’s given us a classic color combination—kraft, cream, red, and olive. I used the colors to create a sweet, punny Valentine’s Day card with a set from the Little Critters collection from Clear and Simple Stamps.

I used the large tag from the Tags 1 die set to make the panel for my image. The branch image from the Taglines: Critters set is stamped at one end of the tag and colored with Copic markers—except for the leaf, which is filled in with the matching solid image stamp. The small owl that sits on the branch was stamped on kraft cardstock and cut out. Its belly was shaded with a Copic marker. I stamped the “owl always love you” sentiment just underneath the branch in red ink and added a tiny heart next to the owl, too.

After tying some red satin ribbon through the hole at the tag’s end, I layered it on a piece of green dotted paper. The panel is layered on a green mat, then on a kraft card base.

To play along, just create a paper crafted project using these colors as a starting point and add a direct link to your finished project using the linky tool found at the end of this week's CTD post. As always, if you don’t have exact color matches, something close works just fine. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD175. Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team:

** Barbara ** Broni ** Danielle ** Joan ** Kerri **
** Keva ** Kristin ** Lynn ** Tammy ** Wanda **
January Guestie Stacy Morgan

Materials Used:
Taglines: Critters stamp set, Perfect Little Black Dress, Haute Red Couture, and Kraft Like a Rockstar Green inks, Kraft Like a Rockstar, Kraft Like a Rockstar Green, and On the Catwalk Cream cardstock, Copic marker (E43), Tags 1 die, Dare to Be a Diva Red satin ribbon (Clear and Simple Stamps); Jingle Tiny Tablet (Lily Bee Design); foam tape

IHP DT Challenge-Inspired by Living Spaces

For this month's i {heart} papers design team challenge, we were given a selection of 4 photos of gorgeous living spaces to choose from to use as inspiration for our projects.


I went with this pretty photo featuring an outdoor living area. I loved the summery feel of the pool and the pretty foliage and incorporated those elements into my design in a roundabout way.

To represent the foliage, I used the potted dress image from the Hippie Chic stamp set as my focal image. The dress was paper pieced with a piece of patterned paper that reminded me of the pattern seen on the tablecloth in the photo. For fun details, I cut a fringed strip to put along the bottom edge of the dress and added a clear crystal to the heart pendant hanging at its neckline. The flowers peeking out of the base were inked with pink ink (easy to do with the cat's eye shaped ink pads!) and the rest of the image was colored with Copic markers. I used dimensional dots to attach the cutout image to an aqua (pool colored!) card base. Cut apart pieces of a crystal flourish are slipped underneath the dress for a little sparkle.

To ground the image, I attached a rosy pink strip of cardstock along the bottom of the cardfront, then wrapped a piece of green striped twill around the card, knotting it at the left side. The "be whoever you want to be" sentiment is stamped next to the dress in matching pink ink.

Be sure to check out what the other IHP DT members created for this inspiration challenge. Here's where to find them:

Carolyn

Deb

Gretchen

Kate

Loretta

Lori--you're here!

Lynn

Tracy

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Market Street Stamps Hippie Chic stamp set, X-Press white Copic blending cardstock, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Rose Bud inks, Copic markers (E25, E31, E33, E34, C00, C-1, C-3, C-5), Echo Park Country Drive Collection Kit, May Arts celery striped twill, Zva Creative clear crystal flourish, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other: Aqua Mist, Simply Chartreuse, and Hibiscus Burst cardstock (Papertrey Ink)

TCPTuesday 193-Who Loves You, Baby?

It's my turn to host the TCP Tuesday challenge and this week, I've brought you a fun mix of colors that can be used for a sweet Valentine's Day creation--or for something else entirely. Isn't the combination of pale pink, melon, and brown yummy?

I used the new Feelin' Cupidy set from last week’s release for my card. I colored the bunny up in a nice chocolate color, then cut him out. I added some glitter to the pink wings as a fun touch and a little white flock to the tail—every bunny’s got to have a cottontail, right?--then used foam tape to attach the bunny to a CutUps Heart Rosette diecut.

I dressed up the light pink card base with a pair of patterned paper panels—a dotted melon one and a pink on pink diagonally striped one. I set the rosette over the paper strips, then added a Valentine twine-wrapped strip stamped with the “who loves you, baby?” sentiment underneath it.

I hope you’ll play along with this week’s challenge for your chance to win some Cat Cash. Just upload your project to the photo album on Alma’s blog to enter—and be sure to keep an eye out for the links to the rest of the Cat Pack’s projects that she’ll be posting throughout the week.

Materials Used:
Feelin' Cupidy stamp set, Neenah white cardstock, CutUps Heart Rosette die, Divine Twine Valentine baker’s twine (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette and Melon Mambo cardstock, Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin’ Up!); Dots & Stripes-Candy Shoppe 6x6 paper pad (Echo Park);white flock (Stampendous); sewing machine; foam tape

Colorblocked Peace

Here's my card for this week's SCS clean and simple challenge. The sketch challenge took less than 10 minutes to complete from start to finish, thanks to the trio of color blocks and the already die cut felt dove I used for the card.

The monochromatic color blocks were created by inking different sized clear stamping blocks with three blue inks and pressing the inked blocks to a white card base. I have a bunch of die cut white felt doves leftover from a previous project and the dove made a nice accent for the card. It's attached with a little ScorTape--sticky tapes like these are my preferred adhesive for felt pieces. To give the dove shape some definition, I added a blue crystal as an eye. The "peace" sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Holiday Tree set is stamped on the card in silver ink for a final sparkly touch for the simple design.

Materials Used:
Holiday Tree stamp set, Peace Be Still die (Papertrey Ink); Blue Bayou, Baja Breeze, and Soft Sky inks (Stampin' Up!); Encore Silver ink (Tsukineko); blue crystal (Recollections); white felt

You're a Great Catch

Here's a super sweet Valentine's Day card in non-traditional colors. The clean and simple design was based on this week's Clean and Simple Stamping sketch and this week's CAS-ual Friday challenge to use scallops.

I combined the larger fish image from Papertrey Ink's Tremendous Treats: Valentine set with the sentiment that came with the original Tiny Treats: Valentine smaller scaled set for my little scene. The fish was stamped on a scrap of dotted paper, cut out, then sprayed with a little shimmer spray. After it dried, I used foam tape to set it on an aqua card base. The little hearts next to the fish were stamped on an orange scrap, cut out and attached directly to the cardfront. They were a pain to cut out and now that I look at them, I wish I'd stamped them in a slightly different spot, maybe a bit above where they are . . .

A wave-like scallop edged strip runs the across the card, underneath the fish. I added a strip of the same dotted paper as I used for the fish underneath the scalloped strip. For a little contrast, I set a narrow darker orange strip along the seam between the two pieces. The "you're a great catch" sentiment is stamped between the fish and the scalloped wave in a darker aqua ink.

Materials Used:
Tremendous Treats: Valentine and Tiny Treats: Valentine stamp sets, Hawaiian Shores ink, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, and Orange Zest cardstock, Distressed Dots patterned paper, medium scallop border die (Papertrey Ink); Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Frost shimmer spray (Tsukineko); foam tape

Be My Valentine

Here's my card for today's SCS featured stamper challenge. I resisted remaking Linda's Wisconsin Badger themed Rose Bowl card (love those Badgers!) and instead went with a seasonal love themed card.

I kept the layout the same as in the original card and made changes to the card's other elements. I used a sentiment from Verve's Love Notes set as the focal image--love Verve's sentiments and fun font mixes! The heart trio stamped in red comes from the same set and was great as an accent and to fill up a little of the open space on the white panel. The stamped oval panel is layered on a white lacey oval die, then attached to the cardfront with foam tape.

Instead of using a solid black ribbon on the cardfront, I used a black and white gingham one. The bow at the top of the sentiment panel is made from a piece of satin ribbon. The white card base is embossed with a simple but elegant pattern. The folder's pattern didn't fill the entire cardfront, but I think I got it pretty well centered on the front.

On a personal note, I couldn't let today pass without mentioning a special event on my blog. Today is Chloe the cutie puppy's second birthday. My longtime readers will probably remember when I first shared her puppy photo almost two years ago. She's now a full-grown goldendoodle and still as cute as can be. She celebrated with a few new toys and a trip to the dog park.

Here she is after our romp at the dog park in the afternoon, which tired her out enough that she sat pretty still while I took her picture. For anyone who knows her, you know that she isn't still too often! Happy birthday, Chloe!

Materials Used:
Love Notes stamp set (Verve Stamps); Whisper White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Memento Tuxedo Black and Lady Bug inks (Tsukineko); oval and lacey oval dies (Spellbinders); Whimsy embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts); black satin and black gingham ribbons (Michaels); Bow Easy; foam tape

Let Your Heart Be Your Guide

Here’s my card for this month’s Market Street Stamps Paint the Town color challenge. The bright colors reminded me of a rainbow sherbet mix! I created a clean and simple design with all of the colors set against a bright white background.

I used the compass from the Compass set as my focal image. It’s stamped in a bright, bold pink ink on a pale pink circle. I stamped the image again on darker pink cardstock and punched out the center with a circle punch so I could add it to the center of the light pink image for contrast. The heart at the center is filled in with Stickles for a little sparkle. It looks a little bubbly in the photo, but it isn't IRL--guess it's just the angle of the photo . . .

The compass is set on the right side of an orange-y striped panel. The left side of the panel is edged with a dark pink scallop edged strip. I stamped the sentiment on an aqua notch-edged strip that stretches most of the length of the card. On the stamp, the text is two lines, but I decided to take advantage of the clear material and stamp it in one continuous line instead to fit my design.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Market Street Stamps Compass stamp set, Tsukineko Memento Rose Bud ink, Echo Park Dots & Stripes-Candy Shoppe 6x6 paper pad, Spellbinders circle die and Classic Scallop Edgeabilities die, Ranger Star Dust Stickles

other:
Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Blushing Bride and Melon Mambo cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); white cardstock (Xerox); circle punch (EK Success)

Spotlight on #1 Sports Fan

This week marks the 100th challenge on the Our Craft Lounge blog, so it’s only appropriate that our theme this week is numbers. I turned the “spotlight” on the new #1 Sports Fan set for my card for the challenge.

Instead of coloring the image as I’ve done all the other times I’ve used it, I spotlighted just a part of the image. I stamped the whole image on a piece of white paper, then used a circle punch to punch out a small portion of the image, making sure to include a number. I colored the circular piece with Copic markers, layered it on a coordinating green cardstock circle just a bit larger, then set it back in place on the image. For the rest of the image, I used a fine-tipped multiliner pen to make some tiny dots on the uncolored image to add a little shading without adding color.

I found a fun number patterned paper in a My Mind’s Eye paper pad and used that to create 4 panels for the cardfront. Each panel is layered on a kraft mat, then set on the green card base. I layered my spotlighted image on a kraft mat and attached it to the cardfront.

I hope you'll take a look through your stash and find something with numbers so you can play along--there's a stamp set up for grabs for one lucky participant! You can find all the challenge details on the OCL blog.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Our Craft Lounge #1 Sports Fan stamp set, X-Press white Copic blending cardstock, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Copic markers (E00, E000, E0000, B0000, E23, YG01, YG03, YG05) and black multiliner pen, My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist-Fly a Kite 6x6 paper pad

other: Pear Pizzazz cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); circle punches (EK Success)

I Love You This Much

Here’s my card for this week’s My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge. I’ve had this Jolinne set for a while and hadn’t used her yet and thought she’s be a nice fit for the sketch.

I colored Jolinne with Copic markers and cut her out, using a craft knife for some of the smaller interior sections. With the string of hearts stretched between her hands, I thought that some love-themed papers would be a good match for the image.

I found some BoBunny Crazy Love papers in shades of pinks and browns with a little bit of red thrown in, too. I played around a little with the arrangement before coming up with this one. I added a fancy open scalloped die cut strip topped with rose grosgrain ribbon across the bottom of the card and stamped the word “love” from one of the set’s sentiments to fit on the tiny pennant that I set next to the image panel. The sketch was definitely not something I would have come up with on my own and took a little thinking to put all the elements in place--guess that's why it's called a challenge!

Materials Used:
Jolinne-I Love You This Much stamp set, Die-Namics Double Scallop Border and Mini Pennants dies (My Favorite Things); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Pretty in Pink and Crumb Cake cardstock, Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon (Stampin’ Up!); Crazy Love 6x6 paper pad (BoBunny); foam tape

Blogger Challenge: Week 238

This week’s blogger challenge theme is things with wings. I made this clean and simple Valentine’s Day card with another one of the images from the new Taglines: Critters set from Clear and Simple Stamps.

This time, I used the tiniest size image on my card. There are three different sizes of each critter found among the sets in the Little Critter collection, so you have lots of options! The tiny bee is stamped on white cardstock, colored, and cut out. I added a little bit of glitter to its wings before attaching it to the patterned paper panel with foam tape. I stamped the trail image extending beyond the bee in black ink and added the tiny heart in red.

The panel is attached to a yellow card base. I machine stitched along the left edge to anchor it to the cardfront, then added the “bee mine” sentiment in red beneath the panel for a final pop of color.

For more ideas featuring things with wings, check out the link list below. And, if you’d like to join the challenge, add a direct link to your new project below.

Materials Used:
Taglines: Critters stamp set, Haute Red Couture and Perfect Little Black Dress ink, Say Yellow to All Your Fans and A Blanc Check cardstock, Copic markers-Y11, Y13, Y15, B0000 (Clear and Simple Stamps); Quite Contrary 6x6 paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin’ Up!); sewing machine; foam tape

Nuts About You

Here’s my card for this week’s Mojo Monday sketch. Instead of using a pair of circular panels, I went whimsical on this one, replacing one circle with a die cut acorn for a cute Valentine’s Day card.

I die cut the Lil' Inker Designs acorn from kraft cardstock, then stamped the matching images on each piece. The pieces are inked with distress inks for an earthier look. I used foam tape to attach the pieces to a kraft circle stamped with the “nuts about you” sentiment.

I kept with a simple, classic kraft, chocolate brown, and red color scheme for the rest of the card. I mixed and matched a pair of kraft-based printed patterned papers with embossed and plain solids for the panels and knotted a piece of red grosgrain ribbon around the card before setting the image panel in place.

Materials Used:
Acorn die and stamp set (Lil' Inker Design); Memento Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko); Antique Linen and Tea Dye distress inks (Ranger); Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, and Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); With Love designer papers (Pebbles); circle dies (Spellbinders); Swiss dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); red grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); Deco Scallop edge punch (EK Success); foam tape

Have a Happy Birthday

I needed a masculine birthday card for this weekend and this week’s Viva la Verve sketch challenge was the perfect starting point for my card. With a pair of coordinating designer paper pieces and some simple embellishments, this came together in no time at all.

I selected two patterns from a My Mind’s Eye paper pad for the strips that run vertically along the cardfront. After matting them on Canyon Clay cardstock, I arranged them on the cardfront. Instead of using paper for the horizontal strip, I used a piece of cork—one of my favorite go-to’s for masculine cards.

I used Verve’s Happy Days set for the birthday sentiment. It’s stamped in Ocean Tides ink on an Aqua Mist panel. I added a grosgrain ribbon tab to the sentiment panel, then layered it over the paper and cork strips. A pair of metal stud embellishments are attached to the cork strip for one final masculine touch.

Materials Used:
Happy Days stamp set (Verve Stamps); Ocean Tides Ink, Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, and Canyon Clay cardstock, Canyon Clay grosgrain ribbon (Papertrey Ink); Six By Six-Away We Go paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); circle dies (Spellbinders); cork (Creative Imaginations); metal stud embellishments (Michaels)

Love Ewe

Here’s a simple but super sweet card for this week’s Waltzingmouse sketch challenge. I combined images from three different WMS sets on this little pink cutie that will be perfect for Valentine’s Day.

I used the little lamb from the Lil’ Buddies set as my focal image. To add interest to the image, I stamped it twice in gray ink on white cardstock, then embossed it with a dotted pattern. I cut out the images and used foam tape to get a dimensional look for the head and body. The mouth area is paper pieced with pale pink cardstock. I attached the image to a circle stamped with the set’s heart border image.

I made my own gingham patterned paper for the strip across the cardfront using the Gingham & Co. stamp set with a combination of pink dye and distress inks. The strip is set on a rose card base with a piece of pale pink grosgrain ribbon knotted around it. I added a heart border strip at the bottom to bring in an additional heart patterned element. For the sentiment at the bottom of the card, I combined the word “love” from one of the sentiments in the Half-Pint Heroes set with the word “ewe” from one of the sentiments in the Lil’ Buddies set. I love being able to mix and match sentiments—or pieces of sentiments—to get exactly what I want to say and with WMS’s clear stamps, it’s easy to do just that.

Materials Used:
Lil’ Buddies, Gingham & Co., and Half-Pint Heroes stamp sets (Waltzingmouse Stamps); Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink Classic inks, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, and Whisper White cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); London Fog ink (Tsukineko); Spun Sugar distress ink (Ranger); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); Queen of Hearts border die (The Cat’s Pajamas); pink grosgrain ribbon (Morex); foam tape

Scooting By

***Scroll down to the post below to see my card for this week's Color Throwdown!***

Here’s my card for this week’s SCS sketch challenge. I went pretty clean and simple on this one with one of the scooters from the Paper Smooches Spiffy Scooters as my focal image.

The scooter was colored in with Copic markers and cut out. I used dimensionals to set it on a simple “road” background made from a combination of gray and blue cardstock pieces. After attaching a strip of chevron patterned paper on the Ocean Tides card base, I added the image panel, slightly overlapping the patterned strip. A pair of coordinating buttons accent the edge of the patterned strip and the “scooting by to say hi” sentiment is stamped alongside the scooter panel. I waited until the very end to cover the scooter’s headlights with a little Glossy Accents for a glass-like look—and, for once, even managed not to smear the sticky stuff once it was applied!

Materials Used:
From i {heart} papers: Paper Smooches Spiffy Scooters stamp set, X-Press white Copic blending cardstock, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Copic markers (YR12, YR14, YR15, YR16, Y11, Y13, C-1, C-3, C-5), My Mind’s Eye Six By Six-Away We Go paper pad, Ranger Glossy Accents, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

Other: Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, and Canyon Clay cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Basic Gray cardstock (Stampin' Up!); buttons (?); linen thread (The Cat's Pajamas)