Mojo Monday 413-Hello

Happy Monday!  It's time for a new Mojo Monday sketch and since it's the last week of the month, we're playing with a sketch that calls for a long/tall and skinny card. 

Instead of stamping for this one, I used the layout to show off the pretty die cut stitched flowers from Lil' Inker Designs.  I cut a trio of flower pieces in shades of pink and green and assembled them, then set them aside to assemble the rest of the card.  I edged a panel of pale yellow cardstock with a strip of green cardstock along the left edge.  The seam between the two papers was hidden with a narrow strip of pink grosgrain ribbon.  I added a piece of yellow striped patterned paper to the panel, tucking one edge underneath the ribbon for a clean look.  The flowers were adhered at intervals along the ribbon, using foam tape for dimension.  I stamped the "hello" sentiment from the Just Sayin' set on the striped panel in pink pigment ink.  The finished panel was adhered to a pale pink card base.

Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for more inspiration from the Mojo Makers design team and to add your own take on this week's sketch!  You can also find all of the Mojo Makers at their blogs here:

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Carole Burrage
• Justin Krieger
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Materials Used:
Just Sayin' stamp set, Perky Posies dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Luxe Rose Bud ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Barely Banana, and Regal Rose cardstock, pink grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Dots and Stripes Sorbet 6x6 paper pad (My Favorite Things); foam tape

So Very Happy

Here's my card for August's last Viva la Verve sketch. I swapped out one of the layout's round panels for a heart for my sweet take on the sketch.

I love Verve's sentiments and the ones in the Wonderful Marvelous set are among my favorites. For this card, I used the "you make me so very happy" sentiment.  I stamped it in kraft pigment ink on a white pierced circle die cut.  The sentiment panel and a bold pink die cut heart were adhered over a multicolored patterned paper panel.  I layered the patterned paper panel onto an aqua cardstock panel.  The finished panel was adhered to a pale green card base that matches the narrow strip of cardstock beneath the sentiment panel.

I'll be back in a little bit with my take on this week's Mojo Monday sketch . . .

Materials Used:
Wonderful Marvelous stamp set, Heart Quartet dies (Verve Stamps); Memento Luxe Toffee Crunch ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Aqua Mist, Raspberry Fizz, and Spring Moss cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Now and Then-Dorothy 6x6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); Die-namics Pierced Circle Stax dies (My Favorite Things); foam tape

Paper Smooches SPARKS-Just a Note

*** Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! *** 

This week’s Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is an anything goes challenge. I put together a school themed design using PS's Smarty Pants stamp set and Easel die.

I stamped the professor image on white cardstock and colored him with Copic markers.  After cutting him out using the matching die from the Smarty Pants Icons dies, I coated the lenses of his eyeglasses with Glossy Accents to get a glass-like look (which, unfortunately, doesn't show well in my photo).

The easel was die cut from kraft and gray cardstock.  I stamped the "just a note" sentiment from the Sentiment Sampler set on the gray piece in white pigment ink, then heat embossed it to make it look more like chalk. The assembled easel and professor were arranged on a background with a hand drawn and colored "floor".  The finished panel was adhered to a kraft card base.

We hope you’ll join us and share a project using Paper Smooches stamps or dies. One participant in this week’s challenge will win a $30 gift certificate to the PS store! Before you head off to start your own creation, don’t miss what the rest of the SPARKS team has created for this week's challenge. Here’s where to find them:

Audrey

Lisa

Heather

Katie

Larissa

Lori--you're here!

Lynn

Savannah

Materials Used:

Smarty Pants and Sentiment Sampler stamp sets, Smarty Pants Icons and Easel dies (Paper Smooches); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Wedding Dress inks (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers, black multiliner pen (Copic); Smokey Shadow cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); Recollections Snow embossing powder (Michaels); Glossy Accents (Ranger); foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 284-I Thank My Lucky Stars

It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!  This week's sketch is perfect for showing off one of those on trend big sentiment stamps that I'm sure you have in your stash.

I used a sentiment from WPlus9's Lucky Stars set on my card.  The sentiment was stamped in white pigment ink on watercolor paper, then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I used a mix of distress inks and water to make my watercolor style background around the sentiment.  The embossed text resisted the ink, allowing the sentiment to show through.  I accented the text with a bunch of sparkly silver enamel dots.  They go perfectly with my star themed sentiment!  The panel was matted on blue-green cardstock, then adhered to a dark purple card base.

To play along, just create a card based on the sketch and link it up on the SSSC blog.  Be sure to stop by the blog to check out what the SSSC team has created using the sketch.  And, don't forget to check in on Wednesday to see one of our favorite cards made with the sketch.

Materials Used:
Lucky Stars stamp set (WPlus9); Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord, Tumbled Glass, and Mermaid Lagoon distress inks (Ranger); Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Bermuda Bay and Elegant Eggplant cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Recollections Snow embossing powder (Michaels); silver enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet)

You Rule

Here's my card for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  With school starting next week, I went with a school themed design.

I stretched the layout to standard A2 size to fit the sweet Birdie Brown image from the Class Act set.  I designed the background panel to look like an old style chalkboard.  The frame was made from a stitched rectangle panel with the center cut out.  It was filled in with a piece of dark gray cardstock.  I colored the school girl image with Copic markers, then adhered it inside the frame using foam tape.  The set's "you rule" sentiment was stamped next to the image in white pigment ink, then heat embossed to help it stand out.  The finished panel was adhered to a blue card base.

Materials Used:
Class Act stamp set, Steel Grey cardstock, Die-namics Class Act and Blueprints 17 dies (My Favorite Things); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Wedding Dress inks (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); stitched rectangle dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Recollections Snow embossing powder (Michaels); foam tape

You're Fintastic

Here's my card for this week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I replaced the layout's round element with the fishbowl image from Lawn Fawn's Fintastic Friends stamp set.

The fishbowl and fish image were stamped in black ink on watercolor paper, then colored with Zig Clean Color markers and an aquabrush.  The bubbles were filled in with some Stickles for a bit of sparkle. 

I die cut the fishbowl image using the matching die, then added some foam tape to the back.  The image was adhered to an orange dotted patterned paper strip.  I stamped the set's "you're fintastic" sentiment on a piece of blue grid patterned paper and adhered that to a piece of blue-green cardstock, then added the strip with the sentiment on top. The finished panel was adhered to a white card base.

Materials Used:
Fintastic Friends stamp set, Fintastic Friends dies (Lawn Fawn); Versafine Onyx Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Clean Color markers (Zig); Bermuda Bay cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Recollections Aqua Screen designer paper (Michaels); 6x6 paper pad (Doodlebug Designs); watercolor paper, Crystal Stickles (Ranger); foam tape

Bee Mine

This week's Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is a Designer Draft challenge.  I used the sketch to put together this bee themed design.

I used the Giddy Bugs set--again!--for my card.  This time, I used watercolor markers and an aquapainter to color the image I used.  After coloring the image, I adhered it to a hexagon patterned paper panel over a bunch of coordinating paper strips of different widths.  For a little sparkle, I added a crystal flourish to make a flight trail extending out from beneath the bee.

The "bee mine" sentiment from the Bee Mine set was stamped in black ink on the pale gray strip across the top of the panel.  I accented the sentiment with a pair of red hearts die cut with the Tiny Hearts die set.
  

Materials Used:
Giddy Bugs and Bee Mine stamp set, Flag Tags and Tiny Hearts dies (Paper Smooches); Versafine Onyx Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Zig); watercolor paper (Ranger); Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Daffodil, Steel Grey, and Grout Gray cardstock (My Favorite Things); Be(you)tiful 6x6 paper pad (Authentique); crystal flourish (Michaels); foam tape

Color Throwdown 357-Congrats

It's time for another Color Throwdown!  Joan is our hostess this week and she's chosen a color combination based on the fierce photo seen above--black, white, blue, and pink.

I used the colors to make a baby card based on the current sketch at The Paper Players.  I started off with a light blue cardstock panel, then added a long blue patterned paper fishtail flag strip to the panel's left side and a large white circle to the right.  The circle was filled in with one of the stork images from the Clear and Simple Stamps Special Bundle stamp set.  The stork's bundle was stamped on a piece of patterned paper to add interest.  Instead of using a second round panel, I added a die cut heart beneath the white circle.

The "congrats on your new arrival" sentiment was stamped on a white fishtail flag strip and added to the bottom of the blue panel.  My MISTI helped me to get the words aligned perfectly.  A few blue enamel dots scattered around the panel completed the design.  I adhered the finished panel to a white 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. Just be sure that the challenge colors are the dominant ones in your project. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD357. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd357 and #colorthrowdown. You can find us on Instagram (and on Facebook!) with the username colorthrowdown.

Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team and our August guestie, Lindsay Amrhein. Thanks again to Lindsay for joining us this month!

** Barbara ** Broni ** Joan ** Jodi **

** Monika ** Tammy ** Vickie ** Wanda **

** August guestie Lindsay Amrhein **

Materials Used:
Special Bundle stamp set, My Style Blueprint, Coral Necklace, and A Blanc Check cardstock, Special Bundle, Shapes:  Circles, Shapes:  Hearts, and Favor Flags dies (Clear and Simple Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Recollections Aqua Screen patterned paper (Michaels); pink twine (The Twinery); blue enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

Seriously, You Rock

Here's my card for the current sketch at CAS(e) this Sketch.  I went with some bold, saturated colors for my design.

I adhered an angled orange on orange dotted patterned paper panel to the upper right corner of a bright pink card base. The patterned paper was matted on dark gray cardstock to set it off from the cardfront.  I die cut "seriously" several times from pink cardstock, then stacked the die cut pieces.  After adding a dark gray die cut at the bottom of the stack and offsetting it slightly for a shadowed look, I adhered the word to the patterned paper panel.  The "you rock" sentiment from the Lil' Inker Designs Seriously Awesome set was stamped just beneath the die cut in black ink.  I accented the corner of the panel with a die cut gold star.  A crystal flourish extending out from beneath the star added one final touch of sparkle to the card.

Materials Used:
Seriously Awesome stamp set, Seriously Word and Stitched Star dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Versafine Onyx Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Raspberry Fizz and Smokey Shadow cardstock (Papertrey Ink); gold paper (Target); Sunkissed 6x6 paper pad (Doodlebug Design); crystal flourish (Prima); foam tape

SugarPea Designs Creative Color Challenge 4-You've Got the Write Stuff

*** Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch! ***

A new color challenge is starting today at SugarPea Designs!  Today is the first day that teachers in my county are returning to school and even though I'm not doing that this year, my teaching colleagues are still very much on my mind.  I used a few SugarPea Designs stamps and dies along with the current sketch at RetroSketches (rotated a bit!) to put together an encouraging school themed design.

I used the pencil die from the SugarCuts Notebook Journal Card die set to create a set of pencils in the challenge colors.  They were arranged at the bottom of a white panel cut with the die set's large notebook edged die.  I stamped the "you've got the write stuff" sentiment from the Teacher's Pet set at the top of the panel in black ink, then tied a turquoise ribbon around the panel, just above the sentiment.

I edged the panel with a narrow strip of bright pink cardstock with rounded corners to match the larger panel.  I adhered a wider strip of turquoise cardstock under the pink strip, then accented it with a silver die cut paper clip.  The finished panel was adhered to an olive cardstock panel, then layered on to a turquoise card base.

Want to play along with the color challenge?  The rules are very simple…

• Create a new card or project using the colors provided.  SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated 
• Upload to the SugarPea Designs blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: CCC4 so that we may check out your beautiful work.
• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz in the SugarPea Designs blog
• One randomly selected winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs Online Shoppe. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $15

For more inspiration before you get started, be sure to head on over to the SugarPea Designs blog for a list of designers sharing their take on the challenge colors.

Materials Used:
Teacher's Pet stamp set, SugarCuts Notebook Journal Card die (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, and More Mustard cardstock, turquoise grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Sweet Blush and Fine Linen cardstock (Papertrey Ink); silver paper (Target)

Mojo Monday 412-You Mean the World to Me

Happy Monday!  It's time for another Mojo Monday sketch.  I used the sketch to put together a love themed design in a non-traditional color scheme. 

The colors were inspired by the world theme of the Reverse Confetti stamp set I used for my sentiment. I started off with a piece of star patterned paper.  It was topped with a green pierced circle die cut, then a kraft cardstock strip.  I stamped the "you mean the world to me" sentiment in navy pigment ink on a cream circle.  After matting the sentiment on navy cardstock, I adhered it over the other cardstock panels.  The sentiment was accented with a silver star, adhered to the top left corner using foam tape.  For a bit of sparkle, I added a crystal flourish extending out from underneath the star.

Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for more inspiration from the Mojo Makers design team and to add your own take on this week's sketch!  You can also find all of the Mojo Makers at their blogs here:

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Carole Burrage
• Justin Krieger
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Materials Used:
My World stamp set (Reverse Confetti); Memento Luxe Nautical Blue ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Kiwi Kiss and Night of Navy cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); silver paper (Target); Beachside 6x6 paper pad (Lawn Fawn); Die-namics Pierced Circle Stax dies (My Favorite Things); crystal flourish (Prima); foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 283-As Fabulous As You Are

It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!  This week’s sketch features a trio of rectangular panels that can be filled with images or die cuts.

I used the fun flamingos from Reverse Confetti for my card. Two of the panels were filled with pink flamingos. To add interest, I used the matching dies to cut out the bird bodies and their wings, then assembled them using foam tape for dimension. The center panel was stamped with one of the set’s sentiment images. The set’s multi-lined sentiments were a perfect fit for these rectangular panels! After matting them on pale gray cardstock, I arranged the panels on a pale pink card base. The finished panel was adhered to a pale gray card base.

To play along, just create a card based on the sketch and link it up on the SSSC blog.  Be sure to stop by the blog to check out what the SSSC team has created using the sketch.  And, don't forget to check in on Wednesday to see one of our favorite cards made with the sketch.

Materials Used: 
Fabulous Flamingo stamp set, Confetti Cuts Fabulous Flamingo dies (Reverse Confetti); Memento Luxe Angel Pink and Gray Flannel inks (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Grout Gray cardstock (My Favorite Things); foam tape

Sweet Happy Birthday

Here's my card for this week's Viva la Verve sketch challenge.  Today's my sister's birthday, so I used the sketch to put together a sweet birthday card for her.

I used stamps from Verve's Small Packages set and the coordinating Cupcake Frame dies for my focal image.  The frame was stamped in white ink and heat embossed on a pale pink panel, then cut with the matching frame die.  I stamped the birthday sentiment inside the frame in darker pink pigment ink.  The frame was accented with the set's small cupcake image.  I colored the image with Copic markers and used the die to cut it out, then attached it to the frame with foam tape.

The sentiment panel was adhered to a die cut patterned paper tag topped with pink grosgrain ribbon.  I layered the pieces on to a yellow cardstock panel with a white doily at the center.  The finished panel was adhered to a pale pink card base.

Materials Used:
Small Packages stamp set, Cupcake Frame dies (Verve Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Wedding Dress and Rose Bud inks (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Barely Banana and Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Happy Day 6x6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); Traditional Tag Stax dies (My Favorite Things); Recollections Snow embossing powder (Michaels); white paper doily; pink grosgrain ribbon; foam tape

You're Super

Here’s my card for this week’s My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge. I used the layout’s large oval panel to show off MFT’s sweet Super Boy image.

I stamped the image on a matching die cut and colored it with Copic markers. The colored image was adhered to a light blue pierced oval using foam tape for dimension. After adhering the oval to a darker blue cardstock panel, I added a shiny silver fishtail flag strip across the panel, just beneath super boy’s feet. The set’s “you’re super” sentiment was stamped on the strip in black ink. I anchored it with a yellow star die cut with a die from the Blueprints 18 set. For a final sparkly touch, I arranged a trio of silver enamel dots around the fishtail flag strip. The finished panel was adhered to a contrasting red card base.

Materials Used: 
Super Boy stamp set, Die-namics Super Boy, Pierced Oval Stax, Fishtail Flag Stax, and Blueprints 18 dies (My Favorite Things); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Real Red, and Daffodil Delight cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); silver paper (Target); silver enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

Love You More

Here’s my card for this week’s sketch at RetroSketches. I used the sketch along with stamps and dies from Waltzingmouse Stamps to make this sweet card.

I stamped the sentiment in brown pigment ink on a white cardstock panel. The panel was accented with the to go cup and donut images from the We Go Together set. The cup was colored with Copic markers. The donut was stamped on kraft cardstock. I filled in the “icing” with a bit of Radiant Neon Amplify in white. When heat embossed, it puffs up and looks perfect on the donut image!

The sentiment panel was matted on berry cardstock, then adhered to a piece of dotted patterned paper. I wrapped a piece of white grosgrain ribbon around the bottom of the patterned paper panel, securing it with a knot, then layered the panel on to a berry card base.

Materials Used:
We Go Together stamp set, We Go Together dies (Waltzingmouse Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Memento Luxe Rich Cocoa ink, White Radiant Neon Amplify (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Berry Sorbet cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); Cut and Paste-Flair 6x6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); white grosgrain ribbon; foam tape

Just Fore You

SugarPea Designs kicked off a new theme challenge yesterday--"Summertime Sweetness."  Yes, summer might be winding down, but we don't have to admit that just yet!  I combined the challenge with the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  It's sketch number 200 over at FMS and SugarPea Designs is one of the generous prize sponsors for this week's sketch, so be sure to check it out.

I rotated the sketch to work with my design.  I used Copic markers to color up the golfing penguin from the Tee-rific stamp set, then carefully cut him out.  To add interest, I paper pieced his hat with a scrap of plaid patterned paper and filled in the pom pom on the top of the hat with a little bit of  fluffy white flock.  I love the little bit of texture the flock adds to the image!

I made a simple scene using a piece of grid patterned paper for the sky and a strip of torn green cardstock for the grass.  The golf tee was stamped on the green paper, then heat embossed to stand out.  I added a white enamel dot "golf ball" to the top of the tee.  The "just fore you" sentiment was stamped on the blue patterned paper in black pigment ink.  My penguin image was added on top, using foam tape for
dimension.

If you want to play along with this month's SugarPea Designs theme challenge, we only have a few simple rules:

• Play along with ANY stamps and dies you’d like – Winner is chosen at random to keep things fair, but if the winners project features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the voucher to $15
• Feel free to combine our challenge with any other challenge(s)
• Upload to your blog or other online gallery using keyword: SPD19 so we can easily find your work.
• Add your name and link to your card or project in the InLinkz on the SugarPea Designs Blog

Materials Used:
Tee-rific stamp set (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black inks (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Green Acres and Lake Housecardstock (WPlus9); Recollections Aqua Screen designer paper (Michaels); Playdate 6x6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); white flock (Stampendous); black embossing powder (Stampin' Up!); white enamel dot (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

Happy Anni-verve-sary

Here's my card for the current Viva la Verve sketch challenge. It's also doubling as my entry for this month's Verve celebration themed Diva Inspirations challenge.

I used the sketch to create an easy to mail anniversary card.  I went with a neutral gray and white color palette with pops of red and pink.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but the pattern on the gray patterned paper panel is actually teeny, tiny hearts.  Perfect for an anniversary card!  After putting the pretty white doily in place, I topped it with a red heart cut with Verve's Jotted Heart die.  The "happy anniversary" Plain Jane was stamped on a pink rounded rectangle cut with the Rounded Scallop Frame die (I left off the scalloped part, in case you're wondering!).  I added that over the heart and doily to finish the card.

Materials Used:
Happy Anniversary Plain Jane, Jotted Heart and Rounded Scallop Frame dies (Verve Stamps); Memento Luxe Lady Bug ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Cherry Cobbler and Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Grout Gray cardstock (My Favorite Things); Special Delivery 6x6 paper pad (Pebbles); white paper doily

Color Throwdown 356-Eye Think You're Neat

 

It’s time for another Color Throwdown! Broni is our hostess this week and she’s chosen a bold trio of colors—orange, green, and black. I don’t know about you, but as soon as I saw these colors, I thought Halloween. I paired the colors with the current sketch from CAS(e) this Sketch for my somewhat spooky, yet still sweet, design.

Since all three colors are bold and saturated, I balanced them with a lot of white space. I used a pair of circle punches and black and white cardstock to fashion a pair of large eyes. The eyes were adhered to a strip of green cardstock. After edging the top and bottom of the green strip with orange cardstock, I adhered the panel to pieces of white cardstock. The panels were adhered to a contrasting black card base. The “eye think you’re neat” sentiment from Lawn Fawn’s Monster Mash set was stamped above the green strip in matching green pigment ink.

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. Just be sure that the challenge colors are the dominant ones in your project. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD356. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd356 and #colorthrowdown. You can find us on Instagram (and on Facebook!) with the username colorthrowdown.

Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team, our August guestie, Lindsay Amrhein, and this week’s guest star stamper, Yapha Mason.

** Barbara ** Broni ** Joan ** Jodi **

** Monika ** Tammy ** Vickie ** Wanda **

** August guestie Lindsay Amrhein **

** Guest Star Stamper Yapha Mason **

Materials Used:
Monster Mash stamp set (Lawn Fawn); Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Green Acres cardstock (WPlus9); Orange Zest cardstock (Papertrey Ink); circle punches (EK Success)

TCP Tuesday 297-Stoked

It's time for a new TCP Tuesday challenge at The Cat's Pajamas!  Nancy is our hostess this week and she's come up with a summery photo collage for us to be inspired by. I took my inspiration from the trio of surfboards in the photo, incorporating their colors and distressed feel into my design.

I used the surfing big-eared bunny from the new Stoked set as my focal image. He was colored with Copic markers, except for his swimsuit. I did a bit of paper piecing here and used a distressed star patterned paper to fill them in. The finished image was adhered to a blue patterned paper circle using foam tape. I adhered the circle to a blue-green card base over a strip of torn kraft cardstock “sand.” The “stoked” sentiment was stamped on a blue-green banner strip cut with one of the dies from TCP’s CutUps Framed Up 2 set. I accented it with a trio of enamel dots. To bring in the pennants from the other inspiration photo, I used the new CutUps Country Fair die to make a banner from the same star paper I used for the bunny’s swimsuit. The pennant strip was draped across the upper right corner of the cardfront.

Stop by the TCP blog for more inspiration and for all the details on how you can play along with the challenge.  Challenge participants have a chance to win a Cat Cash prize (with a little extra thrown in if you use TCP stamps/dies) and to be named the Swanky Stamper of the month, which earns you a slot in an upcoming TCP release blog hop along with a selection of stamps from the release!  Be sure to link up your card on the TCP blog for a chance to win.

 Materials Used:
Stoked stamp set, CutUps Country Fair and Framed Up 2 dies (The Cat's Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Bahama Bay cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); Pride and Fresh 6x6 paper pads (Authentique); foam tape

Mojo Monday 411-Let's Celebrate

Happy Monday!  It's time for another Mojo Monday sketch.  I used this week's sketch to make a birthday card for my stash.

I chose the colors for the card based on the pretty plaid patterned paper panel I used.  I matted the plaid paper on lime green, then adhered it to an aqua panel over narrow strips of coordinating cardstock arranged on the diagonal.  The "let's celebrate" sentimetn from the Lil' Inker Designs Just Sayin' set was stamped in aqua ink on a pale pink panel, then adhered over the patterned paper panel.  I accented it with a die cut mini party hat and a pair of die cut balloons, complete with strings.

Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for more inspiration from the Mojo Makers design team and to add your own take on this week's sketch!

Materials Used:
Just Sayin' stamp set, Mini Party dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Aquamarine ink (Avery Elle); Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Limeade Ice, Lemon Tart, and Sweet Blush cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Sunny Days Ahead 6x6 paper pad (Echo Park); foam tape

Watt's Up?

Here's my card for the current My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  I scaled the layout's elements down just a bit to work with the big die cut lightbulb I created using MFT's Lightbulb die.

The lightbulb was die cut from yellow cardstock.  I added the filament and base in silver and used a white vellum layer to soften the yellow's "glow."  The finished bulb was adhered to a white stitched edge rectangle panel over a silver circle with the same stitched detailing.  I stamped the "watt's up?" sentiment on light gray paper using black ink, then added the words to the panel just beneath the bulb.  A bunch of different sized silver sequins were arranged around the panel for a bit of sparkle.  The finished panel was adhered to a yellow cardstock mat, then layered on to a pale gray card base.

Materials Used:
Watt's Up stamp set, Grout Gray cardstock, Die-namics Lightbulb and Blueprints 24 dies (My Favorite Things); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Yoyo Yellow cardstock, white vellum (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); circle die (Spellbinders); stitched circle die (Lil' Inker Designs); silver sequins; foam tape

Paper Smooches SPARKS-Flip Flops

*** Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! *** 

This week’s Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is an anything goes challenge. I used the new Summer Lovin’ set for my beach themed design.

I built a simple scene on an aqua card base using torn kraft cardstock and vellum to make a shoreline. The kraft strip was brushed with a combination of white and kraft pigment inks to add a textured, sandy look. The set’s flipflop images were stamped on white cardstock and colored with Copic markers, then cut out and adhered to the kraft strip using foam tape. I used a circle die to cut a sun from yellow cardstock. After stamping the “you make my heart do flip flops” sentiment on it in black ink, I adhered it to the top of the cardfront. I added a shimmery white cloud die cut to fill in the scene. A trio of tiny red hearts, cut with the Tiny Hearts die, was arranged just above the flip flops to go with the card’s sweet love theme.

We hope you’ll join us and share a project using Paper Smooches stamps or dies. One participant in this week’s challenge will win a $30 gift certificate to the PS store! Before you head off to start your own creation, don’t miss what the rest of the SPARKS team has created for this week's challenge. Here’s where to find them:

Karin Åkesdotter

Larissa Heskett

Lori Tecler

Lynn Mangan

Savannah O'Gwynn

Materials Used:
Summer Lovin' stamp set, Tiny Hearts and Clouds dies (Paper Smooches); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Wedding Dress and Toffee Crunch inks (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); Yoyo Yellow and Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); white vellum (The Paper Company); foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 282-Blue Skies Ahead

It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!  This week's sketch has a nice, big panel with lots of possibilities.

I used the panel to make a cute scene with Mama Elephant's Chance of Rain stamp set.  My scene was built on watercolor paper that was colored with some blue distress inks.  For raindrops, I dribbled some Bahama Blue irRESISTible texture spray over the panel.  I added a strip of green cardstock cut with one of ME's Landscape Trio dies to the bottom of the panel as grass, then used foam tape to place the little person and umbrella on top.  The "blue skies ahead" sentiment was stamped next to the image in black ink.  I adhered the scene to a blue-green card base that was topped with contrasting yellow and red cardstock panels.

To play along, just create a card based on the sketch and link it up on the SSSC blog.  Be sure to stop by the blog to check out what the SSSC team has created using the sketch.  And, don't forget to check in on Wednesday to see one of our favorite cards made with the sketch.

Materials Used:
Chance of Rain stamp set, Landscape Trio dies (Mama Elephant); Memento Tuxedo Black ink, irRESISTible Bahama Blue texture spray (IMAGINE Crafts); Peacock Feathers and Mermaid Lagoon distress inks (Ranger); markers (Copic); Bermuda Bay, Real Red, and Yoyo Yellow cardstock (Stampin' Up!); watercolor paper (Michaels); foam tape

You Anchor Me

Here's my card for this week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I used the layout to make a nautical scene using stamps and dies from Paper Smooches.

To make my background, I covered a card base with a pale blue patterned paper panel on top and an inverted scallop edged darker blue panel on the bottom.  I added the sailboat from the Wicked Nauticool set on top, using foam tape for dimension.  To round out the scene, I added a pair of shimmery white clouds, die cut with the Clouds die set.  I stamped the "you anchor me" sentiment on a red strip cut with one of the Flag Tags dies, then adhered it to the right side of the cardfront.

Materials Used:
Wicked Nauticool stamp set, Nauticool, Flag Tags, Borders 2, and Clouds dies (Paper Smooches); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Real Red, Pacific Point, and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Recollections Aqua Screen designer paper (Michaels); foam tape

Happy for You

I loved Michelle’s inspiration card for this week’s Muse challenge and had to put together my own version incorporating elements from her original design. I included lots of white space and pops of sparkly metallic as well as the festive theme from Michelle’s design in my take. I used a Winnie and Walter die to cut the word “happy” from shiny gold cardstock and designed my card around that.

Instead of a large balloon die cut, I used a fun layered champagne glass. The glass was cut from white vellum, then filled in with a gold piece to represent the bubbly stuff. The pieces were arranged on white cardstock, strategically placing them so that I could hide the adhesive I used on the vellum piece. I stamped the “for you” from the Winnie and Walter The Big, the Bold, and the Happy set beneath the die cut word in Delicata Golden Glitz ink. The Delicata inks are my favorite metallic ones. They are so sparkly! I accented the glass with a trio of different sized clear sequins. The finished panel was matted on gold paper, then adhered to a white card base.

Materials Used:
The Big, the Bold, and the Happy stamp set, In a Word:  Happy Cutaway (Winnie and Walter); Delicata Golden Glitz ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); gold paper (Target); 24 Karat Gold cardstock (Clear and Simple Stamps); white vellum (The Paper Company); Die-namics Layered Champagne Glass die (My Favorite Things); Sparkling Clear sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); foam tape

Sprinkled with Lots of Fun

Here’s my card for this month’s Reverse Confetti Sketch for You to Try. I put together a sweet birthday card using RC’s Donut You Know stamp set and coordinating dies.

I used the dies to make a yummy iced donut. It was decorated with sprinkles stamped in white pigment ink. I used foam tape to adhere it to a cream panel stamped with the set’s birthday sentiment. The panel was matted on pink cardstock, then adhered to a pale pink card base covered with a pair of pink striped patterned paper panels. I angled it to add interest to the design. For a bit of extra festive birthday sparkle and shine, I added a trio of pale pink sequins around the donut.

Materials Used:
Donut You Know stamp set, Confetti Cuts Donut dies (Reverse Confetti); Memento Luxe Toffee Crunch and Wedding Dress inks (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); Special Delivery 6x6 paper pad (Pebbles); pink sequins (Avery Elle); foam tape

With Sympathy

Here’s my card for August’s first Viva la Verve sketch. My mom requested a sympathy card, so I used the sketch to put one together.

I designed the card using varying shades of gray with a few pops of brighter yellow. I adhered a gray checked patterned paper panel to a piece of light gray cardstock, then topped the panels with a cream tag fashioned with some creative die cutting. The “with sympathy” sentiment from Verve’s Treasured Words set was stamped on the tag in gray pigment ink. I accented the tag with a butterfly from the Blue Skies set. It was stamped on watercolor paper, then colored in with Zig Clean Color markers and an aquapainter. To bring in a bit more yellow, I added a yellow fishtail flag strip near the bottom of the panel. It was dotted with a pair of silver brads to anchor it. The finished panel was adhered to a cream card base.

Materials Used:
Treasured Words and Blue Skies stamp sets, All Aflutter dies (Verve Stamps); Memento Luxe Gray Flannel and Versafine Onyx Black inks (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Clean Color markers (Zig); So Saffron cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Grout Gray and Steel Grey cardstock, Die-namics Traditional Tag Stax and Fishtail Flag Stax dies (My Favorite Things); Special Delivery 6x6 paper pad (Pebbles); foam tape

Color Throwdown 355-Shoot for the Moon

It's time for another Color Throwdown!  Barbara's our hostess this week and she's found this fabulous color combination-aqua, cobalt blue, and gray.

I combined the colors with the current sketch at CAS(e) this Sketch.  I replaced the sketch's round image with a fun image from the Constellation Prize set from The Cat's Pajamas.  I colored the image with Copic markers, then added a subtle shimmer to the moon with a Wink of Stella glitter pen. The finished image was adhered to a blue cardstock panel over a strip of turquoise cardstock.  I stamped the set's encouraging "shoot for the moon" sentiment just beneath the cardstock strip, then added a trio of silver sequins for a bit more sparkle.  The panel was matted on gray cardstock, then adhered to a white 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. Just be sure that the challenge colors are the dominant ones in your project. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD355. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd355 and #colorthrowdown. You can find us on Instagram (and on Facebook!) with the username colorthrowdown.

Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team, our August guestie, Lindsay Amhrein, and this week’s guest star stamper, Jenny Lane.

** Barbara ** Broni ** Joan ** Jodi **

** Monika ** Tammy ** Vickie ** Wanda **

** August guestie Lindsay Amhrein **

** Guest Star Stamper Jenny Lane **

Materials Used:
Constellation Prize stamp set (The Cat's Pajamas); Versafine Onyx Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Brilliant Blue and Tempting Turquoise cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Wink of Stella Silver glitter pen (Zig); silver sequins; foam tape

I'm Stuck on You

Here's my card for this week's sketch at Retro Sketches. I stretched the square layout to a standard A2 card size, but I think you can still see the layout here.

I've had this cute cactus themed set from Lawn Fawn for a while and hadn't inked it up yet, so I pulled it out for the card.  I stamped the cactus and pot in earth toned pigment inks, then added the flower and heart accents in contrasting red ink.  The teeny, tiny heart was borrowed from the Monster Mash set.  I wanted a pair of hearts, but felt like they needed to be different sizes to add interest and the heart in that set was the perfect size. 

The image panel was matted on a kraft circle, then set on a green dotted patterned paper panel with strips of green and kraft cardstock.  The set's "I'm stuck on you" sentiment was stamped on the light green cardstock strip in kraft pigment ink.  The finished panel was adhered to a lime green card base.

Materials Used:
Stuck on You and Monster Mash stamp sets (Lawn Fawn); Memento Luxe Toffee Crunch, Pear Tart, and Love Letter inks (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Simply Chartreuse and Limeade Ice cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); Penny Lane Feeling Groovy "Blue Sky" Forget Me Not designer paper (My Mind's Eye); circle die (Spellbinders); Die-namics Pierced Circle Stax dies (My Favorite Things); corner rounder

SPDSS29-Thanks a Ton

*** Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for this week's Mojo Monday sketch! *** 

A new sketch challenge is starting today at SugarPea Designs.  Here's my take on SPDSS29 using the new Tons of Fun stamp set.

I colored the set's elephant image with Copic markers, then carefully cut him (her?) out.  I used foam tape to adhere the image to a circle cut with the new SugarCuts-Zig Zag Stitched Circle dies. The elephant image was adhered to a pale pink card base covered with a pink chevron patterned paper and a solid strip of pale pink cardstock.  To accent the image, I added a handcut rose fishtail flag strip and a small button tied with pink baker's twine.  The set's "thanks a ton" sentiment was stamped in black ink near the bottom of the cardfront.  Some sparkling clear sequins scattered around the cardfront completed the design.

Want to play along?   The rules are very simple…

• Create a new card or project using the SugarSketch provided. SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated :) 
• You may rotate/flip the sketch & replace shapes – so long as the original sketch layout is recognizable. 
• Upload to your blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: SPDSS29 so that we may check out your beautiful work. 
• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz shown HERE. One randomly selected winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs Online Shoppe. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $15

For more inspiration before you get started, be sure to head on over to the SugarPea Designs blog for a list of designers sharing their take on the sketch.

Materials Used:
Tons of Fun stamp set, SugarCuts-Zig Zag Stitched Circle dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette and Regal Rose cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Grout Gray cardstock (My Favorite Things); Special Delivery 6x6 paper pad (Pebbles); pink button (Michaels); pink twine (Divine Twine); Sparkling Clear sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); foam tape