Sunny Challenges #5

Good afternoon.  last week I discovered the sketch at Sunny Challenges and Creations and really enjoyed playing with their challenge.  So I decided to participate again this week.  There is a piggyback to their sketches and this round we were to use Marina Mist.  Now, I had no MM cardstock left so I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do.  Well first I went to the Color Coach and found the combination I used (MM, WW and Night Of Navy.  Then I picked my stamps - The Open Sea - which I felt suited the colours perfectly.  Problem 2, I did not like the MM DSP for this stamp set.  Solution - make my own DSP.

I took a 2 1/2" X 5 1/4" piece of WW cardstock.  I  used the Flannel Plaid background stamp and MM and lightly stamped it.  Then I took NON and the text stamp from The Open Sea and stamped it multiple times until the piece was covered.  I sponged MM over this entirely then and around the edges as well.  Now for the anchors - using WW craft ink and clear embossing powder, I stamped and embossed them randomly over this piece.  Then one more sponging and it was finished.  The bottom section of the card is WW run through the Big Shot with the Lattice Square embossing folder.   All that was left was the sentiment and the ship.  Both are stamped with MM and matted on Navy.  Still looked a bit bare so I added the mariner's compass -minus the directions.  A few finishing touches and that was that.  A great card for any man!!

Hope you enjoyed your visit and that you get some time to stamp today!



Try Stampin' #30

Hello to all! Today's challenge over at Try Stampin' On Tuesday is one I am sure you will enjoy.  It has oodles of possibilities.  For my DT example, I decided to make a Thanksgiving card.  I used Creamy Caramel (retired), Pumpkin Pie, and Very Vanilla cardstocks.

For inks, I stamped the leaves with Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, Creamy caramel and More Mustard.  The sentiment and the acorns are Close to Cocoa.  To create the background, I used an older background stamp (Plaid) and lightly stamped it on the Vanilla cardstock.  I then stamped the oak leaves from the French Foliage stamp set and then sponged  in Creamy Caramel with random pressure all over that.  I also sponged the edges of the card base with CC as well.  The "ribbon" is just string I found somewhere wrapped around the card front and the acorns and sentiment (both from Day of Gratitude) are attached with dimensionals.

I hope you visit Try Stampin' to see what the other Friends have created.  Maybe you will be inspired to try our sketch.  Don't forget to visit the girls' blogs and leave them some love.
Thanks so much!

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Unscripted Composition Book

Today I  have my DT project for the challenge at Unscripted Sketches.  Instead of a card, I decided to alter a notebook cover. 

 I used Not Quite Navy and Kraft cardstock, Blueberry Crisp DSP and, to cover the notebook, the packing paper from my latest Stampin' Up order.  All I did was iron the packing to take most of the wrinkles out.  I sponged the edges of just about everything including the paper book covering to give the project a bit of a weathered look.   To make the scalloped oval, I used a Nestabilities die and my Big Shot.  The lighter edge was created by leaving the die on the paper and sponging inside it.  Gives a neat, clean edge.  I just added a Blueberry Crisp scrunched flower and a few beads to the front and that was that.  I will do a video about covering the book on Tuesday.

Please visit Unscripted Sketches to see the other DT members' examples and maybe enter the challenge.  While you are there, please say Goodbye to Becky Garrison, one of our team who has decided to go off in another direction.  We will miss her but wish her the best in her new endeavours.

Spooky Tags

I know it isn't Halloween yet, but there is no reason I can't start early - is there?

Today I decided to make a couple of Spooky tags.  I used a template and cut out the tag shapes but you can just as easily use tags from the business supply store.

I stamped Halloween images using assorted stamp sets and Stazon ink.  After I heat set them (just to be safe), I sponged different areas with Concord Crush, Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss and Summer Sun and blended them all together so that the entire tag was covered.  To complete the tag, I just sponged around the edges with Basic Black and added a ribbon through the hole.  For the tag on the left, I stamped the owl over the sponging with Versa mark and then embossed it with Black embossing powder.  I have to say, I do not like that effect. 

I am sure I will do more tags before the big night so stay tuned for another edition in the near future.

Happy Stamping!



 

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Cozy Christmas

Happy Thursday!  I have a card today for the very first challenge over at the Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenges  blog.  I wish the ladies every success! Their sketch this week is a simply elegant one and I have to say I took the simple approach.

I thought I would do some stamping on vellum so I stamped and embossed the tree image from Lovely As A Tree and the sentiment from Snow Swirled using Versa Mark and Black embossing powder.
The cardstock is Cherry Cobbler and a very old Hunter Green.  I am lovin' the new DSP - Frostwood Lodge which I used for the most of the card.
After I embossed the tree, I played with the idea of backing the vellum with cardstock.  Tried and did not like it - I wanted the DSP to show through.  So I simply cut an oval frame from the Cherry Cobbler to make the vellum stand out.  Instead of framing the greeting, I wanted the opposite effect.  I wanted it to melt in to the background so I just punched out the scalloped oval and adhered it (with clear glue) to the card front.  Before I placed the tree on the card front, I wrapped the card in black grosgrain ribbon and then tied a bow using thinner grosgrain ribbon.  After adhering the bow, I stuck on a tiny pearl.  I used dimensionals cut into tiny pieces and stuck behind the frame part to attach the image to the front of the card.

As I said before, I went with a very simple, country-looking card and I am very happy with the end result.  I hope you like it and possibly want to attempt a card with a similar look.

I also hope you get some time to stamp and play with your supplies today!  happy Stamping!

Sunflower Wishes

Hi again.  Today I have a card I made for a friend who LOVES sunflowers.  I did not have the new Sunflower stamp from Stampin' Up so I went out and took photos of my husband's sunflower garden. 
The other day, when I did the challenge at Sunny Challenges and Creations, a new challenge blog, I really liked the sketch so I have decided to use it again.  Only this time, I did not follow the Christmas guideline.
My colours are More Mustard and a retired Hunter Green.  The butterfly is Old Olive DSP with Vellum overlay.

I used white eyelet lace and threaded hunter ribbon through it.  The challenge rules also included using one embossing folder.  For this card, I used two.

I love how this card turned out and i am sure that my friend will be very pleased to receive it.  I hope you like it as well.
Happy Stamping!

Try Stampin' #29

Hi, once again it is Tuesday and that means another challenge over at Try Stampin' On Tuesday.  Today's sketch proved to be a whole lot harder for me than I bargained for.  Go figure - since I made up the sketch. LOL!!  I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  Boy was I wrong.  What I came up with took 4 tries - and I am still not totally pleased with the result.

I used retired DSP, Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant cardstocks and only one ink (black).  I do love the little Scary Skulls done with my Stampin' Wheel.  Whwn I got everything done, it looked too plain so I roughed up the edges and added the black stick-ons.  That helps some but I am still not 100% happy.  Oh well, it is what it is!

Why don't you skip on over to Try Stampin' On Tuesday and take a look at what the Stampin' Friends have come up with ( and possibly leave them some comments - we all love comments).  Who knows?  You may want to give our little challenge a try.

Have a great day!

Halloween Suite

Hi, thought you might enjoy seeing a complete Halloween party setting I created for the last session of Stampin' Fun And Friends.

This was such a fun project and includes the placemat, napkin and sleeve, treat holder, place card, invitation and party box.    Halloween is my favourite time and I love to go all out for it.  i am taking suggestions for my costume for this year!

Have a great day!



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Homespun Christmas

I found this new challenge blog, Sunny Challenges and Creations, and remembering back to February when I started Try Stampin', I decided to enter this week's sketch.  Along with the sketch, the rules stated that one had to use at least one embossing folder and the card had to have a Christmas theme. 

I immediately knew what I wanted to do but - silly me - I did not have the DSP I wanted to use.  So, voila, print it with MDS.  I downloaded the Frostwood Lodge DSP for MDS and then printed it off on white cardstock.  Now I had the paper I needed.  The cardstock I used was Marina Mist and Cherry Cobbler.  To meet the requirements, I used the Lattice Square embossing folder for the background and I also cut out 2 snowflakes using one of the Snowflakes Set #2 dies and then I layered them to give depth.  Adding a tiny Cherry Cobbler button to the centre solidified the "Homey" feel of this card.

I wish the ladies over at Sunny Challenges and Creations every success.  I know I will participate as often as I can.  Good luck Kris, Gwen and Vicky!

Unscripted Sketches #120

Hi, Saturday morning means it is time for Unscripted Sketches and another great sketch challenge.

This week the sketch is a simpler one - one which should be easier for you to come up with ideas for.  AND it has a piggy back - where the dots are, you can replace them with buttons if you like.

My example is a cool Halloween card using the new Pick Your Poison stamp set and papers. 

I was swamped with work this week so had very little time for crafting but I did have time while I was sitting at McDonald's before work to do a digital card (thank goodness for WiFi) so MDS came to my rescue again.  MDS is becoming one of my favourite tools.

Now, don't get me wrong, I still prefer the paper and stamp kind of crafting but MDS is  a great tool to use as well.

Please visit Unscripted Sketches this week.  The gals have come up with some cool examples to inspire you to make a card of your own.

Until, next time,

Happy Stamping!



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Amanda

Just wanted to take a minute to share an MDS page I made for a friend's birthday.  His daughter is an avid curler and I thought he would like this for his locker at work.

This was a very simple page and I used the team photo as the background.  Hope Gene likes it.
See you tomorrow!

Stamping 411 Sketch #216

Hello, today I have a wedding card that I was commissioned to make for a colleague at work.  Now, I have the hardest time with wedding cards, probably because I do not like weddings and only go if I cannot get out of it.  I do not know why, but that is just how it is!  So, to give myself a little help, I decided to combine the card with the Stamping 411 challenge  this week.

I used black, white and silver to make a very elegant card.  The larger heart is stamped on black with Versa Mark and then embossed in silver.  All supplies are Stampin' Up except the silver ribbon which came out of my stash.   I love the effect
that scoring makes on my card fronts.  I have used it

a few times lately.  I hope Lori likes the card.  If not, I guess I have a card to add to my collection of those to sell. 

I really  encourage you to visit Stamping 411 and give their challenge a try.

Until later,

Try Stampin' #28

Hi again!  Tuesday means another challenge at Try Stampin' On Tuesday.  This week, my take on the sketch is an 8X8" scrapbook page done with MDS.  I LOVE MDS.  I use it for designing, for editing, for creating cards and headers for my documents.  Like I said, I LOVE IT!!!!

This is a page about Jordan and his football throwing skills.  Here he is dropping back for a pass.  To do the page, I decided to copy the same picture 3 times and overlapped each image.  Instead of the filigrees in the sketch, I used stars which are much more appropriate to the theme.  I am so happy with this page and how it works with the sketch.

Please visit Try Stampin' to check out the other designers' examples and maybe give the challenge a try.

Thanks for visiting!



Monday Lunchtime Sketch #187

Hi, it has been several days since I last posted and I apologize for that.  Today I have a Halloween card I made for the Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge.  The sketch this week was very simple and offered endless paper possibilities.  Now, I am not very good at combining patterns but I am very happy with this card.

The Halloween papers are both discontinued but, since I love that holiday, I ALWAYS buy way too much and am using it for years! LOL.
The "batty" paper is flocked and looks exactly like stamping which has been embossed.

The little sparkly moon is a button from my stash (again I have oodles of them) and I think it sets off the card perfectly. 

I roughed up the edges of the
tree oval but it is hard to tell in this picture.

Why is it that I love my older stamps so much?  Every autumn, I use the tree and the haunted house for every second card.  And, had there been a place for a spider, I would have stuck one here as well.  I guess I am just a creature of habit.


Please visit the Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge and maybe give it a try.

While I have you here, just let me remind you about my upcoming online session - Autumn Artistry - featuring some awesome designers and projects.  If you are interested, you can register at the side.

Thanks for stopping by.

Unscripted Sketches #118

Good morning,  it seem like it has been a long time since I posted here.  And indeed it has.  I have been so busy with work and Extra Special Occasions that everything else has been on the backburner.
But, it is Saturday and that means another challenge at Unscripted Sketches.

For today's card, I used homemade coloured shimmer mist to do the background - yep yet another background technique.  If I paid as much attention to the design on the card as I do to the background, my cards might improve. LOL
Pink and blue are not usually my colours but I do not mind that combo in this card. 
The other designers at Unscripted Sketches have whipped up some awesome examples this week so please visit the site and perhaps enter the challenge.