Friday Mashup! Fan Favorite!!!

Happy Friday, everyone! Today, we have a treat for you! All of us at the Friday Mashup LOVE our fans...so we gave you a chance to host the challenge! Lots of great ideas were submitted, and when you voted, you chose Teresa's challenge! (If you have been a stamper for long, you know Teresa Kline is SUPER talented!) Here is Teresa's challenge for you:

• Create handmade flower or flowers on your project


• Create a project using turquoise, red, and black


• Or Mash it Up!! Create a project with handmade flowers that uses turquoise, red, and black!

Now, I'll admit I was SO excited to give this a try! A stamping friend had just shown me how to make a flower with a scallop circle, spiral cut, yada yada. Well, shucks, I just could NOT get it to work! Then, I wanted to try a tutorial from splitcoaststampers with a fringe flower...looked dreadful!! Good grief! So, I came up with this weird-not-really-a-flower-but-I-am-calling-it-a-flower-anyway-card! Funny thing is, I made this at least 2 weeks ago, with the intention of trying again, but time got away from me...that's life, right? So, let me tell you what I used to create this card. Everything is from Stampin' Up! My card base is basic black, with a layer of tempting turquoise. I ran my real red card stock through the big shot with the vintage wallpaper impressions folder. I stamped the flourish from Elements of Style in basic black on whisper white card stock. For interest, I offset those layers in different directions. I added a strip of basic black, embossed with perfect polka dots and lined with real red grosgrain ribbon. The sentiment is from You're a Gem (duh!) and I added a bright glimmer brad. My "flower" is constructed by loops of tempting turquoise grosgrain ribbon (back in this year's IBC!!!) and a bright glimmer brad in the center. I finished it off with a ring of basic jewel rhinestones...love those!

So, I hope you have fun making your own flowers and using this classic color combo! Have fun, and be sure to link your card to the Friday Mashup blog!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Still time to Play!!

Just a reminder to join in with this week's Friday Mashup Challenge!! I will be picking the August Guest Designer from these submissions...WooHoo! The Linky will close on Thursday the 28th at Noon EST. Join in the fun!!!

A Couple of Other Color Challenges

Happy Sunday!! Went to church this morning, had a light brunch...then headed over to visit my sister and BIL. Great day all around!
Here are 2 more cards I made yesterday. The first I actually started earlier in the week..laid out the main panels. But I didn't know what to do with the image panel. The card is for one of my many nephews, and, if I had actually finished it on time it would have made it to his house on time. His birthday was Friday...oops! I am a pro at sending belated birthday cards!! The colors are from splitcoaststampers, a recent color challenge to use not quite navy, baja breeze, and cherry cobbler. The card base is cherry cobbler, and I ran the baja breeze through my Big Shot with my new houndstooth impressions folder. I used two patterns from the Nautical Expedition dsp, along with whisper white and not quite navy card stock. My image is Sail Away, from the Summer Mini. I confess, I got lazy and did very little to this image. I have seen some AMAZING cards with sunsets...maybe someday, I'll spend more time on this! I added cherry cobbler brads from the regals collection, and some cherry cobbler bakers twine. I also used my scallop oval, modern label, and word window punches, along with Teeny Tiny Wishes. Other than the sentiment layers, this also works with sketch challenge 341 on SCS.

My second card is another color challenge...and admittedly very different for a sympathy card...soft suede, melon mambo, and crumb cake. One of my staff members recently lost her mom. Despite this, she has an amazingingly cheery disposition. She loves pinks and yellows... what she calls "happy colors." My card base is soft suede, with layers of melon mambo and crumb cake. I finally purchased the eyelet border punch...might be my new favorite! I ran the crumb cake through the Big Shot with the elegant bouquet impressons folder. I used a sponge dauber to color the flowers with melon mambo ink, and added basic pearls that I had already colored. I used retired polka dot suede ribbon...and used a retired stamp set called Thanks for Caring on very vanilla, cut with my circles die and sponged with melon mambo. The butterfly was stamped in crumb cake and colored with my blender pen, then popped up with dimensionals. I think the melon mambo adds that bright hopefulness that a sympathy card should have. Whatcha think?

Hope to stamp more this week...until then...

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

A Collection of Color Challenges

Hi there Stampin' Friends! While my hubby was working overtime today, I spent my birthday surrounded by ink and stamps and card stock! I had not done a Color Challenge from splitcoaststampers for a while, and decided to play. Some of my cards fit other challenges too. Ready?? Everything used is from Stampin' Up!


My first card...well, I must apologize. It was going to be this recent SCS challenge to use rich razzleberry, melon mambo and tangerine tango...but I just needed more contrast. So, I decided to try this week's ColourQ, which uses tangerine tango, green galore (retired), daffodil delight, and rich razzleberry. However, I already had the melon mambo in it...so it really is either both challenges combined, or both challenges messed up...depending on your perspective! I will say, it meets Wendy's Free 4 All challenge on SCS: 2 by 2. We were challenged to use 2 of everything. I have 2 bows of daffodil taffeta ribbon, 2 designer papers (both retired), 2 brads from the brights collection, 2 stems cut out with my sizzlit, and 2 flowers from Fifth Avenue Floral colored with blender pens. The basic pearls are colored with my tangerine marker. Even the Top Note Die and Curly Label punch are similar in shape. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday. I gotta tell you...I am not thrilled with this card. My 2x2 turned into TOO much! LOL! Maybe it's just me. I made this for a staff member who has a birthday this week. We'll see if I make something else!

My next card uses this week's SCS color challenge: Pool Party with Wasabi Chips. I started with a wild wasabi card base, and added a layer of whisper white. I used pool party and wild wasabi markers to color this spray of flowers from Thoughts and Prayers, and just touched them with my black stampin' write journaler. Then I ran the white through my Big Shot with the Petals a Plenty impressions folder...just a bit at the top and a bit at the bottom. I lightly sponged the embossed area with pool party ink. The sentiment is also from Thoughts and Prayers, punched out with the scallop oval punch and sponged with chocolate chip. I layered it over the new polka dot scallop ribbon. My last detail is a pool party brad, found in the new In-color brad package. I used my paper piercer and mat pack to punch through the ribbon and car stock. It's a bit close to the sentiment...forgot how big the brad is! The white layer is popped up with dimensionals.

I was going to add more cards...but this post is long enough!! Plus, it is late...went out to dinner with some friends tonight. Birthdays are fun when filled with family, friends, and stamping!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Happy Birthday to me!

I woke up this morning to lots of facebook birthday wishes...so fun!! But I had a special treat...the stampin' kind. My card from last weekend (for my husband's birthday) was selected for an award from the Paper Players Challenge!! Each design team member chooses someone as A Cut Above. Thank you, Anne Marie, for choosing my card as your fave in the color challenge! I'll be playing again soon... I promise!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

FridayMashup!! Make a Wish!!

Happy Friday everyone!! It's time for another Friday Mashup challenge, and I am SO excited about this one!! You see, tomorrow is my birthday!! WooHoo! I incorporated that into my challenge for you, including my favorite color combo! *wink* But more than that, this week's challenge will determine our Guest Designer for August!! So let's get started!! Here is your challenge:

1. Make a birthday card/project
   


2. Make a card/project using the color scheme of Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, and Sahara Sand (I love the Regals collection!)
   


3. Make a birthday card/project using NQN, cherry cobbler, always artchoke and sahara sand!!

Here is my card (using all Stampin' Up products):

I used a sahara sand card base to balance the other dark colors. I added layers of cherry cobbler (embossed with Petals a Plenty folder in the big shot) and always artichoke (embossed with Perfect Polka Dots folder.) The main image is from Just Believe, colored with markers and stamped on very vanilla. I sponged artichoke on the bottom and a tiny bit of NQN on top. The brads are from a retired set, but you can get cherry cobbler brads in the current regals pack. The ribbon is luscious, but sadly retired ribbons original. I have been hoarding it! The good news is that this year's IBC has some new ribbon options for those of us who love this color! My sentiment is from On Your Birthday, and I paired my 1-3/8" circle punch and small scallop circle punch. The last touch comes with some basic pearls placed on the ribbon.

I can't wait to see what you create this week! AND I can't wait to see who will become our August Guest Designer!! Play along, check out the other DT entries on The Friday Mashup blog, and be sure to use the keyword FM16 in your online gallery!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Happy Birthday, Dear Hubby!!

Today is my husband's birthday!! I made his card yesterday with a bit of old and some new stuff...fun!! Last Sunday, I saw this great color challenge at the Paper Players...but my mojo was nowhere to be found. Fortunately, many of the gals from the Paper Players are at the Stampin' Up convention, so I still had time to play along.

I started out with a Crumb Cake base. I added a piece of retired Poppy Parade pattern paper from last year's catalog. It won't be long before I need to buy the current larger paper stack! I stamped "Sail Away" in Basic Gray onto Whisper White card stock, sponging some Baja Breeze for the water and a bit in the sky. This stamp did not make the new catalog, but is available from the Summer Mni until August 31st. I layered it on Baja Breeze card stock, tearing the edges of both layers. My larger sentiment is from"Word Play" which I just purchased (finally!) I am going to use this set a LOT! It is stamped with Poppy Parade, but I stamped it again in Baja Breeze so I could cut out the globe and add it with a dimensional. I outlined that layer with my Basic Gray marker. I needed a little something, and decided to stamp the happy birthday from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" in Poppy Parade onto Crumb Cake card stock, punching it out with the curly label punch. Finally, I added some non-SU twine and a retired Basic Gray corduroy button.

I am really pleased with how this turned out! More importantly, Bruce loves his card, too! You should try out the Paper Players Challenge...it's a fun one!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Sketchy Colors!

Hello and Happy Friday!! It's time for another fun Friday Mashup Challenge!! This week, Lesley gives us a great sketch and lovely colors. So here is your challenge:

1. Make a project using the colors Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso, Old Olive, and Whisper White
   


2. Make a card using the sketch (above)



3. Or Mash them Up and make a project using these colors and this sketch!

In classic Mashup fashion, Icombined the challenges for this card:

My card base is early espresso, and I added a layer of pink pirouette from the Subtles Pattern Paper Stack. I then added a square of riding hood red retired dsp, but it was too plain, so I created my own dp. I stamped randomly from Friends Never Fade and Fabulous Phrases on whisper white then placed that over the riding hood red layer. I cut out a circle with the big shot and circles die, and used my markers to color another image from Friends Never Fade. I sponged the edges and added brads from the neutral collection. My ribbon is from a retired "ribbons original" but looks similar to the current grosgrain. I used my modern label punch, adding a layer of espresso on the edges. The final detail is a couple of basic jewel pearls colored with my pink marker.

This is a great challenge...and I can't wait to see what you come up with!! Be sure to link your card to the Friday Mashup blog and use keyword FM15 in your online gallery.

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

New Goodies!!

I finally placed my first order from the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog...and my stash arrived today!! Ribbon, stamps, card stock, impressions folders, dies, chipboard....oooooooooooooooo!!! Too bad I can't call in sick tomorrow! LOL!! I do have my Stampin' Club tomorrow night, so they get to play with me! Plus, dear hubby has to work Saturday, so yes, I'll be playin' all day! Poor guy...he probably feels like his overtime ends up in MY room! Well, we did buy a new very nice camera for him before vacation...so I feel safe! heehee!

Seriously, I know I am blessed to be able to get this stuff. I hope to share some projects with you this weekend! Stay tuned for tomorrow's Friday Mashup challenge and some NEW stuff Saturday and Sunday!!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

CCMC Mixes it Up!

Hi Friends! I made another challenge card, this time using the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge. Because these gals are at the Stampin' Up! convention ( a lot of demos are!), they are hosting the challenge for 2 weeks. They have a sketch and a color combo...and we could use one or both parts. Well, I kept it simple, and just chose the colors.

My card base is basic gray. That cool rick-rack is from a retired ribbon originals package. Gotta use up my stash! I have this baggie with lots of circles and ovals cut out with the big shot and my sizzix dies...and I chose 2 circles and an oval. I sponged them with so saffron first, then pumpkin pie. I stamped Pocket Silouettes in basic gray. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday. My last touch was using my basic gray marker to draw in some birds.

Easy-peasy! Oh wait...in the card making world, we call this Clean and Simple! I'll be sending this one to my brother-in-law. Glad I got that done!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Taking a Late Night Q

Happy Saturday! I have been stamping off and on all day...my room is a mess! Among other cards, I decided to make a card for The ColourQ ...a challenge I have not done for a while. This week it features some bright colors (tangerine tango, wild wasabi, tempting turquoise) with black & white. Initially when I saw the colors, I intended to make a birthday card for my brother-in-law. Well, apparently I forgot all about that! LOL! Instead I came up with this card... (all products are Stampin' Up...most are current):

The card base is hard to see with my black curtain in the background, but it is basic black. I added some polka dot dsp in turquoise (a retired piece) and tangerine from the Brights Pattern Paper Stack. I ran a piece of whisper white through the Big Shot with my top note die. Using my markers, I colored this image from Thoughts and Prayers. I stamped a sentiment from the same set in basic black, then punched it out with the decorative label punch. I added a bit of coordinating dsp and a little sponging to highlight the sentiment layer. The wild wasabi ribbon is retired, but I never get rid of ribbon!!

Well, I like how this looks...but I still need to make a card for Chris. Guess I'll try that tomorrow...it's getting late!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Vintage Flowers

Hello and Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Mashup challenge (LOTS of participants last week...let's keep it up!) This week we have a challenge from Kathy that many of you will LOVE: Vintage Flowers!!

• Create a card/project using flowers



• Create a card/project with a vintage feel



• Or Mash it Up and create a card/project with flowers and a vintage feel!!

This was a challenge for me only because I just got back from a wonderful vacation Monday night and work has been uber busy already! I am hiring a new staff member, and have been doing interviews...I have a tough decision to make! So, my stampin' mojo was slow in coming!! I started with some fabulous DSP from the Paisley Petals pack that features baja breeze, not quite navy and river rock...so that is where the color palette originated. BUT as I went along, I didn't like the pattern with the rest of my design! LOL! All of you stampers know how a card design evolves over time, right? So here is what I actually did use: River rock for my card base, then some whisper white which I ran through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper impressions folder. I then sponged it with river rock, baja breeze and not quite navy classic ink. My image (on whisper white oval with the Ovals die) is from the NEW Simply Soft 2-step stamp set. (LOTS of great new stamps in the brand-spankin' new Stampin' Up Idea Book and Catalog!) I stamped first in stazon black, then used baja breeze for the petals. I added some detail with my river rock and NQN markers, then crumbled it up. After I "unwrappd it" I sponged with the new pool party ink and river rock. It was "too neat" so I tore the edges, (Aha! That's why it's not an oval any more!) but layered it on a NQN oval. I added baja breeze seam binding and antique brads. If I did it again, I'd only use one brad, I think! My sentiment is from Three Little Words, paired up with my dynamic duo: modern label and word window punches. This is a FAT card...lots of dimensionals. I love fat cards! LOL!!

My fingers are now sufficiently inky...first time in 2 weeks. Ahhhhhhhhhhh...good to be home!!

I hope you play along! Just use keyword FM14 in your online gallery!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Friday Mashup! Let's Hear it for the Red, White,and Blue!

Happy Friday! Time for another fun Friday Mashup! Today, Holly gives us a chance to show our patriotism! This weekend, in the USA, we will celebrate the beauty of our independence as a nation. But any of you stampers from other countries can show us your national pride too! So, here's your challenge:

1. Make a project using red, white, and blue



2. Make a patriotic themed project



3. Or Mash it up! and make a Red/White/Blue patriotic project!

There is a great single stamp in the Summer Mini which I did not order right away (Holly used it though!). But I still have this classic stamp from a long-ago retired set called Thankful Thoughts. I love this silouette image, and I love coloring it with night of navy, except for the real red on the flag. Doesn't it just pop? I put the image on whisper white, and used some older, retired pattern paper from a hostess pack. Lest you think everything is retired, my real red brads and grosgrain ribbon are current! LOL! I also added a ticket corner punch detail on the main image panel. Everything has been set on a real red card base...and is ready to go!

I do love being an American! For all the struggles we are going through, this is a beautiful country with tremendous blessings! Share a bit of patriotism with us this week! Go to the Friday Mashup and use keyword FM13 in your online gallery! Can't wait to see what you create!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}