Virtually Mashing Things Up

Hello again!

Today, I have all day to stamp!  Good thing, because I still need to finish some Christmas cards.  But first, I am posting a winter birthday card which is for the Friday Mashup challenge, and Lee's Winter Wildlife challenge at Virtual Stamp Night.

I must admit that I almost didn't do this challenge because of my feelings toward the "50 Shades off Gray" frenzy...but hey, I'm just making a card that happens to have a few shades of gray.  No biggie!  I realize, as I am typing, that I didn't include the embossing element for the Mashup.  But, I am mashing up the gray with a challenge to use a winter/arctic animal.

My card base is smoky slate.  I have had this wild, sparkly designer paper for years...it is either S.E.I. or DCWV, but I'm not sure which.  I thought it would be fun to use as a funky polar landscape or backdrop.  I added a scrap of silver glimmer paper.  The polar bear is from SU's "Zoo Review," stamped with smoky slate on whisper white, and punched out with the extra large scallop circle.  It is layered in a basic gray circle, cut with my Sizzix die.  The sentiment is from "Polka Dot Birthday," stamped in black.  Finally, I added some dazzling details to help ground the bear.




Lee says winter animals are cuddly.  That makes sense for bunnies, but I would not recommend cuddling up with a polar bear!

Thanks for coming by again!  Remember, you can participate in VSN until this Sunday, December 21st, 10 pm EST.  Join the fun!



Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim 

Virtually Cool and Colorful Cards

Hello Stamping Friends
2 posts in a row...WooHoo!

I made a couple more VSN cards on Saturday, and I am working on more today. I decided to pair them up with past SCS color challenges, so I can do them all this year.  2014 is almost over...so I better catch up!

This card is for Sabrina's "Get Your Skate On" and the winter palette for Color challenge #500.  The card base is lost lagoon.  I am so glad I bought this set, "Penguin Pleasantries" off of Ebay a while back.  I colored him with markers, and added a line to show where he had skated.  The image is layered on olive and cherry paper, then placed on a white layer, embossed with a cuttlebug snowflake folder.  Cherry quilted ribbon adds some bold contrast.  The greeting is from the same stamp set, and is matted on island indigo.  The non-SU green gems are from a friend; not sure of the brand.

Next, this is for Tammie's "Gotcha" challenge to include snowballs.  It is also for color challenge #501: coastal cabana, real red, and crumb cake.  My images were received in a swap, so I don't know the stamp company.  I colored with markers, and added some dazzling diamonds.  The greetings are from Teeny Tiny Wishes and the same penguin set as above.  I used my word window circle and scallop circle punches.  Some scraps of pattern paper in the challenge colors came in handy.  Ruffled ribbon adds a soft final touch.

Thanks for stopping by again.  I hope to post again tomorrow!

Remember, you can still participate in the winter VSN until 10 pm EST on Sunday Dec. 21st.  Check out the full list of Frozen challenges here.
Thanks for stopping by again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Colour Me for Christmastime

Hello Stamping Friends!  Happy Sunday Monday!
I set this post up...badges and all...on Friday.  I had plans on making all of these cards Saturday to post Sunday.  That didn't happen!
But I did complete the current challenge.  I'll post it now for the deadline, and make the other cards later today.

I discovered the new Colour Me...! challenge blog this summer, and decided I would do each of the challenges of 2014.  I was cruising along fairly well for awhile, but then I fell even more behind then I started!  If I am going to get these done by the end of the month, I better get going!  LOL

So today, I have this week's challenge, which is perfect for my need to catch up on Christmas cards.  My card base is night of navy, and I used the "We Three Kings" set from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I kept the image simple; heat embossed with touches of silver.  I cut the main image out with the apothecary framelits.  My star was stamped directly on the card base at first, but the placement didn't work with the large main image.  Frankly, I had forgotten how hard it is to use this set on an A2 card, so I will remake it on a larger card base.  I added this pretty silver ribbon, with a bow.  I'll redo that in the next card too!  LOL

Next, I have 3 cards for past challenges.  CMCC#18 was for the 5th week of the month, so I could pick any 5 colors.  This was great for making a more detailed Christmas card.

I looked through packs of retired Christmas dsp, and found this VERY old paper.  I didn't buy it myself; a former SU demo gave it to me.  It features river rock, always artichoke, mellow moss, and purely pomegranate.  Wow...almost all retired colors!  But I am happy to use some of my stash.  The stamps are from Our Daily Bread Designs, "Angel," all stamped with always artichoke on very vanilla and sponged with river rock.  I added this luscious pomegranate satin ribbon and some tiny pearls.  I think I have enough of this paper left to make 3 more of these.

Here is CCMC#19, which is also perfect for Christmas, with this rich cherry cobbler option.  Hmmm...perhaps most color combos are "perfect" for Christmas!

I was inspired by the challenge badge, so I used sahara sand and a large heart framelit.  Both the image and greeting are from Our Daily Bread Designs "Joy to the World."  The dsp is from a retired pack of SU Vintage Christmas and I sponged sahara sand ink around the heart to contrast it from the greeting.  I added black brads and satin ribbon for contrast.  This was actually fairly quick to make, so I hope to make 5 more.  I was going to add a stamp that says "God is Love," but the font is too different.  So, I will likely add "tails" to my ribbon next time. 

The last one for today is CMCC#20.  This means I am done with all off the challenges that were posted before I found the blog!  The crushed curry threw me off a bit, in terms of a Christmas card...but I made it work!

I used the SU stamp set "First Christmas" for the manger and large star.  My card base is sahara sand, with a layer of midnight muse.  I stamped the manger on very vanilla card stock, then dry embossed the top half with a retired embossing folder.  I wanted a bit more color, so I sponged the crushed curry making a starry background.  My scripture greeting is from Our Daily Bread Designs, "Luke 2:11."  Midnight muse ribbon finishes it off.  I really like these colors for a non-traditional palette at Christmas time.

I hope to make more cards for the rest of the Colour Me...! challenges.  And hopefully, I'll post before next Monday!

Thanks for coming by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Brrrrrrrrrrrr! It's a Frozen Virtual Stamp Night!!

Hello, and Happy Friday!

Tonight is Virtual Stamp Night, and I am happy to be a challenge hostess again!



This weekend's theme is "Frozen" inspired by the hit movie.  But don't worry if you haven't seen it; the challenges will still make sense to you.

I am posting 2 cards tonight.  The first is for my challenge which went "live" at 6 pm Central time.  The second card is for a challenge that went "live" at 7 pm Central time.  I made the cards in advance as samples, but couldn't post them here until now.  Here we go!

First, my Virtual Stamp Night challenge "It's Frozen Down Under."  The challenge is to make a winter card with a summer twist...or a summer card with a winter twist.

I love Olaf from the movie, and his adorable dream of experiencing summer. I had planned on making a snowman with a beach hat...but my punch art stinks! Ha! So I opted for this large scene...like a dream "bubble" with a lovely beach...perhaps in Fiji!

My soft sky card base measures 5" x 5", and I added a layer of strawberry slush.  I cut out an extra large scallop circle with my Sizzix die and Big Shot, placed a large post-it down for a horizon line, and created my beach scene with a lot of sponging.  I opted for a sunset, using soft sky, crisp cantaloupe, calypso coral, and a hint of island indigo.  My sandy island is made with baked brown sugar, the ocean is island indigo, and the sun is made with tangerine tango.  My palm trees, colored with wild wasabi and baked brown sugar markers, are from an old set called "Marvels of Nature" from Innovative stamps. I superimposed this scene over a whisper white layer, lightly sponged with soft sky.  My snowman is from "Snow Much Fun," colored with soft sky, strawberry slush, basic gray, and pumpkin pie.  I cut him out and popped him up with dimensionals.  Almost forgot...the silver glimmer paper adds a fun shimmer.  The greeting is from "Full of Love."



Next, this card features the colors of raspberry ripple, pacific point, basic black, and metallic gold...all inspired by the character Anna from the movie.  She is truly heroic, much better than the more popular Elsa, so I was happy to join in the fun.

This is actually pretty simple.  Raspberry ripple card base with layers of basic black and pacific point, dry embossed with a snowflake folder.  I stamped "Serene Snowflakes" on whisper white, including a small ones in gold.  I sponged bordering blue in the background, because we weren't supposed to have too much white.  The greeting is from "Word Play," stamped on pacific point with versamark, and heat embossed with gold powder.  I used my large scallop punch and dimesionals to place it in the center.  The ribbon is from a pretty package I received a while back,  I never throw ribbon away!




I hope you can join us for the VSN challenges this weekend! You can play along and upload as late as December 21st!!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Mashin' Up for Christmas

Hello Friends!  It's another Wednesday...and I am trying to catch up on some card making!  I was busy last week with an area Christmas concert, and this week with an Advent mission for our county.  It feels good to sit down with my stamps again!

Today, I have a card for The Friday Mashup (just before the deadline again).  It also fits a recent color challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  I have several color challenges to finish if I am going to make my goal of completing all of them for 2014!  The colors are lost lagoon, pear pizzazz, and silver.  This made the palette perfect for this Friday Mashup challenge to use silver or gold on a Christmas project.  Finally, I am submitting this for the ODBD Shining the Light challenge.

I knew right away that I wanted to make a Christmas card with these colors.  I had a brand new stamp in mind; but I could not find it.  Anywhere.  In fact, this fabulous new stamp, along with 2 others from the same company, are GONE!  I am convinced that the board they came on (they were unmounted rubber  Christmas stamps) got thrown away.  Either that, or they will show up in June.  At least I hope so! 

So, I had to regroup after my stampin' grieving...and decided to use these gorgeous stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I think they work well with the colors.  The image and greeting are both from the set "Luke 2:11."  My card base is lost lagoon with a layer of brushed silver under the main panel of whisper white.  I stamped the flower in Versamark and embossed with silver powder.  I used blender pens to color, and added one rhinestone to the center.  The greeting is stamped in lost lagoon, and it is mounted on pear pizzazz pattern paper.  I used my ticket corner punch on all of the layers, and added this pretty shimmery silver ribbon as the final detail.  This card is actually a CASE from one of my own cards made a few years ago.  Sorry for the shadows.  Another gloom December day; hard to get pictures!

I hope to make 3 or 5 more of these.  In addition to color challenges, I am desperately behind on Christmas cards!  Should be a busy week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Colour Me with a Snowy Mashup!

Hello Stamping Friends!  Happy Wednesday!

I have a quick card for 2 challenges.  The picture stinks, but hey the card is done!  LOL!  The Friday Mashup had us do a card with a weather theme and/or metallic embellishment.  It was due TODAY!  This week's Colour Me...! challenge is monochromatic using smoky slate.  This is definitely the soonest I participated in a CMCC after it gets posted!

Gosh, I wish my picture was better, but maybe I will have DH take a better pic tomorrow.  He is back on 2nd shift.  Any way, I made this card for one of my sisters-in-law.  Like me, she grew up in Illinois, but she moved to Florida years ago when my oldest brother got a job down there.  She misses the snow and hates the humidity.  Well, they recently moved to New Mexico, in an area of higher elevation, and she has seen some snow!  She is HAPPY!  I decided to make a card with snow and wind just for the occasion.

I have  a smoky slate card base, with a basic gray layer.  On whisper white, I stamped SU's "Serene Snowflakes" in silver and the swirls from Inkadinkado in versamark, then heat embossed everything.  The greeting is from "Polka Dot Party," punched with the extra large scallop circle.  I tried to outline with basic black...ick!  LOL  I used silver metallic ribbon and a ribbon slide.  I bought them just before they were retired...so glad Avery at The Friday Mashup gave me the nudge to open the package!  For one final detail, I used the corner rounder punch.

I want to add some COLOR!  Ha!  Those gals at Colour Me...! always get me with their monochromatic challenges!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Back with the Colour Me Challenge!

Hello Stamping Friends!

I am back to post a few more Colour Me...! challenges.  I wanted to post these yesterday, but it took me longer than I expected to come up with a design for the current challenge...even though I instantly loved the palette!  So earthy...perfect for fall.  It rained all day yesterday; it's raining this morning.  If it was snow, we'd be a bit like Buffalo NY!  Fortunately, my husband still got decent pictures, despite the gloomy clouds.

I knew I wanted an early espresso card base, and it turns out I had this square one pre-cut and folded.  Everything else took a while!  I ended up with this luscious image from SU's "Day of Gratitude" which I colored with markers on very vanilla card stock.  I sponged the edges to warm things up.  The cajun craze layer is dry embossed with the "vine folder."  I can never remember it's actual name!  I wrapped soft suede ribbon around it, showing the plain side since the white polka dots didn't quite work with this palette.  The sentiment is from the same set, and I used the modern label and scallop oval punches (with cajun pattern paper) to highlight it. I really wanted something else, and I found these non-SU bronze gems in a stash of old supplies.  This is literally the last large one I had; perfect for the center.  The little ones were cut from the last row I have.  I think I need to find some more of these, because I love how they work with these colors!

Next, I am continuing my journey to complete all of the 2014 CMCC challenges.  This next card is not at all what I envisioned...but it's not too bad.  Soft color palettes are tricky for me, but I muddled through. 

The card base is pistachio pudding.  I placed a layer of blushing bride,embossed with the chevron folder, on top of the base.  The image panel is all done with SU's "Work of Art," which I FINALLY purchased!  I love how you can just stamp randomly and create something fun!  I used coral bakers twine and button as the embellishments.  I really wish I had placed the button on the other side to balance the coral.  Oh well.  One final note.  I intentionally cut the whisper white and blushing bride with uneven edges.  I wanted to mimic the random nature of the stamps.  Not sure if I like it...the jury is still out!  LOL

Finally today I have a fun card that was quick to make.  I figured the best way to make these blues and greens to work together was to do some blending.  Using SU's "Delicate Doilies," I stamped with versamerk on glossy white card stock, then heat embossed with clear powder.  I pulled out my brayer, and randomly coated the card stock with all four colors, overlapping a bit.  I love how the doilies look like snowflakes!  Then, to make sure each color stood out on its own, I used them for the other main elements: bermada bay card base, coastal cabana layer, tempting turquoise sentiment (From SU's "Field Flowers") and pacific point ribbon.  As you can see, I used the scallop circle punch, and some dimensionals!

I'll be traveling this week for Thanksgiving.  Hopefully, I will be able to post something again next Monday.  Have a great week!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Colour Me with a Few More Cards

Hello Stamping Friends!

It's time for another Colour Me...! challenge.  I had hoped too post earlier, but I was so busy with HYCCT that I neglected all other challenges last month.  When I decided to do the current challenge, I decided I better finish up this old post.  (I literally had the icons loaded up, just no cards!  LOL)  So here we go...

CMCC#41 was current when I started this post...good grief!  The colors led me to a gender-neutral design.  I need more cards like this!




The card base is hello honey.  I stamped the 2 sides of this large stamp from SU's "Text & Texture" in the challenge colors on very vanilla, then used my cherry cobbler marker to outline the panel.  To go along with the text theme, I used "Teeny Tiny Wishes" with baked brown sugar and cherry cobbler inks to make pattern paper...very different use of these stamps.  I also added stars from "Extreme Elements" and layered it on cherry cobbler.  I had a scrap of cherry pattern paper, then just set the pieces on different angles.  Bakers twine finishes it off.

And now, I am continuing my push to get caught up in previous challenges. 

CMCC#14 is a monochromatic theme with Pumpkin Pie.  Since fall is my favorite season, I decided to go literal...with a pumpkin!

I ran some very vanilla through my Big Shot with the wood grain folder, then sponged it with soft suede.  My pumpkin is made by using the oval punch and scallop oval punch, showing off both sides of the brights pattern paper.  I used my bird punch for the  soft suede leaves, cutting off one tip for the stem of the pumpkin.  The larger oval was made with my Sizzix ovals die, and I used "Thank You Kindly" for the greeting.  Lots of striped ribbon was used as the last detail.

CMCC#15 is a bright palette and lots of fun.

My card is very summer-y, as the colors suggest, so it will probably stay in my box for a few months.  I embossed some bermuda bay with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder, and placed it on the daffodil card base.  The flowers are from "Mixed Bunch" and were cut out with the coordinating punch.  The scrap of DSP is from Garden Gala...I think.  The greeting is from "On Your Birthday," stamped in basic black and punched with the modern label punch.  Basic black polka dot ribbon wraps it all up.



It's good to be back in the Colour Me mode!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Back to Mashin' Up Things Up

Hello...and Happy Hump Day!

I am trying to get back into challenges that I usually follow.  Today, I have a card for a recent Color Challenge on SCS, along with the most recent challenge at The Friday Mashup.  I am also submitting this for a shot at the Design Team for the Friday Mashup...WooHoo!

I knew I wanted to mash things up...but what surprise element should I use?  I had a package of Life Savers by my desk and looked through it.  One of the pieces went with last week's color challenge!  Here we go!

The color challenge called for crumb cake, calypso coral, and crisp cantaloupe...way out of my comfort zone!  I guess that's why thney call these things "challenges!"  LOL  Any way, using a Life Saver led me to this big stamp from SU's "Text and Texture."  I like saying "Life is Good," and I think it is fun for a birthday card, which I did by adding the other sentiment from "On Your Birthday."  I made my own pattern paper using the small stamps from "Mixed Bunch."  I added some gingham ribbon and punch 5-petal flowers for other details.
If I mail this, the candy will break, so I guess this will be hand delivered!




Thanks for coming by again!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Virtual Stamp Night...Mini Style!

Hello Stamping Friends!

Now that Hope You Can Cling To challenges are completed and uploaded, I am ready to move on with some of my regular favorite challenges.  Once again, I will be hosting a challenge for Virtual Stamp Night.  My challenge will be during the Main VSN event in December.  The theme for the winter event is "Frozen," and this past Friday was the Mini event.  Here are my cards for the 2 challenges posted Friday night...

Misti hosted the first challenge, asking us to incorporate ice cubes.  I have NO stamps with ice cubes.  I was a bit lost, but then I decided I would just doodle.  I pulled out this retired SU set, "Penguin Pleasantries" which I just got off of Ebay.  (I have a serious lack of silly/whimsical images.)  After stamping him on whisper white with Stazon jet black, I colored this cute little guy with markers...pumpkin pie, crushed curry, soft sky, wisteria wonder, and taken with teal.  I then covered him in versamark and clear embossing powder.  That's why there is a shine in the picture.  I used a marker to draw the ice cubes and covered them with Dazzling Details.  Initially, I was worried about making the cubes evenly, but I hardly need realistic ice cubes to go with this penguin!  The image is mounted on wisteria wonder, then layered on an embossed (Cuttlebug folder) soft sky layer on a bermuda bay card base.  I added wisteria bakers twine and a dotted brad in the center of a felt snowflake.  With several December and January birthdays in my family, this guy will find a good home.  Of course, with lots of plump dimensions, it will take extra postage to get there!

Next, I made this card for Tammie's inspiration challenge.  When I saw the photo, I immediately thought of SU's "Dasher."  I used the pine tree from "Lovely as a Tree," stamping it 3 times to add dimension to my forest.  I used early espresso and mossy meadow markers for the tree.  I stamped Dasher in early espresso also.  Then came the messy stuff.  I wanted to add berries, as in the inspiration photo, so I added cherry cobbler ink to my Dazzling Details.  Trying to dot my image with this turned out more difficult than I expected.  The solution should be to order some of the actual cherry cobbler dazzling details from my demo...soon!  LOL  It is difficult to see...but I also used my versamarker and heat and stick powder with dazzling diamonds to add snowy details to the ground and some of the branches.  I layered this image on an embossed piece of marina mist and some DSP left over from a holiday scrap book kit (can't remember the name.)  Finally, I used "Teeny Tiny Wishes" with the word window and modern label punches.  No ribbon or twine...no brads...gasp!


Thanks for coming by.  The Main "Frozen" VSN will be December 12th & 13th...WooHoo!


Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Hope-Filled Finish!

Hello and Happy Friday!

Today is the last day to upload cards for the Hope You Can Cling to challenges.  Originally, I planned to do them all...then I decided I probably would not get them done, so I slowed down this week.  I actually spent time cleaning up a table in my stamp space last night.  I had slowed down a lot because I was intimidated by some of the challenges.  Well, I decided to cram things in and I did finish on time!  Unfortunately, I had computer issues, so I did not get these uploaded before noon.  No biggie...I am just thrilled that I completed all 35 challenges!  NEXT year, I will shoot for the Queens Thread!

This card was the last one I did, but the very first HYCCT challenge posted.  It's supposed to be paper tole.  I struggle with fussy cutting, so I held off on this.  The pieces should be curled a bit more.  Even so, he's kinda cute!  Not only was this card for Lydia's paper tole challenge, but it also for a color challenge; #496 on SCS.  I have a soft sky card base with pieces of cherry cobbler pattern paper and silver glimmer paper.  I stamped this snowman from SU's "Snow Much Fun" 3 different times.  The hat/head, scarf, and boots were cut separately for the tole technique.  I dropped a boot, or lost it...cut out another one, but it was the same side I already had adhered!  All this at 11:50 a.m.!  LOL  So, I just colored the flat boot.  Poor guy needs an upgrade!  He is mounted on island indigo, but I couldn't find the right marker so I used taken with teal instead.  Bakers twine and a sentiment punched out with the modern label finish it off. 

Next, I have a card for Barbara's challenge, which uses Embossing Paste...sort of.  I had never even seen this stuff before so I ended up making some of my own.  I had to rush to get this done, but I will definitely try it again.   My paste was made with baby powder, Tombow liquid glue, and white shimmer paint.  I added old olive ink for the color. I started with a pumpkin pie card base.  Fortunately, I had a piece left over from my smashed ink challenges, and the scrap from my Sizzix Leaves die.  Both came in handy, as I had to rush to get this done!  I used the scrap as stencil to spread the paste in leaf shapes.  I really like the texture that resulted.  My sentiment is from SU's "All Holidays" stamped in rich razzleberry on a Top Note die cut.  A bit of peach parfait ribbon is the last detail.  I am not thrilled with the overall card, but it isn't bad for such a quick project.  If I take more time, I could probably do some very nice, detailed projects with this paste.

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}

Kim

Hope to Keep Up with these Challenges!

Hello Again!

Today, I have 3 cards from HYCCT challenges I completed earlier this month.


This card is for Holly's "Stripping Down" challenge.  It gave me a great reason to use some scraps of pattern paper.  My card base is pretty in pink, and I added strips of pink pattern paper (from an OLD hostess stack!) and some Bella Rose dsp (the chocolate side.)  I added some pool party seam binding, scrunched on one side.  The image and sentiment are from My Favorite Thing's "From the Bottom of My Heart."  It is colored with markers: chocolate chip, blush blossom, pool party, and rose red and then I sponged the panel with apricot appeal.  The sentiment is stamped with chocolate chip.   I clear embossed the heart for some extra shine.

Next is my card for Sabrina's "Holding it Together" challenge.  We were not supposed to use any adhesive!  So... I have an apricot appeal card base (from a big stack of retired colors.)  I stamped this sentiment from "All Holidays" on whisper white, using my pretty in pink and chocolate chip markers, and cut it out with the labels framelits.  I sponged with apricot and pink ink.  I attached this to a piece of DCWV pattern paper, using extra large chocolate chip brads.  I attached it to the card base with the pink taffeta ribbon, after I punched holes in the top.  (AFTER I posted this, I saw that we could have attached a card front to a card base with tape.  Oh well.)

Finally today I have this fun card for Diane's challenge, "Two by Two, Side by Side."  In it, we needed to use pink AND purple, and some element of the card needed to be included 2 times.  I chose this fabulous image from My Favorite Things' "Meet Me at the Cafe."  I thought the two friends having a glass of wine together expresses the theme of Hope You Can Cling To.  The card base is wisteria wonder, and I added 2 panels of Flirtatious dsp.  I stamped the image with stazon jet black ink, and colored it with several markers:  wisteria wonder, regal rose, creamy caramel, blush blossom, cherry cobbler, daffodil delight, and basic gray.  I sponged soft sky in the background.  The sentiment is from the same set, and punched out with the modern label.  Ruffled strawberry slush ribbon finishes it off.

I will post more cards this weekend...this has been a fun stamping event!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

More Hope!

Hello Stamping Friends!

I have a few more HYCCCT cards to post.  I have not been doing these in order, so hang in there with me!

Lee posted a challenge, "A Bear for My Sister."  I have no cute bear images, but I recall receiving 2 of these stamped images in a swap.  Sorry, I don't know what company makes this stamp.  But the sentiment is from a retired set from My Favorite Things.  My card base is basic gray.  The dsp is from a long-retired Christmas pack from SU.  I used my blender pens to color the image, cut it out with my framelits, and sponged.  The colors I used are kiwi kiss, soft sky, basic gray, smokey slate, creamy caramel, and pretty in pink.  I also cut the sentiment out with framelits.  The ribbon is from a different swap.




Next, I have a card for Misti's challenge: "A Spoonful of Sugar."  Starting with a chocolate chip card base, I added a layer of close to cocoa that is embossed with the diagonal stripes folder.  The ribbon is from some yummy blog candy that I won a while ago.  I used the SU set "So Very" for this card, stamping with melon mambo and chocolate chip on whisper white and pink pirouette card stock.  I made a cup cake with my scallop circle punch, a scrap of glimmer paper and a free-hand cut piece of textured melon mambo for the base.  I colored the glimmer paper with a melon mambo marker and added pink stickles (more blog candy) to the embossed swirls, to look like frosting.  This will make a nice card for my great-niece next month!

Finally tonight I have a card for Bridget's challenge, "A Card for My Hero." My card has a very clean and simple design.  I have lots of heroes, but I usually think of heroes of the Faith.  I had this stamp with a quote from Mother Teresa.  I decided to showcase it on white (embossed with those diagonal stripes again) with pacific point striped ribbon to mimic the habits of her religious order, The Missionary Sisters of Charity.  I have a lot of punched out hearts, so I grabbed a few for a pop of color...and to go with her inspiring words.
More fun cards will be posted in the next few days.  Stay Tuned!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Colorful Hope

Hello Stamping Friends...

Time for a couple more HYCCT challenge cards.  For extra fun, I also incorporated this week's color challenge, as well.  SCS is on color challenge #500, and they are celebrating by giving us 4 seasonal palettes to choose from.  I chose Spring and Fall...but I really hope to do the other ones as well.

My first card uses the spring palette:  soft sky, crisp cantaloupe, pistachio pudding, and so saffron.  The HYCCT challenge is "Chick's Stick Together" hosted by Fran.  I chose this cute image from SU's "For the Birds," because I thought it would be perfect with these delicate colors.  I used markers to color the image, which was stamped with Stazon jet black.  A bit of light sponging filled out the scene, and layered it on so saffron.  I embossed a piece of soft sky with the cloudy day embossing folder.  After wrapping ruffled cantaloupe ribbon around it, I placed it on the soft sky card base. The image panel is adhered with dimensionals.

Next, I have the fall palette: baked brown sugar, bermuda bay, crushed curry, and cajun craze.  I combined it with Lori's "Warm Fuzzy" challenge to use warm colors and something soft or fuzzy on our card.  I have a crushed curry base with a piece of cajun pattern paper, edged with the scallop trim punch.  I wrapped some SU fabric, from the Autumn Spice collection a few years ago; it was cut in my Big Shot with the Tasteful Trim die.  I stamped the image from "Lovely as a Tree" in baked brown sugar, then sponged with the other challenge colors.  I layered it on bermuda bay, also edged with the scallop trim.  The sentiment is from "Full of Love," which I have set aside to sell...glad I till had it!  LOL





I have been having fun with Hope You Can Cling To...there are more cards to come!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

Hope You Can Step Up!

Hello Stamping Friends!

I am happy to be hosting a challenge today!  My Hope You Can Cling To challenge is:  It's Time to Step Up.

Today I have 2 very different cards for this challenge.  I knew I wanted to make a step card, but I had never done this before.  So yes, the challenge was for me, too!  I found a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers for a center step card.   My card base is bermuda bay.  I actually did very little stamping, because I used this amazing pattern paper from S.E.I. called "Black Orchid."  I added pieces with smaller patterns to the skinny panels, and used this huge flower in the center to showcase that flower.  My sentiment is from SU's "Whimsical Words," stamped in calypso coral and punched out with my small scallop circle punch.  I sponged some more ink on the edges so it would show up better.  Ruffled coral ribbon is the last detail.  Below is the side view...very cool!  The only downside of this card is that it doesn't fit a standard envelope.  Guess I will have to make one with my envelope maker...which I haven't used yet.  oops.

Now, I know some people really hate fancy fold cards, so I designed this as an alternative.  I recalled THIS card that I made for a blog challenge ago few years ago.  My card base is crumb cake.  I added a layer of regal rose that is embossed with the fancy folds folder.  I stamped this cone flower from "Inspired by Nature" on very vanilla card stock.  It is a silhouette stamp, but I used markers to color it: old olive, regal rose, and old olive. I added the tall grass to the background.  Then I cut the image to create this stepped-up design.  My sentiment is from "Best Yet" punched with the scallop oval.  Quilted espresso ribbon and a pretty in pink butterfly from my embosslit finish it up.

I am looking forward to seeing what other people create...hope ypu can play along too!

Inky {{{HUGS}}} 
Kim