Choose Your Own Sketch Challenge (RS52 + a repeat color combo)

This week, one of my favorite sketch blogs is celebration Sketch #52 with a "choose your own sketch" challenge. Pick your favorite from any of their previous 52 sketches and run with it. So I browsed through, chose one I liked, and combined it with the color combo from my previous post. What do you think?

First off, I just have to say that I LOVE this DSP! It's from the Twitterpated set, and it's just plain gorgeous. Especially with the bright Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight. Love it!

I got the basic layout of this card done in just a few minutes, thanks to this lovely sketch (RS29):

Working out the details, however, took me the better part of an hour! I had the DSP background, the three rounded squares (which sounds completely oxymoronic), the butterfly, and even the pearls all in place and just how I wanted them. But it needed something to tie in the Daffodil Delight. (I really like things to be in pairs, so having the gray DSP and the gray square, the pink square and the pink butterfly, but just one yellow?! Yeah, drove me up the wall!)

I thought about putting a decorative Edgelits© border along one side, but that was too one-sided (again, pairs). So I tried some ribbon along the edge, and it just hung funny. So I gave up and walked away for a long while before finally coming back to it and trying just a plain strip of Daffodil Delight cardstock. Still too plain!

Then Julie, my brilliant stamping buddy, suggested I pull in other elements from the card too. Duh!! More pairs! Why didn't I think of that before?

Anyway, as you can (hopefully) see from the detail photos, I ended up stamping the same Daydream Medallions on the strip as I did on the squares (it's tone-on-tone, so it may be too hard to see in the photos, but I promise it's there) and pulled in the pierced paper motif as well (from the yellow square, under the greeting). Finally! That was exactly what it needed! Thank you, Julie, for saving this card and my sanity!

One final note: this card also uses the beautiful, bright color combo from Create with Connie and Mary (CCMC240). Love it!

Card Details
Stamps: Daydream Medallions, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight (hey that rhymes!), Melon Mambo, and Basic Gray CS; Twitterpated DSP
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Melon Mambo
Tools & Accessories: 1 1/4" square punch, Bitty Butterfly punch, 1/16" corner rounder punch, Basic Pearls, and the Paper Piercing Tool, pad, and guide.

Oh, Hello! (CCMC240 and FMS 74)

Last night, I went over to stamp with my friend Julie Wadlinger (again - this happens often, and it's so much fun!), and we both tackled some fun challenges. You can check out the gorgeous card she made on her blog here. I decided to take on a color challenge and a sketch challenge, too, and this is what I came up with:

I LOVE how this card turned out! The color combination, from Create with Connie & Mary, is just adorable. I may have to order a supply of more Basic Gray paper & ink, because it's just a gorgeous color to work with! The bold color combination made me want this to be a bold card - big greeting stamp, big flower, big rhinestones -- and so of course I had to include one of our beautiful Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons! These things really are fabulous - they look like diamonds! Here's a close-up to show just how gorgeous they are:

I inserted a small rhinestone into the center of the
Vintage Faceted  Button to give it even more "bling."

The flower was stamped with the Betsy's Blossoms set and cut out with the Floral Frames Framelits dies on the Big Shot. Then I punched a tiny circle from Melon Mambo and put the Vintage Faceted Designer button on top of it. I just LOVE how cute it turned out!

Here's the challenge info for this card.

From CCMC240:

And from Freshly Made Sketches (FMS74)

Card Details

Colors: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight

Stamps: Oh, Hello; Besty's Blossoms

Tools: Top Note die (for Big Shot), Floral Frames Framelits© die (Big Shot), 1/2" Circle punch 

Accessories: Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, Basic Jewels rhinestones

Same Colors, Same Stamps, Different Card! (CCMC239 & FabFriday12)

Hello, again! Something I've been trying to do more often is showcase how you can use the same products -- stamps, DSP, color combinations, etc. -- and create various different projects with them. So, after yesterday's masculine birthday card, I've created a more feminine card with some of the same products. Check it out:

Once again, I've used the color combination from FabFriday12 -- Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, and their third color, Perfect Plum (which I left out on the masculine card because, really, Plum isn't a terribly masculine color). I've also used the Curly Cute stamp set for the phrase, which I also used to stamp "Happy Birthday" on yesterday's card. This just goes to show that the same colors and the same stamps can be used in SO many different ways!

This card got its layout inspiration from the Create with Connie & Mary challenge this week: CCMC239. I always love their sketches! This time, I took their layout and turned it sideways, to better fit the "Thinking of You" sentiment. The Circle Circus stamp set gave me the rest of the inspiration I needed (with an added nudge from Julie Wadlinger, who suggested the adorable (!) scalloped border under the greeting). In the end, all of these fantastic elements combined to give me one adorable all-occasion card!

Here's the CCMC sketch to get your creative juices flowing, too!

And, again, the FabFriday color palette: 

What are some of your favorite ways to re-purpose and re-imagine Stampin' Up!'s stamps & colors?

Card Details
Colors: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi
Stamps: Curly Cute, Circle Circus
Tools & Accessories: Basic Jewels rhinestones, Large Scallop Edgelits©, Dimensionals

Seize the Birthday #6 + FabFri12 (Masculine Birthday Card)

I've mentioned before that I am terrible at making masculine cards. Part of the problem is that most of my stamps have butterflies, swirly patterns, flowers, or something adorable on them; not very masculine, huh? I've been trying to remedy that, though, mostly through buying neutral colored paper & non-frilly sayings stamps. So when I was actually able to accomplish this week's Seize the Birthday Masculine Card challenge -- and I liked my end result! -- I was pretty proud of myself. Granted, what I came up with might be more suited for a little boy than a grown man, I'm fairly certain my dad would be happy to get a card like this.

I promise that I didn't pick out my curtains to match Stampin' Up! colors.
. . . It just kinda happens that way sometimes. 

The layout came from the sketch challenge over at STB, as I mentioned above. The fantastic color combo, though? Yeah, totally wish I could claim that as my own fantastic creation. But I can't. It came from the lovely folks over at Fab Friday, who gave us a phenomenal color challenge this week. (I actually made TWO cards in that color challenge, and I'll be posting the other one tomorrow.) So here are the challenges I undertook for this card. First, the sketch:

Isn't it lovely? Now on to the color challenge! (Note: I left out the Perfect Plum in an attempt to make this as masculine as possible with the cutesy background.) This is the FabFri12 color palette:

In an amazing feat of coincidence, this card ALSO qualifies for this week's Friday Mashup! Since I used our Stampin' Write© Markers to color in the word stamp elements, it qualifies for the "Markers" section, and the Textured Impressions Embossing Folder© on the bottom qualifies it for the mash-up with "texture" -- so there ya go! Here's their info, too, so go check them out! 

Here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project "using your Markers (thumping,Color Spritzing,Coloring etc.)."
2. Or Make a project with "Texture."
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with "Texture using your Markers."

Card Details

Paper: Soft Suede CS, Baja Breeze CS, Whisper White CS, Storytime DSP

Ink: Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi

Tools: Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder©, Ovals Collection Framelits©, Paper Piercing Pack & Paper Piercing Tool, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig© (to align text), Dimensionals

FMS#73 and Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit

 At a recent Demonstrator group meeting (Hello, fellow Positive Inkers!!), I won the Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit in a raffle. How exciting! I never win raffles, so I was pretty stoked. This adorable kit is featured in our Spring Catalog, which you can view by clicking here. This kit is fabulous -- and it's got so many uses! I decided to use the "tag" elements to make a card front for this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge, and voila!

Isn't it adorable? I love the tiny little "baking cups" it comes with; they give the flowers such a great aspect of dimension. (Though I must admit, part of the reason I was so excited to win this particular raffle prize is that I am sorely tempted to use these paper cups to make itty-bitty cupcakes!! How freaking cute would that be? Anyway, back to the card.)

The tag base already had the lovely outline detail, so I just stamped a quick "Just for You" greeting on it (which is perfect for literally any occasion, by the way). It also fits the FMS#73 sketch so well: 

I love "re-purposing" things like this, finding new uses for stamp elements and making them work where they weren't intended. 

What are some of your favorite "non-traditional" uses for stamps, tags, or any other crafty item?

Card Details
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Tools and Accessories: Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit (includes tag base, flowers, paper cup, fabric-covered brad, and "Just for You" stamp), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (for the Big Shot), Summer Starfruit ribbon
Ink: Black StazOn inkpad
Colors in Kit: Calypso Coral, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party, Very Vanilla

Fab Friday - Lost and Found!

I made this card over a week ago, during the same late-night stamp session that I made this card. But then I put it in an envelope and set it aside -- and completely LOST it! I looked everywhere! Or so I thought. Turns out it was sitting underneath a bag I took with me to a Demonstrator meeting at the beginning of the month. Don't ask me how it got there, because heaven knows I haven't got a clue! Pretty much the story of my life. Who knew you could lose so many things in a 2-room apartment!

So, from the "Lost and Found" files of Michelle's Living Room, here's an adorably pastel baby card I made for the Fab Friday 11 Challenge:

A close-up of the banner, since it's a little hard to read.
And isn't that itty bitty bow adorable?
(I'm rather proud of myself for tying it so tiny!)

I love the pastel colors in this card, and the polka dot DSP is just perfect for a baby card!

Here's the Fab Friday Sketch (so you can see that I pretty much just copied it exactly... including the "frillies" from an Edgelits on top of the green mat layer.) But that's what is so great about these sketch challenges -- they give you some fantastic layouts to work with!

In other news, I've fallen completely behind on my Month of Letters Challenge mailings. So I apologize to all of those who are still waiting on a card in the mail -- I will send them, and soon! These last few weeks have just seen a LOT of changes and unexpectedness, so some things have had to take a back burner. But don't worry! I'll be back to normal very soon (I hope!).

Are any of you doing the Letter Month challenge? How's it going for you? Better than I'm doing, I hope!

Happy Stamping!

FMS72—For My Co-Worker's Birthday

Last week at work, we celebrated 3 birthdays! One of them was my friend Emily, who sits right next to me, so of course I had to make her a card! I made this last week (after my filler "Pinspiration" post) and then spent the entire weekend being lazy! So I'm just now getting around to posting it—just in time for the Freshly Made Sketches deadline!

This week's FMS challenge (FMS72) was a fun sketch with lots of potential. Here's what I came up with based on their sketch:

I love the elements of sparkle on the card—the rhinestone on the heart and the Dazzling Details on the candle flame—they give it that "something extra" it needs to make this a really special card!

Also, the colors on this picture didn't come through quite right. The banner and the background are actually Crumb Cake, not this kind-of-icky gray-brown it's showing up as (at least on my computer)!

Some "Pinspiration" for You

Hey, everyone. Sorry I've been slacking off this week with posting new cards (or anything, really). I feel like I was on a roll! And then this week hit. Things at work got hectic, and I had an interview for a second job (both are part-time, in addition to Stampin' Up!), so things at my apartment have been less than ideal for creativity.

But tonight I'm on a mission! I have 3 friends' birthdays coming up in the next week, and at least 3 more in the week after that, so I need to get down to business and STAMP! I'll probably pull up a sketch challenge - like Seize the Birthday or Freshly Made Sketches or Retro Sketches - to get my juices flowing. Then I'll put on a good chick flick and get down to work! So if you don't see a post from me tomorrow with at least one birthday card -- Call me out on it!!

In the mean time, enjoy these bits of inspiration (or "Pin"spiration, as it may be) from my Stampin' Up! Pinterest board (which you can follow HERE). And be sure to check out our Birthday Bash Blog Hop for even more birthday inspiration!

from Sleepy In Seattle

from Stamping & Sharing by Stephanie

As Promised - A Doctor Who Card

It's February! Which means it's now time for the Month of Letters Challenge! Today I mailed two cards - one to my brother, and one to my friend. The one for my brother is this card that I made for his wedding (back in early December.... wow, I'm on top of things, huh?)

The second is a card I made more recently with Sale-a-Bration products. I mentioned a few days ago that I had used the new Feeling Sentimental stamp set to make a Doctor Who-themed card. But I didn't want to share it quite yet because it's a surprise for my friend for Letter Month. Well, now that it's in the mail I can show you!

Isn't it great? I wasn't sure what phrase to use with the T.A.R.D.I.S. image, and then Julie found this great saying that is just perfect! "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it isn't the end." Considering the time-travel theme of the whole show, it seemed like a fitting greeting.

I really love the artwork in this set. It looks like a print of an old sketch, especially when you stamp it in the super-black StazOn ink like I did here. The StazOn is also great for watercoloring (which I also did here), since the ink doesn't smear. Trying to find the right shade of blue was a bit tricky, but I think the Midnight Muse was a pretty good fit.

And with this, I've officially kicked of Letter Month! So I get this shiny new badge for my efforts.

Card Details:
Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla CS; Newsprint DSP
Ink: black StazOn, Midnight Muse
Tools: Oval Framelits dies (from the Spring Catalog -- check it out in the sidebar!)
Accessories: Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, square punch (for cutting end of banner)
Stamp Sets: Feeling Sentimental (from the Sale-a-Bration catalog -- earn it for free!), Pursuit of Happiness

"Birthday Bash" Blog Hop! (And 2 challenges)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Does anyone else think of that old Frosty the Snowman cartoon every time you hear someone shout "Happy Birthday"? No? Just me, then.

Anyway, Welcome to our third monthly Blog Hop! Our theme this month is "Birthday Bash," and we're showing you some fun projects relating to everything birthday. I was stoked for this theme, because it gave me a chance to prep for all the upcoming birthday celebrations.

Be sure to check out all the fantastic blogs in our hop!

Hop Forward: Kris Kilkenny

Hop Back: Julie Davidse

Inspired by this week's Clean and Simple sketch challenge (FTL225), this is what I came up with:

The sketch had banners where I have the circles, but I've been doing so many banners lately that I wanted to change things up. Some great DSP and a fun Edgelits for the zigzag border, and I ended up with a pretty cute and simple birthday card (if I do say so myself).

I also stamped a quick, decorative circle behind the greeting. I stamped it in clear VersaMark ink and used clear embossing powder (heat embossing). So I linked up to this week's Late Night Stamping challenge to "Heat Things Up," too.

But a card wasn't enough! So I made a coordinating little gift bag to go with it.

Using the same colors and DSP, I made this cute bag topper in under 10 minutes (and that was while watching TV, so it was probably only 5 minutes of work). Quick, cute, and filled with candy -- the best kind of gift to make!

So there you go! A quick, easy card and gift. Go check out the rest of our hop, then get stamping to create your own fabulous birthday creations!

Hop Forward: Kris Kilkenny

Hop Back: Julie Davidse