STRENGTH & HOPE

This card was inspired by Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #81. I've used the stamp set, Strength & Hope from the 2011 Summer Mini Catalog. When you purchase this stamp set, Stampin' Up! donates $2 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. To order, visit my Stampin' Up! demonstrator website 24/7 HERE.

Edited to Add: The butterfly image is stamped twice. The second is cut out and adhered down the center with a few dabs of Tombo liquid glue.

RECIPE
Stamps: Strength & Hope (2011 Summer Mini Catalog)
Paper: Cheerful Treat (Hostess), Pink Pirouette, Concord Crush, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Concord Crush, Melon Mambo, and Pink Pirouette
Embellishments: Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Concord Crush Glimmer Brads, Basic Pearl Jewels

BUILD A BLOSSOM SYMPATHY

This card was inspired by Inkspirations Colour Challenge #74 of Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, and Whisper White and Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #122. My sister-in-law let me borrow her Build a Blossom stamp set and Blossom Petals Punch. Both were first introduced in the Occasions Mini Catalog, and fortunately made it to the new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog! What a wonderful stamp set and coordinating punch ... definitely on my wish list! The flower petals and leaves are stamped in Versamark and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. I rolled the petals around a thick highlighter marker to make them puff and curve.

RECIPE
Stamps: Build A Blossom, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Versamark, Basic Gray
Embellishments: Antique Brad
Tools: Blossom Petals Punch, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Big Shot

GOOD FRIEND

I got some relaxing stamping time this Mother's Day, and chose to combine Curtain Call Color Challenge {Act 29} of Tangerine Tango, Summer Sun, Bordering Blue, and Whisper White, and Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #22.

RECIPE
Stamps: Good Friend
Paper: Hawaii Papaya DP (retired), Bordering Blue, Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Versamark, Bordering Blue, Summer Sun, and Tangerine Tango
Embellishments: Bordering Blue Grosgrain Ribbon (retired)
Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch ('10 Sale-A-Bration)
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you had a great Mother's Day!

A WHOLE LOT GOIN' ON

Today's card uses Makeesha's Inkspiration Sketch Challenge #11. I have had the honor of being Makeesha's July Guest Designer, and it has been so much fun! She always has the best challenges ... sometimes a sketch, sometimes an inspiration piece, and other times a color challenge. Check out what Makeesha's design team has created ... Cindy, Karen, Kirsty, Amy, and Renee.

Another talented team of designers recently made their collective debut in blogland, Pals Paper Arts. Their very first challenge is a color challenge of Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, and Chocolate Chip.

As for my card, I think there's alot going on and much too busy for my liking (some days you got it, some days you don't!). What do YOU think?

Just want to point out a couple of things that didn't show up real well in the photo: 1) there are two rows of paper piercing on the horizontal Chocolate Chip CS strip, and 2) I used Aqua and Pink Stickles (non-SU) for the flower centers.

RECIPE
Stamps: Simple Friendship
Paper: Bermuda Bay Patterns DP, Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Melon Mambo and Chocolate Chip
Embellishments: 5/16" Chocolate Chip Jumbo Brads
Tools: Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Circle Cutter, 1/2" Circle Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Aqua and Pink Stickles (non-SU)

EXTREME GUITAR/ELEMENTS

This week, Makeesha's offering this contemporary bedding for Inspiration Challenge #10. The clean lines and fun colors were just the inspiration I needed to ink up my new Extreme Guitar and Extreme Elements! Until now, I had found these images to be quite intimidating but am happy with my end result! Even my 14-year old rock star approved!

Be sure to see what the other Inkspiration Design Team members have created ... Cindy, Karen, Kirsty, Amy, and Renee.
RECIPE
Stamps: Extreme Guitar, Extreme Elements
Paper: Good Morning Sunshine DP (retired), Urban Garden DP (retired), Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, Going Gray, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Bermuda Bay and Kiwi Kiss
Embellishments: Black Brads, Chit Chat Rub-Ons
Tools: 1/4" Circle Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Post-It Note for masking

INKSPIRATION SKETCH & JEWELRY COLOR INSPIRATION FOR AUTUMN DAYS

This week, Makeesha Byl brings us Sketch #10 for her weekly Inkspiration Challenge. I love all those different layers, set off by that circle! Be sure to see what the other design team members have created ... Cindy, Karen, Kristy, Amy, and Renee.



I combined Makeesha's sketch with another favorite challenge - Stacey Schafer's Jewelry Color Inspired Challenge #44. I just lit up when I saw this color combo of Perfect Plum, Really Rust, More Mustard, and Very Vanilla, as these are the colors of my living room/dining room, along with some touches of red (SU translation: Riding Hood Red).

On the circle, the pheasant image from the new stamp set Autumn Days was first stamped in Perfect Plum. I masked the pheasant image by stamping it on a post-it note, cutting it out, and covering the original image. The wheat images were then stamped in More Mustard several times. The rubber was not re-inked each time (stamping off). The masking of the pheasant makes it look like the pheasant is standing in the foreground of the wheat, and the wheat is not "showing through" the pheasant image. The "get well wishes" sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes was stamped in Really Rust. The border of the Very Vanilla circle was then sponged with More Mustard ink.

It's difficult to see in the photo but the strip of More Mustard cardstock above the brads has two rows of paper piercing. There are Really Rust cardstock 1/4" Circles behind the More Mustard brads.
RECIPE
Stamps: Autumn Days, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Perfect Plum Patterns DP, Really Rust, More Mustard, and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Perfect Plum, More Mustard, Really Rust
Embellishments: More Mustard 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), More Mustard Brads
Tools: Circle Cutter, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, 1/4" Circle Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponge

JULY INKSPIRATIONS CHALLENGE GUEST DESIGNER

I've been keeping a little secret that is a pretty big deal to me ... I'm the July Guest Designer for Makeesha Byl's Inkspirations Challenges! Makeesha is an incredibly talented stamper and Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in Australia ... you didn't know the international stamper I'm becoming, did you?! LOL!

This first challenge was just that! I can't tell you how many times I stared at this photograph! At first I was completely focused on the painting hanging on the wall which made me think of lighthouses, nautical, etc. I live in the Arizona desert, so I don't own a whole lot of nautical images! I then started focusing on the food and tea on the table - only to realize that I don't own a whole lot of food images either. I ended up going with the overall "feel" of the whole photo which reminded me of a quaint bed and breakfast. The blue and pattern of the tablecloth led me to the Bella Bleu Designer Paper. I chose one of my favorite sentiments from All Holidays as my main image, and was thrilled to have a reason to use these cool Jumbo Brads!

I hope you'll play along with this week's Inspiration Challenge #9 ... I'd love to see what you come up with !!!
RECIPE
Stamps: All Holidays
Paper: Bella Bleu DP, Not Quite Navy, Kraft, and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Embellishments: Very Vanilla 5/8" Jumbo Brads
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals