TRUE FRIEND

Thanks for all the encouraging comments about my blog makeover! The polka dots really aren't my favorite but there's not a whole lot of choices when you're looking for FREE 3-column layouts.

This card uses Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #55 of Basic Gray, Really Rust, More Mustard, and Very Vanilla ... along with Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #73. I used the stamp set True Friend with Autumn Vine Designer Paper. The sentiment is from the new stamp set Teeny Tiny Wishes found in the new '09-'10 Idea Book & Catalog. Again, I used the Scallop Edge Medallion technique to frame the main image. You can find a tutorial for this technique HERE.RECIPE
Stamps: True Friend, sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes ('09-'10 Idea Book & Catalog)
Paper: Autumn Vine (retired), Basic Gray, Really Rust, More Mustard, and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: More Mustard and Really Rust Stampin' Write Markers, Basic Gray Ink Pad
Embellishments: Basic Gray Corduroy Brads
Tools: Scallop Edge Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

DOTS & DASHES BIRTHDAY

Get your sunglasses on for this color combination! It comes from Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #54 - Taken With Teal, Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie, Green Galore, and Whisper White. I combined the color combo with this great sketch from Taylor VanBruggen's Cupckake Challenge #72.

Anyone recognize this designer paper? It's really OLD ... Stampin' Up! retired Dots & Dashes. It felt good to go back and use some of it up! It's so old that it's one sided!RECIPE
Stamps: Party Hearty
Paper: Dots & Dashes (retired), Taken With Teal, Soft Sky, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Green Galore and Pumpkin Pie
Embellishments: Pumpkin Pie Corduroy Brads
Tools: Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, Circle Cutter, Cuttlebug & Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (non-SU), 3/4" Circle Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

FINALLY !!!!

I was finally able to design a card tonight that I was satisfied with! I hope that means my mojo is here to stay for awhile! I guess my public whining helped (see previous post)!

It's a fairly simple card but I thought it showed off this color combo very well. I used SCS Sketch Challenge #223 with Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #49 of BASIC BLACK, PACIFIC POINT, KIWI KISS, ROSE RED, and WHISPER WHITE.RECIPE
Stamps: Trendy Trees
Paper: Rockability Specialty DP, Whisper White, Basic Black, Rose Red, Pacific Point, and Kiwi Kiss CS
Ink: Basic Black and Pacific Point
Embellishments: Pacific Point 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Corduroy Brads
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Happy Weekend everybody! Last night while Allie was at a Christian concert downtown, Drew was off camping at Lake Pleasant with his bible study group, and John was into some TV shows that didn't interest me, I had a chance to tackle Kristina Werner's Color Challenge #47 of Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, So Saffron and Whisper White, combined with Taylor VanBruggen's Cupcake Sketch Challenge #61.

I'm not a bird fan but this little bird image is just the cutest! I did some masking to make his legs so short. His eye is simply a 1/4" Circle Punched Chocolate Chip cardstock, and his Tangerine Tango wing is cut out and popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.
RECIPE
Stamps: Good Friend
Paper: Hawaii Papaya DP (retired), Flock Together DP, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango
Embellishments: Chocolate Chip Corduroy Brad, Chocolate Chip 5/16" Jumbo Brads
Tools: 1/4" Circle Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

KWERNER COLOR CHALLENGE #46 TOP TEN

THIS CARD of mine made Kristina Werner's TOP TEN Round-Up for Color Challenge #46! (Top Ten out of 150 entries!) I was thrilled to discover this news after a long day at my day job! I'll be back in a little while with a new card design ... finally!

enjoy .... SPRING BREAK !!!!

I haven't gotten the amount of stamping done over my spring break like I had hoped but will hopefully do some catching up over the next couple of days ... cross your fingers! I about jumped for joy when I saw Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #46 today! What a fantastic color combination -- BASIC BLACK, RIDING HOOD RED, REGAL ROSE, PRETTY IN PINK, and BASHFUL BLUE. I was completely inspired by the patterns in the inspiration fabric. I used the stamp set, Enjoy Every Moment and paired it up with this week's SCS Sketch Challenge #220.RECIPE
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment
Paper: Regal Rose Patterns DP, Pretty In Pink and Bashful Blue Prints DP, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Regal Rose, Pretty In Pink, Bashful Blue, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty In Pink and Bashful Blue Brads
Tools: Trio Flower Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

TO POST OR NOT TO POST ????

I honestly didn't know whether to post this card or not. I even e-mailed the photo to some good stampin' friends asking their honest opinion. I've heard back from one friend (Lorri Heiling) encouraging me to post it. So, here it is (deep breath)...

I used Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #37 of Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, and Whisper White ... along with Julee Tillman's Mojo Sketch #68. This is the first time I've used this stamp set, Stitched Exotics. It is one of the three stamp sets I received for free for winning the December WOW! Contest.


RECIPE
Stamps: Stitched Exotics, All Holidays
Paper: Manchester DP, Haiku DP, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, and Blue Bayou CS
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Embellishments: Flower Fusion Too, Light Blue Circle Ice Brads, Jumbo Eyelet, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Dew Drops, Chocolate Chip Twill Ribbon
Tools: Crop-A-Dile, 1/2" Circle Punch, Small and Large Oval Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

** On another matter .... Does anyone see my counter on the right sidebar? I changed browsers the other night and my counter has been missing ever since! Anyone know how I can find it again?
Edited To add ... Seems as though I'm not the only one with an MIA counter ... I'll hold out to see if it repairs itself for now. Hopefully, it's counting in the meantime!

THANK YOU, TRUE FRIEND

Today's card uses Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #33 using the colors of CHOCOLATE CHIP, PUMPKIN PIE, TAKEN WITH TEAL, CERTAINLY CELERY, and WHISPER WHITE, along with SCS Sketch Challenge #205. I've been thinking long and hard about these colors ever since Kristina posted the challenge a couple of days ago. I just kept coming to a dead end with these colors but finally decided to tackle them this afternoon. I would have liked to have played more on the button theme from the inspiration photo but managed to include only one button in my design.

I used Stampin' Write Markers (Taken With Teal, Certainly Celery, and Pumpkin Pie) to create the True Friend medallion background. The felt flowers are from Flower Fusion and Flower Fusion Too, and the sentiment is from the stamp set, Upsy Daisy (I like how the dots on the sentiment mimic those on the medallion image.).

RECIPE
Stamps: True Friend, Upsy Daisy
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Taken With Teal, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Certainly Celery, Taken With Teal, and Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Markers, Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pad
Embellishments: Flower Fusion and Flower Fusion Too, Certainly Celery Button
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

KWERNER COLOR INSPIRATION CHALLENGE #31

I was so excited to see that Kristina Werner had extended the deadline for her Color Inspiration Challenge #31! I haven't been able to play along since I started working, and the extended deadline gave me the extra time I needed. Kristina's colors this week are CLOSE TO COCOA, ELEGANT EGGPLANT, PUMPKIN PIE, SO SAFFRON, and WHISPER WHITE. GREAT color combo!!!!!

I tried to play off of the inspiration photo of the autumn wreath. The Dew Drops (non-SU) added the dimension I needed for the large stamped image (Season of Friendship) and resemble the berries on Kristina's wreath. The circle paper piercing on the 1 3/8" Close To Cocoa CS was done using the Priceless Classy Brass Template, and the Punches Plus Classy Brass Template was used to paper pierce the So Saffron Scallop Circle. I used a Corner Rounder to round the corners of the sentiment from Holidays & Wishes.
RECIPE
Stamps: Season of Friendship, Holidays & Wishes
Paper: Summer Picnic DP, So Saffron, Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie, Close To Cocoa, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie, and So Saffron Classic
Embellishments: Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Dew Drops
Tools: Priceless Classy Brass Template, Punches Plus Classy Grass Template, Corner Rounder, 1 3/4", 1 3/8", and Scallop Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

POCKET SILHOUETTES

I stayed home from work today with a nasty sore throat and and stuffy head. I sure hope I'm up for returning to work tomorrow, as I'm not thrilled about starting to use those sick days this early in the school year!

I made this card last night using Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #22 ... Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Soft Sky, and Whisper White. I'm honestly not saying this to receive "sympathy comments", but I don't think I like this card. This color challenge was just that - a challenge! Also, I promise that I won't use that layered sentiment medallion again for quite awhile ... I've been using it way too much lately! I DO like the new stamp set I used - Pocket Silhouettes. Looking forward to playing around with it some more!

RECIPE
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Paper: Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red, Regal Rose, and Soft Sky CS
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red, and Regal Rose
Embellishments: Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Dew Drops (non-SU)
Tools: Designer Label Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Punches Plus Classy Brass Template
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals
Note: Card measures 6 1/2" x 3 1/4".

BIG FLOWERS FOR YOU

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #21 uses two new In Colors of Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss, along with Rose Red, Regal Rose, and Whisper White. This is a super simple card, as I was trying to get it done and posted before Kristina's deadline to be considered part of the round-up ... but I don't think I made it in time. There goes that job gettin' in the way of my stamping time again! LOL!RECIPE
Stamps: Big Flowers, Sentiment from A Perfect Day Rub-Ons
Paper: Bella Rose DP, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Rose Red, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Pacific Point, Rose Red, and Kiwi Kiss
Embellishments: Gold Brads, Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon,
Tools: Scallop Border Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Paper Piercer
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

ENJOY

This card uses Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #18 of Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, and Green Galore OR Summer Sun. Kristina moved up the deadline for inclusion in the round-up and I missed it. What is a working girl to do?!

I also used Julee Tillman's Anni-VERVE-sary Sketch #2 on SCS. Julee always comes up with the greatest sketches! I'm going to have to learn how to do it someday!


You'll see this stamp set, Enjoy Every Moment, and all the paper, embellishments, and supplies in the NEW Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog. It's jam-packed with an incredible collection of new stamp sets and accessories, along with many old favorites! The first day to order from the new catalog is Monday, August 11. RECIPE
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment, Daisy Dash Jumbo Wheel
Paper: Summer Picnic DP, Basic Black, Whisper White, Green Galore, and Rose Red CS
Ink: Basic Black and Versamark
Embellishments: Green Galore Brads, Flower Fusion, Black Gingham Ribbon
Tools: 1/4" Circle Punch, Jumbo Wheel Handle
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

DOIN' THE HAPPY DANCE!!!

Well, I'm NOT doin' the happy dance LITERALLY because as I mentioned two posts ago I'm a little crippled up this weekend. I'm doin' the dance inside because my card was chosen in the TOP TEN of Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #17 !!!! It looks as though there were over 200 entries! I'm keeping good company in the TOP TEN ... see them HERE. For details about my card, see the original post HERE.

PRETTY AMAZING

Today's card combines Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #17 of Rose Red, Regal Rose, Sage Shadow, and Whisper White and SCS Sketch Challenge #186. I really think my card seems a little out of balance and needs something on the upper left side ... BUT do you think I could find ANYTHING to put there?RECIPE
Stamps: Pretty Amazing
Paper: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Sage Shadow, and Rose Red CS, Bali Breeze DP
Ink: Sage Shadow and Basic Black
Embellishments: Flower Fusion, Gold Brads, Real Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Swiss Dots Dry Embossing Folder and Cuttlebug Machine (non-SU)
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

COLOR INSPIRATION, A SKETCH, AND BUD BASICS (again!)

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challege #15 of Chocolate Chip, Close To Cocoa, Really Rust, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White was just that ... CHALLENGING (for me, anyway!). I tried to use other stamps sets and just couldn't get anything to work. Then, I did it AGAIN ... pulled out Bud Basics! I combined this color inspiration with Jessie's (knightrone on SCS) sketch on Great Swaps Girls (GSGC11).

I almost didn't post this card, as it did not turn out like I had planned ... some days you got it, some days you don't! I think everything is pretty self-explanatory on this card, but wanted to point out that those are non-SU Dew Drops in the flower centers.
RECIPE
Stamps: Bud Basics, All Holidays
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close To Cocoa, Really Rust, and Certainly Celery
Embellishments: Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Dew Drops (non-SU)
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots

PRETTY AMAZING HIGH CONTRAST and BOLD

I created this card using Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #14, combined with SCS Sketch Challenge #183. Kristina's Challenge was to create a high contrast, bold creation using the colors of Basic Black, Basic Gray, and Whisper White ... Ruby Red and River Rock were optional. I chose to omit the later as I wasn't quite sure how to incorporate them and felt that the Basic Black, Basic Gray and Whisper White achieved the goal on their own.

I used the stamp set, Pretty Amazing which I've had for quite awhile and am just now getting around to using it. The hummingbird is stamped with Basic Black on Basic Gray and paper pieced. The large background panel was stamped with Basic Black onto Basic Gray. The flower was stamped with Basic Black on Whisper White three times with the middle and top layers cut out and raised. The middle layer was raised on dimensionals and the third was adhered with a Mini Glue Dot. I debated whether to use these self-adhesive rhinestones or silver brads but opted for a little bling for a little more drama.

I surprised myself with this one, creating a card without ribbon, and without punches and fancy tools! That's gotta be a first! Thanks for looking!RECIPE
Stamps: Pretty Amazing
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black and Basic Gray CS
Ink: Basic Black Classic
Embellishments: Self-Adhesive Rhinestones (non-SU)
Tools: Scissors
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

CLOSE AS A MEMORY

This first card combines Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #52 and Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #11 of Rose Red, Old Olive, So Saffron, Going Gray, and Whisper White. Beate's sketch is FANTASTIC, and I'm sure it will be one I'll use over and over again! Kristina's color challenge was just THAT ... challenging! I think I tried every variation of this card that I could until achieving a satisfactory final product. I think the Going Gray threw me off, but am pleased with the results! RECIPE
Stamps: Close As A Memory, Rough Texture Jumbo Wheel
Paper: So Saffron and Rose Red Prints DP, Going Gray, Old Olive, Rose Red, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Rose Red, So Saffron, and Old Olive Markers, Going Gray Classic Ink Pad, Versamark
Embellishments: Silver Brads, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Jumbo Wheel Handle
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

This next card was inspired by THIS CARD by kmurray. I loved her unique use of the stamp set, Close As A Memory. I actually designed this card before the card above ... just decided to use the stamp set I already had out on my workstation.
RECIPE
Stamps: Close As A Memory
Paper: Soft Sky Prints DP, Soft Sky and Whisper White CS
Ink: Soft Sky and Basic Gray Classic Ink Pads
Embellishments: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Dew Drops (non-SU)
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots