cQc125, MOJO229, & PP83

I really enjoyed the ColourQ challenge colours this week, likely because they included the Dusty Durango which I hadn't seen in awhile. 

If I haven't seen a certain colour, or designer series paper in a long time, I want to use it over using the new stuff I have. It's almost as if it's new again to me, but has an edge over all the brand new stuff because it floated around inside my head once before.

Digital Stamps: Man's Best Friend, Big Bold Birthday, Delightful Dozen

"Ink": Dusty Durango, Basic Grey, Baja Breeze, Lime Limeade, Whisper White

Tools: Photo Corner punch, Oval Bubble punch, Square punch, Grass punch

Extras: Staples

When I saw the MojoMonday challenge, all I could see were the colours from the ColourQ challenge imprinted on the Mojo design. I chose to do a greeting card using My Digital Studio. I don't enjoy how fuzzy my card looks in small form on my blog. It looks way better in MDS. 

Now, The Paper Players presented a challenge requiring a Masculine project with Clean and Simple lines, which is great because these colours are perfect for a masculine card, and I really need to make some masculine cards!

I absolutely love the Man's Best Friend set that comes with My Digital Studio! I'm a dog lover, so it's a given.

I hope this card made you smile and want to pet a dog. Do it! It'll make you feel good inside :D

PDCC 119 & Feb 2012 SFYTT

My inspirtion for this crd came from The Playdate Cafe Challenge this which was to create something in black and white and a splash of Hot Pink. I never ever chose colours like that on my own, so I figured I should step outside the cocoon and give it a shot. 

Stamps: Vintage Vogue

Ink: Melon Mambo, Versamark

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Melon Mambo cardstock, and Night & Day dsp (retired)

Tools: Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Word Window punch, Heat gun, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates

Extras: Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon (retired), Clear Rhinestone brads, Black embossing powder, Black glitter

For my layout I decided to use the Sketch for you to Try at I♥2stamp. I decided to flip mine to work with my dsp and chose to make use of my brand new Labels Framelits. Yay! 

Looking at the photo, I see I should have moved my side panel up centered vertically on the card, but I'll have to get to that later this week.

I also realize now, it's hard to see that I used the large polka dot textured plates, in the background. I heat embossed the F with black embossing powder mixed with some black glitter.

Then I happened to find this neat swirl on one of the sheets of Night and Day dsp, and decided it would be a vine for my flowers. I also never use my rhinestone brads, but this colour combo was perfect for them, so here they are.

Using the large Framelits on the inside gives more space for me to write my message.

Forcing myself to use colours I never use, allowed me to dip into supplies I rarely use: bonus! So much fun :D

Thanks for checking out my card!

 Hope you find a way to have some fun by stepping out of your cocoon today.

SSSC 152, TKT 58, & CC

I had been wanting to use this stamp on a Valentine for a long time, but somehow it just never happened. When I saw the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, however, I knew it was finally gonna have it's day!

Stamps: Cute by the Inch (retired hostess set), Woodgrain

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Naturals Ivory, Riding Hood Red, Love Letter dsp (retired)

Tools: Tasteful Trim Bigz die, 1" square punch, brayer,

I made a point of using Kraft coloured cardstock  to fulfill a challenge over at That's Krafty Thursday #58. Then, also submitted to Catered Crop as their challenge was to make use of hearts! I've never been able to incorporate 3 challenges into one card before. What fun! I love how these challenges get my wheels turning. So inspiring (and the design teams are always so encouraging!)

Riding Hood Red is not a colour I use often. This Love Letter dsp forced me to get some out, which was nice.  I raised the middle square up a bit higher than the others. I also split the Not Quite Navy cardstock to give it a more rustic look.

Stamps: Outlined Expressions (Sale-a-bration set!)

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy

Paper: Naturals Ivory, Crumb Cake

Tools: Labels Collection Framelits Dies

This is the first time I'm using this stamp set, love it by the way. It's one of those "cuter in person" sort of deals. I'm still getting used to the framelits as they are different than any other dies we have. I'm hoping to get better at working with them.

Hope you find a FUN challenge along your travels today!

HSS 105: Full of Love

I thought I'd share the Valentines I created for my loved ones. They are all small cards, I always seem to think Valentine cards should be small, maybe it's a throwback from when I was little?!

All these cards reflect my vision of love (different kinds of love for different kinds of people) but I had to chose only one to enter in the Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge. I'm not sure if entering more than one is allowed, but if so, I don't know how that would work. I'm still figuring this challenge stuff out.

For my stampin' partner (mom):

Stamps: Valentine Defined

Ink: Real Red, Pretty in Pink

Paper: Real Red, Naturals Ivory cardstock, and Sending Love dsp (retired)

Tools: XL scallop punch, Sizzlits Hearts Set die, distresser tool

Extras: Pearl

For "the man", who is not into anything flowery:

(I'm so pleased with this one, cause it's so him: minimalist, gets the message across in a clear manner, no big fuss about it, and movin' on. )

Stamps: Valentine Defined

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red

Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Tools: Heart punch

Extras: Crumb Cake seam binding

For my lovely sister:

Stamps: Valentine Defined, Teeny Tiny Verses, Simply Said (retired)

Ink: Pretty in Pink

Paper: Naturals Ivory, Very Vanilla, Sending Love dsp (retired)

Tools: heart punch, Sizzlets Heart Set die, decorative label punch, eyelet border punch

Extras: pearls, linen thread, Very Vanilla button

I return to this particular stamp again and again, it's timeless!

Only the top portion of the eyelet punch peeks out, and I "resized" the decorative label punch for my greeting.

I'm thrilled to say that my sister's valentine was chosen as one of  Hand Stamped Sentiments' picks of the week!

Hope you're feeling the love of those around you today!

Happy Valentine's Day!

CCMC 188 & CCREW0212CF (no. 2)

I loved the sketch from Create with Connie and Mary this week and the idea of digging out old neglected stamps from the Splitcoast Challenge: CCREW0212CF so much that I was inspired to make another card under the same requirements. 

I have a few bits and pieces of retired cardstock. One colour I always had so much difficulty using was Apricot Appeal. I had seen a picture recently in a magazine that paired grey with a similar sherbet-like colour and thought it would make a nice colour combo for a card.

The neglected, or rather never ever used stamp in question, is from last year's Sale-a-bration. Yep, it has sat on my shelf for a whole year untouched. Terrible! Especially since it's such a pretty one.

Stamps: Punch Bunch (retired), Well Defined (retired)

Ink: Apricot Appeal, Peach Parfait, Tangerine Tango, Basic Grey, Mellow Moss

Paper: Basic Grey, Apricot Appeal, Light Grey, Naturals White cardstock, and Walk in the Park dsp

Tools: Simply Scored, , scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, scallop trim border punch, crop-a-dile

Extras: copper eyelet, grey taffeta ribbon

Side-view...

A little flower on the inside. For the flowers I used a mix of Apricot Appeal, Peach Parfait, and Tangerine Tango to give it some depth. I did the same with the definition on the side.

Thanks for looking. Hope you have a super day!

CCMC 188 & CCREW0212CF

The card I made using this week's sketch from Create with Connie and Mary, also features another rosette!
I decided to make this one a little tighter (ie. more folding) but easy enough to do with the simply scored tool. :)

I also made a point of using a never before used stamp set, in keeping with this month's challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers: CCREW0212CF. I love this idea, what a great way to get us all to put some ink on the ignored stamps in our lives!

As much as I love this stamp set, I've always found a reason to put it aside. With the sketch from Connie and Mary though, I immediately envisioned what to do with these little partridges. Ta-da! Look it's the Partridge Family!

Stamps: Happy Together (retired)

Paper: Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White cardstock, Peach Parfait dsp

Ink: Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Chocolate Chip, and Crumb Cake (for sponging edges only)

Tools: Simply Scored, scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, word window punch, stamp-a-majig, sponge daubers, pinking hearts border punch, itty bitty punch pack

Extras: Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Everyday Enchantment brad, mini pearl

Now, lining them up this way meant using the much-needed stamp-a-majig, but it worked. 

To be completely honest, I was attempting to use the colors from the ColorQ Challenge (Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Regal Rose) but I just could not manage to get them right. So I abandoned the Regal Rose and ended up with this.

I used last year's Sale-a-bration Peach Parfait dsp, so pretty with the little floral swag across the bottom! And I snuck the greeting in the bottom corner.

Here's a close up of mama-partridge! The little flower I added has a pearl in it that I've coloured brown.

The baby partridges and the bow are held together by one of the spankin' new Sale-a-bration brads. I was so excited to find out these matched!

I'll end by telling you that I had no idea these were partridges, but this is where my stampin' partner comes in handy. She's real knowledgeable about birds apparently (I guess my grandpa used to hunt these) and swears to me they are partridges because of the little curly thing on their heads. I love it that she knows so much about stuff I'm totally clueless about! Thanks mom.

HSSC 104 & CCREW0212CF

For this card, I decided to make use of the simply scored tool I got for Christmas. I went a little rosette crazy this weekend, but it was great fun.

I also made an effort to use stamps that rarely get used, as the Splitcoast Challenge: CCREW0212CF required. Well, this one is has never ever been used. I don't even know when I got it, maybe during Sale-a-bration last year?

This is the card  I made to play along with this week's Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge as well. 

Stamps: Three leaves (retired), Tiny tags

Ink: Marina mist, sahara sand, and grey (for the greeting)

Paper: Sahara sand dsp & cardstock, Marina mist & Ivory naturals cardstock

Tools: Simply Scored, spiral punch, jewelry tag punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch

Extras: twill tape, dimensionals, sticky strip

For some reason, the lighting is really muting out the colours of the card in my picture, sorry! I made a point of taking it by the window but I think there might have been too much light!? or not the right kind?

I coloured over the edges and did a little shadowing inside the leaves.

A single leaf for the inside of the card. I lined it with Naturals Ivory cardstock.

Thanks for taking a peek at my card. There are more rosettes to come!