Color Throwdown #62

This week's CTD hostess is Broni, and she chose some spooky colors to challenge us this week:
Rich Razzleberry, Really Rust, Old Olive and Basic Gray!  And the sponsor this week is Louby Lou Digital Images!  I am still learning how to use digital images, but it is certainly fun to change the size and print them on different papers, and to always have them at hand!!  (And no smudged ink!)  I chose to make my little Dracula on the larger size, and then realized he was a tad bit intimidating for me to color in with my Copics:

I did use SU markers for his shirt, and you can definitely tell the difference!  However, I persevered and did some paper piecing for the larger elements, and kept the layout and embellishments rather simple since this will go to my nephew for Halloween---he doesn't really like a lot of glitter & stuff, as you can imagine!  The card base is textured Basic Gray; papers are BG Ambrosia, (great for Halloween), and the sentiment is from Crafty Secrets; spider is from SU.  I used Rich Razzleberry Patterns DP for his wings and hat; some retired fall DP for the jack-o-lantern.  I have to admit, this was  a challenge for me!  I am still on a learning curve with the Copics and my supply is limited, so bear with me!  I did decorate the inside a little bit with some more DP and a little punched sentiment:

Thanks for visiting today!  If you'd like to play, post your creation on your blog or an online gallery, then link it back to Mr. Linky on the Color Throwdown blog. Now let's see what the other designers have come up with!

• Broni - Splashes of Watercolor
• Tammy - Stamp Happy
• Cathy - Crafty Thoughts
• Barbara - Paper Pursuits
• Danielle – Wild Dragonfly Designs
• and Kristin Bueter, our Guest Designer - Mindless Creativity

Diva Coffee Break Design Sketch #147

 

I have to tell you, I am REALLY enjoying the sketches that Julie makes up for us Divas to use!  I look forward to them!  It is so helpful to have a sketch to get you started when your mojo is hiding somewhere!

 

So here is the Diva Coffee Break Designs  sketch for this week:

I needed a thank you card for a good friend who is also a customer (a very good customer), and I wanted to step it up a little, so this was a perfect sketch to use for my fall "grateful for you" card:

I stamped the Autumn Harvest images in Stazon on watercolor paper, colored them with Earth Elements reinkers and my aquapainter, then cut them out and popped them up on a textured Always Artichoke panel that was stamped with the leaf image, the little dot from Itty Bitty Backgrounds and then sponged.  What a mouthful!  The panel was then mounted on a piece of distressed-edge Chocolate Chip cardstock and embellished with some twill & a corduroy button.  The sentiments, from Falling Leaves, were stamped on Thoroughly Modern DP and Sahara Sand; vintage brads finish it off.  It's a side-fold card, so that makes it a bit unique, too!  Thanks for visiting today and be sure to check out what the other Divas have designed!  You can play too!  There is a Mr Linky at the DCBD blog and we would love to have you share your creation with us!

• Kristen – Sunshine, Smiles & Stamps = Lovin’ Life
• Sandi – Sandi McIver
• Heidi – Heart-felt Blessings
• Tammy – Stamp with Tammy
• Kirsten – Kirsten’s Stampin Corner
• Penny – Penny’s Creative Corner
• Julie – InkeduJour
• Tana – Artistic Times with Tana
• Stephanie – Stampin’ Steph

Tuesday Birthday Cards

Just a couple of birthday cards for today, both from SCS challenges.  And both were color challenges!  Today's is CC238, which uses Pretty in Pink, Sage Shadow and Going Gray--I used both Going Gray and Basic Gray:

I just realized I left off a Sage Shadow panel I wanted to add behind the ribboned panel--oh well!  This also almost uses Fall to Layout #61 from the Clean & Simple blog.....not really C&S, and not exactly true to the sketch, but the layout is wonderful!

I used markers to color my image from Of the Earth; sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I knotted a piece of Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon and ran it through a Filigree brad to make my little embellishment.

Yesterday's SCS Clean & Simple challenge #34 was to use pink, green, blue & white, with brown if you wanted.  I made a really quick card using Nursery Necessities:

My little bird is stamped in Old Olive, Regal Rose and Brocade Blue; the sentiment, from Simon Says Stamp, is stamped in Close to Cocoa.  DP is from a retired Hostess Pack.  Thanks for visiting today and be sure to stop back tomorrow for the Color Throwdown and Diva Coffee Break Challenges!

A Special Friend's Birthday Card

 

I can share this now because my special friend, Danielle, received it already!  I just had to use this cute image from PTI's Vintage Picnic basket; I paper pieced the basket and watercolored the image after stamping it on watercolor paper:

I mounted it on some textured Really Rust cardstock that had been embossed with the Autumn Type folder, then distressed.  The only real embellishment besides the nestie was some twine.  I really loved coloring this in!  So much fun!

 

 

I added a little stamped embellishment on the inside as well!

 

I still have things to share with you from my recent downline meeting!  This is a gift that my downline Laura made:

A really cute BIG gift bag with all these cute Trendy Trees stamped on it....and look how she stamped the "falling leaves" on the ground using one of the leaf images....soooo cute and clever!  Inside were a few goodies:

 

 

 

This adorable tablet......

 

 and some CANDY!  Very cleverly packaged, I might add!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Aren't I the fortunate one????  Thanks for visiting today!

Pottery Barn-Inspired

The challenge from Pals Paper Arts this week was an inspiration challenge from Pottery Barn.  It was so gorgeous, I really was stumped---there wasn't a thing that I could do that would do it justice!  And when I made my card, it still didn't turn out the way I wanted it to in my head---oh well, I know I can put it to good use anyway!  Here's the inspiration:

Don't you wish your credenza looked like that?  Heck, I wish I HAD a credenza!  LOL!  Anyway, this card also fulfills the LSC239 "SOS" challenge at SCS today--my SOS is "sewing", "ovals" and "silhouettes"....not terribly creative, but I am a busy gal!!  So here you go:

I used the jumbo wheel Friendly Words, Pocket Silhouettes and the hostess set, Of The Earth, using Dusty Durango, Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Crushed Curry and Creamy Caramel for my colors; cardstock base is Naturals Ivory.  And since I did sewing on my card, I covered the inside with some nice DP to hide the threads:

Sentiment is from Falling Leaves.  Any other questions, shoot me an email!  Thanks for visiting today!

Three Easy Pieces

I found a three-panel layout somewhere, I think it was Ali Miles at Gingersnap Creations, but I could not find it on her blog, but I am giving her credit for it anyway!  This is a wonderful easy sketch and I broke into some paper I had been hoarding to make some generic birthday cards:

and then a Christmas one for an upcoming hostess:

You can't get much simpler than these!  If you have any questions, shoot me an email!

On a different note, here is a little Faux Alligator Top Note purse I made as a raffle prize for the recent upline meeting I attended:

This was made from Melon Mambo cardstock, using directions from Donna at Butternut Sage.  I also have a written tutorial--it you'd like it, just shoot me an email as well.  It is fun and easy!!!

Mercy, Another CTD61

I told Tammy that I loved her colors for the Color Throwdown #61 this week SO MUCH, that I wanted to do another card---and this time, I incorporated Mercy's Sketch 40 into my card.  Here is the sketch:

and this time, I used one of the sponsor's stamps, a Carolyn King set called Whimsical Autumn; she designed this set last year and the proceeds went to the Alzheimer's Association.  I also pulled out some retired bits of DP that I always think I'll use, and I actually used them!  Here ya go:

Since I was still in that watercoloring mood, I pulled out my Watercolor Crayons....they give a different effect, especially on Kraft paper, but I liked the rustic feel they gave to the design.  I added a couple leaves as accents, along with a corduroy brad,  and I was done!  This will make a nice thank you, thinking of you, or even a birthday card!  Thanks for looking today!

Vintage Hero

My nephew just joined the ROTC at his school, Boyertown High.  This kid is OBSESSED with anything military, especially World War II.  I wanted to send him a little encouragement card and this stamp set came to mind.  Being a teenager, it will probably get tossed in the trash, or MAYBE, in a drawer, so I didn't want to spend a lot of effort on it, therefore it is fairly simple.  I had some scraps on my table from a couple other projects; the colors were military-ish, so away I went:

I also wanted to show you the gift I made for my downline, Laura, who always hosts our meetings at her wonderful barn studio.  This little pumpkin has been around a lot, I know, but it's always fun to see how each person puts their own personal spin on things:

 

You can see there were various punches and dies used here, and there are some goodies inside!  Yum!  Feel free to email me with any questions!

Thanks for visiting today!

Color Throwdown #61

Due to the changes in Stampin' Up! demonstrator policies, I will still be participating in the CTD challenges, but I will not be able to post them on their blog, at least not for now!  So you'll still get to see my creations!  Just a little change, that's all.

It is Tammy's turn to host the throwdown, and she picked the warm colors of Rose Red, Regal Rose, Mustard, Olive and Chocolate.....hmmm, those last three together sound like they might cause an upset stomach! But the actual colors are very nice together! 

I pulled out a retired set called A Touch of Nature and stamped the bird on watercolor paper, because I felt like watercoloring!  (I know there are probably NO birds in nature that really look like this, but I am claiming artistic license here!)  A few "simple" embellishments and my card was done.  Thanks for visiting today, be sure to check out the CTD to see what the others have done!

• Stamps:  Define Your Life, A Touch of Nature, Linen (both ret.)
• Paper:  Confetti White, Watercolor, Old Olive, Non-SU DP
• Ink:  Stazon, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard
• Acc:  Nesties, Dew Drops, button, Choc Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Aquapainter

DCBD Challenge #146

Today's Diva's Coffee Break Designs challenge is a color challenge:
 

These seemed like masculine colors, so I decided to make a baby card.  I pulled out Nursery Necessities and came up with this:

The layout was a card I think I saw on Lynn Put's blog; there was no name on the photo.  Pretty basic card, just some layers and embellishments in the challenge colors with a little extra hardware thrown in!  Here's the inside, using the sentiment from God's Blessings:

Thanks for visiting today!  Be sure to check out what the other Divas have done, and play along with us.  Post your card to your blog or an online gallery, then go back to the DCBD blog and link it to Mr Linky!  We can't wait to see what you come up with.

• Kristen – Sunshine, Smiles & Stamps = Lovin’ Life
• Sandi – Sandi McIver
• Heidi – Heart-felt Blessings
• Tammy – Stamp with Tammy
• Kirsten – Kirsten’s Stampin Corner
• Penny – Penny’s Creative Corner
• Julie – InkeduJour
• Tana – Artistic Times with Tana - on poison ivy break!
• Stephanie – Stampin’ Steph

• Stamps:  Nursery Necessities, God's Blessings
• Paper:  Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Real Red, VV, WW
• Ink:  Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Real Red
• Acc:  Very Vanilla HPH, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals, Polka Dot Stitched Ribbon, Small Oval Punch, Small Star Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch

An Assortment

of projects today to show you!  I received these "falling leaves" sentiment RAKs from Caryl and thought now, being the first day of fall, would be a good time to use them!

I actually made three of these! This is very loosely based on the CAS sketch at SCS for Monday; cardstock base is Dusty Durango and DP is Basic Grey's Recess.  The leaves were made by inking the leaf from Best Wishes & More in a lighter color of your choice (these are More Mustard and Cameo Coral), then daubering the edges of the stamp itself with a darker color (Really Rust & Ruby Red).  Huff, then stamp.  Cut out the leaf, fold it in half along the center and run it through a crimper at an angle.  That's what makes the fun texture!  Here's the inside, using a sentiment from CHF's Scripture Essentials 1, also stamped on Recess:

Changing gears a bit, here is the swap that I made for my downline meeting:

This uses a Taken with Teal card base and the ornaments from Tree Trimmings stamped in Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry and Versamark embossed with Gold Glory EP.  The larger ornament is cut out & popped up, and "tied" with gold cord.  Sentiment is from Many Merry Messages.  And here is a little notebook I made as a gift for our guest at our meeting:

It is covered with Night & Day DP which was sponged a little with Melon Mambo; the images from Define Your Life, DYL Alphabet and Pocket Silhouettes are stamped in Melon Mambo and Stazon Black.  Accent was a Jumbo Grommet and MM Polka Dot ribbon flipped to the plain side.  I also stamped some swirls from Baroque Motifs on the DP.    I think she liked it!

Thanks for visiting today, and be sure to check back tomorrow for the Diva Challenge.  See you then!

Busy, Busy Weekend

I had a wonderful but busy weekend!  On Saturday, I attended my upline meeting and had a good time stamping, chatting and catching up with friends!  You can tell these are a couple of the FUN-loving ones, Kimberly and Ellen!

And Georgette and Sheilah are two of my favoritest stampers!  They are just so sweet!

I am not really much of a photographer, so I didn't get many other "people" shots, but here's a quick look at the swap that I contributed (I'll show more goodies during the week):

and take a look at THIS!!!  This was the raffle prize I WON!:

This was from Janis, using a template she purchased from Becky Roberts at Inking Idaho!  It contains hot chocolate, marshmallows and candy!!! Mmmmmmm!

Then on Sunday, I had my own downline meeting!  We did the same thing, on a much smaller scale!

Here are Sue and Penny:

 

The giggly ones, Athena and Shawn:

And Laura and Carol with their Halloween Sweet Centers cards designed by Mike Funke:

One of the techniques demo'ed was brayering on the new embossing folder, Petals-a-Plenty; it was brayered with white ink, a piece of Bordering Blue cardstock was then inserted, and it was run through the Big Shot.  Finally, a few of the flowers were highlighted with the Silver Shimmer Paint:

The Shimmer Paint was also used to ink the poinsettia stamp from Spotlight on Christmas; sentiment is from Christmas Punch.  Cardstocks are Whisper White, Bordering Blue, Not Quite Navy and Brushed Silver.  Here's a little better view:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have so much more to show you!  Be sure to stop back soon!