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Thank you for stopping by & visiting. I appreciate you interest and your comments. Have a great day.

May 23, 2023

Triple B Challenge - May and NBUS#50

Please share our badge! I found a new challenge blog through my good friend, Leslie (Running With Scissors)  It's called, Triple B (Birds, Blooms and Butterflies).
You can view Leslie's awesome card HERE
 
 
Here is the card that I created for the challenge.
 


 I'm also submitting this for the NBUS challenge #50 since I used some never before used products and also dusted off an old product (and I do mean dusted it off) to use on this card as well.

I started by match this little piece of bird designer paper (I think it's from Paper Studio) I bought it a couple of years ago and then never used it.  I thought the colors were very similar to some of SU's new colors so I went with the following colors:  Lost Lagoon (card base),Calypso Coral (coral circle) and Bubble Bath (small little flowers).

The bird image and sentiment are from a Unity Kit of the Month from June of 2013 and have never been used until now.  I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo black ink and used dauber brushes to ink on the colors mentioned about.  I also used the SU stylish die for the circle that the bird is on and fussy cut the sentiment out.  It was layered over the circles with foam tape.

The little flowers are a punch that came in a kit (Three for You) from Stampin'Up! that has long since been retired.  I had to climb up on my desk to get the kit down from the shelf it sits on and dust it off but I  liked how they accented the card.

The gems in the center came from a Unity as well.  I hope you enjoyed this card. - It's a step out of the box for my normal stamping style but I really like how it turned out.

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 Other Products Used: Corner rounding punch, Foam tape, adhesive glue, glue pen, scissors.

May 19, 2023

Color Throwdown #743 and NBUS#50

 
Welcome! - Today I am sharing a card that I created for the current Color Throwdown #743 and for NBUS#50
 
The new or never used items for this card are new card stock (SU) and Sentiment Stamp (Unity) and Cupcake Stamp (source unknown)
 
Here is the card that I created for these challenges:
 
 
 
Base of card is a retired SU Pink card stock.  Next layer is Basic White cs that I embossed with large dot embossing folder from Paper Studio.
The cupcake image (which I received years ago in an image swap) was colored with Permanent markers from Shuttleart that I received as a Christmas gift.  This was also my first time using them.  I added some Wink of Stella and a touch of glitter to the cherries.  Both were mounted on rectangle dies.  The sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo black ink.
Here's a little of how the cupcake shimmers:

I hope you enjoyed your visit and the card.  I had fun creating it.

Apr 24, 2023

Color Throwdown #739

 Welcome!
 
I'm sharing a card today that I made for the current Color Throwdown #739
 
 
Kit of the Month
 
My card is based off this card from the Unity Blog: (Click to enlarge)
 
Here is the card I made:
 
As you can see I changed the layout to landscape and of course the color scheme.
Details:  Card Base (Taken with Teal - retired SU), Certainly Celery (retired SU), Basic White.
 
I stamped the mint image on Basic White card stock several times and colored with a Copic Marker #YG03 leaving some blank white spaces.
 
Then I stamped the yellow dots from an old SU stamp set, Itty Bitty Backgrounds in Summer Sun ink (also retired).
I stamped a separate mint leaf and fussy cut it out.  It was also colored with Copic markers YG03 and YG07
 
I added some Teal Bakers Twine, Yellow gems and used foam tape to mount the Celery base & the individual mint plant.  The sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and mounted on a piece of Basic Black card stock.
 
Thanks for the inspiration Julisa Sargo (Unity)


 
 
 

Apr 7, 2023

Color Throwdown #737 - Card #2

 Hello and Welcome!

Yesterday I posted this card: (Click on card to enlarge)  for this weeks Color Throwdown.

Today I'm back again with another card I made for the CTD#737 challenge.
 
This time I decided to use the colors without using any designer paper.
Here is what I came up with:
 

 For this card I used a card base of Really Rust (retired SU) layered with an embossed piece of Mossy Meadow card stock.

I die cut my Cheetah from Really Rust cs and the flowers from Pretty in Pink (retired) cs.  I also used an old retired background stamp, Sanded from SU and Really Rust Ink.

The sentiment is from the Frantic Stamper.  - I thought the Cheetah was a perfect image since I'm wishing someone a "speedy recovery" and Cheetah's are pretty fast!
I used the Nestabilitie die and Basic White card stock for the sentiment circle.  I used SU Stylish Dies for the black outer circle.

I also added some little pink gems to the center of the die cut flowers.

The Cheetah, flowers, and leaf background embossing folder are all from Momenta.

I love creating cards with "texture" and this one sure has it.  Here is a close up of the texture:


That's it for this time. - It was fun coming up with 2 different cards using the same color scheme. - Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Apr 6, 2023

Color Throwdown #737

 

 

 

Hello and Welcome!
 
I've been in a creative mood (for a change) this week.
 
Today I'm sharing a card created for this weeks Color Throwdown #737.

 


 

 

 

 

Here is the card I've created for this challenge:

 


 When I started thinking of what to do for the colors I thought about not having any designer paper with those colors in the pattern.  That was until I discovered a piece of patterned paper in my stash that I bought last year.  It was from Basic Grey (sugared collection/beloved).  The pattern was mainly pink flamingos but dispersed in random places were some adorable giraffes. I decided to base my card solely on the use of the patterned paper.  I had seen a card on the Paper Players blog by Ann Schach where she used a piece of patterned paper as the focal point and just added a sentiment to complete the card.

So for the details on this card:

Card Base - Mossy Meadow, Pink layer (retired SU Pretty in Pink)Designer Paper (Basic Grey).  Dies from Momemnta (leaf, flower) Circle Die (Nestabilities) Dotted Circle (SU Stylish Dies)

Ink Pad - SU Really Rust (retired)

 

 

 

Apr 5, 2023

Thank You Bunches - Card#2 Paper Players Challenge #634

 Welcome! - Yesterday I posted this card for the Paper Players Theme challenge.
 
I had an extra image that I had stamped so I decided to play around with it and create a second card.
 
Here is what I came up with...
 
 
 
 
 

 This one is totally different from the first card.
I started by finding a piece of old designer paper in my stash and going with colors from the paper. (Paper was from My Mind's Eye)

My card base is SU Real Red.  The next layer is SU Granny Apple Green.  I layered a piece of the designer paper and a strip of the other side and glued them onto the granny apple green piece.  I cut a fishtail piece of the same designer paper only turning it so the stripes were horizontal instead of vertical.  I also cut a smaller strip out of what appears to be a pale lavender piece of card stock.  It's SU but again I have a bunch of old retired card stock and cannot for the life of me figure out what this one is. - I also cut a circle out of it and layered my colored image on top.  The smaller circle was stamped with a sentiment from the same stamp set and edged with a Real Red ink pad.  I added 3 small bright green gems to complete the card.

The image/sentiment were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  The image was colored with pencils and blended with Gamsol.

I hope you enjoy my second version using the same image.


Apr 4, 2023

PP#634 - Theme Challenge and NBUS#49

 
 Today I'm joining the Paper Players for PP#634 and NBUS#49
 
What a fun challenge.  I have a bunch of animal stamps but for today's card I'm using a new stamp set from CTMH (Close to my Heart) titled,
Precious Moments.  It was the March Stamp of the month and I just couldn't resist all the cute animals it had. - I couldn't find a link to see if the set was still available to purchase though.

Here is the card I made:



My card base is Blackberry Bliss.  I layered that with a floral pattern piece of Designer Paper that I received from a friend so I can't tell you where it's from.  I based the colors of my flowers on the image off the paper.  The image was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Prisma Colored pencils that I blend with Gamsol and blending stumps.  I added some shimmer to the flowers using a Wink of Stella brush.
 
I layered a strip of Handsome Hunter card stock and what I think is an old piece of Pretty in Pink card stock.  I added some pink gems to complete the card.
 
The sentiment is also from a new stamp set, Frantic Stamper,  Get Well Soon. 
 
If you have any questions about the card feel free to e-mail me.
 
Thanks for stopping by. 
 
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Mar 17, 2023

Color Throwdown#734 - NBUS#48

 
 
  Welcome! - Yep, it's been awhile since I've posted here on the old stamping blog.  I've been in a bit of a stamping slump lately and just haven't felt much like creating anything.

This week however I really liked the Color Throwdown colors so I got inspired and whipped out a card for the challenge.  Here are the colors: Green, Cream and Brown.
 
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Here is the card I created for the challenge:  COLOR THROWDOWN #734
 



For this card I used the images from January (KOTM) Kit of the Month from Unity Stamps.  The leaf/plant circles were stamped with Garden Green ink on Very Vanilla card stock and cut out with SU Stylish Circle dies.  Then I mounted them on a punched circle of Early Espresso card stock.

The card base is Garden green, layered with Early Espresso & Very Vanilla cs. - I added a strip of old SU designer paper (long retired) and a punched border (Martha Stewart) of Early Espresso.  The sentiment is from another Unity KOTM set. I stamped it with Early Espresso ink & punched it out with a stylish die from SU and edged the border with the garden green ink.  The sentiment was mounted with foam tape & I added some light brown sequins to complete the card.

I also received a birthday card for my upcoming birthday in the mail that just happened to have the colors for the challenge so I'm just sharing that because it was so cute.  Thanks to Candy Gray for sending it to me.



 

Feb 4, 2023

Freshly Made Sketches #571

 
Hello. - Joining in on FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES #571

 

Here is my card:
 
 
 
 
 

 I received some Stamp Kits from a friend and decided to use one of them for this card. - The stamps are from,  Stamps of Life and this was the August 2022 Kit - Sew Happy.

The sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and the Stitched heart was stamped with SU Baja Blue (retired).

I also used some light blue pearls for embellishment.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jan 30, 2023

Unity - Mushroom Card

 Welcome! - Yes,  I'm really posting a card here.  I know it's been ages since I've posted. - The holidays were a busy time and while I stamped I didn't get many posts done of the cards I made.  - Those will come later.

I ended up getting pretty sick in late November with Bronchitis and it took awhile to get over it.  

Thought things were going well this year and wouldn't you know it,  I came down with Covid. - Just a mild case, which I am very thankful for that. - Still it's left me with little energy so my time for stamping has been limited. 

Anyway I joined the Unity Kit of the Month club again and finally made a card with stamps from the December 2022 Kit.

Here is the card that I made:

I kept this one pretty, CAS (Clean and simple) more or less.

Card Base - Basic Black, Layered with Pumpkin Pie.  I added the stamped mushroom piece then a piece of printed mushroom designer paper and tied some twine around it.

The sentiment and mushrooms were stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  - I used SU Stylish Circle Dies and some black gems to complete the card. - The sentiment was popped up with foam tape.

Hoping to do a little stamping this week. 
I'll be starting to post a few of the Christmas cards I made for 2022 in the coming days as well.

Thanks for popping by.

Oct 30, 2022

Color Throwdown#716 and NBUS#43

 Welcome!
 
Today I'm joining the Color Throwdown blog for challenge #716 
 
Here is the inspiration photo and colors: Plum, Sage & Blush

Grab our badge to display on your blog.
 Also entering for NBUS#43
 
 
 
 

Here is the card that I created for this challenge. - I really liked the soft colors but could not seem to locate any designer paper in those colors so I decided to stick to using only card stock in those colors.
 
I started of with a card base of Perfect Plum (retired SU). Next I created a layer of Sage Shadow (retired SU) that I embossed with a new embossing folder from Spellbinders (Forevergreen).
Next up I stamped my image with Memento Tuxedo ink and used colored pencils to color the image.  I added some glitter to the star and used a gel pen for the little pink ornaments on the tree.
I cut the image out using SU Stylish dies and Circle Nestabilite Dies.
The pink circle was cut from SU Blushing Bride card stock.

Next up I stamped the sentiment from my new SU stamp set:  Brightest Glow with the Tuxedo black ink and used another of the Stylish dies.  I mounted the sentiment and the image with foam tape and added 3 light blush pink dots to complete my card.
 
So now I have my very first Christmas card of the season made.  I'd best get busy though as the holiday season is upon us now and time goes by quickly!

 

Oct 16, 2022

Color Throwdown #714

 
 Hello & Welcome!
 
Today I'm joining the Color Throwdown #714 challenge and also NBUS#43:
 
Here is the Throwdown inspiration photo & colors:
 
 
 
 

I was inspired by the colors and the photo.  I went through a bunch of fall themed stamps and found one that belonged to my mom that I had never used before so that is my "NBUS" stuff for this card as well as the designer paper that I used.

 

Here is my card:

 


 Details: Card Stock: Early Espresso, Night of Navy, Basic White and More Mustard*(retired) - Designer Paper (Plaid print from DCWV - Pumpkin Patch Stack.

 Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Early Espresso, More Mustard*

Stamps: Have a Festive Fall - Stampa Rosa, Acorn/Leaves -Studio112 which was purchased at JoAnns many years ago and never used.

Other: Fishtail Dies - MFT Stamps, Circle Nestability Dies, Colored Pencils, Gamsol, Distress Tool, Sponge, Masking Paper.

For this card I stamped the image on the white card stock and again on masking paper.  Then I cut out the image from the masking paper and laid it over the image on the card stock and sponged the Night of Navy ink over it.  I took the mask off and colored the rest of the image adding in some of the navy with a q-tip in places where I missed the ink from sponging.

The sentiment and the leaf image were mounted on the card with foam tape for dimension.  I distressed the edges of the mustard card stock with a distressing tool and also brushed some More Mustard ink around the edges.

 Links to NBUS#43  and Color Throwdown #714

Oct 7, 2022

Fusion Color Palette - Autumn Leaves

 Welcome! - It's been a bit (again) since I've stamped.  Have been dealing with some family issues and a nasty cold which has drained me of much energy. - I did finally get this card finished that I started for the current Fusion challenge.

 
 
 
Fall or Autumn is one of my favorite seasons.  I love the leaves as they change color.  - Speaking of color....just look at all the beautiful colors in the inspiration photo and sketch.
 
I decided to use both the sketch and the colors for my card.
 
 

 So many different stamp sets were used to make this card come together.  -  Plus I'm not totally sure on the colors of card stock I used but I'm going to give it my best shot.
I'm thinking the base layer is Cajun Craze  The yellow layer is a retired SU color, Barely Banana.  The wood grain stamped layer is Pumpkin Pie and the Blue Leaf border is Coastal Cabana or Bermuda bay. - Hey I said I wasn't totally sure but they looked as close to the colors as I could find.
 
Stamps used:  SU - Woodgrain background, Petite Patterns*(retired),Give Thanks (bucket of Leaves) also *, Hero Arts - Hero Greetings (tiny Hello) and Inkadinkado - Autumn sentiment.  This was part of a Halloween mini set purchased at JoAnn's several years ago.
 
Ink used: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cajun Craze, So Saffron
Other: Stylish Dies & Nestabilitie Circle die - Colored Pencils, Leaf border punch (EK Success).
 
I think it turned out pretty cute for mixing so many different stamps sets to create one card. - I hope you enjoy it too. 

Sep 9, 2022

Paper Players Theme Challenge #607 & Global Design Project

Wow cutting this under the wire for sure. - Our computer has been acting up and I had this card ready to post yesterday but just could not get the darn thing to work right.
 
Anyway the Paper Players theme challenge PP607 this week was,
Fall Fun.
 
I've also decided to enter this in the Global Design Project
 
 
Here is the card I created for the challenge:
 

 Card Stock used: Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Mint Macaron and Basic White.
Desinger Paper, Carta Bella (Welcome Autumn)
Stamp Sets: Nuts About Squirrels (SU) and Hey Foxy (Amuse Studio) Woodgrain Background (SU)
Ink:  Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Early Espresso (SU)
Dies:  Stylish Dies (SU) and Circle Nestabilitie Dies. 
Other: Gold Gems and Foam Tape.

The squirrel was fussy cut.

I really liked how this turned out so I wanted to make sure I got it posted for the challenge.  - Our computer sucks right now!
 
 

Sep 1, 2022

Freshly Made Sketches #551

Hello & Welcome!  Today I will be showing a card I made for the current FMS#551 challenge. 

Here is the sketch:

Here is the card I created using the sketch.  - This was a cool sketch because you could really do a lot of different things with it.



Once again I got out my Hocus Pocus stamp set from Photo Play. I really like this set and the matching dies a lot!

So I started with a card base of Basic Black cs. (SU) then I took a piece of Granny Apple Green cs (SU) and embossed the spiderweb on the top portion of the card stock only.  Then I added strips of Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black and Gorgeous Grape cs. leaving a portion of the green on the bottom where I stamped the sentiment.

I used Basic White paper to stamp the broom, cauldron & shoes with Memento Tuxedo black ink. - I colored the images with Prisma color pencils and blended with Gamsol and blending stumps.  Then I cut them out with the matching dies.  I added glitter to the shoes and some, Wink of Stella to the potion in the cauldron.  I glued the cauldron down and popped up the shoes with foam tape along with the bottom of the broom.

Lastly I added 3 sequins to the top portion of the web.

I must confess that originally I had a punched spider in the web but felt it wasn't the correct portion for the other images so I pulled it off and when I did it tore the paper a little.  So to correct that boo-boo I added the sequins.  I think it works.

Don't forget to click on the link and check out the DT cards as well as the other participants.  So much talent out there!

 

 

Aug 29, 2022

Color Throwdown #707 & NBUS #41

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 Happy Monday!

Joining in today with a card I created for the Color Throwdown #707
 (Mustard, Navy Blue & Turquoise)


Since I also used some new stuff for this card I will be posting for the NBUS #41 as well.

Here is the card that I created:
 

 For this card I started with a card base of (Night of Navy-SU card stock).  Then I embossed a layer of More Mustard *retired SU cs with a new embossing folder from Spellbinders called, Radiant Burst.  This was the April 2022 Embossing Folder of the month.

Then I cut out circles (SU - Stylish Dies) from Basic White & Bermuda Bay cs.  I stamped the Owl with the coffee cup which is also new and is from Unity Stamps Itty Bitty Ray of Sunshine.
I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored the owl with Prisma Colored Pencils.  I distressed the edges of the owl and the sentiment with More Mustard ink.  I added a strip of designer paper that I found in my scrap pile so I don't know which company it is from.  The circles and sentiment were mounted with foam tape.

I hope this makes you smile.  That owl is just so silly looking, it makes me smile.

Have a great day & thanks for stopping by.


Aug 19, 2022

Freshly Made Sketches#549 & Color Throwdown #706

 
 
Hello and Happy Friday!
 
Today I'm sharing a card I created for, Freshly Made Sketches#549
 
Here is the sketch:
 
 Next is the Inspiration Photo for the Color Throwdown:

 
 
Finally here is my card:
 

 
So for this card there was very little stamping involved.  Instead I used a lot of Dies to come up with my design.
 
I started with a card base of what I think is an old SU color, Tempting Turquoise - I really should have kept track of the retired colors better.  Anyway...I then took a piece of white cs and used a die from a set Tim Holtz Mixed Media#1 to cut out the pattern on the bottom portion of the card.  Next I used an old SU Kaleidacolor ink pad, Caribbean Sea and the Itty Bitty Background stamp to create the little colored speckles.
 
Then I cut circles of Bermuda Bay and Pool Party with my new Stylish Shape Dies. - I stamped the sentiment from an old retired SU set - It's Your Birthday with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.
 
I die cut two leaves from Granny Apple Green cs with dies from two different sets (Momenta) that I purchased at Hobby Lobby.
 
I added some Wink of Stella to them for added sparkle and then included some lime green sprinkles from a company called, AnnaBelle stamps that is no longer in business.
 
Here is a picture of the sparkle:

 For a change I went pretty CAS on this card but I really like how it turned out.  I hope you do as well.
 
Be sure to click on the links and see what the DT came up with and also the other participants.  
 
Have a great weekend.
 

Aug 14, 2022

Freshly Made Sketches #548

 

Welcome. - Today I'm joining Freshly Made Sketches #548 and 

NBUS #41

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Once again I used another stamp from my new Stamp Set, Hocus Pocus and the matching dies.

I also used a new piece of designer paper that I purchased last year and never used.  It's by Echo Park and is from the Halloween Magic collection.  This piece was called, Haunted Hats.  

Another new thing I used was my background embossing folder,

Spellbinders - Faux Stitch and was the May embossing folder of the month.  It reminded me of the patterns in the paper I used for the strip portion of the sketch.

Here is my card:

 


 So details:  Card background, Basic Black, Embossed layer, Old Olive, Strip layer, Pumpkin Pie and Haunted Hats dp.  I used a paper distressing tool on the edges.

Hat was stamped in Memento Tuxedo black ink on Basic White cs and colored with Prisma colored pencils. I use Gamsol to blend the colors.  I stamped the sentiment (Best Witches) with Memento Tuxedo ink and added it to a piece of the pumpkin pie cs.  I used another of my new dies from SU Stylish Shapes set on s piece of More Mustard*-retired card stock to resemble a moon.  I used the Star Die to cut out 3 stars in Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Gorgeous Grape.  I added some Wink of Stella to them for sparkle.  


 The hat and sentiment were mounted with foam tape. 

 

This was a great sketch because you could use your imagination on how to fill it in.  You could go CAS (Clean and Simple) or embellish it more as I did.


Be sure to stop by the FMS blog and check out the other particpants and the design teams cards. - Also NBUS as there is a lot of great inspiration there.