Mojo Monday 214

It's been awhile since I've participated in a Mojo Monday sketch so I thought I'd give it a try this week. I really like the sketch and that's always a plus.

Here is what I came up with:

Details:
Card Stock - SU (Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichokes, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray
Designer Paper: Authentique - Wonder collection
Sentiment Stamp: Studio G, Itty Bitty BG-SU
Poinsettia-Hero Arts
Holly Leaves Bazzill
Ink: Memento Tuxedo London Fog and SU Cherry Cobbler
Star Brad - Making Memories
Swiss Dot Embossing Folder
Circle and Rectangle Nestability Dies

MojoMonday162 - Peace on Earth

Hi!  -  I'm excited today because I've made a card totally out of my "Comfort" zone and I like it!  Yes,  I tried this weeks MojoMonday sketch and I made a Round card - My very first!

So without further ado here is my card:

For this card I used the new SU Color, Cherry Cobbler (my new favorite red for Christmas) and layered it with Very Vanilla which for some reason looks white in my photo but it's not.  I used some of the SU Designer Paper, (Jolly Holiday) and my favorite Annabelle Christmas set, (Holly Branch) as my stamp set.  I did slightly alter the sketch to fit in my Poinsettia but sketches are mainly "starting points" so I don't think a slight alteration really changes the sketch all that much.

The Felt Poinsettia is from, Hero Arts.  The leaves are from Annabelle Stamps, The Punch is Martha Stewart, Vanilla Brad-Pink Hedgehog and Olive Brads-SU.

Say it with Cream

Hello and welcome to this weeks Annabelle Challenge: 
Say it in...Cream.

  Once again I'm going to have to say this was a bit of a "challenge" for me.  I don't have many papers or embellishments that are cream colored so I had to dig through my paper stash to find something I felt was suitable for the challenge.

I chose a patter from Cratepaper.com, (Crate Avenue Collection - Glam).  So yes my card is actually Cream and Gray but I think it works.

I'm using this weeks current Mojo Monday sketch for this card.  This is a very different sketch then I woul normally follow so again another "challenge.

My card base is:  Very Vanilla (that counts as cream doesn't it?) Then I layered some Basic Gray cs brushed with a Vanilla Craft pad and embossed apiece of creamy/beige paper (DCWV) with the Textile Textured embossing folder.  I added the panels of Basic Gray and Crate paper with some Cream Twill ribbon (JoAnn Essentials) along with Black Currant Sprinkles.  The flowers and sentiment (Floral Silhouettes - ABS020) were embossed using Opaque Vanilla EP from Annabelle Stamps.  I added a Scalloped border of Vanilla Card Stock and punched the border of the DP using my Scroll and Dots punch (EK Success).  To finish off the card I added 3 Cream Hearts (Annabelle Stamps).  I think this cad has a nice elegant feel to it.

Be sure to check out what the other DT members did using the color Cream.

Also don't forget you still have a week left to make a card for the current Annabelle Sketch challenge.  There is a PRIZE up for grabs so get your entry in as soon as possible.

BC159 - Tropical Inspiration

Don't forget to check out my Annabelle Challenge in the post below this one.  We had a fun color challenge with a bit of a "twist" added.

It's FRIDAY and time for the Blogger Challenge.  This weeks challenge is an Inspiration photo.  Don't you just love how refreshing this room looks.  The first thing that caught my attention were the leaf decorations on the shelves - I know pretty strange but I just found them to be a fun element in the room so I went with them and the tropical colors for the inspiration of my card.  

  I chose the current Mojo Monday sketch to use for my card. 

                                    

 For my card I chose one of the leaves in the (Paradise) stamp set from SU.  Instead of stamping it in a dark color I chose some blues/greens by using a Kaleidacolor (Caribbean Sea) ink pad.  My papers are from Cosmo Cricket (DeLovely) line.  I also found a scrap of some black stripe paper that reminded me of the black stripes in the quilt on the bed. I embossed the Bermuda Bay cs using the Victoria embossing folder.  My greeting is from the retired SU set (Autumn Leaf Prints) and was stamped on Crushed Curry cs with Basic Gray ink.  I added a ric-rac border of Hot pink and some Hot pink brads as well to complete my card.

Be sure to click on the BC icon and check out the other members blogs to see how they were inspired by the Inspiration photo.

Here is one of the pics I took of Coleen over the 4th of July weekend.  You can see what else we did by visiting my other blog here:

BC134 along with some MojoMonday

Wow another week over!  I've been slowly but surely recovering from a horrible case of Bronchitis this week and while I'm still not 100% I'm feeling much better then last week.                     For today's Blogger Challenge Lise picked a color theme: (Pink/Brown/White) - Pretty easy right? Well let's just say I had ZERO pink & brown patterned paper and had to go in search of some for the challenge.  The LSS had none (image that) so I ended up trying JoAnn's and found a pattern that I thought would work.  It's one by Colorbok.  I chose to use this weeks Mojo Monday sketch as my starting point.

Once again I've used another $1 stamp from Inkadinkado that I bought at JoAnn's.  I hope you aren't tired of them yet as I still have several more that I plan to use.

I colored the Beaver with Prisma Color Pencils and added some subtle sparkle to the heart with my new Blossom Pink Spica Glitter Pen.

Other Details:
Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Close To Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette and Whisper White.
Ribbon: Flirty Desinger Series (SU retired)
Heart Punch, Circle Nestabilitie Dies, Pink Heart Sprinkle (Annabelle Stamps).

Be sure to click on the Blogger Challenge Icon on my sidebar and check out what the other members created with this color combo.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

CIC40 - Let's Party

           Hello friends!  Here is my very 1st card of this New Year and I'm happy to say it's for the Hope Stamps Eternal Cupcake Inspiration Challenge (here by known as CIC).  Aren't these cupcakes pretty?  They come to you from Creative Cupcakes.  Who wouldn't be inspired by these lovely confections. 

My inspiration came from the colors, the presents, confetti and the party feel of these cupcakes.

I had started out to use some patterned designer paper that I thought would go perfectly with the cupcakes but plans went awry and after several attempts I decided to go a different route with my card.

Instead I chose to use the Birthday Script Embossing Folder.  My card is based on the Mojo Monday 117 sketch from last week only I made a long card & used my presents in place of ribbon.

The stamp set I used is from Inkadinkado (BirthdayFun-97716). 
Other details:  Inks: Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, and Basic Black.
Card Stock:  Regal Rose, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron and Whisper White.
Accessories: Scallop Punch (SU) Paper Piercing Tool, Glitter (Art Institute) Brads (Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts, Foam Mounting tape and Circle Nestabilitie Dies.

Don't forget to visit Hope's Blog and check out the CIC challenge.  Why not give it a try yourself.  You are not required to use Cupcake stamps and this year Rachel is doing something different with the challenges and a Prize might be involved so go check it out.

Nevermore, Nevermore

Yes I realize this is my 2nd post of the day but I need to get this posted so I can enter the Mojo Monday contest.
Yep another Halloween card! - This year I decided I wanted to send out some Halloween cards to some of my friends so that's why you've been seeing so many of them. I really need to start on Christmas cards soon though.
I picked the current MojoMonday107 sketch for this card. The stamp I used is one of my personal favorites that I've had for years. It's from PSX(Personal Stamp Exchange) which sadly is no longer in business. They had some truly wonderful stamps. I colored the Crow with Prisma Colored Pencils and matted it on Circle Nesties. I also used some really fun designer papers from Basic Grey 6x6 Eerie Pad that I purchased from Hope Stamps Eternal store here: I also used my MS (Martha Stewart) Loopy punch although after I finished I realized I could have used my new Drippy Goo punch (ah gives me an excuse for another Halloween card!). The background panels are done on Only Orange cs and I used my Spots and Dots CB Embossing Folder. The sentiment is from a Studio G $1 stamp set that I bought at JoAnn's and the brads are Grape brads from American Crafts.

Mojo Monday meets Annabelle

ARE YOU READY FOR A PARTY!!! - Introducing, Helen's Party from a brand new stamp company, AnnaBelle Stamps

Isn't she adorable! - I was so thrilled and excited when Andrea sent the email saying that I had been picked as one of her new Design Team members. I couldn't wait to get my stamps and get started creating with them. (Patience)has never been one of my virtues. The package arrived on Thursday and I worked really hard yesterday creating this fun card.

Andrea had sent us some papers (as a added bonus) and while we aren't required to use them on our projects I fell in love with one of the patterns and decided to use it for my first card. The paper is, Sugar Petals from Scrabble paper and while it's not available right now you can find the pattern here:
I like to work with sketches a lot (it lessens the time of trying to figure out a layout) so I chose this weeks MoJo Monday sketch found here

You can see that I altered the sketch slighty by reversing the position of the smaller circle. Otherwise I could not have added my balloon nor sentiment but it' still pretty much the same.

I colored my image with Prismacolor Pencils blended with Gamsol and then paper pieced her outfit with the reverse side of the pattern DP. The colors of the paper really matched well with some of the new "in-colors" and a few retired in-colors as well. See list below.
I added a nice shiny balloon by using Crystal Effects and popped up the bow on the package. You'll also notice those wonderful little gems on the right side that resemble Dew Drops except that these are called Sprinkles and they have a foil backing which makes them really sparkle/shine in real life. I LOVE THEM! Best of all Andrea sells these at AnnaBelle stamps and they come in, 24 Colors! I can't wait to get more of these babies as they are so pretty. They come in little cases that are stackable as well so you can save storage space if needed. Be sure to check them out.

So here is a list of the products used for this card:
Stamps: Helen's Party (AnnaBelle Stamps)
Ink: Palette Noir Black (PaperTrey Ink)
Prisma Colored Pencils, Gamsol
Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo and Whisper White.
Other: Crystal Effects, Kiwi Kiss Twill ribbon (retired SU), Olive Sprinkles (AnnaBelle Stamps), Linen Thread, Nestablitie Circle Dies and foam mounting tape.

I'll be back again next week with another fun card using one of the other new sets from AnnaBelle stamps. All her products are now available at her store so head on over and do some shopping!

BC111 Color Challenge - Lemon Tree Very Pretty...

Lemon Flower Very Sweet, But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat. Peter, Paul and Mary.

This week the Blogger Challenge Group was given a Color Challenge: Crushed Curry or (Yellow), Old Olive, Soft Suede (or Brown) and Neutrals as needed. For some strange reason an idea popped into my head to use an image that I had in my stash of colored images for this challenge. The problem was once I found it I realized that the colors were all wrong for the challenge so I decided to stamp another image and color it to meet the challenge requirements. I chose the Lemon image from Sun Ripened II (retired) which again I have to say I love this set and it's companion set and never plan to get rid of them.

Once I had decided on my image I paired it up with a Mojo Monday sketch from my files (I save them all) and from there I got started on my card. I decided to Water Color my image which is something I rarely do because I feel my technique isn't always the best. In this case though I am well pleased with the results. Yes the Lemon was watercolored with the Crushed Curry ink. If you spread it out on paper first before coloring your image you will get a nice yellow color to it. The leaves are Old Olive and Crushed Curry and the stem is the Soft Suede.

Out of all the new "In-Colors" this year, Soft Suede is my "least" favorite but I think that the touches I added of this color went really well with the other two colors. I highlighted parts of the flowers with a White PrismaColor Pencil and lightly dusted the lemon and the yellow portions of the flowers with Gold Aztec Pearl-Ex Powder for some subtle shimmer. Hopefully you can see a little of it in the close-up photo.

I used a piece of the retired Haiku (love that DP) and layered it to the Crushed Curry and Old Olive card base. I mounted my image on Soft Suede and Crushed Curry. The sentiment is from (The Greeting Farm - McSplendid Farm stamp set). I used friendship because after a little research I discovered that is some pagan religions the lemon symbolized, Friendship which I thought was lovely.

My ribbon is a piece of 5/8" White Satin ribbon that I dyed using a Soft Suede reinker. I added a Filgree Brad and a Fire Rhinestone Brad to complete the card.

So now it's your turn to visit the other Blogger Challenge members blogs and leave them some "comment lovin" - You can do so by clicking on the Blogger Challenge Icon on my sidebar.

Have a truly wonderful weekend.

BC100 - Bursting With Pride

WOW 100 Blogger's Challenges already. Now that is exciting. - I am so happy to be part of this great group and I hope my readers enjoy seeing everyone's challenges each Friday. - This week our theme was,
"Patriotic." - I think with Memorial Day weekend here that we all should be Grateful and Thankful to those who have and do serve our country in the Military to protect our Freedom.

For my card I chose to use a 4th of July theme and went with pretty traditional images and color scheme.
I used the MojoMonday sketch for this card.

I found this cute little stamp set (Studio G) for $1 at JoAnn Fabric and just had to have it. Every since I was a kid and went to watch the Fireworks I can remember hearing and saying, (Ooo, Aah) when ever a pretty fireworks would explode and light up the sky. Of course I've always worn earplugs (yes it's true) when I watch the fireworks display as I absolutely hate those really loud bangs but I love the fireworks.

I've used some old retired SU products here as well on this card. My card base is Brilliant Blue layered with Whisper White embossed with the Distressed Stripes embossing folder. I added a piece of DP (My Minds Eye - Parade "Celebrate" stripes) which I just love and added a piece of Real Red that I cut with my Wavy Punch (EK Success). Then I added 3 Blue Star Eyelets (really old SU Stuff that I still have). I stamped the bursting Fireworks (Hero Arts) with Versamark ink and used some old SU Embossing powder called, Ritzy Red) on Whisper White and layered that to Brilliant Blue. The sentiment and rocket stamps are from (Studio G) and I stamped the sentiment with BB ink and then embossed the smaller fireworks with some old embossing powder that has red/blue glitter in it. I'm not even sure where that came from now as I've had it forever. The Rocket was stamped with Night of Navy ink and I colored the red portions with Prismacolor pencils. I high-lighted the tail with a blue spica glitter pen. This was mounted to Nested Circles of Whisper White and Brocade blue with foam mounting tape.

Be sure to stop by all the other challenge members blogs and leave them some "comment lovin." - You can do so by clicking on the Blogger Challenge icon on my sidebar.

I wish you all a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend.

"Designed" For Love - BC 81

It's been awhile since I've done one of Julee's Mojo Monday sketches so I figured it was high time I got in and participated.  There is now a blog dedicated to MojoMonday and you can find it here:  Beside's this being a lot of fun you can also get a lot of inspiration from viewing all the great cards and have your chance to win FREE Verve Stamp sets so be sure to check it out.  

My card is also the card for the Blogger's Challenge Group this week who's focus was on Designer Series Paper.  I thought the sketch really fit being able to showcase designer paper quite well. 

For this card I used the following:  Card Stock:  Rose Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White.  My designer paper is from DCWV (Heart Print) and the Polka Dot Piece is from an unknown source .  I know pretty sad since the challenge was to focus on Designer Paper.  I cut off the Company name after I got it (I don't do that now) so I can't really say who makes it.  The reverse side is the solid raspberry color under the polka dot pattern.

Ink: Regal Rose and I computer generated my sentiment to match SU Rose Red.

Other: Sheer Pink Ribbon (JoAnn Fabrics), Large Heart Eyelet (Old retired SU brad), 6 light pink heart brads (JoAnn Fabrics), Lg. and Sm. Oval Punches, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Heart Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Angel Dust Glitter (Art Institute) and Foam mounting tape.

I love how this all turned out and hope you do as well. - Be sure to check out the other members blogs to see how they spot lighted Designer Series Paper.

Fa La La La La

ETA: Oopsie...I forgot to include the Close-Up picture of the Owl - It was late when I posted. So here it is:

Do you just want to pinch this cute little owls cheeks? I just love it when a card falls into place so easily. I started by picking a sketch and chose this one from Mojo Monday Then I picked out my Stamps & Finally the colors/paper patterns and away I went. I so love how this turned out.

My Card Base is Always Artichoke layered with Sage Shadow and designer paper (Wintergreen - Retired SU)

The Scalloped piece is Certainly Celery.

I stamped the Owl (Cozy Critters - Whipper Snapper Designs) on Whisper White card stock, colored it with Prismacolor pencils and blended with Gamsol. The Owls eyes were highlighted with a Yellow Spica Glitter Pen (see Close-up for detail). I stamped the Owl a second time on the designer paper and cut out the hat and scarf and paper pieced them to the original. I masked my owl first though and sponged Sage Shadow ink around him. I left my Circle Nestabilitie Die on so that I would leave a white border. This was then mounted onto a larger cirlce of Sage Shadow.

I added 3 light mint colored brads and stamped my sentiment with black ink and punched it out with the word window punch. I added a Celery Grosgrain ribbon and knotted bow at the top and raised my owl with foam mounting tape.

I think he has a nice "wintery" feel about him.