Stamp Simply #102

It's Stamp Simply time!!! This week's challenge was *really* a challenge for me, LOL. Let's see what Sharon says:

August 28 - ssnotime102 - Let's Leave our Comfort Zone -- OK, we all know we have one and most of us don't like to leave it, at least not for very long. But today, that is just what we are going to do - we are going to leave our stamping style comfort zone and do a card or project in a style TOTALLY unlike what we normally do. For example, if you always are drawn to doing cutesy things -- go elegant, or masculine, or anything OTHER than cutesy. Get the drift? Do something that does NOT come natural to you. THEN in your post, make sure you tell us what your usual style is and WHY this is different. This will be fun!!!!

So, I've left my comfort zone a few times lately but I'm not comfortable with it yet ;-) Maybe Sharon knew that, hence this challenge. Other than Flopsey, I don't do a lot of cutesy stuff--it's just not my thing. I tend more to elegant/shabby/vintage. But, as soon as I saw what this challenge was, I *knew* I had to use Michelle Monkey from DRS. My Color Throwdown team mate, Cathy, sent it to me as a sort of Color Throwdown insider joke so I'm glad to have this opportunity to use it. Thanks again, Cathy!

I'm also using My Favorite Things' sketch for this week again--I love it! It's a pretty simple card, really. The monkey was stamped on Pure Luxury Ivory 80 lb paper by Gina K. with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored with Copic markers. I then sponged around the edges with Distress Ink in Tea Dye and is popped up on 3M foam squares. The sentiment is from a set by Simon Says called Wise Owls.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play with us and take the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave a comment on Sharon's blog telling her where you uploaded. Please use the keyword ssnotime102 if you upload to a public forum. Check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also the great designs from the Stamp Simply team, along with our August Guest Designer:

Pat Adam - August Guest Designer

Julie Koerber

Jennifer Buck

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Tammy Hershberger

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

I'm so glad you stopped by today!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Michelle Monkey (DRS); Wise Owls (Simon Says)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke (SU!); Archaic 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey); Ivory Pure Luxury 80 lb card stock (Gina K.)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: 3M foam squares, brads (craft store); Copic markers; 1" circle and Designer Label punches (SU!)

Color Throwdown #51--Sponsored by DRS Designs

[If you're looking for the MFT blog hop post, scroll down to the next post.]

Good morning! It's Color Throwdown day and have we got some new excitement for you! First of all, Cathy is the hostess this week and chose Lavender Lace, Garden Green, and So Saffron. Lovely colors together!


AND, this week marks the beginning of a new program--sponsors!! Our first ever sponsor is DRS Designs! Check out the Throwdown blog for information about the company. They generously sent the design team stamps to use and this is the card I made with the stamps they sent me. The plant shelf image is #K097 Plant Shelf and can be found here. And the sentiment is #B254 One Line Get Well Soon and can be found here. I can tell you these are high quality stamps--rubber that is DEEPLY etched, producing a perfect image.

Now, guess what? Some lucky someone will win a DRS Designs stamp this week. That's right! Play along with us and we'll randomly choose one of the entrants to win a free stamp! How's that for incentive? Do I have your attention? OK, good, now on to my card ;-)

I've loved this potted plant shelf image ever since the first time I saw it used and was so glad to get my hands on it! I stamped it on Gina K. Pure Luxury 80 lb paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with Copic markers. I used my brand new airbrush system to lightly color the background a pale yellow red to reduce the starkness of the white. Then it was cut/embossed with a Petite Oval Nestabilities die and matted with a scalloped oval in Garden Green. My patterned paper is from the 6 x 6 Poppyfinch pack by Memory Box and was border punched with a Martha Stewart punch. Lavender ribbon and some buttons from my stash along with some lavender brads complete the picture!

C'mon over to the Color Throwdown blog and play along with us this week. Please use Mr. Linky to post your card and please link directly to your card so we can find it easily. If you upload your card to a public forum, please use the keyword CTD51 so we can see your beauty all in one place. Hope to see you there! And don't forget--this week there's a chance to win some free rubbah!!!

Be sure to check out what the other team members have come up with this week:
Broni Holcombe--Splashes of Watercolor
Cathy Indelicato--Crafty Thoughts
Danielle Kennedy--Wild Dragonfly Designs
LeAnne Pugliese--Wee Inklings
Tammy Hershberger--Stamp Happy
Juliana Swanson/July Guest Designer - Stampin' With Inky Fingers

I'm so glad you dropped by today!

~Recipe~
Stamps: #K097 Plant Shelf and #B254 One Line Get Well Soon (DRS Designs)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Lavender Lace, So Saffron, Garden Green (SU!); Pure Luxury 80 lb paper (Gina K); Poppyfinch (Memeory Box)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities dies; 3M foam squares, Perle cotton, brads (craft store); Copic markers; buttons (stash); border punch (Martha Stewart)

DRS Friday Featured Stamper!!!

WOW! I'm so lucky these days! First MFT, then Stamp Simply, now Friday Featured Stamper for DRS Designs! Thanks, DRS!!!

I love these images and DRS stamps are fantastic! VERY deeply etched, unmounted rubber stamps, with excellent detail. Since I was chosen as Friday Featured Stamper I was given stamps to work with and here's what I came up with. I have two cards and I REALLY like how they both turned out, although they're very different.

My first card uses G173--Drink Line Up and D728--Five O'Clock Somewhere--too cute! I'm using the Citrus mat pack from K & Co. patterned paper. The image was stamped on Gina K Pure Luxury 80 lb paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. The sentiment was stamped in the same manner, then cut/embossed with a Nestablities Label Four die and it's edges sponged with Creamy Caramel ink. The ribbon is craft store ribbon and the charm is tied on with DMC embroidery floss. Dew Drops in the corners finish it off.

~Recipe~
Stamps: G173--Drink Line Up and D728--Five O'Clock Somewhere (DRS Designs)
Paper: Whisper White (SU!); Citrus mat pack (K & Co); Pure Luxury 80 lb (Gina K)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities; 3M foam squares, ribbon, DMC floss (craft store); Copic markers; Dew Drops; Ticket Corner punch (SU!)

The next card just cracks me up! If you have cats you totally know this sentiment is true!! This card uses L815--Purr'fectly Comfortable Kitty and E776--Cats Have Staff. I'm using a Black Market Paper Society design called Letters From Paradise, and Basic Black and silver metallic card stock. This kitty demands glitz, so I gave it to her, LOL! The image was stamped on Gina K Pure Luxury 80 lb. paper and colored with Copic markers. She was then cut out and popped up on a base of silver metallic card stock and Basic Black with jewels added.

~Recipe~
Stamps: L815--Purr'fectly Comfortable Kitty and E776--Cats Have Staff (DRS Designs)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black (SU!); Letters From Paradise (Black Market Paper Society); Pure Luxury 80 lb. (
Gina K); silver metallic (Office Max)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities dies/Flourishe die; 3M foam squares, jewels (craft store); Copic markers; Sakura glitter pen

I'm so glad you dropped in today!