Thinking Of You - Stamp Simply #167

It's time for another Stamp Simply challenge. Today Sharon wants us to use some black on our cards. Here it is in her words:

Nov. 26 - ssnotime167 - Black Friday -- Well, I guess that's what they call today. Yes, here in the US it is the day after Thanksgiving when the Christmas shopping season steps into full gear and all retailers hope to get their books from the red into the black!  So taking our inspiration from that -- today we will use Black in our creations.  Use black as one of your feature colors or merely as an accent, use a black ribbon or other embellishment -- whatever works for you.  I love black accents on cards and can't wait to see what you'll create!

So, think I went a little overboard? Sharon said black accents, but this card is mostly black! But it *is* stamped simply!!

I was thinking I needed a sympathy card for my stash so that's the direction in which I was going with this. I think it could be simply a "Thinking of you" card, too, especially for a male recipient. Anyway, I'm using some K & Company paper called Black and Ivory. I stamped this image from PTI's Through the Trees on Very Vanilla card stock and matted it with Basic Black. I used a rhinestone flourish under that, and a sweet sentiment flag using Lil' Inker's flag die and a sentiment from Through the Trees.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime167 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and those of the design team, including our Guest Designer for November, Claudia Rosa of Pretty Pressings.

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Through the Trees (PTI)
Paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla (SU!); Black and Ivory 8 x 8 pad (K & Company)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Flag Die (Lil' Inker Designs); Classic Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders); rhinestone flourish, Pop Dots (craft store)

Well Preserved - Stamp Simply #166

I can't believe what a timely challenge this is! I'd already planned to do a "gift from my kitchen" for some special friends this year and this challenge made me get it done and off my list. Thanks for that, Sharon! Here's what she says:

Nov. 19 - ssnotime166 - Well Preserved! -- Is anyone out there still canning, or freezing or drying your summer harvest?  Or is anyone preparing those previously preserved goodies for Thanksgiving or Christmas gifts?  Today is all about preserving our fruits of the harvest.  Take this food related theme wherever it brings you -- use food type stamps, papers or embellishments on a card, decorate a jar of canned goods, or even wrap and decorate a chocolate bar -- we're easy! Let's just see some lovely fruits, veggies or any type of edible in today's creations!!!

So, I was being so domestic-ally diva-ish this fall. I made Crock Pot Apple Butter (OMGosh, delish!) and canned some applesauce, so I thought a pint of each would make a sweet little giftie :) I found this perfect little jar rack and the only thing left to do was to decorate it up!

And, nothing would work any better than MFT's Harvest Who's That Girl (temporarily out of stock) image for the tag. I stamped her on a Perfect Paper Panel with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored her with Copic markers--her shirt is paper pieced. I love how the basket turned out--I drew in the slats and then colored them. Patterned paper is from Graphic 45's Domestic Goddess--most appropriate, don't you think? ;-) And, to show how "green" I am, I reused a manilla label for the base :)

Here are the jar tags. The label and date are computer generated and I'm using Polka Dot Greetings Die-namics Die and Stamp Set.

And for the top of the jars, I added sentiments from Harvest Who's That Girl.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime166 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and those of the design team, including our Guest Designer for November, Claudia Rosa of Pretty Pressings.

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~

Stamps: Who's That Harvest Girl, Polka Dot Greetings Die-namics Die and Stamp Set (MFT)

Paper: Cajun Craze (SU!); Blueberry Skies (PTI); manilla folder; Domestic Goddess (Graphic 45)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Cajun Craze (SU!); Tea Dye Duo (PTI)

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Polka Dot Greetings Die-namics die (MFT); Classic Circle and Petite Oval Nestabilities dies (Spellbinders); buttons, baker's twine (PTI); sewing machine

Non-traditional Christmas Colors - Stamp Simply #165

I LOVE non-traditional colors for Christmas! Although, we're seeing them so much any more, they may become more traditional soon ;-) I especially love pink and seafoam green for Christmas. M-mmmmm! Here's what Sharon has to say about it:

Nov. 12 - ssnotime165 - Non-traditional Christmas Colors -- I know I do this every year, but it's a personal favorite of mine!  Let's make Christmas cards or projects today in NON-traditional Christmas colors. So that means NO typical red and green. Personal favorites of mine for Christmas are Bashful Blue, Amethyst, Celery, Pink or Rose. Can't WAIT to see YOUR favorites!!!

So. I went with pink and seafoam green ;-) The picture shows the colors darker than they really are--I couldn't get a lighter version without it looking washed out. I've had this Flourishes Poinsettia and Boxwood set since last year and it has never seen ink! Sinful, I tell ya! I stamped the large poinsettia and the two leaves on an MFT Perfect Paper Panel and colored it with Copic markers. Sorry! I meant to take a picture of the Copics I used (I've had some requests for this) but I forgot! I'll try harder ;-) Then I cut them all out and popped the poinsettia up on Pop Dots--the leaves are adhered to the white layer. The base card is MFT's Sweet Tooth card stock and the green layer is PTI Ocean Tides. The sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black in and is from Flourishes Holiday Greetings set. Finally, I tied some silver cord around and added some silver flat backed pearls to the flower center. 

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime165 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and those of the design team, including our Guest Designer for November, Claudia Rosa of Pretty Pressings.

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman--is sitting out tonight: feel better Deb!

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!


~Supplies~
Stamps: Poinsettia and Boxwoods, Holiday Greetings (Flourishes)
Paper: Perfect Paper Panels, Sweet Tooth (MFT); Ocean Tides (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: silver cord, silver flat back pearls, Pop Dots (craft store); Copic markers

Put a Tag On It - Stamp Simply - #164

This week Sharon has us doing something I really need to do--make some gift tags. Here's what she says:

Nov. 5 - ssnotime164 - Tags are Fun! -- Who doesn't like to make a tag or two!  Tags are small canvases to decorate that we pass on with a gift or use to embellish a card or other project. Today we are making tags -- could be Christmas tags or ANY tag you might need for any occasion -- whether it be a tag to hang on a bag handle or gift or an adornment for a card or other project, let's just have some fun today making tags!!!

I really loved some tags Dawn McVey did a bit ago so I used that inspiration for my tag. Everything I used is from PTI except the seam binding, which I crinkled and tea dyed myself. I used PTI's tag die for the base and just added some elements until I thought I had enough ;-) I made the medallion using Kelly Lunceford's fabulous tutorial, for which I can thank Sharon, as she mentioned it on her blog a while back. The sentiments are both from Holiday Tags 2010.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime164 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and those of the design team, including our Guest Designer for November, Claudia Rosa of Pretty Pressings.

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Holiday Tags 2010 (PTI)
Paper: Fine Linen, Pure Poppy, Stamper's Select Whitel Sugarplum  patterned paper (PTI)
Ink: Pure Poppy, Tea Dye Duo (PTI)
Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Classic Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Tag die baker's twine, buttons, twine (PTI); seam binding

It's a [CAS] Party - Stamp Simply - #163

It's Stamp Simply time! This week, Sharon wants us to do CAS. Here's what she says:

Oct. 29 – ssnotime163 – Tis the Season for Clean and Simple – Clean and Simple is definitely the way to go when we need to mass produce.  But it’s also a very refreshing and pleasing style to fall back on any time at all.  Today let us truly think Clean and Simple – SUPER SIMPLE.  And let’s make cards with Christmas OR winter in mind as we inspire each other with all our Clean and Simple creations!

OK, she got me at CAS but reeled me in at "mass produce". I don't normally like to mass produce, but I had decided to stamp my open house invitations this year, so the timing of this challenge couldn't be any more perfect! I've been making them on the computer and printing them off in previous years but I wanted to add that personal touch this year. But it had to be a quick personal touch, KWIM?

So here's my CAS mass produced open house invitation. Did I mention I love this PTI set called Wreath For All Seasons? Thought so ;-) First, I computer generated the outside sentiment, then I computer generated the inside: when, where, what, etc., on full sized 8.5" x 11" card stock, two on each sheet. Next I cut it in half, scored, and folded. Then it was simply a matter of stamping the two part wreath. Easy peasy and SUPER SIMPLE! I did about 100 invitations in about 4 hours, total (not bad at all to get that personal touch), including stuffing them in envelopes, which I did over the weekend while on a road trip. Ah, multitasking, it's a joy :) I did the printing while I was working on something else, too, so I saved time there, as well. I still need to put stamps on them, but that won't take long. I considered scoring some lines above the sentiment and adding a twine-tied button to the wreath, but that would add a lot of time and I needed this to be quick. This went so well I'm already planning next year's CAS invitations--maybe I'll get started early enough to add some extra touches to them ;-)

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime163 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and those of the design team, including our Guest Designer for October, Jerri Kay of A Touch Of Grace.

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Wreath For All Seasons (PTI)
Paper: GP card stock
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip (SU!); printer ink; Scor-Buddy

Thankful For You - Stamp Simply #162

It's Stamp Simply time and this week Sharon wants us to count our blessings. Here's what she says:

Oct. 22 – ssnotime162 – Count your Blessings – We all have MUCH to be thankful for.  And with Thanksgiving approaching we are reminded to Count Those Blessings!!!  Today’s challenge is wide open, but it has an overall theme of THANKFULNESS.  Some ideas that come to my mind – a thank you note, a small hostess gift, a project featuring our children, home, friends, etc.  But the door is wide open – just create something that will in some way convey thanks for all our Blessings!  And PLEASE, tell us what Blessings YOU are thankful for as you create your project!

I hadn't had time to ink up PTI's Fall Jar Fillers so I got them out for this card. I'm in love with this line of stamps. I love old jars--and new ones, too. I use them for all kinds of storage. I stamped the images on MFT's Perfect Paper Panels and colored them with Copic markers. I paper pieced the lid cover and cut them both out and popped them up. The rest of the card is pretty simple: some of my fave Indian Summer paper from Basic Grey, twill, button, and twine (of course, LOL) and some stitching. The sentiment on the jar pretty much says what I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for all the wonderful people I've met through stamping--it's been an amazing journey so far and I hope to continue it for a long time to come. I'm also thankful for relatively good health, my family, my friends, and my job (although I'm counting the days to retirement ;-)). There are so many other things for which I'm thankful but they are the main ones.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime162 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and those of the design team, including our Guest Designer for October, Jerri Kay of A Touch Of Grace.

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto--sitting this week out

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Fall Fillers (PTI)
Paper: Stamper's Select, Terracotta Tile (PTI); Indian Summer 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey); Perfect Paper Panel (MFT)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: twill; button, twine (PTI); sewing machine; Pop Dots (craft store)

Sparkling Holidays - Stamp Simply #161

What a fun challenge Sharon has for us this week! Here it is in her own words:

Oct. 15 – ssnotime161 – Hard Rock Café – Today we are thinking *hard rocks* -- NOT music – OR eating!!!  LOL!!!  Think metals and stones as added elements for your project.  Metallic pens, metallic papers, and rhinestones -- gold, silver and diamonds – right?  Feel free to use copper, rubies, emeralds, pearls, etc.   Use these types of beauties to embellish and enhance your work today – can’t WAIT to see!

I couldn't resist getting the new Taylored Expressions Winter Wonderland set and die. LOVE that there's 2 or 3 stamps for each die size and I couldn't wait to try them out. I wanted to highlight the snowflakes and the bling so I kept everything else pretty simple. White card base with a layer of Kraft is it. I stamped the sentiment with Memento Tuxedo Black and the snowflakes with Memento Summer Sky and added the bling. I thought that rhinestone flourish sorta gives the impression of swirling snow. I'm lovin' it!

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime161 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also I'm sure you'll be seeing some fabulous examples of how this technique *should* look from the design team, including our Guest Designer for October, Jerri Kay of A Touch Of Grace.

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Winter Wonderland (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: Stamper's Select, Kraft (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Summer Sky
Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Winter Wonderland dies (Taylored Expressions); rhinestones, Pop Dots (craft store); Stamp-a-ma-jig

Welcome Fall - Stamp Simply #160

Today's Stamp Simply challenge just makes me happy. Here's what Sharon says:

Oct. 8 – ssnotime160 – Back to Nature –  Autumn is truly beautiful here in Upper Michigan – the changing of leaves from green to a rainbow of rich yellows, oranges and reds, the crunching of the fallen leaves underfoot, the sight and sounds of birds migrating south and the smell of applesauce cooking!   I love this time of year!  Today let us be inspired by Mother Nature in our creations – let’s create something with a natural, earthy feel reflective of ANY season YOU enjoy – it’s the natural/earthy element we are going for here, not necessarily autumn.

Told you I was in love with this twig wreath, from PTI's Wreath For All Seasons. I have some fall berry wreaths with these colors so I decided to use them for my "earthy" wreath. I'm using SCS's Sketch for this week, #301 for my layout, and my favorite fall paper, Indian Summer by Basic Grey. I stamped the twig part of the wreath on Whisper White with Soft Suede ink, then stamped the berries in Cajun Craze (my new rust fave!), More Mustard, and Kiwi Kiss. The sentiment was stamped with Soft Suede, as well. Then a button, some twine, and a bow finished it off! I like it :)

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime160 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also I'm sure you'll be seeing some fabulous examples of how this technique *should* look from the design team, including our Guest Designer for October, Jerri Kay of A Touch Of Grace.

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~

Stamps: Wreath For All Seasons (PTI)

Paper: Whisper White (SU!); Dark Chocolate (PTI); Indian Summer 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)

Ink: Soft Suede, Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard, Cajun Craze (SU!); Tea Dye Duo (PTI)

Accessories: sewing machine; button, twine (PTI); ribbon, Pop Dots (craft store)

Give Thanks - Stamp Simply #159

It's time for another Stamp Simply challenge. Today, Sharon wants us to think in 3's. Here's what she says:

Oct. 1 – ssnotime159 – Three is the Number – Today’s challenge calls for us to think in 3’s.  Your project should incorporate 3 panels (as in background panels) OR 3 images (as in the focal point).  Things always look pleasing to the eye when grouped in 3’s, so let’s see what kind of eye-pleasing trios we can come up with today!

I thought this would be a perfect time to break out my new Take Three: Fall set by PTI. I stamped the three pumpkins on an MFT Cream Perfect Paper Panel with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored with Copic markers. Then I cut them out and matted them. I ran the Rustic Cream layer through my Cuttlebug with the Woodgrain Impression plate, and finished up by adding some ribbon and the sentiment tied onto a button with some twine.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime159 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also I'm sure you'll be seeing some fabulous examples of how this technique *should* look from the design team, including our Guest Designer for October, Jerri Kay of A Touch Of Grace.

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman - sitting this week out

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Take Three: Fall (PTI)
Paper: Rustic Cream, Terracotta Tile (PTI); Old Olive (SU!); Cream Perfect Paper Panel (MFT)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa; Tea Dye Duo (PTI)
Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Tag Trio die (Spellbinders); Woodgrain Impression Plate, button, ribbon, twine (PTI)

Fall Wreath - Stamp Simply #158

Today Sharon has an inspiration challenge for us. Here' what she says:

Sept. 24 - ssnotime158 - Bridal Inspiration - I fell in love with this photo when I saw it! This is a bridal sari for an Indian wedding. I absolutely LOVE the colors, the texture, the shimmer of the fabric, the beading, the patterns. Today's challenge is to use this photo for your inspiration and just run with it -- take what speaks to you from this photo and show us all your FAB creations! Can't WAIT to see what you all come up with! And PLEASE, share with us what did speak to you from this gorgeous photo!

And here's the photo:


It is indeed beautiful, isn't it!? I let the gorgeous rich colors inspire me--I thought they'd make for a great fall card. Did I mention I love fall? ;-)


I just got this new set from PTI--Wreath For All Seasons--and couldn't wait to use it. I love bittersweet wreaths and this one is gorgeous. My patterned paper is from Kaiser Craft's Peachy Keen collection, that can be found in Sharon's store here. Pretty simple layout and stamped simply, for sure.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime158 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also I'm sure you'll be seeing some fabulous examples of how this technique *should* look from the design team, including our Guest Designer for the rest of the month, Chrissie Stokes of Simply One of a Kind.

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Wreath For All Seasons (PTI)
Paper: Rustic Cream, Ocean Tides (PTI); Peachy Keen 6 x 6 pad (Kaiser Craft)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Terracotta Tile, Vintage Ink Duo (PTI)
Accessories/tools: button, ribbon, twine (PTI); sewing machine

Cracked Glass - Stamp Simply #157

This week's Stamp Simply challenge is a technique challenge. Here's what Sharon says:

Sept. 17 - ssnotime157 - Cracked Glass - Deb Saaranen selected our challenge this week and her selection is the Cracked Glass Technique which I LOVE. Haven't done that in ages but I love the look. It works so well on vintage or wintery creations, but feel free to use it in any way that strikes your fancy. If you've never done Cracked Glass before, you can check out this SCS tutorial.

OK, my only defense is that this was my first time to try this technique. I think I got carried away with my layers of UTEE. Most of it cracked correctly, but at the top it looks like a starburst, LOL! I'm a-thinkin' I need more practice with this, so you might want to just consider this a tutorial on how *not* to do this technique ;-)

My image is from Crafty Secret's Halloween Journal Notes pad that you can find in Sharon's store here (scroll down to about 1/4 of the way from the bottom)--it's so cutely vintage, don't you think? I covered it with Versamark and then proceeded to pile up layers of UTEE. Then I cracked it just like the video showed, matted it, and popped it up on some foam. I thought my layout was a needing a little somethin', so I added some punched out bats and some black flat-backed pearls. Not my finest hour.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime157 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also I'm sure you'll be seeing some fabulous examples of how this technique *should* look from the design team, including our Guest Designer for the rest of the month, Chrissie Stokes of Simply One of a Kind.

Barb Schram--sitting this week out (feel better, Barb!)

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: None
Paper: Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant (SU!); Matilda 6 x 6 pad (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Versamark
Accessories/tools: border punch, bat punch (Martha Stewart); ribbon, pearls (craft store); UTEE, heat tool

Let's hear it for the guys! Stamp Simply #156

Are your ready to Stamp Simply? Sharon's got a GREAT challenge for us today--here it is in her own words:

Sept. 10 - ssnotime156 - Let's Hear it for the Guys! - Guy cards just don't seem to come as easy for most of us as pretty, frilly, girlie cards -- agree? This week let's come up with some great ideas for guy cards -- any reason -- birthday, thank you, get well, thinking of you, etc. -- let's just make some cards that are more suited to sending to the guys in our lives. Only one other stipulation -- NO BOWS!!! You may use ribbon or string, but in a *manly* fashion -- LOL!!!!

She's so right, isn't she? Guy cards are hard to make for us girls--at least they are for me--I want all those bows and lace and ribbon! But this challenge came at the perfect time for me. I've been putting off making a birthday card for my nephew and this was just the push I needed. I think this turned out to be a very manly CAS card--now I just need to get it into the mail!

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime156 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also the great designs from the Stamp Simply team and leave 'em some love!

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Background Basics: Woodgrain, Birthday Basics, Through the Trees (PTI)
Paper: Rustic Cream, Kraft, Simply Chartreuse, Tea Dye Duo (PTI)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado (PTI)
Accessories/tools: Corner Chomper (We R Memory Makers); twill; buttons/twine (PTI); Pop Dots (craft store)

Fall Leaves - Stamp Simply #155

Sept. 3 - ssnotime155 - Falling Leaves - This challenge was actually inspired by an upcoming Bridal Shower I was asked to make a card for. A great theme for this time of year! So today's challenge is to incorporate leaves into our projects -- any type of leaves, any type of card or project -- let's just see some beautiful Falling Leaves this week as we transition into fall mode!

After the last few days of layers and layers I *needed* to make something CAS, LOL! And this card definitely is stamped simply. I'm loosely following Fall-To Layout #105 for my layout and I'm using PTI's Leaf Prints set. First, I die cut the leaf from Rustic Cream card stock, then inked up the leaf stamp with Old Olive ink and tipped the ends with Cajun Craze, using the rock and roll technique. Finally, I added the veins with Memento Rich Cocoa. Then I made some score lines on the right side of more Rustic Cream, stamped the sentiment from Autumn Abundance, and matted it with Cajun Craze. Did I mention I love that color? Yes, I do :) Next, I tied some Terracotta Tile twill around and popped those two layers up on the Kraft base with foam tape. Then I popped the leaf up on Pop Dots and finished it off with some Dew Drops. I love it.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime155 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also the great designs from the Stamp Simply team and leave 'em some love!

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Autumn Abundance, Leaf Prints (PTI)
Paper: Rustic Cream, Kraft (PTI); Cajun Craze (SU!)
Ink: Old Olive, Cajun Craze (SU!); Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Leaf Prints die, ribbon (PTI); Dew Drops; Scor-Buddy

Enjoy the Days of Autumn - Stamp Simply #154

Oh, MY, how time is flying! It's time for another Stamp Simply challenge already, LOL! Today Sharon has a color challenge for us. Here's what she says:

August 27 - ssnotime154 - A Color Challenge - Today's colors are rich and so pretty together as we transition from summer into autumn. And autumn comes earlier to some of us than others. Our colors are Turquoise and Orange, with White OR Ivory as your netural and as always, adding Black for a little POP is totally OK, but not required.

She has a photo of an inspiration piece on her blog so check it out here.



This JustRite image, from the Autumn Blessings Border & Center Set, is my sentiment exactly! I might have mentioned this before, but I love fall--the leaf colors, the crisp dry air, often with the scent of burning leaves, just makes me happy :) I'm SO ready to "enjoy the days of Autumn".

I might have stretched the colors a bit ;-) I'm not using turquoise exactly--I'm using Baja Breeze which *is* in the turquoise color family, right? So I hope it counts. This patterned paper, from Kaiser Kraft's Peachy Keen 6 x 6 pad that I got from Sharon's store, was a pretty good place to start, I thought. I added some Baja Breeze DSP, some Baja Breeze double stitched ribbon and SU's new Cajun Craze card stock. I was really disappointed when Really Rust was retired, but I'm liking the new one *a lot* and I'm thinking it will make a good substitute, although I did stockpile a bit of Really Rust while I could ;-) I added a little color to the leaves on the image with Copic markers and I'm using CPS #181 for my layout.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime154 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also the great designs from the Stamp Simply team and leave 'em some love!

Charlene Driggs - August Guest Designer

Barb Schram--sitting this week out

Janine Orchard

A J Otto--sitting this week out

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Autumn Blessings Border & Center Set (JustRite)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze card stock, Baja Breeze DSP (SU!); Peachy Keen 6 x 6 pad (Kaiser Kraft)
Ink: Cajun Craze (SU!); Antique Paper Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Classic Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinder); ribbon (SU!); sewing machine; leaf punches (Martha Stewart); Copic markers

Have a Merry Christmas - Stamp Simply #153

Are you ready to Stamp Simply? Sharon's got a really trendy challenge for us this week. Here's what she says:

August 20 - ssnotime153 - Pleated Ribbon - Pleated ribbon seems to be all the rage of late, so today we are going to make creations with pleated ribbon. You may use purchased pleated ribbon, you may pleat your own by hand or on a sewing machine or with tape. Whatever you can dream up -- let's just see some fun pleats on our projects today. Oh, and for the purpose of this challenge, we will equate gathers to pleats -- either/or is fine!

I decided it was not a bad idea to try to get a few Christmas cards done as I can, so I took this opportunity to make a very simply stamped and designed card. I'm using Just Rite's new Christmas set called Hearts Come Home and can be found in Sharon's store here. I'm using a very simple layout with my new Mitten Weather 6 x 6 paper by Cosmo Cricket. I love untraditional Christmas colors (OK, I love ALL Christmas colors!) and this one is chocked full of 'em. Card stock is PTI, as is the ribbon that I pleated and sewed down. Finally, I sponged the edges and added some buttons to the ribbon. Simple and easily mass produced :)

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime153 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also the great designs from the Stamp Simply team and leave 'em some love!

Charlene Driggs - August Guest Designer

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Hearts Come Home (JustRite)
Paper: Kraft, Plum Pudding, Rustic White (PTI); Mitten Weather 6 x 6 pad (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Plum Pudding, Tea Dye Duo (PTI)
Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Classic Square and Scalloped Nestabilities (Spellbinder); ribbon, buttons, twine (PTI); sewing machine

Ribbon Scraps - Stamp Simply #152

Sharon has a whopper of a challenge for us this week! See what she says below, and why I had a hard time with it!


August 13 - ssnotime152 - Ribbon Scraps - Waste not, want not! I think we all save even the tiniest of our ribbon scraps, right? I know I do. Today's challenge is to use ribbon scraps on our card or project. You may use as many as you want, just make sure it's a scrap, a small piece. You can do whatever you want with them, but let's just make use of some of these little bits of prettiness!!! This will be fun!!!

Should be easy, right? Only thing is I don't *have* any ribbon scraps. None, not a one. When I tie a ribbon around a card element, I leave the ribbon on the spool or bobbin and use only what I absolutely need for my bow--the only waste is at the most 1" and I throw them away! So I had to fake it by adding that little piece of Kraft ribbon on my bow. I know, it's lame, but I love how the card turned out despite it's lameness ;-)

I'm using a Crafty Secrets Summertime Journal Note, which can be found at Sharon's store here (scroll down to about 1/4th of the way from the bottom of this page) for my image. The second element down is the bottom part of the Journal Note, so there was no waste with it--can I count that, LOL? My layout is this week's SCS Sketch #293. Patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Garden Variety and the scalloped border was done with MFT's Small Scalloped Border Die-namics die.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime152 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also the great designs from the Stamp Simply team and leave 'em some love!

Charlene Driggs - August Guest Designer

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman--not playing tonight--feel better Deb!!!

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: None
Paper: Fossil MFT; Riding Hood Red (SU!); Garden Variety 6 x 6 pad (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Small Scalloped Border Die-namics die (MFT); Kraft ribbon (SU!); button, twine (PTI); twill; sewing machine

Thank you - Stamp Simply #151

August 6 - ssnotime151 - One Layer Card - Today's challenge is brought to us by Barbara Anders and here is what Barbara says: I'm challenging everyone to make a one layer card. That means only the card base--not the base + one other layer--no layers allowed, LOL! Embellish however you want--ribbon, buttons, bling, scoring--anything goes, but no layers. Sounds fun, Barbara -- can't wait to try this and anxious to see what everyone does!

OK, now, don't freak out--these are not really as scary as they seem! Really! I fell totally in love with a card Nichole Heady made with this PTI set: Year of Flowers: Lily of the Valley when it was introduced and it came to mind when I was thinking about what to do for this card. I stamped the image on Kraft card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then colored with Prismacolor pencils. I stamped the sentiment and planned to add some flat back pearls but after I drew the black frame around the image it really didn't need anything else. I did lightly place some pearls to see what they looked like but they were too much. This image needs no embellishment, I'm thinkin'.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime151 if you upload to a public forum. Don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also the great designs from the Stamp Simply team and leave 'em some love, and help us welcome August's Guest Designer!

Charlene Driggs - August Guest Designer

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Lily of the Valley (PTI)
Paper: Kraft (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories/tools: Prismacolor pencils/blending stumps/OMS; Black Multiliner pen

Dancing in the rain - Stamp Simply #150

Time for another Stamp Simply challenge! Are you ready? This week Sharon has a color combo for us. Here's what she says:

July 30 - ssnotime150 - A Color Challenge - As I say time and time again, color is my personal favorite for a challenge! This week's colors are Green and Yellow, with either White OR Ivory as your neutral, and adding a little Black to make it POP is always a favorite of mine! I think we'll see some striking creations with this color combo.


So, I immediately thought of Basic Grey's Origins paper--perfect!! I was lucky enough to win a free Verve set for the Mojo Monday contest for July so I chose Blue Skies. I'd had my eye on that set but hadn't ordered it--lucky me--I was so excited to get this set so I put it right to work on this card.

Don't you just love that little notebook paper image? Too cute!! It, the sentiment and the flourish were all stamped on patterned paper, as was the little butterfly, which was then cut out. Black twill and black buttons finish it off.

So, now it's your turn. Come along and play and take us up on the challenge--we'd love to see what you come up with. If you do, be sure to leave the link to your project on Sharon's blog using Mr. Linky. Please use the keyword ssnotime150 if you upload to a public forum. And don't forget to check out Sharon's fabulous sample and also the great designs from the Stamp Simply team and leave 'em some love!

Clare Buswell - July Guest Designer

Barb Schram

Janine Orchard

A J Otto

Deb Saarenen

Jenny Gropp

Deb Neerman

Thanks for dropping in! I always love it when you do!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Blue Skies (Verve)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black (SU!); Origins 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Vintage Touch Tea Dye (PTI)
Accessories: buttons, twine (PTI); twill; sewing machine