Rich Autumn Leaves--Stamp Simply Challenge #106

Where is the time going?! It's time for another Stamp Simply challenge already, LOL! This week Sharon is challenging us to do fall leaves, which suits me just fine--I love fall! Here's what she says:

Rich Autumn Leaves - ssnotime106 - To me the colors of autumn are rich and earthy. Today we will create a project with leaves, and remember we’re easy, so if you don’t have actual leaf images, trees, flowers with leaves, acorns, pine cones, etc. are all OK. But the added element is to make the project rich in color and texture by adding sponging to create that richness and depth of color. I can’t wait to see your gorgeously rich creations today!

And here's what I did. I'm using Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #40--can you believe it? I'm getting it done *before* the last day this time! Yeehaw!! It's a super fun sketch--as usual. I stamped this image from the Lovely As a Tree set on watercolor paper with Chocolate Chip ink. I water colored the trunk with a re-inker and a brush, then I stippled the leaves with a smallish stencil brush--not *exactly* sponging, but pretty close. Next I cut/embossed it with a Classic Circle Nestabilities die and inked around the edge with PTI's Chamomile ink pad and layered it on So Saffron cut/embossed with a Nestabilities Label Four die, also with the edges sponged. Patterned paper is from PTI's First Fruits and Bitty Box Basics and card stock is PTI Ripe Avocado and SU! Really Rust and So Saffron. Did some stitching, more sponging, added a ribbon and bow and some Dew Drops and called it done!

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 a comment on Sharon's blog telling her where you uploaded. Please use the keyword ssnotime106 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 September Guest Designer:

Charlene Merrick - September 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! Be sure to come by tomorrow for the next Crazy4Challenges challenge!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Lovely As a Tree (SU!)
Paper: So Saffron, Really Rust (SU!); First Fruits, Bitty Box Basics, Ripe Avocado (PTI)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Kiwi Kiss (SU!); Chamomile (PTI)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Classic Circle and Label's Four Nestabilities dies; ribbon, 3M foam squares (craft store); Dew Drops; stencil brush; sewing machine

Spotlighting Beaded Fresh Cuts

Another double header today. This card is for Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge #14--to use beads and Stampin' B's Challenge #4 to use the spotlighting technique. I'd used beads lots of times but this is the first time I'd tried spotlighting--and I love how it turned out!

My base card is Very Vanilla with layers of Basic Gray, Tangerine Tango, and DP from Cosmo Cricket's Everafter collection. I then tied a dark gray grosgrain ribbon around in a knot and stuck the stick pin through the knot. The focal image is SU!'s Fresh Cuts stamped with Basic Black on Whisper White, on which I used Distress Ink in Antique Linen to matched the distressing on the DP. I stitched around the base card layers and the focal image layers and popped the focal image up on 3M foam squares. The "spot lit" piece was stamped in the same way, but I colored the flower with my blender pen and Tangerine Tango reinker, cut/ embossed all three layers, and popped it up on foam squares, too. OK, I'm liking this card a lot--how about you?

Thanks for dropping in today! Don't forget to come back tomorrow--it's MFT Idol upload day. I'm happy with my project, so drop in and tell me if you like it!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Fresh Cuts (SU!)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Tangerine Tango (SU!); Everafter (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Basic Black, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/circle Nestabilities; 3M foam squares, ribbon, stickpin hardware and beads (craft store); sewing machine

Thoughts and prayers--Sketches! {by Tamara} #92

Time for another Sketches! {by Tamara} Sketch Challenge--#92. Here's the sketch:



My base card is Kraft with a layer of Baja Breeze and a partial layer of Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP. I stamped the sentiment, from SU!'s Thoughts and Prayers set, on the Baja Breeze and used my slot punch to run some Kraft ribbon through and tie in a bow. The focal image is from the same set and was colored with SU! Chocolate Chip marker and a Baja Breeze reinker and my blender pen on Whisper White. I cut/embossed it with my new Labels Four Nestabilities die and matted it on Baja Breeze and Kraft cut/embossed with Petite Oval dies. The Baja Breeze and Kraft layers are separated by 3M foam squares and the whole thing is up on foam squares, as well. Some flat back pearls in two sizes accent the focal image and was all it needed to be finished, I think. You agree? I'm liking it!

Don't forget to check out the sketch at the Sketches! {by Tamara} blog and give it a try--we'd love to see what you come up with!

And be sure to check out the other team members' cards:
Alexandra--California Stampin'
Becky--Bouncy, Flouncy, Fun, Fun, Fun
Carol--Carol's Paperplayce
Jo--Here I Go Again
Krista--Krista be cardin'
Marley--Marley Blog
Olena--From My Hands...To Your Heart
Riley--Stampin' and Dancin' With Riley
Suzanne--Stamp In Style and Cut It Cute
Sylvia--Sylvia's Stamping Place
Tricia--Tricia's Treasures

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers (SU!)
Paper: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities;3M foam squares, flat back pearls (craft store); Kraft ribbon (SU!)

Happy birthday, Cupcake

How's everyone today? We just had two glorious days where I worked in the yard but it's supposed to rain later on today. That's actually a good thing because I need to stay inside today to work on this week's MFT Idol project. But I wanted to do Taylor's Expressions challenge--haven't done one for a while so I thought I'd do the latest one, #64. This card also qualifies for the Stampin' B's challenge this week: to use diecuts.

My base card is Very Vanilla with layers of Brocade Blue, Barely Banana, and DP from a book of 8 x 8 papers/diecuts/stickers called Eliza from Making Memories. The next element is more Brocade Blue and a different pattern of DP. The focal image is from Crazy For Cupcakes by SU! stamped on Gina K. Pure Luxury 80 lb paper with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored with Copic markers (see below). I added some Red Star Sakura glitter pen to the cherries to bring them out a big. It was cut/embossed with a Large Label Nestabilities die and layered on Barely Banana and Brocade Blue, also cut/embossed with a die and popped up on 3M foam squares. The sentiment is from the same set and was stamped on Very Vanilla with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, punched out with a 1 3/8" punch, and layered on Brocade Blue which was cut/embossed with a circle Nestabilities die. Two strips of coral ribbon are held on with a Build-a-brad using DP, accented with three blue Dew Drops, and is also up on foam squares. How do you like it?

Thanks for dropping by today!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Crazy For Cupcakes (SU!)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Brocade Blue, Barely Banana (SU!); Eliza DP (Making Memories); Pure Luxury 80 lb (Gina K.)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilties dies; 3M foam squares, ribbon (craft store); Copic markers; Dew Drops

Kindness Is--Sketches! {by Tamara} #91

Has every one in the US recovered from Tax Day? Today is Thursday so it's time for another Sketches! {by Tamara} card sketch challenge--maybe it'll help you forget for a few minutes ;-) Here's today's sketch:


My base card is Basic Gray with layers of Really rust and DP from the Fernbrae 6 x 6 pack by Memory Box. This is another DP that really does all the work for you! This card was quick and easy and would be great to mass produce. The two strip elements are the same layers as the base card. The sentiment was stamped on DP with Basic Gray using a stamp from Heard From the Heart by SU! and that element is up on 3M foam squares. A few Dew Drops and it was done!

Don't forget to check out the sketch at the Sketches! {by Tamara} blog and give it a try--we'd love to see what you come up with!

And be sure to check out the other team members' cards:
Alexandra--California Stampin'
Becky--Bouncy, Flouncy, Fun, Fun, Fun
Carol--Carol's Paperplayce
Jo--Here I Go Again
Krista--Krista be cardin'
Marley--Marley Blog
Olena--From My Hands...To Your Heart
Riley--Stampin' and Dancin' With Riley
Suzanne--Stamp In Style and Cut It Cute
Sylvia--Sylvia's Stamping Place
Tricia--Tricia's Treasures

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps:Heard From the Heart (SU!)
Paper: Basic Gray, Really Rust (SU!); Fernbrae (Memory Box)
Ink: Basic Gray (SU!)
Accessories: 3M foam squares (craft store); Dew Drops

A kind word is like a spring day.

A spring day--we've had a few but not enough! I took most of last week off to work in the garden but some days it rained, some days it was too windy and cold. I can do cold but not WIND and cold, LOL! So, I got some garden work done but I got to make some cards, too!

We've been given this week off from the MFT Idol contest so I got to do some challenges I'd been neglecting and to try a new one: Copic Creations. I'm hoping to learn a lot about using Copic markers by doing these challenges. The very first challenge is coloring faces and skin tones and here's my attempt.

My base card is Whisper White with a layer of Bashful Blue, then a layer of half So Saffron and half DP from the Whimsy Mat Stack from DCWV. I then added a strip of Whisper White, using a Martha Stewart eyelet border punch with two strips of light blue gingham ribbon across it. I only had 1/4" ribbon on hand--that's why I used two strips--one didn't seem like enough. Then I tied on 3 buttons from the Chloe's Closet collection by Making Memories with light blue Perle cotton. The focal image is from the SU! set called A Kind Word and was stamped on Gina K Pure Luxury 80 lb with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers, of course (see below). It was then cut/embossed with a square Nestabilities die, layered on So Saffron cut/embossed with a Labels Three die and on Bashful Blue cut/embossed with another square die and popped up on 3M foam squares. The sentiment is from the set and is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Another button balances the lower right corner. This was a fun card to make and I got to pull out a lot of Copic markers!

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: A Kind Word (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, So Saffron (SU!); Whimsy Mat Stack (DCWV); Pure Luxury 80 lb (Gina K)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities Square and Labels Three dies; 3M foam squares, ribbon, Perle cotton (craft store); buttons Chloe's Closet (Making Memories); Copic markers; Martha Stewart eyelet border punch

Happy Easter

This card is for Sharon Johnson's challenge for today--Stamp Simply #81 - The Incredible Edible Egg! The challenge is to use an egg in your project. Any kind of egg. Fun challenge and it made me get out this set that I'd never used--never even mounted, even! Thanks for another great challenge, Sharon!!

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink, and DSP from SU!'s Tea Time collection. I rounded two corners and added a So Saffron grosgrain ribbon and bow from the SU! Sale-a-Bration ribbon bundle. The layout is SCS Sketch Challenge #222. My focal image uses a stamp from a SU! set called A Good Egg and was stamped on Gina K Pure Luxury 80 lb paper with Memento London Fog ink. The chick was colored with Copic markers Y21 and Y32 and the egg was paper pieced with more DSP. I also covered the chick with Gold Shimmer Shimmerz Blingz and outlined him and the egg with Sakura glitter pens. It--and the Pretty In Pink and Certainly Celery mats--were then cut/embossed with my Nestabilities Labels dies and is mounted on 3M foam squares. The sentiment is from the same set and was stamped on Whisper White with Memento London Fog ink and cut/embossed with a Spellbinders label die. I then notched the end and attached a pink button from my stash with pink DMC embroidery floss and popped it up on foam squares, too. Three light green Dew Drops in the right lower corner and it's done!

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: A Good Egg (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink, and Tea Time DSP (SU!)
Ink: Memento London Fog
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities; 3M foam squares, DMC floss (craft store); Copic markers; Dew Drops; button (personal stash); ribbon (SU!); corner rounder punch (EK Sucess)

Simple things...Sketches! {by Tamara} #89

Time for another Sketches! {by Tamara} challenge! Here's this week's sketch:


I had in mind what I wanted to do, but I had to flip the sketch to do it. My base card is Whisper White with layers of Yoyo Yellow and DP from the Offbeat 6 x 6 pad by Basic Grey, and has an orange satin ribbon wrapped around. The focal image is using the March stamp from Flowers of the Month (retired from SU!)--Jonquil. It was stamped on Gina K. Pure Luxury 80 lb paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers (see below). It was cut/embossed with a square Nestabilities die and edged with a gold paint pen. I then layered it on Only Orange and Old Olive and popped it up on 3M foam squares. The sentiment is also a very focal part of this card. It's from Flourishes' newest releases and is called Timeless Quotes. It was stamped on Whisper White with Memento Tuxedo Black ink twice. One copy--and the Yoyo Yellow mat--was cut/embossed with oval Nestabilities dies and matted on Old Olive cut/embossed with a Labels Four die. I used the second copy to cut out the uppercase words and pop them up on foam squares. Then the whole thing is up on foam squares. Some Dew Drops finish off the corners and that's that!

Don't forget to check out the sketch at the Sketches! {by Tamara} blog and give it a try--we'd love to see what you come up with!

And be sure to check out the other team members' cards:
Alexandra--California Stampin'
Becky--Bouncy, Flouncy, Fun, Fun, Fun
Carol--Carol's Paperplayce
Jo--Here I Go Again
Krista--Krista be cardin'
Marley--Marley Blog
Olena--From My Hands...To Your Heart
Riley--Stampin' and Dancin' With Riley
Suzanne--Stamp In Style and Cut It Cute
Sylvia--Sylvia's Stamping Place
Tricia--Tricia's Treasures

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Timeless Quotes (Flourishes); Flower of the Month (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White, Yoyo Yellow, Old Olive (SU!); Offbeat 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Label Four and oval Nestabilities; 3M foam squares, ribbon (craft store); Dew Drops; Copic markers

Sweet One

One of my co-workers has a friend that just found out she is pregnant so my co-worker asked me to make a card for her to send to her friend now--as a "congratulations" card. It's too early to know whether it's a boy or a girl, so we decided to go with yellow :)

I found the template here. The base card is using DSP from this year's Sale-a-bration catalog called Delicate Dots. I "lined" the inside with Whisper White and added a punched out heart from the card front paper. One the outside, I cut/embossed several sizes of circles from Whisper White card stock with my Petite Circle Nestabilities dies and fashioned the neck, arm, and leg trim from them. The sentiment is from, I think, last year's Sale a bration catalog, and was stamped on Whisper White with So Saffron ink and is up on 3M foam squares. A bow from 1/8" double faced satin ribbon and some tiny flat-backed pearls trim it out. I think she'll like it!

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Unknown by me (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White; Delicate Dots(SU!)
Ink: So Saffron (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities dies; 3M foam squares, flat-backed pearls, 1/4" DF satin ribbon (craft store)

Embrace Happiness

What a difference a week makes! Last Sunday it was cold and snowing and today it's sunny and warm--80F today! Hope everyone is having wonderful weather today.

This card is for two challenges: SCS Sketch Challenge #218 and SCS Color Challenge #208. The colors this week are: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, and Pink Passion.

My base card is Chocolate Chip with a layer of DP from the Sultry 6 x 6 pad by Basic Grey. The next element is more of the same, as are the next elements, with different DP. The focal image is from the Saleabration set called Botanical Blooms and was stamped on Gina K. Pure Luxury 80 lb. paper with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored with Copic markers (see below for colors used). It was cut out and mounted on Whisper White with 3M foam squares and Crystal Effects and matted with Pink Passion and Chocolate Chip, then the whole thing was mounted on foam squares. The sentiment was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa on Whisper White with a stamp from PTI's Mixed Messages set, then punched out with a 1" circle punch. Then it was matted with Kiwi Kiss punched out with the Designer Label punch. Some "passionately pink" jewels accent the sentiment element, which is up on foam squares, and Dew Drops from the Fresh Cut Grass collection add balance in the upper right corner. This layout was a great opportunity to use this DP, I think.

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Botanical Blooms (SU!); Mixed Messages (PTI)
Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pink Passion, Kiwi Kiss (SU!); Gina K. Pure Luxury 80 lb. paper; Sultry 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: 3M foam squares, jewels (craft store); Dew Drops (Robin's Nest); 1" circle punch, Designer Label punch (SU!); Copic markers

Sharing in your sorrow

Unfortunately, I'm low on sympathy cards. This new set, Thoughts and Prayers, from SU! has gorgous images and sentiments so I thought I'd give it a whirl and start rebuilding my stash. I really love this image. I'm using the sketch from the current OCC challenge and this one also qualifies for Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday challenge this week.

My base card is More Mustard with layers of Not Quite Navy, Mellow Moss, and DP from Crafty Secrets' Earthy pad. The next element is two rows of ribbon that is exactly Not Quite Navy IRL. The next element is More Mustard with the reverse of the base card DP and some antique brass brads and is up on 3M foam squares. The focal image was stamped on Very Vanilla with Mellow Moss and Chocolate Chip SU! markers. It was then cut/embossed with a Petite Oval Nestabilities die and the edges sponged with More Mustard before being matted with a Mellow Moss scalloped layer. It's also up on foam squares. I used more of the DP for the Build a brad and added a Not Quite Navy bird punched out with a Martha Stewart punch.

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers (SU!)
Paper: More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla (SU!); Earthy (Crafty Secrets)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities; 3M foam squares, ribbon, brads (craft store); punch (Martha Stewart); Buildabrad (SU!)

Celebrate!

A co-worker asked me to make a card for her grandson, whose birthday is on St. Patrick's Day, and she wanted a St. Patrick's Day theme. So, I used Jen del Muro's SFYTT this week for the layout.

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard, and two DP from Karen Foster. The stripe is called St. Patrick's Stripes and the houndstooth is called Green Houndstooth. The focal image was stamped with a stamp from SU!'s Just Celebrate set on Gina K. Pure Luxury 80 lb. card stock with Rich Cocoa Memento ink and colored with Copic markers (see picture below for the colors I used). It was then layered on More Mustard and Kiwi Kiss. Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon, a shamrock from Michaels and a button from my stash, and Dew Drops from the Fresh Cut Grass collection finish it off.

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Just Celebrate! (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard (SU!); St. Patrick's Stripes and Green Houndstooth (Karen Foster)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Dew Drops (Robin's Nest); shamrock Michaels; button (stash); ribbon (SU!); Copic markers

Butterfly thank you

This card is for SCS Sketch Challenge #217. Fun sketch! But I say that about all of 'em, don't I, LOL? It will also qualify for Stamp Simply's Challenge #74--signs of Spring.

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pretty In Pink, and the new Tea Party DSP, all SU! The focal element is first more of the same with different DSP and is up on 3M foam squares. Then I added three 1" squares of PTI Solar White card stock that were cut/embossed with square Nestabilities dies and on which I added a punched out butterfly. The sentiment is from SU!'s Flight Of The Butterfly set and was stamped on PTI Solar White card stock with Basic Gray ink and cut/embossed with a Nestabilities ribbon slider die. One inch wide pink satin ribbon ties it on. Tiny flat-backed pearls create the butterflies' bodies and more pearls accent the base card and the sentiment tag.

Thanks for dropping in!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Flight Of The Butterfly (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pretty In Pink, Tea Party DSP (SU!); Solar White (PTI)
Ink: Basic Gray (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Square Nestabilities; 3M foam squares, ribbon, flat-back pearls (craft store); butterfly punch (Martha Stewart)

Inspired Summer Kiwi Pies

This card is for SCS Color Combinations #207: Summer Sky, Kiwi Kiss, and Pumpkin Pie. I like 'em! My first thought was to use Inspired By Nature and it worked out pretty well.

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, and Summer Sun paper from the new Good Morning Sunshine DSP collection. My focal image was stamped on Whisper White with color applied to the Echinecea stamp with SU! markers in Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie and a brush for the Kiwi Kiss directly from a reinker. The grass background was stamped with Kiwi Kiss using an ink pad. It and the Kiwi Kiss mat were cut/embossed with the largest Petite Oval dies and mounted on 3M foam squares. The sentiment was stamped on Whisper White with Pumpkin Pie and punched out with the Large Oval punch, as was the Kiwi Kiss layer, and is also up on foam squares. The butterfly was made using a Martha Stewart Punch and attached with a rolled up glue dot to give it some dimension. Tiny apricot flat-backed pearls embellish his body. A few Dew Drops and it's done!

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Inspired By Nature (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, and Good Morning Sunshine DSP (SU!)
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities; 3M foam squares (craft store); Large Oval Punch (SU!), Dew Drops; flat back pearls (Ellen Hutson); butterfly punch (Martha Stewart)

Sew Glad We're Friends

This card is for Taylored Expressions' Cupcake Challenge #56. CUTE sketch and fun to play with! I'd been wanting to use one of the Puns From the Past stamps so this was the time.

My base card is Very Vanilla with some "antiquing" done with Basic Gray and Creamy Caramel, then layered with Basic Gray and DP from Crafty Secrets' Earthy paper pad, which follows the sketch. I then stitched around each piece of DP with my sewing machine and antiqued this layer and the stitching as well. The next element is Very Vanilla on Basic Gray and was done in the same manner with the addition of antique pewter brads. The focal image was stamped on Very Vanilla with Basic Gray, cut/embossed with oval Nestabilities dies, antiqued, and mounted on 3M foam squares. Very easy and simple to do but I LOVE IT!!!

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Puns From the Past (SU!)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Gray (SU!); Earthy pad (Crafty Secrets)
Ink: Basic Gray, Creamy Caramel (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities; 3M foam squares, sponge, brads (craft store); sewing machine