Rusty Sage Rose

Good morning all!

My card this morning is my contribution for the CCEE challenge #1021, 'A Sketch challenge with a Twist'. We were to following the sketch below and include a button somewhere in our design.

Here is the sketch :




To begin with I was wondering how to include a button on an elegant card, but including tiny buttons in a complementary color works quite well, I think. I haven't worked with Sage Shadow in a long time (in fact I think it is one of the colors that has been retired) but I found that it was the perfect complement to the 7 Gypies Venice DP that I got from Archiver's last week. The Rose stamp is also a fairly old set from Stampin'Up! and I have not used it very much because I could never line up the layers. Then, I remembered that I bought a Stamp-a-ma-jig a long time ago and never opened it. And wow, if I'd used this as soon as I bought it, my 2-step stamping sets may have seen a lot more use!!!!

Have a great start to your week!


Stamps : Stampin'Up!
Paper : SU! Sage Shadow, PTI White and Charcoal, 7 Gypsies Venice DP
Ink : SU! Really Rust and Old Olive, VersaMagic Chalk Ink Tea Leaves
Accessories : SU! So Saffron Marker, Spellbinders Label Die, Making Memories tiny buttons, SU! Scallop border punch

Mojo Monday Madness!

OK.... I give up with the Mojo Monday sketch this week! I have tried numerous times to create a card based on the sketch below and each time I am unhappy with the final result - but I'm going to post two of my creations anyway. I got some great baby paper from Archivers on Monday night and thought it would be perfect for this sketch but I think it ended up looking too busy. Also, I stamped the giraffe on SU! cream cardstock and I don't think that is a good base for coloring with PrismaColors and blending with babyoil... it was messy and not a lot of fun. I'll make sure to note that I should not use SU! cream when using PrismaColors in the future.

The card below was supposed to be for graduation but I decided it was not quite the right color for the occasion (see my post on Wednesday for the final grad cards I created). Again I feel like there is something missing from this design. One cool thing though, is that I did not have any KaiserKraft pearls in the correct green so all I did was use a green copic marker and color in 3 white pearls to make them match.... worked like a charm! I can't claim the credit for this idea though, I think it came from either Cindy Lawrence or Marianne Walker - both Copic coloring queens!



Here is that frustrating sketch that I was trying to work from :




Anyhoo.... I hope you are looking forward to the weekend!



Baby Giraffe
Stamps : SU! (Sentiment), Inkadinkado (Giraffe)
Paper : SU! (Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Cream), Fancy Pants Little Sprout DP
Ink : VersaFine Onyx Black, SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories : EKSuccess Scallop Circle Punch, SU! Scallop Flower Punch, Sizzix Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Basic Grey Button

Circle Congrats
Stamps : Inkadinkado
Paper: DCWV Cafe Mediterranean Cafe DP, PTI Orange, Green and White
Ink : VersaColor Paprika Pigment Ink, VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories : Marvy Circle Punch, Basic Green Button, Spellbinders Label Die, KaiserKraft Pearls, Green Copic Marker, White ribbon from Michaels

Cuckoo Smiles

This is stamp is from a Hero Arts set that my wonderful husband gave me for Mother's Day. It is such a sweet set. It was in my wish list ever since I saw a card on Amy Sheffer's blog, Pickled Paper Designs, using the same image. Make sure to visit her blog - it's amazing!

My patterned paper (from Deja Views) inspired the colors I used for the clock and I thought a Spellbinders Label Die was perfect for this layout.

I did try and finish my Mojo Monday card last night, but after trying for 3 days I have not yet been successful.... maybe later today??!!

Have a good Thursday!



Stamps : Hero Arts
Paper : PTI (Charcoal and White), Deja Views Plum DP
Ink : VersaFine Onyx Black, SU! Basic Black
Accessories : Spellbinders Label Die, American Crafts Brads, PrismaColor pencils

Masculine Graduation

This week is graduation at the seminary where my husband is a Professor. We know two students who are graduating on Friday and so I needed some appropriate masculine cards. I have been trying for a week with a masculine look and color scheme and nothing was working until last night. I CASEd a card from Gina K for the green and brown one (above) and I CASEd a card from Beate for the brown one (below).



Be sure to check out Beate's gallery and Gina Ks blog to see the original cards.
Have a great Wednesday!


Embossed Green Leaf
Stamps : SU! (Leaves from The Art of Life), Inkadinkado (Script Background), My Sentiments Exactly (Graduate Sentiment)
Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip, Cream, Old Olive
Ink : Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, VersaMark
Accessories : Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge, Corner Rounder, Bo Bunny Brads, Quickutz Swirls Embossing Folder

Brown/Chocolate Graduate
Stamps : My Sentiments Exactly (Graduate Sentiment)
Paper : SU! (Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Cream), Imaginesence DP
Ink : SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories : Cricut Oval, Making Memories Metal swirl, SEI Buttons, SU! Organdy Ribbon

Bo Bunny Love Bug

I have had this Stampin'Up Love Bug set for quite some time but was nervous about coloring such a small image. In the end I went with lighter colors and used a few darker colors very sparingly. My Prismacolor pencils were my coloring method of choice (because I only have 9 Copics at the moment...... : ( !!!) and I blended them with baby oil because I still have yet to figure out how to open the Gamsol container!!!

The patterned paper I used is from the Bo Bunny set 'Sugared' (not quite sure if that is the right name, but it was the collection that came out near Valentine's Day) and this inspired the cardstock colors.

Hope you're having a great Tuesday!



Stamps : SU! (Love Bug)
Paper : Bo Bunny Sugared DP, SU! (Garden Green, Pink Pirouette), PTI White
Ink : VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories : SU! Scallop Flower Punch, Marvy Scallop Circle Punch, SU! small oval punch, PrismaColor Pencils

Chalked Flowers

As mentioned in my last post, the lighting in my kitchen window is not the best at the moment because of the weather outside! I hope the sun comes back out soon....

My card is for the SFYTT weekly challenge. Here is the sketch :

The center panel was created using an SU! Sizzix Embossing floral embossing folder. I then colored in the raised parts with a Versa Markers and gently rubbed chalks over the surface. It was great fun to try a different technique! Here is a close up :

Thanks for stopping by!


Stamps : SU! (Sentiment)
Paper : SU! Basic Black, PTI White, K&Co Madeline DP
Ink : SU! Basic Black
Accessories : SU! Embossing Folder, Versa Marker, Chalks, Prima Flowers, KaiserKraft Pearls

Napping Bear

First of all, let me apologize for the dark photo. I do not have a light box like some of you girls(!) and I have to make do with the natural light from my kitchen window. Over the last few days here in NC it has been quite cloudy and rainy so not much brightness in my window!

This cute little bear is from Elzybells in the UK. They have such a great selection of whimsical stamps for all occasions. I used a combination of some Basic Grey Nook and Pantry DP and some MME Home DP. I colored him using PrismaColors and blending with baby oil.

My card is also a submission for the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge. Check out Taylors Blog for the sketch diagram.

Here's hoping that the sun comes back soon so my photos will be lighter!!!



Stamps : Elzybells (Bear), SU! (Sentiment)
Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI White, Basic Grey Nook and Pantry DP, MME Home DP
Ink : VersaFine Onyx Black, SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories : SU!/Sizzix Scallop Circle Die, Marvy Circle Punch, Making Memories Buttons, SU! Small Oval punch

Bo Bunny Delilah Joy

Happy Friday everyone!

Last night I was trying SO hard to create a card that covered two challenges in one. But I failed and only managed one of them. I was successful with the sketch challenge from Splitcoast (SC#281) but I failed miserably with this week's color challenge. It was supposed to be Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron and Dusty Durango (for those of you not familiar with Stampin'Up!s colors that is roughly translated : deep raspberry purple, muted yellow and dusty looking rust color!!!) When I was thinking about how to combine them I had Bo Bunny's Delilah paper in mind that has been in my stash for a while now but not been put to good use. The problem was once I started using the patterned paper I just could not combine the Razzleberry with it no matter how hard I tried. : ) I made a real mess of my craft desk and the floor surrounding it and had no card to show for my trouble..... so I started all over again with Chocolate Chip as the base, did away with Razzleberry altogether and used the Bo Bunny papers the way I wanted to all along! And this is the final result.....

Have a great weekend!



Stamps : SU! (The Art of Life)
Paper : SU! (Chocolate Chip, Cream, Dusty Durango) Bo Bunny Delilah DP
Ink : VersaColor Brick Red Chalk ink, SU! Basic Black
Accessories : Prima Flowers, Bo Bunny Brad, Scallop Border punch, Oval punch, EKSuccess Small butterfly punch, SU! Organdy Ribbon

Elzybells Baby Moon

Oh my - two posts in one day... I must be obsessed with stamping (go figure....)

I just saw a challenge over on the CCEE Stampers Blog to create a baby card. I knew I had created one but had not uploaded it on my blog - so here it is!

We have had plenty of babies born at our church recently and I made two of these cards for baby boys born within the last month. I started out with this adorable stamp from Elzybells and paired it with paper from My Little Yellow Bicycle and Night of Navy cardstock.

I think that's it for today, but I can't promise!



Stamps : Elzybells Baby Moon, SU! (sentiment)
Paper : Night of Navy, Whisper White, My Little Yellow Bicycle Sharon Ann DP
Ink : Staz-on Black. SU! Basic Black
Accessories : SU! Sizzix Scallop Circle die, Marvy Circle Punch, SU! Scallop border punch, White ribbon from Michaels, PrismaColor Pencils

Cappella - Just for Andrea!

I have to admit that I made this card late last week but have only got around to posting it today. And the main reason I posted it today is because of Andrea Ewen's love of Basic Grey's Cappella paper! Check out her blog, Ewen Style, for some awesome creations with the same patterned paper.

My design is very simple and is based on a sketch from the new Paper Crafts 'Go-To Sketches' special issue. I started with Basic Grey's Cappella DP and a Spellbinders Label Die and went from there.

Hope your week is going well,



Stamps : SU! (Sentiment)
Paper : SU! (Chocolate Chip, Cream), PTI Blush, Basic Grey Cappella
Ink : SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories : Spellbinders Label Die, Prima Flower, BoBunny Brad, SU! Organdy Ribbon

Blue Raspberry Thankyou

Good morning everyone!

My card today is based on the Taylored Expression sketch challenge #113. I used Deja View Blue Raspberry DP and a gStudios dollar stamp from Michaels. Don't you just love it when you get a great deal??!

Here's the sketch from Taylor :




If you want to try to enter a card yourself, check out Taylored Expressions Blog (you have 2 more days before submissions close).

Thanks for dropping in and checking out my creations!


Stamps : gStudios (flower), MSE (sentiment)
Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI White, Deja Views Blue Raspberry DP
Ink : VersaFine Onyx Black. SU! Basic Black
Accessories : Marvy Circle Punch, EKSuccess border punch, PrismaColor Pencils

Father's Day (Mojo Monday #139)

Hey guys!

Woohoo, I finally managed to post my submission for Mojo Monday on Tuesday, instead of 3 or 4 days late this week! And my card is also for the Embellish Magazine color challenge to use seafoam, brown, terracotta and green (yes, there is green on the card you just have to look hard to find it in the photo!)

Here's the sketch and the color swatch :

The paper I used is from the new Basic Grey 'Max and Whiskers collection'. I did not have an occassion in mind when I started creating but the paper struck me as being more masculine and so it ended up being a Father's Day card.

Have a great Tuesday!

Sarah

Stamps : My Sentiments Exactly (Sentiment)

Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI White, Basic Grey Max and Whiskers DP

Ink : SU! Chocolate Chip

Accessories : Quickutz Cookie Cutter Label Die, Quickutz Squeeze Heart, Making Memories Green Twine, Basic Grey Button

TCP Tuesday #109

If there is one thing more difficult that making a round card, it is trying to take a picture of it! It took a long time to figure out how to get this card to stand up and cooperate for a photo.... This is for The Cat's Pajamas challenge TCP Tuesday #109. Here is the sketch :



The colors in my stamped image from Whipper Snapper are inspired by the patterned paper from the new Fancy Pants My Family collection. I used PrismaColor pencils and baby oil to blend this image, although I now have some Gamsol and I am going to try that out as soon as I can figure out how to open the container : ) !!

Hope you are having a great start to your week,
Sarah

Stamps : Whipper Snapper (Flower scene), SU! (Sentiment)
Paper : Archivers round white notecard and red scalloped notecard, Fancy Pants 'My Family' DP
Ink : VersaFina Onyx Black, SU! Basic Black
Accessories : Cricut (circle), SEI buttons, Basic Grey small brad, PrismaColor Pencils

Queen Bee Love

WOW! Two posts in one day - what is the world coming to?!

The reason I wanted to post again today is because of Andrea Ewen (check out her blog - it's awesome!) She created a card using this paper yesterday and she inspired me to try using the same papers but create a completely different card. Thanks for the jump start Andrea! I also got this Pink Paisley Queen Bee DP at ACMoore in their wonderful new scrapbook selection. I was so excited to see that they are now selling Spellbinders Nesties too!

Some dear friends of mine just got engaged and this may end up being a card just for them. Way to go Aaron and Laura! We are all so excited for you!

I have been wanting to use some swirls and flourishes on my cards but have not been brave enough until now. On this card I went all out and actually added some bling to part of the swirl to emphasize the image. Here's a close up :



Hope you have a fantastic weekend!
Sarah

Stamps : PSX (Sentiment), Technique Tuesday (Flourish)
Paper : PTI (Charcoal), Pink Paislee Queen Bee DP
Ink : SU! Basic Black, Staz-on Black
Accessories : Cricut (Oval shape), Prima Flower, KaiserKraft bling, American Crafts brad, SU! Scallop Border punch

Taylored PinkRed Verve (TESC112)

You would not believe the hassle I had coming up with my card for the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge last night. I think was trying to make it too complicated and in the end I went with something really simple.....! : )

The patterned paper is from the K&Co Madeline Collection. It's on sale in ACMoore right now - they are having a huge sale due to renovations in their scrapbooking department. Go check it out if you have chance.

I don't have any Taylored Expressions stamps but I'm on a real Verve kick right now - I just love their Plain Jane Scripture Verses.

Here is a look at Taylor's sketch this week :



Thanks for stopping by!
Sarah

Stamps : Verve
Paper : PTI (Olive), SU! (Red Riding Hood, Cream)
Ink : Staz-on Black, VersaColor Pigment Burgundy
Accessories : Small Scallop border punch, Marvy Circle Punch, Prima Flower, Sponge, Basic Grey Brad (Eva collection)

My Favorite Bookworm

Today I kept my card really simple without too many details or layers. This cute little bookworm is from a set called 'I {heart} books' from My Favorite Things. This whole set works perfectly with TPC Studios 'Homeroom' patterned paper and I used both this set and the paper to create my teacher appreciation cards.

This card also works for Jen's Sketch For You To Try challenge from last Friday. Here is a copy of the sketch :



Thanks for dropping in!
Sarah

Stamps : My Favorite Things 'I {heart} Books'
Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI White, TPC Studios Homeroom DP
Ink : Staz on Black, SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories : Marvy Circle Punch, PrismaColor Pencils, Making Memories buttons

Chocolate Bunny (Mojo#138)

I have had this cute little Flopsey Bunny stamp from My Favorite Things for quite a while but I think I've only used him once before, so it was time to put him to good use. He matches the DCWV Sweet Stack patterned paper perfectly! My card somewhat matches the Mojo Monday sketch except I turned the sketch 90 degrees and did not include the 3 strips of ribbon because I thought it would be too busy with anything extra and I did not want to take away from the cuteness of Flopsey! Here's the sketch :





Thanks for stopping by!
Sarah


Stamps : MFT Chocolate Flopsey
Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI White, DCWV Sweet Stack DP
Ink : Staz-on Black, SU! Basic Black
Accessories : Creative Memories Corner Rounder

Pray without Ceasing

Good morning everyone! Happy Monday to you.....

My card today is a late submission for week 1 of the May Verve Friday Sketches with a Twist. I don't think I kept too closely to the color inspiration photos (as usual!) but I kept to the sketch this time!

I couldn't wait to use my new Basic Grey Max and Whiskers DP and this was the result. No dogs or cats in sight! There are plenty of other choices in the pad and they look great with SU! Chocolate Chip cardstock.

Hope you are having a great start to your week,
Sarah

Stamps : Verve
Paper : SU! (Chocolate Chip), PTI (White), Basic Grey Max and Whiskers DP
Ink : VersaColor Pigment Ink (Paprika)
Accessories : EK Success Border punch, Making Memories buttons

Hand and Heart (Mojo #137 - again!)

I loved this week's Mojo Monday sketch that I had to create another card using the same design. (If you want to see the sketch, check out yesterday's post!) My color inspiration was the Little Yellow Bicycle patterned paper ('Beautiful' collection from Sharon Ann), so soft and spring-like (although here in North Carolina it hardly feels like Spring, it's 92 today!) I discovered a set of sentiments from Stampin'Up! that I had almost forgotten about but they are the perfect size for a card like this where the main image takes center stage and doesn't leave a lot of room for words.

Enjoy!
Sarah

Stamps : SU! (The Art of Life)
Paper : PTI (White), SU! (Basic Black), LYB Sharon Ann 'Beautiful' DP
Ink : VersaColor chalk ink, SU! Basic Black
Accessories : SU! Scallop border punch, EK Success small butterfly punch, white ribbon from Michaels

Welcome Little One (Mojo #137)

The selection of cards in my 'to send' basket has been lacking in baby cards for a while now (partly because people keep having babies, so as I make cards I have to send them!!). I needed another baby girl card to send out this week so I made two of these. Now I have at least one in my stash!

This card is also my submission for the Verve Mojo Monday Sketch #137. Here is the sketch for you to see :



The cute little bunny is from an SU! set from about 5 years ago called : "A New Little Someone". I used SU! chocolate chip for the base of the card and layered PTI white along with patterned paper from My Little Yellow Bicycle Sharon Ann collection. The bunny is colored using PrismaColor pencils.

Hope you are having a great day!
Sarah

Stamps : SU! (A new little someone)
Paper : PTI (White), SU! (Chocolate Chip), LYB Sharon Ann DP
Ink : Staz-on Black, SU! Basic Black, VersaColor chalk ink
Accessories : PrismaColor Pencils, Corner Rounder, Making Memories buttons

More Teacher Appreciation

I couldn't stop at just one teacher appreciation card! Besides I have 3 sons and multiple teachers to thank! I am still loving this TPC Studios Homeroom patterned paper. The design is inspired by Jackie Pedro on her blog, The Scalloped Edge. She created a similar card last week (or maybe two weeks ago now!) and I wanted to create something as beautiful, but I still think hers wins the prize : )

The books are from a clear MFT stamp set called 'I {heart} books'. I stamped them on SU! cream, colored them in using PrismaColors, cut them out using my embroidery scissors and mounted them with pop dots. The sentiment was created using my inkjet printer and the 'stitching' is just hand drawn with an SU! Chocolate Chip marker and a ruler. I don't have a sewing machine but still wanted that home-sewn look and this was a quick alternative.

Hope you are having a great week!
Sarah

Stamps : MFT (I {heart} books)
Paper : SU! (Chocolate Chip and Cream), TPC Studios Homeroom DP
Ink : SU! Chocolate Chip, Staz-on Black
Accessories : SU! Chocolate Chip marker, Spellbinders large and small rectangle dies

You Go Girl!

This card is for my best friend who is going back to work today after being a stay at home mom for 6 years. You go Miriam!

I bought the stamp when I was in Toronto in April at Stamping Bella. What an awesome store! Great selection of stamps of every kind and all hidden away in a place where you wouldn't expect such a treasure trove of goodies!

I used Basic Grey's Sugar Rush DP and complimented it with SU! Basic Black and PTI White. Spellbinders once again came through for me with the label dies (large and small rectangles) to frame the image. PrismaColor Pencils provide the color and the flower is from K&Co.

Enjoy!
Sarah

Stamps : Stamping Bella
Paper : SU! (Basic Black), PTI (White), Basic Grey Sugar Rush DP
Ink : Staz-On Black, SU! Basic Black
Accessories : Spellbinders Rectangle Dies (Large and small), K&Co (Flower), Yellow Ribbon from ACMoore