Here's another scrapbook page.  Yah!  I've been pretty productive lately!  But, if you read my last post, being productive with the scrapbook pages means I've been accomplishing things elswhere, too!

I used Creative Scrappers Sketch #259 for this LO and will be linking this up over there.

Since I tend to invest my money in paper, ink and stamps, all the phrases have been stamped and cut out by hand.  The title was cut with my eclips.  I had tons of fun making this LO.  It came together very quickly and that has added to my excitement to finally be putting some pages together.

Thanks for stopping in!

Credits:

DP: DCWV Stack 8

Cardstock & punches: Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Close to My Heart

Title Font: Kimberly Geswein~KG The Last Time

Book of Me: My Word for the Year

Hi there!


I'm participating in a Book of Me challenge on Scrapbook.com.

I've been wanting to do a BOM for a long time, and have lots of years prior to 2014 that I will have to fill in, but I wanted to start this year right, by staying on track with BOM entries.

As my husband and I have been evaluating our past, and seeking God for direction for our future, I began asking the Lord for a word that I should focus my attention on for this year.  At first, I was really just desiring it, not whole heartedly seeking God for it.

Then I read a post on my friend Kelly's blog at Sandcastle Stamper.  I was thrilled to see that she had the same desire, and already had her word for the year.  With a yearning to have a focus, grounding point, and something for which I could be accountable to myself, my husband and my Master, I sat right there at my desk and sincerely asked, "God, what's my word for this year?",  

Within seconds I had my answer:

The first layout in my BOM for 2014.

Blessings!

Credits:

Background Paper & image behind 'Diligence': Kindred Spirits from RaspberryRoadDesigns.net

Stamped images & metal tag: Stampin' Up!

Other DPs: My Mind's Eye

January Card Challenge: Theme~Love

 Hi!

I'm back with another card for the January Card Challenge on Scrapbook.com.

This time around I've made a card for the 'Theme' category, said theme being 'love'.

I know, I know . . . I used a 'love' stamp on another card I made for this challenge, which would technically on a practical level possibly be more fitting for this theme.  However . . . I wanted to create a card within the theme, without using words of any kind.  I'm pretty pleased with this one.

Thanks for stopping by to see it!

All products are Stampin' Up!

LOC Merci Bouquet

Hello friends!
I've been busy with several projects around here.  Some of them involve testing out my new machine, a Sizzix eclips electronic cutting machine.  Samples of those efforts coming soon!

For now, I just have another card I made using my new Layers of Color stamps. 
This time I used the Merci Bouquet stamp set and this challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ for my inspiration.

 I think the card is a little 'off balance' so I'm going to add another flower in the upper left corner, but other than that, I'm pleased as punch with this one.

Thanks for stopping in.  Have a blessed day!


Credits 
SU!:  CS (Barely Banana, Old Olive), ink (Crumb Cake, Barely Banana, Pale Plum), punches (5-Petal Flower, Flower Trio)
Stash: white CS, pearls, jute, brad

Color Throwdown #195

I love these colors!  Very soft.  Very feminine.  Very me.

I'm appreciating the digital paper files I've been accumulating over the past couple of years, especially since two of the three local scrapping stores have gone out of business.  I know many of you don't even have a local scrapping store, so having one left may seem like a wonderful thing.  The down side is that each of the three tended toward different styles, so we don't have quite the variety from which to choose anymore.
All that to say, that having digi files of DPs is great!  I can print and scrap whenever the mood hits. Yeah!

The papers I've used on this card come from two different sources, Trina Clark at DigiScrapKits.com, (floral and check) and Tabea at blog.sunshineartz.com, (solid pink).

Both of these ladies have wonderful digital scrapping supplies.

I used the Card Patterns Sketch #168 for my layout, but didn't take a photo in time to link up to that challenge.

Credits:
Stampin' Up!: Card Stock (Barely Banana-retired), stamp, ink, Eyelet Border punch, Top Note die
Sunshine Artz: pink digi paper
Digi Scrap Kits: checked and floral digi papers
Stash: white CS, ribbon, pearls


Challenges:
Color Throwdown - #195

SSIC #142: Isaiah 40:26

This week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ, Diane is the challenge hostess.  She has chosen Isaih 40:26 as her scripture.

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, and that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

 

Stop on over at the SSIC blog to read Diane's devotional.  It's very encouraging.

 

The challenge guidelines are:  Create a card that depicts any element of heaven-angels, music, clouds, sun, stars, blue, glitter, bling, etc.

Here's my card.

I've used SU! Brocade Blue CS for my base and mats. (Unfortunately this is a retired color!)

The two DPs as well as the images are by Trina Clark at DigiScrapKits.com.  (No stamping for me this time.)  Trina's stuff is so so cute!  Especially her newest kits depicting several nursery rhymes.  This is from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  Not only is it perfect for this challenge, but the sleeping bear reminds my of the Wee One who joined our family in March.

 

 

I popped the cluster of stars up with foam dots, added glitter glue to a few of the stars and some brads near the top of the card.  Easy to make.  Went together quick as a wink! And I'm ready for the next baby boy that needs to be welcomed into the world!

Thanks for stopping by.  Blessings to you and yours!

Challenges:

Stampin' Sisters in Christ: #142-Isaiah 40:26-Depict any element of heaven

Make it Monday: Always anything goes

SSIC #141: Psalm118:6

This project has quite a story to it.

Candace is the hostess this week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ and the scripture she chose is Psalm 118:6.

 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

The Challenge is to:

Do something on your card that you're "afraid" of!
(ie. something you wouldn't normally do, like if you’re a “CAS” girl, try to pile it on… or maybe it’s a technique you’re scared to try etc.)

Now here's my story.
I've spent a lot of time these last weeks on a big sewing project for hire, on top of having a new baby. (Ten weeks old now.) Which means I haven't had much scrappin' time.  Yet, when I go to my paper crafting area, there are all these usable scraps staring at me.  I have great ambitions to make them into pretty things because they are too good to just throw away.
The problem:  every time I sit down to make something 'using only my scraps', I don't like the way it turns out.

So here's what happened.
 I visited Lovely Linda's blog post here, and was encouraged to dig into my scraps---again!.  I was also feeling discouraged over all the big projects I have going that are moving slowly toward completion and wanted something to do that would be an accomplished project, done quickly.  And I have a little daughter who was wanting to stamp, and we hadn't done that together for a while.

I found a piece of SU! DP lying on the scrapping table and a piece of Cameo Coral CS, (which matched the DP!), already partially used.  I cut the card base to the best size I could.  Then I cut the DP to fit at the bottom of the card to make the front the proper size.  I  punched the scalloped trim on the DP for the outside edge, and then decided it would be cute to have that same edge on the inside, too.
I wanted to use my Spellbinders Label 14 so I cut out the second largest size for the front.  When I took it out of the die I noticed that the paper (another piece of scrap, just big enough for the die) had slipped and one curve was cut off the edge.  =(  Major NoNo in Nutty's book of doing things right!  But I decided to use it anyway.  Then guess what!!  It happened again on smaller die I cut for the inside! Argh!!
While my little Dinky was inking the Labels for the stencil effect, I went looking for a stamp set to use.  I found an old SU! set,  , that I haven't used in along time, and decided to make a bouquet with the flower and leaf stamps.  Lots of cutting out, but it went fairly quickly.  I had The Dinky girl stamp those, too, and it took us three tries to find the yellow we liked best! (Which just meant more stamping for her! =) )

As I was cutting, I wondered if I could possibly use this for the SSIC challenge for the week, but the chances of a card I was making on SATURDAY evening fitting in with the challenge that wouldn't be posted until the next morning were pretty slim.  Oh well, that just means more scrappin' for me! =)
I finished the card by gluing everything together, popping one of the pink flowers up with a dimensional, and adding pearls to the center of the flowers.
Voilá!  A finished card...made from only scraps.....And I LIKED it!  Done in one evening, and I stamped with my little girl.  A very pleasing accomplishment.

When I checked my blog reader for the SSIC challenge the next day, I found the above info.  I had a hard time thinking of something I'm afraid of, or haven't tried in stamping/scrapping.  Then I thought of my card of the night before.  And of the fact that it was the first time I had a 'scraps only' project turn out to be something I liked.  (Had to get over that 'fear of failing' to even try again.) And of how I used the two labels, even though they weren't perfect.  (A confessing perfectionist, here.)  I decided this card did fit in with this challenge.
I'm reminded of how we aren't perfect, but God accepts us when we are cleansed from our imperfections by the blood of His Son, and even though those imperfection still show.  He helped me conquer the dread of having it all come out wrong...again!  And of not having everything 'perfect' on the card.
I'm reminded of how God knows what we need, and won't let us have more than we can bear.  He knew I needed a 'pick-me-up' so the card came together quickly and beautifully!

And.....God knew I really wanted to start participating in the SSIC challenges again, but only have so much time while I'm still finishing these dresses I'm sewing.  So He orchestrated my time available, and the inspiration for this card to fit with the challenge.  Thanks, Lord!
God really does care about the littlest things in our lives.  And He does want to help us in every little battle we have to face, as well as the big ones.

Thanks for coming by!  Blessing to you! 

(If the SSIC team determines this does not fit the challenge, I'll gladly have it removed from consideration for the prize!)


Challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #141: Do something you are 'afraid' of
Make it Monday # 91: Always anything goes

SSIC 121 - Phil 2:3-4

So far, so good! =)  I'm ready with my one challenge entry for this week!  Yea!

The ladies at Stampin' Sisters in Christ have a wonderful challenge that posts every Sunday.  One of the DT chooses a scripture, writes a bit of encouragement, and then selects a challenge for the week based on all of that.  I really enjoy reading through these encouraging words and the cards made by the DT and other challenge participants are so lovely!!

I have entered several of these over the past year, and I hope to enter every one of them this year!  A bit ambitious, probably, since my 'realistic' goal is to make a card for one challenge per week, and there are so many other inspiring challenges out there!  We'll see how it goes! =)

For this week, Challenge #121, the scripture chosen is Phillipians 2:3-4:

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

The challenge is to make a 'Thinking of You' card.

Here's mine.

This is made with the second half of the digi DP CS (from the City Slickers kit at Everyday Mom Ideas) I used for the last card I posted .  And again the photo was taken with the flash so there is a glare. (Sorry! =( )

I stamped the swirl from the SU! Friendship Blooms set right onto the DP with SU! Real Red ink.  The sentiment is from the SU! Three for You set, stamped in Basic Black on white CS (from my stash), matted on a piece of SU! Real Red.  The flower is also from the Friendship Blooms set, stamped with Basic Black onto white CS, cut out, accented with a Filigree flower from SU! and held on with a colored brad from my stash.  Then I popped it up with a dimensional.  The ribbon is a double faced satin left over from my 'crafting days' of years gone by.  I tied three knots in it, then glued it down with two sided sticky tape.  Et voila! 

These aren't colors I usually do well with, but I'm really pleased with this card.  I'll be sending it to a friend who's been having a tough time in life the last several months.  I hope it will be a ray of sunshine in the midst of the clouds.

Thanks for visiting! Have a blessed and beautiful day!!

Challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ # 121

Color Throwdown 173

One of my goals for this new year of 2012 is to participate in at least one card challenge each week.  For the first week of January, I chose The Color Throwdown #173.  The challenge colors for this week were:

I'm getting better at putting together black and white cards, but throw in that 'red' and I'm 'color challenged' to a big degree!  To make it easy on myself I used the sketch at Card Patterns (#147) so all I had to do was figure out how to make something with these colors.
Here is what I came up with.  As I look at it, I wish I would have done some things differently, but it's done.  And since I have a friend with a birthday this week to whom I will be sending it, I won't have to look at it for long! LOL

The card base is a digital DP from the City Slickers kit at Everyday Mom Ideas.  I inked the edges of it with SU! Basic Black using first a nylon stocking, and then a sponge.  I stamped the swirly from the SU! Friendship Blooms set in SU! Real Red right on the DP.  The flower trio is from the same stamp set.  I stamped it in Basic Black right on the white CS, then colored with Real Red from the Stampin' Pastels.  I didn't like how flat or dull that was, so I stamped the flowers again on a scrap, colored them with Real Red ink, then cut them out and popped them up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  The sentiment is from the SU! It's Your Birthday set, stamped in Basic Black.  The corners of the white are punched with a Fiskars corner punch.  I used the SU! 1/4" circle to punch the holes where I threaded the red sheer ribbon (which I found in my stash drawer).  Then I decided the white was too stark so before I glued everything down, I removed the ribbon and used the nylon stocking to rub some Real Red ink onto the edges of the white, and my sponge to ink the very edges with Basic Black.  You can't see these in the photo very well, since it was after dark when I finished and this had to be taken with the flash.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my first posted card of 2012.  Hope we'll be seeing lots more of each other this year than we did last year! =)

Blessings!

Challenges:
Color Throwdown #173
Card Patterns Sketch 147

Blessings!

I'm squeeking in for The Color Throwdown Challenge #160, but nice and early (the first day of the challenge ~ Yea! =D ) for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #108.

The Color Throwdown combo:

SSIC scripture:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

SSIC Challenge:  Create a card that says 'blessings' or uses an encouraging scripture.

I didn't have any Very Vanilla, or any ivory card stock of any kind!  (I'll have to fix that very soon!)  So... I used white CS and softened it with some ink distressing using a nylon stocking.  Since I didn't have any Soft Suede ink (I know, I'm batting a thousand, here!) I used a combination of Crumb Cake and Close to Cocoa.  I used the same ink combo to stamp the image, and then colored the flowers with Regal Rose ink and the leaves with Crumb Cake ink using a blender pen.  The paper flowers were colored with Regal Rose ink applied with the nylon stocking.  I also highlighted the tips of the petals and the centers with Crumb Cake.

Challenges
The Color Throwdown #160 ~ Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
SSIC ~ 'blessings' or an encouraging verse

Credits

Stampin' Up ~ card stock (Soft Suede, Regal Rose); Ink (Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Crumb Cake); stamps (Herb Expressions); Vintage Wallpaper emboss folder; Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon.

Petaloo ~ paper flowers

Mark Richards ~ Pearls

Stash ~ white card stock

Last But Not Least-August Challenge #8

Hello. blogging and scrapping friends!  I am entering a new challenge.  I've been following the Last But Not Least challenges for several months now, but haven't ever entered.  Well, today is the day that changes!

The challenge for the August, Last But Not Least is, 'embossing'.  Dry or heat.  I like to do both!! Yea!  And, if you do both on your project, it qualifies for two entries! =D

 

This was such a fun card to make!  First of all, blue is one of my favorite colors, and this is SU! Bordering Blue.  I was very sad when this color was retired.  I used the card stock for the base, and the BB ink on the embossed panel.  To make the panel I ran white card stock through my Big Shot in the Ornamental Iron emboss folder from Cuttlebug. 

The sentiment is an SU! stamp done in silver emboss powder, also from SU!, and then lightly colored with SU! chalks using a blender pen.  I then punched it out with the SU! Scallop Oval punch, matted it on Spellbinders Label 14 cut from more BB card stock, and embelished with SU! jewels.

Just to the left of the sentiment you may (or may not! =( ) see a shiny little embelli.  This is a medallion cut from white card stock with the Ornamental Iron die, coated with VersaMark, and embossed with SU! silver emboss powder.  I'm sorry it doesn't show up very well.  The best place to take pics of this card was outside and the sun made quite a glare on the silver items.

The flowers are a combination of SU! Boho Blossoms punch, Trio Flower punch, an EK Success punch, fabric flowers from my stash, and a blue paper flower from Faith at Mark's Finest Papers.  (A sweet little bag of these paper flowers was a 'thank you' gift because I had to wait for an item that was on backorder! Lovely Faith! =) )  I inked and crumpled some of the flowers and various brads, pearls and jewels adorn the centers. An SU! ribbon is laced through the 'bouquet'!

I'm sorry to say, I like this card so much, I don't know if I'll be able to part with it!!  Maybe I'll just write a sweet note to DH in it.  Then I can 'keep' it, and some day frame it with a nice Bible verse or poem in a collage! =)

Friends

I've been learning a lot from various blogs that I visit, as well as some of the challenges I try to enter.  This week Our Daily Bread Designs is having their Shining the  Light Challenge 59.  The challenge is to use a technique I'd not heard of before, Embedded Embossing.

This technique is done by placing some elements onto a CS or DP and then embossing all those layers as one.  I layered a trim cut out of Sage Shadow (SU!) with my Cuttlebug Ornamental Iron die, and a Nestabilities Lable 14 cut out of a digital DP (polka dot), onto another digital DP (stripe), and then ran it all through my Big Shot using the Regal Flourishes emboss folder.  I so, so like the way this came out!!  I think I'll be using this technique a lot!  (Thanks, ODBD ladies!  Especially Sabrina - I took the embedded label inspiration from your sample!)  I inked the edges of this and wrapped lace and a Chocolate Chip ribbon around it before adhering to a Chocolate Chip textured card base.

The smaller Label 14 was cut out of handmade paper we make ourselves, here.   I stamped the Label 14 with the vine flourish from the Vintage Vogue set (SU!) using Creamy Caramel.  The 'F-friends', also from Vintage Vogue, was stamped with VersaMark and embossed using Stampendous Chocolate Brown emboss powder.  Then I hand cut it and popped it up on dimensionals.  The fabric flowers are from my stash, and the pink flowers are SU! Pretty in Pink DP punched with the Trio Flower punch.  I inked the edges with Chocolate Chip.  The layered flower was cut out of some more handmade paper with the Boho Blossoms punch.  I inked these with Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip, and then crumpled them a little to give them dimension.  I like the way this paper  holds a 'crumpled' distress job without using water.  I finished it off by putting a small pearl in the center of every flower.

Thanks for stopping by!!

CREDITS:  
The Digital DPs are from two kits sold by Rasperry Road Designs.  The stripe is from Away in a Manger Papers, and the polka dot from Baskets and Bunnies Paper Set.
Stampin' Up! - card stock, DSP, stamps, ink, satin ribbon, VersaMark, dimensionals, punches
Spellbinders - Nestabilities Label 14
Cuttlebug - Ornamental Iron die
Sizzix - Tim Holtz Regal Flourishes emboss folder
Stash - lace, pearls, handmade paper


Challenges:
ODBDSLC59 - Embedded Embossing
RRR Challenge #23 - Double Dutch (two ribbons, laces, or trims)
 ETA: Stampin' Sisters in Christ - put all things "beautiful" on your card

A Wedding!

We got some exciting news this week.  My eldest daughter's close friend called to tell us she is getting married.  This, of course is a great reason to make a card.....so I did!

I found a new challenge I wanted to try at CardPatterns, (I think I got there from Lovely Linda's blog.....I think!), so I used this challenge as well as this week's Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge #87 as the inspiration for this card.  

Marilynn is the hostess at SSIC this week, and she chose the verse Romans 8:28:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Marilynn's devotional and testimony are so amazing that I can't even begin to think of anything else to say.........so I won't.  But please, click over to her blog and read beautiful, encouraging, inspiring words from a heart that serves the King of Kings.  (There isn't a link available directly to her post so I've sent you to her blog.  At this time the post is at the top, but if you don't find it there, look for the date 'May 1, 2011')

Marilynn's challenge was to use no DP.  I chose white CS from my stash as my base, and then decided I wanted some color on this card.  I still had this piece of Sage Shadow that was used for the test run through my Cuttlebug Ornamental Iron emboss folder.  Although you can't see it in the picture, the half circle at the top of the card is bg stamped with a flower image in Blush Blossom and then I inked the edges with VersaMark and gold embossed. 

The flower in the center was stamped in Sage Shadow and the 'love' was embossed in gold.  I matted this on Blush Blossom and then popped it up on a dimensional inside the crocheted circle (no center to this) which was hand crocheted by......ME! =)

The white ribbon is from my stash and has a little sparkly flower pattern to it.  I thought that would be enough but then decided the gems from SU! were really necessary to finish this off.  All supplies and materials not already noted are from SU!

Challenges:
CardPatterns - sketch
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - No DP

Thanks for stopping!

Dare to be fabulous!

The Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger.

I've tried for several weeks to make a card for this challenge, but don't ever seem to get it posted in time.  I'm squeeking in just under the wire this time. =)

I made the card base from SU! River Rock and embossed it with the SU! Framed Tulips Emboss Folder.  I cut a Nestabilities Label Fourteen and embossed the edge, then stamped the sentiment with a combo of Crumb Cake (stamped off) and then Ruby Red (retired), and inked the edges of the label with the Crumb Cake. The stamp and inks are all SU!.  The Ruby Red flowers are cut with the Sizzix Flower Daisies #2.  I pleated the SU! So Saffron grosgrain ribbon and stitched the pleats down to make it easier to work with.  Then I covered the stitching with some satin picot ribbon from my friend's stash.  The yellow flowers are from my stash and the pearls are SU!.

Whew!!  Got that done!  Now off to the Moxie Fab blog to link up! =))

I'm early this year!!

Usually I'm running around at the last minute making a Mother's Day card for my husband's mom.  (My mom has been gone for several years. =( )  But this year, thanks to The Color Throwdown #138, I have my MIL's card done!! Yea!!

Here is the card I made.

When I first saw the colors for this challenge, I immediately thought of red to go with the navy and white. This is such a common color combo that I decided I needed think about it and try to give some other colors a chance, so I didn't make a card right away. I've been working on some new product ideas for our little home based business so I sat down with my hook and crochet thread.....red crochet thread...to create a few things. When I was done making the little flower, I knew it was going onto a navy and white card!! And that it would be my MIL's Mom's Day card!

The blue is Not Quite Navy from SU! and I embossed the white CS with my new Cuttlebug Ornamental Iron emboss folder.   The two navy medallions were cut with the die plate from the same Cuttlebug set.  I stamped the MOM in Riding Hood Red with the Lovely Letters alphabet, both from SU!  The pearl on the red crocheted flower, (which was made by me! =) ), is a button from my stash.


Challenges I've entered this card in:
The Color Throwdown #138 - navy, white and one other color

Jesus Paid it All!! Hallelujah!

It seems I'm dropping my entry into the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenges at the very last minute, lately! Today is the last day for Challenge #85, and the verse for this week is Matthew 16:23:

"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."

The challenge is to use VersaMark or the same color ink ink on the same color of paper somewhere on your card.

 

I was clicking through various blogs today, including some challenges, and found the Timeless Tuesday Challenge #114.  The color challenge going on there right now is to use aqua, yellow and brown.  Then, I got my latest order from Mark's Finest Papers, which included the Cuttlebug Ornamental Iron cut and emboss.  I had one of my daughters test the cutting die, and she chose SU! Sage Shadow for the card stock.  Well, it's not aqua, but when I saw this lacy trim after the test cut, I knew I had to team it up with yellow and brown for this card.  The other colors of card stock are SU! Creamy Caramel (retired) and Daffodil Delight, and white from my stash.  I stamped the Weathered background on the yellow CS with SU! Summer Sun ink, (also retired).

The stamps I used are some new ones my lovely children gave me for my birthday a few weeks ago, and yes! this is the first time I've inked them.  They are from Blue Ridge Impressions.  I used SU! Creamy Caramel ink (retired) and colored with SU! chalks.  I also chalked the edges of the cross CS and then distressed with my scissors.

The flowers and pearls are from my stash.  I'm not sure I'll enter this in the Timeless Tuesday, we'll see. =)

(ETA) I just found another challenge into which I could enter this card.   Grace had a button for the Inspire Me Fridays challenge so I clicked over to check it out.  I decided to add this card to the challenge, and with enthusiastic encouragement coming from the same Grace, I'll enter the Timeless Tuesday, also!  Thanks, Grace!!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you all have a blessed weekend!

I like these colors!

It's time for another Color Throwdown.  This week is Challenge #131, and these are the colors:

And the answer is Yes!  Blue and pink have been my favorite colors for as long as I can remember.  My group of likes has grown over the years, and I've gone through phases of being really into certain other colors, (right now that is purple! =) ), but I always come back to these for comfort.

'We', (the two daughters who scrapped with me, and myself), were honored to be chosen as the Featured Stampers on last week's Color Throwdown #130.  (The badge is in my right side bar!)  The girls had started scrapping some of these challenges with me when I came across one that really stumped me.  They offered to help me out by making their own interpretations, hoping that would thaw my brain freeze.  Then, it just kind of kept going, which isn't surprising since scrapping is one of the hobbies these girls and I share.  I had only entered my card in the challenge, but the girls' cards were in the same blog post, and as they say, 'the rest is history'!!  We are thrilled to have this honor, and have decided to keep scrapping the challenges together.  It's lots of fun and a great way to spend some time together.

So, now I will show you the cards we all made with this week's colors.

I found some fun tutorials on line this past week.  One of my favorites is Tracy's Paper Flower video, which means I've been making lots of flowers!  My favorite spring flower is the daffodil so I decided to try making some.  I don't like the one on this card as well as the first one I made, but I still think it looks as good as it can for a paper interpretation.  And, of course, it's that time of year when we all begin yearning for spring, so I have a fluffy little robin on my card.  I remember as little girls, my sister and I would eagerly scan the yard looking for the first robin.  I still do that, only the little girls with their noses pressed to the window next to me are my own precious gifts from God. 

Here's my card.

 

Credits: 

Card Stock: SU! (Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron), from my stash (white)

DP: SU! (Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze)

Stamps: SU! (Spring Song, Vintage Labels, Weathered BG)

Ink: Tsukineko (StazOn-Timber Brown, VersaMark), SU! (Choc. Chip, Stampin' Pastel chalks)

Punches: SU!  -  Die Cuts: SU!

Ribbon: SU! (Crumb Cake Taffeta), from my stash (blue sheer)

Pearls: Mark Richards  -  Buttons: from my stash

I'm also entering this in the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge #78: Psalm 9:10 - use at least three buttons.

Here is the one Sis made.

 

Credits:

Card Stock: SU! (Not Quite Navy, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla), from the stash (white)

Stamps: SU! (Of the Earth, Weathered BG)

Ink: SU! (Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake)

Emboss Folder: SU! (Vintae Wallpaper)  -  Ribbon: SU! (Very Vanilla)

And here is Cowgirl's.

Credits:

Card Stock: SU! (Crumb Cake, Choc. Chip, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla)

DP: SU! (Baja Breeze)  -  Stamp: SU! (No One Like You-ret, Three for You)

Ink: SU! (Not Quite Navy), Tsukineko (VersaMark)

Emboss Folder: SU! (Polka Dots)

Embellshments: SU! (gems), from the stash (sheer ribbon)

Thanks for stopping by!

A VERY challenging challenge!

The current challenge over at The Lollipop Ladies (#14) blog gave me a bit of a fit.  I made four...yes 4!... cards before I had one I liked and thought really fit into the challenge.  The sweet picture of inspiration was some smarties and the extra 'cherry on top' was to use hearts.  I so did not like the other three attempts that I won't even post pics of them.  As a matter of fact, I'm not sure what I'll do with them!!

Here is the one I liked.  And I really like this one!  My style is more vintage/distressed and my difficulty was in putting the 'smarties' colors into this style.

Credits:

Pumpkin Pie, Lavender Lace and Certainly Celery card stock: Stampin' Up!

White card stock and vellum: from my stash  -  Tea Party DP: Stampin' Up!

Stamps, Inks and Pastels: Stampin' Up!

Punches: Stampin' Up! (large heart, three heart, curly label, ticket corner), Fiskars (corner)

Die cuts: Stampin' Up! (top note), Provo Craft (scalloped flowers)

Ribbon: Stampin' Up! (Certainly Celery twill), from my stash (sheer)

Jeweled brads: Oriental Trading Co.

A couple of my girls scrapped along with me for this challenge.  They were trying to 'help me along' on my troubled path toward a pleasing card.  What sweeties! =)

This card was made by Sis.

Credits:

White, pink and ivory card stocks: from the stash

Certainly Celery, Real Red and Marina Mist card stocks: Stampin' Up!

DP (yellow): from the stash  -  Stamps and Ink: Stampin' Up!

Punch: Stampin' Up! (eyelet border, three heart)  -  Brads: Oriental Trading Co.

And this one was made by Cowgirl.

Credits:

White, yellow and green card stock: from the stash

All other card stocks: Stampin' Up!  -  Stamp: Stampin' Up!

VersaMark: Tsukineko

Punches: Stampin' Up! (three for you, three heart, corner)

Sheer ribbon: from the stash  -  Brads: Oriental Trading Co.

I missed a few!

I had plans for doing several challenges this past week but I missed out on some of them.  That might have something to do with the fact that one of my little girls had a birthday a week ago, and one yesterday.  And maybe just a little bit with my thinking I can get a lot more done than reality allows!  But that last one is only a slim possibility.  =)))

One of the challenges I was able to finish a card for is The Color Throwdown #130.  I'm really excited about this challenge blog because they choose Stampin' Up! colors for the challenge.  Since 80% of my paper stash and all my inks are SU!, that makes it easy for me.  Except for this time because I had no DPs in those colors!!  What did I do?  Made a mad dash to the local (40 miles one way) scrapping stores!!  But forgot to bring SU! color swatches.  Thankfully there were enough choices I hit pretty close with what I chose.  I'm pleased with the result.  And with the fact that two of my teenage daughters joined me in making cards with these colors.  I'm only entering mine in the challenge, but I've included pics of theirs here, too.

Here is mine!

Credits:

White card stock: from my stash

DPs: Bo Bunny (stripes), Pinecone Press (yellow on mushrooms), 

American Crafts (orange scalloped circle) and SU! (pink mat)

Stamps and Ink: SU!  -  Flowers: Imaginisce

Punch: SU! scalloped circle  -  Ribbon: from my stash  -  Brad: SU!

And now for the cards made by my girls.  This one is Sis's card.

Credits:

White card stock: from the stash

Tangerine Tango and Chocolate Chip card stock: SU!

DP: Pinecone Press  -  Flowers: Imaginisce  -  Stamps and Ink: SU!

Punches: SU! (scalloped circle), Marvy (small daisy) and Fiskars (corner)

Brad: SU!  -  Lace:  hand made by her! =)

And this is Cowgirl's card.

Credits:

White card stock: from the stash  -  Chocolate Chip card stock: SU!

DPs: Bo Bunny (striped), American Crafts (orange scalloped circle), Pinecone Press (yellow daisies)

Vellum: from the stash  -  Stamp and Ink: SU!  -  Die cuts: SU!

Punches: SU! (scalloped circle) and Marvy (daisy)

Flowers: Imaginisce  -  Gems: SU!  -  Ribbon: from the stash

Whew! What a week!'

I just got my computer back from my techie guy!  (I happen to be a Mac fan, so even though I used the PC while mine was in the shop, I felt very computerless for 8 days!)  The Two Year Old had put a cardboard heart in my optical drive.  Not too detrimental, but we didn't know it was a cardboard heart until the tech took it out!  Dinky-Do had told us it was a penny!  GASP!  =))

Said Two Year Old is turning THREE today!  Since her favorite color is blue, and the "main" color that is part of the current challenge at The Color Throwdown is blue, (SU! Ballet Blue, to be exact, along with a light green and a dark green.) I decided to make the birthday card my challenge card.


I also gave myself a personal challenge. I couldn't cut into a new piec of anything to make this card.  As a result, the card base is 4 1/8" x 4" since that was the folded size of a piece of handy Ballet Blue card stock.  I dug in my scrap folders for some Certainly Celery as the light green.  It has a little texture to it as it was a sample piece used to run some Fiskars texture plates on my Big Shot.  Very subtle texturing, but it's there!  And, I had so much fun making polka-dots for The Lollipop Ladies last challenge, I decided to make some for this card, too. -)  The only dark green that shows up is in one of the ribbons, but that's okay.  I think this is the perfect card for my No Longer The Two Year Old.  (Hmmmmm,  now I have to come up with a new 'name' for her!)

Here's the card!

Credits:

Card stock, stamps, ink, dimensionals - Stampin' Up!

Ribbon - from my stash