Our Creative Corner - Sketch Challenge

Happy Saturday! The OCC has a sketch challenge up for today! We also have a sponsor this week, a brand new digital stamp company Sugar Creek Hollow. So new, in fact, that their Grand Opening is March 1st. All of the Grand Opening proceeds will be donated to a food pantry. They are offering up a prize to random participant in this sketch challenge, so be sure and check out all the details on the OCC Blog!

The design team cooked up some fun cards using this sketch. Be sure and check 'em out, you can find links to all the ladies on my side bar! I think I was the one that strayed the most from the sketch (there's always one in every bunch, lol).... I used the initial layout, but then I added and added and added some more.... kind of disguising the original layout... but it is there.... just underneath some add ons!

I used one of the images from our Sponsor, Sugar Creek Hollow. I thought these boots were kind of fun and would be neat to embellish. I used Copics to color, adding airbrushing around the edges in addition to sponging some brown ink too. I love this funky lace trim... sadly this card used up my stash. When I cut it the edges frayed pretty roughly so I covered up the corners using a little piece of card stock, hiding the cut ends. The usual stitch marks, I can't stop adding them. A sheer black ribbon bow and that's all! Final card is an A2.

• Stamps: Sugar Creek Hollow
• Ink: Printed image on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White with HP Inkjet
• Paper: Pattern Paper from K and Co., Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Lt. Brown Card Stock
• Other: Black Sheer RIbbon, Tiny Crystlas, Misc. Lace Edging, Black Fine Tip Pen, Gold Gel Pen, Bow Easy Tool, Copics/ABS, Spellbinder's Classic Rectangles

Stamp Simply #128 - Sympathy Cards

Stamp Simply #128 - February 26th - Sympathy Cards

Today, Sharon issued the challenge to create a Sympathy card. We all need them on occasion and sometimes they can be hardest cards to make.

------------------------------------------------------

Check out all the Challenge Details and see Sharon's creation on her blog No Time to Stamp. So please play along and link your project with Mr. Linky on No Time to Stamp, Sharon's blog! Check out the beautiful samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these totally creative designers: Tammy, Janine - taking the night off, AJ, Deb, Barbara, Barb Schram and Jennifer. Julie has sadly had to leave our Friday challenges as a regular designer, boo hoo! And we have the talented Deb Neerman as our Guest Stamper this month! Deb’s Blog is Paper, Ink, Scissors and Stamps hop over and pay her a visit!

I have been a bad blogger, getting caught up in the Olympics and other things this week! I love watching the Olympics and seeing the athletes, their stories and triumphs! So my apologies for being absent from Blogville.

Tonight's card is simple, keeping with the challenge. I simply stamped my sentiment on pattern paper and used a Nestie to trim it out, adding some thin layers that I hand trimmed to the shape. For the blue background I used a Cuttlebug Folder to emboss the pattern, adding some Ivory Pigment Ink with my baby brayer to raised portions, just a soft layer of color and not evenly inked either. I added a blue silk bow, the blue was a little brighter than my paper to begin with. I used a Copic Marker (E00) to tone it down a bit.

When I added the sentiment panel, I gently curved it using my finger and rolling it slightly. To keep it curled and adhere it at the same time I used a 3D Silicone glue. Finished card is an A2.

• Stamps: Sentiment from Impression Obsession # CL114 Sympathy Set
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ivory Pigment Ink
• Paper: Kaisercraft's Devonshire 6x6 Collection, White
• Other: 1/4" Blue Silk Ribbon, Bow Easy Tool, 3D Silicone Glue, Cuttlebug Folder, Spellbinder's Curved Rectangles, Fine Tip Black Pen

Stamp Simply #127 - Recipe card with Twist

Stamp Simply #127 - February 19th - Recipe Card with a Twist! "ssnotime127"

Today, Sharon issued the following challenge:

Think of flipping through a recipe box filled with cards -- the tabs/dividers come to my mind instantly. That's where we are headed with this one. Make a card (for a recipe if you like, but it need NOT be a true recipe card) that has some tabbed element on it to give you that impression of a traditional recipe card in a box.

------------------------------------------------------

Check out all the Challenge Details and see Sharon's creation on her blog No Time to Stamp. So please play along and link your project with Mr. Linky on No Time to Stamp, Sharon's blog! Please check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these totally creative designers: Tammy - taking the night off, Janine, Julie, AJ, Deb, Barbara, Barb Schram and Jennifer. And we have the creative Deb Neerman as our Guest Stamper this month! Deb’s Blog is Paper, Ink, Scissors and Stamps and you won’t want to miss her fun take on our challenge!

For real, I don't cook. I can operate the microwave very well, but the stove and I are not on friendly terms. The husband does all the cooking. So when this challenge came along... I turned to google. I found this recipe and decided to whip up a little card with my Flourishes stamps. Is it really a recipe with only three ingredients, one of them being water and no cooking involved??? I printed out the "recipe" on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White and then added my stamped images, masking some elements to have things layered a bit. At the end I remembered the challenge called for a tab of some sort.... so I tucked one on the side. A little cuttlebug action, some stitch marks and a little black jute string bow.... done. Finished card is 4x6.

• Stamps: All stamps by Flourishes: Life, Love and Lemons, Strawberry Stamp Set
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Yellow, Black, Red Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Copics, Spellbinder's Curved Rectangles, White Gel Pen, Black Jute String, Bow Easy Tool, Black Fine Tip Pen, Cuttlebug Folder

IO Challenge - Background Bonanza

It's time for another challenge from the Impression Obsession Design Team, and you can play along with us..... this week is Background Bonanza... showing off some off the FAB Cover-a-Card Backgrounds that IO has released this past year. If you wanna play along hop over to the IO Blog for all the deets and there is a $25 gift certificate up for grabs to a random participant.

Be sure and check out the IO crew and see what they cooked up for this challenge... Daniela Dobson, Dina Kowal, Jeanne Streiff, Laura Fulcher and Rosemary Marino

Did you just run and get your sunglasses??? I know....this is Ultra Bright! I wanted to use an intense ink so you could really see the detail and fine lines in this Paisley Background stamp. I used Versafine's Deep Lagoon Ink. This stamp has quickly moved to the top of the pile in my faves. So detailed and every time I stamp it, it comes out clean and perfect. I use the IO Mega Mount when stamping these backgrounds.

You can see I also stamped the Paisley Background in Black using that as a mat to the sentiment and around the border of the card. The gingham skirting ribbon was originally black and white, but then it met up with a Copic Marker! With the gingham pattern in the ribbon, I could not resist adding my little stitch marks around the edges. A little button with a tiny jute string bow tied to it to finish it up. Final card size is 5 1/2" Square.

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession - Live Every Moment #C5533, Cover a Card Lg Paisley #CC039
• Ink: Versafine Deep Lagoon, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: White, Black
• Other: May Arts Ribbon, Spellbinder's Labels Eight, Copics/ABS, White Gel Pen, Misc. Button, Black Jute String

Belli Challenge #85 - Dragonflies or Butterflies

Today brings another challenge from the Creative Belli Blog, where the challenge focus is all about embellishments.... today the call is all about using dragonflies or butterflies on your project. This is challenge #85 and if you are uploading to a gallery, please include "CBC85" as a keyword. You can find all the details and info to play along on the Belli Blog. This week were are also using images from QKR Stampede and there is a gift certificate up for grabs for one lucky participant as well.

I have been doing a lot of simple layouts lately and this one is no exception. I used the background paper from a small K & Company paper pad from the collection: Garnish, this one features papers with die cut edges, acetate sheets, and printed vellum.

Keeping things simple, I used my Copics to color the image, airbrushing the background with blue... pulling my colors for the image from the background paper to match. Simply matted with a few stitch marks and a 1/4" White Silk ribbon bow that I embellished with a dragonfly. I used white Opal Liquid Pearls in the center of the flowers. Finished card size is 5 1/2" Square.

• Stamps: Bouquet #16220 by QKR Stampede
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Specialty Paper from K and Co., Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Yellow
• Other: 1/4" Silk Ribbon, Dragonfly brad, Bow Easy Tool, Copics/ABS, White Gel Pen, Liquid Pearls: White Opal, Spellbinder's Classic Square Nesties

Easter Bunny Garden

I pulled this springtime looking plaid paper from my 6x6 Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses Collection, I thought it was perfect for an Easter card. I colored and airbrushed the image and sentiment with Copics. After I colored the fence I added some white on top of the copics, using a white gel pen. No Nesties.... Just cutting the images out with my trimmer and using a corner rounder on the corners. On the pink layer in the background I used an EK Success Border Punch and I also Cuttlebugged the Kraft layer too -- but you can hardly see that, I ended up covering everything up. I added some pink jute string and made a fancy multiple looped bow using the Bow Easy. I sewed a few buttons on and did the doodle stitch marks around the edges. Finished card size is an A2.

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession - F8414 and C8390
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses Collection, Pink, Kraft, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Copics/ABS, White Gel Pen, Buttons, Pink Jute String, Bow Easy Tool, Corner Rounder, Cuttlebug Folder, Ek Success Mini Scalloped Border Punch

Our Creative Corner - Something OLD

Over at the OCC, Linda gave us the challenge of pulling out and USING something old or forgotten in our stash. We all have a few things like that. Hope you dust off something in your stash and join the challenge! You can find all the details on the Our Creative Corner Blog. Be sure and take a look to see what the other ladies have cooked up for this fun challenge, see the links to all the OCC ladies on my sidebar.

SO... what's old on this card? Well the little butterfly punch has been in my punch collection for years and it actually did have a layer of dust on it! I have gotten a lot of use from this punch, but since Nesties moved in my stamp room.... seems I hardly ever turn to punches any more.

The butterfly patterned paper is from the DCWV Mariposa Collection, this whole collection is YUM. I went with a nature feel, choosing to pair up the pretty paper with Kraft card stock and Jute String. To help the wings of the butterfly (punched three times) stay lifted I added a little 3-D Glue in between each layer. I used a little dab of Ultimate Glue to keep my bow tails along the side of the oval. Finished card is an A2.

• Stamps: Wordsworth: Poetry of the Earth Clear Set
• Ink: Versamark and Gold Detail EP
• Paper: DCWV Mariposa 4x6 Collection, Gold Card Stock, Kraft
• Other: Black Jute String, Bow Easy Tool, Spellbinder's Oval Nesties, Butterfly Punch, Foam Tape, 3-D Perga Glue, Black Mini Pearls, Black Fine Tip Pen

Stamp Simply #126 - Purple and Green

Stamp Simply #126 - February 12th - Purple and Green! "ssnotime126"

Today, Sharon issued the challenge to make a card using the colors purple and green, any shades of the two colors works....

Check out all the Challenge Details and see Sharon's creation on her blog No Time to Stamp. So please play along and link your project with Mr. Linky on No Time to Stamp, Sharon's blog!

Please check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these totally creative designers: Tammy, Janine, Julie, AJ, Deb, Barbara, Barb Schram and Jennifer. And we have the talented Deb Neerman as our Guest Stamper this month! Deb’s Blog is Paper, Ink, Scissors and Stamps and you won’t want to miss her creative take on our challenge!

You know I'm not the fondest of purple and I usually go for a deep rich purple shade, but I mixed it up today with this purple and green paper from Kaiser Craft's Dancing Jewel Collection.

This card is simply stamped and is really all about layers and layers. I used my Southwest corner punch to notch the edges and then added embroidery floss to frame my stamped panel. When I added the row of embroidery floss under the stamped sentiment I used Scor-Pal tape to lay a line of adhesive... winding the string around it. The adhesive immediately grabs it and keeps it nice and snug. I used the Bow Easy to add a little string bow. A few pearls to accent.... and NO STITCH marks. Very hard to resist the urge... but I did. Final card size is an A2.

• Stamps: Verse by Wordsworth Stamps "Comfort" Clear Set
• Ink: Versafine Imperial Purple
• Paper: Kaiser Craft's Dancing Jewel Collection, Mellow Moss
• Other: Bow Easy Tool, Embroider Floss, Purple Pearls, Spellbinder's Label 8, Southwest Corner Punch, Foam Tape, Scor Pal 1/4" Tape

St. Patrick's Day

I still had the new TCP Beary Good Year set on my desk and decided to make a quick little St. Patrick's Day card... since the set has all the little holiday add ons and sentiments that's just what I used. I stamped the four leaf clover on a 1.5" Inchie Board. I used Memento Tuxedo Black to stamp and then colored on my Inchie with Copics. The color went on nice and smooth on the Inchie board.

I decorated the background panel using my Scor-Pal.... scoring lines at every half inch to create the embossed lines. Then I used the Scor-Bug tool to create the dotted embossed lines at 1/4" after each straight line. I jeweled them up here and there with some small green crystals. You can see my Scalloped Square in the background (under my Inchie Board) and I added some Gold Sulky thread to it, winding in between each scallop to create the grid pattern. My sentiment is simply embossed in gold and I curved it, so that it would be raised in the middle and secured on the sides using some crystals.... Also on the raised portion I use Perga Kit 3-D Glue to help hold the 3-D look. Finished card is 4.5" Square.

• Stamps: All stamps are from The Cat's Pajamas - Clear Set "A Beary Good Year"
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark and Gold Detail EP
• Paper: Gold Card Stock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Green DP from Basic Grey's Origins Collection
• Other: Inchie+, Scor Pal, Scor Bug, Crystals, Gold Pearls, Spellbinder's Scalloped Square Nesties

A Beary Fun Blog Hop.....

New stamps from The Cat's Pajamas!

Alma has created yet another FUN set for us stampers full of that TCP style. This set "A Beary Good Year", features the new bear as the main player and he has add on's and accessories for all occasions and Holidays! TCP has been running a contest to give this Bear a name... the Winner gets all the new stamp sets that TCP releases for the next year! That's one very swanky prize! The winner will be announced on Alma's blog "Dancing in Pajamas" on February 9th.

We are having a blog hop to show off fun creations with this new release!

Need to go to the first stop on the hop?

Use this link to get there --> Amy Rohl is starting us off!

------------------------------

If you are already making your way thru the HOP,

then you arrived from Ana Wohlfahrt's blog!

This was a fun card to make, since Mr. Bear had two arms out... of course I had to fill them with goodies! We are doing double duty and our samples are also for the TCP Tuesday Challenge this week... the challenge call was Paper Piecing. I paper pieced the whole thing! I used DP from Basic Grey's Bittersweet Collection. I stamped the bear on the solid caramel colored paper adding a striped piece for his tummy. The DP in the background has flowers in it, and I stamped the flower stamp image in the set over the patterned flowers and then cut them out, adding some string stems. I used a pink Copic to dye some 1/8" silk ribbon for Mr. Bear's bouquet. I used the same Copic to add a little pink tint to my pearl centers on the flowers. I added a little love note in his other hand, also stamped on patterned paper. The Bear and all the elements are popped up, using foam tape to add some dimension to the card. I think he is all ready for his Valentine's sweetie!

Ready to check out the next stop on the Hop...

Head over and visit with ---> Jen del Muro!

• Stamps: All stamps are from The Cat's Pajamas - Clear Set "A Beary Good Year"
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Basic Grey's Bittersweet Collection, Pink, Neenah Classic Ivory
• Other: Pink Copic, 1/8" White Silk Ribbon, The Bow Easy Tool, Misc. Button, Green Jute String, Pearls, Foam Tape, Fine Tip Taupe Pen