I did it AGAIN!*

I can't believe it! I made 4 cards today! It's been quite a while since I've been able to spend so much time stamping. And it really wasn't that much time...just some really great challenges to motivate me and help me to focus.  I received this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches in my inbox a few days ago and rediscovered it when I was cleaning out my old emails today:

 

I saw a piece of the Paisley Petals designer paper sitting on my paper cutter and decided to use it for my background.  I also love the thank you sentiment from the Delightful Dozen stamp set when I need something long and skinny.  Here's what I came up with:

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Nature Walk, Delightful Dozen

Inks: Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Paisley Petals dp

Embellishments: Chocolate Chip brads (retired)

Thanks for looking!

*For some reason I can't get it through my thick head that the FMS challenges end at noon on Mondays! Once again, I missed it!

Mojo 225

Do you ever punch out shapes for something and then realize they're not going to work for what you intended?  I had three 1" squares that I had punched out, thinking I would use them in the Stamping 411 sketch challenge over the weekend.  Turns out they were too big for the sketch so they were left sitting on my desk.  To my surprise however, I open the Mojo Monday blog this morning to find this sketch:

Perfect! As long as I could find the scrap paper that I punched my 1" squares from, I could punch one more and be on my way!  Sure enough I found it, and it just barely fit a 1" square punch.  I dug out my Season of Friendship stamp set and created this card:

Here's what I used:
Stamps: Season of Friendship, Thank you Kindly
Inks: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist
Paper: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red designer paper (d/c'd)
Punches: 7/8" circle, 1" square, square scallop
Big Shot: Perfect Details Texturz Plate (on Marina Mist cardstock)
Embellishments: Basic Rhinestones, Dazzling Details (on tree branches)

Thanks for looking!

Friday Mashup 42 & Saturday Sketch Challenge 239

Tired of my cupcakes yet?? I hope not!  For some reason when I don't know what else to make, I always reach for my Create a Cupcake stamps set or builder punch.  After making the primary color cupcake thank you's for my daughter last week, she got one more gift that needed another one.  I decided to follow this sketch from Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge:

Then, looking for more challenges to enter, I saw that the Friday Mashup was all about color choice and a technique:

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project using "Paper Piercing".
2. Or Make a project using the colors "Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red & Early Espresso".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with the "Color Combo & Paper Piercing".

And here's what I came up with:

Here's what I used:

Ink: Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride

Paper: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red designer paper (d/c'd)

Stamps: Create a Cupcake

Punches: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, 3/4" circle, 1/2" circle

Big Shot: Square Scallop Duo

Have a great week!

Saturday Sketch Challenge 238

I'm back with more of these primary color cards! I'm really trying to use up this Big Top Birthday designer paper as it's not one of my favorites.  It does, however, work very well for kids birthday cards and as you'll see here, kids thank yous.  I saw this simple sketch at Stamping 411:

And here's what I came up with:

The colors didn't come out too well in this photo but when you're barely sneaking the stamping in, there's no time for retakes! 

Here's what I used:Stamps: Create a Cupcake, So Happy For You (SAB 2011, I think)
Ink: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight
Paper: Real Red cs, Big Top Birthday dp

Freshly Made Sketches #17....almost :(

I'm really trying to stay on track this week.  I did some blog hopping this morning and found this sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.

It looked easy enough to attempt even while my 2 year old was playing in the next room.  Here's what I came up with:

Unfortunately I went to post it and discovered that the challenge closed at noon yesterday! Oh well.  I'll be sure to pay closer attention next time!

Here's what I used:
Stamps: Create a Cupcake, So Happy For You (SAB 2011, I think)
Ink: Read Red, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight
Paper: Real Red cs, Big Top Birthday dp

Friday Mashup #41 & Super Easy Cards

So I went a little crazy making these cards because they were SO easy to make! I haven't had much time for stamping lately so when I saw this idea on Julie B's Stampin' Space, I took full advantage and made a bunch.  I entered this one in the Friday Mashup challenge because it just happened to meet the criteria (I love when that happens!):

With such an easy design I created all of these as well:

 

Sorry for the fuzziness of this last one (not sure why since I took every picture exactly the same way) but it says Get Well Soon from the Delightful Dozen stamp set.  I really love this set because of it's versatility.  It's nice to have a set that has one Mother's Day message, one Father's Day message, an Easter, Halloween and Valentine's message....these are all occasions that I don't make many cards for, so I really don't need a ton of stamps, just one for each is plenty. 

Hope you're enjoying the long weekend!

Stamp Club Returns!

Happy New Year everyone!  My club has been off since October with everyone's schedules being so crazy around the holidays.  But we were back together last night and I think the projects were a success! As people trickled in they had a chance to create a super easy card that I cased from Julie B's Stampin' Space.  It was a perfect card to make as we were waiting for everyone to arrive because it hardly required any instruction by me!  Here's one sample:

Once everyone arrived, I gave them a template of one 6 x 6 sheet of designer paper with various punches and pieces cut out of it.  By following the instructions and the layout they were able to create these three projects:

Once again I have to say thank you to Julie B for her inspiration on the candy holder.  My group truly enjoyed all of these creations and couldn't believe how quickly they were able to put everything together!