Freshly Made Sketches #20

When I first saw this week's challenge at Freshly Made Sketches, I didn't know if I would participate.  In honor of the SUPERBOWL this weekend (Go Pats!!) they are "going long" with the sketch. The odd card size threw me off because I wouldn't have any envelopes to match.   But I looked at it again this morning and decided, if I can put square cards in rectangle envelopes, I can certainly put these skinny cards in a regular card envelope!  I actually found some 4 1/2 x 6 3/4 envelopes left over from my Christmas photo cards so I decided to make a 6 1/2 x 3 card to fit inside.  Check out this sketch:

And I almost forgot!!  Has anyone ever woke up dreaming of stamping? I know, sounds crazy.  But I was so excited to get some new stuff yesterday and couldn't wait to start playing.  I actually woke up today thinking how pretty Always Artichoke and Concord Crush would be.  So this is what I made:

Here's what I used:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Triple Treat Flower
Ink: Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Paper: Concord Crush, Always Artichoke, Whisper White, In Color 2010-2012 dp hostess pack
Embellishments: Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon, Artichoke button (from really old Regals buttons pack)

Hope you like it!

Addicted to a Challenge

This has never happened to me before, but I think I'm addicted to the Stamping 411 sketch challenge this week!  It is so easy, especially because I have so many pieces of 6x6 dp!  Once you start cutting you realize how nicely it all works out.  I love the fact that you can use almost the entire 6x6 piece on each card because as I've said before I have SO much dp to use!  This is what I accomplished today:

I really liked the "friend" sentiment on these because it will be a bit more versatile than "thank you."  Got to get my kids fed, so if you're wondering the details let me know and I'll be sure to add them!  Thanks for looking!

Mojo Monday 226

Did you ever have one of those days when you're super excited about a few of your projects...you're on a roll....and then you create something that's not "up to par?"  Well today was one of those days.  I absolutely LOVED the way my previous card turned out.  I was pumped to get moving on the Mojo Monday sketch.

 I needed a birthday card for my brother so I thought this was a great time to get going on it.  And there's the problem....making a card for a guy.  I always want to balance my cards out with ribbons or rhinestones or glitter or something!  But on a guy card?  I couldn't do that.  I knew I'd use the square sketch, that was easy.  But what to do after that....well, after much deliberation, this is what I came up with:

To be honest, I'm not thrilled with it.  I almost didn't post it.  But that's the beauty of creating a guy card....chances are, they aren't going to care what it looks like anyway, so I'm posting it and I'm giving it to him.

And here's what I used:
Stamps: Cheers to You (retired)
Ink: Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, white gel pen
Paper: Early Espresso, River Rock, Well Worn dp, Not Quite Navy
Techniques: crimper, linen cord

Thanks for looking and I promise something a little bit more "up to par" next time :)

Stamping 411 Challenge

I discovered today how quick it is to make a card when you follow the challenge exactly as it is written...even the measurements are written!! I'm making an effort to use designer paper much more these days as I always buy it and then end up with tons of retired paper sitting in my stash.  I thought the Stamping 411 sketch was a great one for using up dp.  Check it out:

I quickly flipped through my current dp stash and found a few pieces of the Beau Chateau which gave me a great starting point.  And this is what I ended up with:

I really like the way it turned out.  And I did something I've never done before....not having any coordinating brads, I colored the pearls with my soft suede marker.  It certainly took a while to dry, but I really like the look!

So here's what I used:

Stamps: Thank You Kindly

Inks: Soft Suede

Paper: Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Beau Chateau dp

Embellishments: Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon, Basic Pearls

Thanks for looking!

Friday Mashup #43

Back again...oh it feels so good to be stamping! I needed a baby boy card for the weekend and absolutely loved my baby girl owl card so I decided to use my owl again for the this one.  As with all baby boy stuff, I don't find it quite as cute as baby girl stuff (speaking from my own experience having 2 girls and a boy) but it works.  I used the Friday Mashup Challenge to get me going:

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project using the "Sketch".
2. Or Make a project using "Something NEW in your stash". (Stamps, ribbon, pretty paper...anything!)
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project "using the Sketch & something NEW in your stash".

Here's my "mashup":

I definitely used the sketch. As for "something new", I had received an assortment of soft subtle designer papers as a Christmas gift so I decided to open them up and use the Bashful Blue polka dot paper on this card.  Seems strange calling it "new" since Bashful Blue cardstock has been in my stash forever, but honestly, this is the first time I have ever had a designer paper to go with it.

So here's what I used:

Stamps: Short & Sweet

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Subtles Collection dp

Punches: Decorative Label, Owl Builder, Word Window

Big Shot: Perfect Details Texturz Plate

Hope you had a wonderful week!  Happy Weekend!

On Time...at last!

I was determined to enter a card into the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week. For the last two weeks, I created cards and as I went to enter them, I discovered the challenge had already closed. Not this time...I'm entering on Day One!!

Here goes...the sketch:

I needed a couple baby cards this week, so I started with a girl one.  I rotated the sketch and came up with this...what do you think?

 Here's what I used:

Ink: White Gel Pen for eyes

Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride dp

Punches: 1" circle, Builder Owl

Embellishments: Basic Rhinestones

Feel like I've been on quite a roll lately, but I know it won't last :(  All this stamping has gotten me a bit behind on work so I'll be catching up on that this weekend.  Hope to be able to post again in the next week!

Sale-A-Bration is Here!

If you've been around Stampin' Up! for a while you know how exciting this time of year is.  For every $50 in merchandise, you earn one FREE item from the Sale-A-Bration Brochure.  Want to see what you can earn? Click on the SAB picture at the right.