'Tis the Season for great colors

 

Beware the kangaroo bearing gifts! Ha ha Just kidding. I love this stamp from a retired 2005 Stampin' Up! set called Happy Christmas, Mate! I have a thing for all things Australian, except the spiders and snakes.

 

 I started with a Chocolate Chip card and embossed the front with Pretty Print, then adhered 1" circles of Marina Mist. I used only those two colors to color the main image with the ink pads and blender pen, adding silver dazzling details to the shoes, hat and gift (that's hard to see!). I used the Circles Framelits to die-cut the kangaroo after stamping it.

 

I combined two challenges for this card - 'Tis the Season color challenge and Create with Connie and Mary sketch challenge. There's a day+ left for the CCMCSpring14-01 challenge and you have two weeks for 'Tis the Season.

 

 

You can see I kinda turned around the sketch to make it work with this stamp set. I love challenges as starting points to creating one-of-a-kind cards! Now it's your turn. Create a card and link it to these blogs. And have a happy day!

 

See Ya Later meets Retro Fresh for sketch challenge

 

I've been enjoying an absolutely wonderful day - first with my American Ink team members at my studio, then at home with my family watching the Seattle Seahawks football team win at home. I'm sharing the card I made for my swap this morning. This is a sneak peek at a stamp set called See Ya Later, which you may earn for FREE with a $50+ order during our Sale-a-Bration Event, which starts January 28.

 

 

Doesn't that paper just pop? It's called Retro Fresh designer paper and it's available in the Occasions Catalog on page 19 (item 132993, $10.95). I thought this pattern looked like little rainbows.

 

 

I used the sketch challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary. You have until January 15 to participate (9 a.m. PST), and need to use only Stampin' Up! products.

 

 

Did you notice the little banner to the left of the Chalk Talk framelit? It's the new Banner Punch (another SAB freebie with a $50 purchase). Super cute!







A little bit of Christmas old mixed with new

 

Rich Razzleberry, Strawberry Slush and Sahara Sand are different colors for Christmas - at least for a card. I got the combo off the Color Coach and used it with the retired Merry stamp set for my 20-card class this past weekend.

 

It's unfortunate stamp sets need to retire at all because Merry was gone before the introduction of this Chevron embossing folder, basic rhinestones and stitched Rich Razzleberry ribbon! But my customers were the ones who asked to use retired stamps and other products along side current ones. Great idea! I used a Retro Sketches challenge for this design, along with the retired spiral punch.

 

If you'd like order any card stock, ribbons and current product, please visit my Online Store at http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. I'll automatically enter you in my November 1 drawing for free SU! product.

Going natural for Sunday Stamps sketch challenge

 

I've been enjoying watching the leaves on the trees change color and the air turn cooler. That's why I turned to Tangerine Tango, Old Olive and Early Espresso for this card, and used the Sunday Stamps sketch challenge below.

 

 

Here's the scoop on Sunday Stamps: "We want you to have fun and be creative and share your creations with us using the Linky Widget below. You may use any brand (or combination of brands) you'd like. The deadline to submit your creation is Friday, October 18 at 6PM EST."

 

 

I started with a Tangerine Tango card, layered with Early Espresso and the birch-like paper from the Thanksgiving Tablescape Simply Created Kit in the Holiday Catalog. For the wavy part of the sketch, I used the Tasteful Trim die for the Big Shot. The leaf is Magnificent Maple and the sentiment is from the hostess set, Banner Greetings.

Shop Around jumbo wheel framelit card

 

I love the images on the Shop Around jumbo wheel. Here's a close-up of two of the panels in Calypso Coral ink. It's my swap for my American Ink team of SU! demonstrators this morning.

 

 

I started with this sketch challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary (CCMC 260). I made my card out of Crisp Cantaloupe card stock, running it through the Big Shot with the second largest label framelit, making sure the top of the framelit was above the fold so that part would be the top fold of the card. I'm loving my new magnetic platform - it holds the framelit firmly in place!

 

 

I ran the front of the card through the Beautifully Baroque embossing folder, before adding the stamped wheel panels. Then I used the Pansy punch with Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral card stock, holding them together with Calypso Coral designer brads.



 

 

Create with Connie and Mary had a double challenge - the sketch and colors - but I didn't use Pistachio Pudding. I just wasn't feeling it! I hope you enjoy your weekend. I've got lots of fun things planned with different people. Fun!

Clean & Simple By The Seashore

 

I discovered one thing making this card - I love Bermuda Bay with Coastal Cabana. This sketch from Clean & Simple just went up today, so there's still 13 days left to participate.

 

I used the Tasteful Trim die with Bermuda Bay card stock to diecut the large scallops. The crabs were stamped in Early Espresso on Crumb Cake card stock, then layered on Early Espresso.

 

To order any of these Stampin' Up! products (except Banner Greetings, which is a hostess set) please visit my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net.

 

I'm adding my card to the 52 Card Pickup. There are a few more days left to link up your card here.

Zoo Babies with Crushed Curry

 

How cute is this giraffe? It's one of the Zoo Babies in a new stamp set you may purchase in the big catalog.

 

 

I can honestly say I'm not a fan of Crushed Curry. It's a hard color for me to use. So I grabbed my Color Coach and found that Coastal Cabana and Pumpkin Pie complement Crushed Curry. I like those two colors! So here we go. I love the Scallop Border punched strip of Coastal Cabana with the 1/8" Pumpkin Pie taffeta and the little punched tag with "hi" from Fabulous Phrases.

 

 

I started planning my card with last week's sketch challenge from Try Stampin' On Tuesday. That's why I added a "tree" in Baked Brown Sugar ink from Take Care. It's the second design today I used for my 10-card class. What do you think?

 

To order any of these products, please visit my Online Store at http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. If you don't have a demonstrator, I'd love to be yours! Thanks!!!

Chalk Talk card for sketch, color challenges

It's been awhile since I've taken part in a sketch or color challenge, so I decided to make one card using the Chalk Talk stamp set (p. 12) and Beautifully Baroque embossing folder (p. 191) for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge 93 and Sunday Stamps Color Challenge 53. There's still time to participate in both challenges!

 

 

I started with a 5-1/4" x 8-1/2" piece of So Saffron card stock, then added a 5" x 4" piece of Tempting Turquoise, punching the corners. I layered a 4-3/4" x 3-3/4" piece of Tangerine Tango card stock on top of the turquoise after running it through the Big Shot and rounding the corners. These colors were seriously a challenge for me!

 

 

I used an 11/16" x 5" piece of Tempting Turquoise under the Delicate Details Lace Tape (p. 171) because I thought the card needed a bit more blue, then I added Brights Candy Dots (p. 171). The "for you" is punched with the 1-3/8" Circle punch and adhered with dimensionals on the blue and white layer, which is also adhered with dimensionals over the lace tape. Could there be more? Of course there is! There's an Anything Goes Challenge over at Stampin' Royalty, so I'm adding this card there too. You still have a few days left to add something!

 

Stampin' Royalty Challenge #183 - Anything Goes!

Create a card, Scrapbook page, 3-D Item, or My Digital Studio project,
Then upload it to your blog or public gallery and be sure to add a link back here letting people know you're participating in our challenge!

 

Thanks for coming by and spending a few minutes on my blog! I appreciate it.

Million-Dollar Moments for sketch challenge

 

I think silhouette stamps are so much fun! I made this Million-Dollar Moments card for my 10-card class last night using Freshly Made Sketches #75. I just got this hostess set, so this is the first time I've inked it.

 

 

This sketch is wide open. You can see I chose to use a strip of Summer Smooches dsp, as well as a Scallop Border-punched strip of Rich Razzleberry card stock.

 



 

I used a Sycamore Street button (SAB freebie with a $50 order) on a skinny banner with a sentiment from the Million-Dollar Moments stamp set.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Unlimited card ideas? Here you go!

If you've ever sat down to make a card and have no idea where to start, this is for you! I regularly use sketch challenges to create the cards I need for my 10-card classes, clubs, swaps, and other events. I may not follow the sketch exactly, but who cares? It's all about getting you started. Where you go once you've started is up to you. :-)

To find these ideas, just Google "sketch challenge." I tend to like the simpler sketches, because I find it easier to add layers and embellishments, rather than starting with a more involved sketch.

Here are my Favorites I have bookmarked:
http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com
http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com
http://trystampinontuesday.blogspot.com
http://stampinroyalty.blogspot.com
http://www.freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com
http://handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com
http://www.palspaperarts.com
http://retrosketches.blogspot.com.au
http://cleanandsimplestamping.blogspot.com
http://sundaystamps.blogspot.com

Now about the card in the video - I want to note that you get 40 sheets of 8-1/2" x 11" Very Vanilla card stock, which makes 80 cards when each sheet is cut in half. I only counted one 40-pack of Very Vanilla envelopes in the $55 price, along with the More Amore Specialty dsp, and Hearts Collection Framelits. Now thru March 22, for every $50 you order from Stampin' Up! (http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net is my Online Store) you may select the three ribbons and pack of buttons FREE (you can click on the Free Products graphic in my right-hand column to see other choices).

Thanks for visiting!

Doodling a little love on chalkboard valentine for sketch challenge

 

Here's a taste of the chalkboard technique with a valentine, with a doodle!

 

 

For the chalkboard technique, I started with Basic Black card stock, stamped hearts from Hearts a Flutter in the Whisper White craft pad, covered them with white embossing powder, and heated it with my heat tool to emboss. I then used a white watercolor pencil and ruler to make the lines around the hearts, doodling the arrow through one (who hasn't done that?). Finally, I used a sponge dauber in the white pad to add faux chalk dust to my "chalkboard." That makes it more real, doesn't it?

 

Like yesterday, I used a sketch - this time over at RetroSketches:

 

 

There's still 1-1/2 days to participate! You can see how literal I was with the sketch, using hearts where the sketch shows hearts. I used the Fancy Fan folder on my Pretty in Pink card front, and a sentiment from the Sale-a-Bration stamp set Vintage Verses, punching a 1-1/4" circle of Raspberry Ripple to highlight the word "only" behind the banner.

Spring Sampler ladybug in smooshed soda top for challenge

 

This Real Red ladybug from the Spring Sampler stamp set just makes me happy to look at! I punched him out with a 1" circle punch and adhered him into a soda pop top I ran through my Big Shot (the same sandwich you use for an embossing folder).

 

 

I used the Create with Connie and Mary sketch challenge. These sketches are a great jumping off point for one-of-a-kind creations! There's not much time if you want to participate in this sketch challenge, but go for it.

 

 

I've got a card club meeting tonight at my studio, and this is one of the projects. They haven't seen the paper doilies or soda pop tops in person yet, so it'll be fun to make a card using both.

 

 

I started with a Pool Party card, embossing it with the little hearts strip from the Adorning Accents Folders, then adding a couple of 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" pieces of More Amore Specialty dsp. The doily and a laser-cut Primrose Pink heart from a sheet in the More Amore pack are on top of that, and finished with the smooshed soda pop top and banner with a sentiment from Petite Pairs.





Say "love you" with a simple sketch that works for guys

 

This card is perfect for my son's birthday, coming up in a couple of weeks. I used the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and coordiating Bitty Banner framelits.

 

 

I started with a Crumb Cake card, and added a 3" x 4" tag of Sycamore Street dsp with some yummy satin Island Indigo ribbon, then used the Hearts framelits to diecut a big heart that I ran through the Honeycomb embossing folder for some great texture. It's a clean, straight-forward card for my loving boy. The best part is I got the Sycamore Street paper and ribbon for FREE, and the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set is also a FREE option when you order $50 during our Sale-a-Bration event. Here's the sketch I very literally followed:

Here are the rules for Freshly Made Sketches:

1. Please use any crafting product you would like to use.
2. Feel free to combine our sketch with up to THREE other challenges.
3. Please add a DIRECT link to your blog when adding your card to the linky below.
4. Please include our sketch and a link back to Freshly Made Sketches on your post.
5. Have fun!

This challenge will end on Monday, February 4th at Noon (PST). On Tuesday, we will be announcing the winner of this week's sketch challenge who will known as the "Queen of Clean" and each Design Team Member will choose one "Princess". To add your card, go to http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com, Challenge #71.

You can never go wrong by saying Thanks So Much

 

Go bold for words when you're saying "Thanks." This sentiment came from the Spring Catalog stamp set called Oh, Hello.

 



 

I started with a bright pattern from the Sycamore Street dsp pack (a Sale-a-Bration freebie you may pick with a $50 order starting January 22), added a couple rows of Sycamore Street ribbon (another SAB freebie) and a couple rhinestones. I used the Oval Collection framelits to die-cut the Island Indigo oval, then ran it through Chevron embossing folder before adding the banner.

I made this card for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #68. You have till Monday at noon to play along! 



 



 

Here's the same card only different! Same ribbon - except I used a strip of Rich Razzleberry card stock - same stamp set, embossing folder, framelit and Sycamore Street dsp pack. This card is Summer Starfruit. I'm using these cards for my swap at my American Ink team gathering today.

 

Happy Stampin'!

A little Spring Catalog test with a sketch challenge

 

Can you spot five Spring Catalog items on this card? They'll all in in this photo.

 



 

This is one of my card club projects this month. I started with a Calypso Coral card embossed with the Honeycomb folder (1), added a 1" x 5" strip of Tea for Two dsp (2) for a banner, stamped and punched out the little bird from Itty Bitties (3) and placed it on the designer builder brad (4). The sentiment is from Wishes Your Way (5), punched out with the Word Window. The main image is from For the Birds. I only added a little color to the heart, beaks and grass with markers, then die-cut it using a label framelit, layered on the next size larger framelit in Bashful Blue.

 

 

Never make the same card twice! Use a sketch challenge like I did with my card. I used the Friday Mashup Challenge 91. There's still a day left to play along!





This Stampin' Royalty challenge is For the Birds, as well as a Sneak Peek for YOU!

 

Something about going into the New Year makes me think of little birdies. I paper-pieced these two from the For the Birds stamp set with new designer paper.

 

 

I made this card for Stampin' Royalty Challenge #156 and my father-in-law's birthday. It starts with a Bashful Blue card base, with layers of Tea for Two dsp (Spring Catalog) and Early Espresso card stock.

 





Did you notice the Petite Curly Label punch out of the Tea for Two paper to the left side of the birds? It's just one of the many freebies you may select with every $50 you order during our Sale-a-Bration Event starting January 22.

 

I used a piece of natural trim under the top two layers, as well as the new Honeycomb embossing folder on a piece of Bashful Blue card stock. Both the trim and folder are new items that will be available in the Spring Catalog as of January 3!

 

 

The last thing I'll share on this post is a mason jar soap dispenser I made for our bathroom. The idea came off of Pinterest. We go through a lot of hand soap and I was constantly refilling those smaller containers. I used a pump from a lotion bottle (because it was longer than the regular hand soap pump), drilled a hole in the lid, and glued it down. Hopefully it'll be a very long time before I need to refill this jar! lol

 

Happy Stampin'!