retro sketches #50

How’s it going, everybody? I’m just popping in today to share my card for this week’s retro sketches challenge (#50)!
To create this card, I used the “Vintage Clocks” stamp set by The Craft’s Meow and papers from Authentique’s “Lovely” paper pad. 
Other supplies: kraft card stock, foam tape, watermark ink, white embossing powder, sewing machine, heart brad (Queen & Co.).
Here’s the sketch that inspired my card (the only change I made is that I flipped the sentiment banner):
For all the details on this challenge, or to link up your own entry, visit the retro sketches blog!
Thanks so much for stopping by!

CCC Week #11: Scallops

Happy Sunday! It’s time for a new Christmas Card Challenge, and this week, we’re inspired by scallops!

I chose to feature Your Next Stamp’s “Winter Smiles Robin” image on my card this week:

Other supplies: paper pad (“Christmas Wish” – My Mind’s Eye), sentiment stamp (“Signature Christmas” – PaperTrey Ink), twine (“Holly” – Trendy Twine), button, foam tape, Spellbinders dies (circle and scalloped circle), Copic markers, opaque white marker, glitter brads (Imaginisce)
Remember, all of our challenges are optional…the only “real” rule is that you must create a new Christmas, Holiday or Hannukah card, then link it up on our blog so we can stop by and say hi!

It’s not necessary that you use a Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamp on your card, but we sure love it when you do!

Don’t forget to visit the rest of the CCC team to take a peek at the fun and festive cards they’ve created this week: Alanna, Corinne, Jennifer, Jovita, Karen, Katie, Leesa, Lorie, Margo, Michele, Pat, Stephanie…and our guest designer Juliane!


Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful week, and don’t forget to link your entry on the Christmas Card Challenges blog! See you there!

Drunken Stampers #114: Finding Nemo

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Happy Saturday! We’re on the second challenge of a new term at Drunken Stampers, so it’s time for me to post a card with my new team, the “Bahama Mamas”! This week, we’re going under the sea for some fishy inspiration…

Here’s my card, featuring “Marina” from Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps:

Other supplies: sentiment stamp (“Kimmie’s Mermaid Sentiments” – Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps) Stickles, embossing folder (Sizzix/Tim Holtz), foam tape, patterned paper (“Happy Day” mini pad – My Mind’s Eye), glitter brads, twine, rhinestones, Copic markers.



To play along with our challenge, here’s what you need to know:

  • For this term, our challenges are focused on movies and it will be an EITHER-OR-BOTH challenge. You can EITHER use the movie in the title as inspiration OR use the suggested theme or item. You may want to even kick it up a notch and use BOTH! We can’t wait to see your creativity with these challenges!
  • When you have finished your card or project, visit the Drunken Stampers blog and click on the link for “Linky Tools” (it will open a separate window) and add your blog link, gallery link, etc.
  • Please add the link directly to your project (any generic blog links will be deleted from the list) then please leave us a comment to let us know. (If Linky Tools isn’t working or is just misbehaving, please leave a comment at the bottom of the challenge post with the direct link to your card) 
  • You have until Friday, February 15th at 11:59pm PST to post your link for this challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Visit the Drunken Stampers blog to see what the rest of the “Bahama Mamas” created for this challenge! We can’t wait to see what you’ll create!

TGF Farm Fresh Friday: Buttons and Twine!

(If you’re looking for my Whimsy & Stars Studio blog hop post, please click HERE or scroll down! Thanks!!!)

Happy Friday, everybody! This is my first of two posts for today, and I’m so excited to share this card with you! One of the reasons I enjoy stamping TGF’s Bean collection is that not only do they come with their own sentiments, but they are fun for when you want to express your “artsy” side!
I’ve really been inspired by chalkboard-themed cards and art lately, and I thought that “Lovey Bean” would be great to use with that style! It’s a really easy technique to do, especially if you’ve heat embossed a stamped image before! 

Here’s an example that I found on etsy:
art (c) Lily & Val
For my card, I stamped the image on black card stock with watermark ink, then sprinkled on some opaque white embossing powder, shook off the excess, then heat embossed the image.

I have found that it’s helpful to rub a static pouch over the card stock before heat embossing. It gets rid of most of the little random specks of embossing powder before they are heat set. I’ve also seen recommendations online to use dryer sheets, or talcum powder, but I haven’t tried either one yet.

Are you ready to join us? Here are the details that you’ll need to play along:
  • You must use a TGF stamp (rubber, digi, or clear) as your main image.
  • Entries must be uploaded to the TGF blog via the InLinkz tool at the bottom of the challenge post no later than Thursday, February 14 at NOON CST. (You can add a direct link from your personal blog, SCS gallery, Flickr or TGF Galleria. If the InLinkz tool isn’t working, just leave your link in the comments section of the challenge post on the TGF blog.)
  • The fabulous prize…a random participant will be selected to win their choice of an in-stock SINGLE RUBBER STAMP or a 4×6 set! (We’ve increased our prize offering for 2013 — we hope you enjoy it!)

Thanks so much for stopping by today! To see what the rest of the Showcase Team created to inspire your creations, stop by the TGF blog! We can’t wait to see what you’ll make for this challenge! 🙂

YNS Fun Friday: Vacation!

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Happy Friday, everybody! It’s my turn to post a Fun Friday project at Your Next Stamp today!

We have a new theme this month, “Vacation,” which can mean fun in the snow or the sun! I chose fun in the sun for my inspiration, and “Ellie Loves the Beach” seemed just right for my card!

I also used the brand-new “Insta Love Polaroid Die Set“…it has become my favorite go-to die…I want to use it on all of my cards! The sentiment is a sticker that I had in my stash. I used some fun, summery papers from Echo Park to bring out the full fun and cuteness of this stamp!
Don’t forget to stop by the Your Next Stamp blog to see what other members of the DT (Kelli, Stephanie, and Peggy) are sharing with you today!
Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and get to see some sunshine of your own! 

February Whimsy and Stars DT Blog Hop!

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Welcome, friends! I hope you’re enjoying all the positively adorable creations in Whimsy and Stars Studio’s New Release Blog Hop!

We’re starting to see more sunshine here in Washington state, and I really hope that means Spring will be here soon! We have a cross-country move planned in the next few weeks, so better driving conditions will definitely help!



You probably arrived here from Melissa’s blog, and now you’re visiting me (Suzanne)!

This month, Mabelle is releasing two new digis in the Whimsy and Stars Studio etsy store: “Birthday Ladybug” and “You’re a Star!” 

I chose “You’re a Star!” for my card! I chose some soft, Springtime colors in different patterned paper and colored her to match! I added details to the star with Stickles after coloring, and accented her outfit with an opaque white marker. Isn’t she adorable? 


I’ll be posting two more Whimsy and Stars Studio cards later this month (February 4th and 11th)…so please stop by again! I hope they will make you smile and inspire you to create something, too!

Don’t forget to leave a comment for each blog you visit on today’s hop, because Mabelle will choose two random winners from all of the blog comments left throughout the hop. Each winner will receive a digi stamp of their choice! This hop will run until Friday, February 8th at midnight Eastern Time, so make sure to get your commenting done by then!

And, I always recommend stopping by the Whimsy and Stars Studio etsy store to check out all of the positively adorable spring-themed digis and the two new releases for this month! You’re sure to find one (or LOTS) that you’ll love!

 Your next stop on the hop is Tracy’s fabulous blog! If you want to start at the beginning, just visit the Whimsy and Stars Studio blog for the full list of participants!

Hugs,

A Few Challenge Cards!

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Hi, everybody! Just stopping in today to share a few cards that I made for the latest Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge, the Deconstructed Sketch and the Paper Smooches SPARKS blog.
My first card is for Sweet Sunday Sketch #177, and features a super adorable digi by Whimsy & Stars Studio. I printed him a little big, I think, so he got cropped a bit for my card. 
Supplies: digital stamp (“Valentine’s Little Boy” –  Whimsy & Stars Studio), patterned paper (“Devoted” mini pad – Carta Bella), sentiment stamp (“Daily Designs” set – PaperTrey Ink), metal die (“Whatnots Seasons Set One” – Your Next Stamp), watermark ink, white embossing powder, white marker, sewing machine, Copic markers.

Here’s the sketch that my card is based on:

All the details for this challenge can be found at “The Sweetest Thing.”

My second card is for Deconstructed Sketch #86. There’s no time limit for submitting a card based on this sketch, so I wanted to make sure that I posted it! You might recognize some of the papers from my first card…I love that paper pad!

This card features another digi stamp from Whimsy & Stars Studio. I am so happy that I design for Mabelle’s company…I love coloring her images!

Supplies: digital stamp (“Valentine Bear” –  Whimsy & Stars Studio), patterned paper (“Devoted” mini pad – Carta Bella; “Dots and Stripes – Homefront” – Echo Park), sentiment stamp (“Daily Designs” set – PaperTrey Ink), metal dies (Spellbinders circles, classic and scalloped hearts), watermark ink, white embossing powder, white marker, sewing machine, Copic markers, Liquid Applique, heat embossing tool, foam tape, Stickles.

Here’s the sketch that my card is based on:

My third card is for the “Trend Watch” challenge at the Paper Smooches SPARKS blog. The inspiration for this challenge is a picture of a polka-dot purse:

So, I made this little “get well” card by paper piecing the pink and green paper onto the stamped image :

Patterned paper (brown polka dot – SEI, Bo Bunny Double Dot – Soft Assortment mini pad), Paper Smooches stamp sets (“Chubby Chums“(cow/bull),  “Chilly Chums” (ice bag/hat),  “Boob Tubes” (thermometer), “Sentiment Sampler” (get well), “Alphadot“; ink (Tsukineko Memento & Brilliance Graphite Black), Copic markers, twine (The Twinery).

All of the details on this challenge are at the Paper Smooches SPARKS blog. The deadline for this challenge is Sunday, February 10th at 10:59pm EST.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed these cards!

TGF Double Take Tuesday!

Hey everybody! It’s time for a new Double Take Tuesday Challenge at The Greeting Farm, and today, we’ve put together a color combo to inspire your creations: pink, blue and white!

I was so inspired by this color combo that I made a card and a tag for this week!

My tag features Friday Night (although it’s more of a pink/blue/black combo):

And my card features Anya Styles (I’ve been waiting to color her up since I got her for Christmas from my Secret Santa and crafty pal Peggy Toole!)

And for your reference, here are our challenge colors:



And here’s what you need to know to join us for DTT:

  • You must use a TGF stamp (rubber, digi, or clear) as your main image.
  • Entries must be uploaded via InLinkz on The Greeting Farm blog no later than Monday, February 11, 2013 at NOON CST. You can add a direct link to your entry from your personal blog, SCS gallery, Flickr or TGF galleria. (If the InLinkz tool is missing, feel free to link your submission URL in a comment.)
  • The fabulous prize: A random participant will be selected to win a digital image of choice from the TGF store.
  • WAIT! There’s more! When 20 or more players join us for a weekly challenge, the prize DOUBLES that week to either two digis or, the winner can trade those two digis for a SINGLE rubber stamp of choice, so encourage all your friends and family to play along!

Don’t forget, you also have a few days to join in our “Ribbon and Lace” Farm Fresh Friday challenge! All of the details are at the TGF blog! See you there!

Hugs,

CCC Week 10 – Gingerbread

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Happy Super Bowl Sunday! 
My favorite team didn’t make it to the Super Bowl this year, but my husband’s did, so we’ll be cheering for the San Francisco 49ers today. I would have preferred to see the New Orleans Saints play, but they weren’t as good this year as they’ve been over the last few years. I’m more excited for the commercials and the “Puppy Bowl” at halftime rather than the actual game!
Anyway, it’s time for a new Christmas Card Challenge, and this week, we’re inspired by:
I am getting inspired by the “blackboard” look lately, and I thought this tag from American Crafts would be pretty cool to use for my card, along with a gingerbread die from Your Next Stamp.

Remember, all of our challenges are optional…the only “real” rule is that you must create a new Christmas, Holiday or Hannukah card, then link it up on our blog so we can stop by and say hi!

It’s not necessary that you use a Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamp on your card, but we sure love it when you do!

Don’t forget to visit the rest of the CCC team to take a peek at the fun and festive cards they’ve created this week: Alanna, Corinne, Jennifer, Jovita, Karen, Katie, Leesa, Lorie, Margo, Michele, Pat, Stephanie…and our guest designer Juliane!


Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful week, and don’t forget to link your entry on the Christmas Card Challenges blog! See you there!

TGF Farm Fresh Friday: Ribbon/Lace

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Happy Friday, everybody! It’s time for a new Farm Fresh Friday challenge at The Greeting Farm!
You still have a few days to play along with our Double Take Tuesday color challenge, too! Just scroll down to my next post or stop by The Greeting Farm’s blog for all the details!
Our theme for this week’s Farm Fresh Friday is Ribbon and/or lace! I chose to use both on my card.
It has been a while since I colored in monochrome (this time, I added in light shades of pink to all the greys), and I wanted to do something different with “Lovey Bean” for this card. Several of the Valentine’s pads in my stash had some kind of grey with red and/or pink, so I let that guide my inspiration.
The most challenging part of coloring this way is deciding what temperature the greys will be. I used mostly neutral greys, but also some cool and warm shades as needed. I also picked the lightest shades of red and red-violet markers to accent parts of the image.
Here are the details that you’ll need to play along with this challenge:
  • You must use a TGF stamp (rubber, digi, or clear) as your main image.
  • Entries must be uploaded to the TGF blog via the InLinkz tool at the bottom of the challenge post no later than Thursday, February 8 at NOON CST. (You can add a direct link from your personal blog, SCS gallery, Flickr or TGF Galleria. If the InLinkz tool isn’t working, just leave your link in the comments section of the challenge post on the TGF blog.)
  • The fabulous prize…a random participant will be selected to win their choice of an in-stock SINGLE RUBBER STAMP or a 4×6 set! (We’ve increased our prize offering for 2013 — we hope you enjoy it!)
Thanks so much for stopping by today! To see what the rest of the Showcase Team created to inspire your creations, stop by the TGF blog! We can’t wait to see what you’ll make for this challenge! 🙂