RED HOT STAMPERS RHSSC45 CHALLENGE

In an effort to regain my mojo, I've been searching the web high and low for sketch ideas.  A great sketch challenge can jump start my creativity quicker than anything!  While searching the world wide web, I came across the Red Hot Stampers Sketch Challenge blog.  They offer a new sketch challenge every Sunday.  Here's the sketch from July 15th:

You can see I took great liberty with the sketch, but I'm still pleased with the outcome!

I'll have to update my post later with a list of supplies.  I have a sixteen year old breathing over my shoulder waiting for his turn on the computer.  LOL!

CRAZY FOR CHALLENGES C4C101

Yes!!!!!  I actually took time to participate in an online challenge - on time!!!  Whoo Hooo!!!  Today, over at Crazy 4 Challenges, the challenge was to create a project using this bingo card.  I chose to go vertical and used brads, flowers and 2 or more designer papers.  (Kind of sounds like Jeopardy.  I'll take brads, flowers, and designer papers for $500, Alex.)                                                     

For some reason, I have been stuck on distressing my cards lately.  Don't ask me why.  I don't have a clue.  Perhaps, there is just something therapeutic about relieving stress through crumpling, sponging, tearing, etc.

This is going to be a short post for me.  I'll be back later to give you the supplies I used on my card.  I need to go get cleaned up.  One of my friends and I are headed to lunch and then a matinee showing of "The Help".  We both live in a testosterone sea and are in need of some "girl time".

Thanks for peeking in on me today!

BUILD A BLOSSOM MOJO 179

My card today was inspired by the Mojo Monday's Week 179 Sketch.  Well, I guess I should say that it is "sorta" inspired by the sketch.  I exercised some liberty with the sketch.  But that's what it's all about, isn't it?  Sketches were designed to springboard our creativity.  Plus, I knew this sketch would be perfect to use with my Build a Blossom stamp set and punch.  I purchased this set about a month ago but hadn't taken the time to ink it up.  I must say that I'm pleased with the outcome. 

So, here's the story behind the card.  It was designed for a woman I've never met - Julie.  I truly hope she likes it.   I attend church services with her husband's cousin, Robin.  Robin had asked me if I would send Julie a card to cheer her up.  Currently, Julie is fighting breast cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments.  I was told she really appreciates receiving cards and carries them with her to look at during her chemo treatments.  Can I let you in on a secret?  I've never designed and sent a card to someone I've never met.  Let me tell you, it feels really good.  For reasons I can't explain, I wanted this card to be a little special.  I really wanted to pay attention to detail.  I hope Julie knows that even though we've never met, I still hold her close in thoughts and prayers.  I just hope my card reflects that.

That's it for me today.  Thanks for peeking in on me!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I challenge you to bless a stranger with a handmade card.  Who knows?  You may just make his or her day.

SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY CATCH UP

It has been an incredibly long time since I've sat down and played along with a sketch challenge.  I save all the challenges to a sketch file with good intentions to play along in the time allotted.  Unfortunately, that doesn't happen very often.  The sketch to the left is one from Jen Del Muro from way back in August.  Yep!  I know!  I'm that far behind.  Anyway, I decided to give it a whirl while I was at home with my sick kiddo this week.  If you haven't checked out all the wonderful card sketches available on-line, you really should!  They are such a great way to get your creative juices flowing.

So on with the card..... I decided to pull out my Stampin' Up! Apple Blossoms set for this challenge.  I love the bright colors and whimsical patterns from the Play Date Designer Series Paper.  I really like how easily Stampin' Up! accessories coordinate with the Designer Series Paper and card stock.  They make it a breeze to put a card together in no time.

 

Well, I need to get off here and do a few chores before heading out to church services this evening.  Thanks for peeking in on me!  I hope you're having a wonderful week.

HEY, HEY, WE'RE THE MONKIES!

Today's card was inspired by Jen Del Muro's sketch above.  Jen has a lot of great sketches that are fun to play along with and recreate.  I used the monkies from the new Stampin' Up! Occassions Mini called "Fox and Friends".  I purchased this set in clear mount.  I wasn't sure if I'd be a clear mount convert, but after purchasing a few clear mount sets, I can say that "I'm a Believer".  (Yes, all puns intended.  I guess I'm stuck on The Monkies music today.  I apologize upfront if you now have these songs stuck in your head.)  I also used the branch with leaves from the new Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch to get my tree branches.  I punched the branches out on Chocolate Chip cardstock and again on Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper.  I cut the leaves out individually and adhered them with Tombo Multi-Purpose glue.

It is snowing again here in lovely southern Ohio.  The weather forcast calls for 4" to 7" in our area.  Bah Humbug!  Come on Spring.  I'm so ready for you!  Thanks for peeking in on me today.

All products used are Stampin' Up!  Click here to shop Stampin' Up! 24/7.

Sending My Love - Four in One!

Well, one good thing about being snowed in over the weekend is all the time I get to spend creating in my little craft area.  Ahhhhh!  I can just stamp away while watching the snow fall down in buckets and relax that I don't have to go out in it! (You see, I work at my local county's highway department.  Lucky me, I don't get called in to work overtime during bad weather.  It's just mandatory that I show up during normal work hours.)   I took advantage of that this past weekend.  (But honestly, I'm soooooo ready for spring!)  This is one of many projects I have to show in the next several days.  This card actually came as a result of not one, but four (yes, count them, four) blog challenges.  You can play along with the challenges by clicking on the links below.

 1.)  Crazy 4 Challenges - Valentine Themed Card Challenge

2.)  Our Creative Corner - Masculine Valentine Challenge (Okay, I might be stretching it a little.  LOL!)

3.)  Stacy's Stamping Stage - Curtain Call Color Challenge: Act 16 (Real Red, Very Vanilla, Kraft)

and finally.....

4.)  Stamping 411 - Saturday Sketch Challenge 137

Whew!  I'm impressed with myself.  I invite you to come on and play along with these challenges.  It may be just what you need to get your creative juices flowing.  They sure did help me.

That's all for me tonight.  We already have approximately 6" of snow on the ground from the past weekend and an added 2" of snow with freezing rain today.  The forcast is calling for an additional 1-2" of snow tonight and 1-2" of snow tomorrow.  Ugh!  Thanks for peeking in on me today!  If you have to go out in the snow, please be safe!  If you're fortunate enough to live where the sun is shining brightly and you have no white stuff, be thankful - very thankful!

LOOK WHOOOOO'S TURNING................

I made this card for my older brother, Greg.  Unfortunately, it will have to be a belated birthday card since it won't reach him until after his birthday.  Even though my brother will be turning............."44", I thought he might like this whimsical little owl.  I sure hope it brings a smile to his face.  I've seen cards using this punch owl on several blogs.  Most recently, I saw it on Julie's blog - Thoughts that Stick.  I'm not sure why, but I decided I had to try it too!  It came together very easily and was a "hoot" to make as well.

Today's card was inspired by Mercy Kerin's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #55 (MTSC55) and Crazy for Challenge's Challenge #19 (C4C19).  Here's a picture of Mercy's sketch challenge.  You can see I didn't follow it exactly.    My circle and owl just looked better offset.  I have really enjoyed breaking out my new goodies from Stampin' Up!'s new Occassions Mini catalog.  I haven't stamped in forever and it really was good for my soul : )  If you haven't checked out the new Occasions Mini or the Sale-A-Bration brochure, you can do so by clicking on the picture of them located on the upper left-hand side of my blog. 

Well, that's it for me today.  Thanks for peeking in on me.  I'm off to stamp some more and finally play with my new Stampin' Up! clear mount stamps and blocks.

Supplies:  Stamps - Look Who's Turning; Paper - SU!'s Sweet Pea DSP, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, Kraft, Whisper White, Basic Black; Ink - Chocolate Chip, SU!'s Chocolate Chip Marker; Accessories - Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, Buttons Latte, Playground Designer Buttons, White Signo Pen, Sponge Dauber, Circle Scissor Plus; Punches - 1 3/4" Circle, 3/4" Circle, 1/2" Circle, Large Oval,

1 1/4" Square, Round Tab, Heart to Heart, Scallop Circle

*All products Stampin' Up! unless noted*

WELCOME CHRISTMAS

Busy, busy, busy .............  Isn't it that way each Christmas season?  Tonight I wanted to create a fairly simplistic card - nothing too over the top.  And you know what?  I think I accomplished that.  I'm using a sketch from Diva Coffee Break Designs.  It's sketch #147 to be exact.  Here's the sketch layout.  I love playing along with their weekly challenges even

if I don't always complete them within the week.  Plus, I have some exciting news!  I was the picked as the Featured Artist for the Diva Coffee Break Designs Challenge #155.  I was thrilled beyond words!  Okay, enough babbling and on with the card.  I added Stampin' Up!'s Chunky Glitter to my dove image.  I wasn't sure how it would look, but I was pleased with the results.  It just gives it a little somethin' somethin'.  You know what I mean?  To get the poinsettia on this card, I simply used my 5-Petal Flower punch and punched the flower out twice on Real Red card stock and added a dimensional to make it more pronounced.  I also punched the flower out once on Garden Green card stock and cut two of the petals off to get the leaves.  Look closely at the buttons at the top of the card.  Did you notice that I didn't actually thread the buttons with real thread?  I cut small strips of Whisper White card stock and threaded it through each button and attached the strips with mini glue dots on the back of the buttons.  It's so much easier!

Well, that's it for me tonight.  I'm going to check out ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.  I'm not sure what's being shown tonight, but I enjoy the Christmas shows.  Thanks for peeking in on me today!  If you have previously commented on my posts, I'd like to give you a great big thank you!  Comments are always welcome and so greatly appreciated!

Supplies:  Stamps - Gifts of Christmas, Heard from the Heart; Card Stock - Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White; Ink - Garden Green, Real Red Marker; Accessories - Playground Buttons (Red), White Chunky Essentials Stampin' Glitter, Earth Elements Brads, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Dimensionals, Paper Piercer, Mini Glue Dots

EMBRACEABLE YOU

I know!  I know!  Christmas is coming and I'm not posting a Christmas card.  Shame on me, but I just needed to take a break from Christmas cards for a while.  Today's card is actually a combination of two challenges!  Go, Lori, go!!!  And you know what's even more exciting for me?  This card was actually completed before the deadline.  Whoo!  Hoo!  (Sorry, I'm just so dang proud of myself.)  Okay, so here is the sketch layout that I used for the design of my card.  I found this challenge over at Diva Coffee Break Designs.  It is sketch challenge #155.  Here's the layout.

I also incorporated Splitcoast Stampers Inspiration Challenge IC208 from Saturday, November 28th, for my card.  I chose this purse as my inspiration for the color combination of my card - Cameo Coral, Real Red, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla. 

I used my corner rounder punch on my panels to mimic the squares on the purse.  The corduroy buttons were an afterthought.  I actually had them laying out on my table and they fell out of their container and across my card.  After arranging them around a bit, I decided to add them.  How lucky is that?

Well, that's all for me this evening.  It's back to work for me tomorrow.  My four day weekend really spoiled me.  Hope all my American friends enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday.  I know I did! 

Thanks for peeking in on me today!

Supplies:  Stamps - Eastern Blooms, Embrace Life, Friends 24-7, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Friendly Words Jumbo Wheel; Paper - Very Vanilla, Real Red, Cameo Coral, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip; Ink- Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Soft Suede, SU! Markers - Soft Suede, Real Red, Cameo Coral; Accessories - Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Dimensionals, Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel 

CHRISTMAS IN BERMUDA

Well, not actually Christmas "in" Bermuda - just Bermuda Bay ink. It got your attention though, didn't it? I know these are pretty non-traditional Christmas colors, but I thought I'd give them a try together. After talking to fellow demo, Lisa Curry, at the Cincinnati Stampin' Up! Regional I decided to try out the new Bermuda Bay In Color. (Hi, Lisa!) You see, we had a discussion on whether or not we've used this color yet. Well, I had not - until now.

I'm not sure you can see it in this image, but I've used the new Frost White Shimmer Paint from the new Holiday Mini Catalog to ink up my snowflakes. I love the sparkle of the Shimmer Paint. It is very pretty in real life. I've paired the Bermuda Bay with Soft Suede and added a clear rhinestone from the Pretties Kit for a little extra bling. I used the Pals Paper Art Simple Sketch for the layout of my card.

Well, that's it for me. For some reason, I have a monster headache today. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks for peeking in on me today.

Supplies: Stamps - Serene Snowflakes, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink - Soft Suede, Frost White Shimmer Paint;
Paper - Thoroughly Modern DSP, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede; Accessories - Clear Rhinestone from the Pretties Kit, Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Sponge Dauber, Paper Piercer

Shop Stampin' Up! here 24/7!