ColourQ #68

Hi Stamping Friends!!
It's Tuesday and that means time for another color challenge over at the ColourQ blog!  Now Arielle knows I love her dearly, but I have to say, I did not take kindly to the colors this week.  They were giving me fits I tell ya!  I made one card, and it was so horrible, that it should be posted on the Stampers Fail blog.  If there were such a thing.  Lucky for you I decided to stamp an entire new card.

CRAZY FOR CUPCAKES

The card title is a little deceiving, since there are no cupcakes on this card.  But that balloon stamp in the Crazy For Cupcakes set is just so cute, I can't stop using it!!  These colors really aren't that bad.  The part that kept throwing me off were the two, very different shades of red.  But I think I made them work. 

The card base is Poppy Parade layered with Whisper White cardstock.  The So Saffron DSP comes from the Playdate pack and the polka dotted Always Artichoke DSP come from the Patterns pack.  The Poppy Parade polka dotted balloon was made by stamping the Dot, Dot, Dot stamp with Poppy Parade ink onto Poppy Parade cardstock.  I love me some polka dots!!  The sentiment comes from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

Other challenges I used:

Sketch Challenge:  Clean and Simple  FTL123

Inspiration Challenge:  Stampin' Celebration  SCIC35  If you read this post before noon PST, there is still time to win some BLOG CANDY over at the Stampin' Celebration blog.  Hurry on over and check it out!

Now I know you are all just dying to see "the ugliest challenge card ever made".  Well, I don't want to disappoint you.  In fact, I hope it makes you feel more confident in your stamping abilities.  'Cause seriously, my 12yo DD could stamp better than this!

NATURE SILHOUETTES

It's so ugly that I made it the smallest size possible.  I don't want you to hurt yourself looking at it.  I know what you are thinking, "What was she trying to do?!"  Well let me tell you.  My dear friend and ColourQ color challenge creator extraordinaire, Arielle (the snappy stamper), is on like 7 million design teams.  Well, it's always kind of fun to help support the other challenge blogs out there, so I chose to use the sketch at Unscripted Sketches, one of the DT's that Arielle is on.  This week, they have a "piggyback" challenge to go with their sketch, and it is to make a guy card.  Well I can do that, I says to myself.  And so I began.  I had a sketch, I had my colors, and I had a theme.  And then I had a train wreck and the results are this card, destined for the round file or my FIL.  So that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Be sure and stop by the ColourQ blog this week.  There are some really fabulous cards by the other Design Team members.  Go look at Sylvia Nelson's card.  It is amazing!!  Best card I've ever seen using the new Build A Blossom set.  I hope you can play along with us this week.  I know you can stamp something more wonderful than what I did!

Tomorrow I will have another digital scrapbook page for you, using My Digital Studio.  Fortunately for you, I did not attempt to use these colors again.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

ColourQ Tuesday #31

Hi Stamping Friends!

Aren't these super fun colors that Arielle chose this week?!  So bright and summery.  I just love them!  And I had enough time this week to make three cards for you.  It's always amazing how the same colors can look so different together, depending on the layout and stamp set used.  I was so disappointed in how these pictures turned out.  The white almost looks gray.  I couldn't figure it out until I looked at my camera settings.  Duh!  I had left it on Auto, when I usually take my card pics using the Av mode.  It was too late to re-take them, so you'll just have to image them looking way brighter and better IRL!

FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLY

This card uses the Sketchy Thursday #81 sketch from the EAT, SLEEP, STAMP blog.  The DSP on this card is Pink Flamingo.  I also used the Inspired By Nature set for the grass.

GO, GRADUATE!

This card uses the Fall To Layout sketch #88 from the CLEAN AND SIMPLE blog.  This stamp set and the Sqaure Lattice Impressions folder are now available for purchase through the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini catalog.  I have no idea why I didn't color the legs on these graduates.  A little Blush Blossom would have gone a long way! 

JUST SURFING

This sketch comes from the CCEE STAMPERS.  This is sketch CCEE1017.  All those blues and yellow are such great beach colors.  My BIL loves surfing, so I think I'll keep this card around for his birthday in June.  I created the tag by punching some Certainly Celery cardstock with the Curly Label punch.  I cut the label in half and glued it on top of itself, to make it smaller.  Then I ran it through the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  You can't even see the cut mark!  It sure was nice to use up so many Brilliant Blue brads on these cards.  Since BB is one of the retiring colors, I'm sure all the accessories in those colors will be retiring as well.  Out with the old... in with the new!!  I can't wait for the new SU! colors palette in July!!!

Make sure you stop back by on Thursday when I will debut my new challenge blog: STAMPIN' CELEBRATION.  It's a weekly inspiration challenge, with an awesome Design Team.  This Thursday we will post our very first challenge.  You should see the amazing creations these gals have come up with!  We hope to inspire stampers to use their creativity to celebrate all of life's special moments. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

ColourQ Tuesday #28

Hi Stamping Friends!

Woo Hoo!  It's another COLOURQ Tuesday!  This week Arielle gave us some fun, bright colors to play with.  I think they kind of have a fun retro feel to them.  Like a 50's style diner.  I had such a great time playing with these colors, that I created three cards... again! 

The first card uses the sketch from the CLEAN & SIMPLE blog.  This is Fall To Layout #85 FTL85.

Here's the card I sent in to Arielle:

I love everything about this card except that panel under the Pumpkin Pie Striped grosgrain.  At first I had only the ribbon, but it looked too plain.  Then I added the Ruby Red panel, and that was working for me either.  Then I added the Regal Rose and when that still didn't work, I finally gave up!  Not sure what else I could have done differently.  For this card I used the new set that will be in the next SU! catalog, but it is available for purchase now!  It's called Awash With Flowers and can I tell you that I LOVE this set!  I just can't stop using it!

For the next card I used the sketch from TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS.  This is sketch #108 TESC108.  Super cute layout with all the different panels.  I was having some difficulty finding various DSP in these colors.  I finally decided on some patterns from the Sweet Pea stack that is in the Occasions Mini catalog.  The blue is really supposed to be Taken With Teal, but I think it works for Bermuda Bay too.  I did flip this sketch on its side.

Here's my second card:

I'm not sure how often you'll find blue leaves, but I think it works!  These first two cards also work for the theme challenge over at the PALS PAPER ARTS blog.  The theme is Flowers.  I have a feeling they are going to get TONS of uploads this week!  The pink almost looks like Cameo Coral in this pic, but I promise it really is Regal Rose.  The stamp sets I used in this card are Sweetheart and A Little Birthday Cheer.

The last card uses the Sketch For You To Try at Jen del Muro's blog i{heart}2stamp.  Another fun sketch with lots of layers and panels.  I may have overdone the polka dot theme with this one.  This is the card that made me think these colors had a retro feel to them.

And finally, card number three:

Isn't it just delish?!  Makes me think of malt shops and sock hops and Chevy's with big tail fins.  The DSP is from the Sweet Pea stack... again!  The stamp set is called On A Pedestal.  Be sure to check out what the other ColourQ gals have created with this fabulous color combo.  Just click on the links on the sidebar.  I still have to pinch myself to think that I get to hang out with such talent! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

It's a K.I.S.S.... maybe!

Hi Stamping Friends!

Well today's card is for a few different challenges.  Four to be exact!  Not very often that I get four challenges into one, but this time I did.  I've seen cards where people say they did like 15,000 challenges with that one card.  I don't have time to write down that many challenges, let alone post to all of them!  So four is my max... I think!

The first challenge comes from my favorite online Stampin' Up! hangout, Stampin' Addicts.  If you love Stampin' Up! products, you should come visit SA.  We are always looking for other SU! lovers to join in on the fun!  Friday is always the Color Challenge.  This challenge SACC40 calls for So Saffron, Always Artichoke, and Rich Razzleberry.  The sketch comes from the Clean & Simple blog.  This is their Fall To Layout FTL70.  Here's a pic of the layout:

I also played along in the Pals Paper Arts challenge PPA18 which is to Keep It Simple Stamper, aka a K.I.S.S. card.  A K.I.S.S. card has:

-- Lots of "white" space

-- Simple designs

-- Minimum time to create

-- Limited layers and embellishments

My 11yo DD and I spent some time getting out Christmas decorations yesterday.  I'm tryng to get ready for my Stampin' Up! Holiday Open House on Sunday Dec. 13th.  If you live in the Hanford/Visalia/Tulare area, you should stop by!  This has put me in the Christmas spirit already, so I just had to make a Christmas card.  Which was perfect for the fourth and final challenge.  It comes from a great SA friend, Cindy, on her blog Heart's Delight.  She put out a challenge to use non-traditional colors on your Christmas cards.  I have a few of those planned this week, so I may be linking to her blog quite a few times!  Here's the card I came up with for all four challenges:

Now I know what some of you are thinking... that's not very "simple".  Well, I beg to differ.  :)  This is simple for me!  There's lot of unused or "white" space.  It's a simple layout (thanks to the Clean & Simple blog!).  It took hardly no time to make.  And it only has three layers and two embellishments.  And if you still don't believe me, check this out:

This is the same card after I gussied it up.  I put it on a Whisper White card base.  Stamped another pointsettia in Always Artichoke and then used it for some "leaves".  I added another ribbon, plus some paper piercing under the sentiment.  I also added a bunch of Always Artichoke brads to the So Saffron textured layer.  Now this card is NOT simple!  :)  And these are NOT traditional Christmas colors... perfect for Cindy's challenge!

I love how the Christ Is Born pointsettia perfectly matches the Petal-A-Plenty Impressions Folder.  It's like the were meant for each other!  Expect to see more of this pair throughtout the Christmas season.

Remember to check out the HUGE SALE going on at MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE.  The sale only lasts through Monday, so SHOP NOW for some great savings!

CHRIST IS BORN   #111612   $20.95

PETALS-A-PLENTY IMPRESSIONS FOLDER   #116824   $7.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!