Sketch Challenge SC169

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ is a great resource for any stamping fan. This week's sketch challenge really appealed to me and I wanted to give it a try. They suggest a layout for a card which gets stampers to step outside of their comfort zone and stretch their creative muscles. Here is the card I came up with:

How do you like my new watermark? I had another one before but didn't really like it and kept forgetting to add it. So, I'm going to try to remember from now on. Happy stamping!

Supplies: Paper: Boho Blend Simply Scrappin' papers, So Saffron DSP, Soft Sky, Old Olive, So Saffron, and Very Vanilla CS. Ink: So Saffron, Basic Black, Old Olive Stamps: For a Friend, Boho Backgrounds Accessories: Die Cut Stickers from Just 4 You kit, Soft Sky double stitched ribbon, Blender Pens (to color flower), Dimensionals (to pop up flower)

Which is better?

I have been thinking lately of my little brother Daniel because his birthday is coming up soon--April 15th. I always am reminded of his birthday as soon as I start thinking about taxes! Anyway, he was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident nearly two years ago. He would have been 26 this year. I decided to put together a card that I can send to my parents when the day draws nearer (I don't think they check this blog, so I don't think they'll see these). I put together two different ones. Which do you prefer?

Both cards use the Porcelain Prints DSP. It seemed perfect for the "mood" of the card. Both have Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon. The top card also has Certainly Celery CS. The flowers on the top card were inked with Wild Wasabi and Blue Bayou ink. I used Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the centers. I usually don't use non-Stampin' Up! items for this blog since it is a business tool for me, but these flowers are really cool. I read about them on someone else's blog. they are a shimmery off-white color to begin with but you can sponge ink on them easily to match any project. They came from Michael's in the wedding section. They are meant to be table confetti! They come in a mini paint can and there are tons of them--for only $5 or so!

The second card is on a Bashful Blue base. I also used Sage Shadow CS to matte the quote. I paper peirced along the scalloped edge (done with the corner rounder) and by the quote. I stamped the butterflies from my Priceless set in Certainly Celery ink and then used Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter on them. I popped up their wings with dimensionals.

Anyway, I can't decide which to send. Which is prettier?

Another Kwerner Color Challenge

One of my favorite blogs to visit is www.kwernerdesign.com/blog She does these super cool Make a Card Monday videos each week and has just started posting a weekly color challenge too. I really liked this weeks colors and decided to play! I was really scraping the bottom of the barrel with my scraps (which were all I have left of the required colors). The size of the scraps I had available dictated the design of my card, but I totally love the way it turned out! The colors were Orchid Opulence, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Black, and White. I had all of the colors except Orchid Opulence, so I chose Lavendar Lace as a substitute.

I've never done faux stitching before, so I enjoyed the way that turned out. I popped the flowers up on Dimensionals at varying heights, which is hard to tell in the photo.

Supplies: Paper: Bali Breeze DSP, Lavendar Lace, Pumpkin Pie, and Rose Red CS Ink:Black Stamp Sets: Friendship Blooms, Short & Sweet Other: Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Paper piercing tool, White gel pen

3x3 Set with Origami Box

Here is the whole set of 3x3 cards with it's matching origami box. These boxes are super easy. You can find a tutorial for them here. I plan on giving this as a hostess thank you gift. Speaking of hostess gifts, if you would like to host a show and earn free merchandise you can e-mail me at tfollett@70three.com. From now through the month of April, hostesses recieve an extra $25 worth of free product for holding a qualifying show. Along with my $5 hostess gift certificate, that is an EXTRA $30 in free stuff on top of the usual benefits (which also include free stuff!). I am also glad to place personal orders at any time. The catalog link is to the left!

For the box I used Certainly Celery and So Saffron patterned DSP. The wide grosgrain ribbon came from the Just 4 You Simply Scrappin' Kit (which is a hostess-only kit). The stamp is from the Lovely Labels set.

The Last 3x3 in the Set

Here's the last 3x3 I created for the So Saffron/Certainly Celery set. For this card, I used So Saffron patterned DSP and cardstock, Certainly Celery cardstock, the coordinating inks, Basic Black ink, and my Blender Pens to fill in the flower images. I used the 1/2 inch circle punch to create the circled the flowers "peek" through. I popped my final layer up on Dimensionals. I made two of each of my 3x3 card designs and put them in an origami box which I will post on Monday! Have a great Easter holiday!

Another 3x3

Back to my 3x3's. This is the second in the set.
I used Certainly Celery patterned DSP, So Saffron cardstock, Whisper White cardstock, the Priceless stamp set, a So Saffron brad, and my circle and scalloped circle punches.

A Divergence From the Plan

My plan was to post another 3x3 card today, but I stopped by Kwerner Design and saw a color challenge that I just couldn't pass up. I had to change the colors up a bit because I am a new SU demo and don't have every color on hand, but I think this goes perfectly. I used Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, and Apricot Appeal (and the coordinating inks, minus the Barely Banana). I used the gift from the Holiday Blitz set and the sentiment from the Short and Sweet set. I tied on some Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon and added some dots of Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter along the scalloped edge.

So Saffron/Certainly Celery 3x3 cards

These colors have really been appealing to me lately, so I ordered some of SU's patterned DSP in those two colors along with some ribbon and ink to match. I put together a little gift set of 3x3 cards and put them in an origami box. I'll post one a day until you've seen the whole set! I'll start with my favorite:
I was thinking that this is really the way to go for people who are new to Stampin' Up and don't know where to start. If you get a couple of packs of this patterned DSP (it comes in all kinds of gorgeous colors) with the matching inkpads and a matching ribbon, you can do all kinds of things! Another good option is the Simply Scrappin' kits which give you coordinating Designer Series Paper, Cardstock, and adhesive die cuts. Fun stuff! See you tomorrow!

Sweet Springtime Card

I love, love, love the Just 4 You hostess set. It is so adorable and the colors are perfect for spring. Today I played around with it again. This card was inspired by one my upline posted a while back. You can see hers here. I purposefully didn't have hers in front of me when I made mine so that I could give it my own twist. I added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the flower too. I love sparkles. Can't wait to use this card sometime!

Supplies: Paper: Certainly Celery and So Saffron Patterned DS and cardstock, Stamps: So Many Scallops, Little Flowers Ribbon: Certainly Celery grosgrain, So Saffron ribbon from Just 4 You hostess set Adhesive Die Cuts: The word "sweet" is an adhesive die cut from the Just 4 You hostess set.

CD Case Shaker Box Invitation

I was trying to explain this to someone the other day and decided it would be easier (and fun) just to make one to post. This is a CD case invitation--I got the idea a few years ago from http://www.thestampingstudio.com/. I have done these for a couple of my kids' birthdays, and they're a bit of work but they're so cute! I thought the Just 4 You Simply Scrappin' Kit would make adorable baby shower invitations, so that's what I tried this time.

It is made using a standard size cd jewel case. I just buy mine at Target or Walmart. The hub has to be snapped out of the case (gently!). I decorated mine mostly with the stickers that came in the SS Kit. I also used the "Happy New Baby" stamp from the For a Friend set and colored it in with blender pens. I popped some of them up on dimensionals. A couple of them (the white circle with the green flower and the green circle with the butterfly) a mounted on paper and cut them out so they wouldn't be sticky. That way they float around in the box as you move it. I also added some mini diaper pins that I got a long time ago at a scrapbook store (so I couldn't tell you the brand name).

The most complicated part to explain is how to close the case up because it will have a hole down the side near the hinge (from removing the piece of plastic with the hub on it). I solved this problem by folding a small square tube of thin cardboard (I used the cardboard that comes in the back of SU's paper packs). I secured this inside the case to close up the hole. I then closed the case up and secured the edges with some clear tape. Next I added another piece of DSP along the "spine" of the case to hide the ugly stuff and tied a piece of ribbon around it. Ta-da!

Room for Improvement

On Friday I am having a stamp-a-stack using the Boho Blend Simply Scrappin' Kit. It was fun designing the 10 cards and I really like the way they turned out--except for these two:I just couldn't bring myself to be happy with these. Last night I was cutting out all the elements of the cards and putting them into kits and decided that I just couldn't leave these alone. I messed with them for a bit and came up with this instead:
They are actually the same cards with a few additions (and some cutting--I'm lucky the adhesive didn't tear the cardstock). Finally, I can be happy with these. I guess there's always room for improvement!

Notebook and Pen Gift Set

I just got back from a trip to St. Louis and picked up this notebook from the dollar section at Michael's. We have Michael's here too, but I hardly ever get there. Our Robert's is much closer. Anyway, I just couldn't wait to alter this. I covered it with Porcelain Prints DSP and used Soft Sky double stitched ribbon, some HodgePodge Hardware from the new Occasions mini catalog, and my Big Flowers stamps to fancy it up a bit. The scalloped edge on my paper was done using a corner-rounding punch with the guard removed. I love that technique. The pen is an R.S.V.P. pen by Pentel. They are the best kind to use for decorating because the hole on the end (when you remove the end piece) is large enough to easily slide in a rolled piece of coordinating paper. I think this may become my grocery list notebook--then I won't always be running around trying to find something to write on!