Thank You

I definately need more practice with these fun rhinestones, but aren't they awesome? I sure hope Stampin' Up! offers these in the new catalog this summer! Speaking of the new catalog, we just found out about a color renovation that will be underway...very exciting! For one thing, Pink Pirouette is back....YEAH...love that sweet color.



I combined two challenges this card today...the Color Throwdown #87 using Pink, Gray & Soft Olive...and the Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge #9.



I've been diligently working on my Artisan Award entries the last few days...and now it's down to crunch time. I just have a couple of projects left to create and then will mail them off hopefully Friday morning, just a day before the postmark deadline. Wish me luck! As for now, they are under lock & key...no peeking...LOL!



Have a great day, folks!



Stamps: Thank You Kindly
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Shimmery White, Old Olive CS, Melon Mambo Patterned Prints, Shades of Spring & Sweet Pea DSP & Petal Party SSK
Ink: Basic Gray
Other: Flower Layers Die, Big Shot, Pretty in Pink Corduroy Buttons & Epoxy Brads, Basic Gray Satin, Circle Nestabilities (non-SU)

Thanks ~ KWerner CI #54

Kristina posted her new Color Inspiration #54 today and I couldn't wait to get started! These are such fun colors to work with and really make you think "outside" the box and stretch your creativity. I pulled out a couple of my Sizzix Bigz dies, the Beautiful Butterflies and the Top Note. The swirly background is one of the images from the ever-faithful Doodle This stamp set that is retiring at the end of this month.



Stamps: Thank You Kindly, Doodle This
Paper: Green Galore, Taken With Teal, Pumpkin Pie CS, Rainbow Sherbet & Unknown Retired DSP (Soft Sky)
Ink: Green Galore, Taken With Teal
Other: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies & Top Note Bigz dies, Pumpkin Pie 1/2" Striped Grosgrain, Pumpkin Pie Corduroy buttons, Natural Hemp Twine, Crafters Tool Kit

Kind Thanks ~ Raspberry Suite CC #5

I made this card for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge Week #5. Gotta love PINK!



I've been wanting to use my Manhattan Flower Impression folder for so long, but was a little stumped on how. After last week's group meeting with area SU demonstrators, I was inspired to use the folder with watercoloring.



Stamps: Thank You Kindly
Paper: Basic Gray, Pink Passion, Whisper White CS, Watercolor Paper
Ink: Rose Red, Pink Passion, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray
Other: Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain, Aqua Painter, Big Shot, Manhattan Flower Impressions folder, Stamp-a-majig, Stampin' Sponge

More Bleaching with Upsy Daisy

The Upsy Daisy silhouette stamp set is another perfect choice for the bleaching technique. This card was my swap card at our last group meeting, where I demonstrated this easy and "wow" technique with the group. To read more about the bleaching technique and see another example using a lined image, go to this previous post.

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Thank You Kindly
Paper: Confetti Cream, Baja Breeze CS, Walk in the Park DSP
Ink: Baja Breeze
Other: Very Vanilla 5/8" Grosgrain, Household Bleach

Bleaching with Fifth Avenue Floral

I demonstrated the bleaching technique at our group meeting last night using the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set on Basic Gray cardstock. To do your own bleaching, take a folded paper towel and place it in the bottom of a stampin' store container (or other plastic container), then liberally soak it with bleach. This becomes your "ink pad." After you get your stamp "inked" up with bleach, press on colored cardstock for several seconds before lifting to allow the bleach to penetrate the cardstock thoroughly. In just a minute or two, your image will appear...and you will notice the bleach will take on different shades with different colors of cardstock.

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Thank You Kindly
Paper: Kraft, Basic Gray CS, Urban Oasis DSP
Ink: Basic Gray
Other: Household bleach, Baja Breeze Striped Ribbon

Kind Thanks ~ Raspberry Suite #2 & FTL #35

Dawn McVey is back with her second Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. These colors are so beautiful together, don't you think? Not only did I receive inspiration from the colors of that awesome bedding from Pottery Barn Teen, but also from the leafy image on the pillow. I knew right away I wanted to use the Wonderful You stamp set, which is one of my favorites even though it's on the Stampin' Up! dormant list. When you combine a beautiful color combination with an amazing sketch, you've got the beginning of a fantastic card. The Fall-to Layout #35 sketch is from Clean & Simple Stamping blog.



With this card, I wheeled the Wonderful wheel vertically over the front of the Tempting Turquoise card base. After covering the bottom section with Bella Rose designer paper, I wrapped the grosgrain ribbon around with at knot at the edge of the card. For the 2-step stamping, I used Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip directly on the Whisper White cardstock. I stamped a flower image on a couple pieces of cardstock, cut it out, and adhered it over the leaves with dimensionals to give it a little pop. The greeting was stamped in Chocolate Chip and cut apart using scissors before adhering with dimensionals.

Paper Garden Projects is offering some yummy blog candy if you submit a project that includes some background stamping. Go check it out!

Stamps: Wonderful You, Thank You Kindly, Wonderful Jumbo Wheel
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip CS, Bella Rose DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery
Other: Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Beautiful Butterflies Note of Thanks

Here is a make & take card from Judy's workshop this week. I love this new Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die and can't wait to use it again and again!



Stamps: Thank You Kindly
Paper: So Saffron, Certainly Celery CS, Delicate Dots DSP
Ink: Black Stazon
Other: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Ribbon Bundle, Eyelet Border Punch

Kind Thanks ~ CC204A

I am at home from work today with my little girl, Hannah, who is running a temperature and has been fighting a sinus infection for several days. It has been a relaxing day with her, even though she's not feeling the best. During her nap today, it was a perfect opportunity for me to do some stamping...and how lucky am I that there were two color challenges posted on Splitcoaststampers! Here's a card for the first challenge, CC204A, which uses Creamy Caramel, Cameo Coral, and Old Olive.



Stamps: Flower Fancy, Thank You Kindly
Paper: Cameo Coral, Old Olive & Whisper White CS
Ink: Cameo Coral, Creamy Caramel & Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
Other: Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks ~ FS102

I have been wanting to try some reverse masking with the brayer recently and the Featured Stamper Challenge #102 on Splitcoaststampers gave me the perfect opportunity to do so. One of JayDeKay's cards displayed this technique, so I cased it...obviously, I need a little more practice, but it was a fun technique. If you would like to try it and need a little guidance, go to Dawn's Stamping Thoughts and check out her Stampin' Studio for a video tutorial on the reverse masking technique.





Stamps: Kindred Spirits, Thank You Kindly
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke
Other: Brayer

Kind Thanks ~ FS100

Over at Splitcoaststampers, the weekly Featured Stamper Challenge #100 is up and running:) Julie has such an amazing gallery, so it was not an easy choice to make on which card of hers to case. Here is what I came up with based on Julie's Sophisticated Sunflower card. Notice anything new? Yes, another new stamp set, Petal Pizazz, becoming available for purchase on January 19th.



Stamps: Petal Pizazz, Thank You Kindly
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip & Whisper White CS, Hawaii Papaya DSP
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip & Kiwi Kiss Classic
Other: Fresh Favorites I & II Buttons, Linen Thread, Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Crafters Tool Kit, 1" Circle Punch, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals