Running With Scissors...

Zinnias

 

Happy day!  We had a beautiful Wednesday here on the Oregon coast – perfect spring weather, very energizing.  Since I didn’t have to go to work I spent the day cleaning house and hanging around on the deck with the dogs and the hubby.  It felt so good!  Just before dinner I decided to make a card, and in keeping with our bright and beautiful day it had to be bright and beautiful, too, so I went with my favorite thing to stamp and color – flowers! 

 

 

Once again I was inspired by Seize the Sketch and this time I’m actually current, so here it is – Seize the Sketch #15 and the Copic markers I used for coloring:

 

                                      

 

Honestly, I intended to use some of my brand new designer paper, but this is one of those instances where I colored first and then tried to match up the paper.  No matter, it’s all good.  My BasicGrey Green at Heart hasn’t been out for a while and it’s certainly colorful.

 

 

This was a rather quick crafty interlude.  No stitching and maybe not as much attention to the coloring as usual, but it was fun and I loved how easy it was with the sketch all ready to go.  I could become a sketch-following-fanatic, I think.  Back to work for the remainder of the week, now.  Have a lovely day!

 

Stamps:  Flourishes Zinnias  Paper:  Memory Box Willow, Classic White, BasicGrey Green at Heart designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Button, linen thread, Flourishes tag die, Spellbinders Standard Circles Large and Lacey Circles, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

On a Roll

 

I’m on a roll!  I’ve won a couple of challenges recently, and then I won a box of candy at work last week.  My friends tell me now is the time to buy a lottery ticket and maybe they’re right.  Additionally, I won this Under the Big Top set during Flourishes’ January release and decided to make a point of using it within a reasonable length of time before it becomes another one of those “use it or lose it” sets.  It turned out to be quite a lot of fun!

 

 

This card started out as Seize the Sketch #12, but I didn’t get it posted in time.  However, I appreciate the sketch which gave me a jump start:

 

 

The bear wears a sparkly tutu which was made by stamping the bear image a second time in blue and cutting out just the tutu part.

 

 

If you like circus sets this is the one to have, for sure.

 

Perhaps you know that Flourishes is having a Gambler’s Sale.   I believe this week they’re up to 50% off your entire purchase and they still have many of their beautiful stamp sets available.  Flourishes has always meant so much to me, having been a part of their design team family for years.  I do not use the term “family” lightly.  My best wishes go out to Jan Marie and the entire Flourishes family for whatever comes their way in the future.  Love to all.

Gobble, Gobble!

 

Hello, and happy day to you!  I’m going to slip this one in quickly today, seeing as how I used Seize the Sketch #8 for the layout and I might as well try to be current this time.  I hope I’m current.  I think I have until Tuesday.  I think.

 

 

The sketch is really the only thing current on this card.  I trotted out this old, old, dare I say ancient turkey stamp so I could send a fun-type Thanksgiving card to a special friend.  The stamp is from CTMH, way back when they were called D.O.T.S. and I was just beginning my adventures in stamping.  After all these years the adventure is still going on and, if anything, I’m enjoying it more than ever.  The ribbon is old, this particular designer paper comes out every fall and never seems to get used up, the “gobble”, the dies. . . everything has been in my collection for years.  The scalloped edge was cut with Fiskars scissors from before I had any edge punches and Spellbinders hadn’t even been invented yet.  Geez, I didn’t mean for it to turn out that way.  It just happened.

 

I colored with Copic markers, dotted around the image with Cinnamon Stickles, and sparkled the pin feathers with Stardust Stickles.  It shows up minimally in the photo, but is much more sparkly in real life.  The curly string tie on the turkey’s front was colored green with the fine tip of a Tombow marker.

 

Here’s the sketch:

 

 

Many thanks to the folks at Seize The Sketch for helping this card come together easily, and just as many thanks to all of you for sharing a little time with me today.  See you again soon!

 

ps:  I guess I had more time than I thought... the sketch is current until the 24th.

Sunflower

 

A happy hello to you after a week-long absence!  Stamping just didn’t work itself into the agenda last week, but I did get some other things accomplished, so I can’t complain.  Actually, I would have posted this card last week, but I couldn’t seem to get a decent picture of it – something I’ve been struggling mightily with of late.  I don’t know what my problem is, but most likely I’m being too fussy.  Time to forget about that and just have fun, right?

 

 

I made this as a retirement card for one of my many friends and family members who are retiring before me and leaving me with dreams of early retirement and wondering how I might work that out, sigh.  I always thought this sentiment would be good for a retirement card.  The stamp set is Flourishes’ Sunflowers.

 

I made an attempt at “no-line coloring” by stamping the image in very light Ranger Distress Tea Dye ink.  I have mixed feelings about the results, but one can only get better with practice (I hope).  Coloring was done with Copic markers on Flourishes Classic Ivory cardstock.  I did quite a lot of sponging around the edges, and added some red speckles with an old Stampin’ Up! Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp.

 

Sketches have been holding great appeal for me lately, and I began this card when Seize the Sketch #4 was current, but didn’t finish it before their next sketch was up.  No worries. . . it’s still a great sketch with only the tiniest of modifications to make it work with the image.

 

Time for me to say “goodbye” for today.  I’ve listed more card details in the recipe below my signature.  Thank you so much for the visit!

 

Stamps:  Sunflowers (Flourishes), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (speckles – Stampin’ Up!)  Paper:  Flourishes Classic Ivory, CTMH Sunflower, Crate Paper Pretty Party designer papers  Ink:  Ranger Distress Tea Dye, Chocolate Chip (sentiment), Ruby Red (speckles), CTMH Vanilla (sponging), Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, linen thread, button, tag punch, retired Stampin’ Up! slit punch to make scalloped border

Seize the Sketch #5

 

I seized the opportunity to use Seize the Sketch #5 for a clean and simple card since I need so much practice with this style.

 

 

The stamps are all from Flourishes’ Birthday Pennants (retired?).  I layered the one stamped panel on a card embossed with my new Cuttlebug Wicker Weave folder.  Very clean and done in a jiffy!

 

Here’s the sketch where you can see I replaced one of the fishtail flags with a cascade of roses:

 

 

This card will go into my cards-for-sale basket at work, and with a simple “Congrats” stamped inside it can be used for a variety of occasions.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Stamps:  Flourishes’ Birthday Pennants (retired?)  Paper:  Flourishes’ Classic White  Ink:  Stampin’ Up! colors Regal Rose; Rose Red; Bravo Burgundy; Elegant Eggplant; Old Olive; Palette Noir for sentiment  Accessories:  Cuttlebug Wicker Weave embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up rose on flag

Clean and Simple is a Relative Term

 

I guess I didn’t quite hit the clean and simple mark, but my intentions were good.  I started out determined to do the CAS(E) this Sketch #47, and then it got not quite so clean and simple.  However, clean and simple is a relative term.  Whereas ordinarily I’ll color and stitch and die cut and piece together multiple designer papers, this card has. . . well. . . not quite all of that.  There's no coloring or stitching or die cutting.  That makes it a little simpler, at least.

 

 

I used my SU! Stippled Blossoms set for the flowers – quicker than coloring, even with the cutting out.  I’m trying to stick to a fall theme and the flower colors were inspired by a fall flower arrangement I recently put together.  I used Creamy Caramel and Chocolate chip on the large flower, Groovy Guava and Really Rust on the small flowers.  The leaves are slightly darker with Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip.  Love these two-step stamping sets for how simply you get beautiful results.  The sentiment is from a retired Stampin’ Up! set, Wishes Awash.

 

 

Here’s the sketch so you can see how far I veered off from the intended simplicity:

 

 

Okay, another try. . .  only two items to cut out, a pre-cut textured card, fewer layers.  This is as close as I’m going to get to clean and simple today.  I made the wavy border with a Fiskars punch, the SU! Autumn Leaf Prints (retired) were stamped in Really Rust and Close to Cocoa.  I used an SU! sentiment, Heard from the Heart.  The small leaves stamped on the sentiment panel are another retired SU! set, Petite Patterns.  I stamped off Creamy Caramel once to get a lighter shade.

 

 

 

I was fortunate enough to win a paper pad blog candy from Linda recently, and she surprised me by including an extra paper pad and a few embellishments. In the Crate Paper Pretty Party pad I found these papers more than suitable for a fall card.  The button is one of the embellishments Linda sent.  Thank you, Linda!

 

I think I covered all the details.  Oh, I should mention the cardstock I used for stamping on is Flourishes’ Classic Ivory, and the pre-cut textured card (card #2) is something I purchased ages ago from Hero Arts.  Card #1 measures 6 3/4” x 3 3/4”.  Card #2 measures 6” x 4 1/4”.

 

I’ll see you again soon with more of the many cards I have on my to do list.  Take care, and have a great day!

A Sympathy Card for CAS(E) the Sketch #40

 

Hi, there!  I’m popping in with a very simple card today which I made for the CAS(E) this Sketch #40 challenge.  If I don’t start participating more often I guess I’ll have to take their blinkie out of my sidebar.  I do love this particular sketch – so nice for vertical images and so incredibly easy with a silhouette stamp.

 

I didn’t use anything new on this card, but I did something which I believe is a first for me – I made a single layer card.  Actually, it’s not even a layer; it’s just the card base, itself.  When you get right down to it, can you even call it a card base when there are no additional layers?  It’s simply a card with some stamping on it.

 

 

I could make these by the dozens.  In fact, I made several this weekend, but this color was my favorite.

 

I started off with Flourishes Classic Ivory cardstock and applied the TP technique.  I keep a roll of what I shall delicately refer to as “bathroom tissue” on my stamp table at all times.  I use it for blotting paint brushes, wiping off my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig imaging sheet, cleaning blobs of ink off my acrylic blocks . . . any number of things, including the TP technique.  The TP technique is simply a wadded tissue smooshed into an ink pad and then smooshed onto cardstock.  The result varies depending upon how the tissue is wadded, the ink color, the pressure applied, and how much you smoosh on there.  You can use more than one ink color for a different look.  The important thing to remember is to turn the wad every which way when you smoosh so you don’t get a repeating pattern (unless that’s what you’re going for).

 

I TP’d with vanilla ink, then stamped an old Hero Arts shadow stamp in peach ink, and topped that with a Rubbernecker botanical silhouette in artichoke.  The sentiment, stamped in chocolate, is from an old Stampin’ Up! set called Warmest Regards.

 

This is the sketch:

 

 

I’d like to take a moment to thank all of you who left well wishes for LuLu on my Goldens and Garden blog (sweet Golden Retriever with a badly cut paw pad).  We can’t keep her off her feet altogether, but she’s been having a lot more quiet time than usual.  As I write this I’m propped up with pillows on the bed and she is reclining beside me.  I rather like our cozy arrangement.  Have a happy day!

Practicing at Clean and Simple Again

 

This clean and simple sketch came in handy for me when I needed a quick thank you card.  It is CAS(E) this Sketch #30.  I’m playing along two weeks in a row, now.  I’ve never been consistent about participating in challenges, but the very nature of CAS means I shouldn’t have too much trouble finding time for this one.  I made this in minutes before heading out to the garden this sunny morning.

 

 

Here’s the sketch I followed:

 

For the flags I decided to use ribbons from an old Stampin’ Up! Sweet Shop ribbon collection, and that decided the colors.  The polka dot background is stamped in Apricot Appeal, the sentiment in Rose Red, and the brads are Certainly Celery.  It’s an old color combo, but I still like it just fine.  All these matching Stampin’ Up! colors and accessories helped to move the stamping process along quickly since there was no guess work as to which colors best matched or coordinated.

 

I’d like to thank the gals at CAS(E) this Sketch for some wonderful clean and simple inspiration.  I need all the help I can get!  And thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Have a great day!

 

Stamps:  Distressed Dots, Heard from the Heart (both Stampin’ Up!)  Paper:  Whisper White, Apricot Appeal  Ink:  Apricot Appeal, Rose Red  Accessories:  Brads, ribbon, Fiskars scallop edge scissors

Celebrating with CAS(E) This Sketch #29

 

Hello!  Today, I’m playing along with CAS(E) this Sketch #29, and I feel like celebrating because I now have a total of 12 Christmas cards done.  I know… not much, but it’s further along than I was last year at this time.

 

 

I have just three things to say about this sketch, and that is “thank you, thank you, thank you!”  As many of you know, I’m committed to a Christmas card on the 25th of each month in an effort to make some headway before December.  Well, I really didn’t feel like making a Christmas card, and I was right down to the wire.  When I saw this sketch in my inbox I realized it was exactly what I needed.  I popped into my stamp room on my Thursday lunch hour and made this in a few minutes.  Yes, it’s simple, and I didn’t bring much in the way of creativity to the party, but, hey, it’s done.

 

Actually, I like it.  I don’t know if it’s because I felt good to have finished it so quickly, or if I’m genuinely leaning toward clean and simple these days.  We’ll just have to see how things develop.  Here’s the sketch:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used some old Stampin’ Up! designer paper and added a greeting from Flourishes’ Holiday Greetings set with Brilliant Blue ink on Flourishes’ Classic White cardstock.  Three sparkly snowflakes are the circle elements.  That’s it!

 

Now I’m going to do a few handsprings and enjoy my three day weekend.  Bless the hearts of all our servicemen, past and present, and those family members who have sacrificed right along with them.  Today I’m sending a message of love to all peaceful people in every country, and an especially big hug to all my stamping friends out there.  Have a happy day!

Getting Inky

 

Hello, and happy Monday!  I need to make several children’s cards for March and April, so I’m getting an early start on those.  Seems like a good chance to use another lovable critter from my Inky Antics Delightful Dogs #3.

 

 

I chose these colors to suit the preference of the little girl who will receive this card.  I wasn’t sure I’d care much for the combo at first, but in the end I’m happy with it.  I stamped on Flourishes Classic White cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers.  The Deconstructed Sketch #89 was perfect for the image, and thanks to the sketch artist I felt like I was halfway done before I even started.

 

                                           

 

The flower accents were made from white cardstock with an old Stampin’ Up! punch, colored to match the image, and Rain Dots applied to their centers.  The image and sentiment are both popped up on foam mounting tape.  I think that about does it.  I’ll sum up all the ingredients in the recipe and leave you with a wish for a happy day.

 

Stamps:  Inky Antics Delightful Dogs #3  Paper:  Memory Box Granny Smith, CTMH Spring Iris, Classic White, BasicGrey Sugar Rush designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, oval punch, flower punch, scallop edge punch (all punches from Stampin’ Up!), Rain Dots (tinted resin flower centers), Scotch brand foam mounting tape