Sympathetic Bird

End of the week, end of the day, but here I am with another sympathy card for you. 
This time I combined The Paper Players latest sketch with the Color Throwdown challenge. It isn't my favorite card, I think I don't love the striking Vanilla bird, but, it's on it's way to someone anyway. Also I pulled out a retired greeting because nothing currently in my inventory worked for this one. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Perched in a Tree, Well Said (retired)

Ink: Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow

Paper: Crumb Cake, Mossy Meadow & Very Vanilla card stocks

Accessories: Festive Pearls, Watercolor Pencils, Aspen Tree dies, big shot (retired) 

What are you making this week? 

Note of Thanks

This card is weeks overdue being mailed, much less made, but I still needed to send one. I used the latest sketch from Freshly Made Sketches and the color combo from Color Throwdown (altho I was too late for both challenges by the time I made this) and I love the result! 

I've used a Blending Brush every time I stamped last week, so why quit now? ha! This time I used the Pumpkin Pie and Real Red inks to make a faded background for the leaves. I chose Cherry Cobbler as "maroon" and stamped the speckles and greeting with that. Then I die cut the leaves out and that was that! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Sending Smiles, Perched in a Tree
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Festive Pearls, Aspen Dies, Dimensionals, Blending Brush, big shot

In My Thoughts

I don't know about your corner of the world but here there has been a lot of loss and heartbreak. The biggest reason I haven't shared a single thing in about a month is that my sweet mother in law passed away. She was 89 and in declining health, but she was one of those amazing humans who loved and welcomed everyone in her path. So her being gone now is keenly felt even by those who weren't part of her family. 

But I've got a number of friends who also lost family members in that same month. Some of them sent us something or otherwise supported us and I am clearly running behind. So here's a quick card to send our love as well, and I happen to think it came out stunningly. 

I combined the autumnal color challenge from The Paper Players, along with last weeks sketch from SUO Challenges, and their newest SUO Challenge of silhouette stamping. This isn't exactly how it was shown, but it is a silhouette... And for the inked panel, I used post it notes to frame the rectangle and Blending Brushes for the sunset look.

Supplies:

Stamps: Lighting The Way, In The Moment

Ink: Wild Wheat, Copper Clay, Pretty Peacock, Pebbled Path

Paper: Very Vanilla

Accessories: Blending Brushes

Then, ha, I loved this result so much, I played again, but this time with the color challenge from Just Add Ink. I knew that would be great for a sympathy card, but nothing was jumping out at me to use.... Oh, this. This layout is kinda perfect! 

Supplies: 

Stamps: Lighting The Way, In The Moment

Ink: Crumb Cake, Misty Moonlight, Mossy Meadow

Paper: Basic White

Accessories: Blending Brushes

And three more cards are on their way! 

Happy birthday!

In my unexpected, unplanned hiatus, I missed a few birthdays so I am now trying to play catch up. That means I'm out of time to figure out things like favorite colors, etc, so I threw this idea together quickly. 

I used three shades and a Blending Brush to make the background I die cut the letters from. And then I rinsed my blending brush for the first time ever, ha, and flicked water from that onto the paper for added whatever.

Then I stamped a garden full of flowers on the card front below the greeting. Quick, happy, done! And in the mail so they know they are thought of! 

This version for a girl who loves purple:

Stamps: Sending Smiles 

Ink: Fresh Freesia, Gorgeous Grape, Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive, Granny Apple Green, Crushed Curry
Paper: Basic White card stock

Accessories: Alphabet a la Mode dies, Fine Tip Glue Pen

and this for a girl who needs some extra sunshine. 

Stamps: Sending Smiles 

Ink: Old Olive, Granny Apple Green, Pebbled Path, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight (retired), So Saffron (retired)
Paper: Basic White & So Saffron (retired) card stock

Accessories: Alphabet a la Mode dies, Fine Tip Glue Pen, Dimensionals

and then, I was about to publish this post, but someone came home and gushed about how beautiful they were and asked if I would make her one too. After the month we've had, you do what your kid needs. So here is her card, haha... I thought I could put both words on the front but I really couldn't, so I added flowers all the way up the one side, and decorated the inside of the card this time! I never do that- I've shown you all the times I've ever done that and it might total five? lol... But I'd already cut out the letters and I wasn't about to not use it. 

Stamps: Sending Smiles 

Ink: Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Berry Burst, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry
Paper: Basic White & Berry Burst card stock

Accessories: Alphabet a la Mode dies, Glue Dots Dimensionals

Sooo the words aren't centered because I started gluing with a different plan. Guess what, she really, really doesn't care. She's gonna love it. Send your mess ups anyway. People like knowing you're human too. 

All The Games!

This card is a bit random, but everything is random in my world right now, so its fiiiine.

Today's card is a birthday card for my nephew, using the latest from Freshly Made Sketches. I used my one (retired) sport stamp, which I bought because my son played basketball one whole season, snort. And I used the video game set. And added his age for how he unlocked the achievement, haha. And the birthday boy's favorite colors. Done. Ha! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Level Complete, Alphabest, Slam Dunk  (retired)
Ink: Blueberry Bushel, Sweet Sorbet

Paper: Basic White, Blueberry Bushel, Sweet Sorbet

Baby Card

Happy Saturday to you! 

Whooole lotta retired product for today's card, but hey! I got another one made, which I need fast! And today's card took about as long as all of yesterday's cards did, hee hee.

My cousin's wife is expecting twins- a boy and a girl. I got this very old set from a neighbor when she moved away. She wrote on the end of the box "Noah", and the copyright on the stamps say 1996. I was still in high school and hadn't heard of Stampin' Up! then, so that's what we'll call the set! I also used a bunch of retired shades of ink, so I found a bit of DP that "works" even tho it isn't the same shades. And all that to use the Global Design Project sketch, flipped. Because I couldn't hide the sheep with the congrats...! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Happiness Abounds (retired 2022), Noah (retired 1996!)

Ink: Soft Suede (retired), Daffodil Delight (retired),Crushed Curry, Lost Lagoon, Baja Breeze (retired), Rococo Rose (retired), Moody Mauve

Paper: Basic White card stock, Band Stand Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired) 

Accessories: Dimensionals

One Sheet of Designer Paper

I really have not had stamping time lately, but I also really need a BUNCH of cards this month. And the bulk of my stash is not going to work... So when you're overwhelmed, (I absolutely am!) it helps to work smarter, not harder. Ha. The gorgeous Fresh as a Daisy DP has two sheets that look like this, just before you cut them up: 

(this is only partially cut, to show you how best to do it and not cut into other images.)

After I cut them into their designed rectangles, I made a decent little stack of cards!

This first one worked fantastically with the latest As You See It challenge. I used everything, I thought, til I linked it up, and realized I used my needed "happy birthday" instead of their listed "thank you". I'm linking it anyway, because I have the patterned paper, the circle (which IS a die cut), enamel dots and some yellow!    

Supplies:

Stamps: Enjoy The Rhythm

Ink: Pebbled Path
Paper: Basic White card stock, Fresh As A Daisy DP

Accessories: Moody Mauve Textured Ribbon, 2023-25 In Color Dots, Dimensionals, Circle dies, big shot (retired)

Supplies:

Stamps: Enjoy The Rhythm

Ink: Copper Clay
Paper: Basic White & Copper Clay card stock, Fresh As A Daisy DP

Accessories: 2023-25 In Color Dots, White Baker's Twine, Dimensionals

Supplies:

Stamps: Sending Smiles

Ink: Copper Clay
Paper: Basic White card stock, Fresh As A Daisy DP

Accessories: Brass Butterflies

Supplies:

Stamps: Enjoy The Rhythm

Ink: Pebbled Path
Paper: Basic White card stock, Fresh As A Daisy DP

Accessories: 2023-25 In Color Dots

Supplies:

Stamps: Sending Smiles

Ink: Pretty Peacock
Paper: Basic White card stock, Fresh As A Daisy DP

Accessories: 2023-25 In Color Dots, Sending Dies, big shot (retired) 

Supplies:

Stamps: Sending Smiles

Ink: Wild Wheat
Paper: Basic White card stock, Fresh As A Daisy DP

Accessories: 2023-25 In Color Dots, Sending Dies, big shot (retired) 

I have three small rectangles left and nothing came to mind immediately for how to use them. So that will be for another day when I do think of something! But that was six cards in a little more than an hour, and I also typed up the info after each card so I wouldn't forget anything. They're not the most detailed cards because the DP does the work. But I think they worked out really nicely! 

Leveled Up!

The minute I saw this set I knew I was going to need it, haha.
I never got into "video games" tho I did enjoy computer games. My brothers loved the Nintendo when we were kids. My parents got a Wii early on, and I'm pretty sure my son used it more than anyone else. My husband had a PlayStation when we got married, tho he sold it after he graduated from college. But then he bought an Atari Flashback, and continued to play computer games. My husband and son each had a DS and there was a GameBoy in there too... We got a WiiU at some point. My son loves video games and also plays some on the computer but he bought himself a Switch, and my husband liked it so much that he now has a Switch too.  

None of the controllers in this set are really spot on to any of the systems I'm familiar with, (and my kids would laugh that I used the word "familiar" in the first place) but I have a birthday coming up and this has to be the set, hahaha. I colored the buttons to look like an SNES controller (thank you Google images!) even tho it is shaped like a classic controller... I used a Blender Pen and Pebbled Path ink to make the cords, which works okay. 

I tried to make it work with the color challenge from Global Design Project, and those colors are the main colors featured but not the only ones here.... so maybe I'll try again. In the meantime, here's this! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Level Complete

Ink: Pebbled Path, Boho Blue

Stampin' Blends: Dark Cherry Cobbler, Light Night of Navy, Dark Shaded Spruce, Dark Daffodil Delight

Paper: Wild Wheat, Boho Blue, Basic White

Accessories: 2023-25 In Color Dots, Dimensionals, Blender Pen

I like you!

I keep hoping for some stamping time + inspiration and it just is not happening lately. I'm mentally preoccupied with other things that are coming up that I need to do, and I'm physically distracted with still making the most of summer time! But I did get some time today so here's something new! This is a new-to-me stamp set and like I said on my facebook post the other day- I got to try the new style of marker! 

Today's card uses the latest Color Throwdown Challenge, which is so calm and pretty! Just tricky to photograph the shade of green I chose... 

Supplies:
Stamps: Stamped With Love
Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Seafoam, both markers too
Paper: Soft Seafoam, Basic White card stocks
Accessories: Festive Pearls, White twine, Timeworn Type embossing folder, Blending Brush, big shot (retired)

I used a Blending Brush to very lightly add a bit of Crumb Cake to the embossed part of the front panel. I cut out the post box, and popped it on Dimensionals. I will admit, the greeting panel feels just a bit 'out of no where' but it kind of works so it's fine. HA. 

Thoughts on the new markers? The lids are different- shorter, maybe thinner, and they don't stick to the other end. I used the "bullet" point side of the markers to color in a bit of the flourish above the word "post" and also the hole the letter goes in to. I never, ever use that point except to very occasionally add journaling in the matching color, so that's a good change for me. I like how it colored and I will do it again. 

Are you making anything pretty this week? When you're done admiring your work, send it to someone! 

Pixar Pier at Night

Happy Saturday! 

Here's another quick layout from our Disney trip! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Capture The Good
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Color Me Autumn DP
Accessories: Glitter Enamel Dots, Memories In The Making PL Accessory Pack

I hope you get to make something fun today! 

Lazy Days

One of *my favorite things about being a demonstrator is that when my mom places an order, I get to play with her stamps and dies to see if I can create a way to use it in an upcoming class. haha... I have eleven current stamp sets in my possession and three belong to my mom. Most of the time we have the same taste in things, but sometimes we get a new catalog and have totally different interests. This set is one of those. I actually like the set a lot as a concept, but in use it's quite a bit more tricky. However, I love the little chairs and lemonade so that's what I tried to play with first. 

All three cards use the latest from Freshly Made Sketches, 

This first card is not my favorite, but it has a few of the latest In Colors, and it's just fine, haha. Not every card will be my favorite. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Lazy Days

Ink: Wild Wheat, Copper Clay, Boho Blue

Paper: Boho Blue, Basic White, Wild Wheat card stocks

Accessories: Lazy Days Dies, Blending Brush, Dimensionals, big shot (retired)

And this card uses colors that to me, scream "August!" which is when lemonade would be the best, haha! And I'm thinkin my new In Color ink pads are too juicy......! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Lazy Days

Ink: Pebbled Path, Crushed Curry, Light Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends

Paper: Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla card stocks

This last card is my favorite of these, haha... I colored these with the Watercolor Pencils, and scrubbed Balmy Blue ink very lightly all over the top panel with a Blending Brush. I also drew the string the bird house hangs from with the Basic Gray Watercolor Pencil. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Lazy Days

Ink: Smoky Slate, Flirty Flamingo, Balmy Blue

Paper: Basic White, Smoky Slate card stocks 
Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Blending Brush

What do you think of this set? There are so many other things to do with it too! 

Birthday Wishes!

I made a card!! Yeay!! This one does not use a kit- just a sketch and some pretty colors! I used the sketch from The Paper Players, which has more layers than I typically play with, but I like the result! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Sending Smiles

Ink: Fresh Freesia, Berry Burst, Lemon Lime Twist

Paper: Lemon Lolly, Fresh Freesia, Basic White, Bright & Beautiful DP

Accessories: Brushed Brass Butterflies, Circle Dies, Dimensionals, big shot (retired)

The photo isn't great- it's overcast and I kept getting weird results, but this is my first time playing with the new Lemon Lolly and I really like it! I'm gonna need that ink pad too!