More Green with Create with Connie and Mary

So given the holiday last week, there has been a lot of green in challenges...and in my cards.  Create with Connie and Mary had this challenge:

GO GREEN!

I'm sorta over green so I started thinking about using scraps (recycling) but then a light bulb came on and I went away from shamrocks and flowers. Banners are everywhere in the crafting world right now and so I decided to make one using Old Olive DSP and couldn't bear to make another good luck card, so I added a "so happy for you" setiment. 

TA DA-

Very clean and simple, but that's sorta my thing. I used the flower of the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch to add to my bows- I had thought about putting them on the banner, along with buttons, but thought they covered too much of the paper up. Two cards in a row with no Big Shot....it can be done!, but I'm sure it will be back soon. Hop on over and see what the designers have offered up!

Color Throwdown #133

I'm back with a Color Throwdown Challenge.  Here are this weeks colors:


I was a little stumped and a little pressed with time, so here is my card:

I actually made a card WITHOUT using my Big Shot!  In fact all I used was two punches, some paper, a strip of ribbon, two markers, one stamp set, and a button!  So simple.  I roughed up my edges with my bone folder just so the card didn't look so flat.  Hope you like!

Recipe:

Cardstock: Early Espresso, More Mustard, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla

Stamps: Tiny Tags

Ink: (Markers) More Mustard, Early Espresso

Accessories: Scallop Punch, Subtle Buttons, Jewelry Tag Punch

Stampin' Celebration #43

For the second week, Stampin' Celebration is celebrating St. Patrick's Day.


I found myself drawn to the cupcakes and the dark chocolate color.  This past summer Stampin' Up did a color renovation. At first, I wasn't sure about the color Early Espresso, but I find myself using this more than my past Chocolate Chip go to.  It's such a rich brown.  Okay, okay, here is my card...

I went back to my Big Bold Capcakes Sizzlit and added a flag onto a tootpick. I punch a hole using my 1/16" circle punch and stuck it in there so it looked like it was in the cupcake.  I wish I had the scallop square #2 die for the DSP layer.  It was carried over from the winter mini catalog...guess I have something to add to my (growing) wish list.

Recipe:

Cardstock: Garden Green, Early Espresso, Early Espresso DSP, Whisper White

Ink: Garden Green

Stamps: So Happy For You, Afterthoughts

Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Square, Big Bold Cupcakes Sizzlit, Perfect Polka Dots & Square Lattice Embossing Folders, Garden Green Button (from the Winter Mini), Simple Alphabet Dies, 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon

CCMC141-Color Challenge

When I open up a challenge, I quick look at the colors or layout and go no further in the blog.  I don't want to get inspiration from the other designers, this way it's a true challenge.  This is the color challenge this week over at Create with Connie and Mary.

I was happy to see crumb cake, but so saffron and real red threw me off.  I admit, I rarely mix color families...just doesn't seem right to mix a bright with a subtle, kinda like stripes with polka dots.  I love how challenges are letting me play with all my "stuff."  This stamp set, Because I Care, is a hostess set that I opened for the first time today. 

Here's my card:

I don't know if I'm in love with it...seems sort of "old school" McDonald's to me but I gave it my best!  There are some great cards from the designers, hop over and check them out!  Debbie and I used the same Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder for our background.

Recipe:

Cardstock: So Saffron, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Very Vanilla (I know, I traded for the white.)

Ink: Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Real Red

Stamps: Because I Care, Tiny Tags

Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Emboss Folder, Jewelry Tag Punch, Hemp Twine, Subtles Buttons, Real Red 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge

Another Post...

...I'm on a roll I guess. I was just putting some stuff away in my craft room and I realized I hadn't opened my Springtime Vintage DSP yet.  This is a perfect example of not judging a book by it's cover.  When I first received my Sring Occasions Mini Catalog, this paper did nothing for me.  As I started to see other projects using it, my mind was swayed.  As I opened it, I noticed that a couple of the sheets "matched" our Lattice die.  LOVE how Stampin' Up takes the guess work out of coordination.  Again, this card took me less than 10 minutes!

The card is a 4 1/4" square so it will still fit in a standard envelope and the overhang will not get squished. I sliced some dimensionals to put on the corners of the lattice die to give it some depth...my next goal is to get some photo tips so my cards look as nice on here as they do in person!

Recipe:
Cardstock: Crumb Cake (my favorite neutral), Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP
Ink: Rose Red
Stamps: Bring on the Cake
Accessories: Big Shot, Lattice Die, Neutral Brads

Color Throwdown #132

Another challenge!  Color Throwdown offered up these colors:

Sort of similiar to last weeks Pals Paper Arts challenge, and very much in my comfort zone.  I wanted to break out a set I earned for FREE and hadn't played with yet.  I also had spent a bit of time with the Mojo Monday challenge, so I set my timer for 10 minutes and created this card.  Proof that you can create a beautiful card in less time than it takes you to walk into a box store and buy one!

I also got a chance to use my Framed Tulips Embossing Folder for the first time.  When I attended the Minneapolis Regional Meeting, I fell in love with so many cards that used this frame.  Such an easy way to give your card a lovely detail!

Recipe:
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Stamps: Sweet Summer
Ink: StazOn; Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight and Certainly Celery Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Daffodil Delight 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Brights Buttons, Hemp Twine

Inkspirations Challege #60

Back to some challenges!  I am in love with this color combo from Inkspirations Challenges:



I saw it last week and knew I didn't have the time to get to it right away with doing invites.  While grabbing my Baby Steps stamp, I saw Tart and Tangy and knew this would be a great set to do with these colors.  Here is my finished card.  Great for a teacher and best of all the set could be yours for FREE during Sale a bration until March 31, 2011-just ask me how!

I had the card assembled and it just was missing something....ribbon.  I admit I love ribbon and I'm so glad Stampin' Up offers a smaller width ribbon.  A perfect addition!

Recipe:
Cardstock: Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Subtles DSP
Ink: Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Craft Whisper White
Stamps: Tart and Tangy, So Happy For You (BOTH COULD BE YOURS FOR FREE!)
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circle #2, Clear Embossing Powder, Scallop Edge Border, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Whisper White 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Shower Invites

I've been busy....you just can't tell on my blog.  One of my best friends is going to have her first baby in June and I wanted to make her invites for her shower.  They are going to be surprised with the gender and are painting the nursery gray and white.  She also has been attracted to elephant accents.  After a few trials this is what I ended up with.

So I must admit that I ran out of ribbon while making 30 invites.  I headed to the box craft store and I know why I love Stampin' Up even more now!  The ribbon didn't tie or cut as nice as Stampin' Up's ribbon! UGH.  Lesson: accept no substitutes!

Recipe:
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Craft Whisper White, Basic Gray
Stamps: Baby Steps, Tiny Tags
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Emboss Folder, Scallop Circle #2. 2.5" Circle Punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls
Non SU: white string

two 4 one

I combined two challeges today...hence a two for one.  The layout is from Create with Connie and Mary:
A square.  Typically not my strenght but I went for it anyways!

Then I headed over to Stampin' Celebration.  Here is this weeks inspiration:

BIG CHALLENGE! Not only do I not do a lot of square cards, the only stamp I have with a shamrock is from the new Sale a bration catalog, So Happy For You.  The shamrock is pretty small, so I went to my dies and created this:

Not too shabby...here's the recipe:
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Brights DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake (I used a sponge and sponged the card and vanilla edges)
Stamps: NONE
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circles #2, 2.5" Circle Punch, Hearts and Brackets Die, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Bright Buttons, Neutral Buttons, Hemp Twine, Perfect Polka Dots Emboss Folder, DIMENSIONALS (I think I've forgotten these in other posts, but I use these...A LOT!)