Color Chef and Delightful Sketches Challenges

Have you ever worked on a card literally for hours only to not be thrilled with the outcome? I kept walking away from this one and coming back and it not coming together for me the way I had envisioned. It's a dual challenge card - Color Chef (teal, orange, brown and cream) and Delightful Sketches. The stamp set is called Nice Neighborhood by Clear Dollar Stamps. I used my copic markers on it, cut it out with an oval nestie, sponged blue sky (too dark I think) and green grass. The windows got a touch of Crystal Effects for that added shine (I should add some flecks of dark glitter or something to represent the dirt on my windows!!!). For my colors I used Bermuda bay, Chocolate chip, Very vanilla and Dusty durango. I had just received my order from Clear Dollar Stamps that included Basic Grey's Indian Summer DSP that I simply had to use on this card!!! I'm not happy with the embellishments I used, but can't change it now, they are stuck!! Thanks for stopping by, gotta go pack my lunch and get to work!

Winged Whispers Sneak Peek

For all you bird lovers out there, this is a must have set that is being released Oct. 1st at Clear Dollar Stamps. The set was designed by the very talented Kim Teasdale. To see what all is included in this set, check it out on Lori's blog. I've been experimenting with different coloring mediums - this card I black embossed the bird on watercolor paper from SU then watercolored with their markers (melon mambo, dusty durango, soft suede, rich razzleberry and black). Now I know cardinals are red, but color is a big thing for me so why not a pink one instead!!! I love the DSP by Basic Grey, Urban Prarie, which tied in really well with my color scheme. Some sewing, a few pearls, and some yummy rose ribbon and this turned out to be my favorite of the sneak peek cards.

Now this card I watercolored with the Tombow markers, and boy are they nice!!! One of the fun things you can do with clear stamps is "bend" them to fit your needs. That's what I did with the sentiment here. I curved it on my acrylic block to fit around the bird -- so fun!!! This card measures 5" square and makes use of, you guessed it, more of my scraps!! The flower is by Fiskars and found buried in the depths of my stamping room -- if I dig further, I wonder what other goodies I will find!!!!! LOL!!!

You need to stop by other blogs today for those previewing this beautiful set...you'll be glad you did: Kim, Katie, Tricia, Nancy, Sarah, Candy, and Laurie.

Howdy Partner and Flying By Sneaks!

I'm going to give you just a tease of these next two sets...needing to leave for work plus the uploading of my pictures isn't cooperating so I'm running out of time!! This set is called Howdy Partner and designed by the lovely Shawne Arnold. I had to give watercoloring with Tombow markers a try - the cowboy is heat embossed first on watercolor paper then color was added. How fun...for someone who doesn't color very well! I fell in love with the Bazzill cardstock I found at my local scrapbook store - reminded me of denim. And I found the piece of bandana designer paper in, you guessed it, my scrap box!!! Had to add a little charm by Karen Foster as well as some bling and ribbon. You'll see more samples of this set by other DT members: Angela, Nancy, Sarah, Candy, and Laurie.

And here is a wonderful set designed by our very own DT Leader, Laurie Wilson called Flying By. I was drawn to this particular image of the set because every summer we vacation in the Outer Banks, NC (Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, etc.) and the history of the Wright Brothers and their first flight is fascinating to us. This plane reminded me of that event in aviation history. I stamped it in Night of navy then stamped over it with versamark dazzle for a little sparkle. The left hand panel is stamped in navy and red with a stamp from the set while the right hand side is a piece of designer paper. Okay, so I love brads, adding lots and lots of minis and some large. Please check out others showing this set today: Laurie, Trudy, Katie, Sarah, and Candy.

Dog Days Sneak Peeks

This is sneak peek day #3 of Clear Dollar Stamps Oct. release. This set is by the very talented Kim Teasdale called Dog Days. What a cutie!! For this project I used one of the clear boxes sold at CDStamps and filled it up with milkbones. One of the dogs I cut out, cut a small slit in his mouth so I could insert the heart, and popped him up over grass that is also stamped and cut out. This gorgeous ribbon can also be found at CDStamps. I secured a tag that says "Puppy Love" with linen thread around the ribbon. This will be a fun little gift for a friend who over the summer got a new dog.

I am always in need of birthday cards so I was thrilled with the sentiment in this set - "Happy Barkday!" I have a small stack of "The Pet Shop" DCWV DSP that I had to use. This dog and his ball is colored in with watercolor pencils and also cut out and popped up on the nestie. I think embellishments always make a card and this one uses dew drops, ribbon, and pearls. You really need to check out other DT members previewing this set: Kim, Angela, Tricia, Katie, Nancy and Candy.

Clear Dollar Stamp Sneak Peeks - Verses

Merry Christmas everyone!!! It's never too early to start on cards! These two cards are showing off a new set being released Oct. 1st by Clear Dollar Stamps called Christmas Blessings (check out Lori's blog for the stamp sheets.). I always have words on the front of my cards along with the image. With this set, the verse can be the highlight of the card. They are also great as inside sentiments. Either way you look at it, this set is a must have for all your holiday cards and projects!! Other members of the Design Team who are showing off this set today include Kim, Angela, Katie, Stacy, and Candy. Go check 'em out!

This month's value verse is John 3:16. I love the font Lori used when creating this stamp, so elegant. It will be available for purchase at 20% off retail everyday starting Oct. 1st. My colors are black, rich razzleberry, white, pink pirouette and kiwi kiss (for the punched out leaves). I pulled out my Top Note die cut for an added element along with the black pearls. The ribbon is randomly folded and held in place by a couple of staples. The flower is by K & Company. Check out the following blogs for more inspiration: Angela, Tricia, Stacy, and Candy.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!!!!! It's a rainy one here, and chilly. I'm off to a friend's house to do some stamping...Christmas cards by the dozen for me!!

Sneak Peeks are Here!!

This is day #1 of the October sneak peeks for Clear Dollar Stamps. I am so excited for you to see them all because they are simply adorable!! Check out Lori's blog, Clearly iStamp, for the stamp sheets of today's sneak peeks. The one I'm showing you today is the Oct. Stamp of the Month, Harvest Hellos. This delightful set is FREE with a $50 purchase!! The colors of this card include Soft suede, Dusty durango, More mustard and Very vanilla. Once again, I found this DSP in my stash from a scrapbooking class I had attended. A little Scarlet Jewel ribbon and gold brads complete this card.

This project made use of the Pocket Note Purse Template I found on Janine Tinklenberg's blog, Stamps, Paper, Scissors. Instead of pocket notes, I filled it with mini Reeses's Peanut Butter Cups...yum!!! The purse itself is Not quite navy. Other colors include Old olive, More mustard and Very vanilla. Please don't ask me about the designer paper because I don't know who makes it!!! The pumpkin was stamped twice in Dusty durango, the second one cut out and popped up over the first. The acorn was stamped in chocolate chip, cut out, and popped up over the edge of the main image square. Lots of faux stitching was added as well as a few buttons. A fun and simple project, so why don't you give it a try!!! Other design team members showing off this adorable set include: Angela, Katie, Tricia, Nancy, Candy, and the set designer, Laurie Wilson. Check 'em out!!! Also, check out Lori's blog for all the sneak peeks being shown today!!

Thanks for Owl You Do

I made this card for the Clear Dollar Stamps weekend color challenge over at Paper Craft Planet. Fellow Design Team member Cassie chose the colors Sage shadow, Close to cocoa, Apricot appeal and an optional 4th color of Really rust. I don't use apricot a lot so this was a real challenge for me to try to fit it in!!! I used the set What a Hoot. Color was added to owl with copic markers, cut out, and popped up with dimensionals. I used my sponge dauber to add a bit of apricot around the branch. The rhinestones are self-adhesive and by Creative Imaginations. The white layer is embossed with my Cuttlebug. The ribbon was left on my desk from a previous project -- there I go again using up my scraps because that was the end of that roll!!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! I started pulling up my annuals and weeds, getting ready for the cooler weather. Better go out and buy some mums. Now my back really hurts - I was thinking Motrin, but now I'm thinking a margarita will really hit the spot!!

You're Sweet!!

Loved the colors for the Color Chef challenge - orange, green, brown and white or vanilla. A long, long time ago, I had stamped this pear (don't even know who it's by!!) in versamark and added color with chalks. When I read the challenge colors, I immediately thought about finally putting it to use!! It's cut out and embossed with a nestability as is the scallop square. The sentiment is by Clear Dollar Stamps and is called Fruity Fun. I punched it out with a 1 1/4" square punch and popped it up on a scallop square punched out of Old olive. The little brad is by Kaiser Crafts. The DSP is by Reminisce, The Autumn Forest Collection. Had to add a little sewing around them too!! A bit of ribbon and this card is complete! Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Thursday!!

Happy Harvest

Finally I found some time to stamp for fun!!! Time has a way of getting away from me!!! This image is from the Vintage Picnic set by PaperTrey Ink. I used my Copics to color it in with some of my favorite fall colors!! I found this piece of designer paper (also by PTI) in my scrap bin so I went with it!! Thanks for stopping by. I know this is a short post but we are still in mourning from the Steeler loss yesterday - how could they??!!! I also had stamp camp yesterday, 23 ladies total. Busy, busy, busy!!!

Hope Happens

I got to play the Featured Stamper challenge yesterday, casing this card of Steubner's...check out the rest of Shannan's gallery here. I changed the size of the card, making it an A2 card. I used Bella Blossoms because I bought this set and about a month later the retired list came out, and it was on it!! How disappointing!! So I try to use it often because I really like it. I changed the colors too from Shannan's card, using Kraft, White, Bermuda bay and Black. I loved the ribbon, especially the detail with the button so I wanted to be sure and keep that feature (I used Kraft taffeta). The sentiment if from the SU set Hope Happens and it's popped up with dimensionals. Instead of sewing (GASP!!), I pulled out an older background stamp, Wild Hearts. This would be a SU only card except for the button -- I pulled it out of a stash I had given to me by my DH's grandmother who would cut off buttons from garments when discarding them. There are some really cool buttons in that jar!!

CDS Weekend Color Challenge #36

Ahhh, the weekend, and just like summer, where did it go??? I'm still not in to the school routine yet, and I switched up my work schedule a bit which I need to get used to as well. Late last night I finished the Clear Dollar Stamps weekend color challenge found over at Papercraft Planet. Alex had some really fun colors - red, yellow, black and white. First I used the set Pretty Perches and the colors PTI White, Basic black, Crushed curry and Riding hood red. The card measures 5 X 5, a fun size I so rarely make. The bird image and two layering circles were cut out with my circle nestabilities (a tool I couldn't live without!) and each one is popped up with dimensionals (another must have item!). I used some curry and red DSP and added some stitching around those layers. And then a strand of self-adhesive pearls and a few individual black pearls finishes it up. Simple but fun...thanks Alex!!!

Dual Challenge Card

Impossible, me, completing a challenge card in the middle of the week AND posting it??!! See what getting the kids back in school can do to a Mom!!! I got home from work and off to my stamp room I went. I loved the colors of the Color Throwdown challenge, pumpkin pie, close to cocoa and ruby red as well as the Sketch Girl sketch. I used my Papertrey Ink set Fall Elegance (and to think I almost passed on this set!!!!! GASP!!!) and Autumn Abundance DSP. The pumpkin was stamped a second time, cut out, and popped up. I felt the need to distress the edges as well as sponge them in some close to cocoa. The pearls along the scallop edge are by Kaiser Crafts. I added some stitching around the card for a little more punch. Keep having a wonderful week!!!!!!!

Happy Fright Night!

This is for a PTI swap I'm in over on SCS. I used the new 2009 Halloween Tags set...I simply couldn't resist using it!!!!! Colors of cardstock include black, wild wasabi, pumpkin pie and lovely lilac. I am trying sooooo hard to "use what I've got," so the designer paper is from a Stack I had purchased a long time ago at Michael's. I had to use the creepy monsters -- aren't they adorable (can I say that about a monster?!)? I used the witch's hat tag from the set and stamped it twice, once in lilac (then punched it out), and again in black (this time only cutting out the hat and popping it up). Had to mix in one of my all-time favorite embellishments too, the brads!!

Thanks for stopping in. Have a wonderful day!

The Funnest Birthday

I thought I would have time to participate in the WRAK Labor Day Challenge weekend, creating cards for the troops, but I was wrong. So far, this is the only one I made!!!! I seemed to have lost my desire to stamp so it's bee hard getting inspiration. This challenge was for a card a solider could send home to a child for any reason with bright colors and an animal image. I used the three calendar chicks I recently received from WRAK and colored them in with my copics. Colors include Green galore, Tempting turquoise and scrap yellow. I also used Urban Prairie by Basic Grey. The sentiment is from AMuse. Lots of faux stitching, brads and dimensionals finish it off!

It's Labor Day which means a day off from work and school!!!!! Too bad the boys are unaware at this time I have plans for each and everyone of them!!!!! LOL!!!!!!

Trust in the Lord

This card is for the Clear Dollar Stamps weekend color challenge over at Papercraft Planet. Shawne picked a wonderful set of colors - Rose red, Kiwi kiss and So saffron. I used the April Flower of the Month set, the Daisy as well as the set Shining Strength for the sentiment (all stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps). I used my Copic markers on the flowers then layered it up with all the challenge colors. The DSP is from Basic Grey, June Bug to be exact. And the bottom saffron layer I ran thru my Cuttlebug and embossed it, using my newly purchased Victorian folder. I simply had to add a little stitching too with the sewing machine. The rhinestone swirl is from an assortment I purchased at Wal-Mart. Lots of dimensionals to give, well, you guessed it, dimension!!

Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend! We will be traveling tomorrow to my parents', only about a two hour trip. Dad will be firing up the grill for burgers and dogs, and I put a request in to Mom for her yummy potato salad. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!!!!