Four Squares

We're moving from 3 squares to 4 squares! Actually the Sketch Challenge at SCS last week was a 4 square layout.

First I made this card.....

It really doesn't do a thing for me!  I don't know about  you.

So, I tried this......

Adding that Rich Razzleberry backdrop helped a lot.  It's much better, but still not my favorite.  Can't love 'em all I guess.

The colors are from the ColourQ challenge.  I missed the deadline, mainly because I just couldn't get excited about posting this.

These stamps are really cute.  I need to try something else with them I think.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Cute by the Inch (Level 2 Hostess gift)
Ink:  Brocade Blue, Brilliant Blue, Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry (Note: Brocade Blue & Brilliant Blue are both retired.  Baja Breeze & Marina Mist would probably work well.  Hmm, maybe I'll try that!)
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Brilliant Blue
Accessories:  1 1/4" Square & Scallop Square Punches, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon (from last year), Basic Pearls.

Thanks for the visit.  Enjoy!
Bonnie

Springtime Smiles

I can't believe it!  This never happens! I checked the CAS challenge at SCS and one of the cards I made yesterday fits the challenge!  So I can get this in early.  Yippee!  The challenge is The Great Outdoors.

The layout is from Stamping 411's Saturday Sketch Challenge.

Edited to add:  Also the Stampin' B's challenge last week was to use a flower on a card.

I played with painting the girl on the stamp again.  I did a card last week using this technique.  Click here to see that one.

Oh, I can remember running barefoot across the lawn at Easter with flowers in my hand for my mommy.  That must have been a late Easter like we'll have this year!

The little flower is made from the elements from the Boho Blossoms Punch.  I punched one medium flower from green and 2 from pink.  I put them on my Mat Pack cushion and used a stylus in a circular motion to soften the paper and curl it.  Then I added an Itty Bitty pink flower and the pearl.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Easter Blossoms
Ink:  SU Markers (Certainly Celery, Pear Pizzazz, More Mustard, Blush Blossom, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight)
Paper:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo
Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Scallop Trim Corner, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Boho Blossoms & Itty Bitty Shapes Punches)  Basic Pearl

Thanks for the visit.  Enjoy!
Bonnie

Three Square

Happy Sunday, stampers.  I hope you have had a great weekend and got to play in the ink a bit.

I don't usually do St. Patrick's Day cards, but a friend asked me today if I did because she needed some ideas.  I wondered if I even had anything I could use. 

The Sale-a-bration set, So Happy for You, was sitting on the table, brand spanking new, and it had a tiny shamrock!  Not only could I do something for St. Patrick's Day but It was a perfect fit for the Less is More challenge to do a card with 3 squares!

Challenge 13 over at SUO  is to do a card using something from the Sale-a-bration catalog.  This should work for that challenge too.

The shamrocks are inked with Wild Wasabi (stems) & Garden Green then stamped on 1" squares of Whisper White.

I chose to use the good luck sentiment in this set.  I love the font and it made me think of leprechauns and fun.

I decided to add a few paper piercings under the sentiment.  It's probably a little more than it needed.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  So Happy for You
Ink:  SU Markers (Wild Wasabi, Garden Green)
Paper:  Whisper White, Garden Green
Accessories:  Paper Piercer, Mat Pack

And here is a similar card...

 I rounded some of the corners on the shamrock squares, used the sentiment from Teeny, Tiny Wishes and added a bit of Wild Wasabi ribbon that had been stashed away for a couple of years.

Thanks for coming by to visit.  Enjoy!
Bonnie

Someone Sent Me a Card

Isn't this just lovely?  It's from my blogging friend Ellen.  You can check out her blog here.

I've really been enjoying it.

Enjoy!
Bonnie

Color it Spring

I think I can get this in just under the wire.

The Paper Players #35 challenge is a sketch

I really liked this sketch and wanted to use some of the In Color DSP from the Hostess gift pad.  Since I've been thinking Spring this week, I chose to put the Daffodil Delight with the Pear Pizzazz and make it a 3" x  6" card.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Sincere Salutations, Sweet Summer (Sale-a-bration set)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz
Paper:  Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, DSP Pack (Hostess Level 1)
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Die, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Large Oval Punch, Daffodil Delight narrow taffeta ribbon, beads

Hope I can get this in before the deadline.

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy!
Bonnie

Birds Sing

Jennifer nearly stumped me with the One Layer Wednesday challenge at Stylesink this week, I've got the Music in Me.

This week’s challenge is to make a one-layer musical themed card. Anything to do with music. Sheet music, musical instruments, an image of someone singing; anything that in some way relates to music.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

Yeah Jennifer, if you actually have a stamp that relates to music!

I almost ordered the Music Notes wheel last month, but took it out at the last minute.  If I'd only known!

Then I thought, birds sing!  They're the best singers!  So.......

Can you see his beak open?  He's just trilling away!  Aah, I love to hear the birds sing!

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig again.  I've given it a workout this week!  I am getting a bit better, but it still took 3 tries to get an image I was satisfied with.  I'm learning to release it and place the stamp gently so it doesn't move.  It's slippery!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Apple Blossoms (both are hostess gifts), Just Believe
Ink:  Pacific Point, SU Markers (Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz)
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Basic Rhinestones

Thanks for visiting.  Enjoy!

Bonnie

Springtime Smiles

Have you checked out the Less is More blog yet?   This week's challenge is to do a SPRING Clean & Simple card.

Clean & Simple:  A design of card with clean lines, minimal elements, areas of white space and few or no embellishments.

Here's mine.....

I thought the flowers were shaped a bit like Daffodils and they are the first flowers to bloom in the Spring in my yard.  I inked the stamp with markers and stamped on a Whisper White card.  I used the Peach Parfait marker to add the centers and a bit of contrast to the flowers.

After stamping the sentiment, I could see that it needed something else.  After mulling it over for a couple of hours, I stamped some leaves above the sentiment and that did it for me.  A couple of butterflies finished it off.

The last time I checked, there were 180 submissions for this challenge!  I think the Clean & Simple style is becoming very popular.  There are some awesome submissions.  As soon as I'm finished, I'm going to do some blog hopping and check them out.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Just Believe, Easter Blossoms
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, SU Markers (Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait)
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Basic Pearls

Thanks for the visit.  Enjoy!
Bonnie

Easter Blossoms Girl

Ever since I saw the Easter Blossoms stamp set in the Occasions Mini, I thought, what if  I inked that delightful little girl in colors instead of a silhouette?

The other night, I experimented a bit.  This is what I came up with......

By inking the stamp with markers, I was able to have a real girl!  I'll have to admit, the first one went in the trash, but the second try made me happy.

First, I imagined the features on the girl and used markers to color those features.  Then I huffed, and puffed too for good measure, and stamped her on some Whisper White.  I added some little curls with the More Mustard marker and touched up some of the flesh tones and the face with the Blush Blossom marker.

I used the BIG GUY and the Ovals die to cut the image with the largest oval.

Then I pulled out an old stamp set.  I think it was the first SU stamp set I bought.  It's called Watercolor Minis and I used one of the stamps to do the leaves around the edge.  By the way, there is a set in the Occasions Mini, Baby Blossoms, that reminds me a lot of this set.

I used my non SU shape cutter to cut some larger ovals to frame the design.

Ta Da! The finished card!

No challenges, just some fun.  I hope I can do it again, but if not, I have a card for our Emmy.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Easter Blossoms, Watercolor Minis
Ink:  Certainly Celery, Pear Pizzazz, SU Markers (More Mustard, Blush Blossom, Marina Mist, Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz)
Paper:  Whisper White, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Die, Perfect Polka Dots EF, White Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls

Enjoy!
Bonnie

Salvage

Last Saturday we had fun at my house.  Several "stampin" friends came to Stamp & Share.  I don't think I even saw all the creations before they got packed up.  We need to do a line up for pictures next time.  I get so wrapped up in the fun of it, that I forget to take pictures!

I was fishing in the scrap bag for a piece to stamp on and I found this bird in a cage.  I'm not sure why he ended up in the scrap bags, but I salvaged him and gave him a home.

I had to color the bird a bit, he wasn't stamped very dark.  It was an easy fix.

I used the FTL#128 from the CleanandSimple blog....

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Happy Moments (last year's Sale-a-bration), Short and Sweet

Ink:  Basic Black, SU Marker (Daffodil Delight)

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Big Shot, Finial Press EF, Ovals die, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

Enjoy!

Bonnie

Elements Clearly for You

I don't usually combine too many challenges. I tend to confuse myself and sometimes overdo a card.

But I think that I managed 3 challenges with this card!

First the Saturday Sketch Challenge #191 from Stamping 411.  Here's the sketch....

I really like the simplicity of this sketch.  I had to reverse it because when I stamped the tile design across the back panel, there was a teeny tiny line of white between two stampings.  I thought it worked fine reversed and when I can cover a boo boo, I'm happy!

The CAS 107 challenge on SCS this week is to make your own background.  The strip across the card is my handmade background.  I've gotta tell you, that Stamp-a-ma-jig is getting a workout and the more I use it, the more accurate I get.... sometimes anyway.

Also on SCS today's Color Challenge #311 is to use Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum & Rose Red.  That plum just wasn't working in.  I tried to add some to the flowers, but it just didn't look right.  I ended up sponging some Perfect plum around the edges of my white space.  It's very subtle, but it's there!

There, that's 3 challenges!  Now I've just got to remember to drop it off at the challenge sites!

I used my SU markers to ink the hummingbird and some of the flowers and leaves from the Elements of Style set.  I added some ink with the blender pen to the flowers.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Elements of Style, Clearly for You
Ink:  Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum, SU Markers (Always Artichoke, Rose Red, More Mustard)
Paper:  Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Accessories:  Rose Red grosgrain ribbon, Stamping Sponges

Enjoy!
Bonnie

Spring Branch

Sunday, when DH & I were riding around, we spotted a tree in full bloom with it's beautiful pink flowers!  I'm not sure whether it was a Redbud, or some kind of flowering fruit tree.  It was small, but magnificent, covered with those beautiful little flowers.

This branch is not as pretty as the real thing, but maybe will remind the recipient that Spring will come.

I stamped the branch with Crumb Cake on Very Vanilla cardstock, then used my SU Watercolor Pencils and a blender pen to color the flowers.  I found my distressing tool, and distressed a bit around the edges and rounded the corners.

The scallops at the bottom are the top of the Scallop Envelope cut with the BIG GUY.

The layout is from the JAI#56 challenge....

I flipped the sketch and left off the scallops under the ribbon.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Easter Blossoms, To You and Yours (Retired Christmas set)
Ink:  Crumb Cake
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, Big Shot, Scallop Envelope die, Corner Rounder, Very Vanilla Seam Binding

Enjoy!
Bonnie

Framed

This weeks Featured Stamper at SCS is Cookie aka StampGroover.  It was such fun to look through her gallery and hard to choose just one card to CASE.  This is the one I chose.  This is what I came up with.....

I used a different stamp set, color for the frame and ribbon.  Otherwise it's pretty much the same.  Probably too much, but I hate to mess with a good thing!

The colors are from the Curtain Call #70 to use Turquoise, White, Tangerine & Pear!  They worked perfectly for this card!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Sweet Summer

Ink:  SU Markers (Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, Pear Pizzazz)

Paper:  Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories:  Paper Cutter, Scrap of Ribbon, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, White gel pen

I hope it's ok to sneak in a yellow butterfly.  He lit on the leaf and just looked so good there, that I left him.  Besides, I had to whack off most of the 3rd flower to fit in the frame.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Birthday Balloons for Owen

Today Luke is going to a birthday party for his "buddy pal" at Preschool.  Mommy provided the present, Nana got to do a card.

My "buddy pal" Ruthann let me use her Crazy for Cupcakes set.  I can't believe I never bought this set.  It's great!  I think it will be in my next order even though she has graciously told me to use it as long as I want!

I inked the balloons and strings (don't you just love those strings?) with markers and colored the balloons in with the markers, smoothing with a blender pen.

I had 2 strings of the same color and I tried to trace one with the small nib on the red marker.  It's not perfect, but I doubt a 3 yr. old will notice.  The middle balloon is cut out and popped up.  I know, I can't believe I actually cut out that ribbon but it gave the look I wanted.

Just a simple layout to bring out the balloon colors.

It just so happens that the Free 4 All #52 challenge at SCS last Friday was to do a child's birthday card.  Isn't that perfect timing?

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Crazy for Cupcakes, Teeny, Tiny Wishes
Ink:  SU Markers (Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue, Real Red)
Paper:  Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red

And guess what?  We get to escort Luke to the Birthday Party at the Fun House!  Pop and I may be babbling when we get home!

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Sweet Silhouette

After struggling creating a couple of one layer cards, my mind went to the Ways to Use It challenge on SCS Thursday to use a silhouette on a card.  I immediately thought of the Easter Blossoms set that I hadn't used yet.

Stampin' B's challenge this week is to do a monochromatic card and that's perfect for a silhouette image!

I stamped that beautiful branch with Basic Gray then pulled the color into the petals with a blender pen.  When everything was good and dry, I stamped the girl with VersaMark and heat embossed with Black EP.

I used the BIG GUY and the Ovals die to cut out the design and pulled out "the other" shape cutter stashed deep in my drawer for the black oval.

A little dry embossing and a piece of ribbon and it's done!  It took  half the time of the one layer cards posted earlier!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Easter Blossoms
Ink:  Basic Gray, VersaMark
Paper:  Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Die, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Black Satin Ribbon

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Christmas in February

This week's  One Layer Wednesday challenge, over at Simplicity, was to do a Christmas or Season's Greetings card.  Had to use red & green on white or cream.  It had to be one layer (one piece of cardstock folded in half, no additional layers and minimum embellishments).  She even suggested using a non holiday stamp for extra points.

Here's the first one I did.....

This flower is in the Bliss set from the Sale-a-bration catalog.  I always thought it resembled a Poinsettia and thought it was a shame that this set would be long forgotten by Stampin' Up! come Christmas.

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig and actually got things where I wanted them this time.  I inked the flowers with markers then masked them and inked just one petal in green for a leaf and, again using the SAMJ, stamped the leaves.  They needed something to ground them, so I drew a doodly frame around.  I pressed down too hard on the sentiment, but didn't think it was bad enough to trash.

Then I had another idea with another Sale-a-bration set......

Actually, I planned to stamp a poinsettia on this, but liked it so well without it, I didn't.  I've got to tell you that initially I thought I had ruined this.  I didn't get a good stamp and I figured since I was using the SAMJ and I hadn't moved anything, I could just stamp over.  WRONG!  I ended up with a double image that gave me motion sickness just looking at it!  So I used the marker and kind of filled in between the double lines and blended with the blender pen until it didn't make me queasy.  I really loved the results.

Again, I pressed too hard on the sentiment and got a heavy image.  I hope whoever gets this card won't care.  Probably won't even notice!

Maybe I ought to take the blending pen to the poinsettias. Hmmm....

Card Recipe (Poinsettias)

Stamps:  Bliss, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  SU Markers (More Mustard, Real Red, Garden Green)

Paper:  Whisper White

Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig

Card Recipe (Filigree Branch)

Stamps:  Sweet Summer, Short & Sweet

Ink:  SU Markers (Garden Green, Real Red)

Paper:  Whisper White

Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Skinny Tangerine

A couple of weeks ago I made a 3" x  6" card.  It had butterflies on it.  You can see it here.  I kinda like this size card.  It's a good size to sit on one's desk to enjoy.  It just so happened that I had a 3" x  6" card of Textured Tangerine Tango in my scrap bag and a card was born.

Oh, and the reason I was looking in my scrapbag for Tangerine Tango was because it's one of the colors in the ColorQ #72 challenge this week.

I used a technique called cutting out of the box for the design.  I used the paper cutter and stopped short of the blue flower.  Then I cut the top and side of the flower with paper snips.

The ribbon is gathered up on a piece of sticky strip.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Greenhouse Garden, Perfect Punches

Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, SU Markers (Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler)

Paper:  Tangerine Tango Textured, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White

Accessories:  Scallop Oval Punch, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Buttons

Enjoy,
Bonnie

CASEing Myself

I used this layout for the One Layer Wednesday challenge last week and I guess I kinda got stuck on it!  You can check out by scrolling down to last Friday's post.  I really like that one better than this.

This week the Less is More Challenge is a ONE LAYER CARD with the theme of a FLOWER or a TREE.

The definition of a One Layer Card is; One piece of card folded in half with no additional layers and minimal embellishments, where the image is stamped directly onto the cardstock.

I used the colors from the SCS Color Challenge this week to use Wild Wasabi, So Saffron & Pacific Point

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Greenhouse Garden, Nature Walk, Apple Blossoms
Ink:  Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, SU Markers (So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point)
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Generic Paper Punch, Color Spritzer Tool

I've got to admit that this is not my favorite card.  I'm not sure if it's the placement of the elements, the colors or what.  It's just doesn't zing!

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Wheely Birds

The good news is.... WE FINALLY SOLD OUR HOUSE!!!!!

The bad news is....With having to finish cleaning the house out and find a place for everything, I haven't had much time to visit your blogs like I would like.  I've been trying to do a quick hit and run so I could see what you're doing, but haven't left many comments.  Rest assured, you are inspiring me and I am enjoying your creations.  Hopefully, I will get caught up in a few days and have more time to spend in Blogland!

The card today is one I've been working on since last Thursday or maybe even Wednesday.  I finally got it put together.

I think I've finally mastered the large wheel.  My hands are very small and I had trouble getting enough pressure on the handle to get a smooth print.  By putting my left hand on the handle over the wheel, I was able to get a pretty good image.  I inked the wheel with Crumb Cake and colored the flowers and some of the swirls with a Pink Pirouette Marker.  Then I put a little Chocolate Chip dot in the centers.

The birds are from the Bliss set that you will find in the Sale-a-bration catalog.  I had stamped a row of them just fiddling and they were just laying there.  The breasts of the birds are colored with Pretty in Pink I think.  I used the blender pen to pull the color on the back, head and wings.  The flower is punched from Pink Pirouette with one of the flowers from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.

I used the Whacked Embossing Folder on the bottom for a little added interest.  (You can see how to whack it here.)

I'm entering this card in the SUO #12 challenge to use Stampin' Around Wheel.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Clearly for You, Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel
Ink:  Crumb Cake, SU Markers (Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip)
Paper:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette
Accessories:  Big Shot, Whacked EF, Blender Pen, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Stampin' Around Jumbo Handle


Also Stampin' B's #97 challenge to use a bird or birds on a card.  Thanks for the challenge Benzi and for all your wonderful encouragement!

And for the Sketch Challenge 319 on Splitcoaststampers.  Here's the sketch....

By the way, you can get the Bliss set free with a $50.00 merchandise order from Stampin' Up!  See my sidebar for details and to order.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Another Sweet Summer

Just a quick post tonight.  This is for the CAS106 challenge at SCS.  This week is a inspiration challenge of this beautiful card by NancyK.

                    

I used a different stamp, sentiment and colors, reversed the scallops, left off the ribbon, added a layer and left the bottom straight with rounded corners.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Sweet Summer, Bring on the Cake
Ink:  Not Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, SU Markers (Not Quite Navy, Daffodil Delight & Real Red)\
Paper:  Not Quite Navy,  Whisper White
Accessories:  Scallop Trim Corner, Scallor Trim Border, & Corner Rounder Punches, Blender Pen

Enjoy,
Bonnie

One Layer Flutterby

I'm going to post this early since I have a very busy weekend ahead and probably won't get to the computer much.  I could do a scheduled post, but I haven't the foggiest notion how!  That lesson is for another day.

This week's One Layer Wednesday#40 was hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink.  Now I'm gonna tell you, at first, I thought WHAT?  But then, it wasn't so hard.  Here is the challenge in Jennifer's own words...

This week, the challenge is to use two (and ONLY two) image stamps on your card. That’s right, just two. And no sentiment. You may not use each stamp more than once.

You may also use the following AND ONLY the following: heat embossing and/or markers to colour your stamped images. That means no bling, no ribbon, no hippopotamuses.

All this has to be on a one layer card, defined as one sheet of cardstock folded in half.

The flower is from the Awash with flowers set.  It's actually 2 stamps but it makes one image, right?  I stamped the flower with Melon Mambo and colored it with Pink Pirouette & Melon Mambo markers.  The stem is stamped with Wild Wasabi.  I blended a bit with the blender pen, since my coloring is a bit rough.

The butterfly image is from Nature Walk.  It's stamped with Black StazOn and colored with a Wild Wasabi marker.

I chose the colors from the Curtain Call Color Challenge #68. 

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Awash with Flowers, Nature Walk
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Black StazOn, SU Markers (Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black Early Espresso)
Paper:  Watercolor
Accessories:  Blender Pen

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Pink Crumb Cake

I love pink and Crumb Cake together.



And the ColorQ challenge has all those soft shades of pink this week

Then the Play Date Cafe challenge this week went in the same direction.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Fast & Fabulous, Bird on a Tree (retired)

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Pretty in Pink, Blushing Bride

Paper:  Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border Punch, Big Shot, Wonderful Wings Embosslit, Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Razzleberry Raspberries

I always thought of raspberries when I saw the Rich Razzleberry card stock.  So when I saw these little raspberries in the Clearly for You set, I had to match them up.

The raspberries sat on my table for a few days because  I couldn't find a layout that I liked for them.  Then I saw the Clean&Simple FTL #126 challenge and it kind of came together.

Here's the layout.......

I had to add some scallops on the bottom of the design to get the right proportion. 

Those little raspberries were difficult to find a place for.  I'll have to have a go with them again one day soon.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Clearly for You, Oval All

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Su Markers (Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizzazz

Paper:  Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals die, Square Lattice EF, Scallop Border Punch, Mat Pack, Paper Piercing tool, Rich Razzleberry ribbon (retired)

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Possessed

All day yesterday I kept thinking about the SCS Color Challenge.  Karen B. Barber was the hostess and if you have ever seen her work, you'll understand why I say I was possessed!  I just had to make this card before I went to bed!  There was no stopping me! I couldn't pass up Not Quite Navy, Daffodil Delight and Cajun Craze with wide grosgrain ribbon for dessert!  (Actually the ribbon was the biggest challenge for me!)

Karen has a very destinctive style.  Take a look in her SCS gallery.  I always love reading her descriptions too.  She's a hoot!  This card is totally inspired by Karen!

It was like an out of body experience!  Has that ever happened to you?  I think I've reached a new level in my obsession!

I used the Sale-a-bration set Sweet Summer.  Now when I first saw this set, it did nothing for me.  Actually seeing what Karen did with it made me really want it!

I stamped the spikey flowers with Cajun Craze and colored them with a Daffodil Delight SU marker and did a little extra Cajun dot in the center.  I stamped the round flower with Night of Navy and outlined the petals with the Night of Navy marker, then blended with the blender pen.  I used the Signo White Gel pen in the centers.  I had to add in an extra color for the stems because I didn't think the given colors would work there.  I used Always Artichoke, did a little outlining with the Artichoke marker and blended.  The bee is stamped with Basic Black and colored with the Daffodil marker.

I cut the design out with the largest oval die and the BIG GUY.  Then I had to dig for something that is not SU.  I have a cutter system from another company that lies deep in the bottom of a drawer and only comes out for emergencies.  It worked great for the Daffodil & Not Quite Navy ovals.

I spritzed the design with the Color Spritzer Tool and the Daffodil & Cajun markers.  It was so much fun that I spritzed the card too! 

After I struggled to get that ribbon and bow done (it took longer than the rest of the card), I assembled the ovals and used the Signo White Gel pen to dot around the outside of that NQN oval.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Sweet Summer

Ink:  Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, SU Markers (same, also Daffodil Delight, Always Artichoke), Basic Black

Paper:  Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Not Quite Navy (from a ribbon set in last years Idea Book and Catalog), Uni Ball Signo Gel Pen, Blender Pen, Color Spritzer Tool

Hopefully I can get to bed a little earlier tonight.  It was fun though!  I love it when an idea works out!

Enjoy,

Bonnie

A New Challenge

Last night I shared a card that was a CASE of Shelley's card.  Shelley is on the design team for a new challenge spot called "JAC-INKS". 

Isn't this a cute logo?  This is a challenge that is designed to show the versatility of Stampin' Up! products, but you are allowed to use anything from your stash.  Their first challenge is to use as many neutrals as you want with just one other color.

Neutrals

Now for my card.....

My neutrals are Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla.  My color is Certainly Celery.

The layout is from SCS Sketch Challenge 317.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Sanded Background, Pocket Silhouettes, Wow Flowers
Ink:  Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Movers and Shapers Punch Windows, Scallop Edge Punch, Modern Label Punch

Notice the look when the main image piece is assembled and embossed after assembly.  It all kinda presses in together.  The sentiment was stamped before embossing.

Hope you go over and check out this challenge site.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

It's CASEd

I saw this card on Shelly's Stamping Ground and I loved it.  I left her a comment that I was going to CASE it.  I wanted to make one exactly like hers, but I figured I needed to make it my own too.

I used different stamps, only one neutral plus Vanilla, added a mat and changed it to a portrait layout.

I loved her use of Crumb Cake and Soft Suede with the Vanilla & Pacific Point.  I'm going to have to remember that color combination.  But I wanted to use this for the Free 4 All #50 challenge at SCS which was to use 1 neutral with white or vanilla and 1 other color.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Just Believe, Nature Walk, French Script (Retired)

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Pacific Point, SU Marker (Pacific Point) Basic Black (oops another color ink)

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Pacific Point

Accessories:  Stamp -a-ma-jig, Basic Rhinestones

Thank you Shelly for such a wonderful inspiration piece!

Enjoy,

Bonnie 

Cupcake Time

I've been wanting to do some brighter cards.  I don't do many that are suitable for kids and I need to remedy that.  My friend Ruthann let me borrow her Crazy for Cupcakes set so I could play with it.  I think I like it and will probably have to add it to my want list!

The CAS challenge at SCS today is to use Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade & Daffodil Delight.  That fell right into my plan to do something bright.

I seem to have a problem with white space!  I want to stamp, spritz or add texture to it!  I don't want it busy, just something subtle.  I spritzed this with the markers and my color spritzer tool.  It resembles sprinkles a bit, if you use your imagination.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Crazy for Cupcakes

Ink:   Black StazOn, SU Markers (Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade)

Paper:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade

Accessories:  Color Spritzer Tool, Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon

I can see that I need to trim one side of the ribbon before it goes out.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Less is More Challenge

There's a new challenge for clean and simple cards out there.  It's called Less is More and the ladies who are hosting it are both awesome designers in this style.

Their first challenge is a colour challenge, use Pink, Black and White.

Again, the odd pieces on my table worked into a card for this challenge.  I stamped several of these flowers last week and they have been waiting for some watercolor.  I used some ink in the lid and a blender pen to give just a touch of ink to the rose.  I wasn't going to color it at all, but decided a hint of color would be good.

For the mat, I die cut 2 clearlits out of Basic Black and cut them each in half, one horizontally and one vertically.  You can see directions for doing this at Stamping 411. 

This was a really quick and easy card and definitely clean and simple.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Happiness Shared

Ink:  StazOn Black, Blushing Bride

Paper:  Shimmery White, Blushing Bride, Basic Black

Accessories:  Big Shot, Scallop Rectangle Clearlit, Basic Pearls, Corner Rounder

Follow the link above and visit this challenge.  You are sure to be inspired!

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Thinking Spring

I woke up this morning thinking of Dogwood blooms.  They're one of the first signs of spring here in North Carolina.  I had bought the Floral Fusion Sizzlit last year thinking it would work for Dogwood flowers.  So I pulled it out and played with it a bit.

The challenge at Just Add Ink this week is a color challenge so I decided to go with pink Dogwood.   Here are the colors...

I punched the flowers out of Whisper White and punched the ends of the petals with my generic paper punch.  Then I creased each petal with my thumbnail and pressed a giant stylus in the center.  I sponged Regal Rose on the flowers and used a Rose Red marker to color the ends of the petals.

The stems are from the Great Friend set.  I inked just the stem with my Early Espresso marker.

The vase is punched with the Wide Oval Punch and flattened on each end.  I used the filigree stamp from Vintage Vogue to stamp a design on the vase.

When I was finished, I wasn't sure that I liked it.  Have you ever worked way too long on a card and then thought, ugh?

I had one flower left sitting on my table and a swirl was laying there and they kind of landed together and I really liked the look.  So I made this card....

I like the simplicity of this one better.  I'll be interested in which one you like best.



Card (1) Recipe

Stamps:  Great Friend, Vintage Vogue

Ink:  Early Espresso, Regal Rose, SU Marker (Rose Red)

Paper:  Early Espresso, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Big Shot, Floral Fusion Sizzlit, Square Lattice EF, Wide Oval Punch, Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, seed beads, Color Spritzer Tool

Card (2) Recipe

Stamps:  Filigree Background (retired)

Ink:  Early Espresso, Regal Rose, SU Marker (Rose Red)

Paper:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Big Shot, Floral Fusion & Swirls Scribbles Sizzlits, Ovals Die, Square Lattice EF, Paper Piercer, seed beads

I don't think we're close to Spring and Dogwood blooms no matter what the groundhog says.  But I know the beauty will be well worth the wait!

Enjoy,

Bonnie