Pocket Silhouettes

I'm going to miss using my Pocket Silhouettes on a regular basis.  It's definitely a set that I will keep in my collection.

This card is for several challenges.  It's rare for me to combine many challenges because my brain goes into overload if I try to think of too many things at once.  But things kinda worked out together this time.

First off is the Less is More challenge

ONE LAYER CARD

This time we have the stipulation to

USE THREE STAMPS

not four, not two... but 3!

And the Paper Players challenge.  Ann chose the colors.

And finally the CAS challenge at SCS

CAS170 - Technique Challenge

Divide an image or scene into 3 pieces. 

I didn't divide an image as in stamping it and cutting it apart since I wanted to keep it a one layer card.  I punched 3 squares from scrap to make a mask, held it on my card front with sticky notes and stamped the design in 3 sections then sponged the background before removing the mask.

I used 2 of the stamps from the Pocket Silhouettes set and a stamp from Short and Sweet to make up the three.  I inked the flowers with Poppy Parade and Daffodil Markers.  The stems are Soft Suede and the background is sponged in Baja Breeze.  I outlined the squares with Soft Suede.  The soft squares kinda got lost without it.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes, Short and Sweet
Ink:  Baja Breeze, SU Markers (Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede)
Paper:  Whisper White
Other:  1" Square Punch (for mask), Stampin' Sponge

I was so happy to see a shout out from last week's Merry Monday challenge.  Wendy chose my Christmas Rose card as an Honorable Mention.  I'm so glad she enjoyed it.

Thank you for your visits and for the kind comments.  It's always nice to know that you enjoy my cards as much as I enjoy yours.

Again, enjoy!

Bird Trouble

Jennifer is back with the One Layer Wednesday challenge and she says....

1. A one-layer card is defined as a single piece of cardstock folded in half.

                               2. Make a one-layer birthday card incorporating at least one bird.

Yesterday I shared a card made from the remains of my first try.

Actually, the base of that card was from the second try.  The bird fell off the block.  He didn't stamp.  Just left a smudge.  The oval covered the smudge so I didn't have to trash it.

On my third try, the bird fell off the block again!  This time, I just pressed it down where it landed. 

That's why he's in the bottom right corner and not in the middle of the card.

That's one stubborn bird!

I just noticed that I forgot to color the branch.

Oh, and I just inked the bird for try 2 and 3.  It's a good thing don't you think?

I used the Stamp-a-majig for placement of the leaves.  He needed something so he didn't look like he was trying to get away.  He was, but.....

I used my Simply Scored to frame the sentiment.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Beautiful Season, Pocket Silhouettes, Sincere Salutations
Ink:  Old Olive, Always Artichoke, SU Markers (Basic Black, Basic Gray, Peach Parfait)
Paper:  Naturals White
Other:  Simply Scored

I hope your attempts went better than mine.  Thanks for stopping by and letting me whine at you.

Enjoy!

Growing a Card

I really struggled with the Color Challenge at SCS this week to use Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy and Crumb Cake.  The dessert option is to use something from the kitchen.

I started off to do a masculine card, but couldn't quite get things to go right.  Then I saw this card by Vicky Hayes, and had an Eureka moment.  Vicky creates the most beautiful cards and is a constant source of inspiration to me.

Enough chit chat.  This is what I did.....

I used sticky notes, which I keep in the kitchen.  Do you think that qualifies for dessert?  I did have to remove them though.  They really detracted from the design!

The stickies masked off an area that I sponged with Crumb Cake.  Then I stamped with French Script (the old version of En Francais) also in Crumb Cake, and ended up with the flowers which I inked with markers.  I removed the mask and did a little jig!  I know, it's an old trick, but a new one for me.

The layout is from Paper Players #52;  a CAS sketch challenge. 

And Stampin' B's #116 challenge this week is to use a Friendship sentiment.  This Friend sentiment is from the You're a Gem set and it's in the new catalog.

Then I stepped it up a notch with a bit of Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding.

And took it another teeny, tiny notch with a teeny, tiny butterfly.

I wasn't sure about the butterfly but decided he could stay.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes, French Script, You're a Gem
Ink:  Crumb Cake, SU Markers (Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

Thanks for coming to visit and for the lovely comments.  They inspire me!

Enjoy!

Turtle Trouble

Hi Stampin' Friends.  Anybody have an idea how to get followers back?  I seem to have lost your pictures.  What's really wierd is that if I go to my blog from my hubby's Google Chrome, everybody is there smiling at me!  Maybe this is an Explorer issue?  I found out how to fix the comment snafu.  Hopefully this will be an easy fix without having to use the Google Chrome.

I finished my gift sets for the Stamp Club last night.  I'll share them with you next week since I don't want to spoil the surprise.  And yes, I've been poring over my new catalog. I did preorder one set.  Maybe next week I'll get a chance to mount it and give you a peek.

I've been working on this troublesome turtle for a few days now.  For some reason, after the ink dried, he looked kind of red!

I stamped this guy with Early Espresso and used some Soft Suede and a blender pen to color the shell.  Then I thought I'd shine up his shell and went over it with my VersaMarker, sprinkled some clear embossing powder and heated him up.  Maybe he didn't like being cooked!
I used some Crumb Cake to sponge the ground beneath his feet and on his underside.

Then I masked the pesky little guy and stamped the berries behind him.

I won't even tell you what happened the first time I tried to do this card.  It was pretty disgusting and it went headlong into the trash bin!

The colors are from the ColorQ challenge this week.

And for some added interest, I added paper piercing which is the Ways to Use It challenge this week at SCS.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Nature's Nest, Pocket Silhouettes

Ink:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler

Paper:  Very Vanilla

Accessories:  VersaMarker, Clear EP

All those followers out there, I miss seeing your smiling faces, but I'm still enjoying your comments.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Peach Meadow

Another card from my trusty Pocket Sihouettes.

I'll be sending this to the jac-inks challenge site to use WARM colors.  These friends are in Australia and it's Autumn there.  I understand that they're getting a taste of Winter in their Fall.  Here in NC we are getting a taste of Summer in our Spring.  It's been in the 90°'s for 3 days now!  At least the humidity is low and I am ever so thankful for air conditioning!

The Free 4 All challenge at SCS last Friday was to use opposite colors of the color wheel.  Now, I'm going to admit to you that the whole color wheel thing confuses me.  My system is to lay colors together and if it doesn't make my eyes hurt, it's probably ok.  Not very scientific is it?

Here's the color wheel

I used the Orange-Yellow and Blue-Violet.  It really made a hot warm card didn't it?

Maybe it will warm those Aussie's up a bit or at least make them feel cozy.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes
Ink:  SU Markers (Peach Parfait, Concord Crush, Old Olive)
Paper:  Peach Parfait, Whisper White, Concord Crush
Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

Thanks for visiting today.  And I've really enjoyed your comments.

Do any of you have problems leaving comments on some blogs?  Sometimes when I leave a comment, the blog keeps trying to load and I have to close out Explorer to get it to stop.  I have an ancient computer that is super slow anyway and it takes so long to leave comments that I never get to them all.  I'll get a new computer soon.  Hopefully that will help.

Enjoy!

Bonnie

Everyone's Gift

The CAS challenge at SCS this week is Word Inspiration; GIFT.

I immediately thought of this sentiment in the Every Moment set.

And when I was looking for a stamp set to use for the SCS Color Challenge, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, & Regal Rose, the Pocket Silhouettes caught my attention and just wouldn't let go.  I even got a butterfly in there for the dessert.

        BTW the quote is:

    When we see with our hearts,

every moment is the most

wonderful gift in the world.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes, Every Moment

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose, River Rock

Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

I'm so glad you stopped to visit.

Enjoy!

Bonnie

It's a Zoo Here

I'm so excited to be a Guest Designer again on the Friday Mashup Challenge Blog!  This is the challenge this week....

When Holly sent it to me, I nearly panicked!  I don't have any zoo stamps! Nary a one! Oh my, what to do?

I thought of punching a lion.  I think I've seen one done somewhere.  But company was coming and I didn't have a lot of time before my stamping room was broken down and turned into a guest room.

Then, like the lightbulb in the cartoons, I thought of that monkey I had stamped, colored and cut out and was currently residing in my UFO box.

I used the layout from the Clean&Simple FTL#132.  I flipped it so my little guy could hang.

I did the sentiment on the computer since I didn't have an appropriate stamp.

The foliage is from Pocket Silhouettes and the vines are Baroque Motifs.  I have no idea where the monkey stamp came from.  I think it was one of the dollar stamps from somewhere.  He's now living with a friend.

It's been so much fun being a Guest Designer!  I hope you go on over and see the adorable zoo cards that the rest of the design team and my co-guest designer did.  While you're there, join in the challenge at Friday Mashup.

Thanks for stopping by.  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

Pocket full of Colors

When I saw the Colors for the ColorQ challenge this week, Espresso, Cajun, Saffron, Artichoke, Kraft & White, I immediately thought of Pocket Silhouettes.  This wonderful set of little foliage stamps works so well with multiple colors.

Then when Jennifer posted the One Layer Wednesday challenge and said to use at least 5 different colors of ink, I had the colors all lined up!

Now the challenge was to get them all on a one layer card.

I made a mask and sponged an area on the front of the card with So Saffron.  Then I stamped the different flowers & foliage in Crumb Cake (formerly Kraft), Always Artichoke & Cajun Craze. 

The Early Espresso went toward the sentiment.  I must confess, it took three tries to get it somewhat straight.  I can stamp it straight on the scratch paper, but not on the card.  Go figure! 

Then I used an acrylic block to guide my Espresso Marker around the design, leaving the design area kind of hanging free.  It's still not perfectly straight but it is handmade after all!

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes, Three Little Words
Ink:  Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Early Espresso SU Marker

Now to go leave it off at ColorQ & Styles Ink.
Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you come back soon.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Window Garden

I did this card today for yesterday's CAS challenge to use a layout by resqbarbie and for today's Color Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.
Betty chose all In Colors this week, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, & Pear Pizzazz. Have I said before that I love these colors? Dessert is to use string.

The Pocket Silhouette stamp set seemed perfect for these Fall colors. I stamped the flowers on a 3 1/8" square of Very Vanilla using all the colors. I tried to visualize it as a garden scene through a window. Judging from the angle it must be a basement window! Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a view like this?

After stamping, I cut the piece into 1 1/2" squares and adhered them to a 3 1/4" piece of Concord Crush.

The butterfly somehow got in the house and is trying to find his way out to the flowers! Did you notice the string body and antennae? It doesn't show up very well in this picture.

My first attempt at these squares are going to make a set of notecards. I need to go put them together.

Card Recipe (All Stampin' Up!)
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Short & Sweet
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Concord Crush
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, Concord Crush
Acc.: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Word Window Punch, Linen Thread

Now over to SCS to post and look at all the wonderful inspiration in the galleries.

Hope this inspires you a bit.
Bonnie

Pocket One Layer

I was suffering so much from stamping withdrawal last night that I pulled out some stamps & ink and sneaked a stamping. What can I say. Besides being addicted to stamping, it relieves stress and I had a tension headache!

This card is for Susan's (Simplicity) One Layer Wednesday challenge, to create a scene, and the SCS Color Challenge. I love one layer cards because you can mail them without worrying about the Post Office tearing them up or charging for extra postage.

I used the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set for the flowers. I used Pretty in Pink, Always Artichoke, & Cherry Cobbler SU Markers to ink the stamps. The sentiment is from Herb Expressions and is stamped in Always Artichoke.

I scored around the elements with the scoring blade on my paper cutter. The butterflies are punched from the Itty Bitty Shapes punch from Pretty in Pink DSP. I used the Basic Black SU Marker to draw the body and antennae. I would have used the Beautiful Wings Embosslit, but it was packed up tight. You know little boys (or big boys) and anything that moves or has a button is fair game for breakage. I really hid the BIG GUY from the boys and in the process put it where I couldn't get it out easily!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Herb Expressions
Ink: Always Artichoke, Pretty in Pink, Always Artichoke & Cherry Cobbler SU Markers
Paper: Naturals White, Pretty in Pink DSP
Acc.: Scoring blade, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack

I probably should check in the butterfly book to see if there are really pink butterflies. Maybe they are moths. Maybe they are mutant butterflies or moths! Anyway, I made a card & got rid of my headache. I'm happy.

Hope you are happy too.
Bonnie

Pocket Butterfly Garden

Hello Stampin' Friends. I'm on a roll this week. I really need to be cutting out elements for my Stamp A Stack this weekend, but these challenges are just beckoning to me. Besides, the deadline for signing up is tomorrow and there's no need to start cutting before that is there?

Today's color challenge is to use Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry and So Saffron. Dessert is to use stencilling.

While looking through the gallery, I loved the Saffron embossed with the new Square Lattice Embossing Folder. (You will find it in the new Summer Mini Catalog.) So I had to CASE that and used it for the base of my card. I hadn't used the Pocket Silhouettes for quite a while and when I opened the stamp drawer, this set caught my eye.

The butterflies were stenciled with the leftovers from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit. I pulled out some old stencil brushes and dabbed them in the ink pad. Some I did with the Dusty Durango then added Rich Razzleberry on top of that and then I reversed the process on others. The 2 colors together look real pretty. Who but Betty would have ever guessed that? It took longer to tie the thread around them than it did to stamp the whole project! A thin black wire would work better, but since I didn't have any, I used quilting thread instead.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes

Paper: So Saffron, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Dusty Durango, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa

Acc.: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Word Window Punch, Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon, Quilting Thread, Stencilling Brush

Hope you enjoyed my little garden today. Come again soon.

Bonnie