Color Throwdown #46

It's time for another Color Throwdown, and this week Barbara is our hostess with these pretty Spring colors! I had no trouble with this since I already have some SU! paper (given to me by my favorite demonstrator, Anita!) in these colors! I hope you'll make time to play along and show us your colors! Remember, if you don't have these exact SU! colors it's OK... just use whatever you have that's similar! Leave a direct link to your creation on the Throwdown blog, and if you upload to an online gallery be sure to use CTD46 as your tag!

I just LOVE these Magnolia images so much, so I decided to use Tilda and her puppy for my card today. I have GOT to see about getting these stamps at the store! See that sweet crocheted flower on my card? I am SO excited because I have these now in 8 different colors to sell at the store! I showed a picture of some other hand-made ones to my boss one day, she showed them to her Mom, and her Mom set to work making a bunch of them! So I'm super-excited to have these available for sale!

Be sure to check out these fabulous designs from the other Throwdown designers!

Barbara Anders

Danielle Kennedy
LeAnne Pugliese

Cathy Indelicato

Broni Holcombe (Broni's actually on vacation, but a visit to her blog is always worth your time!)

I hope everyone has followed me back to this old blog from Typepad! I would miss you if you weren't here with me! LOL Do me a favor? If you have my blog listed in your sidebar, be sure to change the address. And also, for Heaven's sake... if you have me listed in yours but I don't have you in mine, LET ME KNOW so I can remedy that!

Happy Wednesday!

Stamps: Tilda with Puppy (Magnolia), sentiment B244 (DRS Designs)

Cardstock: Brocade Blue, designer paper (Stampin' Up!), white (Neenah Classic Crest Solar White)Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), markers (Copic)

Accessories: ribbon, button, linen thread (Stampin' Up!), Nestabilities (Spellbinders), crocheted flower (hand-made by Bonnie's Mom!)

I'm coming back....

... to this old blog, so stay tuned for the Color Throwdown post tomorrow!

Moved...

My blog has been moved to Typepad! Hope to see you there soon!

NEW BLOG!

Snowed In Sketch Challenge

Greeting from those of us buried again under the white stuff here in Northeast Ohio! I must say though, I can't complain about having a day with no where to go and nothing to do! EXCEPT that Mother Nature's notion of having another snow storm put a huge damper on the Northeast Ohio Shoebox Swap that was planned for today in Smithville! :( There were 15 of us gathering today to stamp and eat and talk and laugh! Mother Nature is definitely NOT a stamper! We'll have to reschedule it for another day, of course!

In the meantime, some of my best stamping friends came up with the idea of having our own Virtual Stamp Weekend within our thread on SCS. I decided to host a sketch challenge, and thought I'd share it here with you and if you want to participate also, please do! If you upload your card to SCS, please use the keywords BBSIVSWTammy (The letters stand for Buckeye Babes Snowed In Virtual Stamp Weekend!) And please post a link to your creation back here on this post, whether you post it on SCS or your blog. On Monday evening, March 10th I will draw one winner from everyone that participates to win a goodie bag of fun embellishments!

Here's the sketch (forgive my primitive drawing... I'm new to this!)

And it's based on this Gina K card I made the other day, but I'll do a new one for the weekend!

I hope you have time to partcipate! Have fun!

My Favorite Things - I'm a Wannabe!

Oh, I wannabe the Guest Designer so bad! So, I dragged my tired self home from work and worked on this card to enter the challenge again this month. This didn't turn out like the card in my head though!

It was fun to try a layout that's a little more outside the box for me. I read on the Craft Critique blog recently about a new book called The CardMakers Sketch Book. It looked fantastic, and so I found out who published it and ordered some copies for the store. They arrived today (along with the new releases from My Favorite Things... how lucky for me to play with for this challenge!) So I used a sketch from the book for my card, too! The challenge was to create a monochromatic card, and you could add neutrals of white, cream, brown or black. So this is my creation, and I hope it passes!

Here's a little close-up of the stamps I used and the Bo Bunny designer paper I picked out to match my shades of coral!

Quick tip: I didn't have any black brads that were large enough for the cream and red flowers. But I had some gold brads (you know... the kind they gave you to use for Sunday School crafts with great big wings on the back!?) I picked up the gold brad with my tweezers and pressed the brad into my Versamark ink pad. Then dipped it into black embossing powder, and heated until it was set. While the brad was still hot, I dipped it in the powder and heated once more for a good, solid finish. Easy-peasy! Now I need embossing powder in every color!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Punch a Bunch (My Favorite Things); Cardstock: Flamingo, Watermelon, Black OP (Bazzill Basics), Confetti Cream (Stampin' Up), designer paper (Shabby Princess from Bo Bunny); Inks: Red Brick chalk (Tsukineko), Adirondack Pitch Black (Ranger), markers (Copic); Accessories: twill tape (Stampin' Up), concave corner punch (EK Success), scalloped oval punch (Marvy), cream and black flowers (Hero Arts), red flower (Prima Sprites), ribbon (May Arts), gold brads (unknown), black embossing powder (JoAnn fabrics), antique silver brads (unknown), black thread, sewing machine, sponge, dimensional adhesive.

New Stamps from Gina K Designs

I got new stamps at the store recently from Gina K Designs, and I just couldn't resist picking up a few for myself! I just love this basket set, and so that had to be the first thing I played with! I have a special aunt that has a birthday next week, so this will get sent to her! (Even though, now that I think of it, she forgot my birthday!) :) I don't know how well you can tell from the picture, but I distressed the edges of the white circle that the basket is stamped on and the edges of the blue cardstock that the flowered paper is matted on. My circle punch is being very difficult, so my cardstock ended up having very messy edges after I punch it out. So the compromise was to distress it!

Stamps: Baskets of Happiness, Punchy Words (Gina K Designs); Cardstock: Pear, Lighthouse (Bazzill Basics), Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up), white (Georgia Pacific), designer paper (Autumn Leaves); Inks: Adirondack Pitch Black (Ranger), Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up), markers (Copic); Accessories: Brocade Blue brads (Stampin' Up), ribbon (May Arts), super jumbo circle punch, mega scalloped circle punch (Marvy), edge distressing tool (Ranger), dimensional adhesives.

Thanks for stopping by! Stamp Happy!

Rain, rain, go away!

It's official... Mother Nature hates us! Not only is it raining, but it's COLD and raining! Makes me wish for a fireplace here beside my desk! But then I'd just curl up and go to sleep! :)

I made this card today using the Color Challenge on SCS to use Stampin' Up colors Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, and So Saffron. Isn't it a pretty combination? Makes me think of a garden! I probably should have made a flowery card... maybe my mood about the weather would be lighter! I was really pleased to see how well this striped designer paper I had matched the Wild Wasabi cardstock, so I decided to use it to paper piece the raincoat!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Rain or Shine (My Favorite Things); Cardstock: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron (Stampin' Up), white (Georgia Pacific), designer paper (Reminisce); Inks: Adirondack Pitch Black (Ranger), Wild Wasabi (Stampin' Up), markers (Copic); Accessories: Purely Pomegranate stitched grosgrain (Stampin' Up!), light green grosgrain (Offray), scalloped rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), paper piercing tool (Darice), dimensional adhesives.

Hello Spring? What a cruel joke!

This bunny stamp set from Kitchen Sink Stamps is so much fun to play with, and that bunny is so darn cute, but he's in cahoots with Mother Nature I do believe and is playing tricks on us! Maybe he's the Trix Rabbit in disguise! We had a beautiful day here in Northeast Ohio... close to 70 degrees all day. And now, it's midnight and freezing rain is coming down! Excuse me while I wipe my tears... I cannot take one more day of winter!

Well, even though I think he's being a stinker, this Honey Bunny still helps me create totally awesome cards! I used Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge for my card layout. You have no idea the fun you're missing if you don't pick up this set for Easter cards! The nice thing about the set too, is that it's not just for Easter, if you'll remember the birthday card I posted the other day! The 3-Step Honey Bunny set, as well as 3 other sets are available today over at The Kitchen Sink! Stop by soon... I promise you won't have to wash the dishes!

Stamps: 3-Step Honey Bunny, tiny flowers from Playful Ovals (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Cardstock: Lavender Lace, Certainly Celery, Pink Passion, Whisper White (Stampin' Up), designer paper (Bright Wildflowers and Bright Confetti from Doodlebug Designs); Inks: Going Gray, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up), Charcoal Versacolor pigment (Tsukineko), Aloe Vera, Tea Leaves, Spanish Olive, Pretty Petunia Versamagic chalk (Tsukineko), Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance pigment (Tsukineko); Accessories: pastel jewels (Doodlebug Design), pink gingham (craft supply), dimensional adhesives, sponges.

Thank you!

Just a quick note of thanks to everyone for all the great birthday wishes, and for participating in my Birthday Blog Candy giveaway! I sure hope Rachel checks in here sometime soon to claim her prize!

I had a wonderful day, and the topper was my husband taking me out to dinner last night, and then coming home to a cake baked by my wonderful daughters. Then, because I'd had so much to eat, I ended up zonking out! Had to rush my daughter Kelsey to church this morning for the beginning of 1st Communion instruction (she'll take her 1st Communion on Palm Sunday!) and then rushed off to Kaylie's volleyball tournament! As of right now, I think I've been gone more than I've been home in the last 72 hours, and haven't done much stamping! Very, very sad! I promise I'll be back up and running with something to upload by tomorrow evening! Thanks for sticking with me!

My blog counter is climbing, and I just love it! Thinking maybe 20K posts calls for another blog candy giveaway??? I've got lots of great new stuff coming in soon at the store... Hero Arts, Inkadinkao, Bo Bunny paper.... stayed tuned!

P.S. And I have to tell you... the Birthday Blog Candy thing was a ton of fun, but it's so nice not to see that blasted "Over the Hill" balloon at the top of the page anymore! :)

Birthday RAK's

I also wanted to share with you today some more beautiful birthday cards I received in the mail!

This one is from my wonderful friend Patti, better know as MommaPatti to us Buckeye Babes! I just love this Boho-chic look here, and the colors are fabulous!

And this work of art comes from my super stamping friend Cindy, better known to all SCS'ers as Mothermark, the Master Storyteller! Isn't this card just beautiful? So much detail! I would never have the patience to do all that cutting out! I'm thinking I need to buy a frame for this one!Thanks Patti and Cindy for helping make my birthday extra special!

Hip Hop Hooray!

It's MY birthday! But you all should be more excited than me because someone is going to win all this loot today! And this card makes my final contribution to the blog candy basket... this one, plus 3 additional cards that I will make using this sweet new set from Kitchen Sink Stamps called 3-Step Honey Bunny! Is that not the cutest bunny you've seen in forever? He is created using a combination of 4 separate stamps, and it just amazes me how Maria designs these stamps, and the inked images coming out looking so awesome! You can get your own set of these stamps, plus some other great new additions for spring at the Kitchen Sink Stamps website beginning Monday, March 3rd!
Stamps: 3-Step Honey Bunny, flowers from Playful Ovals (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Cardstock: Pear, Whirlpool (Bazzill Basics), white (Hollo's), designer paper (Two Scoops by Basic Grey); Inks: Going Gray, Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up), Charcoal Versacolor (Tsukineko), Aloe Vera, Tea Leaves, Spanish Olive, Pink Petunia Versamagic chalk ink (Tsukineko); Accessories: scalloped rectangle (Spellbinders Nestabilities), white dotted organdy (May Arts), silver brads (craft supply), sponges, dimensional adhesives.

Sorrowful Rose

Good morning! We finally got a new computer last night, so I spent a good part of my evening setting it up, and then after I made my kids go to bed I got my turn to play and marvel at the speed and just general newness of it all! Our old computer was actually a hand-me-down from my Dad, and I haven't a clue how old it even is! So you can imagine what Heaven we're in now!

So needless to say I didn't get any stamping done, but I do have this card I made last weekend to upload today. It was for a friend who really needed it! I just love those rose stamps... so pretty and elegant, don't you think?

Stamps: Hearts & Roses, Never a Loss 4 Words (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Cardstock: white (Hollo's); Inks: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Old Olive (Stampin' Up), Onyx Black (Tsukineko Versafine); Accessories: pink satin-edge ribbon (Offray), glue dot (Stampin' Up).And here (yes, I'm a day late!) is yesterday's addition to the Birthday Blog Candy! One yard each of 9 colors of grid ribbon from Impression Obsession! I used some of it on this card with the Penny Black hedgehog, and it is so cool! You just trim the ends, and give it a twist and it just curls right up! You'll love it!

One more day! Have a wonderful Leap Day

Black River Elegance

The color challenge on SCS this past Tuesday (use Stampin' Up colors Basic Black, River Rock and white) has just not stopped calling out to me, so even though I'm 2 days late, I had to give it a try. And the sketch challenge from yesterday was a good one too, so I combined the two challenges for this card. I was a little unsure about creating black flowers, but I love how this whole thing turned out! I will definitely need to save this card for someone very special!

Stamps: Garden Silhouettes (Stampin' Up), special day (Hero Arts); Cardstock: River Rock Basic Black (Stampin' Up), white (Hollo's), designer paper (unknown); Inks: River Rock (Stampin' Up), markers #076, #N25 (Tombow); Accessories: scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, ticket corner punch (Stampin' Up), Textile embossing folder (Cuttlebug by ProvoCraft), paper flowers (Hero Arts), white ribbon, silver brads (craft supply), sponges, dimensional adhesives.


And check out this adorable birthday card I received yesterday from my BFF Cindy! Isn't that bear the cutest! And she didn't even give me one iota of grief over the fact that I've never sent her birthday card to her (even though her birthday is in October!) Now, THAT'S a good friend! Thanks, dude!
Have a great day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

A Sweet Sketch!

I gotta' say this is one of the best sketch challenges I've done in a long time! I just love this sketch! And if I get around to more stamping this week, I may just use it again! Here is the challenge from Jen del Muro's blog. If you have time, give it a try!

Stamps: Garden Silhouettes, Riveting (Stampin' Up), background swirls (Art Impressions); Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Old Olive (Stampin' Up), white (Hollo's), designer paper (Paper Salon Sorbet Collection); Inks: Versamark (Tsukineko), Old Olive (Stampin' Up) markers (Tombow); Accessories: striped ribbon (May Arts), scalloped circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch (Stampin' Up), orange felt flower (Creative Impressions), silver brad (unknown), sponges, dimensionals adhesives.

Simple, Sweet Strawberries

Here is another card I created over the weekend for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge found here. My design ended up being kind of simple, but I like it! Sometimes simple is better! Thanks for looking!
Stamps: Green Thumb (Papertrey Ink); Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!), Leapfrog (Bazzill Basics), designer paper (My Mind's Eye); Inks: Warm Red, Olive Pastel (Clearsnap); Accessories: ribbon (May Arts), scalloped rectangle (Nestabilities), Old Olive brads (Stampin' Up), edge distressing tool (Ranger), paper piercing tool, sponges, dimensional adhesives.

Have a Special Day

I really had a great time this weekend using some sketch challenges I've found on various blogs for inspiration. Nothing gets my creativity going like a sketch challenge! This sketch comes from Amy Rysavy's blog found here.

I've got a few more cards from the weekend to share later today! Right now I'm going to take advantage of the fact that it's my day off to catch the postponed Nascar race on TV! Go Dale Jr.!

Stamps: turtle and ladybug (Gina K/Carolyn King collection), special day (Hero Arts); Cardstock: Chiffon, Pear, Cameo (Bazzill Basics), Robin's Egg Blue (Archiver's), white (Georgia Pacific), designer paper (Basic Grey Two Scoops); Inks: Palette Noir hybrid ink (Stewart Superior), Aegean Blue chalk ink (Tsukineko), markers (Copic); Accessories: scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch (Stampin' Up), yellow flower (Prima), scalloped rectangle (Spellbinders Nestabilities), clear embossing powder (Ranger), paper piercing tool, silver brad, sponges, dimensional adhesives.

Hedgie hoping for Spring!

Hope really hard, little Hedgie! I have had enough of winter!

I recently discovered that the awesome stamper Holly McMillen (Toy on SCS) has a sketch challenge on her blog every weekend, so I decided to give it a try and created this card! You can see the challenge here. Isn't her card cute?

I actually stamped a LOT today, but it's now almost 3:00 a.m. so I'm heading to bed and will have more to show you later in the day! Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: "seeing your face" (Penny Black), spring sentiments (Impression Obsession), flowery background (Great Impressions); Cardstock: Pistachio (Bazzill Basics), Certainly Celery, Old Olive, So Saffron (Stampin' Up), white (Georgia Pacific), designer paper (Reminisce); Inks: Palette Noir hybrid ink (Stewart Superior), Tea Leaves Versamagic chalk ink (Tsukineko), Versamark watermark ink (Tsukineko), markers (Copic); Accessories: small and large oval punches, corner rounder punch, Old Olive brads (Stampin' Up), paper piercing tool, sponges, dimensional adhesives.

Bedhead

The Limited Supply Challenge on SCS yesterday (to use your own handwriting on your card) was fun! And my wheels keep turning thinking of different sentiments I can put with some of my stamps, so I couldn't resist doing another card today. I bought a few of these stamps from Inky Antics for the store, and bought stamps to go with it that said "Bedhead... one of my better looks!" Well, the bedhead stamps sold, but I still had this one stamp of the lady in her PJ's so I decided to alter the sentiment a little for my card! If you didn't do yesterday's challenge, you should give it a try! I might have to start writing down the ones I think of or my CRS will kick in and I will forget them all!

This also gave me a chance to use my new Nestabilities scalloped rectangles!

Thanks for looking!

Stamp: In my PJ's (Inky Antics); Cardstock: Parakeet, Tink Pink (Bazzill Basics), Only Orange, Yoyo Yellow (Stampin' Up), white (Georgia Pacific), designer paper (Sonburn); Inks: Palette Noir hybrid ink (Stewart Superior), markers (Copic), black gel pen; Accessories: corner round punch (EK Success), scalloped rectangle (Spellbinders), apple green grosgrain (Stampin' Up), pink flower charm (Dress It Up Button Fun by Jesse James & Co.).

My Cup Overflows

One of the member companies over at Splitcoaststampers is Crafty Secrets, and they posted a challenge this week to make a card using their "Cotton Scraps." This is a really fun product to use... I definitely need more of these! So I used today's Limited Supply Challenge which was to use your handwriting on your card, and a Cotton Scrap to create my thank you card!

Here's a close-up of the Cotton Scrap. I used a small piece of double-sided sticky tape to attach the Scrap to my cardstock so that it wouldn't move while I was sewing. Then I put this on my sewing machine, and did a quick, running stitch around the edges, and frayed all the edges after I was done. My ribbon is distressed with some Creamy Caramel SU! ink to age it a little and make it match the rest of the card better.Thanks for looking!

Stamps: mesh background (Rubber Soul); Cardstock: Red Hot, Mocha Divine (Bazzill Basics), cream (unknown); Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Creamy Caramel (Stampin' Up); Accessories: Kitchen Cotton Scraps (Crafty Secrets), red gingham (May Arts), ticket corner punch (Stampin' Up), sponge, dimensional adhesive, sewing machine, thread.

Hello in Pretty Pinks

Just a new card that's been rolling around in my head, ever since I got this gorgeous new paper from Paper Salon! Hope you like it!

Stamps: flower spray (Great Impressions), Hello (Clear Art Stamps from Crafty Secrets); Cardstock: coral, pink, black (Bazzill Basics), white (Hollo's), designer paper (Karen Neuberger Sorbet Collection from Paper Salon); Inks: Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko), Warm Red Colorbox chalk (Clearsnap); Accessories: clear embossing powder (Ranger), black brads, corner rounder punch (Stampin' Up), rectangle slide (Start-Ups from Buttons Galore), giga scalloped square punch (Marvy), black dotted organdy (Offray), sanding block, sponges, dimensional adhesives.