SSINKCS26: My Favorite Color Combo

Today’s card is featured over at Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration and features a fun card sketch challenge today.

I started with my favorite color combination: Blackberry Bliss and Old Olive. From there I started pulling pattern patterns I liked to use a base. After arranging and rearranging, I settled on these patterns. (Hint: the blackberry bliss pattern paper is actually washi tape over a piece of very vanilla)  I used the Sprinkles of Life stamp set one last time to make some pretty flowers.

• Stamps: Sprinkles of Life
• Inks:  Blackberry Bliss; Old Olive
• Cardstock: Blackberry Bliss; Very Vanilla; Pretty Petals DSP; Typeset DSP
• Accessories: Happy Haunting Washi Tape
• Tools: Circles Framelits; Corner Rounder

SSINKCS25: Schoolhouse Banners

Today’s card is featured over at Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration and features a fun card sketch challenge today.

I started with this great Mint Macaron DSP and started building a great new baby card. I had fun coloring the Hey There Buds card. Blushing Bride, Pink Pirouette, and Mint Macaron are the perfect combination. I finished this card off with a sentiment from Crazy About You. I finished the card and realized that the Hey There Buds stamp is retired. Ugh! I can't use retired cards for the SSINK blog. What to do? It's a cute card so I had to feature it on my blog, but I went back to the sketch to find current items to make my design team card...

I started this card with the beautiful polka dot DSP from the Schoolhouse pack. I layered the polka dot print over the opposite side featuring numbers. Beautiful combo! To finish out the card, I added a simple sentiment, some washi tape, and a punched banner. Very cute!

• Stamps: Hello Life; Crazy About You; Hey There Buds
• Inks: Mint Macaron; Blushing Bride; Pink Pirouette; Staz-on Black
• Cardstock: 2015-2017 In Colors DSP; Crumb Cake; Schoolhouse DSP; Pacific Point
• Accessories: Seasons of Cheer Washi Tape
• Tools: Banner Punch

Three Challenges Card

Today's card challenged me to incorporate three different aspects: color combination, sketch, and retiring products.  Actually the card was made for June's Stamp Club HW.  Our instructor challenged us to the color combination and I added the sketch and retiring products.

Card #1

Color combination

Retiring product

• Eastern Elegance DSP
• Express Yourself Stamp Set

My version

Description: I'm still on a mission to use my retired DSP in some great and creative ways.  When I started to make this card, I realized that I don't really have So Saffron, but my upline said we could use the closest.  So, I went with Crushed Curry as featured in the Eastern Elegance DSP.  The DSP also features Coastal Cabana instead of Pool Party, but in just the little bit that you see, it's not a big difference.  I kept the card base in Pool Party.  I then added some random stamping to the base to give some visual interest.  Simple card, but great use of color.

• Stamps: Mosaic Madness; Express Yourself (retired)
• Inks: Pool Party; Basic Gray
• Cardstock: Eastern Elegance DSP (retired); Pool Party; Smoky Slate
• Accessories:
• Tools: Hexagon Punch (banner ends)

Card #2

Color combination

Sketch

Retiring product

• Eastern Elegance DSP
• Express Yourself Stamp Set

My version

Description: My second card is again using the Pool Party, Smoky Slate, and Crushed Curry (instead of So Saffron) color combination.  I also aimed to again use my Eastern Elegance DSP.  But for this one, I added a Mojo Monday sketch.  I love how the circle patterns blended into each other.  However, I probably should have stuck to a Crushed Curry sentiment instead of adding the Pool Party.  Oh well...

• Stamps: Express Yourself (retired)
• Inks: Pool Party
• Cardstock: Eastern Elegance DSP (retired); Pool Party; Smoky Slate
• Accessories:
• Tools: 2" Circle Punch; Hexagon Punch (banner ends)

Card #3

Color combination

Sketch

Retiring product:

• Eastern Elegance DSP
• Banner Greetings Stamp Set

My version

Description: I think this is my favorite of the three cards  I love the combination of patterns and colors.  I think this design really does balance itself out.

• Stamps: Banner Greetings (retired)
• Inks: Pool Party
• Cardstock: Eastern Elegance DSP (retired); Smoky Slate; Pool Party
• Accessories:
• Tools: Hexagon Punch (banner ends); 2" Circle Punch; 1 3/8" Circle Punch; 1 1/4" Circle Punch

Make and Take and Stamp Club HW

I have two simple cards to share with you today. The first card was my make and take card from my May open house.  I wanted allow everyone to make a simple card for free, but not make it too complicated.  Enter the joys of monochromatic cards.  I found this example on Pinterest.  The original can be found at My Creative Corner.

And decided to recreate it using retiring colors and papers.  I have to use them somehow!  Each guest had the choice of making their card in Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, or Raspberry Ripple.

Supplies:

• Stamps: Wacky Wishes (retired)
• Cardstock: Gumball Green (retired); 2012-2014 In Color DSP (retired)
• Ink: Gumball Green (retired)
• Accessories: 2012-2014 In Color Dahlias (retired)
• Tools: Patterned scissors; Snail; Paper Trimmer

The second card was my May stamp club homework.  Our host is such a task master!  We have to do homework every month!  Oh, who am I kidding?  We love it and usually end up making more than one example.  I was distracted with other crafts this past month, so I only made one.  Here's the sketch from Operation Write Home:

My interpretation uses a ton of current in colors and some retired DSP.  I love the cool colors and pattern play.  I played with the dimensions a bit (i think they are a bit off), but kept the design just like the sketch.

Supplies:

• Stamps: Vintage Verses (retired)
• Cardstock: Sweet Sorbet DSP (retired)
• Accessories: Pistachio Pudding Ruffle Stretch Trim (retired)

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$6.95

Crisp Cantaloupe 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$6.95

2013-2015 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack

$21.95

Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Stampin' Trimmer

$29.95

Snail Adhesive

$6.95

Mini Glue Dots

$4.95

Craft & Paper Scissors

$29.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Thanksgiving Circles

Yet another simple design to help me finish my twelve sets of twelve cards.

My Interpretation: I decided against the flower and stuck with three simple circles, a sentiment, and a ribbon.  I started with just the circles and sentiment, but realized that the card was just too plain.  The ribbon goes a long way to adding to the card.  I didn't take pictures of the others, but ended up running out of this green plaid ribbon and substituted orange and brown solid ribbon for the rest.

Tip: The orange circles looked too plain as just solid orange, so I made my own patterned paper.  I took SU's Magnificent Maple stamp (sadly retired), and stamped all over a 8.5x11 sheet of pumpkin pie paper in pumpkin pie, wild wasabi, early espresso, and more mustard ink.  The overlapping leaves created a nice neutral pattern paper to then cut into circles.  It definitely adds a bit more homemade touch to card.  Plus, I now have some leftover homemade pattern paper to play with.

Supply List:

• Stamps: Magnificent Maple (retired)
• Inks: More Mustard (retired)
• Cardstock: Fall themed scraps
• Accessories: Ribbon scraps
• Tools: 2" Circle Punch

Snail Adhesive

$6.95

Stampin' Trimmer

$29.95

Chocolate Chip 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$6.95

Very Vanilla 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$8.50

Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$6.95

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Hip Notes

$11.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Fan Fair Thank You Cards

Another fun sketch from Pinterest.  After looking through my stack of retired DSP, I pulled the Fan Fair pack because of the softer colors.  I've been gravitating to the bright bold colors lately, but wanted to change it up for this card.   

My Interpretation: Lots and lots of patterns to play with here.  I started punching out the circles and quickly realized that I wouldn't be able to fit five circles across the card.  So, I decided to modify the design just a bit to fit five circles.

Supplies

• Stamps: Fiskars Simple Stick Thank You set
• Inks: Riding Hood Red (retired)
• Cardstock: Fan Fair DSP (retired)

Hexagon Punch

$15.95

Snail Adhesive

$6.95

Stampin' Trimmer

$29.95

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$6.95

Stampin' Dimensionals

$3.95

3/4 Inch Circle Punch

$12.95

1-3/8 Inch Circle Punch

$15.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Floral District Pattern Play Banners

In attempting to find another easy design to make another twelve card from, I stumbled upon this great little sketch from Studio Calico.  After debating a bit, I pulled out some more retired DSP, Floral District this time, and went to town cutting banners.

My card isn't exactly the sketch, but it is very similar.  I simply cut banners 3 3/4", 3 1/2", 3 1/4", and 3" and started layering.  The paper was too busy to put the sentiment on one of the banners so I opted to fill the empty space at the bottom of the card.

All told, I made twelve cards using three entire DSP sheets.  I love the varying but coordinating colors.  I think the complete set looks really nice together.  Very fun and bright!

Supplies

• Stamps: Random Congrats stamp from Michaels
• Ink: Baja Breeze (retired)
• Cardstock: Floral District DSP (retired)

Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Tangerine Tango 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$6.95

Rich Razzleberry 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$8.50

Rose Red 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$6.95

Hexagon Punch

$15.95

Snail Adhesive

$6.95

Stampin' Trimmer

$29.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Archives: Playing with My New Supplies

Originally published on February 25th, 2014

This past week, I received a huge Stampin' Up order.  My demonstrator, Pam, told me that she wanted to see me make cards with my new stuff.  Of course, I had to dive right in.  I had so much to play with and try out: tons of DSP, some punches, some stamp stamps, new ink colors, and some new embellishments.  Here's pics of my new stash:

Card #1

Pam gave us the sketch above for our stamp club homework.  I won't be attending March club (Arthur and I are flying that day to Indiana), but I did want to do the homework and get creative.  I started with the idea of using my new Sweet Sorbet DSP.  After finding a few different layering patterns, I paired them with my new Petite Petals stamps and punch.  I love the play of florals with a touch of neutral (Sahara Sand based pattern paper).  I left the card without sentiment because I didn't want it to get too busy.  As an added bonus, everything on this card is Stampin' Up.

• Stamps: Petite Petals
• Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Summer Starfruit
• Cardstock: Summer Starfruit, Sweet Sorbet DSP
• Tools: Petite Petals Punch, SNAIL, Dimensionals

Card #2

The second card is again using the sketch from OWH.  I wanted to play with my new Banner Blast stamps and punch, and this is what came out.  I decided to skip the horizontal piece of DSP as I think it would have been much too busy.  While card #1 used a lot of the floral patterns from the Sweet Sorbet DSP pack, this card uses the geometric designs.  I love the polka dots!  I think that design is my favorite in the entire pack.  I had to use it a background!  Plus, this is another all Stampin' Up card.

• Stamps: Banner Blast
• Inks: Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black
• Cardstock: Sweet Sorbet DSP; Summer Starfruit
• Tools: Banner Punch, SNAIL, Dimensionals

Card #3

I initially tried to complete the sketch with patterns from the Birds of a Feather DSP, but found myself making some big changes.  Ultimately, this is what came out after a lot of playing and changing pieces up.  I loved the birds on a wire look and wanted to incorporate that piece somehow.  Because of the big pattern with both bird designs, I designed to go subtle for the background patterns.  They are all from the same design pack so of course they all work together.  Another all SU card.

• Stamps: Express Yourself
• Inks: Raspberry Ripple
• Cardstock: Primrose Petals; Birds of a Feather DSP
• Accessories: 2012-2014 In Color Dahlias
• Tools: Artisan Label Punch, SNAIL, glue dots, dimensionals

Card #4

This is my other attempt to use the sketch and the Birds of a Feather DSP.  I decided that the two pieces overlapping (blue design and brown stripe) really threw off the balance of the card.  So, I put the sentiment on top of the cross and added the dahlias in the opposite corner to help balance the card.

• Stamps: Express Yourself
• Inks: Primrose Petals
• Cardstock: Primrose Petals, Birds of a Feather DSP
• Accessories: 2012-2014 In Color Dahlias
• Tools: Artisan Label Punch, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Glue dots

Card #5

I wanted to play some more with the Sweet Sorbet DSP pack, so I went onto my Pinterest boards for inspiration.  The above card caught my eye and I knew I had to use it as inspiration.  Just like Angie, I initially didn't know what to do with that black based pattern.  It's incredibly loud in a 12 x 12 sheet, but if you cut it down and only use a piece, I really really love it.  I kept her basic layout, but changed up some of the supplies for ones from my own stash.

• Stamps: Perfect Pennants; Banner Blast
• Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party, Basic Black
• Cardstock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Sweet Sorbet DSP
• Accessories: WRMK Sew Easy Floss
• Tools: Chevron scissors, Chevron Embossing Folder, Banner Punch, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Card #6

Another card inspired by a Pinterest pin.  For my last card, I realized that I don't have any Pool Card cardstock, so I can't recreate the exact coloring on the above card.  Instead, I used a piece of black scrap to give the card a bolder look.  I love the look of the banners in a row.  Plus, the colors really pop against the black (they look much brighter in person).

• Stamps: Banner Blast
• Inks: Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit
• Cardstock: Whisper White, Black scrap, Pistachio Pudding, Sweet Sorbet DSP
• Accessories: WRMK Easy Sew Floss
• Tools: Banner Punch, SNAIL

Overall, I'm really loving my new supplies.  Next week I want to branch out to some of the other pattern papers.  I have a plan to use some for One Sheet Wonders...

Archives: Another Card Making Session

Originally published on February 8th, 2014

Reorganizing my Pinterest boards to include one for "This Week's Project" ideas has really motivated my crafting.  Now I pull some random ideas over on Sunday night (recipes, cards, sketches, crafts, books, projects) and use that board for inspiration when I want to craft.  I spend less time thinking of what I want to do and more time just doing.  Love it!  If you want to check it out, click here.  It turns out I was crafting fool this week.  Let's see what I made:

Card #1

My first card combines a color challenge and a sketch to create my homework for February Stamp Club.  Again this week, I tried to use as many scraps as I could and not cut up whole sheets.  It was a success.  The only full sheets I cut were those used to make the card bases.  I love the play of patterns with this card.  I also added my own sentiment design.  I didn't want to stamp over the floral patterned paper so I used some layering framelits to highlight the sentiment.  The dimensions of the paper scraps are 4" x 3", 1.75" x 1.75", 0.25" x 1.75", 0.5" x 4"

• Stamps: Stampin’ Up Best of Greetings
• Inks: SU Primrose Petals
• Cardstock: SU Primrose Petals, SU Gumball Green; various scraps
• Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Eight; Dimensionals; SNAIL; Big Shot

Card #2

My second card used the same sketch as the first but I used different scrap papers.  I also changed up the sentiment design in favor of an oval scrap I had laying around.  While it's not a traditional sympathy card, I think the cool blues and greens are soothing and the patterns are completely distracting.

• Stamps: Stampin’ Up Best of Greetings
• Inks: SU Midnight Muse
• Cardstock: SU DSP (don't know the name), various scraps
• Tools: SNAIL

Card #3

My third card is straight from a card on my Pinterest boards.  I love the simplicity of the squares but with the fun coordinating patterns.  Robin used the SU Festival of Prints paper stack (which I have), but I decided to use more of small scraps.  If you look closely, many of the papers used in this card were also used in card #2. Way to make double use of scraps!

• Stamps: Stampin’ Up Best of Greetings
• Inks: SU Marina Mist
• Cardstock: SU DSP (can't remember name);  various scraps
• Tools: 1″ Square Punch; SNAIL

Card #4

My fourth card used a sketch (that has since disappeared from Pinterest, odd...) and my new SU Smoky Slate cardstock.  I am in love with this shade of gray.  It's light and not overpowering but such a fun departure from white bases.  I also tried to again use a ton of scraps for this card and succeeded!

• Stamps: Stampin’ Up Stacks of Wishes
• Inks: SU Basic Gray
• Cardstock: SU Smoky Slate; various scraps
• Tools:  Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Eight; SNAIL; Big Shot

Card #5

My fifth card came from the need to use these specific papers.  So I scoured my techniques and sketches board and pulled this sketch out.  The picture is horrid, but somehow I couldn't take a non-yellowed photo.  Something about these papers just threw off the picture.  Anyway, I am loving how geometric and layered this card is and yet it's still very nice and simple.

• Stamps: Random Stampin' Up retired stamp
• Inks: SU Pumpkin Pie
• Cardstock: SU Pumpkin Pie; various scraps
• Tools: 1 1/4" Circle Punch; SNAIL

Card #6

I adore the simplicity of the original butterfly card.  I had to try and make my own.  Looking at the finished project, I love the design and my pattern choices.  But, the butterflies are all crooked...  Next time, I need to use a ruler.

• Stamps: Random Stampin' Up retired stamp
• Inks: SU Primrose Petals
• Cardstock: SU Print Poetry DSP
• Tools: 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch; SU Bitty Butterfly Punch; SNAIL

Card #7

I wanted to try out a different interpretation of the butterfly card.  For this one, I decided to make everything bigger and see what happened.  I love the asymmetrical design of this card.  I was going to just do a straight line of butterflies down the middle, but at the last minute I change up the placement.  I like this look much better.  Also, I repeated the use of the Print Poetry DSP but chose only papers featuring Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, and Crumb Cake.  I love the color play!

• Stamps: Random Stampin' Up retired stamp
• Inks: SU Raspberry Ripple
• Cardstock: SU Primrose Petals
• Tools: SU Elegant Butterfly Punch; 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch; SNAIL

Card #8

My last inspiration card was this gorgeous play of circles and patterns.  To help me narrow down the choices, I used only paper from SU's retired Festival of Prints DSP stack.  For the first card, I ended up using the Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Gumball Green, and Cherry Cobbler pages.  I had to make it an actual Christmas card after seeing the results.  My only issue is the placement of the circles.  It was much harder than I thought it was going to be.  Now I know how to place the first (bottom) row to get a better placement overall.  Also, next time I will probably use a smaller size circle punch.

• Stamps: Random Stampin' Up retired stamp
• Inks: SU Cherry Cobbler
• Cardstock: SU Festival of Prints DSP; various scraps
• Accessories: 3D flower sticker
• Tools: 1 1/4" Circle Punch; SNAIL

Card #9

My last card of the week is another version of the circles card.  This time, I used the Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, and Crumb Cake papers from the stack.  After putting it all together, it didn't look like a Christmas card so I made it a Congratulations card.  Also, I did a bit better with the circle placements. I'm sure that I will revisit this design in the future.

• Stamps: Random Stampin' Up retired stamp
• Inks: SU Early Espresso
• Cardstock: SU Festival of Prints DSP; various scraps
• Accessories: Fabric flowers; brad
• Tools: 1 1/4" Circe Punch; SNAIL

I'm loving my cards from this week.  Next week, I want to play around with one sheet wonders...

Archives: Crafting Crazy

Originally published on February 2nd, 2013

This past week I went a little crazy.  I intended to sit down and make a card of two, and ended up much more than two cards.  My goal was to use scraps laying around.  Some of the designs just didn't work that well (cut out polka dots) and some were gorgeous (green with poem, flowers, and bird).  It's all about experimentation.

At Christmas, Pam had us make this awesome abstract Christmas tree.

I decided to take the idea and make some variations.  I especially love how the "make a wish" candle comes off the paper.  I colored it in with a bronze marker to add a bit more.

As part of our Stamp Club, Pam gave us homework!  Homework!  Oh my goodness.  We had to make a card based off this sketch.  And here are my attempts.  I like the coffee one the best.