Blog Hopping with The Alley Way Stamps

I hope you are having fun on our blog hop for the new release at The Alley Way Stamps.  If you started at my blog, you really should start back at the beginning to see all the amazing creations - the charming little lion, the big top, the peanuts - you'll be smiling before you'e done!!


This release at The Alley Way Stamps is such a fun mix - by this point in our blog hop you have seen wonderful bright, fun and colorful cards.  Yesterday I made a cheerful little clown card.  But today I wanted to show you the soft side of TAWS - a soft and sweet baby shower card using Cover Ups.

I used this week's sketch from retrosketches.  I loved the way it let me use the wood image.  It's the perfect size to wrap the little Hershey's Treasures candy bars but I wanted to showcase it with its little heart.

The Cover Ups set is full of a variety of images - from pregnant ladies to cows (hmm...), from Halloween to Easter...such a useful set and all such cute little images.  There are a variety of fun candy wrappers too!

Next on your hop is the fabulous Lyndal!

Here's the blog hop announcement from The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) so you can be part of the fun!

Blog hop time with TAWS..
Something NEW!! One person will win ALL 3 NEW SETS!! YEP!! 
So if you want that person to be you.. all you have to do is comment on the hop! 
Here are ways you can win.. You can pick and choose which ones you want to do.. 
but the more you comment the more chances you have to win.. 


1-Comment on The Alley Way Stamps Blog

2-Comment on the DT girls blogs (below)

3-Post about it on facebook or your blog

4-Like us on Facebook
(leave a seperate comment for each that you do)

 You have until July 31st midnight TAWS time to leave comments.

Here are the DT Blogs to visit

Alison
Arielle
Audrey
Barb
Danielle
Jingle
Kim <=You are here
Lyndal
Tracy

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Cover Ups
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and Pretty in Pink
• Ink: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and Pretty in Pink
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Woodgrain Impression Plate, misc twine, Stampin' Up border punch
• Challenges: retrosketches and Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes

Never, Never, Never Give Up

This is my second post today.

It's a quick scroll down to The Alley Way Stamps sneak peek!

My teenager is suffering from a serious case of teenager-itis and after a long and difficult talk last night, I wanted to have a card ready to go for him this morning.

There is a perfect digi download over at Word Art Wednesday - it's a Christian group that has weekly downloadable Word Art - Christian and inspirational.  I discovered them through Marlena at Marlena Is Faithfully Crafting - she has wonderful cards and also amazing faith stories to go with each card.

I am still playing with Washi Tape for the Catered Crop Recipe challenge and I got the layout from clean&simple's current Fall To Layout.

• Stamps: Word Art Wednesday download
• Paper: Stampin' Up Soft Suede, Poppy Parade
• Accessories: Woodgrain Washi Tape from Love My Tapes, striped red from Queen & Co., EK Success postage border punch, Tim Holtz embossing folder

Clown for a Birthday

This is my first official day as a design team member for The Alley Way Stamps and I get to share a sneak peek of the new stamps for August.  (If you pop over to their blog you get to see other sneak peeks, PLUS if you leave a comment you could win a free set!)

I chose to use the new set Admit One (with a little help from some others)



Isn't he just charming?
I also used a pattern stamp from a new set called Cover Up to do the arrow across the bottom.  Plus the sentiment was pieced together from a variety of sets: Priceless Joy, Chatterbox and Bite Size.
I got my ideas today from a number of challenge:  Stampin' Royalty asked us to use buttons, the colors came from CAS-ual Fridays (if they forgive me for the red nose), the sketch from iSpy Sketches and it is Anything Goes week at Simon Says Stamp

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Admit One, Cover Up, Priceless Joy, Chatterbox and Bite Size
• Paper: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse and Kiwi Kiss, Memento black and copics
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Chartreuse and Hawaiian Shores buttons, unknown blue star button

Hello Friend with Washi Tape

I have to write fast because my family is heading out to Thanksgiving dinner soon!!???

Yes, I live in the United States and yes, I do know that Thanksgiving is in November - most definitely not in July.

But my brother and his family have a girl from China visiting them for two weeks to experience America.  They have taken her to the mountains and waterparks and so much more.  They thought that having a full Thanksgiving dinner would be a great experience.  Thankfully, they invited my family!!!

It occurred to me that I should take a card for this girl to welcome her and say hello...



This card plays along with two new-to-me challenges.  Did you know there is a site called Feline Playful that lists all the challenges every single day!  That's a lot of work.  I had a great time browsing and finding challenges that fit my style.  One that I found is Try Stampin' on Tuesday - really nice sketches.  

The other one that I found is called Catered Crop Recipes - the current challenge is to use Washi tape.  The challenge is sponsored by Chickydoddle which is an Etsy shop that has an amazing supply of tapes!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Think Big #3
• Paper: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, My Mind's Eye Indie Chic
• Ink: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse
• Accessories: MME Indie Chic Washi Tape, Stampin' Up Butterfly Embosslit and Indigo Baker's Twine, Martha Stewart butterfly punch (the small ones), misc gems colored with Copics

Dynamic Duos: Sweet Baby Jesus

I certainly can't say that I started out thinking I was going to do a Christmas card for the Dynamic Duos monochromatic brown challenge, but here it is...

I had two goals when I started the day...get my card done for Dynamic Duos and AFTER I played with the browns, I was going to treat myself to using my brand new Christmas stamps from Annabelle Stamps.  The day wasn't going my way - I had a lot of starts and stops with the browns - and I kept wanting to sneak in a Christmas card.  Finally, I gave up on the browns, pulled out the Christmas set, studied the baby Jesus and realized that he would be wrapped in raw linens - browns!!!  
I think it works!!
Check out all the other fantastic cards, then give it a try yourself.  We love looking at everybody's creations each week.  (And I have a bet with myself that we won't see any Christmas cards!!!  ETA - I just realized another design team member snuck in a Christmas card, I guess I'm not as creative as I thought!!)

The Dynamic Duos Challenge Blog

Allisa Chilton

Anne Marie Hile

Anika Lerche

Bronwyn Eastley

Kim Singdahlsen

Lesley Croghan

Lisa Elton

Melissa Chipperfield

Paige Grabau

Sue Joyce

• Stamps: Annabelle Stamps Wise Men
• Paper: Stampin' Up Early Espresso
• Ink: Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, copics
• Accessories: Martha Stewart Extra Fine Crystal Glitter, Lil' Inker Designs Frame Impression Plate, Stampin' Up Espresso Quilted Ribbon and oval punch
• Challenges: Submitting to Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes

Snake, Rattle & Roll

It is my husband's birthday today and  I haven't had anything made for him - which was OK given that he's not back in town until 5 tonight.  My time on my own is coming to an end :(

The problem was that I really had no ideas either.  He's not a elegant/vintage/cutesy/retro/sweet kind of guy.  He is, however, a very clean and simple guy.  I can stick one little gem on a card and he'll wander by my craft desk and tell me it's too much, that I just ruined the card!!  So I kept my fingers crossed that the CAS-ual Fridays challenge would give me an idea.

Ta da!!  The challenge for the week is lime, aqua and navy which could definitely be a guy's card.  Then, I had in my head that I wanted to do something with The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) because I wanted to remind you to wander over to their blog and leave a comment because they are giving away free stamps each day!!   Well...TAWS has a snake stamp (no implications, honey) and the perfect sentiment for my hubby.



This sentiment is going to get the biggest laugh.  You have to understand that my husband is a geologist.  He is passionate about the goings on of the earth - both ancient and current.  Never drive through the state of Wyoming with a geologist because you have to stop at each and every road cut in the middle of nowhere and study the layers.  
Less than two weeks before we were married, we were watching the World Series.  (I am going to seriously date myself here).  It was the game in San Francisco that, during warm-ups, the camera started to jiggle and then everything went dark.  (OK, it was 1989.)  As a geologist, my husband knew instantly what happened - an earthquake!!  And without any regard for the human impact of an earthquake but with utter delight over the shaking of the earth, my future husband danced around the living room singing "shake, rattle and roll"!  He'll NEVER live that down!
I tucked a few fun pennants behind the snake to keep it festive!  And I added just a strip of punched border.  That little strip is a big step for me.  I am such a geometric kind of gal, that strips should go the whole way - or better yet, matte the whole darn image - keep it regular!!  But it sure is fun to just have a hint of border!

I'm also submitting to the Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes.

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Tropic Topic and Get the Point
• Paper: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse
• Ink: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse, Kiwi Kiss, Papertrey Ink Hawaiian Shores, Memento black, copics
• Accessories: EK Success border punch, Ranger Glossy Accents (on his eyes!)

Thanks Much retrosketches!!

I was on a roll yesterday!  I got SO many cards done - and it was one of those glorious days that I liked every card that I made.  Unfortunately, I can't show you any of them until next week ;(  Although if you check out the Sweet 'n Sassy August Blog Hop announcement on the left column - the turkey is mine!

But...my success yesterday did inspire me to tackle what I thought was a very complicated sketch - this week's sketch from retrosketches.



This is a lot of layers for me - but I still love how it came together!!

I have two important things to share:

1. I have already announced that I was asked to be on the design team for The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) - yeah!  (The sentiment on today's card is a TAWS stamp.)  My first official post isn't until Monday but I didn't want you to miss out on prizes.  Sneak peeks of the August release started today on their blog - and this is very important - if you comment on the post, you get a chance to win a free stamp set.  And you can comment tomorrow and Monday for another free set.  THEN - there is a chance to win the entire release on Tuesday's blog hop!

2. On a totally different note, Jennifer Timko is doing a fundraiser on her blog for a very special little girl.  On today's and yesterday's posts, she has samples of the Stampin' Up set Moving Forward that is their annual Ronald McDonald House benefit stamp.  If you order the set through Jennifer in the next week - all proceeds are going to this little girl in need of a miracle.

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Jibber Jabber
• Paper: Recollections dsp (Michaels brand), Stampin' Up Taken with Teal, Peach Parfait, Bermuda Bay, green is a scrap
• Ink: Stampin' Up Taken with Teal, Peach Parfait
• Accessories: Papertrey Tag die, Label die, Stampin' Up leaf sizzlit, Martha Stewart doily and seam binding.
• Challenges: Submitting for Anything Goes week at Simon Says Stamp

CASology and a Sketch

I have needed a fun thank you card and as soon as I saw this week's CASology challenge (Cue Card = Fruit), I pulled out Sweet 'n Sassy's Punny Fruits and Veggies.  The sketch challenge at Splitcoaststampers is very basic so I knew my little peach would be a star!  (Truth be told, I started out with the jaunty little beet from the set until it occurred to me that a beet is a tubular vegetable - not a fruit!)

I'm thinking my choice of colors might have been influenced by the sketch diagram!!

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Punny Fruits and Veggies
• Paper: Stampin' Up Peach Parfait dsp
• Ink: Memento black and copics
• Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, Stampin' Up border punch, misc twine

Clean&Simple's Fall To Layout hits 200!

Two hundred card sketches from clean & simple stamping!  Wow!  They call them Fall to Layouts and they are definitely that for me.  They have collected past sketches in PDF files and I always have them handy!!

I HAD to play along with the 200th.  But I am also on a mission to use the scraps that I have cleaned off my table while my men/boys are gone.  I did have about 20 punched circles which I have no memory of - luckily, this week's sketch includes circles!!

Here's to 200 more great sketches!!!

• Stamps: Hero Arts Sending You Love (and matching die)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze, Peach Parfait and misc dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade
• Accessories: Stampin' Up embossing folder, butterfly sizzlit, Pool Party baker's twine, Martha Stewart hydrangea punch

Be Still and Know

It's my day to post on the Sweet 'n Sassy blog and I decided to celebrate an anniversary.

One year ago, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps asked me to be a guest designer.  They sent me two stamps to play with - Beauty by the Sea and Ocean Paradise.  I most amused - after all, what does a Colorado gal know about the ocean - but I had a great time playing along.  Now I serve on their design team and get the fun of playing with their new sets each and every month.  But I decided to go back and play with this original set...



Although it's not as easy to see as I had hoped, there is tulle stretched across the window.  I also used an impression plate to give it a pebbly look.

I made this card for the Friday Mashup challenge and I actually did the full mashup - a sketch and a lazy summer day theme.

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Ocean Paradise and sentiment from Peaceful Swans
• Paper: Stampin' Up Marina Mist and white
• Ink: Stampin' Up Marina Mist
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Impression Plate, Nestabilities ovals, crochet thread, tulle and miscellaneous beads

I Am Blessed by You

Well...I'm on my last day of absolute peace and quiet.  My teenager comes back this evening after five days of worship and service with 35,000 teens.  I am so looking forward to hearing his stories!  ( My husband and youngest are still at a lacrosse camp until the end of this week - and the teenager will be at marching band camp 9 hours a day - so I still have lots of time to myself before real life is back.)

So many of you told me that I would miss them all - I laughed.  But it turns out that I did.  Perhaps it has more to do with everything that happened around here while they were gone.  I spent hours glued to the television, mourning the losses at the movie theater and wishing I had my family to hug.  Every time that I sat at my craft table, I saw the Archivers bag with stash that I had purchased after I dropped my last family member at the airport - that Archivers is a block from the movie theater.  It made it all so close, yet still utterly unreal.  It is beyond imagination that those murdered ranged from 6-years old to 51-years old, including so many in their teens and twenties.  My prayers are with everybody touched by this tragedy.

On a smaller scale, there were so many issues relating to troubles at my own church.  One of my husband's favorite sayings is that Jesus did not just come to comfort the afflicted, but also to afflict the comfortable.  And I think Jesus thought that my little church has gotten a little too comfortable.

I spent the first few days of my quiet time just catching up - digging through the piles on my desk and either deciding to throw out the cards that never quite came together or working on them a little more.  I had the pieces to this card cut but never quite found a way to finish it.  Yesterday, it came together - I'm not sending it to anyone specific, but it goes out to all of you who sent loving words to my inbox this week...

• Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Tag Blessings
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake dsp and cs, Raspberry Ripple dsp and cs
• Ink: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and Raspberry Ripple
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Raspberry Ripple ribbon, My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags, Martha Stewart doily tags

Black Tie Week at Dynamic Duos

It's Black Tie week at Dynamic Duos!!  That means one of our two colors is black and we have a dessert option.  This month, the second color is Poppy Parade and the dessert option is punches.



I love the Flower Fusion sets by Papertrey Ink.  I don't think there is anything particularly original about my layout as I have seen many others have put together three cute flowers with these sets.  But I loved the idea of them in black with a punched flower on top - then I got practically giddy when I found these printed Candi Dots for the center!

Check out what the rest of the design team has put together.  You'll be amazed at the variety of cards that can be put together with a red and black!  Then try it out for yourself and link up - we would love to see what you come up with.

The Dynamic Duos Challenge Blog

Allisa Chilton

Anne Marie Hile

Anika Lerche

Bronwyn Eastley

Kim Singdahlsen

Lesley Croghan

Lisa Elton

Melissa Chipperfield

Paige Grabau

Sue Joyce

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink various Flower Fusion sets, Stampin' Up Blessings from Heaven
• Paper: Stampin' Up black and Poppy Parade
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Craftwork Cards Newsprint Candi Dots, Carl Flower Punch, misc twine

Purse Inspiration by The Alley Way Stamps

Every two weeks, the good folks at The Alley Way Stamps brings us an inspiration photo.  I am a new member of their design team - in fact, I don't really start until August, but I couldn't let this one go by!!

Head to The Alley Way Stamps blog to see what the rest of the design team members did with this purse - you will be in awe of the rays of sunshine that you will see!!
I had the inspiration photo in mind when I stopped at Archivers a couple of days ago.  (A quick update on my time without a single male member of my household being home - after dropping the last one at the airport - I made a bee line for Archivers!!)  I had no time limits, no one to complain that I took too long - so I browsed each and every aisle.  As I found things, I had the time to shop for things that coordinated.  For example, the papers on my card come from completely different companies.  And..with my scraps from this card, I found beautiful velvet flowers in the grays and yellows to make a different card with the same paper. It was wonderful!
Also, while at Archiver's, I ran into a lady who recognized me from a time that she had visited my church cardmaking group.  She wanted my blog name so she could find out when the next time was.  I handed her the blog name - but them immediately realized that I don't put times and dates on my blog - and I should.  So many of you have emailed that you are nearby - I would love to have you join us.  Please realize that 3/4 of our church cardmaking group aren't from our church - just people who want to gather, chat, learn new techniques and styles, but with no sales pressure.  Any one is more than welcome!! So here's the details.
Cardmaking at Joy Lutheran Church7051 E. Parker Hills Court, Parker CO The first Thursday evening of a month, 6:30-8:30    and/orThe Friday afternoon after that Thursday, 1:00-3:00
Cards are designed and precut.  You make three of a card and you get one free!  Many of the cards come from my blog so you can get a taste of what will be available to make. Our gatherings range from small and intimate to large and raucous, just depends on people's schedule!!  Just drop in!!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Priceless Joy (butterfly) and words from Jibber Jabber and Chatterbox
• Paper: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay and So Saffron, WeRMemory Keepers Down the Boardwalk (stripe), My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Dolled Up (wood)
• Ink: Versmark, Memento black, copics  (see my sidebar for downloadable Copic charts for matches to Stampin' Up and Papertrey paper)
• Accessories: Papertrey Mat Stack 1 die, Stampendous Ivory Pearl embossing powder

IMPORTANT NOTE: For those of you that emailed me regarding the impression plate on my Free As A Bird card - it IS Papertrey Ink, but it is called SUNRISE, not Sunshine.  They do have an impression plate called Sunshine but it's circles.  Hopefully none of you ordered incorrectly (although I also love the Sunshine plate - it's lots of fun!)


Edited to Add: Colorado needs your thoughts and prayers again.  The mass shooting at a movie theater last night was just a block from the Archivers store that I mentioned.  There are 12 people dead so far and 50 people injured - ages down to 6 years old. 

 

It's Christmas in July at Sweet 'n Sassy!

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is celebrating Christmas in July!  Each design team member got to pick Christmas sets to showcase.  I love using multiple sets because it gives me a chance to show you the reason that I love Sweet 'n Sassy - a great mix of styles!!

One the one hand, they have a fantastic collection of Christian stamps.  This set is called Season of Love - it is so elegant and so meaningful...

But on the other hand, I can pull out a cute little Cocoa stamp and have a sweet little card.  This set is called Santa's Helper Cocoa.  (FYI, I am using the digital image, so the actual stamp size could be different.) The sentiment comes from Cozy Friends.  I liked the "warm" part of the sentiment given Cocoa is all curled up in the fuzzy hat!

The Season of Love card uses this sketch from technostamper.  The blue is Midnight Muse from Stampin' Up.  The background paper is a nice paper pad from Hobby Lobby called Blanc Boutique.  My favorite part of this card is the embossing powder - it's chunky and sparkly - it's Stampendous Shabby White Embossing Enamel.

The Cocoa Mouse card uses this sketch from Merry Monday.  The background paper is Basic Grey Fruitcake.  A few miscellaneous buttons for interest and a little Picket Fence Distress Stickles on the white parts of the hat.






Lots of great things are happening at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps during these pre-holiday festivities!  ALL Christmas clear stamps are 20% off through Wednesday, July 25.  Three new holiday sets are in stock early, for a fun pre-release, and they you can get them before they are released in September and October... if you buy them now, you can take advantage of the sale price!

Every order of $25 in Christmas clear stamps will receive Gingerbread Man, a darling new 2" x 2" mini clear set.  And as always, all clear stamp orders of $50 or more get this month's free w/ stamp set, Christmas Candle (while supplies last).

Ready to see what the Design Divas and a few special friends have been up to with their Christmas stamps?  Take a look (and be sure to read on, for information about how you can join in on this hop  and win some prizes):

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog

Kim Singdahlsen <===YOU ARE HERE

Bridget Finlay

Jennifer Ingle

Taylor Usry

Monika Davis

Cathy McCauley

Mary Faus

Ceal Pritchett

Giovana Smith

Lee Murphy

Jennie Harper

Kim Schofield

Julie Ranae
Jessica Fick

Korin Sutherland 

And what's the best part about Christmas in July?  We want YOU to play along with us!  Just link up your Christmas project using Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps below and join in our Customer blog hop.  You have until Sunday, July 22 at 11:59 PM EST to play along.  One randomly selected participant will receive their choice of one Christmas clear stamp set!

I'm FREE!! Free as a bird....

I feel like this week's CAS-ology challenge was picked just for me, 'cuz I am...

Why, might you ask, am I extra happy?

At 3 a.m. this morning (the time NOT being the happy part), I put my teenager on a plane to New Orleans for a church youth group gathering lasting 5 days.  35,000 kids worshiping together!!!

AND...in a half an hour, I am taking my remaining two men/boys to the airport to go to Virginia to visit my MIL and for my youngest son to attend a lacrosse camp.  They are gone for 12 days.

So....

I am FREE!!!

Free as a bird!!!




{This is definitely not a great picture and not even my best card - but it's not bad for 3:30 in the morning when I couldn't go back to sleep after dropping off my teen!!}

• Stamps: Hero Arts My Happy, "tweet" is from Papertrey Ink Itty Bitty Bird Additions
• Paper: white, Stampin' Up Domestic Goddess and silver glitter paper
• Ink: Memento black and copics
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Sunrise Impression Plate, Stampin' Up Jewelry Tag punch and Pool Party twine

A Sketch and ColourQ

This is one of those rare cards that made itself.  I started with the colourQ challenge and assumed that I would make a Christmas card.  I saw the splitcoaststampers sketch challenge and knew that my new doily die would be perfect for the bigger circle.  As I was pawing through my stash for something Christmas, I saw the cross and realized that this could all come together for a rich, elegant and meaningful card - perfect for our church card racks!

(Did you notice that the watermark given to me by Sweet 'n Sassy uses the same cross that I used on the card!!??)

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Elegant Blessings and Our Refuge
• Paper: Stampin' Up black, white, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Quickutz Dainty Doily die, misc ribbon and gems

Less Is More: Happy x3

I LOVE this week's challenge at Less Is More - "Three".  Three is such a good cardmaking number!!  Of course, they had to add a little complexity by making it a one-layer card, so I found some FUN stamps and make a happy, happy, happy card (with three little treats!)




To add interest to this simple card - I did add some glitter and gloss...

Then, because the arrow is a paper clip and is also pointing inside - I had to give it something to point at!

I also used the colors from this week's color throwdown challenge.  It is their 200th challenge!!!  They are celebrating with FIVE colors - way out of my comfort zone - but it worked perfectly for these little treats!

I hope you have a happy, happy, happy day.

Mine will be great in about THREE more hours.  Today I am beginning my stint as the temporary, full-time pianist at church since our amazing pianist of the last six years has moved on. I love giving to my church.  I love music.  But  I am a very, very, very nervous pianist and I want so badly to make it a meaningful worship service that I feel I cannot make mistakes.  And I DO make mistakes.  It's a bad combination which leads to shaky hands and utter exhaustion when it is over.  I'm hoping as the weeks go by, I will settle into this position and begin to feel the sheer joy of lifting up my music!!  Say a prayer...  (I'll be fine...but I'm writing this 15 minutes before I head to church and my nerves are starting to act up!)

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps bite size, jibber jabber, mad gab
• Paper: white
• Ink: Memento black and copics (see the side bar for my charts of Copic colors that match Stampin' Up and Papertrey Ink)
• Accessories: arrow paper clip from Hobby Lobby, Ranger Glossy Accents, Art Institute Glitter

Less Is More: Three

If you are here for the Dynamic Duos post,

it's just a short scroll away!

This week's Less Is More challenge is EASY - - "THREE" - - and there is no better number to use for cardmaking. Of course, to counteract the easy theme - it had to be ONE LAYER week.  I really do like CAS cards, but one layer is hard.  I always at least want to put one layer at the back as a frame.

I am seeing a lot of cards out there that are a stamped solid image, highlighted with Copics or other pens.  I decided to give it a try on this very simple card.  There is just a touch of darker color near the bodies of the butterfly.

You can see it a little better on this card that I rejected because the top butterfly was just too "heavy".  (For the record, I'm not in love with the first card either, but it's hard to go too wrong with the gorgeous sentiment and sweet little butterflies!)

Notice that I used THREE butterflies, THREE little blings and, I just noticed, there are THREE words in the sentiment (or maybe that's stretching it a little bit!)





My butterflies are the colors from this week's Play Date Cafe challenge

You'll have to read on to my next post which was an attempt at a card for LIM - but after I got done with it, I noticed the big bold "ONE LAYER" on their challenge!  Oops.

• Stamps: DRS Designs sentiment, PTI Beautiful Butterflies
• Paper: white
• Ink: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, So Saffron, black, Copics to match
• Accessories: tiny bling

Layered Stampin' Up Punches

If you are here for Dynamic Duos,

it is just a short scroll down.

I decided that I wasn't going to do any more cardmaking until I finished a project that I started over a year ago and never finished. I started putting together a document of various ways to layer Stampin' Up punches for unique looks.  I invited readers to submit their ideas or links to ideas and I would compile them.  The ideas came in, I put them all in a nice little folder - and promptly forgot about it.  Two things have happened recently that reminded me - 1. I realized that my temporary document is floating all over Pinterest and 2. a very nice lady was reading my blog for the first time and, quite accurately, e-mailed me that didn't see the final document.

So...ta da!!...here it is...a final compilation that was started a year ago!!!

Now I have to tell you about my card.  I had this long story written about a slow computer, counting to three, and corralling cats which was supposed to explain my inspiration for the new Less Is More which is "three".  I used a stack of three punches to create my card.  Then I actually read the challenged and realized it was One Layer Week - so my card doesn't count - AND you don't get to read the whole story!

This card is going out to my husband's cousin who is dealing with Lyme Disease.  She has it with significant symptoms, her husband has the pathogen but no symptoms, and neither of them have been bitten by a tick?!  She is trying to deal with young children along with the extreme fatigue and other symptoms caused by this disease.  So far, anitbiotics have not been effective.  Our prayers go out to Kim and her family...

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Paper: Stampin' Up Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Stampin' Up punches, embossing folder and scallop border, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, misc twine and gems

A Soft and Subtle Dynamic Duo

This week's Dynamic Duo Color Challenge is a "Subtly Yours" pairing - Pink Pirouette and Baja Breeze.  I immediately envisioned a gentle silhouette scene.  I wanted it to be very small - I have lots of silhouette stamps, and the smallest and daintiest of all of them is a set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called Nature Silhouettes.



I added a quick "swoosh" of pink dots to to add interest, sponged the edges a little, a simple sentiment - and done!!!  This is why I love a starting point for my cards - and a two-color color challenge like Dynamic Duos is perfect!!

Here's all of the other design team members for your inspiration.  I hope you play along!!  Create your card and head back to the Dynamic Duos blog to link it up.  We love seeing your creations!

The Dynamic Duos Challenge Blog

Allisa Chilton

Anne Marie Hile

Anika Lerche

Bronwyn Eastley

Kim Singdahlsen

Lesley Croghan

Lisa Elton

Melissa Chipperfield

Paige Grabau

Sue Joyce

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Nature Silhouettes and Thinking of You, Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds for the "swoosh" of dots
• Paper: white
• Ink: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze and Pink Pirouette
• Accessories: White crochet thread, Stampin' Up Twitterpated Button Collection, Crystal Stickles