SCS Free For All: Birthdays

This is my second post today.  It's just a short scroll

down for the TAWS BE Inspired challenge!

I just happened to check out the Free For All challenge at Splitcoaststampers and it was "birthdays".  Guess what I need today??  Perfect timing!

I pulled out a paper pad that I've had for awhile and wanted to use ALL of the paper - so I went for the sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday as it gave me a chance to use multiple strips.

I used the darling little Rhubarb Bear from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I love his sweet expression.  I used a digital version of the stamp, but it is available here as a clear stamp.

I am also submitting this to the Simon Says Stamps Anything Goes challenge.

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Rhubarb's Birthday Wish, Happy Birthdays
• Paper: My Mind's Eye Fine and Dandy True Blue, Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate
• Ink: Copics
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate ribbon and buttons in Dark Chocolate, Orange Zest and Hawaiian Shores, Spellbinders die

TAWS: BE Inspired #10: Pillows

It's a big week for The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS).  Yesterday was new release day and today is the BE Inspired challenge!

I was a little hung up on this challenge.  I wanted to create a background with various patterns - unfortunately, I don't yet own the TAWS Background Basics set that would have been perfect.  Even with that, I wasn't sure what I was going to put ON the backgrounds. Then - the CASology Challenge came to my rescue.  The cue word this week is RELAX and I realized that I was overthinking the Inspiration challenge.  What could be more relaxing than curling up with some soft pillows and simply dreaming?

I do realize that if you hadn't seen the inspiration photo first with the pillows - you likely wouldn't see "pillows" in my card.  But I still think the overall look is relaxing...I kinda like it!
I am also submitting this to the Simon Says Stamps Anything Goes challenge.

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Cover-Ups (chevron and dots), Awesome Blossom (flower) and Talk to Me ("dream")
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream, Stampin' Up Whisper White
• Ink: Stampin' Up Pool Party, Crumb Cake, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip
• Accessories: misc button, white wool felt, Quickutz wobbly edge square (really old!)

New Release and Blog Hop for TAWS!!

It's the best time of the month as it is the new release at The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS)!!

This release includes three sets and each are so VERY different.  You really will want to do the entire hop to see the variety of stamps available.  (I also did a sneak peek of the fun floral set on Monday's post.)

Continuing on a football theme (check out yesterday's long story) - I used the #1 hand from TAWS Touchdown.  I have teen, tween and over-50 males in my house, so "cute" no longer works.  I pulled out a lot of kraft and masculine prints to put this together.  I don't know which of my men will receive this card, but I'm sure that someday one of them will do something worthy of being called "#1"!  (If they would just rinse their dishes, they might deserve this card!)

I had a lot of inspiration for this card.  The CAS-ual Fridays challenge made me pull out the flags - PERFECT for a set called Touchdown.  And the Less Is More 3-2-1 challenge totally guided me on the layout - 3 flags, 2 stars, 1 big #1 hand!

And now I have to share the new love of my life...little Frankie...

Frankie is part of the new set Ghoul-Friend.  It's a fun and charming set - not creepy or scary!  If you are blog hopping, I am SURE that you have seen some of the other amazing images in this set.

For this card, I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches:

And now the details on the blog hop:

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 the 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 separate comment for each that you do)

 You have until Aug 30th 9:30 PM TAWS time to leave comments.

Here are the DT Blogs to visit

Alison

Annette

Arielle
Audrey
Barb
Danielle
Kim <---You Are Here
Lyndal
Tracy

I am also submitting this to the Simon Says Stamps Anything Goes challenge.

You're #1:

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Touchdown
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Classic Kraft, Stampin' Up Night of Navy and red glitter paper, My Mind's Eye Kraft Funday Happy Days 6x6 pad
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate, copics just for shadows
• Accessories: Spellbinders squares, Stampin' Up and My Favorite Things pennant dies, miscellaneous twine, star punch and star brad

Monster Crossing:

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Ghoul-Friend
• Paper: Doodlebug Design Haunted Manor and a bunch of retired Stampin' Up: Eggplant Envy, Only Orange, Going Gray
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics
• Accessories: Memory Box Graveyard Landscape, CC Designs Cutters Bats, Doodlebug Twine, Stampin' Up Adhesive Eyes

Cocoa Is the Best!!

It's my day to post over on the Sweet 'n Sassy blog and I was thrilled when I realized that I had a football image with Cocoa mouse.

Living in a household of men, my family is very aware of the fact that it is football season!!!

Besides watching a continual loop of ESPN Sports Center and multiple preseason games (Go Broncos!), my teenage son is having an interesting experience.  He has recently transferred to a small Christian high school.  My husband, who also attended a small Christian school, warned my 6'4", 200 pound son that he would get the attention of all of the coaches (even though his "sport" is actually band!)  We visited the school about a month ago and, as we were touring, a gentlemen at the other end of the hallway saw us and practically ran down the hall saying, "Are you a new student?  Do you play football??" And now that my son is actually enrolled there, the teacher in his Theology class asks him every single morning, "Are you sure you don't play football?"

So I created this card for my son.  When he is having a down day - I'll bring out the card.  Inside it says, "You are the best (but are you sure you don't play football!!)"  It will make him smile...

I impressed myself a little with the pennants (I'm easily impressed).  I tend to take stamps at face-value...a postage cancellation stamp is a postage cancellation stamp.  But...in this case, the curves on the postage cancellation stamp from Sweet 'n Sassy's Vintage Postcard became the folds on the pennants!!

I also brought out my favorite basic set - Grunge Borders - to do the diamonds on the green panel.  (Although since it actually is a background/border set, I wasn't particularly impressed with myself!)

My colors came from colourq:

My layout came from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge:

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy All Star Cocoa, Vintage Postcards, Grunge Borders, sentiment from Back to School Rhubarb
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Basic Gray, Gumball Green, Bermuda Bay
• Ink: Colorbox Frost white, Memento black, Copics (see my sidebar for a downloadable Copic chart with matches to Stampin' Up colors!)
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing, Papertrey pennant dies, Spellbinders circles, The Twinery Caribbean twine

Little Bird, BIG Snow

I like these little seasonal birds.  It's a hostess set, but given the friend that I mention regularly, I have access to ALL of her Stampin' Up hostess sets!!

I used the colors from an old Stampin' Up paper set - Ski Slope - real red, baja, chocolate and olive - but then I didn't end up using any of the colorful papers.  I liked the idea of the tiny bird surrounded by snowflakes - so I just used the Baja snowflake paper.


I used the sketch from Merry Monday (second week in a row - I'm on a roll!!!):

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Four Seasons
• Paper: Stampin' Up Real Red, Ski Slope dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Markers in Real Red, Baja Breeze and Chocolate; Versamark and white embossing powder
• Accessories: Stampin' Up polka dot red ribbon (retired), Chocolate button (from Neutral pack), snowflake punch (retired) and 2 3/8" scallop punch, Creative Impressions brads, Martha Stewart Fine Crystal Glitter (I used a Xyron to cover the snowflake and white panel with adhesive and then dump glitter over it - Martha Stewart is perfect for this because you can buy it in VERY large bottles)

TAWS Sneak Peek: Awesome Blossom

Today is the beginning of sneak peeks for the September release at The Alley Way Stamps.  You will be thrilled at the variety of stamps for this month.  Be sure to follow all the sneak peeks at The Alley Way Stamps blog and definitely be sure to join us for the new release blog hop on Thursday!

My card today uses a stamp for the new set Awesome Blossom.  This is a building block type of set with a variety of flowers, leaves, centers, vases, etc.  I saw this graphic circles stamps and envisioned a contemporary cabbage rose.


Not only will you be seeing peeks this week of the Awesome Blossom set, but just wait until you see peeks from Ghoul-Friends and...we haven't forgotten all of you football fans!! My layout comes from Freshly Made Sketches.  (I love square cards, but the size of the image required a standard card instead of a square.)

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Awesome Blossom (new release sneak peek)
• Paper: Teresa Collins Vintage Finds Word Labels (I used both sides), ivory and black CS
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Creations Unlimited Embossing Powder Vine Maple, Teresa Collins Vintage Finds Faceted Gems and Pearls, misc black satin ribbon

Home Is With You

I was playing at that same friend's house yesterday.  The friend that I mention often with her VERY large stash of Stampin' Up supplies!!  I do wish she blogged her Stampin' Up cards - they are truly amazing, but her real passion is vintage/collage ATCs.  She does have two blogs if you are interested: Nostalgic Collage and A Nostalgic Halloween.  She finds a lot of vintage images - particularly for Halloween - and it can be great fun to download those images for your cards.  This card from last year uses one of the images on her blog.

Anyway, she and I share a passion for all things autumn - and she had out all of the autumns colors and stamps.  The stamp that I selected could be used anytime, but I thought it was a great fit for the sketch and colors...


I used the sketch from this week's retrosketches.  I had intended to cut the image panel as it is on the sketch, but I liked it too much.  So I shaved the card down about 1/4", then let the panel hang over the edge.

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Forever With You
• Paper: Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Orchard Harvest dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Raspberry Ripple
• Accessories: Stampin' Up In Color Dahlias, Glimmer Brads, Naturals Buttons, Island Indigo ribbon, framelits

Dynamic Duos: Monochromatics

It's monochromatic week at Dynamic Duos and we are doing lavenders/purples!!

I don't use purples or lavenders much.  I don't have anything against them but they just don't make it onto my cards.  So I struggled a little this week but finally decided a simple friendship card would be perfect!



To add some interest, I glittered the medallion and it has a clear button with a bow...

The layout came from this week's sketch challenge at Create with Connie and Mary.

Be sure to check out the rest of the design team at Dynamic Duos.  As is usual there is quite a variety of amazing cards.  Then pull out your lavenders, go create and link up!  We love to see your work!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up True Friend
• Paper: Stampin' Up Wisteria Wonder CS, Concord Crush dsp from hostess mini pad
• Ink: Stampin' Up Concord Crush
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Apothecary Accents dies, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack

CAS and Pastel Party Animals!

This month's release at The Alley Way Stamps was SO much fun with all of the circus sets - I have had more bright colors out on my desk than I ever remember having had out before!!  But for my last post dedicated to the August release, I decided to bring it way down.  I used stamps from Party Animals to make a very CAS and pastel card!!!


I got my inspiration from The Paper Players.  I was thrilled when this challenge got me thinking about piecing those balloons - they are so uniquely narrow, I just wasn't sure how to make them stand out.

The colors are from the color throwdown.

On Monday, I'll be starting to preview September sets from The Alley Way Stamps.  If you don't follow the TAWS blog be sure to check it out because there will be sneak peeks ALL week!!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Party Animal
• Paper:  white, Stampin' Up dsp in Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise and the cameo balloon comes from Ginger Blossom
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: white crochet thread, Cuttlebug small embossing folder (I actually haven't seen the little 2x2s in stores since Cuttlebug first started - but they are still on the official website.  I used a square from Playful Squares.  They are great for CAS cards!)

keepin' a float?

I am so grateful to all of you who have come up with ideas over the last few days.  I've never had to look for options for my cards and I am amazed at the variety of needs!!  One comment did force me to look close to home.  She told about a family tradition of sitting down on Sunday with her children and figuring out who needed some attention - then they create and send cards.  What a wonderful, caring family!

So today's card is still focused on all of those hurting in relation to the problems at the church.  I hope it will bring a smile!

The fish were inspired by this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge:

The layout comes from Pals Paper Arts:

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Sea Mates
• Paper: Stampin' Up Pacific Point
• Ink: Memento black, Copics
• Accessories: Washi tape: Queen and Co. Trendy Tape, gems colored with Copics, Papertrey Ink Impression Plate, Ranger Glossy Accents on eyes

CASology Cue Card: Green

This week's CASology Cue Card is "green".  That keeps the option pretty wide open!!  I do so love green.

I was feeling inspired to make a card dedicated to those affected by the troubles at the church (see yesterday's post).  So many families have left that church and so many others are still there but are hurting.  I saw these leaves and this sentiment - which is clearly directed at autumn leaves - but I thought it made so much sense in this situation.

I spent some time playing with the leaf - multiple colors, crumpling, "sueding", etc., but the simple fact is that the detail on it allows it to stand alone.  It is die cut and I slightly rolled the edges.  It does have three inks on it including some gold on the edges although that isn't real clear from the photo.

I want to thank everybody who responded yesterday via comments or email.  So many good ideas!

I also realized that I forgot to say "thank you" to all of my blog friends and all of you who don't even know that I rely on you.  With all the church troubles, I have been very bad these past few weeks at commenting.  But I do read your blogs and it never fails that I smile, laugh and ooh and aah through your posts!!!

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Season of Change
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Ripe Avocado, white
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Ripe Avocado, Stampin' Up Old Olive, Delicata Golden Glitz
• Accessories:Sweet 'n Sassy Season of Change dies, misc gold cord

A Change in Direction

It's only been a few days since I posted, but so much has happened, it feels like forever.

About a week ago, we decided we had to leave our church.  It's a long story that I don't need to bore you with, but it's a church and church-family that we have been part of for sixteen years.  Our children were baptized there, we have been active volunteers and leaders in many different ministries, I play piano for all the services - it's been our church home.  It wasn't a place we wanted to leave, but things aren't right there.

From a cardmaking perspective, the biggest change for me was that I have been part of the church's card ministry for a decade.  My mom started it and, upon her unexpected death, I continued it.  Virtually every card that I have made has been for the church, and for every card that you see on this blog, there are another five or six that you never see.

So, I'm feeling a little lost.

I love making cards, but suddenly I don't have a reason.  I know...I enjoy it...and that counts for a lot.  But after a decade, this is a dramatic change.

What does everybody do with the cards you make??  I would love suggestions.

For now, I have decided that my extra cards (beyond design team duties) will be focused on Christmas cards because I know that I will need them.  I'm definitely not saying you won't see more...I can't ignore all of my other fun toys.  I'm just trying to figure things out.

So...the first thing that I am doing is playing along with Merry Monday and I definitely hope to play consistently throughout the remainder of the year.

I don't actually own anything on this card.  I have a VERY good friend, who has a VERY large collection!!  I apologize if I don't have the right names for everything in this recipe.  (That's also why I don't quite match the sketch - I only had the scraps that I brought home with me.  In fact the patterned paper was actually cut for the 4.25" dimension.  I had to cut it in half and piece it together behind the ornament!!!)

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Ornament Keepsakes, Petite Pairs
• Ink: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler
• Paper: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, the stack of smaller papers in the Holiday mini
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Ornament dies, scallop border, oval and scalloped oval, and a new embossing folder from the holiday mini.

CASology Cue Card: School

I have to admit - I wasn't feeling overly inspired over this week's CASology Cue Card: School, but I haven't missed a week yet and I wanted to keep it going - OK, this is only week 6, but that's a long streak for me for challenges.

I wandered into Michaels yesterday for some basics and found a fun school set in the clearance section.  I absolutely did not need another school set - but the simple fact is that what I have is "cute" and with teen boys, "cute" does NOT work.


Sadly, this is already too decorated for my boys.  
{If I only had the creativity of Suze Bain who interpreted "school" as a "school of fish" - LOVE it!!}

• Stamps: Recollections (Michaels brand) School Days (but I only paid a buck for it so it may be hard to find!)
• Paper: black and white
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Love My Tapes Polka Dots Black, Queen and Co. Trendy Tape (striped), My Favorite Things border, misc. star brad

Happy Boo from Me to You!

It's Black Tie week at Dynamic Duos...I LOVE Black Tie week because when you think about it, it's effectively one color since black is the other color and it's a neutral!!  Plus there is always a dessert option and I am always happy with dessert.

This week, the second color is River Rock and the dessert is brads.  This could make for an incredibly elegant card.  I've seen some of the other design team cards and they are gorgeous.  But I had an opportunity to play at a friend's house this week.  She is a Stampin' Up demonstrator with a passion for Halloween - so had every new Halloween item for me to play with.  What else could I do?



The spider is actually a brad.  I'm a little disappointed in him.  He was a charming little guy with a sparkling purple gem in the middle.  I colored the gem with a black Copic hoping for a sparkling black spider - but he got a little dull.
Be sure to check out the rest of the design team, then pull out your River Rock (or something that is close) and link up your card.  We love to see what you create!

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: Stampin' Up Mixed Medley (hostess), Monster Munchies
• Paper: Stampin' Up River Rock dsp
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Stampin' Up River Rock ribbon (retired), Spider Web embossing folder and 1 1/4" scallop circle punch, Making Memories spider brads, Imaginisce Eye of Newt brads (They are really called that!!  They are wonderfully sparkly black brads!)

A Rainbow of Birthday Flags

Today is BE Inspired challenge day The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS).  Check out the rainbow of colors in this inspiration photo!

I am so literal when it comes to inspiration photos.  I see rainbows...I create a rainbow!!


I used a fun set called Get the Point? that is full of flags and pennants - patterned, plain and a myriad of shapes.  I also love the little birds that TAWS has in a number of their sets.  This guy is from Snow Much Fun - he was made to stand on a snowman but I thought he might prefer standing on this banner!
I hope you all feel inspired to make a rainbow!!  Don't worry if you don't have any TAWS stamps - if you click over there you will see that they actually have freebies to download!!  (But be careful, downloading a freebie and playing in a challenge was what got me hooked!!)

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Get the Point, Snow Much Fun
• Paper: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade
• Ink: Memento black and copics
• Accessories: Charcoal twine from The Twinery

Leaf Silhouettes and Blessings

This is my second post today.  It's just a short scroll

down for a little escaped turkey by TAWS!

It is my day to post on the Sweet 'n Sassy blog and I decided to play with one of the new release sets Leaf Silhouettes.  I found myself trying a number of techniques and embellishments when I finally sat back, took a look at the clean and graphic stamps and realized that they would stand alone (except perhaps for a sweet sentiment!)

I just love that my kids have gone back to school, partly for the daily time of peace of quiet, but mostly because that is a sure sign that fall is on the way.  I love that I have rich fall papers and embellishments spread out on my desk.  This is my favorite time of the year and I wish you all a "season of blessings"!
I used this week's sketch from splitcoaststampers.

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Leaf Silhouettes and Grunge Borders (on the orange panel)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry, Papertrey Ink Classic Kraft and Canyon Clay
• Ink: Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry and Lucky Limeade, Papertrey Ink Canyon Clay and Dark Chocolate
• Accessories: Stampin' Up twine, Spellbinders Twisted Metal, Creative Impressions brads

Celebrate with the Turkey!!

I absolutely love the Cover Ups set by The Alley Way stamps and this little turkey has to be at the top of my favorites!!  The little "cages" he is standing on are actually big enough to be candy wrappers for little candy bars.  I put this little turkey outside of the cages - thus the reason he is willing to celebrate!!


I LOVE square cards so I HAD to play along with this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  These little 4 1/4" are so sweet and it's so easy to fill up the card!

I actually started out my square card playing with the rainbow and the heart in the Cover-Ups set, but I kept thinking about the challenge at Less Is More which is a One Layer FUR or FEATHERS card and knew it was a perfect excuse to pull out my turkey.  (This card took a little more work than it should have.  To make it one layer, I had to stamp the oval for the sign, create a mask, sponge inside and outside, poke holes for the twine, etc. - all of which make ruined the "simple" part of "clean and simple"!)

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Cover-Ups, oval from Get The Point
• Paper: white
• Ink: Stampin' Up Basic Gray (cages), Memento black and copics (turkey), Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs, Tumbled Glass and a hint of Old Paper and Barn Door on the sign
• Accessories: twine

Clown Wishes in Neon

Under the heading of "what was I thinking?" I purchased the new Hero Arts Neon Inks.  What in the world does a conservative stamper like me do with neon?  Surround it with neutrals!


I kind of like it this way.  Neon is so, so scary bright - just the little bit on this card totally pops!!
I used the colors from The Play Date Cafe (although they didn't specific neon!)

And I used the Mojo Monday sketch - but vertically.

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Admit One, "Wish" from Christmas Magic
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake
• Ink: Hero Arts Neon Pink, Yellow and Orange, Stampin' Up Crumb Cake
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Charles folder, twine, clear Dew Drops plopped on punched circles rubbed with neon

Dynamic Duos: Subtle Prayers

It's subtles week at Dynamic Duos.  I am always need of Praying for You cards for the church ministry and this week's very gentle colors seemed perfect.

I used this week's sketch from technostampers.

Check out all the other cards by the design team.  Then try it yourself and link up over at Dynamic Duos.  We look forward to 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: Stampin' Up Simply Soft, OCL Prayers and Blessings
• Paper: Stampin' Up Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink
• Ink: Staz-On Black, Stampin' Up Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink
• Accessories: waterbrush, Stampin' Up pink ribbon, Spellbinders Lacey Circles

Catered Crop and CASology

This week's theme at Catered Crop is white.  Not necessarily all white - just "white".  This theme is inspired by one of their designers - Silke Ledlow.  Her style is multiple white layers with vibrant colors in the image and ribbon - her cards are stunning and utterly unique.

I ended up going ALL white with my card.  The CASology Cue Card this week is "pond" and it led me right to the Willow Dragonfly die by Memory Box.  I envisioned an incredibly soft, gentle and peaceful sympathy card...and what better than all white.

I hope you are looking forward to a great weekend.  As you are reading this, I am actually in our mountain place in Frisco, Colorado doing some hiking and eating and playing before my kids go back to school.  The weather is projected to be in the 60s (yeah!) with afternoon showers (can you say "good book and glass of wine"!?)  I plan to be relaxed and totally inspired to craft next week!!

• Stamps: Penny Black cattail, Verve sentiment
• Paper: white
• Ink: Versamark, Stampin' Up Going Gray
• Accessories: Memory Box Willow Dragonfly die, Stampin' Up white raffeta, Stamp 'n Stuff white pearl embossing powder

Cloud9 Birthday Wishes

This is my second post today.  It's just a short

scroll down for some Halloween fun!

Cloud9 is a monthly challenge and blog hop using stamps from WPlus9...I love WPlus9 stamps.  They have a new release up today and I'm having a tough time narrowing it down to fit my budget!!

I got up early to make this card as the blog hop started at 8 a.m.  At 7:55 I was taking photos and getting read to edit.  The post came up at Cloud9 and lo and behold - one of the design team members used the same set of stamps and the same color challenge.  I'm feeling a little proud of the fact that I had the same idea as the wonderfully talented Christina!

Here's the sketch from Cloud9:

And here are the fun colors from colourQ

• Stamps: WPlus9 A Pocketful
• Paper: Stampin' Up Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, Certainly Celery
• Ink: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit
• Accessories: WPlus 9 A Pocketful Dies