Sunday Stamps: Birthday Rainbow

I am leaving town tomorrow for a short vacation and realized that I needed to get a card made and mailed before I left; otherwise, it would not get to my friend (and Stampin' Up demonstrator) prior to her birthday. So in a panic yesterday, I browsed challenges for some help and found the color combo at Sunday Stamps that called out to me mostly because I had just found the Stampin' Up Sunshine Vibes rainbow die that was totally misfiled in my stash so I already had a mental note to use it!  

The challenge was to use a minimum of three colors, but I fit them all in! Of course, I had to use Stampin' Up products given it's for my Stampin' Up demonstrator.

I backed these bright colors with the neutral Crumb Cake because my friend is much more about the earthy or regal colors so, although I liked the fun rainbow colors, I wanted to tone it down for her. I used a vertical stripe embossing folder down the middle just for a slightly different look.

Thanks to the team at Sunday Stamps for the inspiration so I can get a card to my friend/enabler before her birthday!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Stampin' Up Sunshine Vibes, Wanted to Say

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Peach Pie, Daffodil Delight, Fresh Freesia, Coastal Cabana

Other: Stampin' Up Tinsel Gems Three-Pack, Stripes embossing folder

Poppystamps: Rainbow is my Favorite!

 I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with this sweet Grand Whittle Pig in her rainbow of accessories!!

In my opinion, there isn't another die out there that competes with the charming expression on all of the Poppystamps Whittles.  Now that some of them have grown up from Whittles to Grand Whittles, those expressions are even more prominent. I've really never done a card with pigs - but when I saw her expression, then the sentiment, then the flowers - it just all came together.  (All stamps and dies are on this card are from the brand new February release.

The flowers in the background are also new - they are from the Flower Field Frame. It's a beautiful full-size die but I liked the accent of just a few flowers peeking out.

Be sure to check out the Poppystamps blog for more pictures and complete details!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Poppystamps Colorful Life

Dies: Poppystamps Grand Whittle Pig, Potpourri Flower Set, Flower Field Frame

Paper: Memory Box Black Glossy Paper Pack

Other: Open Studio Bright Fairy Jewels for all except the purple which is Autumn Fairy Jewels

Freshly Made Sketches: Storms and Rainbows

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Linda and here’s what I did with it!

The idea of rain came to me pretty quickly but I wasn't 100% sure what to do after that.  I figured that out when I was flipping through my notebook of stamps in my stash and saw these older sentiments by Papertrey.  There were a number of them that I really liked and I was wishing I would have noticed them earlier when I was sending so many pandemic cards.  

I used Distress Oxides to blend the background.  I used a darker (yet still bright) blue at the top since it was supposed to be "stormy" then a lighter blue then a green. Then I picked four fresh and cheerful colors for the rainbow (the die set has larger ones too but I just used the smaller ones that fit on my background.) 

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Rainy Day Sentiments

Dies: The Stamp Market Rainbow Stripes

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight

Ink: Distress Oxide Peacock Feathers, Tumble Glass, Cracked Pistachio

Other: Studio Katia Raindrops

You Are Amazing (and so much more)

I wanted to make a bright and cheerful card for my amazing niece who, at 16 years old, is heading off this summer on a mission trip to Costa Rica! I am SO impressed.  I have other cards planned as the trip gets closer - definitely cards to let her know God will watch over her - and that we are praying. But for today - I just wanted her to know she's amazing!

I got this stamp for just such an occasion and I'm thrilled to be using it. It fit on the the slimline with enough space on the side for some rainbow washi.  Then it needed a bit more decoration so I punched some simple flowers out of coordinating colors.

This was a quick and easy card - and it says exactly what I want it to say!!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Creative Expressions/Woodware Ode to You

Punch: Stampin' Up Small Bloom Punch

Other: Altenew Gradient Rainbow Washi Tape, Pretty Pink Posh Glossy Black gems

Poppystamps: Sending Rainbows

Today I have a card on the Poppystamps blog. The current challenge at Poppystamps is Sending Rainbows and I was inspired to use a rainbow of colors along with the Poppystamps Lattice Plate.

 

This was a fun card to put together. I used strips of the new Memory Box cardstock that comes in three shades of every color to cut three or four squares of the rainbow colors. If you look closely you'll see that I used at least a couple of shades of each color.  Then I adhered the lattice to my card front and started piecing in the colorful squares! There are many more pictures and details of how this card came together on the Poppystamps blog. Check it out - then play along with rainbows!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Lattice Plate, Luscious Script Hugs, Intricate Cut Butterflies

Paper: Memory Box cardstock collections in Ocean Blue (the lavender), Fresh Aqua, Lush Green, Sunny Orange (the orange and yellow), Berry Red; Memory Box Springtime Bouquet Stripes and Dots

Freshly Made Sketches: Butterflies and Rainbows

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Brum and here’s what I did with it!

 

I have a basket of not-yet-used dies, then I have all of my other dies in neatly organized binders on magnetic sheets, but then there's the messy pile of dies that I have used but not yet put into the organized binders. I decided to get that done this week.  It was amazing, partly because my craft room looks fresher and cleaner - but also because I saw many long forgotten dies that I just had to use.  Today's card uses a couple of those - the rainbow and the butterflies. 

I popped the middle strip of the rainbow with a double layer of foam tape, then the next two on a single layer.  Happily this gave me a fun way to do the sentiment - it's one of the pre-printed Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips and if fit just perfectly from the edge to the yellow stripe.

This was a fun card to make and I'm still sending cards and "smiles" to many people so it will definitely get used.  I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Papertrey Ink Rainbow Stripes, Memory Box Devyn Butterfly Trio

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Coastal Cabana

Other: Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips Thinking of You, various gems to match the rainbow

Pinkfresh World Cardmaking Day Challenge #7: Rainbow

 I'm playing along with the Pinkfresh World Cardmaking Day challenge #7 which is rainbows.  I couldn't miss this one - I have their Color Block Rainbow die in my not-yet-used stash.

I added a variety of textures, patterns and a bit of glitter to make this extra fun, although it's such a great die, it really just needs a beautiful rainbow of colors.  I conserved cardstock by cutting strips of cardstock so I could just cut single stripes so I didn't get ten rainbow stripes out of every color.  I would highly recommend not doing that - it would have been so much easier to just cut full panels.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Pinkfresh Scripted Bold Sentiments 1 ("sending")

Dies: Color Block Rainbow, Sending dies 

Over It

My poor son sat on my sofa yesterday and declared he was "over it".  Covid (which BTW he had in January before it was a thing along with many, many other college kids), its impact on his on his college career, a school-owned apartment that is flooding but there are so few maintenance men working that it's been three times without being fixed, nor is anybody in housing to get him into a new apartment, and a car breakdown that has potential to be very expensive. "Adulting" is not going well for him.  He moved out of the apartment into a friend's house near our home (his school is 90 miles north). He emailed the school strongly recommending that they have someone check on the apartment daily until its fixed.  It will be interesting.

Anyway...I recently saw a post by Gayatri using unique and wonderful rainbow colors and this same die set and it got me thinking that I could pull out some masculine colors and do a very different sort of rainbow.


I had to use "over it" for the sentiment.  These letters are from Sizzix and they had just the right look.  I added some rain by TE in the background.

Edited: the car cost $630, the school is claiming they have their top people fixing the flooding but they aren't moving him, but the impact of a pandemic on his final year of school has yet to be seen.

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Taylored Expression Over the Rainbow and Rainbow Cloud Duo, Sizzix Alphanumeric Cut-Out Lower
Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Poblano Pepper, Sprinkles, Dijon, Honey, Sea Salt, Mushroom
Other: Taylored Expressions Raindrops Embossing Folder, Studio Katia Raindrops

Addicted to CAS: Sunshine & Rainbows

I am so loving the many rainbow cards I'm seeing on blogs and Instagram - I think we are all trying to do our part to brighten somebody's day with a card and rainbows are perfect for that!  Addicted to CAS has a rainbow challenge right now and I got the Taylored Expressions Over the Rainbow kit before it was sold out (the components are going to be sold separately soon) - so I'm definitely playing with rainbows. I posted a rainbow card yesterday doing using the stencil from the kit - today I'm using the rainbow dies and one of the arched sentiments.


I'm not going to have a lot of cardmaking time this weekend which usually would make me sad.  But my oldest son came home for the weekend - my youngest has been home with college shut-downs.  So we are all here. It's supposed to be a cloudy, stormy day and it's not like much is open - but my family loves games! So my oldest brought Catan to teach us, but I'm sure there will also be classics like Sorry, Sequence, and Scrabble and a deck of cards will probably come out too.  It's going to be a great weekend!
Sending sunshine and rainbows to all of you!
SUPPLY LIST
Taylored Expressions Somewhere Over the Rainbow Kit
Other stamps: TE Star Fall Background
Other dies: TE Build a Scene-Rolling Clouds
Cardstock: TE Confetti Cake, Grape Jelly, Lemon Meringue, Candy Corn, Watermelon
Ink: TE Sugar Cube, Oreo, Sprinkles
Other: Heat & Stick Powder, Glitter

The Paper Players: Shine Bright

I don't normally order kits.  I usually like part of them and not other parts so kits aren't always worth it for me.  But the instant I saw the Somewhere Over the Rainbow kit by Taylored Expressions and especially the inspiration from their design team, I had it ordered and on my way to me before it was gone. (FYI - it is gone now, but Taylor has announced they will soon be selling the individual parts.)  For today's card I used the stencils, the stamps and the die cut clouds.  I have another card I'll post in the next few days when I know that the recipient has received it that includes the dies and a different set of stamps.


Besides the fabulous stamps and dies, the kit includes colorful envelopes (I mailed this card in bright orange) and envelope seals that coordinate with the rainbow.  This one went to my niece who is an early teen.  She will love the bright colors starting with the envelope and seal, the funky little patterns on the rainbow and I used a sprinkling of bling just for her.
I was inspired by the sketch at The Paper Players. The smaller inside panel made me think of letting the rainbow go off the edge. Thank you to TPP for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST Taylored Expressions Somewhere Over the Rainbow kit (sold out, but the components will eventually be sold individually)
Other dies: TE Mini Strips - Assymetrical
Cardstock: TE Oreo and Lemon Meringue
Ink: TE Oreo, Guava, Candy Corn, Lemon Meringue, Lime Zest, Salt Water Taffy (edges of the clous)
Other: TE Diagonal Stripe embossing folder, Pretty Pink Posh Marigold and Sparkling Clear Gems

Freshly Made Sketches: Just Because

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jennifer Timko and here’s what I did with it!

It's all about the cheerful cards right now.  So many people need a surprise in their mailbox because there isn't much else going on!  I had this rainbow from The Stamp Market (plus all the larger pieces that come with it) on my wishlist for quite some time.  Rainbows are so hopeful and cheerful.  When I realized that The Stamp Market was still shipping, I gave myself some happy mail!!

I found a border in my stash from The Cat's Pajamas.  It's a fun border, but it gave me some headaches.  Adhering fine die cuts is always a problem even though I've tried every recommendation out there.  On my first attempt I actually got it adhered well, then managed to stamp the sentiment way too far to the right.  So I cut another border - and I got it on crooked.  I can't even tell you what happened with numbers 3 and 4.  So I went back to the first card and fussy cut around the edges of the border so I got the outline die cut and the background.  This made it exponentially easier to adhere on my fifth and final attempt.  Can you tell I have a lot of time on my hands?!  (So much time in fact, that I'm rearranging my craft room - it's getting in the way of making cards, but I'm already not feeling like there's so much stuff the walls are closing in on me!)

Here's the sketch.  I hope to see you playing along with us this week!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Verve Stamps With Love
Dies: The Cat's Pajamas Cloud Border, The Stamp Market Rainbow Stripes

Freshly Made Sketches: Love U

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Timko and here’s what I did with it!


The sketch has a big circle - but when I realized that I had to mail Valentine's in a couple of weeks, the circle quickly became a heart!

This one is for my oldest son. Both my sons are of an age where I tend to get an eye-roll after they walk all the way to their campus mail center only to get a card from their mom. But I also know they would wonder what's wrong if they didn't get that card - so I know it does mean something. I took the new-to-me Simon Says Rainbow Hearts die and did the rainbow in masculine colors, patterns and textures.  Then I found a chunky sentiment.  It was a bit plain so I had to add a tiny little bow and some black nailheads - even though "bling" is a bad word with them!

I have a January goal of cleaning out my Feedly blog lists (we won't talk about how many blogs I read).  I'm very happy with Feedly, but I got a sudden whim to try something different.  I believe the vast majority of people are using Bloglovin' so I gave it a try.  It's giving me a chance to re-organize everything in a brand new space.  What can I say - if I could make a career out of "organizing" (or finding typos in restaurant menus and road signs) - I'd be rich!  But I do need someone to click on that top link so Bloglovin' knows I'm me - thank you!!!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Altenew Label Love
Dies: Simon Says Stamp Rainbow Heart, Lil' Inker Stitched Squares, Waffle Flower Tiny Twine bow
Paper: Stampin' Up Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake and Pretty Peacock, Stampin ' Up old dsp, Simon Says Fog and Smoke, Bazzill Basics Licorice patterned paper
Other: Stampin' Up Subtle Embossing Folder, black nailheads

TE Sneak Peek Day 2: Unicorns and Rainbows

It's day 2 of sneak peeks for the January release from Taylored Expressions!! It's a magical day with with unicorns and rainbows (and if you check out the rest of the creative team you'll also see dragons!)  Everything you see in the next four days of sneak peeks will be available on Thursday, January 12, 2017.  Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

Isn't this unicorn sweet?  He's from the Dreamer Stamp & Die Combo. And there's another guy in the set too, plus three more sentiments!


I paired him with the new Stitched Cloud Duo.  (Is it possible to have too many cloud dies?)  I love stitching - it just finishes off the look.  To add even more dimension, I cut one through the card front and backed it with some Lavender Glaze cardstock to which I had applied glitter (or an sparkly embossing powder would work perfectly.)  There's also some sparkle on his horn.
Then I needed some place for him to be head to so I pulled out the previously released Little Bits - Castle.  I just used the turret from the set because the entire castle just didn't fit well in my layout.

LOVE the magic of this card!
Here's what's on this card - but be sure to keep reading for a chance at prizes and another sneak peek.

SUPPLY LIST

Dreamer Stamp & Die Combo	Little Bits - Castle	Stitched Cloud Duo	Stitched Rectangle Stacklets
TE Premium Ink - Oreo - Full Pad	TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	TE Premium Cardstock - Lavender Glaze	TE Premium Cardstock - Jelly Donut
TE Premium Cardstock - Pink Champagne	Zig Wink of Stella Brush - Glitter Clear

InLinkz.com

Before I share a peek at another new product, I'm excited to tell you that Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with some fabulous giveaways! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win a prize from the latest release!

My next projects shows off a wonderful new cutting plate - the Rainbow Cutting Plate.  It could be used with the Dreamers from above - or any of the other magic being shown off by the rest of the design team.  I decided to add a Christian quote from the previously released Be Still.


I LOVE the stitched detail on each rainbow stripe.  I also used the new Cloud Nine Background.  I wanted something subtle on the white edges so I embossed the cloudy background with sparkly embossing powder.

I love this rainbow.  It can go so many directions.  It could be subtle and become just an interesting background.  Or it can be bold and bright and be the focal point.

I hope you enjoyed today's sneak peeks!  Be sure to head over to the TE blog for links to the rest of the creative team and to enter the question of the day contest.

SUPPLY LIST

Rainbow Cutting Plate	Cloud Nine Background	Be Still	TE Premium Ink - Oreo - Full Pad
Stitched Banner Stacklets	TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	TE Premium Cardstock - Oreo	TE Premium Cardstock - Cherry Pop
TE Premium Cardstock - Lemon Meringue	TE Premium Cardstock - Granny Smith	TE Premium Cardstock - Cookie Monster	TE 6x6 Paper Pack - Playful Patterns - Haunted

InLinkz.com