Stampin' Up In Colors 2016 and Copic Matches

I got hold of samples of the Stampin' Up 2016-2016 In Colors - and I found Copic matches!!

The two Stampin' Up charts on my sidebar have been updated.  Just click and print or download.  The first chart is a complete set - current colors, current In Colors and all retired colors.  (The only difference from last year is that I added the new In Colors and moved the retired In Colors over to the retired list.)  If you are coloring these in each time you print them, you may not want to do the complete set because there are a lot of colors, so I also have the In Color Only chart which is the five most recent releases.  You can keep your old complete set and just add the new In Colors.
Remember - Copic markers vary by paper. I use Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80-pound.  Be sure to print your charts onto the paper that you will be using for cards to get the most accurate representation.  Also the depth of color of a Copic depends on how often you color over the same space. You can see in the picture above the R56 seems really dark next to the cardstock samples. It's actually quite a nice match to Sweet Sugarplum if you just do one coat.
I also have charts for other companies. 

• Taylored Expressions, Papertrey Ink and Simon Says Stamp will always be up-to-date as soon as I get the new cardstock (typically I order the day of the release).
• I match to cardstock. This is very relevant to Simon Says because lately they have released inks without coordinating cardstock so those colors are not in the chart.
• I made the decision to not stress over keeping My Favorite Things up-to-date. They released a lot of colors last year - many I just didn't need in my collection at that time.  The chart shows that it's complete through September 2015 - but I do add colors as I decide to buy them - in fact, I just made an update this month.  So if you are trying to match MFT colors, check back. It is becoming more up-to-date, it's just happening slowly.

Freshly Made Sketches: TGIF

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Linda.

Before I show you my card - I need you to know that I passionately dislike mass-producing cards. Two of the same card is too many! I typically manage to avoid it for Christmas because there are so many challenges throughout the year that force me to stay on top of my Christmas stash.  May events are a different story. My husband is a lacrosse coach at the high school - so I have multiple graduation cards for his graduates. He is also a confirmation teacher/mentor at church  - so I have multiple confirmation cards to make - compounded by the fact that the recipients are middle-school boys who are extremely difficult to craft for.  (I'm seeing a pattern here - it's all my husband's fault!)

So last Saturday I had dozens of confirmation cards to make before that evening. As is typical when I'm rushed, I totally blank - no creative ideas whatsoever.  I glanced ahead at today's sketch for FMS and realized I could something with it - a sentiment, a cross, quick and easy!

I changed the sketch slightly to a square so my smaller cross die fit (it's from Paper Smooches). My original plan was a two-color cross and, if I weren't mass-producing, I would have stuck with that. But when I cut the first card, it stuck a little in the middle and it warped a little, popping up the ends - and the rest is history!!  You can see the cross and I didn't have to cut dozens of more crosses in colors and then adhere those fine line pieces.

I made my husband pick the sentiment. It's an old, old, OLD stamp from Rubber Stampede, but I like it for the middle-schoolers.

There was one young girl in the mix - so I changed it up slightly.

I hope to see you play along!  The sketch saved me this week - and I'd love to see what you all do with it!!
(The paper is older, the stamp is ancient - so I didn't create a formal supply list because it would contain one thing - the cross. You can find it here.)

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Birdhouse

It's time for a new challenge at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Birdhouse.

As soon as I saw this inspiration photo, I knew that I had the perfect birdhouse die.  It even had the little scallops on the roofs!  It's an early die from WPlus9 called Folk Art Florals, and sadly, is no longer on their website.

I paired my cheerful little bird and birdhouse with this sentiment from Reverse Confetti and then needed a couple of gray houses for contrast.  I have to say, I liked the idea of this card better than the outcome - mostly because I have no idea how I will ever use this card.  I think before I put all of the products away, I'm going to do three bright and cheerful birdhouses and maybe a birthday sentiment.
Be sure to head over to the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge to check out the inspiration from all of the other designers.  And definitely check out our two guest designers for this week!
Keeway Tsao, Kiwi Koncepts    Marcie Sharp, Sharp Designs
SUPPLY LIST
WPlus9 Folk Art Florals die (appears to be retired) Variety of paper scraps

RC Fabulous Flamingo

Avery Elle Wonky Stitches

PPP Lemon Meringue Flat Sequins

InLinkz.com

Curtain Call Designers

Betty Wright

Kim Singdahlsen
Laurie Willison

Leigh Penner
Lisa Henke

Lori Tecler
Lynn Mangan
Marisa Ritzen
Maureen Plut

Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Sheri Gilson

Silke Ledlow 
Stacey Schafer
Tara Godfrey

Follow us!

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge Facebook Page

Stop by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Birdhouse for the challenge details and to play along with us!

Freshly Made Sketches: Do Anything!

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Rita.

My card is not the direction that I thought I'd go with this sketch, but it had recently occurred to me that my stash of cards to encourage or congratulate my kids was very low.  (It's been a tough year for my oldest. He took a gap year before college - with our blessings because he really wasn't ready. No matter how carefully we laid out our expectations, I think he believed this year would be a big vacation. Wrong! He learned that working full-time at a grocery store, dealing with upset customers, paying bills, getting laundry done, etc. is really, really, REALLY hard. He's been routinely need of encouragement!)

As I paged through my die collection for inspiration was to what to use as the "any shape" on the sketch, I saw this sentiment.

Given that this will be used for a no-frills 20-year old male - I went very simple and let the paper and the die cut do all of the work. I found a pad of paper that had a masculine feel - Simple Stories Urban Traveler - and was thrilled to see one of the papers had a border in a great location for the sketch. I did cut three of the sentiment and layer them up so it stood out a bit more. I'm not going to say that it's my favorite card ever, but it's perfect for what I need!
I hope to see you playing along. Be sure to head over to Freshly Made Sketches and check out the rest of the design team cards - as always, there's an amazing variety of looks using this same sketch!
SUPPLY LIST

Neat and Tangled You Can Do Anything

MFT Fishtail Flags Die

Simple Stories Urban Traveler 6x6

Studio Calico - Wood Veneer Stars

InLinkz.com

Full Bloom for Mother's Day

I've had a die sitting in my not-yet-used stash that seemed absolutely perfect for Mother's Day.  I used it in a fairly subtle way - so be sure to look at all of the pictures!


The main die pops up the petals, but the die set also comes with individual petals so you could add colored or pattern that way. I tried something else. If you look really closely, behind the petalss you can see some color. It's much easier looking at it from an angle.  Here's from the side.

And here it is from the top.

I simply used a scrap piece of cardstock and I sponged three stripes of color.
Happy Mother's Day to my mother-in-law!!
SUPPLY LIST

TE Shade Tree Sentiments	TE Full Bloom	TE Stitched Rectangle Stacklets	TE Lemon Meringue CS
Tim Holtz Distress Spiced Marmalade	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Mustard Seed	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Ripe Persimmon	Doodlebug Bumblebee Glitter Sprinkles

InLinkz.com

Taylored Expressions Release Day: Keep on Truckin'

It's here! All of the new products from Taylored Expressions are now available! Also be sure to head over to the Taylored Expressions blog for a few more sneak peeks and, if you've been leaving comments, see if you are a winner of the giveaways.

I have one more peek for you. 

Another fabulous sentiment set in this release is Keep on Truckin' which includes everything from birthday, to love, to this fabulous sentiment that I used.  (This is a big release for themed sentiments and I love them all. I used Go Beep on  Tuesday. There's also RV There Yet and Paddle Out.)  This new die - On the Road - Truck - with the older embossing folder - Prairie - in the background seemed like the perfect scene for going the extra mile.



In the near future, I want to use the truck with another sentiment in the set - "You're Not Old - You're Vintage".  I have many people in my life for whom this would be perfect! I used the side of a black marker to rub around all of the edges to give it a bit of an older, rustic look.

So it is definitely time to go shopping! But first head over to the Taylored Expressions blog and see if you were one of the winners!!  Have fun!
SUPPLY LIST

Keep on Truckin'	On the Road - Truck	Wispy Grass Border	Banner Stacklets 1
Embossing Folder - Prairie	Embossing Folder - Weathered	Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	Premium Cardstock - Poppy Seed
Premium Cardstock - Earl Grey	Premium Cardstock - Toffee	Premium Cardstock - Red Pepper	TE 6x6 Paper Pack - Summer Nights

InLinkz.com

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day 3: Patriotism and Graffiti

It's day 3 of sneak peeks for the May release from Taylored Expressions!! Today we are featuring patriotic stamp and dies, and a variety of graffiti products.

Be sure to check out all of the other designers starting on the Taylored Expressions blog because there is just too much for one designer to show off in just a few days.

All the products that I have used are linked at the bottom, but remember that new products aren't available until Thursday, May 5, 7 a.m. PST.

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!

Marching On

I really like to make patriotic cards. We have done a lot of them with the youth group at church (along with hand-written letters) to send off to soldiers. Taylored Expressions never loses sight of the need for patriotic stamps and dies and are adding even more to the collection with this release.


This card includes three new products - the Marching On border die, the Freedom Script die, and the Fireworks Embossing Folder. I loved the idea of this parade, all lit up by the fireworks and stars. Of course, the parade isn't explicitly patriotic so could easily be for any celebration.  (BTW - if you are doing this for a soldier, check out the "Thank you for your service" stamp from Of Thee I Sing. My stamp is almost worn out from the church youth group cards! There's also a good one in the Stars & Stripes Stamp & Die Combo.)

Here's the supply list for this card but be sure to keep scrolling down for some graffiti!  Remember - new products aren't available until the release tomorrow.
SUPPLY LIST

Marching On	Freedom Script	Grass Border	Embossing Folder - Fireworks
Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	Premium Cardstock - Blue Corn	Premium Cardstock - Sweet Basil

InLinkz.com

Bold Brushstrokes Graffiti

I love big, bold sentiments that make a statement and can stand on their own. You can easily throw together a quick card. Here's one with a big sentiment from Bold Brushstrokes and a few colorful swipes from Strokes of Genuis 2.


The flower was a bit of an accident. The sentiment was off-center and I didn't want to start from scratch. So I plopped on a flower and problem solved!

Also in this release is a variety of dies related to the graffiti/grunge theme - a trash can, a skateboard, and I used the Little Bits - Spray Paint on this next card that uses the same stamps as above, but is a bit more detailed.

I inked up the brick wall folder with white ink before embossing the paper. I then splashed the background with various shapes and splatters from Stroke of Genius 2 before adding the "awesome" sentiment from Bold Brushstroke.

The whole series of graffiti and grunge stamps and dies is fun to work with - and it can take so many styles. Be sure to check out the Taylored Expressions blog to see all the inspiration from the other designs, and leave a comment while you are there for a chance at prizes.
SUPPLY LIST
HB2U

Bold Brushstrokes	Stroke of Genius 2	Stitched Rectangle Stacklets	Little Bits - Flowers & Stems
Doodlebug Glitter Sprinkles - Limeade

InLinkz.com

You Are Awesome

Bold Brushstrokes	Stroke of Genius 2	Little Bits - Spray Paint	Embossing Folder - Brick
Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	Premium Cardstock - Earl Grey	Premium Cardstock - Red Pepper

InLinkz.com