Monday & Tuesday's Challenges

I'm always wishing I had more time to play along with the Splitcoaststampers challenges. While I didn't play on the actual day for Monday's CAS challenge.  I did play along this week.  The theme was summer and I had these great stickers in my stash.  Pineapples are the taste of summer for me!

I did play on the same day for the color challenge.  The colors were Elegant Eggplant, Soft Sky and Watermelon Wonder. I didn't have the watermelon color in my stash, so I found a substitute. I played around with some Copic markers to get the balloons to look right. I had fun with it, but I think I need a little more practice.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Details - CAS - Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Serpentine Mica; Accessories: Happy and You Know It Gold Foil stickers, Spellbinders Circle Nestabiliities, Basic Grey taffeta ribbon, Scor-tape, Kitchen Weave embossing folder. Color Challenge - Stamps: Chevron Love (Verve); Paper: Soft Sky, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White; Ink: Tuxedo Black, Soft Sky, Craft White; Accessories: Hexagon M-bossabilities, Spellbinders Scalloped Rectangles, corner chomper, Scor-tape, stampin' dimensionals., MFT flat bottom cloud die, Chameleon Marker, Copic Markers, thin satin ribbon, brayer, sponge dauber.

Lesson Learned - A Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company Blog Hop

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

   August Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Lesson Learned Featured August 14
Bring on the Sun Featured August 15
Tree Greetings Featured August 16
Oh Crab Featured August 17

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on August 18, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday August 17, 2012.



Here is my sample for today's set called Lesson Learned.  I had some fun with that stack of books.  I stamped it a couple of times, color them with primary colors and then punched them out.  Next, I sandwiched my sentiment between the books (like book ends) and threaded some taffeta ribbon through an oversized eyelet.  I finished off my ribbon with a burlap twine bow.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to head to Tangii's blog now.

Details - Stamps:  Lesson Learned (MFP); Paper: BG Basics White, Basic Black, Favorite Natural (MFP); Ink: Tuxedo Black, Crumb Cake; Accessories: Crop-a-dile, jumbo eyelet, black taffeta ribbon, burlap twine, Copic markers.

 

The Road Home Inspires

Today, I played along with one of the Flourishes Release Week challenges.  It was tough to get good pictures of the "country roads" around my home.  I did take this picture and I am a little bummed that my roses don't show up hardly at all.  They are the teeny tiny bit of red near that closest telphone pole on the right side of the road.  I want you to know this because we were to draw color inspiration from our country road.  I didn't use my colors in the same proportion as my photo.  I used kraft for the drying grass on the side of the road, gray for the road, yellow from the lane dividing stripe, red for my nearly invisible roses and of course a touch of green for all the glorious trees in my photo.

Here is my card.  It's as rustic and down home as where I live. 

I stamped the wheat for all the tall grasses you see on the road.  I inked up half of my butterfly to get a profile to fit into my design.  I used the burlap twine as a natural fiber found around our little hobby farm.  That sentiment just seemed to fit for today.  Calm is a good summary of the tenor of our home today. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Beauty in Nature (Flourishes), Hello Hyacinths (Flourishes); Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler, unknown dp; Ink: Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake; Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, burlap twine, corner chomper, Linen & Canvas impression plate (PTI).



Sneaky Peek Apple

Hi there!  Today, I am sneaking in a shot at a new image and sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers.  This darling apple and sentiment are from a set called Lesson Learned to be released next week.  After playing with the Color Challenge Design Team at Splitcoaststampers for a whole month, I knew I had to play along with this week's challenge too.  The colors were Old Olive, Midnight Muse and Raspberry Ripple.  I didn't have Midnight Muse, so I substituted some Not Quite Navy.  I switched in some Rose Red for the Raspberry Ripple. I think it worked well.  For the little bit of sheen on my apple, I just sanded down my patterned paper.

We didn't have a great start to our day today.  We got a call from my BIL, who is a local police officer, and he warned us that one of our neighbors had been vehicle prowled during the night.  Sure enough, we had too.  We only lost a small flashlight, but the sense of violation is the worst.  Unfortunately, some of our other neighbors lost a substantial amount of property.  I hope the sheriff's department is swift in their identification of the prowler and recovery of our neighbor's stolen identification and property.

Sooooo, to correct the course of my day, I plan to do some crafting!!  Laundry, veggie picking and cleaning can wait a few hours.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Lesson Learned (MFP); Paper: Whisper White, BG Basics White, Raspberry Tart dsp, Sweet Pea dsp, Patterns Pack dsp; Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive, Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, blender pen, paper snips, sanding block, corner chomper, stampin' dimensionals.

Real Wonder Island

No, it's not a real place, but doesn't it sound good?  It's this week's Color Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  I have the privilege of Guest Designing this month and am having the time of my life.  Fun stuff, I tell you!  Julia is our hostess and she has chosen Real Red, Wisteria Wonder and Island Indigo as her colors.  I immediately loved the colors and began to think of just what I could do with it.  Then I remembered the dessert option, make it a summer garden.  Uh-oh, how do I do that without a little bit of green???  Neutrals are always okay and I didn't want to cheat at all, being a guest designer.  So I opted for summery background paper with dots or spots to fill the gaps.  A couple of rounded corners, a birthday wish and some red and white baker's twine finish off my card for today!

Won't you come play along?  Thanks for stopping by today!

Details - Stamps: Fashion Flowers (HA), So Happy For You, Itty Bitty, Backgrounds; Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Watercolor paper; Ink: Real Red, Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo, Sahara Sand, StazOn Jet Black; Accessories: Corner chomper, 1/8" circle punch, baker's twine, aquapainter, stampin' dimensionals. 

A Sneak Peek and Today's Colors

Greetings!  Today I offer you a sneak peek at one of the July releases for Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company.  I am showing it off with the  colors of the Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge.  I have colored in the cherry blossom image from Asian Delights with Pink Pirouette, Purely Pomegranate and Crumb Cake.  Purely Pomegranate is a retired Stampin' Up! color that I am substituting for the challenge color named Raspberry Ripple.  The dessert option to accompany the color challenge is tearing.  I haven't done this in ages and it was fun to do again.  I popped up a couple leaves and a blossom to add some dimension.  I also used a border punch down the right side of my card for  some more interest.  I thought the sentiment style fitted nicely with the Asian theme of the card.  It's reminiscent of a fortune cookie!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Details - Stamps:  Asian Delights (MFP); Winter Crocus (MFP); Paper: Sweet Tooth White, Crumb Cake, Purely Pomegranate; Ink: Timber Brown, Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Purely Pomegranate, Early Espresso; Accessories: blender pen, paper snips, MS Arch Lattice border punch, stampin' dimensionals, sponge dauber.

A Colorful Surprise

I'm so glad you stopped by today because I have a surprise to share.  Last week, I was invited to be a Guest Designer for the Splitcoaststampers Color Combination challenge.  I gladly accepted and will be playing along for the month of July!!  Today's colors offered by our hostess, Vicki, are White, Crumb Cake and Calypso Coral.  The color challenge also has a dessert option and this week that option is to create a one layer card.

I broke out some of my Stampin' Up! sets for this straighforward card.  I think that I normally stamp light to dark, but it didn't work so well with my craft ink in the mix.  I ended up breaking my own habit and stamped it dark to light.

Thanks for coming by!  Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Details - Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Favorite Thoughts; Paper: Crumb Cake; Ink: Versamark, Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Craft White; Accessories: clear ep, heat tool, corner chomper.

Hey Cowboy - Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company Blog Hop

 Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
April Blog Hop! 
This month's New Stamp Set Releases are
Fabulous Dogs Featured April 17
Daffodil Greetings Featured April 18
Hey, Cowboy! Featured April 19
Train Talk Featured April 20 
Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on April 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday April 20, 2012. 
Lois 
Vicky 
Anne 
Pat G.
Karen H. 
Patty P. 
Mary
Marilynn 
Pam 
Debbie 
Nancy
Bonnie 
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Mark's Finest Papers

My super cool cowboy is brought to you today via a tutorial and a challenge.  I found a great one by my design team mate, Lois.  She named the tutorial Matted Spellbinders Labels and you can find it here.  I also played along with this week's color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The challenge called for Whisper White, Sahara Sand and Basic Gray. Mmmmm, neutral colors, my favorite!  I traced around my die for my gray mat around my cowboy image.  I placed a couple of mini brads in the top right hand corner and finished my card off with a little sponged embossing and some wrapped hemp twine on my card base.

I hope you have enjoyed my little stop on the hop.  Off you go to Tangii now!

Details - Stamps: Hey, Cowboy (Mark's Finest Papers); Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray; Ink: Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Soft Sky; Accessories: Stripes ef, mini brads, hemp twine, Nestabilities, post-its, sponge dauber, scor-tape, stampin' dimensionals. 

Such a Sweet Boat

Isn't this a sweet little boat?  When I saw the colors from the current Touch Twin Marker challenge (Frost Blue, Mint Blue, Terra Cotta and Mahogany), I knew I would be finding a boy image to color!  When I saw the first sketch for October's Viva La Verve, it clicked.  I used the little boat to fit inside the circle and away I went.

The card is pretty simple in design.  I don't happen to have any Touch Twin Markers just yet, so I substituted some colors for what I do have.  I ended up using Soft Sky, Pool Party, Really Rust and Chocolate with a blender pen to make it all work.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Text Objects (Verve); Paper:Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Afternoon Tea dsp; Ink: Soft Sky, Pool Party, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip; Accessories:Tiny Bubbles ef, scallop edge punch, thin chocolate satin ribbon, scor-tape, Kaisercraft chocolate pearls, stampin' dimensionals, circle punches. 

CPS and AJ

That's right, this is from the current CPS sketch challenge.  I wasn't sure how it would work out for me with those half circles.  Now I quite like it.  I also wanted to play my friend Lee's color challenge at Stamp TV because it was in honor of AJ Otto.  AJ is currently battling breast cancer.  While I don't know her personally, I have long admired and been inspired by her work.

I wanted something cheerful, so I opted for the Live Life Loud set to hopefully raise AJ's spirits when she is feeling low!

Speaking of feeling low, I have got a headache that just won't quit.  I'm going to keep this brief and let my card do all the talking!

Details - Stamps:  Live Life Loud (GKD), Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Razzleberry Lemonade, Night and Day specialty dsp; Ink: Melon Mambo, Momento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Elegant Bouquet ef, sanding block, M's rhinestones, Black sharpie, stampin' dimensionals.

Happiness Is...

A card left over from the last VSN!  If you are new to VSN, it stands for Virtual Stamp Night.  It's a good time of stamping with your on-line or in real life friends.  New challenges are posted on the hour with fun challenges based on a theme.  You have 45 minutes to create your card.  That is creating time only, not thinking or finding your supplies time.  You can play all weekend and must post your creations by Monday evening, in order to be eligible for "honors". 

I made this one for Ann's Polly Wanna Cracker challenge.  Ann had us make a card with a bird and bright colors.  How bright is that green?  Love it, especially on a day as gloomy as this one has been.  Our weather took a turn for the worse, boo!  In other, more exciting news, the next VSN starts this Friday!!!  The mini, or warm up is coming and it will consist of 6 challenges!  Yeehaw (wink, wink) and you better get to shopping.  See the list here.  I hope to see you there!

Details - Stamps: Happy Moments, So Happy For You; Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Jillibean Soup White Bean dsp; Ink: Basic Gray, Yo Yo Yellow, Green Galore; Accessories:  silver cording, XL Tasteful Trim die, M's silver pearls, stampin' dimensionals.

My Favorite A-faire

I played along with Papertrey's Stamp-a-faire challenges today.  I finished six out of nine challenges.  This card was my favorite of the bunch.  It is a color challenge based on a card by Lisa Johnson.  She's a fabulous designer and crafter from my neck of the woods.  PTI colors were listed as Ripe Avacado, Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores and Enchanted Evening.  I matched them up to SU colors as best as I could.  I used Old Olive/Always Artichoke, Kiwi Kiss, Pool Party and Pacific Point.  I love the soothing colors and the peace that I feel when I look at it.  I fussy cut this wreath and boy was that a pain! Then I hung the wreath from a little bit of embroidery floss.  It's hard to see in the picture, maybe it's better if you enlarge the picture. 

I had uber-busy day otherwise.  I picked a ton of fruits and veggies today and we finally got some sunshine!  Hooray!

Details: Stamps: A Wreath For All Seasons (PTI); Paper: Pool Party, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Whisper White; Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Always Artichoke, Pacific Point, Versamark; Accessories: White ep, heat tool, paper snips, white embroidery floss, stampin' dimensionals, SU pearls, glue dots. 



One more down, three to go!

Everything will be "just ducky" in about five more days.  The end of the school year is just a bear for me and I am wiped out, so no chit chat for this girl tonight!  Just enjoy a little Verve in some out of characteristic brights for me!

Details: Stamps:To The Moon (Verve), Lucky Ducky ( Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point, Afternoon Tea dsp, Pawsitively Prints dsp; Ink: Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Versamark; Accessories: white ep, heat tool, 1 3/8" square punch, Nestabilities, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals, two way glue pen.

Happy Saturday, Happy VSN!

We have rain forecast for on and off all day!  That makes it a fabulous day to craft, in my opinion.  And lucky for us...we have a full day of VSN in which to do that.  So set up that crock pot and set sail with VSN for our Pirate Party!

This is my card from the first Friday night challenge, hostessed by Beate.  She offered a challenge called Blue Waters and suggested a color challenge (light green, aqua and kraft).  I threw in some white for good measure. 

You see, we have had so much rain that I could probably surf in my pasture.  Okay, you got me, that's a bit of an exaggeration.  But trust me, we have had lots of rain!

I hope to see you over at VSN! Have a great day!

Details:  Stamps: Extreme Surfboard; Paper: Kraft, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White; Ink: Bermuda Bay, Peppermint, Versamark; Accessories: White ep, heat tool, stampin' sponge, white acrylic paint, needle & thread, Chit Chat rub-ons.

A Dash of Color

I really thought that I would post quite a bit more during my spring break, but I have found myself to be quite busy.  It's really been nuts.  We have had swimming lessons and dentist appointments, birthday parties and clam digging.  Whew!  I'm ready to go back to school.

I made this card this morning for a couple of challenges.  Today is the nicest it has been all week.  It was frosty and foggy earlier, but it has all burned off now.  The sun is shining and the birds are singing and I am about to go hang some laundry on the clothesline. 

Before I head out with my clothespins, I share this little number with you.  I made it for Verve's Color Me Spring Diva Dare and an S2S challenge to use color on your card.  Recently, we have had exhausting bouts of rain which resulted in some very minor local flooding and some amazing rainbows.  One night at dinner we saw a fabulous double rainbow (it was really bright) that arched over the neighbors farmhouse!  A bit of joy in the dreary gray...a desperately needed reprieve!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Egg-stra Special (Verve), Blue Skies (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise; Ink: Versamark, Basic Black; Accessories: Nestabilities, white ep, heat tool, papersnips, M's self-adhesive rhinestones, glue dots stampin' dimensionals, corner chomper.

Blessed Butterflies

Late this afternoon, I decided to play along with Papercraft's 3rd Color Inspiration challenge.  I don't know why, but I did.  The colors were Bazzill colors that I don't have (Hot Pink, Pansy, Lily White and Beetle Black).  I got as close as I could tell and I am hoping that my computer showed the colors accurately.  I used some SU colors that I thought matched up well! 

Today, I finally tried using the stamps and Verve A Cut Above dies together.  I don't know what I was waiting for, but it worked like magic!  I love how it looks and will be doing that again soon!

I popped up my purple butterflies and lifted their wings.  They support the wings of my pink butterfly too!

Today is the first day of my spring break and I hope it isn't quite so rainy during the rest of the week!  Thanks for stopping by.

Details - Stamps: Chicks Rule (Verve), Egg-stra Special (Verve), Because of You (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo, vellum; Ink: Versamark, Basic Black; Accessories: white ep, black ep, heat tool, Flutterby die (Verve), paper snips, M's self-adhesive rhinestones, needle and thread, glue dots, stampin' dimensionals.

Emery and the Moon

Another Viva La Verve card here.  I took a few liberties with this sketch too!  Diva Sankari drafted this sketch and while I deeply admire her work, I find it hard to work with her sketches sometimes.  Maybe I over complicate it or maybe it is too many layers and elements for me. 

I do love how this one turned out with the moon!  So fun!

I made sure that the colors on this one worked for the color challenge that my past VSN buddy and current VSN coordinator is hostessing for Shannon's Sentiments.  Michelle chose pink, green and yellow and about double-dog dared me to play along with her challenge when I shared that color challenges are hard for me!

I am super excited for this weekend and the following week.  I'm off work for our spring break and I am hoping to get some crafty time in!  I have spent the last few weekends dedicated to spring cleaning around the rest of the house and it is about time my craft room got some attention too!  Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: To The Moon (Verve), Love Notes (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Parisian Summer dsp, Bella Rose dsp, Certainly Celery dsp; Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron; Accessories: MS Arch Lattice punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, heart punch, Classy Label die (Verve), white organdy ribbon, Sakura Clear Star gel pen, white wcc, stampin' dimensionals, sponge dauber.

Friends

Ah, rejection, my friend!  It's not so bad when I consider the company I am likely to keep with rejection.  I am going to befriend rejection because I am sure there is something for me to learn here.

So....this is a little number I created for a recent Papercraft's Magazine submission.  You see, I would like to have my work published one day.  It's a dream.  In order to me to ever get there, I must submit.  So I have been submitting for a few months now.  I believe it will likely be a long road!

Eyelets seem like they are a bit dated, but I love the look they give here.  They are almost like little portholes!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you had a fabulous weekend.

Details: Stamps: Text Objects (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue; Ink: Versamark, Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Soft Suede; Accessories: Black ep, heat tool, Nestabilities, MM black eyelets, MAMBI twine, D'Vine Swirls ef, stampin' dimensionals.

Got You Diva On?

There is time left for you to get your Diva on too!  This month's Get Your Diva On challenge is hostessed by Tosh.   She is challenging crafters to make a project using neutrals and a splash of color to represent the arrival of Spring. 

I used kraft and white as my neutrals and used red for my pop of color!  I also used Karen's sketch to get me going. 

I'm not sure where the nautical theme came from.  I really tried to carry it throughout the card though.  I hope you see it in my embossing and embellishing as well as my choice of focal image!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Text Objects (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Crumb Cake, BG basics white, Pattern Pack dsp , Welcome Neighbor dsp; Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso; Accessories: D'Vine Swirls ef, MM edge distressor, Nestabilities, MM wire, SU basic eyelets, linen thread, stampin' dimensionals.

A Diva Card and An Award

Got Your Diva On?  Well, I had to give it a try!  Verve stamps is soliciting guest designers via an inspiration challenge this month.  Charmaine is the Verve Diva who has chosen this challenge and it couldn't be a cuter inspiration picture!  Oh my, what a dream come true it would be to design for Verve.  I am happy just using Julee's stamps and sketches! 

I also worked in a Technique Tuesday challenge to use pink and/or red on my card.  I went with pink! 

My card isn't too technical.  I used liquid pearls which I hard ever use and I did some hand stitching (because I am afraid of my machine!)  I also used some pearls and some white wrinkled ribbon I received from Limelight.  I'm pretty sure it is May Arts and I need to get my hands on some more of that, as I just used the last bit of it!

I recently received a couple of awards.  I'm new to this, so forgive if I don't quite get it right!  Fiona sent me this award:

Conditions:

1) You have been tagged, do you want to accept? YES! then create a post on your blog and post the love blog photo.
2) Link back to the person who gave you the award and say if you accept.
3) Choose 3-5 of your favourite blogs to tag, link these in your post too and tell the lucky people they have been tagged.

As the aim of this award is to bring unknown good blogs to light, please don't tag somebody with 3000 followers.

So...my nominees for this award are Keva, Debbie, and Melissa. These are lovely ladies that I have discovered through my own love of Verve. 

I'll save the other award for tomorrow or this will be a crazy monster post!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Love Notes (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Pirouette Pink, Bella Rose dsp; Ink: Sahara Sand, Versamark; Accessories: Jotted Heart Die (Verve), Embossed Oval Die (Verve), scalloped scissors, white wrinkled ribbon, M's self-adhesive pearls, needle & thread, white opal liquid pearls, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots.