My Favorite Things Stamps Day 6: Text and To the Point

It's Day 6 of the Release Countdown at My Favorite Things Stamps.  After today, there is one more day of previews.  Then Tuesday night, at 10 pm EST, the entire design team are doing Product Launch posts and everything is available in the My Favorite Things store.  Just in case you haven't quite decided, there are also posts by the design team on Thursday of Friday with just a few more ideas!!

Today's previews include a new background - Typewriter Text. And there is a truly fun new set by Laina Lamb Designs called To The Point along with a coordinating die for the "pointer".  Check out the "pointer"....


I am SO in love with the "pointer"!!!  It's wonderful with the fun sayings and fonts in the set.  You can actually put together "UR OLD" with this set - ha!!  There are many other sayings - both nice and snarky!
I pulled out a few MFT colors that I hadn't yet used for this card.  The "YOU" is Tangy Orange.  The background paper is Factory Green.  The gray is Steel Blue.  I used Whip Cream - my favorite new off-white - for the main panel, and the text is also stamped in Whip Cream - I like the way it comes up.
I used the Wanna Sketch? from Lisa at dahlhouse designs.

Tomorrow is the last preview post.  It's a sad day for me because it's all coming to an end, but it will also be fun because the stamps and dies are all about celebrations!  
Be sure to head over to the My Favorite Things blog today to leave a comment so that you have a shot at today's prize!

My Favorite Things Stamps Day 3: Doodles and Dots

It's now Day 3 of the Release Countdown from My Favorite Things Stamps.  Only a few more days to go until the full release on the evening of December 10th!

I had a great time getting cards ready for today.  The stamps are by Sunny Day Doodles and are called Be Your Best Self.  For some unknown reason, I don't have any of the previous Doodles in my collection.  I'm glad to have this set and I'm sure more will find their way into my collection!  My first card leaves the sentiment mainly black and white and shows that the stamps work well in a very clean and simple setting.


Also on this card are the Layered Hearts Border Die, a "button" and background from Blueprints 6, and a tag from the Pierced Traditional Tag STAX. (BTW - if you ever decide to get the pierced tags, know that the non-pierced Traditional Tag STAX is just slightly bigger so are perfect for layering behind the pierced tags.)  The colors on this card are Electric Red and Steel Grey.
I also want to show you another stamps from Sunny Day Doodles Be Your Best Self because it is one of my very favorite quotes.  This card also shows off the new Polka Dot Cover Up Die-namics.  This card is a little bit fussier than the first card. I didn't color the entire sentiment - just gave it some pops of color.

The little flags are from Blueprints 10 which was introduced on Day 1 of the Release Countdown.  The button is Lemon Drop.  The cardstock colors are Grape Jelly (the darker purple), Grapesicle, Sour Apple and Lemon Drop.  I used the Pierced Rectangle STAX for the sentiment, but I cut it down a little bit.  It's easy with the pierced markings because they kind of lock into place.  Just slide the die up and down or side to side until it "clicks" into place and you have a perfect re-sized cut.

My card uses the current sketch from Mojo Monday.

One last card for today.  The other item being previewed today is a full alphabet and full set of numbers - in the round.  They are the Negative Dot Alphabet Die-namics and the Negative Dot Numbers Die-namics.  We have a big birthday coming up in my house in less than a month - and the numbers worked perfectly!

The sentiment is from Birthday Sentiments and the background is the Woodgrain Background.  The tag is the from the Pierced Traditional Tag STAX.  I needed something to top it off under the twine - so I used one of the pierced circle from Blueprints 10 and folded it in half.  The star in the circle is also from Blueprints 10.  The twine is Natural Hemp Cord.

I have said that one of my goals during my time as a guest for My Favorite Things is to show off colors. Since this card is for a teenage boy, I looked through my color ring and decided to show off Safety Orange. I have to admit that I thought that was a funny name since I would have expected something with that name to be an almost neon orange.  But this is a rich brown mustard color.  I really like blues with oranges so added Blu Raspberry which is the darkest of the aqua colors available at My Favorite Things.  Black seemed too dark so I finished it off with Steel Grey.

Be sure to head over (or back) to the My Favorite Things blog.  There is lots of great inspiration from the design team and be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a gift certificate!

See you tomorrow!

Addicted to Fresh Squeezed, CAS and Sketchbook!!

A few days ago, my must-make-ASAP list included an anniversary card.  The card was for a younger couple so I wanted it to be "fresh" and unique.  I was immediately drawn to the sketch at Sketchbook Saturday with the idea of a splash of hearts (see sketch below).  I was also thrilled to see that the challenge at Addicted to CAS was "Anniversary".

Then I was stuck.  I am embarrassed to admit how long it took me to realize that I had just praised Fresh Squeezed Stamps for being "fresh" yet I didn't immediately go to my collection to see if I had the stamps to do an anniversary card.  Guess what?  I do!!  So I made sure that I took pictures before I mailed it - then kept it for today because it's my day to post on the Fresh Squeezed blog!

I love the Polaroid frame with its three little stripes.  It's from On Trend 2013 which also has the little sparkles that I used here.  The little people are from Breath of Fresh Flair which includes a totally fun and unique variety of stamps!  I used the sentiment from You Said It, Sister but I cut it in half so that it would fit.

If you haven't tried cutting clear stamps - try it!  It really increases the usability of the sets!  But I would highly recommend that you cut a stamp with a curve or other unique shape so that you can easily fit the stamp back together.  If you cut straight through the stamp - it becomes very difficult to line up again when you want to put it back together.  Here's a straight cut.

Can you imagine trying to get it lined up again on an acrylic block?

So cut with a curve or a squiggle so it fits back together perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle!

Kim's Tip of the Day!!  Hope it helps!

Paper Smooches: Royal Cuteness

I've said a number of times that I am surrounded by boys and men and I work with numbers - so there isn't a lot of "cuteness" in my life.  But sometimes I just have to be girly.  Although personally I had no good reason to own this new set from Paper Smooches, I had to play with it.

(Actually I can justify just about any card since I am collecting a boxful for Operation Write Home There just has to be a big, tough soldier out there who wants to send this to a girl back home, doesn't there??)


This was so fun to play with - it was like dressing a paper doll.  I tried a number of dresses on her, but decided I liked the bold, summery look.  (Even when I'm trying to be girly, I still don't pull out pink!)

• Stamps: Paper Smooches Royal Cuteness, Streamers (the banner), Chit Chat (the sentiment), We Connect (the ampersand)
• Paper: Pebbles Seen and Noted (their clothes), Stampin' Up Island Indigo dsp
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Royal Icons dies, Ampersands dies, Streamers dies

CAS(E) this Sketch! An African Violet Love You!

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!  I actually had a ton of ideas for this one!

I ended up keeping it fairly simple and also using one of the Pantone Colors from Jackie's Pantone Fashion Color Challenge - African Violet.  I'm not much into purples of any variety - but I like the soft look of this card.


I hope to see you play along with this one!

• Stamps: Avery Elle Oh Happy Day
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Winter Wisteria
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Winter Wisteria
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Love Lives Here die (butterfly), Memory Box Lorelai die (leaf), Papertrey Ink button

Paper Smooches: You Had Me at Merlot!

This is my second post today!

From the moment that I saw this stamp set, I knew exactly what I wanted to do!  With the fun sentiment - "you had me at merlot" - I had to create a little romance between the wine bottle and the goblet!!


The set is called Free Spirits and you can get it for free during September with a $60 purchase!  

I am having great fun this month as guest designer for Paper Smooches.  I have two more Wednesdays to go - you'll see another Free Spirits card - and one more romantic, fairy-tale card with Royal Cuteness.
I was inspired by the sketch at Paper Smooches SPARKS.  I had the little love scene created and the word bubble.  Then I saw how closely it worked with the current sketch - and it inspired me to add the little "XO" embossing!

• Stamps: Paper Smooches Free Spirits, Shadows (the oval)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry
• Ink: Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry, Smoky Slate, Papertrey Ink Soft Stone
• Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, Ranger Glossy Accents, Martha Stewart Crystal Fine Glitter, Ellen Hutson Wine Sequins

CAS(E) this Sketch! love & kisses

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!.  For some reason this simple sketch gave me headaches.  I think it's the placement of those two little buttons in the center.  I wanted to put them near the top or the bottom, but I challenged myself to make it work. (That's why they call these challenges!!!)

I just got the Paper Smooches set We Connect.  It's a set of love words and three fun ampersands (plus dies).  I got the entire set for the ampersands.  Sad, huh?  So I figured I had better use the words right away so they actually see ink!



And look...my embellies are in the middle - just where they are in the sketch!

I guarantee that the rest of the design team didn't have much trouble with the sketch as there are amazing cards in the gallery.  Check it out at CAS(E) this Sketch! then be sure to play along!

(I'm also submitting this to the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge.)

• Stamps: Paper Smooches We Connect, Art Impressions Lips
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow, Simple Stories 24/7 dsp
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow, Pure Poppy
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Fine Linen button, MME enamel dots, Divine Twine Black Licorice

Curtain Call: You Make My World Go Round

It's time for more inspiration from Curtain Call!!

The new challenge is called Carnival Craze.

The sponsor for this challenge is Lawn Fawn and The Lead gets their choice of a stamp set!!  The Curtain Call design team is playing with two Lawn Fawn sets that fit this challenge: Blue Skies (which includes hot air balloons, clouds and banners) and I get to play with Admit One (merry-go-rounds and ferris wheels and cotton candy!)


Isn't this just the sweetest ferris wheel?  You should see the cute little merry-go-round in the same set!
You have until August 25th to be inspired and to create something for Carnival Craze.  I would love to see you play along!  And if you want all of the design team cards, inspiration and the winners in one place - but sure to follow the Curtain Call boards on Pinterest!
This is also most definitely a summer card - I don't typically do summery cards simply because I really hate being hot, so summer is not my favorite time.  But as it is actually a summer card - I'm going to link it up over at Addicted to CAS also! 

• Stamps: Lawn Fawn Admit One
• Paper: Melon Mambo
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Versamark
• Accessories: Lawn Fawn Admit One dies, Lawn Fawn Pink Lemonade cord, Memory Box Carnival Tickets die, My Favorite Things Fishtail die, Papertrey Ink Sunshine Impression Plate

Seize the Sketch: Batty in Love

There was no way that I was going to miss the first sketch at Seize the Sketch!  I'm almost at the bottom of my Paper Smooches order so I was somewhat limited to a bat!  But what does a bat do - hang upside down - and the sketch had a wonderful opportunity for twine for him to hang from!

I don't think I'm done with this sketch yet.  I'm eyeing another set in my new stash that I think would work well...maybe later!

I have been very busy getting organized.  I love the act of organizing - it leads to a fresh start and I love that feeling.  This time I decided to put together a chart of inks.  I've downloaded or created charts for Memento and the Distress Inks and Papertrey and Stampin' Up.  But I had a really bad moment.  I have 113 different Stampin' Up ink colors.  My collection  goes back to colors I'm betting none of you remember - Mint Melody, Mauve Mist - those are going way back.  But look at this...how did I let this happen?

I didn't even know that I didn't have it - so clearly I've never used it.  But...that didn't stop me from jumping on EBay and completing my collection.  Sad, huh??

And I have a question.  Does anybody "understand" Hero Arts inks?  I was looking for a chart of all of their inks and there are a ton of downloadable charts available.  But none of them include all of the inks.  On the Hero Arts site, there is this chart and then there is this chart but there are tons of colors besides what is on those charts.  I love Pale Tomato but it doesn't show up anywhere.  Did they have a big color overhaul?  I'm doubting they retired all of those missing colors because if they did, they didn't leave themselves with many.  Anybody follow Hero Arts?

• Stamps: Paper Smooches Falling for You
• Ink: Memento Black and Copics
• Paper: Stampin' Up Basic Gray
• Accesories: Timeless Twine Cape Cod, Ellen Hutson Daffodil Sequins, Ranger Glossy Accents, Paper Smooches Falling for You dies

The Color Throwdown 5th Anniversary! Love Is In the Air

The Color Throwdown has been giving us color inspiration for five years!  I haven't even been in the blog world for 5 years.  My blog opened on November 13, 2010.  My first color throwdown card was just 4 days later on November 17th.  So they have been an important part of my crafting career!!

I've waited a little long to participate in their fifth anniversary - it's closing by end of day today!  They are having a big party with lots of prizes and a ton of great inspiration from current and past design team members.

I played around with a number of ideas.  Most of what I was playing with involved coloring images. Have any of you had the experience that lots and lots of your Copic markers are going dry all at once? I think we all jumped on the bandwagon at about the same time - and so my markers are all about the same age and are all failing.  Sadly, even though I had a cute image for this challenge - my markers coordinating with Crumb Cake and So Saffron aren't functional.

So...new direction...I also had new-to-me dies on my desk (NBUS!!! Never Before Used Schtuff!).  I have loved the stitched squares and rectangles from Li'l Inker Designs.  When I decided to order the stitched circles I also filled my cart with a number of other basic dies - sun, clouds, balloons and the instant camera die.  I love the added interest of the stitching on their dies!


Thank you to Color Throwdown for five inspiring and fun years!!

• Stamps: Li'l Inkers Balloon Builder, Hero Arts tweed background
• Paper: Stampin' Up So Saffron CS and dsp, Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake
• Ink: Memento Black, WPlus9 White
• Accessories: Li'l Ink dies: Stitched Rectangles, Large Sunshine, Rainbow and Clouds, Balloons; Trendy Twine Strawberry Cupcake twine, misc heart gem

The Alley Way Stamps: You Are My Everything

Very sadly, this is my last post as part of the design team for The Alley Way Stamps.  I LOVE their stamps and the hardest thing about not being part of the team is that I've seen the new stamps for the next three months and they are fabulous.  (Or maybe that's a good thing because I can manage my budget around buying new stamps.)  Sneak peeks for July started yesterday on their blog.

For today, I am re-inspiring you for the current BE Inspired challenge.  I love the fresh colors and the "sweet" photo for this challenge.

To keep my card sweet and simple, I pulled out Lighter Than Air.  I used coral and turquoise with just a hint of "sugar" on the heart!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Lighter Than Air
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet
• Ink: Memento black, Copics
• Accessories: L'il Inkers stitched squares, Divine Twine Black Licorice, Fruit Punch Stickles

TAWS BE Inspired: Crazy About You

The current BE Inspired challenge at The Alley Way Stamps is a rainbow of color on a black background.

I'm not a black background kind of cardmaker - but decided to give it a try.

I wasn't entirely certain about this card, so I asked my men and boys.  They liked it!  You have to understand that they don't say they like things just to spare my feelings.  Typically they tell me that my cards have "too much".  Really?  My cards??  They will also tell me they don't like the bling, or the colors, or that I have a smudge or that I colored out of the lines.  It's a good thing that I have a healthy ego.  So...while this card may not totally appeal to me...it appeals to my men/boys who don't want "too much"!  (On the other hand, each of them - even the teenagers -have kept the cards that I have made them over the years!!)I was inspired by the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Lighter than Air (sentiment), Tag-alongs (chevron)
• Paper: scrap
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Scarlet Jewel button, Divine Twine Black Licorice

A Bird Brain Anniversary

Hallelujah!  I turned in my final Marketing paper last night.  This has been a very, very tough class.  It seemed no matter how hard I worked, the professor did not quite like what I did.  Sadly, new classes start right away today.  But I have already decided that since the marketing class almost destroyed my desire for a second college degree, I am only taking a half load this time so I can relax a little and find my enthusiasm again (and make cards more than a couple of times a week!)

Thank you to all of you who helped with my marketing survey - it's amazing how many people across the country absolutely agreed on the pros and cons of shopping at Michaels.  And thank you to all of you who have continued to leave comments on my rare posts even though I'm not making it over to your blogs.  I am definitely reading everybody's blogs - it's been my mid-day sanity break - but I just haven't found the time to comment.

I'm so glad that the pressure is off for now - because it's release week at The Alley Way Stamps.  Check out their blog - the last few days have had previews of everything from a Yeti to delicate doilies!

Today is just as fun.  The moment that I got these stamps, I knew what I was going to do.

I've been married for quite awhile.  And at some point in the marriage, with never-ending life changes, unemployment and too much employment, teenage boys behaving like teenage boys and now college courses - you start to realize that you have spent most of the marriage looking just like this...wide-eyed, shell-shocked and more than a little frazzled!


Guess what?  If you head over to The Alley Way Stamps blog - you have a chance to win this set!
Tomorrow is the full blog hop with fun prizes and sneak peeks of all the sets - so be sure to come back.  (Now I have to go decide whether I am in a Yeti mood or a doily mood for my blog hop card...hmmm?)

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Bird Brain (released May 1)
• Paper: Simple Stories Urban Traveler 6x6
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Maya Road Wood Twigs, L'il Inkers Stitched Mat Rectangles

Avery Elle Monthly Challenge

The challenge this month at Avery Elle is a wonderful misty ocean photo.  It reminds me so much of some of our favorite vacations on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  One of the best was for my husband's "big" birthday - we had a gorgeous house right on the beach and had all of his family together.  My sons brought friends so they were 100% occupied and I just got to recline on the beach and relax.  It's the same kind of beach as is in the inspiration photo - it's not bright, colorful and sunny.  It's misty and wonderfully relaxing!  I thought I would prepare ahead for our next anniversary and make a "love you" card that is reminiscent of that beach!

• Stamps: Avery Elle Ikat, Lots of Love
• Paper: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand
• Ink: Stampin' Up Marina Mist, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand
• Accessories: Timeless Twine Krazy for Kraft, SU star brad

Little Girls & Teen Boys

I just finished up my last two Valentines and they are such a fun contrast, I thought I would post them together!!

First, for my sweet little niece - lots of pink and a teddy bear!!


I used the sketch from The Sweet Stop.

Then I still had one more to make - for my 13-year old son.  He couldn't care less about the card - it's just an annoying little thing to open before he gets to the chocolate!!  But I do care - so even though it would have been a waste of time to put a lot of time into it, I still wanted something special.  I think the randomly colored chevron adds the special touch!  And the sentiment is perfect - I'm either saying he's kind of cute or I'm yelling at him - there doesn't seem to be anything in between!

I used the colors from Sunday Stamps.

Hopefully you have Valentines plans.  Sadly, I haven't even thought about it.  I know my husband and I don't have a date because we will be busy get kids back and forth to wrestling, basketball games (the band!), etc.  But I do have big boxes of chocolate for all of my men and that's probably all they really want!

Teddy Bear

• Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Love from Rhubarb, Avery Elle Lots of Love
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Hibiscus Burst, Doodlebug sugar & spice
• Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Copics, Papertrey Hibiscus Burst
• Accessories: Trendy Twine Tickled Pink

Chevrons

• Stamps: Avery Elle Lots of Love, To the Point
• Paper: Stampin' Up Early Espresso
• Ink: Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Marina Mist, More Mustard

For a Gumdrop Lover

I have been married for 23 1/2 years to a gumdrop, jelly bean, gummi bear lovin' man and I think I finally have the perfect Valentine's card!!


Now I just have to stop by Sprouts and buy a big bag of bulk gumdrops!!
The sentiment was actually created as a square-shaped two line sentiment.  (It's from The Alley Way Stamps adoraBOWL.)  Never be afraid of cutting your stamps so they fit.  I played a long time trying to create a card with the square sentiment and it just didn't work.  My only advice is to cut the stamp with some sort of curve so that it can easily be fit back together in perfect alignment.

The gumdrop is from a new set by The Alley Way Stamps called Tiny Treasures.  A few weeks ago for the new release blog hop, I used the mushroom, lighthouse, fish and pinwheel.  My plan for today was to use the bird and/or the snail.  You can see there is quite a variety of stamps in this set!!  But then I saw the new challenge from Addicted to CAS: Candy.  I can't believe that I hadn't put two and two together earlier to create this candy card for my hubby!!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Tiny Treasures, adoraBOWL
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake
• Ink: Stampin' Up Real Red, Green Galore, Pumpkin Pie
• Accessories: Ranger Glossy Accents, Martha Stewart Crystal Fine glitter, Timeless Twine, Papertrey Ink Take Three die, Mark Richards silver metal hearts

Retrosketches with some Papertrey Love

This is my second post today!

A number of challenges came together for me this week (I love it when that happens!!).  There is a new sketch at retrosketches.

I didn't really want to use a heart because I am pretty much done with Valentine's Day.  In digging through my die stash, I found the notched flower dies from Papertrey Ink.  This made me think about the fact that there is a lot going on at PTI this month with their sixth anniversary.  One of the things going on is CASing their design team and the prize is the first $300 of stuff on your wishlist.  Wouldn't that be nice?  Of course, they have hundreds and hundreds of entrants, but you can't win if you don't try!!

I have always liked this card from Maile Belles.  I've actually totally CASed it already - but I wanted to focus on what I like best - the neutral, soft gray background and the pop of vibrant color.

At the point that I was picking the sentiment - I remembered another challenge at A Passion for Papertrey: Love Is In the Air.  So after my attempt to avoid a heart - I still ended up with a love card!!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Signature Greetings, Turning a New Leaf
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Soft Stone, Raspberry Fizz, Simply Chartreuse, Summer Sunrise dp and Vellum Cardstock
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Soft Chartreuse, Memento black
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Notched Flower die, Turning a New Leaf die, Summer Sunrise button, Impression Plate, misc twine, Spellbinder rectangle die

I Quite Like You a Lot

I love this sweet little sentiment by WPlus9 and wanted to make sure that it ended up on a Valentine this year.


I pulled it out to play along with the challenge at Cloud9 - use WPlus9 stamps with this inspiration photo.

When I saw the photo, I immediately thought of the banners - lots of little squares and hearts - but I had planned to dress up each banner a little differently.  One with a punch flower, one with a button, one with a twine bow, etc. to give the same busy look as the photo.  But I got them stamped, then saw the little wood bird on the floor under my craft desk - and I decided to quit right there!  I wanted to keep it as simple and sweet as the sentiment. 

• Stamps: WPlus9 Banner Love and Quite Like You
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and Pretty in Pink dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Real Red, Crumb Cake, Pretty in Pink
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake ribbon, Studio Calico Wood Veneer bird, misc gem

CAS on Sunday with TAWS

There's a new challenge out there called CAS on Sunday and this week's challenge is a CAS Valentine.  This fit perfectly with my "job" to re-inspire you for The Alley Way Stamps BE Inspired challenge.  The challenge picture is this very simple mug and cookies!

I was inspired by the stack of cookies which I changed to a polka-dot harlequin border(!?) and the one big bold heart.

I also have to give credit to Catered Crop for their polka dot inspiration.  I originally started out with a plain yellow harlequin strip (actually I originally ORIGINALLY started with a red strip) but it seemed too heavy.  I was ready to give up on this simple card when I saw the Catered Crop polka dot challenge.  I pulled out the brightest polka dots that I had and it works!!
(Hey Carol!!  Yes...I changed it again after you left!!)
I hope you are feeling inspired because these challenges go perfectly together!!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Mad Gab
• Paper: Stampin' Up Polka Dot Parade
• Ink: Memento black
• Accessories: Dress It Up button, Timeless Twine Lemonade Yellow, Close to my Heart Bitty Sparklers, My Favorite Things Harlequin die