sparkling adventure (with many oopses)

 I knew I hadn't posted in a while - but, since April?  Oops!  I think I'm the only one who notices, though.  I have a few new stamp sets that need inking, and the sketch #441 at Paper Craft Crew sparked my imagination:

stamp sets - A Wish for Everything, Sparkle of the Season (on envelope); ink - Night of Navy; card stock - Balmy Blue, Night of Navy, Ombre Specialty; punch - Detailed Trio; Stampin' Cut dies - Word Wishes, Seasonal Swirls, Basic Borders; Stampin' Emboss folder - Timeworn Type

I seem to have not used the new stamp set other than on the envelope (oops), but that counts, right?  I used a new die set and a new embossing folder, though, and the new sparkling ombre specialty paper that I forgot I bought (oops)

I intended to be completely faithful to the sketch, but I needed the bat to cover an imperfection in the punched corner of the square (oops) and then I forgot all about the sequins (oops, again).  It's a good thing for me that perfection is not required for card making or for participation at Darnell's fabulous NBUS Challenge!

Twofer NBUS Challenge adventure

 Recently, I've been working through my overly large and growing collection of Never-Before-Used-Stuff, and I had just decided that this stamp set was next, when the Twofer Card Challenge prompt #31 ~ Trees appeared in my feed reader (which I'm also working through).  Well, obviously this had to happen:

Can you tell which one I colored first? (lol)  I made the one on the left as a Thanksgiving card, but I haven't stamped the inside yet, so it could end up as a birthday card, since this set includes a Happy Birthday stamp.  Or I could just write a note inside, but I'm not much of a note writer anymore.  The cabin stamp has trees, but to be sure, I also used the same embossing folder on both cards - no one said the trees had to have leaves, right?

stamp set - Rustic Retreat; ink - Balmy Blue, Cinnamon Cider, Shaded Spruce, Stazon Saddle Brown; Stampin' Write markers - Cinnamon Cider, Shaded Spruce, Misty Moonlight, Bumblebee, Seaside Spray; Stampin' chalk marker; Stampin' Blends - light & dark Smoky Slate; card stock - Very Vanilla, Bumblebee, Cinnamon Cider, watercolor paper; Stampin' Emboss folder - Woodland; Stampin' Cut dies - Stitched Nested Labels

stamp set - Rustic Retreat; ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Old Olive; Stampin' Blends - light Crumb Cake, dark Old Olive, light & dark Smoky Slate, light & dark Soft Suede; card stock - Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Old Olive; Stampin' Emboss folder - Woodland; Stampin' Cut dies - Layering Ovals

I've mentioned before that I live in a log home in a clearing in the woods, so you KNOW I couldn't pass up this stamp set.  It made this challenge nearly non-challenging, as it includes several sentiments and more images, also.  Embarrassingly, I bought it in January and today is the first time I used it.  

I've been trying to decide what happened to me - I stopped reading blogs (over 2000 unread posts in the stamping and card making category alone!) and I made ZERO Christmas cards from February through July.  It's not as if I haven't had time - we've been home since March, and there were no Card Buffet events to prepare for.  Then I realized that's what happened.  With no events to prepare for, who was going to care if I wasn't making cards?  If I weren't making cards, why would I be looking for inspiration?  And, I think I had a subconscious reaction to everything being cancelled that made me feel as if Christmas would be cancelled.  So now it's September, and I need more than 100 cards in less than 3 months.  I guess I better quit typing and get back to stamping!

just a few more challenge adventures

In addition to the other challenges I've posted about this year, I set myself a personal challenge to use every new stamp set at least once before putting them away.  Pick a Pennant was another set I received free for attending OnStage this year.  It's also another that I wouldn't have ordered for myself, but only because I have another small alphabet set.  The pennants make this one unique, though, so I was glad to put it to use with the Color Throwdown palette:

stamp set - Pick a Pennant, ink - Soft Saffron, Calypso Coral, Pool Party; card stock - Whisper White, Lemon Lime Twist, Calypso Coral, Pool Party; Stampin' sponge

I love those little tassels!

I told you not long ago about #dwpb100things, and last week I made thing 13 by using the last bit of spray paint from the back of my cabinet to alter the Army green index card file box I've used for several years to house my ICAD collection:

I planned to cover the bubbled-up rust spot with lettering but they didn't balance out right that way.  Oh well, it's still far better this year than ever before!.  And speaking of ICAD, today marks the end of week two in #dyicad2018; I've counted each week as a "thing" so today's card completes thing 21!  

I'm attempting to keep it simple this year so I have a better chance of completing 61, so I decided on Sharpie markers and twice through the alphabet (upper and lower case) with a few numbers thrown in at the end.

I've also given myself permission to double count the cards I'm making for #365somethings2018, so cards 131 through 137 of my #365cards2018 are also thing 18:

I'm about 30 cards behind on this one, but still pretty confident I can hit 365 by December 31.  How are you doing on your challenges?  Let me know where to find you and I'll try to share some encouragement!

adventure with new FREE stuff

The everlasting Lovely as a Tree stamp set was one of my early Stampin' Up!® purchases, which I'm sure you've heard before, here and elsewhere.  The newly released Rooted in Nature set was the first thing on my wishlist from the 2018-2019 catalog.  Lucky me, it was one of the table giveaways at OnStage and still available when it was my turn to choose!  I've used it to make many cards already; this is the latest, for which I referenced yesterday's Sketch Saturday offering:

stamp set - Rooted in Nature; ink - Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Versamark; card stock - Sahara Sand, Whisper White

I'm as surprised as you are that the Big Shot didn't appear in my tools list! There is a coordinating set of thinlits (and of course they were on my first order), but the cross-section piece is easy enough to hand cut, and the set is big enough (12!) as it is.

I also received the Animal Outing set at OnStage, as all attendees did.  It wouldn't have made it to my wishlist, so I had to work a bit harder to put it to use.  For this one I used the Freshly Made Sketches challenge:

stamp set - Animal Outing; ink - Memento Tuxedo Black Soft Suede; Stampin' Blends - Crumb Cake light & dark, Smoky Slate dark, Old Olive light, Bronze; Stampin' Write marker - Soft Suede; card stock - Crumb Cake, Granny Apple Green, Whisper White; Big Shot with Layering Circles framelits

an all-day adventure

I started out thinking I would make a quick card with a NeverBeforeUsedStamp set (it has been out on the counter for a couple of months), the CAS Colours & Sketches sketch, and the just-posted-today Color Throwdown challenge.  I completely mis-stamped the background image on the white card base, and while I was trying to decide whether to add a slightly smaller layer of white, I smudged ink at the very edge.  Since that meant the layer was going to have to be full-card size, white didn't seem like the right choice.  I badly mis-stamped the background image twice more, so one of the gray layers ended up in the recycle bin.  When the edge of the stamp made an appearance on the fourth try, it became a design element.  The tag element that I prepared first was too large, and not really lavender.  I found a better choice for the tag image and a better choice for lavender, and eventually I found a sentiment I thought would work, so I finally got this:

stamp sets - Rose Wonder, Background Bits (hostess); ink - Smoky Slate; Stampin' Write markers - Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz; card stock - Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Smoky Slate; Big Shot with Lots of Labels framelits

At that point (after a lunch break), I wanted to use the tag I'd stamped earlier, so I made a green mat for it and went searching for a sketch or something to use it with.  I remembered that the main color was included in the Fab Friday challenge that closes tomorrow, but since green was not one of the colors, I made a new mat.  I didn't find a new sketch, and was running low on both patience and time, so the layout probably looks familiar:

stamp sets - Tranquil Tulips (hostess), You're Inspiring; ink - Sweet Sugarplum, Pear Pizzazz, Powder Pink (on envelope only); card stock - Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Powder Pink; Big Shot with Lots of Labels framelits

If you've been keeping score, you know that there is still a green tag/mat loose on my desk.  It is probably going to be relegated to the big box o' bits n' bobs, because I've pretty much had enough of this adventure today; there are new ideas chasing each other around inside my head, and I haven't yet checked off my daily to-do list, so it isn't going to be a priority.

adventures with pretty paper

Like many paper crafters, I have a problem with pretty paper - there's so much of it, and it's so pretty, and I always end up owning more of it than I can use.  It's not that I don't use it, (well, ok, there is some I can't bring myself to use), but I can't seem to use it up.  I bought only one package from the current catalogs, the Wood Textures (my brother and I live in log homes, my daughter used log slices in her wedding decor; I *had* to have it).  But then a second package arrived as an incentive prize from my upline, and a third package was free with an order, and there was another incentive prize this weekend, and now there's a  fourth package in my storage drawer!  It's not my fault, really ;)

Since the newest prompt at Stampin' Up Only Challenges is to CASE a catalog project, it seemed like a really good idea to use some of that brand new paper, so I turned to page 4 in the Occasions catalog, where I found two great ideas:

stamp set - Birthday Wit; ink - Bermuda Bay, Berry Burst; card stock - Lemon Lime Twist, Peekaboo Peach, Bermuda Bay; designer series paper - Picture Perfect Party; Big Shot with Simple Stripes Textured Impressions™ embossing folder

I don't have the coordinating stamp set or the paper ribbon, so I made a few minor changes.  The candles on this card make it perfect for the optional topping at Seize the Birthday, but that challenge closed earlier today (not midnight tonight as I mistakenly thought).  It's a fun card, though, and since the usual theme at Seize the Birthday is Anything Goes, maybe one of these weeks I'll remember to link up while a challenge is still active!

stamp set - Amazing You (Sale-A-Bration); ink - Berry Burst; card stock - Whisper White, Peekaboo Peach; designer series paper - Picture Perfect Party

current challenge adventures

If you've been following along, you will have noticed that I've had some "issues" with the cards I've posted recently.  My theory is that it's because I've been pushing myself a bit to keep up with the challenges I've accepted.  I'm grateful today that I'm current on all of them!  Here are cards 37 through 43, five of which went together without issue:

I'm hoping you noticed the Christmas card in the back row center - here it is again, as part of Twofer Card Challenge #2, where the prompt is Hearts:

Of course, I've convinced myself that I was particularly clever in using not just the EXACT same die for both hearts, but actually it's just one heart; I've used both the die cut and the negative from one pass through my Big Shot ;)  

The Christmas card was inspired by the Jingle Belles' prompt of A-Coloring We Will Go.  I colored the bird last month, and cut him out as well, but couldn't decide what to do with him.  When the new Twofer Challenge posted, I searched Christmas, Cardinal and Heart on Pinterest and found this felt ornament - wow!  Unfortunately the link no longer works, but it gave me the inspiration I needed.  I was still dealing with issues, though.  I attempted to cut the heart through the front of a card base - it was both crooked and off-center, necessitating some serious trimming.  Then I was a little rough with the bird and broke off the leg on the right - it's been mended, but doesn't he look a bit spraddle-legged?  Maybe it's just me...

stamp sets - Best Birds, Christmas Pines; ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Smoky Slate; Stampin' Blends; Stampin' Write marker - Basic Black; card stock - Whisper White, Soft Sky, Smoky Slate; Big Shot with Sweet & Sassy framelits and Woodland textured impression folder

And, making use of a NBUS stamp set that has so many options I temporarily had a bit of creativity paralysis, the companion card, a bit more Clean And Simple:

stamp set - Waterfront; ink - Marina Mist, Soft Sky, Peekaboo Peach, Fresh Fig, Always Artichoke; Big Shot with Sweet & Sassy framelit

adventures with feminine/masculine

I'm preparing for a card-making party, for which the hostess requested a Mother's Day card.  I knew I wanted to use Beautiful You and Blooms & Bliss, but I didn't have a layout in mind. I looked through the challenges I'm familiar with, and I think Hand Stamped Sentiments had exactly what I needed:

stamp sets - Beautiful You, Circle of Spring; ink- Basic Gray, Sweet Sugarplum; card stock - Whisper White, Sweet Sugarplum, Rich Razzleberry, Blushing Bride; designer series paper - Blooms & Bliss; Big Shot with Layering Circles and Wonderful Wreath framelits 

At the Watercooler, Gail requested masculine cards, and I've made quite a few flowery feminine cards lately; I needed a break, and an excuse to test out my new dynamic (extra-deep) embossing folder.  This time, I needed a color palette, and again went browsing through challenges - this one is from Create with Connie and Mary:

stamp set - Nailed It; ink - Smoky Slate; card stock - Whisper White, Emerald Envy, Crushed Curry; designer series paper - Party Animal; Big Shot with Hexagons Dynamic textured embossing folder

Wacky Watercooler September Mix-up adventure

Although I haven't been in a blog hop for several (too many!) months, the watercooler gang is still going strong and hopping monthly. Pin or bookmark the Home site so you can keep up with all the wonderful creations!  This month I'm sandwiched between two amazing artists, Bev and Priscilla - you can hop to either blog using the buttons at the end of this post.  Keep hopping until you've been to all the participants - you'll want to see all the Stampin' Up!® Annual and Holiday Catalog creations mixed-up in this free-for-all!

My first project doubles up on the wonderfulness of the watercooler - I've been experimenting with ombre for Jean's Colour Challenge.  I had trouble deciding (I know, no surprise there) which colors to use but I think the ColourMe! challenge provided the right answer:

supplies available from the Annual Catalog unless noted HC (HolidayCatalog):

stamp set - Serene Silhouettes, The Wilderness Awaits; ink - Archival Basic Black (HC), Garden Green, Island Indigo, Pacific Point; card stock - Garden Green, Island Indigo, Whisper White; baker's twine - Whisper White; Stampin' Dimensionals

For my next project, I decided to take the free-for-all mix-up theme to an extreme, and do something different - an Altered Playing Card, or APC.  I've always been intrigued by them and the similar Artist Trading Card, or ATC.  I've made a few (very few) ATCs but the only playing cards I own are used for playing games.  Last week I found a playing card from a board game, on the ground next to the township recycle bin - perfect!  (yes, I was tempted to look in the bin for more, but it's a very big bin and I was on my way to dinner.)

all supplies (except other, noted at the end) available from the Annual Catalog:

stamp set - Summer Silhouettes; ink - Island Indigo, Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry; Stampin' Spritzers with re-inker - Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry; Stampin' Glitter - Silver; card stock - Soft Sky, Vellum; tools - Hearts & Stars stencil, Project Life journaling pen, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals; 

other - Deco Art crackle paste, Artist's Loft gesso, playing card

The star was my first experiment with ombre - I've been trying to get a circle-effect - I think I was a bit more successful with the softer colors in the first photo.  This whole APC was experimental fun in mixed media, something else that has intrigued me. The Corrosive Challenge Blog is new to me this week (thanks, SmilynStef!); and the current challenge is Mixed Media, so I'm excited to link there. I'd like to link this little gem at Use Your Stuff as well, since I used my stencil.

Finally, I couldn't let you go without showing you something from the fabulous Holiday Catalog!  I used the Nacho Average Challenge sketch for this one because it fit so well with my NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) Sparkly Seasons + Seasonal Frame Bundle:

supplies available as noted Holiday Catalog (HC) or Annual Catalog (AC):

stamp set - Sparkly Seasons (HC); ink - Archival Basic Black (HC), Versamark (AC); card stock - Hello Honey (AC), Tip Top Taupe (AC), Mellow Moss (AC), Tangelo Twist (AC): designer vellum - Winter Wonderland (HC); Big Shot (AC) with Seasonal Frame Thinlits™ dies (HC); Fine -Tip Glue Pen (HC)

Hopefully I haven't distracted you too much with all the links, because we'd love for you to continue around our Watercooler Hop by clicking one of the links below:

getting to know you and ICAD adventure

Guess what I found!  More new challenges!  And, the Stamp Ink Paper Challenge is so new, they're still on #SIPC1, which they've cleverly themed Getting to Know You:

If you've been to visit me before, you may have heard how hard it is for me to choose favorites, but at least this week, my favorite colors are the 2015-2017 In Colors.  I don't have one favorite style, either, but I'm currently fascinated by learning to do collage style, so I *had* to order Awesomely Artistic as soon as I saw it in the new catalog.  Yesterday, it was my favorite stamp set.  I once again may be a little overly pleased with myself, as I didn't CASE (remember? Copy And Share Everything? we just talked about that)  this card, and just made it up as I was going along:

stamp set - Awesomely Artistic; ink - Cucumber Crush, Delightful Dijon, Mint Macaron, Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder; card stock - Very Vanilla, Hello Honey, Mint Macaron

The dragonfly, flowers, and colors all look super summery to me, which oh-so-conveniently happens to be the theme at another challenge I just found, Can You Case It?:

Although I did make up my design as I went along, I didn't just randomly, free-hand stamp on the card stock and like it when I was done.  I decided on the colors and the stamp set but I froze up, looking at the pristine rectangle of Very Vanilla.  Then I thought about ICAD - Index Card a Day (I *know* - another acronym - and not a stamping/card making/scrapbooking one - but we talked about that just the other day, too).  My "practice" piece was free-hand, randomly stamped, and I mostly loved it:

The one thing I didn't love was those red splatters - they kind of look like thousands of mosquitoes that were smashed *after* they attacked an unsuspecting and otherwise non-violent homeowner in the muggy Midwest.

adventure with NBUS

You know, I just love when I can combine challenges, especially when they're related.  The Jingle Belles are "bringing in the new"; CAS-ual Fridays would like to see both felt and sequins, and CASology has borrowed Darnell's NBUS acronym.  I bought some felt table scatters at the after-Christmas sales and I've never before used the gold sequin trim I bought last year, so I pretty much had to come up with something.  I used the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch to bring them together:

 stamp sets - Petite Pairs, Label Something; ink - Encore Gold, Versamark; Stampin' Dazzle marker - Gold; Stampin' Emboss powder - gold; card stock - Naturals White, Garden Green; punches - hexagon, large oval; gold sequin trim, 

I also opened up the package of washi tape Santa left in my stocking and tried a not-at-all Clean-And-Simple version:

card stock - textured Handsome Hunter (retired), Brushed Silver, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer; Big Shot with Ovals Collection framelits and Stylish Stripes embossing folder; washi tape - All is Calm and miscellaneous holiday sentiment; 1/8" silver ribbon, Frosted sequins, Cherry Cobbler and Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details

One of these days, I'll try to make something other than a Christmas card, but I'm not ready to give them up yet ;)