a going-in-circles adventure (without circles)

There is a great sketch at Sunday Stamps, aptly called Going In Circles, but I've used a lot of circles lately and was looking for something different:

stamp set - Thoughtful Expressions; ink - Crumb Cake, Gorgeous Grape; card stock - Crumb Cake, Gorgeous Grape; designer series paper - Perennial Lavendar; punch - Heartfelt Hexagon; Stampin' emboss folder - Painted Texture

I really like it - it's nice to use a Crumb Cake base as a change-up now and then - and I'm thinking it will make a fun card for a Card Buffet choice.

a sketch under my umbrella adventure

I've been working on cards for an upcoming Card Buffet and I specifically wanted to use this stamp set for a welcome baby or baby shower card.  It took me some time to find a layout I liked; challenge #353 at CAS Colours & Sketches seemed to fit the bill perfectly:

stamp set - Under My Umbrella; ink - Night of Navy; card stock - Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Night of Navy, Mango Melody; designer series paper - See a Silhouette; punch - Umbrella Builder; embossing & die cut machine with Subtle embossing folder

Oh, look, I got the layers reversed.  <sigh>  It's still a perfect layout though, isn't it?

triple time throwdown adventure

Six or seven years ago this technique was really popular; it seems to be enjoying a resurgence recently.  One of my customers requested it for Card Buffet so she could see it done rather than trying to figure it out, and I'm happy to help!  I find it easiest with a floral design, so the colors for this week's Color Throwdown seemed made for it:

stamp set - Flourishing Phrases; ink - Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Highland Heather, Smoky Slate; card stock - Whisper White, Granny Apple Green

These spring-like colors are among my favorites right now - I found that I have them set aside for three different upcoming project events this week

♫ It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas ♪♫ adventures

So, I once again took the summer off, traveling out west with no time for card making.  It put me seriously behind in my #365somethings2018 challenge, and I've had several mini-buying-spree failures in my #DWPB100thingschallenge.  But, as a friend pointed out, I've done better since I've tried than I would have done had I not tried!  Here is a photo of #365cards2018, numbers 171 through 175, which also qualified as Thing number 60.

I haven't given up yet - cards 176 through 183 are on the crafting table right now, and you won't be surprised that several of them qualify for card challenges :-).  You may not even be surprised that many of them are Christmas cards, since I'm also behind on the number of those I'd hoped to have completed by now. 

This first one uses a technique I recently learned from a fellow Stampin' Up!® demonstrator, using Epsom salts.  The results reminded me of a peaceful winter night sky, which will fit in at Jingle Belles:

stamp set - Itty Bitty Greetings; ink - Night of Navy; card stock - Night of Navy, Vellum, Silver Foil, Whisper White, Shimmer White; Big Shot with Stitched Shapes framelits and Seasonal Layers thinlits

I CASE*'d the Muse ChristmasVisions 108 using some retired supplies to capture the feel of the original:

stamp sets - Christmas Pines, Peaceful Pines (retired) ; ink - Whisper White Craft, Island Indigo (retired); card stock - Whisper White regular and thick, Coastal Cabana; designer series paper - Winter Frost (retired); Big Shot with Perfect Pines framelits (retired)

While I had the retired designer series paper out, I pulled out some of my all-time favorite for this CASE*.  Just before I glued it together I decided it needed just a touch of ribbon, so now it works for Winter Wonderland:

stamp set - Bells & Boughs (retired); ink - Versamark, Real Red, Crumb Cake (on envelope); card stock - Real Red, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla thick; designer series paper - Home for Christmas (retired); ribbon - 1/4" metallic woven (retired)

And then, my order arrived with new designer series paper, and the Freshly Made Sketch 354  provided a great way to showcase it without using it all up right away:

stamp set - Hearts Come Home; ink - Versamark; embossing powder - Gold; card stock - Real Red, Whisper White thick; designer series paper - Dashing Along

I'll leave you with cards 176 through 180 of #365cards2018 for #365somethings2018 and number 64 in my #DWPB100ThingsChallenge - the next four are done, so I should be back soon when I have a fifth card for the group shot:

*CASE = Copy And Share Everything

new year resolutions adventure

I don't make resolutions for a new year; if there's something I want to change or begin, I don't wait.  For things that can be counted though, January 1 is as a logical starting point.  I set myself two goals this year - read more books and create more.  Cut It  Up Challenges  requested cards that indicate our resolutions or goals:

stamp set - Crafting Forever; ink - Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Dapper Denim, Lemon Lime Twist, Versamark; Stampin' Blends; Stampin' Emboss powder - white; card stock - Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Dapper Denim, Lemon Lime Twist; Big shot with Layered Ovals and Banners (retired) framelits

(edited to add): I almost forgot to tell you, I used the sketch from Hand Stamped Sentiments!

Two of my Stampin' Up! team members came over for a Stampin' Blends play date and I've had the paint brush pot sitting on my table since then.  I have a couple of birds that are looking for places to roost, too...

I won't know whether I've actually read more books and made more things if I don't know how many I did last year, so, I counted the cards I made last year (259) and joined the #365somethings2018 challenge.  To date, I've made 14 of my #365cards2018.  Here's this week's set:

I'm only one ahead, at 14 on the 13th, but I need a few more for Card Buffet Wednesday evening; at least two designs for the options to make and two more for the samples display, so I'll get back to work now - thanks for stopping by!

Christmas is coming adventure

There was a farmhouse Christmas market in Shipshewana last week, and Tom thought I'd enjoy it so we drove over and spent half a day browsing all the handmade, repurposed, and antique/vintage offerings.  I didn't just enjoy it, I loved it!  I tried to sneak in Christmas music on the drive, but he requested a change. Today I'm getting ready for Card Buffet, and all of the kits I'm preparing are Christmas cards, so I've got the Christmas music playing in the basement.  Tom's out working in the garage, with a different station playing. ;)

I needed one more design for the buffet.  I specifically wanted to use Cherry Cobbler because the Real Red is already in one of the other kits, so I thought it would be good to highlight the Be Merry designer series paper.  There's this sweet design with bells and baubles, suggesting that the Seasonal Bells stamp set and punch would be another good inclusion.  After all that decision making, I just needed a nap a sketch (!), and Try Stampin' On Tuesday has the perfect one:

stamp sets - Christmas Pines, Seasonal Bells; ink - Cherry Cobbler; card stock - Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White; designer series paper - Be Merry; punch - Bell

I don't know for sure whether the goose is getting fat, but Christmas is coming, surely sooner than I can remember the rest of the old nursery rhyme...

thanks for colored autumn leaves adventure

We're planning to make our annual color tour trip this weekend, and for the first time it will be longer than two long-drive days - I'm pretty excited!  My Card Buffets are scheduled for the days right after we return, so I need to have all my options determined and hopefully also prepared, in the next two days.  I've been working on it all week, and just needed one more autumnal or Thanksgiving card. 

There's plenty of inspiration and several related challenges - Joanne's Colour Challenge at The Paper Players, Blowing in the Wind at Cards in Envy, Autumn Thank you at Cardz 4 Guyz, and the Albert Camus quote from Words 2 Craft By.  Of course, I wanted to use a new stamp set - new is always exciting - but nothing was working for me.  I was finally convinced by some awesome samples - Awesomely Artistic by Jan Clothier and Lovely As A Tree by Tara Angus - that an older set was the answer, but I just couldn't seem to get focused.  Finally I settled on my friend Buffy Cooper's Sheltering Tree card:

stamp set - Sheltering Tree; ink - Chocolate Chip (my Early Espresso is too dark!), Crushed Curry, Peekaboo Peach; card stock - Chocolate Chip, Peekaboo Peach, Very Vanilla

I love it - thanks, Buffy! - and I think my stampers will love it, too.

back to challenges adventure

I've been much busier than expected lately and I knew it had been some time since I'd played along at any challenges, but more than a month?  I didn't even notice.  I did notice a bit of a paradox in my pair of cards today.

My CAS butterfly card for Watercooler Wednesday was inspired by the colors of Global Design Project's CASE the designer, Steffi Helmschrott's, card:

stamp sets - Watercolor Wishes, Papillon Potpourri, Botanical Blooms, Touches of Texture; ink - Sahara Sand, Tip Top Taupe, Pear Pizzazz, Versamark; Stampin' Emboss powder - gold card stock - Whisper White thick; other tools - Big Shot with Botanical Builder framelits, heat gun, embossing buddy, masking tape, Post-It® notes

Four stamp sets, four ink pads and multiple tools for a one-layer, two-color clean and simple design that took more than 30 minutes to complete after thinking for two days.  On the other hand, only one stamp set and two ink pads for Christmas in July at Stamp Ink Paper using Stephanie's sketch from Jingle Belles, which came together in about 15 minutes as soon as I decided on the designer series paper:

stamp set - Time of Year (hostess); ink - Real Red, Garden Green; Stampin' Write markers - Real Red, Garden Green; card stock - Garden Green, Very Vanilla, Real Red; paper - This Christmas specialty designer series, Delicate White Doilies; embossing folder - Holly; punches - 3/4" circle, 1" circle

No wonder I struggle with Clean and Simple!

tic-tac-toe watercooler adventure

I think I kind of cheated at tic-tac-toe at the Watercooler this week, if that's possible.  I have such a difficult time choosing from so many options, you know?

We were attending a graduation open house yesterday, for the only two graduates we know this year.  We know them from completely different areas of our lives, but they know each other and had a combined party - isn't that unusual?  It made our lives easier to only attend one party, though, so we thanked their mothers for being so considerate (hehe)!  Oh, I'm a little off-topic here, but the point is, I found instructions in Card Maker magazine for this fancy-fold card, and I offered it as a Card Buffet option last month:

stamp sets - Big News, Perfect Pennants; ink - Basic Black; card stock - Whisper White, Real Red; punch - 1/2" circle

So, one little 1/2" circle punch isn't much, but it is a punch, right?  And when Tom suggested that gift cards would be appropriate gifts, I added a holder to the inside:

 stamp sets - Big News, Fabulous Four, Perfect Pennants; ink - Basic Black; card stock - Whisper White, Real Red; punch - 1/2" circle, 1" circle

Tic-tac-toe, straight down the right side, almost no decision-making involved.  And, there were cake pops and traditional Indian (not Native American, real Indian) sweets - triple win for me!

baker's twine adventures

I needed another card for my display tree and specifically wanted to highlight this stamp set since I've only used it once - if you don't see it you may not know that you want it, right?  I browsed through some challenges for inspiration and direction, and found the perfect color palette at Paper Craft Crew and exactly the right sketch at Try Stampin' On Tuesday:

stamp set - Apple of My Eye; ink - Tempting Turquoise, Crushed Curry, Cucumber Crush; card stock - Crushed Curry, Tempting Turquoise, Cucumber Crush, Whisper White; baker's twine - Whisper White; Big Shot with Arrows embossing folder

One of my Card Buffet regulars likes to start early with Christmas cards; this month I wanted to offer one as an option.  White Christmas won't be available to purchase much longer, so it seemed like the best choice. This time I found the perfect sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches and exactly the right color palette at Merry Monday:

stamp set - White Christmas; ink - Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum; card stock - Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplang

I decided to post these cards together, and the only thing they have in common is baker's twine, which is a little unusual since I seldom think to use it, but it just seemed perfect for both cards.

a very vintage adventure

For my Card Buffet at the end of this month, I had five designs picked out, one bright Valentine card and two masculine designs which could be Valentine or birthday cards.  I didn't have anything feminine in the lineup at all - the other two are gender-neutral thinking of you cards.  I really thought something frilly that could be a Valentine or a birthday card was called for, but it took me some time to find the right inspiration - Lesley posted it at the Challenge today, so I paired it with Match the Sketch #107:

stamp sets - A Dozen Thoughts, Rose Wonder, Timeless Textures; ink - Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Tip Top Taupe; card stock - Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla; Big Shot with Deco Labels framelits; 1" dotted lace trim - Tip Top Taupe; Very Vintage buttons

autumnal adventures

All right, I guess even I have to admit that it is autumn, now, unless you're lucky enough to live in the southern hemisphere.  Have you seen all the "fall theme" challenges this week?  I used the colors from Just Us Girls and the sketch from Sunday Stamps with the leaves theme from Addicted to CAS for this one - it also is easy to mail and fits "colors of fall" at Cards in Envy:

stamp sets - Vintage Leaves, Merry Everything; ink - Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler; card stock - Pumpkin Pie, Crumb Cake; punch - Ornate Tag Topper; 1/4" stitched grosgrain ribbon - Daffodil Delight (retired)

The next one is a CASE of the card design team member Amy Koenders made for for The Paper Players.  I used the colors from Fab Friday for the fall theme at Use Your Stuff:

stamp sets - Hardwood, A Dozen Thoughts, Serene Silhouettes; ink - Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry; card stock - Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede; Big Shot with Leaflets framelits

Tuesday Morning sketch adventure on a Sunday Evening

I sat down this evening (almost the first time today) to tell you about a completely different adventure, but it will have to wait for tomorrow, as Tuesday Morning Sketches closes in minutes and I made this joy-fold card using sketch #310, earlier this week:

stamp sets - Amazing Birthday, The Wilderness Awaits; ink - Early Espresso, (stamping) Soft Suede (sponging); card stock - Island Indigo, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla; Big Shot with Arrows textured impressions embossing folder

Well, it's that sketch, turned sideways, I meant.  Not long ago I tried to use this stamp set, specifically that little matted duck piece, for a card that ended up going in a different direction.  This color combination sets it off better, I think.  And I love the inside, too:

stamp sets - Happy Birthday Everyone; ink - Early Espresso, (stamping) Soft Suede (sponging); card stock - Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla; Big Shot with Arrows textured impressions embossing folder

The Wilderness Awaits is one of my favorite new stamp sets, so I'd like to link up at SU-Only Challenges, as well as Seize the Birthday, where anything goes this fortnight.  It's been too long since I've played along at both of those fun sites!

another adventure in many colors

Since I tried five colors for a challenge yesterday, today I worked up to six for House of Cards!  One of the colors is white (or something like it - I can't really tell), so maybe that doesn't really count, but I'm claiming it anyway.  I thought the main element in the Fab Friday sketch looked like a frame, so I added in Laurie's CAS challenge from The Paper Players:

 stamp sets - And Many More, By the Tide; ink - Calypso Coral, Watermelon Wonder; card stock - Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron, Naturals White (retired), So Saffron; punch - 3/4" circle; Big Shot with Deco Labels framelits

I think it qualifies at a few other challenges this week with its beach theme, but The Paper Players prefer 3 challenges or less per entry, so I'm trying to behave myself ;)  See below for links to these challenges, and join in, won't you?

adventure of coincidence in many colors

Buffy's color challenge at Watercooler Challenges is a lot more color than I'm usually comfortable with.  Doing something a little uncomfortable is what a challenge is all about, isn't it?  I tried to make it a little easier by using the Pals Paper Arts sketch, a soft neutral, and a coordinated floral theme:

stamp sets - Amazing Birthday, A Whole Lot of Lovely (hostess); ink - Pool Party, Rose Red, Versamark; card stock - Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla; Big Shot with Banners framelits, Circles Collection framelits, and Spring Flowers embossing folder (retired)

When this challenge was posted, I had just finished preparing an order to replenish my card stock supplies.  I needed every color Buffy chose (plus a few more).  When a timing coincidence like that occurs, I usually take it as a sign.  In this case, I took it as a sign that I was supposed to play along.  You could also play along - if you need a sign, just use this post!

I think the colors and the floral theme have a summer feel, so I'd like to also play along at SU-per Challenges, as well.

Christmas remembered adventures

Earlier today I heard from some friends who are planning to attend my Card Buffet - the more, the merrier, I think!  While thinking about putting together additional kits, I remembered that I hadn't posted this card, which I specifically created for the buffet based on the beautiful inspiration photo at Festive Friday:

stamp set - Ornamental Pine; ink - Real Red, Old Olive, Soft Suede; card stock - Whisper White, Real Red 

You can see that I was inspired by the greenery on the chair backs in addition to the elegant red & white setting.  It was a well-liked card Thursday, so I'm sure I'll need more kits for Saturday.

A little later, I was browsing through some of my favorite blogs and admiring the Pink Christmas cards posted to Jingle Belles, where Lauren and Stephanie are donating $4 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for every card linked, and suddenly remembered that I have designer series paper in my stash that includes pink, so of course I had to make another card!  I used Clean & Simple Stamping's fall-to-layout 311 since the designs I chose were in strips:

stamp set - Endless Wishes; ink - Gumball Green (retired), Cherry Cobbler (on envelope); card stock - Gumball Green (retired); designer series paper - Snow Festival (retired)

There is still a little time to post cards at Jingle Belles if you want to join the fun/fund-raising!

Homemade Holiday Home adventure

I made this card earlier this week; it may have been the same day that ColourQ posted their current challenge, but I got so busy preparing for Card Buffet that I forgot to post it:

stamp set - Holiday Home; ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight; Stampin' Write marker - Basic Black; card stock - Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight; punch - 1-3/8" circle;  Big Shot with Homemade Holiday Framelits; Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals

In case some of my guests don't really need Halloween cards, they can make a Thanksgiving (or just a Thank You card) using the exact same supplies, because this stamp set contains so many images.  I had so much fun sponging the sunset that I made a second sample!

I usually schedule Card Buffet for the third Thursday and the third Saturday of each month, but I had a late change of plans this month and rescheduled the Saturday session for next week.  If you can't make it Saturday, you'll miss your chance to make these cards, but I'm fairly certain that the stamp set will make a reappearance next month on a Christmas card design.  I can hardly wait to stamp Santa and his sleigh in a night sky, or maybe it will turn out to be a day scene so we can see all the sweet little decorations on the homes...

non-traditional colors of Christmas adventures

The colors at Stampin' Royalty this week are so sweet together, they seemed evocative of a silent winter night snowfall to me.  I'm sure you noticed how cleverly I slipped in the Merry Monday prompt, and you know I couldn't put just two challenges together!  'Tis the Season has the perfect sketch and Less is More is looking for a one-layer card with 2 of something, so I drew two lines and added a two-word greeting:

stamp set: Endless Wishes; ink - Blackberry Bliss, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky; Stampin' Write marker - Soft Sky card stock - Soft Sky

In the spirit of non-traditional Christmas color schemes, I wanted to recreate the colors from the Christmas Chard Challenges inspiration photo, specifically because it includes pink.  Most of you know I don't really like pink, but not only is it *the color*  for Breast Cancer Awareness month, it also means that Stephanie and Lauren will be donating $4 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for every card linked up at Jingle Belles that includes pink; how can I not like that?  The design of this card is one I saw in the Stampin' Up!® demonstrators' magazine, Stampin' Success:

stamp set - Sassy Salutations; ink - Strawberry Slush; Stampin' Write marker - Rich Razzleberry; card stock - Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Baked Brown Sugar; washi tape - Watercolor Wonder; punches - Scalloped Tag Topper, Confetti Stars; baker's twine - Metallic Gold