Author Archives: kth

Birthday Fishes

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Have you been Res-Q’d? It’s a challenge blog dedicated to rescuing your mojo! Last week’s challenge was Faux Snake Skin (RESQ32).

I don’t have a lot of western stampage, so I went with blues when I created my background. When I was done I thought it looked like it could be water, so that is the direction I went with the card. I had stamped some blue fish, but that wasn’t poppin’ so I made orange fish instead. They really take the focus now.

The layout is also a challenge – this time the weekly Sketch challenge at SCS (sc268).

birthday fishes
Stamps: Kissy Fishes (CTMH); Pond Life Sentiments (PTI);
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun (SU);
Paper: White (PTI); Bermuda Bay (SU);
Other: Bermuda ribbon (SU); label die (Spellbinders); silver brads;

What a Day!

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So I found out today that I made it to round 2 of the SCS CAS DT challenge! There were so many great entries I was very surprised and very excited! The next challenge to meet is to make a card inspired by the Olympics – but the twist was you have to chose a sport that involved a slope. ACK! I am not fond of winter, so I don’t really have much in the way of stampage except for a few snowflakes. But I had an idea and went with it (as opposed to not going with it and thus having nothing).

My idea – make a card the embodies the determination needed to make it to the Olympics. I wasn’t sure what to do for the card itself until I figured ‘why not just slopes?’ – kinda obvious now that I said it, eh? I love Bermuda & White together, so color was a very easy decision. I wanted the rest of the card to be understated, so I went with white organdy ribbon and pearls.

So you may notice that the slopes are all embossed. That comes from the other good thing that happened today. My mom is slowly converting me to all things Stampin Up 🙂 I own a Wizard and it does great – except for a few sizzlets that just don’t want to work right. And then those really cool embosslits just get eaten by the Wizard. So I was convinced to get a Big Shot. It came today!! I love this thing! Thanks Ma!!! xoxox

So wish me luck for the CAS challenge!

** Oh boy, lots of acronyms in that first sentence, eh? SCS = SplitCoastStampers (my favorite online home); CAS = Clean & Simple (a type of card that I enjoy making); DT = Design Team (a few gals that help Jenn, the CAS hostess, with posting challenges and samples each week).

Go Confidently
Stamps: Motivational Centers (CHF);
Ink: Bermuda Bay (SU);
Paper: White (PTI); Bermuda (SU);
Other: white organdy (SU); pearls (?); Perfect Details Texturz Plates (SU);

Olympic Inspiration

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I was surfing the ‘net looking for inspiration so I could complete a past CAS challenge (a requirement for their DT challenge – wish me luck!). The Pairs Figure Skating came on and I noticed the side boards had these cool curving waves in great colors. There was a past CAS challenge to use curves (CAS45), so I went with it!

I hand drew my curves and played around with how to intertwine them. Once I got them settled I looked for something as a focal point. I decided on the circle sentiment from the CTMH set called Free Spirit. The stars just made sense after that 🙂

Make a Wish
Stamps: Free Spirit (CTMH); Let Freedom Ring (PTI);
Ink: Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss (SU);
Paper: White (PTI); Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss (SU);

Friendly Smiles

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I stamped this background originally for the ladybug card but it didn’t work out. The card was lying on my desk and it was turned sideways (originally I had planned it portrait) and I thought, that looks like a branch – which would work perfectly for the current CAS challenge “wishing for spring” (CAS54).

I added the words and the punchies and the card was done. Very quick. (Yay!)

Smile Friend
Stamps: Playful Flourishes (CTMH);
Ink: Tea Dye Distress Ink (Ranger); Garden Green (SU);
Paper: White (PTI); Rose Red Patterns (SU); Garden Green (SU);
Other: 2Step Bird punch (SU);

Birthday Ladies

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Last week’s CAS challenge on SCS was an inspiration challenge (CAS53). I found this adorable ladybug gift basket and knew I had my inspiration piece. I paired the inspiration with the current sketch challenge as SCS (SC267).

The sketch was perfect for the little ladybugs that I chose to use, but I kept the background monotone to help keep the focus on the little bugs.

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Squiggle Lady Bugs (TAC);
Ink: True Black (PTI);
Paper: White, Black (PTI); Real Red (SU);
Other: Red Satin (SU); embossing folder (SU); dimensionals;

Smooches

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I’m not really an overly emotional person, so Valentine’s Day has never been really big in my house. When the kids started school and they exchanged cards with their friends, I decided to do a little something for them at home too.

Now they are older and don’t do exchanges at school, but the tradition has started, so I continue to make them cards. This year I was a bit behind in stamping and the cards were made late the night before, so simple was the answer! I do like how they turned out – the button really makes this card.

The school held a valentine candy fundraiser that culminated in candy distribution this past Thursday. I didn’t participate in that because I don’t like the girls eating sugar at school. Instead, I stuck this cute little card in their lunch box to let them know I was thinking of them.

Love You Much
Stamps: I {heart} Hearts, Well Scripted (SU);
Ink: Real Red, Pretty in Pink (SU); True Black (PTI);
Paper: White (PTI);
Other: Sweet Blush Button (PTI);
Love You lunchbox card
Love is in the Air, Short & Sweet (SU);
Ink: Real Red, Going Grey (SU);
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Regal Red (SU); White (PTI);
Other: Eyelet Border punch (SU); various heart punches (SU);

Wanna play?

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I made this card for this week’s Clean And Simple challenge on the SCS forum (CAS52). We were supposed to be inspired by a card, but I ended up using it as a sketch challenge.

I love how this card turned out, though I’m not sure when I’ll use it. I want to do something on the inside, but I haven’t had much time to stamp. Hopefully in March I’ll get into a routine again and stamp more often 🙂

game night
All supplies Stampin’Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Game Night;
Ink: Real Red, So Saffron, Not Quite Navy;
Paper: white; Jackpot DSP;
Other: Real Red Grosgrain;

Fuzzy Birdy

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This card was created for the Stampin’ Royalty challenge (#4 – sketch). I just got my box of new goodies from the new Stampin Up Occasions Mini and SAB catalogs. I love this bird & branch punch! I thought the tag would be a cute way to spotlight him. I also used paper from the stack available through SAB – a quick and easy way to make a “background”!

The bird is fuzzy because I used the “faux suede” technique to create it. Very simple – run cardstock through a crimper a bunch of times in different directions; this breaks the fibers up. Peel the paper apart to reveal the fuzzy insides.

And I did the inside too! Since the ribbon on the front shows on the inside, I used it as my anchor for the inside decorations. Just more of the same paper.

If you are on mom’s InkUp newsletter, act surprised when you see it later this month 😉

thinking of you
All supplies Stampin’Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes;
Ink: Old Olive;
Paper: Kraft, Bermuda Bay, So Saffron, White, Welcome Neighbor DSP Stack;
Other: Old Olive twill, Two-Step Bird, Scallop Trim, dimensionals; Pumpkin brad (Pink Hedgehog);

Sparkly Butterfly

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I made this card for the Embellish challenge (Purple with Stripes). I used the Stamping 411 sketch (SSC134).

The color challenge just listed purple, brown, and kraft. Rich Razzleberry is my favorite current InColor from StampinUp so I had to use that. I thought the stripes in the paper could be considered classy, so I used satin ribbon. To finish it off I added stickles to the butterfly.

The mat for the butterfly is a Spellbinders die cut that was embossed as well. Then I outlined the embossing with a pen.

Butterfly Notecard
All supplies Stampin’Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Stipple Butterfly;
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, Creamy Caramel; Burnt Umber (Palette);
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Razzleberry Prints DSP;
Other: Chocolate satin ribbon, large Chocolate brad, rub-on; regular brown brads (Pink Hedgehog), Labels 4 die cut (Spellbinders);

Welcome Spring

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I finally got a chance to make index cards for a few Stampin’Up sets. One of the indexes I created was for Chocolate Bunny. Such a cute little single stamp.

I decided to take the index and make a card from it (just like when folks take ATCs and make full-fledged cards).

This card sorta happened because I had that white border already punched and wanted to use it before it got demolished from hanging out on my desk. I also finally cut into my Berry Bliss paper which is probably a year old (I’m a hoarder for sure).

With all the recent talk about taking design to the inside of a card (something I haven’t done in awhile), I decided I needed to start doing that again. Nothing fancy, just a rehash of the front.

Welcome Spring
All supplies Stampin’Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Chocolate Bunny; Simple Alpha (PTI);
Ink: Pretty in Pink; Burnt Umber (Palette);
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, White, Berry Bliss;
Other: chocolate chip ribbon; tag dies (CB), rhinestone (HA), border punch (Fiskars);