Saturday Sketch Challenge #157

Good Evening to you friends!

Here's another simple Saturday Sketch for you to try. This one's a little different in that the focal image hugs the right side of the card.

This week's sketch makes a quick and wonderful card as you can see by the gorgeous operator samples below! :)







Let's get started with the measurements from Patti's card since she's on top this week:
Base: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
1st: 5 1/8" x 3 7/8"
2nd: 5 x 3 3/4"
3rd: 2 7/8" x 3 7/8"
4th: 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"
5th: 2 1/4" square

Does the thought of cutting your card stock using measurements baffle you? Well, you can check out the most awesome post on how to read a ruler written by the very lovely and talented Lee Conrey, by clicking here.

So ~ let's check out your operator creations! To be transported to the individual blogs, just click on the photos below.

Patti Chesky

Robin Merriman

Gretchen Barron

Kerin Sylvester

Selene Kempton

Connie Babbert

Lee Conrey

Never played with us before?? Well, it's easy! Sky's the limit! Use this sketch to inspire you and let your imagination go wild! (well ~ keep it clean, this is a family show after all).

1. Make a card
2. Post it online somewhere to your blog or other online forum
3. Post a link to the free linky tool below (please point the link to your post and NOT just your blog)
4. Have some fun and leave comments for each other (and for the operators if you like their work). ~ Everyone loves comments!

We hope you join us this week and play along with this sketch! But don't delay our links will close at 8AM on Thursday morning EST.

Stamper's Showcase - #156

Good Friday morning, everyone! Are you ready for some inspiration? Here are the Operator Pics for Challenge #156. Great job, everyone!

Color Inspiration #129

This year I've really worked on my "green thumb". I planted my own flower pots rather than buying them at the nursery.

Did you know that your flower pots should have something tall, something colorful and full, and something cascading off the side? I learned that from my Better Homes and Garden magazine. It made all the difference in the appearance of my flower pots.

With all my flowers, I've been spending a bit of time watering them every night. It gives me time to savor the colors from my garden.

My hydrangea bush was actually the inspiration for this week's color combination. My hydrangea is the greenish white variety. It's so pretty!


The color combination for this week is Old Olive, So Saffron and Certainly Celery.

I started with the So Saffron base card.

The Certainly Celery layer is stamped all over with the hydrangea image (from the upcoming Level 1 hostess set called "Because I Care") using Versamark ink. I sprinkled on Clear Embossing Powder, shook off the excess and heated until melter. I sponged the edges with Certainly Celery ink.

The focal image uses the same hydrangea image....this time inked with Old Olive ink and stamped onto Certainly Celery cardstock. I used a cotton swab and some Old Olive ink to add some touches of color. I then used my White Signo Gel Pen to add some white to the centers of the bloom.

The edges of the focal image are sponged with Old Olive ink. It's matted twice....first on Basic Black and then onto Old Olive cardstock.

On the bottom of the card, I added a 3/4" strip of Old Olive cardstock. I stamped the border image along the bottom edge using Whisper White Craft ink. I added a thin strip of Basic Black cardstock to give the card a more vintage feel.

The sentiment (also from Because I Care) is inked with Basic Black ink and stamped onto So Saffron cardstock. I punched it with the Large Oval punch and sponged the edges with So Saffron ink.

The finishing touch is some 1/4" Basic Black grosgrain ribbon tied into a classic knot and placed on a diagonal on the upper left corner of the focal image.

So, are you ready to take the Color Inspiration challenge? How would you use these colors?

If you make a project using these colors, please leave a comment on this post with a link to your project. We'd love to see it!!!!

Until next time.....Happy Stamping everyone!

Card Recipe
stamps: Because I Care (Level 1 hostess set from 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog)

paper: Old Olive, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Basic Black

ink: Old Olive, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Whisper White Craft, Basic Black, Versamark

accessories: Large Oval punch, Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain, Clear Embossing Powder, heat tool, sponges, dimensionals

Saturday Sketch challenge 156

Good Evening to you friends!

Here's another simple Saturday Sketch for you to try. I love using simple sketches as a jumping off point when starting a project. This week's sketch makes a quick and wonderful card as you can see by the gorgeous operator samples below! :)

Let's get started with some potential measurements for you to try:
Base: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
1st: 5 1/8" x 3 7/8"
2nd: 5 x 3 3/4"
3rd: 2 x 3 3/4"
4th: 1 7/8" x 3 3/4"
5th: 2 7/8" square turned on it's side to make a diamond shape
6th: 2 3/4" square stamped on watercolor paper

Does the thought of cutting your card stock using measurements baffle you? Well, you can check out the most awesome post on how to read a ruler written by the very lovely and talented Lee Conrey, by clicking here.

So ~ let's check out your operator creations!



Lee Conrey



Robin Merriman



Patti Chesky

Gretchen Barron





Kerin Sylvester





Selene Kempton


Connie Babbert



Never played with us before?? Well, it's easy! Sky's the limit! Use this sketch to inspire you and let your imagination go wild! (well ~ keep it clean, this is a family show after all).

1. Make a card
2. Post it online somewhere to your blog or other online forum
3. Post a link to the free linky tool below (please point the link to your post and NOT just your blog)
4. Have some fun and leave comments for each other (and for the operators if you like their work). ~ Everyone loves comments!

We hope you join us this week and play along with this sketch! But don't delay our links will close at 8AM on Thursday morning EST.

Stampers Showcase

A very good morning to you! What an amazing week of entries from all of you!
Here is this week's super yummy stampers showcase!

Color Inspiration #128

This week I've been playing with some sneak peek items from the new catalog. These new items inspired this week's color challenge.

In fact, these new colors are not even in My Digital Studio yet. I use MDS to create the color inspiration. My card uses Pear Pizzazz (a brand new In Color), but I put Certainly Celery on the chart.

Now, I realize everyone may not own these colors yet. So, if you don't happen to own Baja Breeze or Pear Pizzazz feel free to substitute Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery, respectively.

I love that these colors work for both masculine and feminine cards alike.

What kind of card would you make with these colors? A guy card? A girl card? So many possibilities!!!!

If you choose to take the color challenge, please leave a comment on this post with a link to your project. We'd love to see it!!!

Card Recipe
stamps: Occasional Quotes (level 3 hostess set sneak peek)
paper: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz (sneak peek), Whisper White, Greenhouse Garden dsp (sneak peek)
ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
accessories: 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch (sneak peek), 1 3/4" circle punch, Chocolate Chip double-stitched grosgrain, sponge

Saturday Sketch Challenge #155

First of all, we are happy to announce that Tiffany Bauer's daughter, Jordan, is getting better each and every day. Thank you everyone for your continued thoughts and prayers. I know Tiffany and Jordan are feelin' the love from all of us!

This week Selene came up with a fabulous sketch. Even though she has a heart element on there, feel free to use any shape you want. These sketches are just starting points.......your inspiration to creativity!!




Here are some potential measurements to help you get started:

Base: 4 1/4" x 11", folded in half

1st: 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" with the top edge scalloped with the Scallop Edge border punch

2nd: 1/2" x 3"

3rd: 1/2" x 4 1/4"

4th: cut into any shape you desire






Does the thought of cutting your card stock using measurements baffle you? Well, you can check out the most awesome post on how to read a ruler written by the very lovely and talented Lee Conrey, by clicking here.

Connie Babbert

Lee Conrey

Patti Chesky

Robin Merriman

Gretchen Barron

Kerin Sylvester

Selene Kempton



Never played with us before?? Well, it's easy! Sky's the limit! Use this sketch to inspire you and let your imagination go wild! (well ~ keep it clean, this is a family show after all).

1. Make a card
2. Post it online somewhere to your blog or other online forum
3. Post a link to the free linky tool below (please point the link to your post and NOT just your blog)
4. Have some fun and leave comments for each other (and for the operators if you like their work). ~ Everyone loves comments!

We hope you join us this week and play along with this sketch! But don't delay our links will close at 8AM on Thursday morning EST.

Stampers Showcase 154

Time to announce the Operator Picks for Challenge 154. Thanks to everyone who played along with this weeks Sketch Challenge!

Color Inspiration #127

Wow! This week is just flying by.

Every Thursday I have the pleasure to present you with a color inspiration challenge.

This week I was inspired by a card I made last week for my "Let's Hear it for the Boys" class.

The colors are Night of Navy, Real Red, More Mustard and Taken with Teal.

I love how these colors play off of each other!!



The base card is Night of Navy.

The next layer is Taken with Teal. It's been texturized with my Big Shot and the Perfect Details Texturz Plate.

The next layer is More Mustard. I used the direct-to-paper technique for some added texture. It's easy to do. Take your ink pad and drag it along the cardstock.

My cute little truck (from Loads of Love) is inked with Black StazOn ink and stamped onto Watercolor Paper. Make sure you use StazOn ink whenever you use watercolor paper. I watercolored my image using my Aquapainter and Stampin' Write markers. This is SO easy to do!! Simply draw lines of color just on the inside of the lines of the image. Then use your Aquapainter in a circular motion to blend the marker color towards the center of the image. Remember, it's easy to add more color. It's not as easy to take it away. So work slowly and add color until you get the level of shadows and highlights that you desire.

I used my Going Gray marker to make the road. After my image dried completely, I sponged the edges of the paper with Going Gray ink.

Using my Cropodile I punched holes and set Jumbo Pewter Eyelets for my tires. Isn't it cute?

I matted my focal image onto some Real Red cardstock.

All that's left is the sentiment. It's from Teeny Tiny Wishes. It's stamped with Black StazOn ink (since it was already on my desk.....Basic Black would work perfectly here too) onto More Mustard cardstock. Punch it out with the Word Window punch and add to the card.

If you haven't tried watercoloring with markers, I encourage you to give it a try. The colors are so vibrant, and it really is easy to do. Remember, you MUST use watercolor paper for this technique to work.

Well, that's about it for this week's color challenge. Are you ready to give it a try? I hope so!!!!

We'd love to see your creation! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your project!!!

Until next time......Happy Stamping everyone!

Saturday Sketch Challenge 154

Happy Friday Yall', Wow ~ I almost sound southern there!

Well ~ there's a HUGE HOLE in the team this week. Jordan Bauer (8 years old), daughter to Tiffany had an ATV accident last week. The good news is that Jordan is recovering well. Read more about it and leave Tiffany some love on our side bar, or go directly to Tiffany's blog for up to date information as it comes in. All the operators have been praying for the Bauer family all week. Our hearts go out to you girlfriend.

Here's the measurements for my card on (on top this week). More details about all the operator cards can be found on their blogs. Just click on their cards below to go see more information.

Measurements:
Base: Kraft Card Stock 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
1st: Chocolate Chip 5 x 3 3/4"
2nd Tempting Turquoise 4 7/8" x 3 5/8"
3rd: chocolate chip 4 7/8" x 2 1/8"
4th: Island Oasis Designer 4 7/8" x 2"
5th: Chocolate Chip 2 7/8 x 3 1/8"
6th: Watercolor Paper 2 3/4" x 3"


Does the thought of cutting your card stock using measurements baffle you? Well, you can check out the most awesome post on how to read a ruler written by the very lovely and talented Lee Conrey, by clicking here.

Selene Kempton




Connie Babbert




Lee Conrey



Patti Chesky




Robin Merriman



Gretchen Barron




Kerin Sylvester

Never played with us before?? Well, it's easy! Sky's the limit! Use this sketch to inspire you and let your imagination go wild! (well ~ keep it clean, this is a family show after all).

1. Make a card
2. Post it online somewhere to your blog or other online forum
3. Post a link to the free linky tool below (please point the link to your post and NOT just your blog)
4. Have some fun and leave comments for each other (and for the operators if you like their work). ~ Everyone loves comments!

We hope you join us this week and play along with this sketch! But don't delay our links will close at 8AM on Thursday morning EST.