Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #54

Good evening! It felt so wonderful to sit down and stamp for a bit this evening. I so missed it over the holidays. But it was also wonderful to spend time with family, friends, and favorite sports teams. :)

I'm playing some serious catch up with Mercy's Tuesday Sketches. This was actually last week's sketch, and I still have the week before that to do also! I can't skip one... That would be a travesty! And let's not even mention the sketch for this week. Let's just say I definitely have plenty to keep me busy for a while. Thanks for another great sketch, Mercy!

I've also use Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge for this card. Dawn, I love, love, love these colors together! I still have all the papers out on my desk and am definitely going to whip up a few more cards with this combo. Soooo pretty! My roomie is also out for the evening which means lots of uninterrupted stamping time. It's just me and Pandora set to the Broadway station. :) It's definitely an addiction.

There is a technique on this card that I seldom use. Can you spot it? Yup, it's distressing/vintage-ing. I even used my tea dyes to stain the perimeter of the card and the oval to "antique" it a bit. The edges were roughed up the old fashioned way: a pair of scissors. I took the picture on my normal white background, but it looked really washed out and the rustic cream disappeared. So I added some Aqua Mist to the background, but I'm not so sure that was the right color to go with. I may have to go back and re-shoot it with a Chocolate background....

Have a wonderful rest of your evening! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-

Stamps- PTI: Everyday Button Bits

Paper- Rustic Cream, Dark Chocolate, Bitty Dots dp (Aqua Mist), Bitty Box dp (Lemon Tart)

Ink- Chocolate Chip, Tea Dye

Accessories- scissors (for distressing), nestabilities, ribbon, buttons, dimensionals, apron lace edge punch

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #20

I think it has been a while since I've been around to do one of Dawn's color challenges. Between surviving the swine flu, travelling, holidays, I've missed the last few in a row. So when her newest challenge was posted today I jumped all over it! Plus I absolutely love the colors she has given us to work with today. So pretty!

I originally had something a bit more "layer-y" in mind, but ended up cutting way back. I used Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch for my layout. With five colors to use, I began to realize that I couldn't add to many layers or the colors would begin to overwhelm the card (at least in my opinion, hehe). So, I offer this clean and simple card. Not much more to it that a few dimensionals, my new favorite edge punch, some buttons and ribbon. I decided to leave a sentiment off so that it can be used for any purpose.

Only 7 more days of work before vacation! I'm so excited! Sleeping in, lots of card-making, and a trip home to the mountains for the holiday. I'm hoping we gets lots of snow while I'm there. :) These three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas always fly by each year at school, and we spend most of the time cramming in craft after craft... But I love it! It definitely puts me in the holiday mood to have the classroom all decked out in red and green. And it's cooooold outside! Well, for Los Angeles it's cold outside. It was 28 when I got up the on Tuesday. 32 this morning. Brrrrr! That's about as cold as I've ever seen it down here! It should warm up a tad tomorrow since there is another rain storm moving in. Yay!

I hope the week is treating you well! And thanks for stopping by!
Supplies-
Stamps- PTI: Everyday Button Bits
Paper- Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla (SU), Aqua Mist, Terracotta Tile (PTI)
Ink- Chocolate Chip
Accessories- buttons, ribbon, dimensionals, apron lace edge punch

A Tripple Whammy

Wow. I'm not sure I've ever tackled three challenges at once. This may be a first for me. But that just goes to show you how crunched for time I am now that work has started back up. I had forgotten how moving to a new grade sucks up all of your free time, lol.

I tackled this week's Viva la Verve challenge. Instead of giving us a sketch this week, the twist was to create a "mini" card. It had to be smaller than the typical 4.25x4.25" card. Ok. Good thing I ordered some new small envelopes a few weeks ago!

Second, I took on Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. She gave us some awesome fall colors this week. I actually didn't use a fall themed card, but did embrace the colors. LOVE these colors together! I will definitely pull these ones out again and again. In fact, I do have a few more cards to crank out this weekend.... Hmmmm....

And thirdly, I took on Verve's Project Parade. The theme this month is Happiness for the Hostess. We were to make a little gift for a hostess instead of a typical bottle of wine, flowers, etc. I made a stack of cards and wrapped 'em up all pretty. I could easily slip these into a little gift bag with some tissue paper to dress them up even more.

I included three different sentiments on six different cards. They are nice and mini, measuring at 3"x3". Quick and easy. I think I whipped these babies up in

less than an hour. Yay me! I didn't have any thin chocolate chip ribbon, so I went with Kraft ribbon and added a chocolate button instead of a bow. I varied the twine up a little on each button for some variety. Hopefully the hostess that receives these will have a nice little collection to slip into lunch boxes, mailboxes, backpacks, etc.

I think my roomie and I are off to the Los Angeles County Fair today! Yay! They're having a special admission of $1 if we go before 1pm. Score! We love the fair- seeing the animals in the barn, cruising the vendors, drinking lemonade and icees, watching the horse races, wine tasting, funnel cakes (yum!), and the fun shows that happen. I always look forward to it every year.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Enjoy your long holiday weekend!
Supplies-
Stamps- Verve: Circular Sayings
Paper- Kraft, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Bitty Dots dp (PTI)
Ink- Chocolate Chip
Accessories- scallop circle punch, circle punches, ribbon, buttons, twine, dimensionals

Monday, Monday

Since my stamping time is going to be a little limited this week, I decided to combine Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

I kept this one pretty sweet and simple. I don't have Melon Berry and Hibiscus Burst paper, so I pulled out my Groovy Guava and Berry Sorbet instead. Hope that works, Dawn! :) I whipped out my Everyday Button Bits, added a Spring Moss, Berry Sorbet, and Melon Berry button as my balloons.

I'm back in my classroom again today, probably slaving away on some tiny little detail. I think I finished up most of my shopping over the weekend, so that should help as far as time actually at the school site. I had forgotten how much work switching grades is! It's been four years since
I've done that.

This week will be a little bit slower since I don't have two Broadway shows scheduled! lol I'm actually going to get to go home after working. What a concept! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- PTI: Everyday Button Bits
Paper- Groovy Guava, Very Vanilla, Berry Sorbet, Bitty Dots dp
Ink- Chocolate Chip
Accessories- Berry Sorbet ribbon, buttons, SU scallop edge punch, circle punches

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #13

Oooh, I like these colors together. Though, I'm beginning to think that Dawn has a love of red and pink/corral together. I do think they go nicely together, but I have to really minimize one of the colors for them to work for me. Especially with the green in this card, I was really scared the red would take over and make it look Christmas-y.

So how do you avoid red and green looking like Christmas? Well, with flowers, buttons, and ribbon of course! I thought this color combo was the perfect opportunity to pull out my Everyday Button Bits set again and play with the flower image. I pulled buttons from my Spring Moss, Vintage White/Cream, and Berry Sorbet buttons.

I stamped polka dots in Versamark on the Spring Moss and heat embossed with clear ep again. Dawn, I think you have me addicted to this now... It just looks so good on every card! And the fact that I love polka dots doesn't hurt.

I did finish the entire card without a sentiment, but it really felt like it needed something. So I snuck a little one beneath the flower stems and called it a day.

Well, tomorrow is the Anni-Verve-sary Blog Hop to celebrate two years of Verve! It's also my very first blog hop! Make sure to stop by and check out the project I created... I'm seriously in love with it!! And I'm sure there are going to be some amazing creations along the hop as well!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-

Stamps- PTI: Everyday Button Bits, Polka Dot Basics

Paper- Whisper White, Spring Moss, Pure Poppy

Ink- Certainly Celery, Berry Sorbet, Versamark

Accessories- clear ep, Berry Sorbet ribbon, buttons, twine, dimensionals

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #12

Happy Friday! I think this is the first day this week that I have absolutely nothing planned. Not that my days are horribly busy to begin with, being summer break, but it's nice to know that I'm not obligated to go anywhere. I can sit at home, stamp, watch the tour, and read. Not a bad day.

I was excited when Dawn posted her new color challenge over on her blog yesterday. When I first looked at the colors last night, I admit I was a little scared and wasn't sure what to do. But I awoke this morning with a plan and decided to sit down and conquer it.

I began this sketch using this week's Sketch for You to Try... but I altered it some half-way through. I just couldn't get that little final embellishment (where the star is) to work for me. So I cheated and removed it. Sorry! I did take a note from Dawn and decided to try adding a random row of buttons along the bottom of my card. I love the look of it! Definitely going to try this one out more often!

I pulled out my Scattered Showers and Text Style sets to create the umbrella. The text is in Certainly Celery and the frame in Cranberry Crisp. Some ribbon, twine, and one more button finished off the card! Though, I did create the card originally without a sentiment, but felt it really needed one. Since that whole umbrella panel is up on dimensionals, it didn't come out quite even, but I'll go back with marker and fill it in before mailing this card. :)

I have to admit, this is the first time I've used Raspberry Fizz and actually liked it. Ha! It must be growing on me... That or it's surrounded by more muted colors that I like and it makes the pink look less neon. I'm definitely going to play with this color combo some more!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-

Stamps- PTI: Scattered Showers, Text Style

Paper- Spring Moss, Scarlet Jewel, Very Vanilla, Bitty Box dp

Ink- Cranberry Crisp, Certainly Celery

Accessories- Buttons (PTI), Spring Moss twill ribbon, twine, dimensionals

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #11

I spent way too much time on this card. lol Dawn definitely gave us a crazy color combination for her Raspberry Suite Color Challenge this week. I don't think I would have ever put these colors together on my own.

I really wanted to play with a my new SU butterfly die and thought this might be a good chance since I figured I would need to layer a bunch of the colors. I tried to go with a "less is more" mentality on this card, creating simple lines and leaving a lot of negative space. Not sure if the mojo was with me today, but I had to play with this one a little bit and it ends tonight.

I'm off tonight to my cousin's Pampered Chef party... Kind of excited! I've never been to one and I loooooove kitchen gadgets! :) Bad combo for tonight!

Thanks for stopping by!
Supplies-
Stamps- PTI: Beyond Basic Borders
Paper- Going Gray, Red Riding Hood, Raspberry Fizz, Bitty Dots dp, Bitty Box dp
Ink- Wild Wasabi, Basic Black
Accessories- Wild Wasabi ribbon, SU scallop edge punch, butterfly die, cb, jewels

Two for One Deal

Ok. Back to doing things in order. Since I already did card number one, it is on to number two! For some odd reason I was drawn to the color pink today... a bit of a rare occurrence. Maybe it's because I have Dawn's new color challenge floating around in my head, and she's having us use a bunch of pink this week. At least the mojo was working with me today. Usually trying to incorporate pink is not easy for me.

Anywho, I reminded myself of the sketch and immediately pulled out this dp from Paper Loft. Fun, huh? I did try to keep the pink to a minimum so that it wouldn't overtake my card. It's solidly secured in a bunch of Chocolate Chip. :)

I stamped the teapot twice in berry sorbet, cut out the second, and popped it up on some dimensionals. I also popped up the entire middle square. After fiddling with that darn circle and trying about four different things, I finally ended up with a big 'ole melon berry button with a twine bow. I think it works... it was better than everything else I tried... including a sentiment. Guess the teapot is just going to have to speak for itself.

Thanks for stopping by!
Supplies- Stamps- PTI: Tea for Two
Paper- Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Paper Loft dp
Ink- Berry Sorbet
Accessories- ribbon, twine, button, brads, dimensionals

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #9

Happy Sunday! Church was great this morning! I attend a satellite service of my church and we usually have live video feed of the pastor and his sermon, but he surprised us today by joining us for his live sermon! After service, they provided a HUGE barbecue lunch for us: carne asada tacos with all the fixings (including guacamole), chips, and churros for dessert! Yummy! I was pretty much in lunch heaven. It was such a great opportunity to sit down with some new people and get chatting. Good food, good fellowship, and a good God. Doesn't get much better!

All right, this challenge from Dawn took me some work today. I sat down with one idea in my head, started stamping it out, hated it, scrapped it, and started all over again. These colors just weren't working for me! I needed a fourth color- preferably Kraft. So, I went in search of some inspiration. I eventually stumbled across an old card that I love by Heather Nichols (see it here). I kept a similar idea, but change the main elements and added a few little touches. Am I happy with the card that I ended up with? Yeah, I think so. I think it looks nice, but I don't think it is amongst my most favorite cards ever made. :o)

Thanks for stopping by!
Supplies- Stamps- PTI: Beyond Basic Borders
Paper- Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black
Ink- Moonlight White (Archival), Wild Wasabi, Basic Black
Accessories- Cream ribbon, small hole punch, pearls, EK Success wavy border punch, nestabilities, cb, dimensionals

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #8

I really wanted to play along with Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge this week. It's open for submissions until tomorrow afternoon. With church tomorrow morning, I wasn't sure I was going to get it done. Thank goodness for a few free moments today!

I did need a bit of an inspiration launching point for this card, so I wandered over to Laurie Schmidlin's blog only to see that she just happens to be hosting this week's Weekend Sketch Challenge. PERFECT! I loved the layers used and thought it would be perfect for a color challenge card.

I love these colors together, but Raspberry Fizz scares the living daylights out of me every time I pull it out! It's just soooo bright! But, I love it every time Dawn creates something with it, and it always looks great on everyone else's cards... I need to conquer this fear! I decided that rather than stamp the bright color, I would rely on my trusty chocolate and kraft. I whipped out my bitty dots paper and used that as the main background. A Sizzix flower die created the focal image, and I stamped around the edges with Chocolate Chip ink. I also crumpled it a bit to roughen it up and make the petals raise slightly. A little button and some twine finished the image off. I still felt it needed a little something more, so I added the sentiment in the bottom corner.

Overall, I'm pleased with this card. Raspberry Fizz still scares me a little bit, but I did learn that I can use it as long as there are lots of other cool colors around it. :o)

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies- Stamps- PTI: Beyond Basic Borders (sentiment)
Paper- Kraft, Very Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Bitty Dots dp- Dark Chocolate & Raspberry Fizz
Ink- Chocolate Chip
Accessories- Sizzix die, cb, chocolate button, twine, sponge

Sweet Raspberry Sunday Suite

... I had to combine the names somehow! Since I'm short on time this week, I combined to challenges to create this card. I used Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch and Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge.

I was out all weekend partying to celebrate one of my really good friend's 30th birthday. We had an extremely yummy breakfast over at her parents house, cruised through Anaheim, had dinner at Benihana's, and spent all day Sunday at Disneyland. It was tons of fun, but quite exhausting, and I had no stamping time. I'll have to post a few pictures of us girls painting the town red!

For this card, I used some of my Bitty Dots dp (love this stuff) and my new Tea for Two set by Papertreyink. I stamped the teapot, cut it out, and popped it up in the center. I used my chocolate chip stampin' write marker to create the border. Some little pink jewels added some shine to the corner. I really like how this card turned out! The cheery colors will hopefully make someone feel a tinsy bit better when they are feeling down.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- PTI: Tea for Two
Paper- Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Bitty Dots (Aqua Mist & Berry Sorbet)
Ink- Chocolate Chip
Accessories- Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker, jewels, stickles, dimensionals

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #5

Good morning and Happy Saturday! I absolutely love sleeping in on Saturdays... not to say that I sleep in late (this whole being an adult thing and waking up at the same time my alarm goes off even though it isn't even set thing really stinks!). But it felt nice to lay in bed and realize that I had nowhere to be, no one waiting for me. I could lay there as long as I wanted.

I really wanted to play along with Dawn McVey's color challenge for this week. The colors she chose are ones that I would probably have never thought to use together, but I really like how this turned out! I definitely had to play with them a bit, and I tried using a few different sketches, but they required too many dp papers or decorative backgrounds. With such bright colors, I needed the layout to be a bit simpler this week. Enter Taylor's Cupcake Challenge! I love to play along with her sketches, but have been sadly absent from them since January! Ah! It was definitely time to break that long silence.

I stamped the image in Regal Rose and sponged some Berry Sorbet onto the ends for a little shading. The dp is Bitty Dots by Papertreyink in Raspberry Fizz. I didn't have any coordinating ribbon, so I pulled out some white grossgrain and colored it with my copic markers. Lastly, I added a little bling with a row of rhinestones from Michael's.... love those things.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies-

Stamps- Verve: Because of You

Paper- Whisper White, Basic Gray, Bitty Dots dp

Ink- Regal Rose, Berry Sorbet

Accessories- Ribbon, copic marker, sponge, rhinestones, SU scallop punch

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #4

It's a beautiful Sunday out here in Southern California. Church was fantastic this morning. Our pastor is doing a sermon series on different world religions, specifically looking at what we, as Christians, believe and what other religions believe. It has been absolutely fascinating, and I have learned so much about the foundations (once again- reminders are always a good thing) of why I believe what I believe.

Anyways, here is my card for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. I love the fact that she only used three colors this week! I can rock three colors. For me, the more colors given, the more stumped I get.

I cased this card from somewhere, but I can't remember who it was or where I found it. It's one I've had saved on my computer for a while now, and finally decided to make a case. So, if it was yours, the card is gorgeous and I just had to honor you by making one like it! I changed the colors, of course, but used similar elements.

Edited to say- Found the source of my inspiration and very obvious case! Thanks for the help! You can see it here.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies-

Stamps- PTI: Guidelines, Verve: Thanks so Much

Paper- Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Kraft

Accessories- Ribbon, dimensionals, pearls

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #3

Good morning. I cannot begin to express how wonderful it is to wake up to a Saturday morning and think, "Hey, my weekend isn't over! I get to sleep in tomorrow AND for the next week!" Loooove Spring Break!

Dawn posted this week's color challenge over on her blog. I wasn't able to participate last week, so I definitely wanted to jump in this week. I love these colors together! It took me a little while to figure them out... five colors is tough! Four, I can do. Five takes some thinking and planning. I began with the red as a main color and completely changed over to the berry color. I've had some Groovy Guava paper sitting out for a few days now calling my name. It finally made it onto a card!

I love this card by Kelly Rassmussen from a few weeks ago. I decided to do a little case-ing for my card this week! I used this week's color scheme, kept the layout, but changed a few of the layers. I used different stamps, moved the sentiment, and added a row of pearls. I also popped up the whole color panel. My poor red didn't make it on there very much. May have to make anther card today to follow the mojo! lol

Thanks for stopping by!


Supplies-
Stamps- SU: Garden Greetings
Paper- Very Vanilla, Groovy Guava, Kraft, Candy Lane dp
Ink- Groovy Guava, Red Riding Hood, Pretty in Pink
Accessories- Pearls, ribbon, MS punch, dimensionals