TGIFC29: Sketch Challenge!

Oh, hello Friday!  I'm so glad you're here!  I'm gearing up for my last big market of the season (already?!) tomorrow while my friends and fellow demonstrators head off to OnStage 2015 in Edmonton (and other locations around the world!)  I'm soooo jealous!  I've been seeing posts on my Instagram feed all week from Brussels and I so wish I could be there.

But anyway - it's Friday, and you know what that means!

It's time for TGIF Challenges!  This week, we have a sketch on the menu for you.  Check it out!  

This was surprisingly difficult for me because it was almost too easy - I know, right?!  Leave it to me to complicate matters!  So this one went through an initial version, which I couldn't possibly attach my name to in a public place, and then back to the drawing (crafting!) table for some revisions.

Boys Will Be Boys just arrived in my stash this week so I decided to ink it up for a fun birthday card.

I was asked at a market this weekend for kid's birthday cards and realized I had none!  Literally - zero.  So that needed to change!

Boys Will Be Boys has some super adorable images for the little men in your life.  I just love those Lego bricks!  I made a little video to share a technique with you - "masking" - to create stamped images that don't overlap.  It's a super easy technique that really cleans up your stamped collages.  Check it out and try it for yourself!

I ran out of storage space on my phone and the ending got cut off - but all you really missed was a "thanks for stopping by today!"  Sorry about my abruptness!

Now that you've been through my schpiel this week, you know what you have to do!  Stop by TGIF Challenges this week to see what the rest of the design team has been up to, and then get creating and share your results with us - I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Cheers - and have a fabulous weekend!

Boys Will Be Boys Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Bermuda Bay Thick Baker’s Twine

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad

Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad

Silhouettes & Script Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Blender Pens

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Triple-Up Thursday: Awesomely Artistic

Hello again and welcome back for another Triple-Up Thursday!

First time here?  Triple-Up Thursday is a weekly(-ish) feature on my blog where I share a set of three 3x3" cards I've created using a VERY pared down set of supplies; one stamp set and five ink colours.  Stamping doesn't need to be complicated or required a lot of supplies to be beautiful!

This week's feature is Awesomely Artistic - this set flew under my radar for a little while in the new catalog, and I hate to admit it was several months before I even noticed it.  (Let this be a lesson:  no, it's not crazy to just browse your catalog on a regular basis - I promise, you will always find new stuff!)  Once I found it, though, I had to have it.  What a beauty it is.

Here's what I came up with this week.

I often like to make a deliberate effort to pull out colours I don't often use; this was one of those days.  The colour pallet ended up being Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant, and Wild Wasabi.  All gorgeous, aren't they?  I really should branch out more often!

Here's a pinnable image for you if you'd like to save this colour combo.  

Thank you so much for popping in today and checking out another Triple-Up!  I'll be back first thing Friday morning (or late tonight if you're a night owl like me) for this week's TGIF Challenge - see you then!

Awesomely Artistic Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad

Hello Honey Classic Stampin' Pad

Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad

Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin' Pad

Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

It's a Cupcake Kind of Day

It's a cupcake kind of day... ...but what day isn't?!  (We have a little Lego version of our family mounted into a gallery wall in our house - my husband is holding a newspaper, our son is holding an apple, and I'm holding a mug and a cupcake.  Nailed it.)  

I guess this SHOULD be a birthday card... but if you're anything like me, Monday is a fine excuse, too.   I hope you're having a great one!

I hope to be back later this week after my cold has jumped ship and I'll have more to say.  I have an adorable gift card holder I've been dying to share and a holiday wreath that's nearly finished, too!

Cheers and have a wonderful week!

Cupcake Party Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad

Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad

Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad

Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper

Cupcake Builder Punch

Big Shot

Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Melon Mambo 1/4" Cotton Ribbon

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

TGIFC28 - Colour Challenge!

Hello, Friday!  Thank goodness you're here. 

Can you believe it's November already?  I'm in disbelief.  It's still so beautiful here and I live in the Rockies - we're often well into winter by this time of year. 

Our first week of the month is always a favourite - the colour challenge!  

This beautiful combo was chosen by one of our design team, the fabulous Jeanna Bohanon, and it just screams autumn.  I grabbed Lighthearted Leaves and went to town.  To be totally honest - my creations usually go through a couple of makeovers before they are finished.  This one didn't - it was a "go" right from the start. 

Do you have Lighthearted Leaves yet?  It's so beautiful.  I've talked about my recent love affair with our Blender Pens, and this is another one of those cards where the stamps combine perfectly with them - they make colouring so fun and easy.

Pop over to TGIF Challenges this week and see what the rest of our design team has been up to - then get to work, my friend, and come up with something to enter!

See you again soon!

Lighthearted Leaves Photopolymer Stamp Set

Gold Cording Trim

Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad

Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad

Hello Honey 5/8" Striped Cotton Ribbon

Blender Pens

Venetian Crochet Trim

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Peaceful Christmas

This card was created a few weeks ago but I've been trying to hold off on sharing too much Christmas stuff on my blog - it's so early!  

It's not too far off, though, so you'll be seeing some more holiday cheer in the coming weeks! 

...Starting with this one.  (Okay, not starting.  I know I've shared at least one Christmas card already.  But who's counting?)  This classic Christmas style is great for the traditionalists in your life - I like to keep an assortment of cards for the assortment of people in my life.

The Hearth & Home framelits have been backordered for a while now, but are due to be filled on November 9th.  If you've been waiting - yours will be on their way shortly!  If you've been hesitating - there's still time to get them before Christmas!

Another note on supplies - a new addition to our Holiday Catalog 2015 is the Precision Base Plate to go with your Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine.  (Because you DO have a Big Shot, yes?  You MUST!)  The Precision plate was a "hmm, okay" on my first peek at the catalog.  I didn't think much of it.  Not long after, I was shimmying out my Greetings Thinlints and grumbling about how they come out with those little dots.  Well, guess what, my friends?  The Precision Base Plate was meant for finnicky dies like those.  Anything where you end up attacking it with a poking device - that's where this comes in handy.  You get a clean cut on the first try, with no shims, and no dots left behind.  They are PERFECTION.

Canadians, I'd love it if you'd shop online with my links below.  I'd love to help you get crafty!

Cheers and see you on Friday for TGIF Challenges!

Festive Fireplace Photopolymer Stamp Set

Festive Fireplace Photopolymer Bundle

Hearth & Home Thinlits Dies

Christmas Greetings Thinlits Dies

Precision Base Plate

Big Shot

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

When it rains...

When someone you love is going through a tough time, a handwritten card in the mail can be a really big deal.  It's so easy to do, but means a lot to the recipient.  Trust me.  

This beautiful sentiment showed up in my most recently-purchased Project Life collection, and I instantly thought it would make a great card.  I'm keeping this one on deck for someone special. 

Mini-soapbox for the day:  share your talents with others.  If you're going to make cards, send them along to those you love - they're much better being used than being stashed in a box somewhere!

Cheers!

This Is The Life Project Life Card Collection

Hearts & Stars Decorative Masks

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.