Blog Archives

Bokeh Hello

4/20/2020

Such a cool challenge at this week's Less Is More #417 - "out of focus!" Make sure you jump out and check out the DT cards on this one - so many ways to interpret this one!
I'm taking a chance and floating a big colored panel for this one - hopefully I'll still fit the brief, lol. I haven't played with bokeh in a while - I think it could also be called "how to make a big mess in new and exciting ways!" My poor White Craft pad will never be the same, I'm afraid, but I really wanted to try some bokeh dots over Pigment Sprinkles. I think it DID come out really cool! Who knew I could play with Melon Mambo and like it?? Anyway, good times in the studio this morning!
Tasteful Textures Stamp Set (envelope &inside); Whisper White, Basic Black & Watercolor CS; Melon Mambo Pigment Sprinkles; Craft Whisper White, Melon Mambo & Memento Tuxedo Black Inks; I 3/8", 1" & 1/2" Circle Punches; Greetings Dies; #LIM417.

Pumpkin "Zoom" Club April 25!
Did you get your April Pumpkin kit yet? Let's get together! Check out the video HERE!
I hope you can join us for our next Pumpkin Club, Saturday, April 25, 3 pm, via Zoom - RSVP to let me know you are attending, so I can get you all your passwords to join in! I plan to have this club bundled in kits, and to get your kit to you prior to our Zoom!
Club is free for my subscribers, and includes any extra supplies you might need, drinks and snacks! I will also have TWO extra spots available for club for $10 even if you are not a subscriber - come see what we're up to - full kit not needed, I'll supply everything you need for the projects!
Remember to subscribe here if you haven't already - sign up by May 10 and you can join us in time for next month!

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Sunday Tropics (& Pumpkin "Zoom" Club April 25!)

4/19/2020

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Mm, loving our tropical escape colors at this week's Sunday Stamps #229 - even though I'm not in Maui right now where I'm supposed to be, lol...
I had some fun picking my colors to approximate our inspiration today - they look so cool all stacked up together! Once I had a tropical idea in my head, it was also hard to pivot away from that, so I just let myself go with it and pulled in Waterfront to build my scene. I added some sunny speckles to my background, and a bit of ribbon, finishing with the Candy Dots - I miss these little guys so much!
I can't wait to see what YOU do with our colors - I'll meet you at the challenge!
Waterfront Stamp Set; Whisper White & Mint Macaron CS; Pretty Peacock. So Saffron, Mango Melody, Coastal Cabana & Mint Macaron Inks; Stitched Nested Labels Dies; Sheer Linen Ribbon in Mint Macaron; Mint Macaron Candy Dots (retired); #SSC229.

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Music From the Heart

4/18/2020

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Here's a nice cheery theme at this week's As You See It #223 - rainbow!
I can't really help but be cheered by a rainbow, and even more fun is to do a prowl looking for a stamp set to "rainbow-ize," lol. Pigs? Steaks? Adirondacks? The choices are endless! I finally settled on my way-underused Music From the Heart set - a little rainbow run of notes is just the right amount of color without bashing anyone over the head, and is still cheery and playful. And quick, too! I think it took me longest to open and close all my stamp pads, lol.
Music From the Heart Stamp Set; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Coastal Cabana & Gorgeous Grape Inks; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #AYSI223.

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Bonanza Lion

4/17/2020

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Now here's a theme I don't do too often - The Sisterhood of Crafters is calling for kid's cards this week!
At least it FINALLY gives me no excuse to not break out my cutie-patootie lion from Bonanza Buddies! As is typical of me, this little guy was the whole reason I got this suite, so I of course haven't even inked him up yet, lol. But today is that day! Yes! I went for the slightly wrong color combo when I did - I mixed Daffodil Delight and Grapefruit Grove instead of Mango Melody, but I like this combo, too! I kept the design fairly simple again, except that I also love this stitched tag that's part of the Bonanza Dies - so I had to use that, too! Fun times!
Bonanza Buddies Stamp Set; Birthday Bonanza DSP; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Daffodil Delight & Grapefruit Grove Inks; Bonanza Dies; Metallic Twine & Sequins (SAB 2020); #TSOCKids.

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Penguin Squares

4/16/2020

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So fun, Retro Rubber #132 has a "be squared" challenge for us this week - which way to go??
I actually don't care much for making square cards - the envelopes and postage are always so tricky, lol, but I can MAKE squares for my standard card! And how about a troop of peeping penguins to show them off? Done! I still love my old old Snow Place set from 2015 - it has great dies to go with all the cool accessories you can dress everyone up in - perfect! I kept the design fairly basic, and finished with a few sequins, but still, what a fun Christmas card!
Snow Place (retired 2015); Whisper White, Real Red & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Real Red Inks; Mango Melody Stamp-n-Write Marker; Stitched Shapes, Layering Squares & Snow Friends (retired) Dies; Red Sequins; #RRCB132.

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Crafting Forever

4/15/2020

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Very cool! Joy of Sets #016 is back with our April grid - and did you see that there's "fussy cutting" on it?? I have to work that in!
Keeping that in mind, I ended up going with the right hand column - Texture - Fussy Cut - DSP. In a real twist for me, I actually started my design by browsing my embossing folders - who hasn't been out to play lately? Basket weave wins! And since one of fave shape to fussy cut is the cute little snips in Crafting Forever (tee hee!) I also pulled in my Follow Your Art DSP - so many of the crafty patterns go with this set, too! So much fun, and fresh happy colors - what else can I hope for??
Crafting Forever Stamp Set; Follow Your Art DSP; Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral & Blushing Bride CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Smoky Slate, Calypso Coral, Bermuda Bay & Pool Party Blends Markers; Rectangle Stitched Dies; Basket Weave EF; #JOSTTT016.

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Filled With Goodness

4/14/2020

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So excited for our mix-it-up this month at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #453! I'm squeezing in some embossing, too, for SU Only #247!
So this might sound a little weird, but when I think "luscious," MY mind goes straight to food, lol. So when I went stamp hunting, I focused on food images, and when I spotted these yummy donuts, I knew I had to use them, lol. Mmmm - custard filling! Sprinkles! So yummy! Lol, I also used my favorite embossing folder for my background, too - after all this time, Large Polka Dots is still the one - I can never have too many dots!
I can't wait to see what YOU come up with for our fun challenges - see you at the blogs!
Birthday Goodness Stamp Set; Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Flirty Flamingo & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Crumb Cake, Flirty Flamingo, So Saffron, Purple Posy & Mint Macaron Blends Markers; Stitched Shapes Dies; Large Polka Dots EF; Pink, Yellow & Green Candy Dots (retired); #TSOT453; #SUOC247.

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Ever So Much

4/13/2020

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So cute - Fusion has an adorable gnomes challenge this week - and I love the sketch, too!
I did some hunting - twice!! - and came up with no gnomes, lol. I know there are some punch art ones out there I might manage, but I decided to settle on the sketch - what can I do with that? It occurred to me that our Ornate Thanks set might have some cool "build-a-sentiment" possibilities - could I come up with a three-part phrase? Totally! I even turned the sketch, not something I do too often, and hammered it out. Since I was using Ornate Thanks, I went to the Ornate Garden DSP that's part of the suite, too - you know I like to be all matchy-matchy, lol...
Ornate Thanks Stamp Set; Ornate Garden DSP; Whisper White, Old Olive & Terracotta Tile CS; Early Espresso & Terracotta Tile Inks; Stitched Shapes & Rectangle Stitched Dies; Gilded Gems; #FusionGnomes.

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I Screwed Up

4/12/2020

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Oh, this'll be a good one - The Male Room #133 is challenging us to "make me laugh!" Yes!
I have to admit, most of my "punny" sets happen to be guy ones, and one I haven't inked up in a while is my beloved Nailed It - still one of my faves, along with their spectacular dies! For some reason, as I was browsing for ideas on my retired shelves, I spotted this little screwdriver and sentiment, and the little frowny face, and just couldn't stop cracking up - I was totally sold, lol. Why do I have a feeling I might need this one sometime in these times of enforced togetherness??
Nailed It Stamp Set (retired 2017); Silver Foil, Whisper White, Real Red & Pool Party CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Smoky Slate, Real Red & Pool Party Blends Markers; Build It Dies (retired); Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon; #TMR133.

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Easter Peace

4/11/2020

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Perfect timing - Inspire Create Challenge #066 has an Easter challenge for us this week!
I ended up doing a blend of old and new for this one - I don't have much that's current in the way of Easter sets, and the classic goodies I do have still have a hold on my heart, lol. Take Chocolate Bunny - he's just too yummy and too sweet to give up! And Basket Bunch has so many fun shapes and dies - I use it for more that Easter, really! And look at this sweet sentiment hiding in our old Suite Sentiments set - perfect! I added some pretty paper and fun die shapes and I was all set! Hope your Easter was truly blessed!
Chocolate Bunny (2010), Basket Bunch (2017) & Suite Sentiments (2017) Stamp Sets (all retired); Best Dressed DSP; Whisper White, Purple Posy & Pear Pizzazz CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Early Espresso Inks; Blender Pen; Daffodil Delight & Old Olive Blends Markers; Basket Builder (retired), Stitched So Sweetly & Rectangle Stitched Dies; So Saffron Candy Dots; #ICC066.