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Be Brave

1/14/2021

Excellent! I found another new-to-me challenge to try out! Today I'm at Shopping Our Stash #436, where they'd like us to show off something new, and maybe add in a little something old, too - my specialty, lol.
Something new that's been on my desk a couple weeks is our new Many Messages bundle. I can't lie, it's a little intimidating at first glance, lol. ONE big stamp and ONE big die, that cuts out 22 little pieces all at once?? Whoa! The thinking could be, you could cut out a whole bunch of sentiments to have ready to pop on any card, but I'm not quite ready for that level of efficiency, lol. So I picked out a sentiment that caught my eye, inked it up with a marker onto a piece of scrap, and then cut that one phrase with the die - it actually totally worked how I hoped, lol. So I decided to pull out some special occasion hoarded stash to celebrate with - I miss this Coffee Break DSP from back in 2017 so much!
Many Messages Stamp Set; Coffee Break DSP; Whisper White & Early Espresso CS; Early Espresso Stamp-n-Write Marker; Messages Die; Faux Suede Trim (retired); #SOS436.

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Merriest Wishes

1/13/2021

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Yay! CAS Christmas Jan 21 is back with a "silhouette" challenge - so cool!
At first I was stumped - do I really have any silhouettes? Maybe the moose fill-in stamp? Then I remembered my Merriest Wishes tag set - it has a die for building a tiny little scene, in a tag form, that could totally be silhouetted! I set everything up over a tiny gorgeous background from my Feels Like Frost DSP, and the stuck to black and white for the rest. Uber-CAS for me today! I had to add a few rhinestones, just so folks would know it was really me, here, lol.
Merriest Wishes Stamp Set; Feels Like Frost DSP; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Merry Tags Dies; 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Black; Rhinestones Basic Jewels; #CASChristmasSilhouette.

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Simply Succulents

1/12/2021

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Lovely - so many layers this week at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #489!
FINALLY I'm taking the time to play with my new bundle, Simply Succulents. I like cacti and succulents of all kinds here in Arizona, so I was also excited to pair it with the gorgeous prickly paper from the amazing Flowering Cactus Medley - I'm already on the refill for this beauty! Anyway, a few blocks of pretty DSP were the perfect frame for my bucket o' succulents, and I had a fun time coloring with my Blends, too! I think I got just the right touch of purples on the tips!
I can't wait to see what YOU come up with for our fun sketch - meet you at the challenge!
Simply Succulents Stamp Set; Flowering Cactus DSP; Whisper White & Soft Sea Foam CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Old Olive Inks; Old Olive, Granny Apple Green, Grey Granite & Rich Razzleberry Blends Markers; Potted Succulents Dies; Toile Tidings Glitter Dots; #TSOT489.

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Friends Are Like Seashells

1/11/2021

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Ah ha - I've found another new-to-me challenge! Today I'm at Addicted to CAS #188, and we get to emboss for this one! I always find clean and simple to be a challenge - let's see how I do fitting in embossing, too, lol.
I decided to stick with heat embossing, so I could create one focal image. Friends Are Like Seashells is burning up my desk, lol, so I had to pull it out! I really wanted to use the gorgeous new embossing folder that goes with this suite, but I was worried it was too much of an all-over design, so I picked one shell to emboss in gold - so pretty! There are color wash stamps for behind most of the elaborate shells, and I couldn't resist a few Opal Rounds to touch things up. I even did my stamping on our new Pearlescent Specialty Paper - it has such a beautiful sheen!
Friends Are Like Seashells Stamp Set; Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake & Pearlescent CS; Calypso Coral & Versamark Inks; Gold EP; Opal Rounds; #ATC188.

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Berry Best

1/10/2021

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We're bringing back the big basic layers this week at Sunday Stamps #248!
I couldn't resist doing a focus on one of our many gorgeous new DSPs for this one - today I'm all about the Berry Blessings bundle from Sale-A-Bration - love this paper! Today I started with this fun strawberry check, then floated my sentiment on a smaller layer with an accent of gorgeous raspberry prettiness! I HAD to add a larger and fussy-cut version of the raspberry, too, though it might get a little lost. Just so juicy and fun!
I can't wait to see YOUR creations for this one - hope you can join us!
Berry Blessings Stamp Set; Berry Delightful DSP; Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Granny Apple Green & Poppy Parade Inks; #SSC248.

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More Shoes

1/9/2021

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I'm so super excited to be guest designing today at this week's Less Is More #434 - the theme is clothing or fashion! So cool!
I have to admit, I ran straight to our Dressed To Impress set for something fun, lol. But then I thought, what else do I have? A quick search pulled up 2005's Fashion Statements, too, and hey, I forgot all about this image of all these shelves of shoes - how perfect! I did a quick combo of sets, had some fun coloring shoes in improbable colors, then decided to add a background layer and some texture. Hopefully still CAS enough!
I can't wait to see YOUR work for this fun theme - see you at the challenge!
Dressed To Impress & Fashion Statements (retired 2005) Stamp Sets; Whisper White & Real Red CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Crumb Cake, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Granny Apple Green, Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, Flirty Flamingo, Rich Razzleberry & Mango Melody Blends Markers; Rectangle Stitched Dies; Ruffled EF; #LIM434.

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Sending Pals Sunshine

1/8/2021

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Excellent - I found another new-to-me challenge to try - I love this time of year! Today's is a lovely color challenge from Stamping Pals #11 - let's do it!
I always have a tough time with these subtle colors, and I really wanted to try to stay away from Easter, which they always remind me of, lol. So I got to looking at my Sending Sunshine set, which I really haven't used enough, and figured I could fit the colors in here! It's a pretty simple layout, but I went off-center with my image, and hand-cut the irregular shaped of the sentiment. A few sunny sequins to finish, and I think I like it!
Sending Sunshine Stamp Set; Balmy Blue, Daffodil Delight & Whisper White CS; Versamark, Balmy Blue, Daffodil Delight & Pear Pizzazz Inks; White EP; Iridescent Sequins; #SPC11.

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City Sunset

1/7/2021

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OK, what a cool theme! This week's Time Out Challenge #178 is "life in the city!"
I knew right away I'd be pulling out my old Calling All Heroes set for this one - I love the city skyline stamp in this one, along with the fun comic book-style alphabet, lol. Today I combined with our lovely Heal Your Heart Sale-a-Bration set, too - isn't this a lovely script for a thank you? Anyway, I sponge brayer-ed my lovely sunset in three colors, then heat embossed all my stamping in black for a beautiful contrast - I'm so pleased with the result!
Heal Your Heart & Calling All Heroes (retired 2014) Stamp Sets; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Terracotta Tile, Rococo Rose, Bumblebee, Versamark & Memento Tuxedo Black Inks; Black EP; Rhinestone Basic Jewels; #TOC178.

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2021 Adventure

1/6/2021

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So perfect! This week's In{k}spire Me #439 is a special New Year's celebration!
With a brand new year ahead, I decided now is the time to recommit to being intentional about embracing "change," and holding on to as healthy and positive an attitude about it as possible. It's maybe less of a resolution, and more of a commitment to managing my attitude, or at least trying to, lol. With the events of 2020, behind us now, there were SO many instances where I could have let difficult, sad or challenging circumstances get me down, and forget to honor the many blessings in my life. I hope I never forget to do that! Change is inevitable, and outside my control, but what IS in my control is my response. God grant me grace to always respond with compassion and love, for myself, and those around me. This quick and simple card is my commitment to that intention. Welcome, 2021 - bring on the next adventure!
Adventure Awaits (retired 2015) & Number of Years (retired 2018) Stamp Sets; Playing With Patterns DSP; Whisper White & Night of Navy CS; Night of Navy Ink; Large Numbers Dies (retired); #IM439.

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Friendly Flamingo

1/5/2021

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I'm loving our cheery party sketch this week at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #488! It's a perfect layout for our designer choice theme at SU Only #266, too!
For today's card, I'm showing off a new set, that's outside my usual purview - take a look at Friendly Flamingo! I decided this flashy fellow was definitely a party bird, making him just right for our party sketch, lol. I played with the little vines from the set, too, as well as some of our yummy new Sale-a-bration DSP that seems made just for this set - Flower & Field DSP. Had to use everything Flirty Flamingo, of course!
I can't wait to see YOUR projects this week, too - meet you at the challenges!
Friendly Flamingo Stamp Set; Flower & Field DSP; Whisper White, Basic Black & Flirty Flamingo CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody & Granny Apple Green Blends Markers; Flamingo Dies; Painted Texture EF; Rhinestone Basic Jewels; #TSOT488; #SUOC266.