Tag Archives: challenges

Singin’ the Blues with PPA

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In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been cruising through a lot of different challenge blogs and forums recently.  It’s a great way to shake up my projects a little and keep things fresh.  It’s easy to use familiar color combinations and card layouts, but after a while it gets boring.

I haven’t settled on any particular favorites but if I do I promise I’ll share.  The layout for this card is from Sketch Girl, and it appeals to my sense of orderliness.  Today’s colors are courtesy of the Paper Pal Arts Monochromatic Blues Challenge (PPA40) and I knew the moment I saw the challenge that it would make me happy.  I don’t think there’s a shade of blue I dislike, and the clean look of blue and white is one of my favorites.  I had a lot of fun with this card:

5th Avenue Floral Paper Arts Pals Challenge

  • Fifth Avenue Floral, Well Scripted and French Script stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Night of Navy and Pacific Point card stock
  • Not Quite Navy Classic ink pad; Craft White ink pad
  • Crushed Curry Stampin’ Write Marker; Bashful Blue Ink refill and the Aquapainter
  • Bashful Blue Satin ribbon, Large oval punch, white embossing powder and the heat tool

And yes, I blurred the French Script lettering with the AQP on purpose!  Lately I can’t seem to make a card without using the Aquapainter for something.  For the past couple of days, I’ve only been able to find the small-brush AQP – the large-brush one is AWOL.  It’s driving me crazy (admittedly, a very short drive) because I’m somewhat OCD (or as my daughter likes to point out, CDO – alphabetical order).  I Do Not Like To Lose Things.  And I use that AQP a lot!  (deep breath…another one…it’s going to be okay…really.)

Ahem.  I had a marvelous time with this card.  The concept was clear in my head before I started, and although I made a few adjustments as I went along the process was very enjoyable.  This is not always the case, as evidenced by the card in the trash can in my craft room.  When I finished this lovely Ode to the Blues I thought my mojo was firmly in place and started in on another sketch challenge I’d seen.  I spent way more time than I’d planned trying to make it work, changing focal points and orientation and struggling mightily.  I finally finished it and set it aside to look at this morning, which is often the perfect solution.  Sometimes looking over a not-quite-there project after a good night’s sleep will produce that Ah-ha! moment that fixes everything.  But this card was immune to Good-Sleep-Therapy.  I ripped off the salvageable bits and threw the rest away.  It’s only paper, after all.

A Fond Farewell to Sage Shadow

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A lovely color, Sage Shadow, but somewhat out of style.  It’s not usually quite this difficult to work with, but there were three of us stamping together and we all thought Arielle’s Colour Q Challenge 30 looked interesting.  Interesting?  More like INSANE!!

Cheep Talk Stampin Up Colour Q Challenge 30

  • Cheep Talk and A Note of Thanks stamp sets
  • Sage Shadow, Cameo Coral, Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke and Whisper White card stock
  • Bravo Burgundy and Always Artichoke Classic ink pads
  • Stamp-a-ma-jig, Big Shot and Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate, Piercing tool and mat
  • Linen Thread, Bitty Buttons and Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (Summer Mini preview); 1/4″ circle punch

This color challenge was tough – the three of us sat at my kitchen table shuffling cardstock around trying to figure out what to do for a long time.  The colors work together, but I’ll confess I would never think of putting them together on my own.  It took a lot of shuffling to come up with this card.

Bitty Button Linen Thread Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack

I hope you noticed that Bitty Button…you’ll be able to purchase buttons and matching little punches starting on May 1 when the Summer Mini catalog debuts.  Stampin’ Up! has done it again – lots of very cool new products to keep our designs fresh and interesting.  These clear buttons come in an assortment of four shapes, and there are coordinating punches for all four shapes.  Let your inspiration run wild!

New products available in a new Summer Mini should be our cue to review the Occasions Mini catalog.   Some items from the Occasions mini – punches and Big Shot dies – will continue to be offered, but stamps, paper and accessories will not be available after April 30 – that’s Friday!  Check the Online Store and place your order if there’s something you know you’ll need.  There are a number of products that are already sold out – including the Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack and Stitched Felt.  Don’t miss out!

A Fond Farewell to YoYo Yellow

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Fond may be stretching it!  I think I am still working from my original package of YoYo Yellow, and my stamp pad looks brand new.  In my opinion, it’s time to go – but Arielle decided to push my buttons with this week’s Colour Q challenge.   I’ll admit that the dinnerware she used for her inspiration looks pretty cool, but honestly – Whisper White with Bravo Burgundy, Tangerine Tango, Yoyo Yellow and Green Galore???  Aaack!!

Colour Q Challenge 29 Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge 277

  • Sense of Time and Define Your Life Stamp sets; Texture Jumbo Wheel
  • Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, Tangerine Tango and Yoyo Yellow card stock
  • Bravo Burgundy, Tangerine Tango, Yoyo Yellow and Green Galore Classic ink pads
  • Aquapainter;  Piercing tool, template and mat;  and Vintage Brads

To add a little more challenge, I used the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge 277 for the layout of this card.  The white balance on this card seems off, but with this color combination I couldn’t bear to add any more solids!  I compromised by using the Aquapainter to blur the Bravo Burgundy ink in the background of the card base.  I’m not too crazy about Yoyo Yellow (can you tell??) but Green Galore positively gives me fits.

Ah, but enough complaining.  These colors are Bold Brights and bright they are.  There are lots of crafters that love them and will lament their retirement, and I understand that feeling.   The world would be a dreary place if we all loved the same colors.  Farewell, Triple Y and Double G.

Fond Farewell to Summer Sun

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You know, I’m actually going to miss Summer Sun.  I didn’t use it a lot, but its deep, rich color was sometimes just the shade I needed.   When I saw Riley’s choices for this week’s Color Dare Challenge I started thinking about that yellow.  For me, the key to using bold color is getting the Goldilocks dose – not too little, not too much, but just right:

Mojo135 Awash with Flowers Color Dare Challenge Stampin Up!

  • Awash with Flowers, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Flight of the Butterfly, Wings of Friendship and Linen (retired) stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Summer Sun, Certainly Celery and Old Olive card stock
  • Summer Sun and Olive Olive Classic ink pads
  • Summer Sun and Certainly Celery Classic ink refills and the Aquapainter
  • Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and the Beautiful Wings Embosslit
  • Scallop Border and Corner Rounder punches, White Gel pen, and Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon

This sketch is number 135 from Mojo Monday (yes, I am aware it is Thursday – sometimes life gets in the way.)  I wasn’t sure if I would like it but once I decided to skip the fancy shape for the focal point it was an easy sketch to use.  I stamped the larger flowers first and then made a mask to cover them before stamping the smaller stemmed flowers.  Masking is an under-rated technique!

As if two challenges weren’t enough for one post, I’ve also been given a Sunshine Award from my blogging friend Lisa.  The rules of the award state that I need to pass it on, and that’s a tough choice for me.  Lisa awarded one of the people I regularly follow – Melissa Huie – so in no particular order, here are a few other stamping bloggers whose work I admire:

I hope you’ll enjoy the work of these talented artists as much as I do.  They each have a different perspective, but the one thing they have in common is uncommon creativity.

And thanks, Lisa!  You made my day.

Fond Farewell to Blush Blossom

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When I look at the list of colors retiring in June, I feel ambiguous about Blush Blossom.  It’s not a very trendy color.  It doesn’t inspired me on its own.   But Blush Blossom plays well with others.

Stampin' Up! Awash with Flowers Splitcoaststampers challenge

  • Awash with Flowers and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • French Script, Inspired by Nature, and Flight of the Butterfly stamp sets
  • Blush Blossom, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral and Whisper White card stock
  • Ruby Red, Blush Blossom and Mellow Moss Classic ink pads
  • Cameo Coral and Ruby Red Stampin’ Write markers
  • Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, and SU Backgrounds 1 Texturz plate
  • Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, Stampin’ Pastels, and Mellow Moss taffeta ribbon

The new Awash with Flowers stamp set is a winner, my stampin’ friends.  I inked the solid stamps in Blush Blossom and used the Cameo Coral and Ruby Red markers to add a little extra color to the rubber before I stamped the images.  If you want to see a mind-boggling beauty of a card with this set, peek at Lisa’s Add Ink and Stamp.  She is one amazing artist.

This card was a project for my stamp club last night.  I’m not sure if it was the profusion of stamps or all of the steps or just the fact that we were crazy enough to schedule stamp club on Tax Day, but it was a wild and crazy kind of club!  Lots of hootin’ and hollerin’  and crazy farmin’ talk, especially when we were finished stamping.  Teresa brought some of her Auntie’s home made wine – a bottle of cherry and a bottle of lilikoi.  Yes, I was wrong – there ARE cherry trees on Maui!  The cherry wine was sweet and refreshing and and the lilikoi was tropical and somewhat mystical and both were absolutely delicious.  I think it’s fair to say a good time was had by all!

One last thought:  If you haven’t tried a challenge card yet, I enthusiastically recommend that you do.  This card uses Color and Sketch Challenges from Splitcoaststampers and there are loads of other challenges out there to try.  Find one that inspires you and give it a shot!

20 years, and no foolin’

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It’s been 20 years since my husband, my almost-3-year-old daughter and my 7-months-pregnant self  stepped off the plane in Kahului to begin what we thought was a two year job on Maui.  Actually, stepped off the plane doesn’t really tell the story.  We’d given our daughter some Benadryl during the flight to help her sleep, and it took a little longer to kick in than we expected.  When we landed she was sound asleep and we had substantial carry-on luggage even without her and her enormous car seat.  Oh, and did I mention I was 7 months pregnant?  What WAS I thinking??

The crew that cleans the plane was so compassionate, and helped us down the stairs – back in 1990, there were no jetways in Kahului.  Someone brought a golf cart to the bottom of the steps and we loaded my still-sleeping little girl and my enormous ankles onto the cart for the trip to the baggage claim.

Fast forward 20 years…and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.  Thank you, Maui.  Thank you to all the beautiful people who have been part of our lives, and for the richness of the Hawaiian culture.  Thank you for the opportunity to live in a true mixed-plate community, with the richness of many cultures blending and sometimes struggling together.  And thank you,  Lord,  for this incredible, beautiful island of mountain and beach, lava and sand, fragrant breezes and tropical blooms.  It is truly home.

  • Thank you Kindly and Embrace Life stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Basic Black, and Kraft card stock
  • Sahara Sand Classic ink pad; Stazon Black ink pad; Pretty in Pink ink refill
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and Aquapainter
  • Pink taffeta ribbon and Scallop trim border punch

10:05pm   I forgot to mention that this card was inspired by the Curtain Call Color Challenge:  CC23

In Color: Blast from the Past

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I was digging through the DSP (Designer Series Paper, but you knew that) scrap bin the other night.  It’s not very organized, though it’s better than it used to be.  I kept running across retired paper and thinking about how much I loved this design or that color.  Before I knew it I had a handful of things I wanted to use, so this is a warning:  The next couple of days will be “SU Retro”.

SU Retro Kindness

  • Define Your Life and Contempo Alphabet stamp sets
  • Baja Breeze (ret), River Rock(ret), Night of Navy and Naturals White card stock
  • Retired Designer Series Paper
  • Baja Breeze (ret), Old Olive and Night of Navy Classic ink pads
  • Spiral punch, Stampin’ Sponges, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon and Filigree Designer brads
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals, Clear embossing powder, Embossing buddy, and Heat tool

This layout came from the Stampin’ Addicts Sketch Challenge from this week (SASC44) but I twisted it around.  I’m getting kind of rebellious about that kind of thing lately!  It’s not intentional, it’s just that my mind sees the possibilities of doing something different.

I sponged around the edge of the Naturals White panel with Baja Breeze ink to soften it a little.  And while we’re on the subject of Baja Breeze, if I haven’t mentioned it before (though I know I have) Baja Breeze is one of my all-time absolute please-bring-it-back FAVORITE Stampin’ Up! colors.  Ever.

Twice as nice

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Last night I couldn’t make a decision.  This isn’t news, by the way – I often have a hard time making decisions (Vanilla Swiss Almond or Deep Dark Chocolate??  Oatmeal Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter Fudge??)  Last night’s choice, however, had nothing to do with food and everything to do with color.

The Color Dare Challenge this week was Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery and Whisper White – a combination I would choose myself, so an easy one for me to work with.    My problem was proportions.  When I start a color challenge, the first thing I like to do is determine which color will be the dominant color – usually the card base – and which colors will be secondary.  I’m a blues-and-greens girl myself, so I knew Regal Rose would be an accent color, but I couldn’t decide which color to choose for my card base.

Birthday Gifts in Tempting Turquoise

What do you think?  Does it work in Tempting Turquoise?

Birthday Gifts in Certainly Celery

Or is it better in Certainly Celery?

  • Happy Moments, Crazy for Cupcakes, Itty Bitty Backgrounds and You & Moi stamp sets
  • Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White card stock
  • Patterns II Designer Series Paper (retired)
  • Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise and Certainly Celery Classic ink pads
  • Ruby Red and Tempting Turquoise Stampin’ Write markers
  • Scallop Trim, Corner Rounder, Photo Corner and Modern Label punches
  • Piercing tool and mat, Fresh Favorites II Buttons, Stampin’ Sponges and Linen Thread

I still don’t know which one I prefer.

And if that sketch looks familiar, yes, it’s the Mojo Monday sketch for this week.  For some reason I’m fighting the circle thing.  Call it rebellion.  More likely I just need some Deep Dark Chocolate and everything will be fine.

Hello Neighbor! SASC37

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What a cheery neighborhood this must be!  This new set from Sale-a-bration lends itself to so many concepts.  I’ve seen row houses and suburban neighborhoods, as well as  country estates surrounded by orchards.  I wanted to play with the Stampin’ Addicts sketch challenge, so I kept the image small.

Good Neighbors stamps with Welcome Neighbors paper

  • Good Neighbors (SAB) and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Bermuda Bay, Old Olive and Crushed Curry card stock
  • Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper Pad (SAB)
  • Pumpkin Pie, Bermuda Bay and Old Olive Classic stamp pads
  • Aquapainter, Old Olive and Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Markers and a blender pen
  • Stamp-a-ma-jig, Linen Twine, paper Snips and Stampin’ Dimensionals

The colors in the Welcome Neighbor stamp pad are bright and cheerful but they coordinate well.  I love the 6″ square size for use in cardmaking – it keeps the proportions right.  And the Stampin’ Addicts challenge was a great one, though it took a while to get the dimensions just right!  If I have time I’ll post them later.  I’m off to the beach with my son and my middle daughter – she leaves tonight to go back to Boston where they are reporting a “severe weather watch”.   She loves the excitement of the city, the stimulation of university life, and the companionship of her friends.  The weather, well, she’s not so thrilled with that, but it’s part of the deal.

I’m missing her already.

Monkey Be Mine

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The Late Night Stampers issue a challenge every Monday, and yesterday’s challenge was to create a Valentine.  How easy is that?  If we wanted an extra challenge, we could make it a masculine Valentine.  And what could be more masculine than Sock Monkey?  (oooh, I’m gonna pay for that!  I’m talking BOY masculine, not MAN masculine, OK??)

Monkey Be Mine

  • Sock Monkey and Contempo Alphabet stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Ruby Red, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Close to Cocoa card stock
  • Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, and Pretty in Pink Class Ink pads
  • Aquapainter, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Paper Snips and the Heart to Heart punch
  • On Board Essentials chipboard, Sponge Daubers, and the Stamp-a-ma-jig
  • Pretty in Pink 1/4″ grosgrain, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals, and Tombo adhesive

This was Round 2 for the Monkey in the Frame.  Round 1 was so busy it gave me a headache to look at, so I pulled it apart and started over.  I really hate it when I sit and stare at a project and can’t decide what to do with it.  Sometimes that happens early in the project, sometimes it happens late in the project, and sometimes the whole project, well, it shoulda stayed on the back burner a while longer.

By the way…do you have a pair of Stampin’ Up! Paper Snips (#103579, $9.95)?  If you don’t, you really should consider investing in a pair.  Yes, it’s an investment, not a glamorous sparkly kind of purchase, but every time you pick them up you’ll say “Wow!  Why did I wait so long to buy these things?? They’re AMAZING!!”  Tools make the project.  If you don’t have a good pair of Snips, you won’t want to cut out the Monkey (or the flower spray, or the heart, or whatever.)  And you’ll miss out on that satisfied feeling you get when you look at something and realize it’s Just Right because you trimmed it out so well.