Tag Archives: challenges

Cheep Love

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Is it just me, or is anyone else having trouble un-sticking the concept of Christmas cards from her brain?  Hmmm…maybe I don’t want to hear the answer to that.

I played with the Color Challenge at Splitcoast yesterday and really liked the combination.  The challenge was to use Certainly Celery, Bermuda Bay and Handsome Hunter together, with an option to add pink – but not pink cardstock.  The Hunter was something of an issue at first, but when I decided to make it a minor accent and bring the pinks to the forefront, everything fell into place.

Cheep Talk Color Challenge

  • Cheep Talk stamp set
  • Whisper White, Handsome Hunter and Certainly Celery cardstock
  • Thoroughly Modern Designer Series paper and an ancient DSP I can’t for the life of me recall
  • Pretty Ink Pink, Certainly Celery, and Bermuda Bay Classic Ink pads
  • Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Bermuda Bay and Handsome Hunter Stampin’ Write Markers
  • Big Shot and SU Perfect Details texturz plate
  • Double rectange punch, Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon, and the Blender Pen
  • A retired Pretty in Pink button (substitute Sherbet Designer Buttons) and  Mini glue dots
  • the Stamp-a-ma-jig

Kinda used a lotta stuff, didn’t I?   More is more…

I used the markers to add highlights – details on the leaves and a little grid on the birdie wings – and to marker the stamps after removing ink with the Blender Pen.  It’s much faster than trying to color larger areas of a stamp.

My craft desk was kind of a mess after this card but it was worth it.  I don’t mind picking up after my own messes, but everyone else’s?  Well, there’s an obvious answer to that.

Same colors, same sketch, new look

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Different stamps and a quarter turn from yesterday yield a completely different card:

Silly Sock Monkey

  • Sock Monkey and Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp sets
  • Barely Banana, Basic Gray, and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Dusty Durango Designer Series Paper (level I hostess)
  • Barely Banana and Dusty Durango Classic Ink Refills and the Aquapainter
  • Basic Gray Classic ink pad and Stampin’ Write markers;  Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint
  • Trio Flower punch; Stamp-a-ma-jig;  Stampin’ Dimensionals

Watercolor is an on-again, off-again technique for me and in my opinion it’s a little off right now.  Doesn’t stop me, but makes me a little bit crazy.  Or perhaps I’m just crazier than usual.

I wanted to see what happened when I used the same colors (even papers) and sketch for two cards. Looking at today’s card compared with yesterday’s,  I like the difference and enjoy the stretch.  Challenges really make me work, and even when I’m not thrilled with the results I always learn something new.

They’re called challenges for a reason

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I spend some time this weekend playing with some challenges.  The latest Splitcoast Color Challenge was really a stretch for me!  I saw it when it posted on Wednesday and thought I would pass, but after returning to it a couple of times and looking at the gallery samples I decided to give it a shot.  Wouldn’t you think twice about Dusty Durango, Barely Banana and Basic Gray?

  • Upsy Daisy and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Barely Banana, Basic Gray cardstock; Dusty Durango Designer Series Paper (Hostess level I)
  • Dusty Durango and Barely Banana Classic ink pad; Basic Gray Stampin’ Write marker
  • Latte buttons, paper piercing template and tool
  • Gray taffeta ribbon, linen twine, Dusty Durango classic ink refill

Do you like the twine?  I colored it with the ink refill and waiting for it to dry was the hardest part for me!  The floral image was stamped with Barely Banana ink and I removed the color from the stems before applying the Basic Gray marker.  It’s a very easy technique – just remember to “huff” on your stamp to moisten the ink before impressing the image.

This layout is also a Splitcoast challenge layout.  If you check back tomorrow you’ll see the same concept with a completely different stamp set.  Til then!

Late Night Stamping

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In November I discovered a stamping forum called Late Night Stampers.  Since I’m

  1. a chronic late-night crafter and
  2. a minimum of 2 time zones earlier than the Continental U.S.

this group seemed tailor made for my style.  I could be Late Night with them and even get to bed on time!!  I’ve hovered around their forum for some time and finally am participating in a stamping challenge.  How could I not?  The challenge was to use brads and I couldn’t ignore such a simple offer.  Without further ado, here is my entry to LNS Challenge 51:

Vintage Vogue LNS Challenge 51

  • Stampin’ Up! Vintage Vogue Clear Mount stamp set
  • Stampin’ Up! Very Vintage Jumbo wheel
  • Crushed Curry, Barely Banana, Mellow Moss and Whisper White card stock
  • Crushed Curry, Barely Banana, and Mellow Moss Classic ink pad
  • Scallop Trim Border, 1/2″ circle punch, 1/16″ hand held punch
  • Circle Rhinestone brad, white taffeta ribbon, stampin sponges, paper snips

Did you notice that bit about the Clear Mount stamps?  Stampin’ Up! is taking the leap, and the best news of all is that we now have two options.  All the new stamps in the Ocassions Mini Catalog running January 5 to April 30 are offered in your choice of clear mount or wood mount.

I’ve spent some time with those clear mount stamps and love how easy it is to position your image through the clear block.  These stamps are rubber, not acrylic, and they give the same crisp, beautiful image that classic wood mounted stamps yield.  They also store more compactly in a clear DVD-style case and I know I’m going to use that fact to justify just a few more sets!

Hey – did you click on the Ocassions Mini link a couple of paragraphs above?  It will take you to a pdf of the new Mini Catalog so you can see for yourself!  Happy browsing.

Looking back, looking ahead

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I know I repeat myself…certain persons in my household have accused me of it on multiple occasions just to be sure I’m aware of that flaw.  Guilty as charged.

There are some sets on the Stampin’ Up! Dormant List that will retire in January which I will be very sorry to see leave.  One of the challenges of being a demonstrator – yes, we DO have challenges – is when a stamp set retires, we have to decide if we will allocate precious storage space to stamps we can no longer demonstrate.  If you’ve followed this blog at all, you know I don’t often do a very good job of letting go of retired things.  It’s partially because I get attached to the images, and partially because I’m something of a pack rat.  Eventually, I have to let go to make room for all the wonderful images being released.  It’s that time of year.

Wonderful Watercolors SC 260

  • Wonderful Watercolors and En Francais stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Regal Rose, and Pretty in Pink card stock
  • Mellow Moss Designer Series Paper from the Hostess Prints Pack III
  • Mellow Moss and Regal Rose Stampin’ Write Markers and Ink Refills
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and Aquapainter
  • Mellow Moss taffeta ribbon and Mini Glue dots
  • Scallop Trim Border (SAB  sneak peak) and Stamp-a-ma-jig
  • Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die and Elegant Bouquet Embossing folder

This is a SplitCoastStampers Sketch Challenge layout, SC260.  I’ll add the sentiment later when I’m ready to sent the card.  The little flowers look like the flowers on what I only know as Butterfly Bush, although I think the originals only come in lavender.  Artistic license! There’s Shimmer Paint mixed in with the Regal Rose ink refill on those little flowers.

The crazy Mainland weather has created some chaos in our household.  My middle daughter had an epic journey home from university in Boston, and her dear roomie who was to spend Christmas with us will instead arrive Christmas night.  They’re laughing about it now, in agreement that it will be one of their best college memories, but on Sunday as they dealt with cancellations, delays, and planes that loaded and de-planed without going anywhere, none of us were laughing much.

Safe travels.

Who’s that in my Pear Tree??

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Yesterday I had a big ol’ lightbulb go on.  I was playing with Cheep Talk and thinking about some submissions I’d seen in response to this week’s Color Challenge at SplitCoastStampers.  One card in particular kept coming to mind – I liked the geometry and the color balance.  Suddenly, it got really, really bright inside my head:

  • Cheep Talk and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Old Olive, Pretty in Pink and Bermuda Bay Classic ink pads; Encore Gold ink pad; Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint
  • Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive and Bermuda Bay card stock
  • Pretty in Pink Taffeta ribbon, Clear Embossing powder and heat tool, and the Stamp-a-ma-jig

I gotta tell you, there is no way I could have done this without the SAMJ.  I ruined my first attempt because I stamped a pear the wrong color and that was enough for me.  It makes me cranky to make a mistake like that at the end of the process, which of course is the logical time for that to happen.  It’s just paper though – I say that often.  Stamping is so forgiving that way.  Make a mistake and start over.  No big deal.

 

 

When brilliant minds collaborate

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Yesterday you saw my challenge card – today you get to see Cheryl’s.  Hers is similar to mine in many ways, but with just a few changes it has an entirely different feeling.

Cheryl_SCS_CC242_

  • Upsy Daisy stamp set; Linen background stamp (retired)
  • Basic Black and Melon Mambo Classic Stampin’ Ink; Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write marker
  • Basic Black, Kraft, Melon Mambo and Whisper White cardstock; Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper
  • Black gingham ribbon

We decided it really didn’t need the sentiment, although it would be easy enough to add at the last minute if you needed it.  I love the softness of the stems – I would have probably done them in black and it would have been too strong a contrast.  I love this Upsy Daisy stamp and I love what Cheryl did with it.  We’ll have to be mosquitoes again!

Learning new things

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In stamping, as in life, there is always room to grow.  New techniques, new projects, new points of view all serve to keep me inspired and encourage me to keep my work fresh.  Left to my own devices, I suspect I would make lots and lots of cards in primarily blue and green hues with very predictable layouts.

The best way I’ve found to grow is to stamp with others.  Stamping together in person is always the best choice – I think I need another person to ignite my creative juices.  Life being what it is, it’s not always possible to stamp with another person.  That’s when online challenges come into play.

Yesterday, I posted a link to the Mojo challenge.  There are also many challenges on Stampin’ Addicts, and even more on Splitcoast Stampers. SCS has a really broad selection of challenges – techniques, product spotlights, unusual inspirations – as well as the more typical color and sketch challenges.  The Blogosphere has made it possible for anyone with an internet connection to post a challenge, and you can spend the better part of the morning cruising through all those options.  Your best option there is to find a few bloggers whose style strikes you either because it’s so unusual, it’s so inspiring, or it’s a close match with your own taste.  Once you’ve done that, subscribe to those blogs to keep updated and start playing along with the challenges.  Don’t feel obligated to post your creations, but at the same time, realize that the sharing and the interaction when you do post can be enjoyable, inspiring, and perhaps even addicting.

Yesterday Cheryl came over and we ended up abandoning our original stamping plan and playing along with the color and sketch challenges at SCS.  Here’s what I did:

Anne_SCS_CC242_SC252

  • Thoughts and Prayers, En Francais, and Linen (retired) stamp sets; Leaves a la Carte (retired) wheel
  • Basic Black, Whisper White, Melon Mambo and Kraft cardstock; retired Designer Series Paper
  • Basic Black and Sahara Sand Classic ink;  Basic Black, Melon Mambo and Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write markers
  • Kraft taffeta ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig and Stampin’ Dimensionals

We had such a good time stamping, although I have to admit we’re like a couple of little kids with the attention span of a pair of mosquitoes.  We kept flitting back and forth between crafting and the computer – and of course we both had phones ringing – but we finished our cards and had a good time together too.

So stretch a little – try a challenge.  If you don’t like it, remember that it’s only paper.