A Weekend of Challenges

I had a great time this weekend doing a ton of challenges! (So glad my BF doesn't mind too much :P I needed the stress relief after teaching 30 8 year olds all week including a fab trip to CadburyWorld on Thursday!!) Splitcoast Stampers had a mini Virtual Stamp Night and I love doing these challenges. You get 45 minutes to do each challenge, but I will admit I do sometimes go over the time limit by a few minutes here and there. (I'm going to be a hostess for one of the challenges in the main VSN on February 26th too!!) I always try to combine my challenges so lots of my cards are for several different ones, so bare with me through the long post.

My first card is for VSN#1 - to use the colours of a partcipating country's flag on your project. I chose Estonia's colours for no other reason than I liked them. It's also for Sweet Stamping's Challenge #11 to use scallops and the Sketch Challenge #265 on SCS too. This is a Stampin' Up Only card as well (SUO). All of these products for this card can be purchased through me!! 

Recipe:

Stamps: A Beautiful Thing, Vintage Labels

Papers: Basic Black, Whisper Whiste, Bashful Blue DSP

Inks: Basic Black, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Black striped grosgrain ribbon, Scalloped circle punch

VSN#2 was to use snow on a card. I also combined this one with Papertake's Weekly Sketch Challenge #33 and Farm Fresh Friday's challenge to use monochromatics on your card. I used blues as they were perfect colours for this snow challenge. I masked off the wheels on my Skateboarding Ian to make him snowboard instead and it worked!

Recipe:

Stamps: Best Wishes & More, Skateboarding Ian

Papers: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Navy pearlescet paper, Non SU white card

Inks: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Ciaos

Accessories: Doodlebug Lily White Velvet Flock, Circle Nestabilities

VSN#3 was to use red, white and wool! I never use wool for anything so I had to "borrow" some from school for this challenge. I combined it with Our Creative Corner's Sketch Challenge as well. I'm not a particular fan of hearts so all my Valentine inspired challenge cards will be using these 2 SU stamp sets!

Recipe:

Stamps: Simply Said, Darling Dots

Papers: Whisper White, Real Red cs and Dp from a retired hostess pack

Inks: Basic Black, Real Red

Accessories: Red wool, red heart gems

VSN#4 was to use the chalkboard technique. I love this technique and used it here on a previous Inspiring Inkin' challenge. I also used Mercy's Sketch #58 and Color Throwdown's #77 for the combo.

Recipe:

Stamps: Live Your Dream

Papers: Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze DSP, Basic Black

Inks: Whisper White craft ink, Stampin' Pastels

Accessories: Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon, Fleur de Lis Borderabilities, Blue Zoomz

VSN#5 was to use the letter S, the Kissing technique, white as the only neutral and pink. I used Truly Scrumptious' Sketch #24, CC#255 on SCS and it is also for A Passion for Papertrey's Nature Challenge. Phew!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Everyday Classics, Signature Greetings, Polka Dot Basics, Wishing You all from Papertrey Ink

Papers: Pretty in Pink cs and DP from retired hostess pack, Melon Mambo DP, Blush Blossom, Whisper White

Inks: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, White gel pen

Accessories: Melon Mambo polka dot grosgrain ribbon

VSN#6 was to use the spotlighting technique. I used the colours from Stacey's Curtain Call #14 as well and I love these ones together. 

Recipe:

Stamps: Upsy Daisy

Papers: Orchid Opulence, Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, Bashful Blue DSP

Inks: Orchid Opulence, Almost Amethyst, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Clear Zoomz, Ticket Corner punch

And that was all the VSN challenges done so I started on some others! This first one is for Carol's Sketch Fun #19 and SCS CC242 (an old colour combo I missed). It's those same 2 heart stamps again LOL

Recipe:

Stamps: Simply Said, Darling Dots

Papers: Kraft, Basic Black, Whisper White, Melon Mambo cs and DP, Groom DSP

Inks: Basic Black, Melon Mambo 

Accessories: Black organza ribbon, Scallop edge punch

My next one is for Mojo#123 and another old colour combo on SCS, CC179. I'm slowly catching up with all the old colour challenges that I've missed but it will take me a while. I've done all the sketch challenges and am now working through the colour and featured stamper ones. This colour combo is gorgeous though! How on earth did I miss it when it came out??!! I also attempted to use my blender pens again on this card - not too bad a job! I'm slowly getting there with them!

Recipe:

Stamps: Floral Symphony and Circular Sayings from Verve

Papers: Taken With Teal, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive DSP

Inks: Taken With Teal, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive

Accessories: Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon, Circle Nestabilities, purple buttons from stash.

And my final card of the weekend was another triple challenge: CC247 on SCS, Our Creative Corner's Music Challenge and Just Us Girls#18 to create a pennant banner. I was going to miss out the JUGS challenge as I don't do pennant banners, but then I saw one of the other ladies had done a mini one on a card and knew I had to copy her idea! It goes perfectly with this guitarist stamp as well.

Recipe:

Stamps: Extreme Guitar, Swirling Stars wheel

Papers: basic Black, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede

Inks: Basic Black, Soft Suede

Accessories: Sizzix Chocolatey Goodness alphabet

Phew! that's all my cards for this weekend. I'll be back during the week with another new project for you all. Enjoy!!

Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to another Sale-A-Bration blog hop. Sale-A-Bration comes but once a year from Stampin' Up during which time for every £45 you spend before P&P you can choose one of the 4 limited edition stamp sets for free. Click on the link on my side bar to view all 4 stamp sets. They are really gorgeous ones this year and so versatile for so many different occasions.

If you have joined me from Helen's blog, welcome. If you are starting here, then follow the link at the bottom of my post to the next blog in the hop and you'll eventually come full circle. I hope you have fun looking at all the gorgeous creations on the blog hop and find some great inspiration too!

My first card today uses the cute 2-step stamping set, Good Neighbors (and yes that is the American spelling not a typo :P)

This card is also for Splitcoast Stampers sketch challenge #264, the Caardvarks challenge to use red and hearts on a card and A Spoonful of Sugar's challenge #87 to use lots of layers! I used the little heart on the door to make the heart shaped smoke. Looks cute doesn't it?

Recipe:

Stamps: Good Neighbors, Bella's Bloom

Papers: Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Whisper White, Tall Tales DSP

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Old Olive, SU Pastels

Accessories: Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon

My second card is one of my faves made with the Happy Moments stamp set so far.

This card is also for Mercy's sketch #57 and Stacey's Curtain Call #13.

Recipe:

Stamps: Happy Moments, Vintage Labels

Papers: Pink Passion, Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Groom DSP

Inks: Basic Black ink and marker, Pink Passion ink and marker, Pumpkin Pie marker, Green Galore marker

Accessories: Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, Eyelet border punch, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

I hope you've enjoyed my Sale-A-Bration cards and will continue to enjoy your journey on to see Debbie's gorgeous creations.

Only a few challenges today

Only because I'm saving some for tomorrow's Sale-A-Bration blog hop! So you'll have to come back tomorrow for a few more!

Today's first is for Stamp With Us' sketch challenge and Splitcoast Stampers Color Challenge #254.

Recipe:

Stamps: Best Wishes and More, Say It With Scallops

Papers: Soft Suede, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Bashful Blue DSP

Inks: Soft Suede, Ruby Red, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Soft Suede polka dot ribbon, Scallop Square punch, Scallop Edge punch, Paper Piercer

Number 2 is for Color Throwdown #76, Charisma Cardz #3 to use fruity colours which I think these really are and Mojo #122!

The So Saffron on the background panel looks more peachy than saffron in the photo but I can assure you it really is So Saffron!

Recipe:

Stamps: Kindred Spirits from Verve

Papers: Old Olive, Melon Mambo, So Saffron, Whisper White

Inks: Old Olive, Melon Mambo, So Saffron

Accessories: So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, Oval Nestabilities

And my final project for today is a cute little picnic basket using one of Lauren Meader's old templates for the Just Us Girls challenge #17. My printer is well and truely kaputt and rather than wasting money on a new one that could be better spent on stamping supplies I print things out at work! Tut tut!! But as I'm not at work until Monday I couldn't use one of Lauren's new templates so I used one of her old ones from when she designed for Papertrey Ink. This is Pack A Picnic and I so LOVE this template! It's one of the best ones Lauren has ever done! I made the small one to put some little chocolates in as a little gift when I need one.

This is the picnic box with the lid on and the following picture shows the flower on top better.

Recipe:

Stamps: None

Papers: really Rust, Old Olive, Spiced Cider DSP (retired)

Inks: None

Accessories: Pack A Picnic template, Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Old Olive brads, Scalloped circle punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Latte Buttons

Well I hope you've enjoyed my few creations today and come back again tomorrow for another installment!

Inspiring Inkin' Challenge #19

Our challenge this fortnight on Inspiring Inkin Challenges is a sketch challenge. I love doing sketch challenges as you might have gathered and this one was a great one to use. The side twist is to use one of the fabulous Sale-A-Bration stamp sets, available until February 28th only! Click on the link on my sidebar to view all 4 sets and email me today to place your order of £45 or more to receive one of these gorgeous sets for free.

This is the sketch we used...

And here's my take on it...

I also made this card for the Crazy 4 Challenges #21 and Papertake Weekly Challenge, both of which was to use pink as the main colour on a card. 

The DSP is actually the Bride Speciality paper, which I coloured using a brayer and Pretty in Pink ink. I then buffed it with a paper towel to remove any excess ink from the foiled parts and it left me with the absolutely gorgeous paper. This technique is going to be great when I want a particular colour DSP then I haven't got!

Recipe:

Stamps: Happy Moments


Papers: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Bride DSP


Inks: Pretty in Pink, Basic Black


Accessories: 3/4" circle punch, Kraft Tafetta ribbon, Paper piercer

Join me again tomorrow for another Sale-A-Bration blog hop with another round of gorgeous creations using these stamp sets.

SU Training Day

Last Saturday I went to some SU training hosted by the lovely Monica, Bekka and Jules. The training was literally a 10 minute drive from my house, so how could I not go? It was a great day, made some gorgeous projects, received some fantastic swaps, met some lovely ladies and had a fab time. We all received a Stampin' Up bag when we signed in which contained half of the Sunny Days scrapping kit (I love this - it's so bright and the patterned paper is to die for), some other pieces of cardstock, some page protectors, a whole reel of Whisper White satin ribbon (this is so lush!), some jumbo eyelets and a whole pot of the new clips from Stampin' Up.


It started at 10am and during the first hour we swapped our cards and watched 2 fab demos by Jo and Jo, one showing the emboss resist technique using a brayer and the other using mixed reinkers to create a multi-coloured ink pad. These are the fab swaps I received (excuse the awful photos but it's Friday night and I can't find anything big enough and white to photograph on and my light tent is only a 12x12 inch one so the sheets for it are not quite big enough).

Swaps set 1

Swaps Set 2

Swaps Set 3

Swaps Set 4

And this was my card I swapped with everyone. It uses the Happy Moments SAB set with the Bella Toile background stamp and Wonderful Words. The colours are Pixie Pink, Basic Black and Whisper White. I coloured lots of Whisper White grosgrain with my Pixie Pink ink to get the shade the right colour.

After some SAB inspirational talk, a spot of blindfold stamping and lunch we had some make 'n' takes to do. 4 in one hour!!! I didn't get them all done in the time though and had to finish them off back at my table whilst listening to Jules' talk on recruiting.

The first was a cute little tote bag - perfect for putting in a 3x3 card and little gift.

This uses the Vintage labels and Whimsical Words SAB stamp setsSage Shadow cardstock and ink, Pale Plum cardstock, Perfect Plum cardstock, Whisper White cardstock and satin ribbon, circle punches, eyelet border punch and one of the clips.

My next one was a Birthday card using the blender pens and ink pads to colour in the main image.

This uses the Happy Moments SAB stamp set, Old Olive cardstock, So Saffron cardstock and ink pad, Pixie Pink cardstock and ink pad, Whisper White cardstock and Satin ribbon, Basic Black ink pad, 1/2" circle punch and the spiral punch.

Third in the list was a cute pocket card that involved no sticking at all for the pocket part. The cardstock was folded and the front fold held down with a dimensional pad and the entire thing was held closed with the ribbon.

This is with the insert out!

This card uses the Good Neighbors SAB stamp set, Sincere Salutations stamp set, Whisper White cardstock, craft ink and satin ribbon, Real Red Cardstock and ink pad, More Mustard Cardstcok and ink pad, Tempting Turquoise Cardstock and ink pad, scallop edge punch, circle and scallop circle punches and a clip!

The last one was a lovely little treat holder. I've had to use a Cadbury brunch bar to show you what it looks like as I have no bars of chocolate in the house! Gasp! I'm still munching my way through the chocolates I got from my class at Christmas believe it or not! (And those that know me know how I LOVE my chocolate!)

This treat holder uses the Vintage Labels SAB stamp set, Chocolate Chip cardstock and ink, So Saffron cardstock and DP, Pixie Pink cardstock and ink, Whisper White cardstock and satin ribbon, oval punch, hearts punch, 1/2" circle punch, other circle punches (can't remember what size!) and the scallop circle punch and a clip!

Later on in the afternoon after Jules had talked about recruiting, we started to make a gorgeous scrapbook using half of the Sunny Days scrapping kit, the page protectors, jumbo eyelets and the satin ribbon. This is the front and first page of mine. I have now completed it all and my mother-in-law has placed an order for one!

This will make a fab gift for someone or even for myself if I ever get round to finding some half decent photos of myself which will never happen!

And to top the day off I won a prize in the raffle. I have opened it and mounted (and used) the stamps but repackaged it to show you.

A pack of the Tall Tales DSP and the Animal Stories stamp set (which I didn't have luckily!), all wrapped in this gorgeous starry cellophane and tied with a long strip of Certainly Celery ribbon.

All in all it was a truely great day and with only a 10 minute drive home after it was perfect. A big thank you to Monica, Bekka and Jules for their inspiring talks and to everyone else who helped make it such a fun day after a heavy week at work!

More Challenges Galore

I'm on a serious challenge kick at the minute and just can't stop doing them. I have to make a list of all the ones I want to do, then sort them out to see if I can combine any as I know I haven't got enough time in my very short weekend to do a card for each individual challenge. Most of today's cards have been doubled up to meet 2 challenges at a time.

The first one is for the sketch challenege Mojo#121 and Stacey's Curtain Call #12 color challenge to use Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Very Vanilla. I had to add a bit of green though for the stems.

Recipe:

Stamps: Petals & Stems, Circular Sayings from Verve

Papers: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red DP

Inks: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Mellow Moss

Accessories: Chocolate Chip 1" stitched grosgrain ribbon, scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch I think

My next card is for A Passion for Papertrey's Embossing challenge. I bought this stamp set ages ago and have never used it so thought I'd make just a little 4x4 inch card, but I can't quite decide which way round the sign part should go. I tried both ways and neither looked wrong! I embossed the post, sign and present bit, but the greeting didn't come out very well when I embossed it the first time. I think it's because it's so tiny!

Recipe:

Stamps: Sign Language - Papertrey Ink

Papers: White card blank from stash, Scarlet Jewel and Bitty Dots DP from Papertrey Ink, Whisper White cardstock

Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Scarlet Jewel from PTI

Accessories: Stampin' Up Clear embossing powder, Scarlet Jewel ribbon

My third card is for Taylored Expressions Sketch challenge #98 and Sweet Stampin's Challenge #9 Feeling Fruity. I didn't want to use the cherries paper in the now retired Summer Picnic DSP pack from Stampin' Up that I usually use when I want cherries as it has a blue background and I didn't want to use blue, so I made my own. How long did that take?! About 30-40 mins for the one piece of almost A6 sized card! Looks pretty though don't ya think? I did have to move the image panel over to the left hand side though as my giant bow got in the way too much, but I love that ribbon and couldn't take it off. It was just too naked without it!

Recipe:

Stamps: On A Pedestal, Happy Moments

Papers: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla

Inks: Creamy Caramel, SU Markers in Old Olive, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Chocolate Chip 1" stitched grosgrain ribbon, Latte and Playground buttons from SU, White embroidery thread from stash, Word Window Punch, Martha Stewart border punch

Getting there - halfway through them all now! The next one is for the Just Us Girls challenge #16 to use Burgundy, Blush, Vanilla and Gray and for Carol's Sketch Fun #18. I had the pleasure of meeting Carol on Saturday at some Stampin' Up training I went to and she told me all about her sketch challenge blog, so I just had to join in!

This is so not my usual style, but actually I kind of like the almost vintage look of it. The colours are great together, but not ones I would choose myself.

Recipe:

Stamps: On A Pedestal, Oval All, Bella Toile

Papers: Basic Gray, Bravo Burgundy, Blush Blossom, Very Vanilla, Nouveau Chic DSP

Inks: Bravo Burgundy, Basic Gray, SU Markers in Bravo Burgundy, Blush Blossom, Summer Sun

Accessories: Oval punch, Scalloped oval punch, Self adhesive gems from stash

My final card is a triple challenge one and is for Mercy's Sketch Challenge #56, Charisma Cardz Challenge #2 to use something new, and Our Creative Corner's color challenge to use blue and green in any hue. I used my newly won Animal Stories stamp set (more about that later on this week) and hunted for some blue papers in my SU stash and found all these in the Kaleidoscope DSP. They all give me the impression of seaweed in water and bubbles and thought they would go well with my new whale! I just needed a "I had a whale of a time" stamp but we don't have one of them in our SU catalogue at the minute, so I'll have to write it in the inside.

Recipe:

Stamps: Animal Stories

Papers: Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Kaleidoscope DSP

Inks: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue and Tempting Turquoise SU markers

Accessories: Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon

So another fun filled day of challenges. Can't wait to do some more next weekend too!

Inspiring Inkin' Challenge #18 - Technique

This fortnight's challenge over on my SU team's Inspiring Inkin' Challenge blog is to use the chalkboard technique. This technique is so simple yet so effective. All you need to do is stamp an image onto black or dark cardstock using either white craft ink or Versamark and then using chalk pastels, colour it in. The colours really do stand out again the dark background. 

Here's my card, made for another triple selection of challenges:

This is for our challenge - using the chalkboard technique; the sketch challenge #262 on Splitcoast Stampers and the Just Us Girls challenge #15 - to use stitching on a card.

Recipe:

Stamps: Whimsical Wings (Level 2 hostess set)

Papers: Pink Passion, Only Orange, Basic Black, Kaleidoscope DSP

Inks: Whisper White craft ink, Stampin' Pastels

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Orange embroidery thread

Challenges Galore

Hello and Happy New Year to you all. I've been on a challenges kick today and thought I'd show you some of the cards I've made for the various challenges I like to do. I love doing different challenges as they always make me try things I would probably never try on my own.


I've got 5 cards to show you so bare with the long posting today.


The first challenge was from Our Creative Corner and was to create a 3D project. I made a very simple but necessary calendar for my desk, using one of the calendar thingys that were left over after making the kids calendars at school.


These are ever so quick and easy to make - just cover 2 blank beer mats with DSP, punch 3 holes in the top with a Crop-a-dile, tie them together with some ribbon, stick the calendar on the front and voila all done!





Recipe:

Stamps: None

Papers: DCWV The Sweet Matpack, SU Chocolate Chip cs

Inks: None
Accessories: Chocolate satin ribbon, calendar thingy (no idea what you call these), blank beer mats

My next card is for A Passion for Papertrey's Superstars challenge which is to use stars on your project. I'm not a fan of stars as such, but have tons of stamp sets with stars in, which is good for this challenge. I haven't done one of these Papertrey challenges for ages and have missed doing them so I'm definitely going to put these challenges back on one of my regular challenges to do list.


Recipe:

Stamps: Everyday Classics, Polka Dot Basics - PTI

Papers: Hibiscus Burst, Sweet Blush, White - PTI

Inks: Hibiscus Burst, Sweet Blush - PTI

Accessories: Hibiscus Burst polka dot and stitched grosgrain ribbons and button, Sweet Blush grosgrain ribbon, Labels 4 Nestabilities

The next card is for the Stamp With Us colour challenge using this photo for inspiration.
I made a flowerpot card as I have never done one before and used the colours Summer Sun, Bravo Burgundy and Always Artichoke. You can't really see in the photo but I did fold up the petals of the flowers slightly to make them a little more 3D rather than just flat flowers.


This is the closed version if you like, with the insert inside the pot.

And this is the insert with a little greeting from Curvy Verses added.


Recipe:

Stamps: Sanded, Curvy Verses


Papers: Always Artichoke, Summer Sun, Bravo Burgundy


Inks: Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy


Accessories: Bravo Burgundy ribbon, 5 petal flower punch, 1/2" circle punch, scallop edge punch


My next card is a triple challenge one! It is for Splendid Stamping's Fresh Farm Friday challenge to use a Greeting Farm stamp and glitter - definately covered that one! The sketch is Taylored Expressions #97 and Papertake's New Beginnings challenge - this is a new Anya stamp that I got just this week.



Recipe:

Stamps: Lolli Anya - TGF


Papers: Melon Mambo, Baja Breeze, non SU white cs, DCWV The Sweet Matpack


Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Ciaos


Accessories: Melon Mambo ribbon, pink and turquoise glitter glues on the lolly

 And my final card is another triple challenge one! The sketch is for Mojo Monday's #120 challenge. The colour combo comes from Stacey's Curtain Call #11 and also for A Spoonful of Sugar's challenge to use hearts on a card.



Recipe:

Stamps: Kindred Spirits - Verve


Papers: Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Whisper White, Going Gray, Merry Moments DSP, Tea & Crumpets DSP


Inks: Always Artichoke, Old Olive


Accessories: MS Heart Border punch, Oval nestabilities, Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, Grey brads covered with irridescent glitter glue
 Phew glad all that's done. Now I just have to link my cards to the various challenge blogs!!