ColourQ | Challenge #266

I have been drooling over the pictures of Gossamer Blue's December Memories kit, which starts shipping next week, and all the red and green put me in the holiday spirit. This week's ColourQ challenge is perfect for Christmas/holiday cards! 

I pulled out my July 2014 Simon Says Stamp Kit of the Month for the "sending" sentiment. I LOVE this font! I used Papertrey Ink's Holiday Sparkle stamp set for the "holiday sparkle" sentiment. 

It's a little hard to see, but the funny looking silver things are actually Hero Arts rhinestones. The sentiment has "holiday sparkle" in it, so I had to add some bling!

Heidi, over at the Chickaniddy Crafts blog, is having a fun gift wrapping series called the 12 Days of Gift Wrap. You can check it out here.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Simon Says Stamp | Stencil Challenge

Do you ever buy products thinking you will love them, then have them sit in a bin for, well, a really long time, completely unused? 

When I first started scrapbooking, I was a major hoarder. Heidi Swapp mega flower pack from QVC for $16? Sold. 5,000 piece chipboard set? I'll take 2. Every sticker sheet that Scenic Route ever created? I have multiples. Over the years I have purged a lot of the crazier purchases (mini Heidi Swapp iron, anyone?), but every now and then I get caught up in the hype of trends and new products. A few months ago I went a little crazy with stencils and mists. I know, I know. Most people love them. And I love them too, in theory. But I have a really hard time using them. I don't like the "messy look", which is the whole point of using mists with stencils! 

My solution is to use my stencils with dye (or distress) ink and a blending tool, then lightly "flick" mist over the stenciled image. The result is a much cleaner look that doesn't make me break out in hives. 

For this card, I used one of Heidi Swapp's beautiful stencils and two inks from Papertrey Ink: Aqua Mist and Hawaiian shores. I used my Tim Holtz blending tool to apply Aqua Mist ink over the whole stencil, then added Hawaiian Shores ink to the edges. After I removed the stencil I added drops of Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Seafoam and Mint Green. 

I am submitting my card to this week's Simon Says Stamp Stencil challenge, and Anything Goes challenge.  

 (Supplies - Stamps: (Stampin' Up!) By the Seashore. (Papertrey Ink) Free thank you set from 2011. Ink: (Papertrey Ink) Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores. (Stampin' Up!) Crumb Cake, Soft Suede. Stencil: Heidi Swapp. Mist: (Heidi Swapp Color Shine) Seafoam, Mint Green. Cardstock: (Papertrey Ink) White, Sea Shimmer, Kraft, Aqua Mist, vellum. Dies: (Papertrey Ink) Double Edge Banner, Parisian Lace Doily, Notched Star Banner Collection, Small Scalloped Border. Button: Studio Calico. Ribbon: Papertrey Ink. Gems/pearls: Hero Arts.)

As much as I love CAS cards, sometimes it feels right to pile on the layers... and shimmer cardstock, gems, pearls, glitter mist, and vellum. :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week! 

RetroSketches | Challenge #117

Hello, hello! It's officially summer vacation around here and the kids and I are already enjoying a few days of stress-free stay in our pajamas until noon time. And I've had some time in my office while the boys play in their rooms or on the xBox. I love having them home with me during the summer (until about August 1st, then I can't wait for school to start again!). 

I received my June Simon Says Stamp card kit in the mail earlier last week, and I used quite a few items from that kit for today's RetroSketches card. 

This sketch is based on one of my previous cards. And here is my retake:

I pressed the wood veneer flower into Memento Luxe ink to change the color, before using a glue dot to adhere it to my card. Quick and easy, with great results.

Check back in a bit for this week's Paper Smooches Sparks card! 

ColourQ Challenge #202 | Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Monochromatic

Hi there! I hope everyone had a great week. My free mornings are quickly becoming a favorite part of my day... especially when I can spend an hour or two working on projects in my office.

First up is a card for this week's ColourQ challenge:

I pulled out a new set from Wplus9, Fanciful Feathers, and stamped them diagonally onto white cardstock. I trimmed the gray and yellow cardstock into strips, stamped the sentiment, then adhered them to my card and trimmed the edges. The buttons, from Papertrey Ink, were adhered last. 
 

 

(Supplies - Stamps: (Wplus9) Fanciful Feathers. Ink: (Stampin' Up!) Smokey Slate, Daffodil Delight, Ruby Red. (Memento) Black. Cardstock: (PTI) Pure Poppy. (Stampin' Up!) Daffodil Delight, Smokey Slate. Buttons: (PTI) True Black.)

Up next I have a card for this week's Wednesday Challenge for Simon Says Stamps: Monochromatic. I wanted to create something using the new Mat Stack die and matching stamp set (Scrolling Script), and Waltzingmouse's Simple Sprig set. This is what I came up with:

 

Aren't the leaves and flowers gorgeous? I used two sizes of Mat Stack #7 and a Papertrey Ink's Bells and Boughs stamp set and die, plus a few pearls to finish off the card. The ink is Memento Luxe in Sweet Plum, Lilac Posies, and Rose Bud. 

 (Supplies - Stamps: (PTI) Scrolling Script, Bells and Boughs. (Waltzingmouse) Simple Sprig. Ink: (Memento Luxe) Lilac Posies, Sweet Plum, and Rose Bud. Cardstock: (PTI) Lavender Moon, Royal Velvet, Plum Pudding, White. Patterned Paper: (PTI) Berry Sorbet patterns pack. Punch: Marvy Uchida. Dies: (PTI) Mat Stack #7, Bells and Boughs. Pearls: Hero Arts.)

I have one more card to share. I created this one last week for a ColourQ challenge but I didn't get it posted in time. The flowers are from Dawn McVey's Delightful Dahlia Additions set. It took some practice, but layering the flowers was easier than I expected and the results are beautiful! I used Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, and Enchanted Evening for each flower.

 (Supplies - Stamps: (PTI) Delightful Dahlia Additions. Ink: (PTI) Black, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening. Cardstock: (PTI) Blueberry Sky, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, White. Patterned Paper: (PTI) Spring Rain patterns pack. Dies: (PTI) Mat Stack #6, Ruby Rose (leaves). Felt: (PTI) Simply Chartreuse. Other: Buttons.)

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

RetroSketches Challenge#70 | DT Announcement

Hey guys!

First up I have some very exciting news... I have been selected to be on the Fresh Squeezed Stamps Design Team! You can check out the announcement here. I will be working for this fabulous company for the next four months. Come back Thursday for my first Fresh Squeezed Stamps post!

This week is my final challenge as a guest for the RetroSketches challenge blog. I am so sad to see the month come to an end... The RetroSketches team is amazing!

This week's challenge:

Here is my take:

(Supplies - Stamps: Stampin' Up!, Simon Says Stamps. Cardstock: Stampin' Up!. Dies: (Papertrey Ink) Turning a New Leaf. Other: Candy dots, Buttons, Ribbon, Twine.)

I hope everyone has a great week! Thanks for stopping by. :)

ColourQ | Challenge #195

Hey guys! After a very l-o-n-g travel day yesterday the kids and I are safely in Washington. I got to spend little time in my Mom's studio this afternoon, playing with her stamps. She has a lot of beautiful images that I don't have, which was great fun to use this afternoon.

This week's ColourQ challenge was so much fun to work with. I LOVE the colors & luckily my Mom had everything "in stock" in her studio. I pulled our her new Mosaic Madness stamp set from Stampin' Up!, Rosie Posie (a classic!), and a beautiful sentiment set from Simon Says Stamps.

I'll pop in and add a complete supply list tomorrow... I need to get to bed! The time change is killing me. Hopefully the boys will sleep late tomorrow. We have a busy weekend planned!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Moxie Fab | Tuesday Trigger

Good morning! I have a fun card to share for this week's Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger. The inspiration photo is a beautiful bouquet of Magnolias in lovely pinks and white (with a little yellow, too).

I pulled out Papertrey Ink's Year of Flowers: Gladiolus stamp set. I heat embossed the flowers with white embossing powder (Stampin' Up!), then colored in the image with Copic markers. I used a darker shade for the middle of the flowers, and a lighter shade for the outside. I mist admit, I am rather smitten with this card... lovely colors, and the embossing/Copic coloring looks lovely in person.

The banner and sentiment are Papertrey Ink's Bountiful Banners and the butterflies are from Stampin' Up's Papillon Potpourri clear mount set. I accented the butterflies with my Copic Spica glitter pen, but the subtle shine is not showing up in the photo (darn it!).  The pearls were also colored with Copic markers to match the gladiolus.

I am completely in love with this technique! I know it's not new, but it really does make for lovely cards.

I am also submitting this card to Simon Says Stamps April Showers and/or Spring Flowers Challenge. 

Thanks for stopping by!

ColourQ | Challenge #171

Another week, another fabulous ColourQ color combo. I pulled out Papertrey Ink's Funky Florals, Wplus9's Heartfelt Mix, and Simons Says Stamp's Lots of Thanks for my card.

(Supplies - Stamps: (Wplus9) Heartfelt Mix, (Papertrey Ink) Funky Florals, (Simon Says Stamp) Lots of Thanks. Ink: (Stampin' Up!) Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Basic Grey, Daffodil Delight. Cardstock: (PTI) Rustic White, Kraft, Harvest Gold. Dies: (Wplus9) Heartfelt Mix, (PTI) Pinking Shears Edger Die. Impression Plate: (PTI) Linen and Canvas. Twine: (PTI) Enchanted Evening. Other: Spica glitter pen, buttons, white string.)

My favorite part of the whole card might just be the little dotted heart from the Simon Says Stamp stamp set (hello alliteration!) Lots of Thanks. I think it adds the perfect finishing touch. :-)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Simon Says Stamp | September Card Kit

Hi friends! I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. We have had a wonderful two days... date night Friday night, soccer games, and potty training Jack (which is going surprisingly well). After running around for most of yesterday, we did absolutely nothing today, which was great. 

The September card kit was so much fun to work with... the stamp set is fantastic! And I really like the bright colors and cool pillow box (which I altered). I made two cards, both for Evan's lunch box.

How cute is that sentiment?!? And I love the black washi tape.

Evan's school has a teacher in-service day tomorrow, he he gets to stay home with Jack and me. Lucky duck is my helper while we potty train Jack. I'm sure he is thrilled. ;-)

Have a great week!

Simon Says Stamp | August Card Kit

Hi there! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I pulled out my Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit last week and whipped up a few cards. I have subscribed to this kit club for 5 or 6 months, and I love it when my Simon Says box comes! It is like Christmas every month. My favorite product included in this month's kit is definitely the BasicGray white mini letters. I have used them a ton while working on Project Life, and I also used them on my "you are so sweet" card. I wanted the letters to match the pink chevron stamp so I colored them with copics while they were still on the sticker sheet, waited a few minutes to make sure they dried, then applied them to my card.

Wish me luck this week... both Evan and Jack start school and our life is about to become busy, busy, busy! Have a great week!

Simon Says Stamp Challenge | Anything Goes

Happy Friday! I am so thankful it is finally the weekend. It has been a l-o-n-g week here at the Taylor house. Mark is working a ton of overtime and the kids have been a handful! But we have had some fun, too. We pulled out last month's Kiwi Crate box and made lightening bugs, complete with glow sticks and googly eyes. Jack loved making his bug until it looked a little too real, then it freaked him out and he wanted nothing to do with it. 3-year-olds can be so fickle! 

My card tonight features Stampin' Up! and Papertrey Ink stamps. I used the color combination of Aqua Mist, Lavender Moon, Plum Pudding, and Rustic White. The cakes were stamped first, then I added the butterflies and hearts. After all my stamping was done, I ran the white cardstock through my Big Shot with PTI's Linen and Canvas impression plate for added texture.

(Supplies - Stamps: Make a Cake (Stampin' Up!) and Tiny Tags (PTI). Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Plum Pudding, Rustic White (PTI). Dies: Mat Stack #4, Pinking Shears, Tiny Tags (PTI). Punch: Butterfly (Martha Stewart). Impression Plate: Linen and Canvas (PTI). Other: Button, Twine Embossing Powder.)

Evan and I have a date tomorrow so we can buy his school supplies and a new pair of shoes. If he's lucky, he just might get lunch, too! I am really looking forward to some one-on-one time with my oldest little boy.

Have a great weekend!