TAWS Blog Hop and colourQ 187

Today is not only the new colourQ reveal, but it's also the day for The Alley Way Stamps blog hop to celebrate the new stamp sets for May!

Here's my card featuring the pretty colourQ colors, the sketch from Fab Friday and the new soon-to-be-released stamp set Delicate Doilies.

So do you want a chance to win all three new sets?  Well all you have to do is comment on the blog hop!

Here are the ways you can win.  You can pick and choose which ones you want to do, but the more you comment, the more chances you have to win.

1. Comment on The Alley Way Stamps blog
2. Comment on the Design Team blogs (follow the links below)
3. Post about it on Facebook or your blog
4. Like us on Facebook

Leave a separate comment for each that you do. You have until May 30th at 9:00PM TAWS time to leave them.

And, there is a mini set that is yours FREE when you spend $40 or more during the month of May!!  This little guy will be automatically added to your package!  Our amazing DT lead Arielle really wanted a piggy bank and some coins, so here it is!

So without further ado, here are the links to the amazing Design Team.  Hop along!

 

 
 

Muse #15 Guest Designer!

I've been nervous and anxious for a few weeks now.  Why you ask?  Well, ever since I was asked to be the guest designer at Muse this week!

I had no trouble accepting the offer.  After all, the design team over there is top-notch and I was beyond honored that they even asked me to join them.  But once the initial euphoria wore off, I realized that I was now responsible for providing the members of Muse with a card that had to be inspiring in some way.  Wow.  This was taking my card-making to a whole new level!

So I sat down and thought about what sorts of things inspired me and the first thing I came up with was color.  So I picked out some colors that were complimentary and threw in some black because I love the contrast that always provides.  The next thing I thought of was texture, so I embossed one layer and used some baker's twine on another.  Then I thought of embellishments and used a button and some fun math washi tape.  And that's how my card was born!

If you're not familiar with the Muse challenge, the rules are really quite simple.

1. Use the Muse card as inspiration for your project.  Explain your inspiration and link back to Muse.
2. Provide supportive comments to at least three of your fellow member's submissions.
3. Vote for three of your fellow member's submissions that you find inspiring.

So now all that's left is for me to offer huge thanks to Ardyth and the entire Muse team for asking me to join them and to hope that I've left you with a little something that inspires you to get into your crafty space!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Papillon Potpourri (SU)

Accessories:  Polka Dots embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts); Pool Party baker's twine, Pool Party button, White baker's twine (SU); washi tape

TAWS May Sneek Peaks Day 3

It's almost time for the May release at The Alley Way Stamps and this morning I've got a sneak peek to show you using some fun stamps from Bird Brain.  Don't you just love that name?

That big wide-open stare from the larger bird says to me that he can't believe that sweet, pretty girl-bird loves him!  But she definitely does!

I got a little inspiration for my card from the sketch at Unscripted Sketches and the colors at Color Throwdown, but the love birds are inspiration all on their own!

So, would you like to win this stamp set?  Well if you do, then head on over to The Alley Way Stamps blog and comment on the sneak peek post you'll find there that showcases this fun stamp set.  Then, share that post on Facebook (and leave a comment that you did so).  Then guess what?  You'll have two entries for a random drawing that will leave one lucky stamper one stamp set richer!

Thanks for stopping by!

BE Inspired 27

It's time for another BE Inspired challenge at The Alley Way Stamps and your chance to win some freebies!   This week the inspiration is a bit retro, has great graphic images, is colorful and I know you're going to love it!  

For my card I focused on the diagonal, colorful stripes (although mine are pointing in the wrong direction)!  Once I cut out this great striped paper from Island Oasis I realized that I had created a little rainbow of my own and knew this uplifting sentiment from Life is Short would be perfect for it.

Now would you like to win some free stamps?  Well all you have to do is join in the BE Inspired challenge by making a project featuring images from The Alley Way Stamps.  And if you don't own any stamps you can download free digital images right here!

You have until noon TAWS time on Thursday, May 9th to enter your project.  One lucky winner will be the Top Pick and will win a stamp set of their choice!  And another lucky winner will be chosen randomly and will also receive a stamp set of their choice!  You can't pass that up!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Freshly Made Sketches 83

This week at Freshly Made Sketches we have got a great sketch designed by Allisa.  You're going to love it because it's classic!  The layers are just the thing to show off some of your patterned paper, I think!

For my card I foraged around in my stash and found some DSP called Cottage Wall.  It's got a bold color scheme featuring Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry, although I added a bit of stamping in Lucky Limeade for some contrast.  I was surprised to see that the color difference between the Lucky Limeade ink and the Old Olive DSP is not that far apart.  At first I had an entirely different floral accent on my card, had it all posted and ready to go before I changed my mind, ripped it off and went with the layered flower you see here.  Luckily the first one came off cleanly!

Today, the design team from Freshly Made Sketches is joining in a surprise birthday blog hop for Vicki Burdick so we all made birthday cards this week.  And Lesley, is hosting a little linky party for Vicki on her blog so head on over there to see all of the well wishes for her.  You're welcome to join in!

And don't forget to head on back to Freshly Made Sketches to join us with our sketch challenge this week!  We love to see you in the gallery!

Supplies

Stamps:  Secret Garden, Inspired by Nature, Made For You (SU)

Accessories:  Meadowleaf die (Poppystamps); Rich Razzleberry ribbon, Antique Brad (SU)

It's an Awesome Blossom

I got in my head the other day that I wanted to make a card using Wisteria Wonder.  And I wanted to know what colors looked best with it, so my friend Jen Brum consulted her color coach and told me that Elegant Eggplant, Lucky Limeade, and Cherry Cobbler were among the colors that complemented Wisteria Wonder.  So I sat at my stamp desk and tried to put them all together.

Oddly, for me, I didn't make this card for a particular challenge but rather to show off my favorite splotchy flower from the aptly named Awesome Blossom.  I paper pierced the Elegant Eggplant layer because I thought it looked so plain just by itself.  I poked some holes in the Lucky Limeade layer then hand sewed a little zig zag on it.  I added a little washi tape for fun and a sentiment from Petal Pushers.

I randomly stamped a few abstract splotches around my flower in Wisteria Wonder.  Then that got me thinking that a little Cherry Cobbler might look kind of interesting on this card, so I went over those splotches with a light stamping of the same image, a little off kilter.  At first I was pretty sure that I ruined it, but then it started to grow on me so I left it as is.

Thanks for stopping by!

colourQ 186

Well, I'm back today to show you the pretty new colors for the challenge over at colourQ.  This week Arielle is inspiring us with the colors found here on this bird house.  Honestly, how does she find these??

I decided to combine the color challenge with the sketch from retro sketches and I used the cool, retro glasses from adoraBOWL.  Back in the day, my mother had a pair of eyeglasses that looked just like these (although they weren't Lucky Limeade in color) so every time I see this stamp set I am catapulted back in time to the days when she wore these!

Now, head on over to colourQ to check out what our amazing design team has created to inspire you.  We can't wait to see you in the gallery!

Supplies:

Stamps:  adoraBOWL (The Alley Way Stamps)

Accessories:  Stitched Mats Rectangle die (Lil Inker Designes); Witch Hazel button (October Afternoon); crochet thread

Well That's Bloomin' Marvelous!

I don't usually post my cards this late at night, but I made a card using the fabulous colors from the latest Nacho Average Challenge and when I looked at the challenge a few minutes ago, I realized that it closes in about three hours so I figured I better get this card up!  

The layout is my interpretation of the latest challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch.  I danced around a few ideas I had about this sketch before settling on this layered flower on top of a pretty flourish.

Well that's it for me.  It's late and I'm tired and ready to call it a night.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

BOSTON STRONG

Supplies:

Stamps:  Bloomin' Marvelous (SU); Bloom & Grow (Verve)

Accessories:  Fancy Flourish die (My Favorite Things); brad (American Crafts)

Freshly Made Sketches 82

Happy Wednesday everyone!  It is, of course, time to reveal the latest sketch at Freshly Made Sketches designed this week by Jen Brum!

I was very happy that the challenge this week at The Paper Players was one using the soon-to-be retired Baja Breeze because it gave me an excuse to use up some of the pretty DSP from Twitterpated.  And I've always thought that color looks pretty awesome with Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry.  For the flower I cut three of the smallest flower from the Daisies #2 Sizzix die and layered them together with an Antique Brad in the center.

The ladies at Freshly Made Sketches have cooked up some great designs this week so be sure to head over there and check them out.  I can't wait to see you in the gallery!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Brighter Days (Verve)

Accessories:  Flower Daisies #2 die (Sizzix); Antique Brad (SU)

colourQ 185

Arielle has cooked up a great color challenge for us this week at colourQ!  The colors are very challenging so get in and hold on to your hat!

As I sat in my stamp room the other day and contemplated just how I was going to combine these colors all in the same place, I realized that I needed to contemplate some more.  So I spent several days running scenarios around in my head.  I had some ideas but nothing that I really liked.  Then lo and behold I came across this fantastic sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch and knew that I found the answer to my challenge prayers!

The only thing I trouble deciding on was what I was going to do about the star in the sketch.  I tried a couple of things before settling on these pretty flowers from Secret Garden.  I seem to use these two flowers layered together a lot, but I really like them and I'm sorry if you're sick of seeing them!  I put my sentiment in the wrong place (according to the sketch) but I was afraid that I would be able to line it up correctly on one of the thin strips of cardstock so I improvised.  I think it looks ok where it is!  Hopefully the ladies at CAS(E) This Sketch will overlook my faux pas!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forge to head on over to colourQ and check out what the rest of the design team has created with these colors!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Secret Garden, Thank You Kindly (SU)

Accessories:  Secret Garden die, Large Rhinestone, Dimensionals (SU)

Friday Mashup 105 and Fab Friday 16

The colors this week at the Fab Friday challenge are really pretty.  I know I'm in the minority when I say that I like Summer Starfruit, but I do like it and I think it gets a bad rap!  I like that it's not quite yellow and it's not exactly green, but somewhere in between.  Anyway, I paired all the colors in the challenge with this great sketch from Friday Mashup.

I thought a nice, soft Crumb Cake background would look good with these bright colors and I think I'm right!  A nice springy card, I say to myself!  And spring would be a welcome change around here.  It's been quite chilly here the last few days, but I think warmer weather is on the horizon.  I've got my fingers crossed anyway!

Well that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Funky Florals (Papertrey Ink)

Accessories:  Sentiment Strips die (My Favorite Things); Scallop Border die (The Stamps of Life); Witch Hazel button (October Afternoon); crochet thread; dimensionals

BE Inspired 26

It's time for the latest BE Inspired challenge at The Alley Way Stamps blog and that means that you could win some free stamps!!!

Here's our inspiration photo this week and my card.

As soon as I saw this inspiration photo I was struck by the beautiful colors.  The combination of teal and orange is not something I would have thought of on my own, but these colors look so beautiful together.  My card is inspired by these colors as well as by the round shapes of the oranges, which I have used in the scalloped border, the circles on the Loves Me DSP and the Tangerine Tango button.

So how about those free stamps?  Well all you have to do is join us at the BE Inspired challenge by making a project featuring images from The Alley Way Stamps.  And don't worry if you haven't got any stamps because you can download free images right here!

You have until noon TAWS time on Thursday, April 24th to enter your project.  One lucky winner will be the Top Pick and will get to choose any stamp set.  And another lucky winner will be chosen randomly and will receive a stamp set of their choice.  How cool is that?

Thanks so much for stopping by today!