Robotastic!

I have discovered that I love robots ever since The Alley Way Stamps released the uber cool stamp set Bot Time.  I had a lot of fun coloring up this cutie pie.

And in a rare triple crown feat, I made this card for three challenges:  the sketch from I {Heart} Sketches, the colors at Nacho Average Challenge and the washi challenge at Just Us Girls.  Whew!

Thanks for stopping by!

colourQ 193

This week the color palette at colourQ is based on this colorful Hawaiian shirt from Hula Girl.  Back in the olden days I would have run for the hills when I saw a color challenge like this, but now I recognize a challenge like this as a way to stretch myself creatively.  Sometimes I hit it, sometimes I don't, but the journey is always fun!

For this card I used the sketch at Deconstructed Sketch as my layout  because I find that a layout with lots of layers and interesting things (like flags) to be a great way to incorporate diverse colors like these.  As luck would have it the challenge this week at CAS-ual Fridays was to use flags or banners so I consider that to be kismet!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to head on over to colourQ and check out the other cards and scrapbook layouts from the design team!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Grunge Me (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:  Island Indigo, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Ski Slope DSP, Welcome Neighbor DSP, Wintergreen DSP, Island Indigo DSP (SU)

Accessories:  Woodland Park button (October Afternoon); Stitched Sentiment Flag (Lil' Inker Designs)

Lemonade for CTS31

The other day I made a card using primarily kraft, black and yellow and I liked it so much that I wanted to give those colors a try again.

And of course, the new Lemon Squeezy from The Alley Way Stamps was perfect for what I had in mind.  I loosely based this card on the challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch.  The lemon on the upper corner of the image sorta, kinda mirrored the image of the circle on the sketch so I thought I'd be ok (poetic license and all).  I did put the sentiment in the general area of where it's supposed to be so I hope I'm not in big trouble with the ladies over there.  

And I can't leave without mentioning that this stamp set is available for FREE this month over at The Alley Way Stamps.  All you have to do is spend $40 and this set will be automatically added to your order.  Check out all the details at The Alley Way Stamps.

And thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday for DD#56 and CCMC255

I just wanted to pop in quickly today with a card I made with the pretty colors at Dynamic Duos and the lovely sketch at Create With Connie and Mary.

As I was putting this together it occurred to me that vellum might look nice on my card so I layered it over the Soft Suede cardstock.  I stamped the leaves on it and at first they looked quite splotchy so I ended up going over it with a marker.  I adhered it with the stamped image facing down so that it has a little softer look.

I was on a roll last night in my stamp room and actually managed to make three cards!   I needed to get a jump start on things for the week ahead because in a couple of hours I'm headed over to my nephew's graduation party and I'll be gone all day.  I'm bringing the sangria, YUM!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Raining Flowers, Summer Silhouettes, Itty Bitty Banners

Accessories:  Bitty Banners die, Dimensionals

BE Inspired 30

Boy am I ever glad it's Friday!  It's been a busy week at work and next week promises to be even worse, so I'm extra glad that it's the end of the week and I can kick back and relax for a couple of days before the rat race resumes!

Today is the reveal of the new BE Inspired Challenge at The Alley Way Stamps blog.  This time around we've got great summer-time inspiration for you!

There is nothing like some cold sherbet on a hot summer day!  I took my inspiration from the pastel colors of the photo and used some Groovy Guava, Primrose Petals and some cool minty washi that I had in my stash.  The arrows are from the newly released Good Point and the sentiment is from Life is Short.

Challenge time at The Alley Way Stamps blog means a chance to win a free stamp set!  All you have to do is participate in the challenge by making a project inspired by the photo above.  You have to use an image from The Alley Way Stamps to qualify for prizes and if you don't own any stamps yet, you can find freebies HERE!  Check out all the details of the challenge HERE.

One lucky participant will be chosen as the Top Pick with a free stamp set as the prize.  And if that's not great enough, a random participant will also be chosen who will also receive a free stamp set!  How cool is that?

I recently discovered a new challenge called I {Heart} Card Sketches so I used that as my layout.  I think it's a bit hard to see in the photo, but I paper pierced a circle similar to the circle design in the sketch.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope I get to see you in the BE Inspired gallery!

Freshly Made Sketches 89

I've got to admit that I let out a little "squeeeeeee" when I saw this awesome sketch by Rita for Freshly Made Sketches.  Sometimes a sketch just grabs me and makes me say yay!  This is one of those sketches.

First of all I love square cards so that was a given that I would love this card.  But add in the rectangle that offers so manly possibilities and the fun little flags peeking from the bottom of the rectangle and I was in heaven.  I realized pretty soon after I saw the yellow challenge at Catered Crop that these two challenges would be perfect for each other.

I don't often use yellow, but Catered Crop story board was so bright and inspiring that I wanted to see if I could make something with yellow that I was happy with.  I used kraft and black to add some neutrals to the brightness and I love how these colors all look together.

The Freshly Made Sketches design team have got some great cards to inspire you this week so hop on over there to check them out.  Then join us in the gallery, because we love to see you there!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Dot Spot, Beautiful Butterflies (Papertrey Ink)

Accessories:  Stitched Sentiment Flag die (Lil Inker Designs); black button (amuse studio); baker's twine

Toucan Do It!

I'm so glad that we are halfway through the workweek!  I'm going on vacation in a couple of weeks, so I'm busily trying to finish up all kinds of loose ends at work.  I can't wait for a little R & R as I putter around the house and garden.

Today I've got a colorful card to show you featuring one of the birds from Tropical Hideway from The Alley Way Stamps.

Once again, this stamp set has given me reason to use some of my DSP called Island Oasis.  For this card I paired some polka dots and stripes to create fun layers a-la the sketch at Just Us Girls.  Every time I look at this bird some memory tickles in my brain.  I think this guy looks like something familiar (maybe a cartoon character) but I can't quite put my finger on it.  Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks for stopping by!

colourQ 192

It's time for a new palette from colourQ!  This week are some pretty colors that, despite the inspiration photo, made me think of flowers.

It's been a while since my Soft Sky ink pad saw the light of day, so after giving it a few drops of reinker I was pleasantly surprised to see that it still made a decent impression.  I thought the layered flowers would look nice in the lighter blue and added the Island Indigo flower as a center accent.  (And my eyes were pretty well crossed once I got done with all that fussy cutting)!

I used the latest challenge at Unscripted Sketch for my layout and couldn't decide what to do for the small rectangle at the top.  So I decided a little poetic license was in order and used some Island Indigo ribbon and a button that matches the color exactly.  And I meant to dry emboss the white layer behind the flower but had it all taped down before I remembered.  I think it would have looked so much more interesting with a little texture.  

Be sure to stop by colourQ and check out the inspiration from the design team.  All the cards and scrapbook layouts are pretty amazing!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Bloom & Grow (Verve)

Accessories:  Island Indigo ribbon (SU); Witch Hazel button (October Afternoon); Elegant Leaves die (Verve); pewter brad (American Crafts); crochet thread