PPA132 and Unscripted Sketches 153

It's been a long time since I've used Chocolate Chip so I suppose that's one of the reasons that I wanted to participate in the color challenge at Pals Paper Arts.  Chocolate Chip used to be my go-to color when I needed brown, so I feel a little sorry that I've been ignoring it.  Thanks to the Pals for helping me realize it's still a great color!

And the sketch this week at Unscripted Sketches provided my layout.  

The Chocolate Chip DSP is from Ski Slope and I did a little stitching on the Certainly Celery offset-layers.  I tied a big double bow with some baker's twine and added a Chocolate Chip button with a "thanks so much" sentiment hanging from the button.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches 30

This week at Freshly Made Sketches, Tui has designed a sketch that is definitely a keeper.  As you'll see when you visit Freshly Made Sketches the design team has got some great ideas for this sketch.

I did a little recycling with this card because a few weeks ago I made a card that used the other half of this scallop circle of Early Espresso and Crushed Curry.  I kept this part of the circle figuring I could use it "some day."  It's been floating around my stamp desk ever since.   Every once and a while I'd spy it and wonder why in the world I was keeping it.  But then I saw this sketch I realized that there is a good reason for keeping scraps after all!

I thought Pear Pizzazz was a good fit with the colors of the scallop circle so I used a bit of DSP from Twitterpated to create the horizontal layer.  Then I added the Rose Red flower which is cut from the Sizzix Flower Daisies #2 die.  I cut four layers and fluffed them all up together and joined them with an Antique Brad.  The leaf behind the flower is the Sizzix Little Leaves Sizzlet.

Don't forget to hop on over to Freshly Made Sketches and check out the fabulous inspiration from the design team.  I know once you do, you won't be able to resist making a card for our challenge this week!

Lesley Croghan

Linda Callahan

Cindy Hall

Tui Nathan

Jennifer Timko

Rita Wright

Kathy Tanner

Lisa Johansen 

colourQ 132

I will confess that I made a couple of cards for this week's color challenge at colourQ.  And I'm still not entirely sure that I like either one all that much.  Don't you hate when that happens?

Anyway, this is the one I decided on.  The layout is courtesy of the latest retro sketch.

I'm not sure why I had trouble with this one.  The colors are gorgeous and I when I see green I usually think of leaves which makes me think of flowers.  I can do flowers.  But I've been trying to use some of my neglected non-floral stamps lately so I was a little flummoxed about this at first.

I ended up using the stamp set Seeing Stars from Verve and for some reason I got it in my head that I needed to fussy cut the star with the swirls.  Not fun, I can assure you.  But after all that effort, it does look pretty cool!

I hope you have a chance to check out the challenge this week at colourQ.  The design team has, once again, cooked up some inspiration for you that you don't want to miss.  So, pop on over and play along with us!

Deconstructed Sketch 46 and Hand Stamped Sentiments 112

Happy Easter!

I probably should have made an Easter card to post today, but instead I made a "thank you" card using the yummy colors at Hand Stamped Sentiments and the very cool Deconstructed Sketch.

I waffled a bit about whether to use Very Vanilla or Crumb Cake as my neutral, so I ended up using both!      (Just the leaves are stamped in Crumb Cake).  I found that I still have a few pieces of textured Rich Razzleberry cardstock so I used that for one of the vertical layers as well as the die-cut flower.  I'm not sure the texture shows up very well in the picture, but in real life it looks pretty.

Just a quick post today as I'll be off to my sister's house for Easter dinner.  I have to bring our family's semi-famous raisin sauce for the ham and some biscuits for strawberry shortcake.  Yum!

MOJO 235

The MOJO sketch challenge this week is pretty cool.  It's got rectangles, circles and angles.  How could I resist?

I'm still trying to use up as much of my soon-to-be retiring colors so I chose to use Pear Pizzazz for the big background layer.  The So Saffron pointy banner (apologies, because I don't really know what to call that) is made from cardstock and Sweet Pea DSP.  The sentiment, flowers and leaves are all Verve.

I seem to be out of steam today.  Hopefully I can re-energize and be back soon with a real zinger!

Thanks for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches 29

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new Freshly Made Sketch.  And since it's our first sketch in April it's also time to introduce our two new guest designers for April.  Kathy Turner of Stamping Still and Lisa Johansen of Snowy Moose Creations will be joining us for a very creative April!

This week, Jennifer Timko has created a sketch that's a keeper for us!

I dug into some of my favorites for this card.  The Early Espresso DSP is from Berry Blossoms and the Kiwi Kiss DSP is from Urban Oasis.  The leafy stamp and pretty flowers are from Growing Green.  These are wonderful colors and are somewhat loosely based on the colors from the colourQ #78 challenge.

Now, head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the newest challenge.  And if that isn't enough to get you to join us then all you need to do is check out the inspiration from the Design Team because they are all very INSPIRING!  We can't wait to see what you do!

colourQ 131

Since Easter is just around corner, it would be remiss of me to not make a card to celebrate.  Since I was a kid I've associated Easter with warm temperatures (hinting at the summer to come) and lovely colors (hinting that the drab colors of winter are behind us).  Luckily the challenge this week at colourQ was chock-a-block full of springy colors and gave me the perfect opportunity to show off my meager stash of Easter-appropriate stamps!

I had actually forgotten about this cute little bunny stamp, but I came across it as I was desperately searching for something I could use that would be even vaguely Easter-like.  I especially like the innocent, wide-eyed expression on his cute little bunny face.  And those ears are beyond adorable.

Actually his ears remind me of the first time I got a look at a real bunny.  When I was a kid, one of my friends had a pet bunny and up until I saw her pet, my only experience with rabbits involved Saturday morning Looney Tunes.  I thought all rabbits looked like Bugs Bunny!  Imagine my surprise when I got a look at my friend's round ball of fluff with ears that did not, in fact, stand up but instead were small and lay flat against his little head.  Oh, the disappointment!

Anyway, enough of this little trip down memory lane.  You should now head on over to colourQ and check out the inspiration from the design team.  Once again, there's some amazing inspiration for you.  I hope you have a chance to play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Paper Players 89 Humor Challenge

A few months back I got a funny stamp but I hadn't got a chance to put it to good use yet.  Then, lo and behold, the challenge this week at The Paper Players is to make a card with a humorous or punny image or sentiment.  Finally I've got a good reason to ink this stamp up!

I'm not sure who I'm going to give this card to because I know an awful lot of people who would appreciate this sentiment!

Thanks for stopping by!