SUOC68 Monochromatic Ombre

Today's a bittersweet day... my last challenge as part of the design team at SUO Challenges.  I've had a fabulous time with the team, but after 2-1/4 years, it is time for me to move on to new things.  Today we have a monochromatic color challenge.

I've found myself clicking on quite a few cards by Chris Smith on Splitcoaststampers recently.  The ombre challenge on SCS intrigued me, and I found a really lovely one by Chris.  Here's my take.

While I was making this card, I was wondering around the house yelling, "OMBRE."  I think I might be driving my husband insane.  :)  I colored the flowers with one of my favorite techniques for this set, reinker spreader.

Stamps: Fabulous Florets, Bloomin' Marvelous; Paper: Whisper White, Shimmery White; Ink: Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Island Indigo, Midnight Muse, Tempting Turquoise reinker, Pacific Point reinker, Black Stazon;  Accessories: SAB button, Pool Party baker's twine, Sponges, Aquapainter, Stampin' Spritzer, Post-It Notes, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

MDSM11 Apple Picking

Good morning, Everyone!  Time for another MDS Monday challenge.  Tara has a good one for us, to use the following sketch and stick to one digital kit.

I've mentioned before that using one kit is the way to go with many digital pages.  The coordinating papers and embellishments make designing so easy.  So I pulled up my list of digital downloads, and The Write Stuff II was the first kit I came upon.  I gave it a whirl, and I think it came out pretty well.

I've had an apple bushel on my to-do list for a bit, so here was a perfect opportunity to give it a try.  I used the File It Fun label 8 punch, and I kept cropping and stacking layers to create a little bushel container.  I also applied the paper rip option to the background paper layers.

Here's a little video I threw together on creating the bushel.

Stamps: Perfectly Preserved; Paper: The Write Stuff II; Color Palette: Old Olive, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Creamy Caramel, Soft Suede; Accessories: The Write Stuff II kit, Early Espresso baker's twine, More Mustard button, File It Fun label 8 punch; Font: Clipper Script.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stampin' Addicts Retiring Colors Blog Hop

You may have heard that Stampin' Up announced a color refresh this week.  We got together to create this Stampin' Addicts Retiring Colors Blog Hop in order to commemorate and say good-bye to some well-loved colors.  But before we jump into that, here is what the new color families will look like.

If you have been following the blog hop in order, you have just come from Yapha's blog featuring Pretty in Pink.  Yapha always has beautiful projects!  For my stop on this blog hop, I am highlighting the retiring color Bashful Blue.

You may have seen Friday's post with the cute rain boot and umbrella card.  I always grab for Bashful Blue for "sky" paper, and I always connect Bashful Blue and rain boots.  Guess I'll be retraining myself.

Stamps: Bootiful Occasions, Rain or Shine; Paper: Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Naturals White, Whisper White, Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP; Ink: Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler; Accessories: Brights Collection buttons, White baker's twine, Clear EP, Blender pen, Craft knife, Dotted Scallop border punch, Cloudy Day EF, Circles #2 die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Here's a recent stamp club card.

Stamps: Oh, Whale!; Paper: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP;  Ink: Real Red, Basic Gray; Accessories: Cloudy Day EF, Happy Whale die, 3-1/2" Circle die, Tasteful Trim die, Petal Cone die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Bashful Blue has always been my go-to winter blue.

Stamps: Up, Up & Away; Paper: Bashful Blue, Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Comfort Cafe DSP; Ink: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Midnight Muse; Accessories: White baker's twine, Circle punches, Scallop Dotted Ribbon border punch, Sponge, Square Lattice EF, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

I've had a baby bootie shower favor in my mind for a while.  Bashful Blue always worked well for a baby boy.  With the color family collections of patterned paper, it is easy to pull together a coordinating baby shower invitation.

The baby bootie template is readily available on the internet, and the card uses Fab Friday layout #15.

Stamps: Rain or Shine, Baby Prints; Paper: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Whisper White, Subtles Collection DSP; Ink: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Subtles Collection button, White baker's twine, Whisper White Stitched grosgrain ribbon, Clear embossing powder, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Wooden skewer, Dimensionals.

Don't forget that it's FREE shipping (excluding expedited orders) through Monday!!  So make sure you stock up on your favorite colors before they are gone.

Make sure you check out the next stop to see what Adriana at Escape2stamp put together using Certainly Celery. She always has amazing projects.

 

Blog Hop Order:

1) Tanya (tanya27) -- Regal Rose
2) Yapha -- Pretty in Pink
3) Heidi (hlw966) -- Bashful Blue
4) Adriana (escape2stamp) -- Certainly Celery
5) Cindy (CindyE) -- Baja Breeze
6) Jennifer (jentimko) -- Riding Hood Red
7) Debbi -- Bravo Burgandy
8) Paula (scrapshappen) -- Not Quite Navy
9) Holly (catrules) -- More Mustard
10) Debra (WebDeb) -- River Rock
11) Sara (lilyinkpad) -- Lucky Limeade
12) Betty (kittystamp) -- Summary of Colors

Thanks for stopping by!

FREE Shipping for Three Days!

How exciting!  Stampin' Up is offering FREE shipping on EVERYTHING April 6-8 (excluding expedited orders)! That's right. There are no minimums or limits and all order types qualify (customer, demonstrator, workshop, online). Did we mention that the free shipping is on everything?

And if you live in a state like New York, that means no tax on shipping... even more savings!

Free shipping starts: Saturday, April 6, 2013; 12:00 AM (MT)

Submit orders by:

• Phone: Monday, April 8, 2013; 6:50 PM (MT)
• OEX or online: Monday, April 8, 2013; 11:50 PM (MT)

So fill your pack!  Don't forget about my free make & take offer with every online order.

 Thanks for stopping by!

FM104 Bootiful Thoughts... Rain or Shine

Lisa is bringing us today's Friday Mashup challenge, double Z fold and umbrellas.

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

1. Create a project using an "Umbrella Image".
2. Create a "Double Z Fold Card".
3. Or Mash it Up and create a "Double Z Fold Card with an Umbrella Image".

I didn't manage to mash it up.  I have been anti-symmetric lately, and the double Z fold seemed very "front door-sy" to me.  Probably a great fold for a Christmas card.  But that's my hang-up; don't let that stop you!  In fact, I challenge you to change my mind!  :)

We have a big fan of wellies and umbrellas in this house!

Stamps: Bootiful Occasions, Rain or Shine; Paper: Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Naturals White, Whisper White, Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP; Ink: Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler; Accessories: Brights Collection buttons, White baker's twine, Clear EP, Blender pen, Craft knife, Dotted Scallop border punch, Cloudy Day EF, Circles #2 die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

3-D Thursday: Lobster Trap

Yesterday I shared the Northeast lobster shack projects, which got me to thinking about a lobster trap.  The old fashion lobster traps look quite like a tiny triangle box.

This would also make a fun party favor; you could tuck a couple chocolates into the triangle box.

Stamps: By the Tide, Netting BG, Woodgrain BG; Paper: Cajun Craze, Marina Mist, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Watercolor paper, Parker's Patterns DSP; Ink: Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso, Black Stazon, Versamark; Accessories: 1" Circle punch, White embossing powder, Aquapainter, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Northeast Lobster Shack

Having a masculine themed birthday party or a lobster bake?  This might be a perfect table favor.  I'm sure you've seen the scene I was going for... the weather-beaten lobster shacks on the Northeast coast.

I had a lot of fun making the little lobster trap buoys out of Parker's Patterns DSP using the paper beads technique.  I colored the toothpicks with a mixture of white acrylic paint and reinkers.

To answer a question on the tapered paper beads, I cut a strip of 1 x 12" card stock diagonally, and I then made sure to keep the wide end of the paper as far and straight to one side as possible during rolling.  I didn't seal the beads; I just used Tombo Multipurpose Liquid Glue to adhere.  Once complete, I used a marker to color any white on the bottom (wider) part of the bead.

Stamps: By the Tide, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Watercolor paper, Parker's Patterns DSP; Ink: Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Black Stazon, Whisper White craft, Cajun Crazy, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist markers & reinkers; Accessories: Linen thread, 1" Circle punch, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle punch, Aquapainter, Woodgrain EF, Fancy Favor Box die, Petal Cone die, Big Shot, Toothpicks, Wooden skewer, White acrylic paint, Dimensionals.

I made a coordinating card to go with it.

This is really the look I was aiming for with the paneling.  Here you can see some of the linen thread detail.

Stamps: By the Tide, Itty Bitty Banners, Netting BG; Paper: Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Watercolor paper, Parker's Patterns DSP; Ink: Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso, Black Stazon, Whisper White craft, Cajun Crazy, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist markers & reinkers; Accessories: Linen thread, Silver mini brads, 1" Circle punch, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle punch, Aquapainter, Sponges, Woodgrain EF, Big Shot, Toothpicks, Wooden skewer, White acrylic paint, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!