FM175 Gnome Sweet Gnome

This week Lisa brings us animals and shaker cards on the Friday Mashup. How much you wanna bet she is going to stamp a moose? ;)  So, for my card, the discussion goes something like this:

• Me: "Do you think a gnome is an animal?  What kind of creature is it?  Is a troll an animal?"
• Little Missy: "A troll is half human, half monster, which is kinda a mean animal.  And a gnome is like a nice troll.  So I guess it could be an animal."

Ha, so there you have it!  Gnomes coming at ya!

Now, I have to tell you, Missy has been bugging me to try the Blendabilities.  She can be little heavy on the pressure, so I have been more than reluctant.  But she wore me down, and so I gave her a shot at coloring the scene (with me watching her like a hawk).  She did a great job, didn't she?

Once the background scene was done, I added a card stock frame, cut-up pieces of shaker frames, and a window sheet.  Confetti consisted of Old Olive card stock cut with Fringe scissors, patterned paper flower punch-outs, and In Color sequins.

My parents just moved to Florida, and before leaving, Mom gave Missy her garden gnomes.  I guess this is a scene of my parents skipping through their new garden.  ;)

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

Image Source

• Create a Project using "Animals". 
• Create a "Shaker card" project.
• or Mash it up! and create a "Shaker Card with an Animal".

Stamps: Gnome Sweet Gnome; Paper; Old Olive, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Quatrefancy DSP, Delicate Dots DSP; Ink: Soft Sky, Memento Jet Black, Blendabilities markers; Accessories: In Color Sequin assortment, Early Espresso baker's twine, Window sheet, Shaker frames, Aquapainter, Fringe scissors, Itty Bitty punch pack, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, e-cutter, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals; Font: 1942 Report.

The time has finally arrived for the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog!  Time to make your Halloween preparations and start dreaming of the perfect Christmas card.  Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Click to download a copy

MDSM79 Escape Alcatraz

This week Holly brings us the MDS Monday sketch.

We visited, and escaped from Alcatraz, when we were in San Francisco.  Missy's request! 

I had a lot of fun with overlays on this one.  I used a background photo as an overlay, then the Natural Composition canvas overlay on top of that.  Darkened the edges with Vintage Overlays and added some "jail-themed" numbers from Game Day.

Here's this week's sketch -

MDS Elements: Natural Composition Overlays, Vintage Overlays, Game Day, Back to School kit, Downtown Grunge frame, Staple & Stitching; Fonts: Stencil, Housegrind, Pea Lex Valentine.

FM174 Sending Good Thoughts Watercolor

Holly has this week's Friday Mashup challenge, bokeh!  I was all excited when I saw this challenge.

Alas, I followed the linked tutorial, and my bokeh effect did not come out too spectacularly.  But I forged ahead.  It did soften up the background, but either my watercoloring isn't dark enough or my craft ink doesn't come out opaque enough.  You decide. 

Wow, I bought the Perfect Pennants bundle at the tail end of the Occasions catalog, and I have reached for it several times since.  Who knew that it was such a fun set?

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

Image Source

• Create a project with the "Bokeh Technique".  Link to technique here.
• Create a project with "Die Cuts".
• or Mash it Up! and create a "Bokeh project using a Die Cut".

Stamps: Perfect Pennants; Paper: Whisper White, Watercolor paper, Gold Foil sheet; Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White craft; Accessories: Watercolor brush, Sponge dauber, Homemade circle die-cut template, Banners framelits, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread.

Short & Sweet & More

We have super exciting news from the home office! The Short & Sweet recruiting promotion is here! It IS short: It only lasts from August 21-28. And it IS sweet: New recruits will receive $150 in their choice of Stampin' Up! products for the $99 starter kit price. You won't have to pay for shipping either! It's a great deal, amazing business opportunity, AND it's only available for a short time, so get it now!

>> Click Here to Learn More <<

 There's only a few days left to save with Big Shot & Bundles.

Through August 31, buy a Big Shot and receive a stamp and framelit bundle for FREE, or if you already have a Big Shot, purchase one of the framelit bundles for 15% off.

And here are this week's Weekly Deals -

Elegant Butterfly Punch Price: $15.95 $11.96	Finishing Touches Edgelits Die Price: $9.95 $7.46	Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Price: $7.95 $5.96	Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details Price: $2.50 $1.88
Squares Collection Framelits Die Price: $26.95 $20.21	Travel Journal Digital Kit - Digital Download Price: $9.95 $5.97	Twine Baker's Early Espresso Price: $2.95 $2.21	Vanilla Coaster Board Price: $5.95 $4.46

Control Freaks Simple & Elegant Blog Tour

Welcome... It's time to hop along with the super fabulous Control Freaks group!  This month's theme is Simple & Elegant.  Love it!  You've probably arrived here from Wendy Weixler's blog.  Her projects are always so gorgeous and creative!

So, this month's theme... Simple, as in not many layers, but with style.  Elegant is a bit tougher.  What is elegant?  I often think of vintage or flowers.

For a project with a little bit different look, I frequently turn to a mixed media challenge.  The Mix-Ability #61 challenge, Not Monotonous, calls for different shades of a single color, which I find to be very elegant.  I also followed the Pointillism tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.

I used three ink media here, Blendabilities, Memento dye-based ink, and fine-tipped Sharpie marker.  I kept the card layout simple, to focus on the main image.  This card also satisfies DTGD challenge, DTGD14JBgreendawn, and uses Freshly Made Sketches #148.

Stamps: Regarding Dahlias, And Many More; Paper: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Confetti Celebration DSP; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Smoky Slate Blendabilities, Black Stazon fine point marker; Accessories: Smoky Slate chevron ribbon, White baker's twine, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Bitty Banners framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Here's a different interpretation of elegant, as in an elegant way to add colored card stock to a card without adding layers.  I recently learned about fun, new (to me) technique called inlaid die-cuts, which I wanted to try.  I started off with some happy, warm colors for my card.

Although the intent of the card is to be one-layer, with embedded die-cuts you need a base piece to cover up the backside of the cuts.  So ok, a two-layer card.  Then I blew the flatness out of the water with my bulky layered chipboard embellishments.  Oh well.  *shrugs*

I wanted to add a bow to the heart sequin, but the baker's twine or linen thread was too bulky, so I used thread.

Stamps: Just Sayin'; Paper: Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Crumb Cake, Sweet Taffy DSP, Thin Chipboard; Ink: Rich Razzleberry; Accessories: In Color sequins, Rhinestone jewel, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, Watercolor brush, Word Bubbles framelits, Big Shot, Thread, Dimensionals.

Jump over to the amazing Patty Bennett's blog to check out what fabulous ideas she has for us. 

MDSM78 Long Weekend in SF

I really love this week's MDS Monday sketch by Tami.   I really am a huge map fan!

Last year we had a fabulous long weekend in San Francisco, after my husband's business conference. I would love to go back!

Here's the sketch - 

MDS Elements: Back to School kit, Epic Overlays; Font: Bradley Hand ITC.

The Stamp Review Crew: Daydream Medallions

Welcome to another Stamp Crew Review Blog Hop!  We share our take on a selected stamp set every first and third Monday.  This time we are hopping along with a versatile stamp set, Daydream Medallions, which also has a collection of coordinating Floral Frames framelits.  In fact, as part of the Big Shot & Bundles promotion, you can save 15% on the bundle through August 31!  If you are hopping around in a circle, you have just come from Cindy's blog.  Cindy has such a classic and lovely style!

As I was contemplating this set, I thought how the images could be used as a background or as a main image.  I was a little bit limited, in that I don't own the framelits, but quickly found this set makes lovely clean & simple cards.  With another wedding coming up, it is perfect for an elegant card.

I paired the background images with die-cuts from the new Flower Frenzy die, for a fun dimensional element.  A little bit of inking, spritzing, and scrunching gives the flower some color variation and interest.

Stamps: Daydream Medallions, A Dozen Thoughts; Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Old Olive, Hello Honey, Whisper White; Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Hello Honey; Accessories: Vintage Faceted button, Linen thread, Stampin' Spritzer, Flower Frenzy die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

I was in need of some birthday cards, and I surprised myself with stamping a couple more quick cards.  The first is based on a layout from Megan Daves, using a bright and happy color combination from Fab Friday #46.

Stamps: Daydream Medallions, Good Greetings; Paper: Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Sweet Taffy DSP, Confetti Celebration DSP; Ink: Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush, Daffodil Delight; Accessories: Rhinestone jewels, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

For the second card layout, I CASE'd myself.  :)  I stayed with a very pleasing neutral color palette.

Stamps: Daydream Medallions, And Many More; Paper: Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip; Ink: Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso; Accessories: Linen thread, Stylish Stripes EF, Autumn Accents die, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread.

Now make sure you check out the next stop to see what fabulous projects the stylish Mike Funke has put together with Daydream Medallions.