Dare to Reach....

Good afternoon!!!! This card is a challenge combo!!!! I combined today's SCS
Inspiration Challenge(IC165) with yesterday's SCS Limited Supplies Challenge(LSC205). I got my inspiration from the bottom left calendar at the Elum Website. I love the clean bold color combo and all the lines with the birds looked like the perfect look for myODBD set called Keep My Lamp Burning. This set will release tomorrow. I love this quote by Norman Rice.

I also attempted a CAS card from yesterday's limited challenge. When I think Clean and Simple(CAS), I think white for some reason. I do not think white is required just my interpretation. Of course, the white looks perfect with the inspiration photo so I went with it. I inked my main image using Adirondack lettuce and added some Paletter noir around the edges just to add a little contrast to the solid image pattern. I stamped the quote in tempting turquoise and punched out a circle of the image in tempting turquoise to added at the bottom right to create some color balance. I added a piece of grosgrain in the top left and some green dew drops on the side. I did punch out a MS bird in tempting turquoise and sponged in same color to add some definition. I personally think I followed the guidelines for CAS. I am not sure, though. It is hard to stay within the boundaries....lol. What do you think?

What a week!!!!! I started the week with an ear infection and what I thought was Strep. Off to the docs to get the good meds. The Strep came back negative, but he did say I had some sort of throat infection, and, of course, the ear infection. So, after a few days I am finally feeling more like myself and crafting again. It took a day or two to get caught up on the laundry and stuff. That stuff builds up fast!!!! With DH in England, I am a one woman show so to speak...lol. I am a little behind with my blog stuff. Stef(glitterbabe) gave me two blog awards that I need to post. I may add those in a bit.

STAMPS
ODBD Keep My Lamp Burning
PAPER
GP white, black unknown, tempting turquoise
INKAdirondack lettuce, tempting turquoise, Palette noir
ACCESSORIESgrosgrain, MS punch, dew drops, sponges

The Way

This card is for SCS Feature Stamper Challenge (FS103)!!! Congratulations, Vicky!!!! You have a beautiful gallery and so many cards to choose from. Here is the card I chose to case.

I did not know the exact colors Vicky used, so I kept my card neutral and went with cream and black. I did try to replicate Vicky's script background with the flower on the top. To do this I used an ODBD set called I Am the Way... that will be available February 1st. There are scriptures and Easter sentiments in this set and two fabulous flowers. I chose to stamp one of those flowers twice on my script background. I stamped them again on gp white cardstock and colored with permanent markers. I cut those out and added them over the other flower image after I cut that panel out using the curved rectangles so some of the petals hang off the edge. I sponged some Ranger antique linen ink to soften the edges. Next, I layered a swiss dot cuttlebug behind the main panel for some texture. Since I did opt for a more ornate main panel, I did not put photo corners with the brads in the corners. Instead, I used some half pearlsat the bottom. I colored these with a copic to make look mory creamier. I did not use ribbon. I did not use dp. I tried to keep this card clean and simple. I really LOVE this look.

I love a script behind a main image anyway....just take a look at my new bolder banner. Designed by none other than Jami Bova(sgtstamper). I love this. She also modified my website to be three columns, and I have a cute little signature now as well. LOVE it!!!!

STAMPS

ODBD I Am the Way, CHF called Spanish Script

PAPER

Basic Black, The Paper Company's cream, gp white

INK

Black staz on , Ranger walnut stain, antique linen, permanent markers, copics

ACCESSORIES

Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, sponges, dimensionals, pearls from Pretties Kit

Flourishes Friday!!!!

It is Flourishes Friday!!!!! I decided to use the Flourishes, LLC Chairs set again. I love this set. It is so versatile. I really love upholstering or paper piecing, if you will, this chair. An empty chair can mean so many things. I thought this would be a good card for someone retiring or moving. I used the Many Sentiments set for the sentiment.

I decided to go with some warm tones and create some textures. The first thing I would love to say is that I used my Score Pal to make the score lines and create some texture on the middle panel. To read about my Score Pal story check out this link. What normally would have taken forever to do with the fiskars and stylus, I did in under a minute. Amazing tool!!!! Next,I started working on my chair. I paper pieced using a solid side of the MME dp. I cuttlebugged it to add some texture, then sponged it with Ranger fired brick. Next, I added some golden wheat Shimmerz. Once that dried, I sponged some more fired brick. I was going for a chintz looking upholstery, but after all that, it sort of has a leathery look. I still loved it so I kept it.

I finished my card with some flowers and a sentiment. There is a story here, though. Last Friday night Flourishes had a new release party at the SCS forum. It was a blast and a rush!!!! Prizes and games!!!! It totally rocked. Well, during all of our conversations, it came up that I have an issue with buttons. Latisha Yoast, one of the DT members, told me to go back and get that bag of buttons I started to buy and use them. Good advice!!!! I am happy to say that the two gold items in the center of my flowers are buttons!!!!! I got this really cool bag of metallic buttons at Micheal's using a coupon. I love the assortment and many do not look like normal two-holed buttons. How cool is that?!!!

Be sure to check the Flourishes Newsletter next Friday as Flourishes launches something your are not going to want to miss. I am sure it will be one of your favorites!!!!

Make sure you visit Julie’s Friday Friends of Flourishes Blog Team weekly roundup over at the Flourishes Newsletter, and also visit these Friends of Flourishes blogs to get the complete Flourishes Friday scoop Becca Feeken, Cindy Haffner , Dee Jackson , Kimberly Crawford , and Silke Ledlow

Stampers Dream Weekend and Copic Class

Here is the scoop: Flourishes Stampers Dream Weekend

STAMPS

Flourishes, LLC Chairs
PAPER
The Paper Company's Blonde Column and cream, Riding Hood Red, MME 29th Street dp, and Scenic Route dp
INK
Ranger tea dye, antique linen, fired brick, black staz on
ACCESSORIES
Nestabilities, copics, sponges, gold pearl/domes, paper flowers, gold cording, dimensionals, circle punches, cuttlebug ef, score pal, buttons

SCORE!!!! A Story of GIVING!!!!

I have a SCORE PAL!!!!! Not just any SCORE PAL, though. I have one that was given to me out of kindness and generosity. Yes, given to me as in a GIFT!!!! I cannot believe it!!!! I am so amazed at such generosity that I do not know what to say or do. I have been chit chatting with Stacy(Twinshappy) about all her beautiful card sets in the SCS gallery and her blog. On many of her cards she does score line detailing. Our discussion pretty much centered around using our fiskars and a stylus to do the score lines. Stacy is way more adventurous with this than I am. I kept mentioning how I would love to have a score pal, but if I would use it enough to compensate for its cost.

Anyway, out of the blue last week, I get this email from Deborah Anton(BeadnStampn) that she heard from Stacy that I wanted a Score Pal. It just so happened that she had won some blog candy that included a SCORE PAL. (Note to self: I really need to blog hop and get in on all this amazing blog candy out there). Deborahs says that she already has a score pal so would I like that one since her other one should be arriving soon. Of course, I ask how much and she says NOTHING!!!!! She just wanted to PAY IT FORWARD.....and do something nice for someone!!!! Now, I know about the Pay it Forward as I have done this myself, but never anything quite this huge. So, my SCORE PAL came yesterday afternoon. I am utterly amazed at the generosity and kindness of just GIVING!!!! I wanted to share a picture of my SCORE PAL and the wonderful card that Deborah included.

Thank you so much Deborah and Stacy for thinking of me. Blessings to both of you!!!! I did not make a card today as I wanted it to be just about the Deborah's generosity and the Score Pal. However, I probably will have a card tomorrow showcasing something scored!!!! This thing is amazing as I have been playing with it. Thanks for stopping by!!!!!

His Hands!

This card is for two challenges!!!! It snowed here yesterday and I did not get much stamping time in. However, I really loved the color combination from yesterday's SCS Color Challenge (CC202). Great colors, Emily!!!! I also wanted to play in today's SCS Sketch Challenge(SC212).Thanks, Roxie for a great sketch!!!

I used ODBD Lift Your Hands set. This set is so versatile. I love the praying hands image with the comtemporary background. I tried to keep the card pretty simple since the sketch has so many layers. I used some SU Bella Rose dp because it has the kiwi kiss print. I love the polka dots. I embraced the bold color combo which I love and went with it. I also used two cuttlebug ef textures. I finished my card with a lot of sponging and two huge white brads that I have had for a long time. I thought they looked great with the white dots in the background dp. I did add a touch of a bow knot at the top. As far as my layout goes, I did stagger the colors on the vertical panel at the bottom just to create some interest. What do you think?

The funny thing about it snowing here yesterday for the first time in years is that the kids were already out of school with mid-semester break. It is starting to melt. It was fun while it lasted!!!

STAMPS ODBD Lift Your Hands

PAPER Bravo Burgandy, Regal Rose, Bella Rose dp, gp white

INK Bravo Burgandy, Regal Rose, Adirondack Lettuce

ACCESSORIES white 5/8" grosgrain, cuttlebug ef, nestabilities small long scallops, and classic rectangles, CAD, sponges, foam tape, photo corner punch, MM jumbo brads

"Dirty Girl" January Challenge!!!

Do you feel the love with all the texture and no red? Each month a Dirty Girl challenge is assigned for all the current DD and DDA. This month's hostess is Jodi(Kharmagirl). She challenged us to make a Valentine's card with texture of any kind, but NO red!!!!

I chose to use some solid colored Basic Gray cardstock and ran it through the cuttlebug using two different embossing folders. I also used a MS border punch to add some more texture and break up the grass and sky in a different way. I am using Our Craft Lounge Tree-Mendous Love stamp set. This is the cutest girafe and the tree is just fun to color.

My dd actually colored the giraffe for me after we had a discussion that a giraffe is not brown, but more cream or golden. She won and I took my brown giraffe off the card and put hers up there. I admit....hers does look better. What a fun giraffe moment!!!!

I colored most of the images with permanent markers because I do not have enough copics to do all these colors. I must get more. This card took me forever. It snowed here today. First time we have seen snow in years!!!! The kids were in and out all day drying off, warming up, redressing, and heading back out. I actually ventured outside to try to help make a snowman. The snow was too dry. It would not pack. It was fun, but very cold!!!!!

To check out what the other DD/DDA have created check out this link. DCFTL0109

STAMPS Our Craft Lounge Tree-Mendous Love PAPER chocolate chip, basic gray distressed solids from paper packs INK black staz onACCESSORIES scallop circle punch, circle punches, MS border punch, cb ef, foam tap, dew drops, grosgrain ribbon, word window punch, permanent markers, photo corner punch

An Award!!!! WooHoo!!!!

Amy Sheffer Pickled Paper Designs has awarded me with the Butterfly Award!!! Thank you so much, Amy!!!! I am to nominated 10 other fellow bloggers for this award!!!!

1.) Beverly

2.) Chris

3.) Deb

4.) Deborah

5.) Joan

6.) Joanne

7.) Judy

8.) Lorelie

9.) Sita

10.) Stacy

Check out these blogs!!!! Nominees, if you are so inclined, the idea is to pass this award along to 10 others, as follows:

Post the award logo on your blog

Add the link to the person who nominated you

Nominate 10 other blogs and post their links as well

Let those people know that they received the award

Thanks so much, Amy!!!!

Betty

Live by Faith!

This card is for SCS Feature Stamper Challenge (FS102). Congratulations, Lori Craig!!!! Fantastic gallery!!! Here is the card I chose to case!!!

I tried to stay in the blue and neutral category like Lori as well as use a scripture, pattern dp, layered flowers, piercing, and the same textured corner cb ef. I did add a MS punch border to my corner piece. I did not include a sentiment, but I did shrinky dink the cross charm. I am really proud of myself. I used TWO buttons. I was on a thread the other night and the subject of buttons came up. I have not used buttons in a long time. I decided to use them today. TWO of them!!!!! Can you believe it? LOL!!! The stamp set I used is ODBD He is Risen! I kept the layout and details fairly simple to comply with Lori's sketch card that I chose. I layered some paper flowers and sponged some Ranger Antique linen over the top to mute the colors a bit. I added linen thread to the two buttons to finish the card. I love shrinky dink. I have not used it much. I actually stamped the nail cross onto cream shrinky dink and used my nestabilities scalloped oval to cut it out. The details of this image are amazing. I added some punched out cuttlebug faux brads to the corners to create some balance. What do you think?

I bought this box of K&Company papers at Michael's the other day ONLY because it was 50% off. I love a deal!!!! It has 150 patterned papers. Now, the paper is not heavy by any means, and the prints are fairly muted which is why I decided to go with this...something a little different. I actually love the storage box in comes in. For little more than a half cent a sheet and the box, I was thrilled. So, I am going through the box and sorting by color groups. I am on a muted blue and green kick!!! Also, I happened by the marked down while at Michael's I purchase some discounted chipboard buttons for $.33 racks. I picked up a brown hue and a blue hue of chipboard buttons. I had a 20% off total purchase coupon so these were a great find!!! For this card the colors the button patterns were perfect and I did not have to alter them. Thought I would share!!!!

Stamps- ODBD He is Risen!

Paper- The Paper Company cream, night of navy, K&Company dp

Ink- night of navy, Ranger antique linen

Accessories- Paper flowers, chipboard buttons, night of navy buttons, linen thread, MS border punch, cb ef, piercing template, photo corner punch, dimensionals, sponges, 1/4" hole punch, shrinky dink, nestabilities

His Example!!!

This card is for SCS Inspiration Challenge IC163!!!! Shout outs to Stef for finding such amazing sites to get inspiration. Here is my inspiration pictures. I love the colors and the circles. I also thought with all the circles that it would be good to used Taylor's Expression Cupcake challenge (TECC51) sketch.

I used ODBD stamp set Footprints in the Sand. Everytime I think of cool blues I think of the ocean. And, this set has the ocean sandprints and I think it is perfect with these colors. I used some MME dp 29th street collection. I did add some black for definition and to make those cool colors pop. I used retired SU French script background and stamped directly onto the twill tape. I did this in Ranger walnut stain and Adirondack pool colors. I also ran each piece across the top of my Ranger Antique linen ink pad to darken and give some depth to the pieces. I added this ink to most of the edges to offer some depth. I also sponges some onto the blue flower to soften the hue a bit. The curved rectangle dp is cuttlebugged with the script font ef to continue with the script theme. My MM flower already had the script print. Love that!!!! I finished with some jumbo eyelets, brads, and MS punches.

STAMPS
ODBD Footprints in the Sand, SU retired french script background
PAPER
The Paper Company's black and cream, MME 29th street collection
INK
Ranger walnut stain, antique linen, Adirondack pool
ACCESSORIES
Nestabilities oval petites and curved rectangles, and label one, MS punches, Prima flowers, MM flowers, jumbo eyelets, MM brads, photo corner punch, sp0onges, dimensionals, foam tape, twill

Flourishes Friday and Day 3 Sneak Peeks!!!!!

I love this new set by Flourishes, LLC called Chairs. The big chair that comes in the set is perfect for coloring, or paper piecing/upholstering. Love it. I decided to use some basic gray sugared papers for this one since some of the pieces of paper have little hearts on them. I paper pieced my chair and punched out a few hearts to go along with the partial sentiment I use....thinking about you. Don't you feel the love?

Flourishes is "Celebrating Home" with sneak peaks and a challenge. It is not too late to play. Be sure to check in on the Flourishes Newsletter for details on how you can win this set and all three new sets being released Friday! Don't forget to mark your calendar for the first ever Flourishes Release Party! It's set for Friday night from 7pm - 9 pm Eastern time over at the Flourishes Forum on Splitcoaststampers. That's where we'll reveal all the new sets and give you an opportunity for more prizes!

Be sure to check out all the other designer's blog to see what they created with this set.

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Jan Marie Caruso
Julie Koerber

Latisha Yoast

Laura Fredrickson
Nancy Kirk
Sharon Doolittle
Becca Feeken

Cindy Haffner

Dee Jackson
Kimberly Crawford

Silke Ledlow

STAMPS

Flourishes, LLC Chairs

PAPER

bravo burgandy, basic gray sugared dp, pink pirouette

INK

black staz on, bravo burgandy, copics E27 and E57 to color the wood on the chair

ACCESSORIES

Nestabilities ovals and ribbon labels, SU photo corner punch, Paddle punch for heart, gold pearl domes, MS ribbon, MS lace border punch, gold cording, foam tape