Buttons

During my stamping hiatus the popular style seems to have changed from throw-every-embellishment-you-can-find-on-it to clean and simple.  I think that's a good thing.  There were (are) some artists who made highly embellished cards that I drooled over, but I couldn't come close to copying.  Besides, those highly embellished cards would be impossible to mail. 

My card today, though certainly not highly embellished,  seems too much with its layers, buttons and bows.  I'll have to work on the current style.

In the meantime, this card is my entry for this week's challenge at ColourQ.  They chose Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade and Tempting Turquoise.   I don't own Tempting Turquoise; I used to but it was one of the OLD, original style stamp pads and I got rid of it.  I substituted with Pacific Point - not quite turquoise but the best I could do.  

Flowers were the obvious choice for such vibrant colors but I chose buttons instead.  Both the buttons and the sentiment are from Verve's "Button Best".  I had some fun with the one real button; it was just a plain thing I had in my collection.  I used a VersaMark marker and some embossing powder that closely matched Pacific Point and made a custom-matched button! 

Edited note: I forgot to link to ColourQ's blog.  You can find it here.

Thanks for stopping by! 

~La

She Laughs

I continue to have such fun stamping!  I've discovered that Splitcoast Stampers have different challenges and/or inspiration ideas every day of the week, which I'm so thankful for.

Today was an inspiration day.  We were directed to a specific section of an individuals Pinterest board which was all about minimal design.  We were to choose a photo for inspiration and then make a minimalist card.  I chose a photo of a Scandinavian living room which was mostly white and gray.  (You can see the photo here .)

I had in mind a beautiful floral for the back panel.  Unbelievably, I don't have any of the type I was imagining.  So I made do with one of my many brand new but not yet used stamps.  This is from Verve's set "New Mercies".  The sentiment is also from Verve.  It's one of their "plain Jane" stamps which are very often scripture verses.  I chose this particular verse today because I'm going to send this card to my BSF leader and it's appropriate to what we are studying.

~La

Warm Winter Wishes

The colors this week at Color Throwdown are lovely spring colors of pink, green and kraft. Feeling like I've been on a bit of a flower binge lately, I decided to try for an unusual colored Christmas card.  My first attempt was with ornaments in pink and green but I couldn't seem to make it look good.  So I tried these mittens and thought they worked quite well.

This might be a Christmas card, or it might just make a nice winter note card.  Since spring is beginning to appear in Boise this will have to keep until next winter in either case.

~La

I found a color challenge on Splitcoast Stampers for inspiration yesterday.   I love the soft spring colors - Wisteria Wonder,  Pear Pizzazz and Pool Party.   I've decided to focus on useful cards to have on hand - birthday and sympathy.  It's helpful to have them on hand rather than try to make one under pressure.

There are currently 2 more challenges I'm itching to work on, but today is a busy day.  Sigh...I just want to stamp.

~La

I don't pretend to be creative, I just try to copy those who are.  One of the best is Julee Tillman; my card is a copy of hers.  Julee is the uber-talented owner of Verve Stamps; her card and my copy are for Verve's monthly inspiration challenge.

I started with some blue and cream paper with a wood grain pattern which I thought was a good idea many years ago.  I stenciled over the paper using Tim Holtz's Clockworks stencil and Smoky Slate ink.  I might have been able to copy Julee's choice of stamps, but I opted instead for Paisley Perfect Flair from Close to my Heart.  I inked up the various paisleys with sweet leaf, pear, Hollyhock and blush pigment inks from CTMH as well as purely pomegranate from SU.  I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo black and then clear embossed it so it would show more.  Added some onyx Liquid Pearl's and a few pink seed pearls from my Grandma's stash for embellishments,  because I don't have any sequins!

I distressed the edges then mounted it over some graphite sparkly paper from my scrap stash and a layer of purely pomegranate,  also distressed.  Finally, I mounted all layers on Basic Gray cardstock.  I hope I get over my gray phase before that paper runs out!

~La

One more for today.  When looking at the designer's cards on Color Throw Down,  I was particularly struck by this card from Vickie Zimmer.  I did my best to copy it, although I am a complete novice with Copic markers.   I am pleased with the result.

My husband is probably going to be sorry I have a new craft room, since now all I want to do is stamp!  It's been so long.  I have several stamp sets that have not yet been touched and I plan to remedy that!

Today I went to my old standby blogs for inspiration: MOJO Monday for the layout and Color Throw Down for the - colors!

I decided to make a clean and simple masculine card, because I never have those when I need them.

Details are short and sweet.  Ink: Poppy Parade and Smoky Slate; paper: Whisper White and Basic Gray;  Stamps: Mosaic Madness and Itty Bitty Banners.

Thanks for stopping by!

~La

Back at it

I finally have a craft room again, and it is beautiful.   I'll have to share photos - another day.  New craft room means I can get back to stamping.   I started by going to Splitcoast Stampers for inspiration.   I CASED this card . (Actually I CASED the 2nd card in the linked blog post.)  Since it's nearly 1:00 a.m., here is my card with no further explanation :

Since I've been MIA for almost 2 years, I expect no one to be viewing this blog.  But I'm going to put cards up for my own sake.  I will have a new craft room very soon and hope to put it to good use.  When that happens I also hope to have cards to post on a regular basis.