Sunflower Studio

NESTABILITIES STORAGE

I'm finally back from CHA....awed, inspired and tired!  I have stuff to share but photos need to be resized and such and projects need to be completed before I can do fun stuff.  I do have a quickie photo to share....

Before I left for Chicago I went on a tirade to organize my Spellbinder's Nestabilities dies.  I had them in CD jewel boxes with magnetic strips but that just didn't seem to work.  Not all of the dies really wanted to "nest"! 

I had this magnetic board from Ikea sitting around.  It originally had these magnetic tins attached to it that held Prima flowers but that organizing idea went out the window long ago.  I decided to put the dies from each set onto a notebook ring (from Office Depot - 1" size) and then add a metal rimmed tag (oldies from SU!) label for each set and hang these from a little magnet on the board.  I found cute little "clippy" magnets at Kitchen & Company.  They're from Oxo and they work great for this.  I can either clip the ring onto the board or hang it over the little clip.  They're easy to access and, even better, I can see them all!  I still have room for more on this board but I ran out of time before CHA.  I also still have to hang this on the wall and I might just have to run to Ikea for another board...found some more "must have" sets last week, dontcha know!

RUBBERNECKER - BLOG CHALLENGE #18 & TREASURE HUNT TUESDAY

BLOG CHALLENGE

This week's Rubbernecker Stamp Company blog challenge is to make an "ANIMAL" themed card.  I'm thinkin' that that's open to interpretation.  I don't really have any animal stamps from Rubbernecker.  Do starfish, a crab, and a worm count?  Hope so cuz that's what we're gettin' here today!

Rubbernecker has a great selection of stamps that you can create a "scene" with.  I originally chose the fish tank, fish, crab, boat, sand, and fish/worm stamps to all coordinate together.  (And don't forget the new Kittie Kits that they've just released for some truly amazing "scene" images.  I haven't tried them but even I might be able to work those into a scene a la Kittie!)  I haven't used ALL of them on one card yet but I used about half on this one and half on that fish tank frame card from a few weeks ago.

I wanted this card to be sort of un-traditional in color so I chose Basic Grey's Cupcake 6x6 Paper Pad and matched my Copic markers to that.    BG paper is THE best!  While I was at the beach this past weekend I got all caught up on my stamping/scrapping mags and I noticed this ribbon treatment in one of them.  Kinda fun and different!

Gather you're Rubbernecker stamps and create something "animal" oriented.  Post your card to Jeanne's blog to be entered in the weekly contest.  Please use the keyword RBC19 if you're uploading to Splitcoast this week.  Surf on over to the other Rubbernecker DT gals blogs to see what they've come up with this week too...their names are listed at left!

Supplies:  Stamps - boat, crab, worm, sand by Rubbernecker Stamp Co., sentiment by Rubber Soul; CS - Old Olive, So Saffron, Blue Bayou from SU!, Papertrey White, patterned papers from Basic Grey; Ink - Palette Noir hybrid ink, Black Onyx Versafine; Other - Copic Markers, ribbon from Michael's, paper piercing tool, American Crafts brad.

TREASURE HUNT TUESDAY

Today (4am -9pm PST) is Tuesday Treasure Hunt day at Rubbernecker Stamp Company!  For Treasure Hunt details and the first clue —-> Go HERE to the Rubbernecker Home Page.

And Candy and Shelly have BLOG CANDY this week so you'll definitely want to click over and enter to win!

TCP TUESDAY #16 - INSPIRATION CHALLENGE

Tuesday...Tuesday...Tuesday....come on, say it with me....TUESDAY!  If it's Tuesday then it must be time for another Cat's PJs challenge.  This week we have an "inspiration" challenge from Jen Del Muro.  Jen's filling in this week for Carole and her inspiration came from this really neat fabric by Michael Miller.

For whatever reason, in my mind this fabric had purple in it.  I'm not sure now that it has any purple at all!  Funny how your brain does that to ya.  But it immediately made me think of the "Guide Lines" paper pad that I hadn't even opened yet from Papertrey Ink.  I paired three different papers from the pad with three fun Cat's Pajamas stamps:  Crooked House (E-5253), Bats (D-6326), and Haunt It (D-5262).  It's never too early to start thinkin' about Halloween, right?!

Go find some patterened paper or stamps or whatever comes to mind when you view the inspiration fabric...grab your TCP stamps and enter this week's challenge over on Jen's Blog.  Make sure to use keyword TCPTUES16 if you're uploading at Splitcoast.  The other TCP gals will be sharing their takes on the fabric too so check them out.  Alma's got the Holey Moley Monday slideshow up and running featuring last week's sketch challenge.  Go and see those cards too!

Supplies:  Stamps - Crooked House (E-5253), Bats (D-6326), and Haunt It (D-5262) - all by The Cat's Pajamas; CS - Marvelous Magenta (ret.), Elegant Eggplant, White Shimmer from SU!; Ink - Black Onyx Versafine, SU! Black Craft ink; Other - Copic markers and blender pen, SU! Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware, ribbon from Michael's, EK corner rounder, piercing tool, SU! black detail EP.

WINNER - RUBBERNECKER BLOG CANDY!

I had the random integer generator at www.random.org choose a winner for the Rubbernecker Stamp Co. BLOG CANDY that I was giving away last week.  The chosen number is.....

LUCKY #13
and that's
DENISE from Paper Ponderings!

Denise, please contact me at leigh.obrien06@verizon.net with your full name so that I can get you your coupon code.  $10 in Rubbernecker Stamps will be yours...all yours!

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #55 - BUGS & INSECTS

Will I ever get caught up?  That's a really good question...wish I could predict the future.  WELL...this week I can.  This posting will be available on Friday...the day that it's SUPPOSED to be posted.  Imagine that!  That's because I'm future posting it since we'll be off to the beach again. 

The theme for this week's Blogger's Challenge is BUGS & INSECTS.  That was a perfect topic for me this week.  I've been working on samples for the new BOYS 'N' BUGS stamp set from STORAGE UNITS, INK & MORE!  I love this jar and then there are a handful of different bugs that you can put into it.  And then, note the sentiment on a curve around the scalloped frame.  How cool is it that you can do that with the clear stamps on acrylic blocks.  Definitely a bonus there!

If you get a few moments check in with the other BC gals.  If you click on the link button on the left it'll take you to the BC list page.  It's not just a post from long ago anymore...it has it's own page.  Hopefully this will make it easier for people to visit the other blogs.  Thanks for visiting this week!

Supplies:  Stamps - Boys 'n' Bugs stamp set from Storage Units, Ink & More!, CS - textured cardstocks by Core'dinations, Papertrey White, patterned paper from the Donna Ingemanson Rough & Tumble pad by K&Company; Ink - Palette Noir hybrid ink; Other - ribbon from Michael's, Copic Markers, Nestabilities dies, SU! Crystal Effects.

BIRTHDAY CHEERS...

And while I'm spreading cheer....my DHs birthday was yesterday.  He's a big wine drinker...you know, "It's good for your heart."...riiiiiight.  I chose this wine bottle and wine glass stamp with future cards for him (and his dad) in mind.  Both images are by Rubbernecker Stamp Co. 

I colored the images using various Stampin' Up! dye inks and a waterbrush on watercolor paper (that paper makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it?!).  I then used color dusters with Ranger Mushroom and Butterscotch Adirondack inks and Ranger Walnut Distress ink to create the shadows around the main image.  I also sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink.  I like this kind of Tuscan vintage look. 

The patterned paper can really make the card.  The green here is called Verdi and is by Daisy D's and the purple Harlequin is from a Red Hat Society scrapbook pad (maybe K&Co?).  The cardstock layers are all Stampin' Up! - River Rock, Elegant Eggplant, and True Thyme (ret).

The ribbon had both purple and green in it but was originally way too bright.  I used Carole Burrage's idea and colored it with a Copic marker.  That really "browned" it down so that it matched the look and feel of my card.  Another nifty trick to file away in my brain!

CHEERS!

CHEERS POLLY!

I just love all of Anna Wight's images for Whipper Snapper.  That gal is soooo talented!  I bought "Polly" here a few months back.  She reminds me of my sister.  She used to have those pigtails when she was a little girl.

This card is for a challenge swap with one of my Yahoo groups.  The inspiration was this fancy shmancy cake.  THAT CAKE looks so yummy.  I'm not sure where the original photo came from by it makes me think of the ACE of CAKES.  I love that show and the fact that it's filmed right down the road in Baltimore.  Who knew they could do all of that with CAKE!

Supplies:  Stamps - Polly by Anna Wight for Whipper Snapper, flower by Stampendous, sentiment from A Muse; CS - Basic Black, Pink Passion, Only Orange, Green Galore by SU!, watercolor paper; Ink - Versafine Onyx Black, various for watercoloring Polly; Other - Copic markers, orange Stickles, black brads, waterbrush.

RUBBERNECKER - BLOG CHALLENGE #17, TREASURE HUNT & BLOG CANDY...AGAIN!

BLOG CHALLENGE #17 - USE RIBBON IN A NON-TRADITIONAL WAY

This week's Rubbernecker Blog challenge is to use ribbon in a non-traditional way.  Interesting, right?!

I was thinking that I would weave some ribbon for a background but as I looked through my Rubbernecker stamps I was drawn to the BIG TACO!  Doesn't everyone need a BIG TACO stamp?  I added the ribbon to a slit cut in the upper taco image.  I colored two separate images with Copics and then cut one of them out.  I cut the slit just above the taco shell and slid in some shredded green ribbon "lettuce", some red ribbon "tomato" chunks, and a bit of light orange "American cheese" colored ribbon.  I'm thrilled with how this turned out.  I really like the bold colors of this cool American Crafts paper from the Play collection and I didn't want my taco image to have to compete with the patterned papers so I kept the stamped layer fairly simple on the white background.

My friend, Holly, and I split some clear Dew Drops and she mentioned having seen online somewhere that someone used Copic markers to color the Dew Drops to match their card.  I tried it here.  I colored these an Olive color.  It's so cool because the Copics are permanent and they dry really quickly.  What a nifty trick!

Enter the weekly Rubbernecker Blog challenge by posting a link to your card on Jeanne Streiff's blog.  Make sure to use keyword RBC17 if you're uploading to Splitcoast.  All of the details on the challenges can be found HERE.

Supplies:  Stamps - Taco by Rubbernecker Stamp Co., sentiment by A Muse; CS - Papertrey white, SU! Chocolate Chip, textured CS by DCWV, patterned papers by American Crafts; Ink - Palette Noir hybrid ink, Burnt Sienna Palette ink; Other - Copic markers, paper piercing tool, Nestabilities dies, Dew Drops, various ribbon.

TREASURE HUNT TUESDAY

Today (4am -9pm PST) is Tuesday Treasure Hunt day at Rubbernecker Stamp Co! For Treasure Hunt details and the first clue —-> Go HERE to the Rubbernecker Home Page.

TREASURE HUNT BLOG CANDY...AGAIN!

I've got RUBBERNECKER BLOG CANDY again this week!  Leave me a comment here with this card...tell me what you like to put in a TACO.  I like turkey burger, lettuce, tomato, and some salsa...I guess I'm not really a big Mexican food eater.  What do you like?  I'll leave the comments open until midnight eastern time on Saturday, July 12th and then choose a random winner.  The winner will receive $10 in Rubbernecker Bucks to use on some stamps...yippee!  I'll announce by Monday.  Jeanne's got BLOG CANDY too so hop on over to her blog to enter.

TCP TUESDAY #15 - SKETCH CHALLENGE

HAPPY TUESDAY!  It's sketch challenge time again for TCP Tuesday.  Get out your favorite Cat's Pajamas images and give this one a try...

The idea for this sketch came from a card that Amy Rohl entered into TCP Tuesday Challenge #13 - the color challenge.  I loved it...the big ole flag/pennant shape going down the middle of the card...and I loved Amy's card too.  That layout stuck in my mind and here we are.  Remember that you can always turn the sketch on it's side or even upside down.  I can't wait to see what you make with it.

Oh, by the way, Linda Nicholson was the Swanky Stamper for June.  CONGRATS, LINDA!  Her card is being showcased on the Cat's Pajamas Swanky Stamper page and she gets $25 in Cat's Cash to use for more TCP stamps.  That could be you for the month of July!!  Enter for this week's challenge by posting a link to your card HERE at the bottom of my post.  If you post to Splitcoast, please use the keyword TCPTUES15.  I'm hoping that the other TCP designers are able to play along this week.  (Has the summer gotten crazy or is it just me?  Where is the time going?!)  You can click over to their blogs - the list is on the left.  Alma's got the Holey Moley Monday slideshow up and running on her blog so that you can see the cards from last week using the "Relaxing" stamp with Sprinkle in the floatie...fun fun!

Supplies:  Stamps - Catch 'Em Kitty (F-7524), Ghost Town (G-7532), Howdy (C-7514) - All by the Cat's Pajamas, Simple Alphabet by Papertrey; CS - Marigold Morning (ret.), Confetti Tan (ret.), Wild Wasabi, and Chocolate Chip from SU!, Papertrey White; Ink - Palette Noir hybrid ink, Jumbo Java chalk ink; Other - Copic Markers, thin black marker, Nestabilities dies, brads by DCWV, eyelets by MM, ribbon by KI Memories ( tan check - colored with peachy-orange Copic marker a la Carole Burrage!)

RUBBERNECKER - BLOG CHALLENGE #16

I didn't get a change to get my Rubbernecker Blog Challenge card made last week before we headed to the beach for the holiday so I'm posting it now.  The challenge was to use chipboard or grungeboard on your card or project.  I'm working my way though the Rubbernecker stamps that I have and trying not to use the same ones over and over.  Here are a few that I hadn't inked up yet.  Isn't this fun?!

 

I colored all of the images with Copics and then layered them onto chipboard.  The top layer had a coating on SU! Crystal Effects so that the fish tank looks like it's made of glass.  And that's a quickie photo of the little boy from this past weekend.  He won't take the mask off if he's in the water.  He pulls it down so low on the back of his head that it almost covers his mouth!  But you can't tell him that it should be higher on his head.  Nope!  He's 7 and he ALREADY knows EVERYTHING!!

Supplies:  Stamps - All by Rubbernecker Stamp Company; CS - Papertrey White, SU! Summer Sun; Ink - Palette Noir hybrid ink; Other - Copic Markers, Crystal Effects, chipboard, black foam board, sponge.