Sunflower Studio

'Mother-Button Son of a Basket Challenge'

"What's This!", you're asking!  Well, while at the CHA Craft Supershow, the MTF and TCP girls went a little crazy at the PAPERTREY INK booth.  Let me tell ya...it wasn't hard.  They created this whole frenzy situation and you felt like if you didn't get in on it you'd really be missing out on something.  I, thankfully, only made two trips to STAND IN LINE to make purchases.  A few others, who will remain nameless, made even more trips to the booth under the pretense of "just going with so-and-so."  Yea...right!

Anyway, many of us came away with the Michelle Wooderson inspired VINTAGE PICNIC set.  It's just irresistible!  So, we decided to throw down a challenge to each other and actually USE this fun new set instead of just adding it to our pile of unused "must-have" stamps.  The only requirement for the challenge was that you had to use one of the baskets.  Otherwise, it's anything goes...any other stamps....anything that you want to put IN the basket...any other papers and supplies.  That definitely got the warped side of my brain going...

 

Of course, I couldn't just play it straight.  And, actually, the basket full of toilet paper came to my mind instantly and struck me as hilarious.  (Is it just me?  Good question!)  At least it's dainty pink rolls of TP on a preppy little card.  I used Basic Grey Lemonade patterned papers since they're also new to my stash.  I did a little masking and colored everything up with Copics.  I used the Nestabilities die to mask the label and airbrushed the bit of green ground.  The ribbon, twine and buttons are also Papertrey.  The toilet paper and plunger stamps are from STAMPS BY JUDITH.  The sentiment is from the RUNNING SICK set from OUR CRAFT LOUNGE. {Well, I live with an 8 year old boy...what do you think he thinks is the funniest thing in the world?  Now you understand the draw of that set!}

After completing the card above, I was feeling a little guilty for being so irreverent with Nichole's lovely basket.  I sat back down tonight and came up with another picnic basket card...

This one is much more respectful!  I used one of the brand new sets from MY FAVORITE THINGS, I {HEART} BOOKS.  It's such a sweet little set too.  I filled my basket - or in this case, it looks more like a picnic tin - with books for this busy reader.  I used some more new Basic Grey Junebug patterned paper, the Copics, drew in the floor with a Copic Multiliner, and added a Nestabilities label and some SU! ribbon to finish it off.

The challenge girls area all uploading tonight and I can't wait to see what they've created too.  I hope I wasn't the only naughty one!  Click on over and check out their baskets...

Joanne Basile

Carole Burrage

Kirsten Dubosque

Christina Fischer

Amy Rohl

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #41 - LAYOUT CHALLENGE

This week's Blogger's Challenge was to create a card using the horizontal card layout on page 65 of the 2008 Spring~Summer Stampin' Up! catalog.  I'll give you a little story so you know where the inspiration for this card came from:

the little boy:  I need a band-aid.  I have a bleeding cut on my toe and this (pointing) on my arm.
me:  Uh...that cut on your toe is not bleeding and it's the size of a pin head!

the little boy:  It hurrrrttts! 
me:  Okay, let's put a band-aid on it.  What about your arm?
the little boy:  Right here (pointing to a tiny little spot of peeling skin where he had a smidge of sunburn a few days before).
me:  That's just peeling, Kyle.  That's what happens if you get a little sunburn.
the little boy:  But it neeeeeds a band-aid!
me:  Noooo....look, see this part of my collar-bone?  It's peeling too where I got some sunburn.
the little boy:  Well did YOU put a band-aid on it?!

Well I should have known.  If only I had put a band-aid or 20 on my collar-bone area then I wouldn't have had that peeling, now would I?!  Ahhh...to be 7 again and think that a band-aid can cure all hurts.  (Remember when a kiss would cure all hurts as well?)  It's the least that I can do.  Do you think stock in Johnson & Johnson would be a good idea?

Don't forget to click on over the see what the other BC gals have come up with this week as well.  The logo is on the right!

Supplies:  Stamps - band-aid box by Stamps by Judith, band-aid two-step stamp by TAC; CS - Kraft, vellum by SU!, white from Papertrey, textured by DCWV; Ink - Noir Black Palette Hybrid ink, Gingerbread VersaMagic chalk ink, Peach Pastel Colorbox chalk ink; Other - ribbon from Bazzill, brads, Nestabilities Large Scallop and Classic Circle dies, various Prismacolor Markers.

CARDS BY THE LITTLE BOY

Since I showed you the little boy doing some stamping a little while back I thought I'd share a few cards that he made last week.  It's becoming a regular habit for him to come in and choose stamps that he wants to color.  I stamp them in black on white paper and he goes to work.  Some of them we can cut out and add to cards, like these, and some of them end up being 8-1/2" x 11" works of art.  He'll only be seven for so long so I just have to relish these times for us to spend together.
    Most of the stamps here are by Stamps by Judith...except for the pumpkins which are by Savvy.  The sentiment stamps are from various companies.  This week's lesson was about 'masking'...could you tell?  The patterned papers are all by KI Memories from the $1 packs at JoAnn's.  He cut the images out after coloring them and I tied the silver cord bows for him.  Pretty crafty, huh?

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #28 - Pink & Brown

Alrighty....all caught up for the time being! This week's challenge was to make a card using Pink and Brown.  I do love a color challenge... takes the guess work out of the color search process. 

    Sometimes I really wonder where my sense of humor comes from.  I went over to my shelves to pick out stamps for this challenge and my eyes fell on the Stamps by Judith section.  I've mentioned before how much I love her stamps.  I haven't used these in so long and they were calling to me.  All of these images were near to each other and it just hit me...the toilet paper...in the jar...with the kitty sitting on top...crying..."I TISS-YOU!"  Get it?  I tissue = I Miss You!  *giggle*  At least I crack myself up if no one else!

Supplies:  Stamps - cat, jar, toilet paper roll, water splat all by Stamps by Judith, retired By Definition background by SU!; CS - Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Positively Pink; Ink - Black Versafine, White Craft ink, various for watercoloring; Other - Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon by SU!, waterbrush, Crystal Effects (on jar), patterned paper from Infuse pad by Basic Grey.  *note* - I created my sentiment on the computer and printed it onto the pink cardstock.  I hand cut the banner and raised the pieces on pop dots.

Now I'm off to catch up on what the others have been doing for the last few weeks!  After that I've gotta get my thank you cards done and THEN I can really get down to business on some fun things that are a secret for now....be sure to check back for the reveal later!

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #21 - COLOR CHALLENGE

So sorry....I'm late this week in posting my Blogger's Challenge card.  Where does the time go?  This week's challenge was to make a card or project using Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Brocade Blue.

Not as easy as you would think!  This dang card took me all day today.  What I really needed to make was an anniversary card but when I came across this image I couldn't resist using it...it's another I don't think I've used before but it's been on my shelf for a while.  Ever heard of Stamps by Judith?  Well Judith is one of my all time favorite stamp makers.  All of her images are so whimsical.  I used to see her booth at stamp shows in the Chicago area but since I've moved back to MD I've been out of the loop.  Unfortunately, Judith's site hasn't always been the most interactive and I don't think that you could order from it either.  BUT, I just went and looked to get the link and she does have some new images and more interactive pages.  And you CAN order from there too.  Whooopeeee!  Click here to go and take a look.  You've gotta love 'Dorky Bird Dress-Up Fun'!

Supplies:  Stamps - Farm Animals by Stamps by Judith, sentiment from A Muse; CS - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Brocade Blue, and white from SU!; Ink - Black Versafine and various for watercoloring; Other - Copper brads, paper piercing tool, waterbrush, patterned paper from Basic Grey - Mellow Collection.

I haven't had an opportunity to check out the other BC girls yet but, as always, the list is over on the right.