Sunflower Studio

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #31 - LAYOUT CHALLENGE

   

    Can you believe it's that time again?  Another week gone by and we're at Blogger's Challenge #31.  This week the challenge for everyone was to create a card using the "welcome baby" card layout on page 141 of the Stampin' Up! Spring/Summer 2008 catalog.  It's a very simple layout...you might have figured out by now that I don't really do 'simple'.  My cards seem to take on a life of their own and then I must enforce the 'no mo' rule.  (That's explained in another of my posts too far back for me to look for...it is as it sounds.)
    This didn't necessarily have to be a baby card but I did need one and it hit me that I had yet to use this adorable Peek-A-Boo Baby set from Stampendous.  I'm not even sure that I knew anyone who was having a baby when I bought this.  All I know is that it was the cutest set that I had seen in a long time.  How could I resist?!  He's soooooo cute!!  (I think it looks like a 'he' but he could be a 'she' too.)

     What doesn't really show up in the photo is that after I stamped the 'family' words in Cloud White VersaMagic chalk ink, I then over-stamped the word 'wonderful' in Wheat VersaMagic chalk ink.  It's a subtle detail that's much better in person.

Supplies:  Stamps - Peek-A-Boo Baby set by Stampendous, Absolutely Fabulous and Wonderful Favorites sets by Stampin' Up!; CS - Kraft, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Papertrey White, patterned paper by K&Company; Ink - Brilliance Graphite Black, Versafine Onyx, VersaMagic chalk inks in Wheat and Cloud White; Other - Prismacolor Markers, brads, ribbon from JoAnn's, glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, sponge. 

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #25 - Sympathy Cards and BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #27 - Inspired By...

Happy New Year, Everyone!  I hope I have at least a few visitors remaining since I haven't posted in so long.  December was one heck of a month and I'm glad to be past the big holidays now and into a new year.

I'm way, way behind on my Blogger's Challenge posts so I'm trying to catch up here.  Blogger's Challenge #25 was Sympathy Cards and #27 was the once-monthly 'Inspired By...' challenge.  I combined those two topics in this card.  I love this Orchid stamp.  It's from Stampendous and actually has 'the who, what, where, etc.' words included on the stamp for making invitations.  I just omitted that portion and stamped the flower and pot.  My inspiration for this - and for even buying this stamp - was a faux Orchid plant that we have on the dresser in our master bedroom.

Supplies:  Stamps - Orchid by Stampendous, sentiment from Savvy; CS - Basic Black, Always Artichoke, watercolor paper; Ink - Black Versafine, various for watercoloring; Other - Inkworx tool & black marker, SU! Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, patterned paper from Scarlet's Letter collection by Basic Grey, waterbrush.

ATC SWAPS WITH TAYLOR

Taylor's hosting another round of ATC swaps!  This time you could sign up under various stamp companies.  What a great way to force myself to use some new stamps!  I signed up for four groups:  The Cat's Pajamas (of course!), Stampendous, A Muse Artstamps, and Elzybells.  All of these are 2.5" x 3.5" in size.  (Remember that you can click on any of the photos to see the images larger.)  Here's what I came up with this time...

HAVE A COOL YULE! - THE CAT'S PAJAMAS
Supplies:  Stamps - See No Evil (F-7495) and Cool Yule (D-7478) - these can also be found in the Kitty Christmas and Polar Holiday Clearly Swanky sets by The Cat's Pajamas; CS - Bashful Blue, Ruby Red, White from SU!; Ink - Black Versafine, Bordering Blue, Versamark; Other - MM star button, silver cord, Black Detail EP, SU! Markers, patterned papers by Scrapworks - Season of Joy collection.

HOPE YOUR HOLIDAYS ARE BRIGHT! - STAMPENDOUS
Supplies:  Stamps - Max Wheels (C201) by Stampendous and Bright Holidays (9-8206C) by A Muse; CS - Kraft, White by SU!; Ink - Black Versafine, Versamark; Other - wire, red Martha Stewart Seam Binding, Stardust Glitter Pen, Liquid Applique, Twinkling H2Os, Black Detail EP, waterbrush, Nestabilities Scalloped Circle Die, Creative Memories Circle Template, sponge, patterned paper by Basic Grey - Fruitcake Collection.

HAPPY WINTER - A MUSE ARTSTAMPS
Supplies:  North Pole (7-7138F), Happy Winter (9-8277B), and Snowflake sm (3-2021B) by A Muse; CS - Buckaroo Blue, White by SU; Ink -  Black Versafine, White Craft, River Rock; Other - Dazzling Diamonds, Glue Pen, Waterbrush, SU! Markers, sponge, waterbrush, Nestabilities Scalloped Oval Die, Creative Memories Oval Template, patterned paper by Scrapworks - Season of Joy (dotted swirls).

HAPPY WINTER - ELZYBELLS
Supplies:  Ice Skater (D0052) by Elzybells, Happy Winter (9-8277B) and Skinny Oval bl sm (3-5012C) by A Muse; CS - Baroque Burgundy (ret.), Wild Wasabi, white by SU!; Ink - Black Versafine, Ice Blue Colorbox Chalk ink (pond), Versamark; Other - fine black marker, various SU! markers, white Signo Gel Pen, Twinkling H2Os, waterbrush, Nestabilities Scalloped Oval Die, Creative Memories Oval Template, Black Detail EP, SU! slot punch,  Dazzling Diamonds, glue pen, patterned paper and ribbon by KI Memories.  (note - This is the size of an ATC but does open at the bottom.  I had been wanting to try a miniature version of Michelle Wooderson's Tent Topper card design.) 

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #15 - ORANGE & BLACK

See, you guys couldn't expect me to actually post on time every week, now could ya?!  I'm back to my normal late night schedule!
    This week's Blogger's Challenge was to make a card using Black and Orange.  You would think it would be easy, right?  But other colors want to creep on in there...you know...purple, gray, olive green.   I made three cards (and I'll post them all tonight) but not a one was straight Black and Orange.  Oh well...I get carried away with Halloween stuff.
     I bought this amazing book from Anna's eBay store and I received it this week.  It's called Card Design and it's by Dave Brethauer.  Dave is the owner of The Memory Box Co.  I love their stamps - they're famous for those fabulous penguins!  They also have an awesome array of wonderful papers, cards, and envelopes.  The coloring of the cards in this book is just breathtaking. 
    So, this is my first attempt at some shading with colored pencils.  I have a long, long way to go.  I think that I cheated - I used some gamsol to blend the colors a little.  It's okay for a first try but I will definitely be sitting down for way more practice.
    Don't forget to check out the other Bloggers this week as well.  We have a new member too - Mary Jo Price-Williams has joined the group.  She's terrific so you'll definitely wanna head over and see what she has in store for us.  The list is over here ------>>>> as usual.

Supplies:  Stamps - Ollie the Owl by Stampendous, sentiment by A Muse Artstamps, Weathered jumbo wheel by SU!; Ink - Black Versafine, Basic Gray; CS - Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Gray, watercolor paper; Other - SU! tab punch, white Signo gel pen, ribbon from Martha Stewart, American Crafts big brad, gamsol, stumps, colored pencils, pinking shears, sponge.

SPOOKY MOON!

SO, I'm thinking that I should post a Halloween card every day of the month of October.  I LOVE HALLOWEEN!  And you can never, never, never have too many Halloween stamps...that is for super sure!  The highlight of this card is this oh-so-cute moon/owl/mouse stamp from Stampendous.  (Gottit from Anna over in her eBay store!  Isn't she sweet to help me spend the college fund.)   This one's from the Ollie & Olivia line and it's called 'Ollie's Moonshine'.  The other great stamps used are the branch, which is made by Impress Rubber Stamps, and the 'spooky!' sentiment that is from A Muse.  Can you feel the cool weather right around the corner?  I CAN!  Especially after seeing the orange pumpkin moon we had here in MD last night....oooooooohhhhhhhhhh!