3 Challenges in 1

SCS Color Challenge: Gray, Concord Crush, Marina Mist
SCS Technique Lovers' Challenge: Sponging
Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge
STAMPS: Blossoms Abound (SU), Tiny Tags (SU)
PAPER: Concord Crush, Marina Mist, White
INK: Concord Crush, Marina Mist, Old Olive, Going Gray (sponging)
ACCESSORIES: Ticket corner punch, Kaiser silver pearls, Sponge, Concord Crush ribbon, Light gray satin ribbon, CB EF, Corduroy brads (SU), MFT open scallop die

CC's 300th Birthday!

To celebrate the 300th color challenge on SCS, Betty has asked us to go through the archives and choose an old color combo to play with. I went way back to CC#23: Elegant Eggplant, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery. Two of these colors are long retired, and I have a really large stash of old CS still in existence, so this was a great incentive to use some of it up. I reversed Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge for the layout, so I could better display this monstrous prima that I've been hoarding. I stamped off once in Certainly Celery for the BG leaves on the white oval. Hope you're staying warm in your neck of the woods...it's cold and windy here!
STAMPS: Psalm 46:1 Plain Jane (Verve), Great Friend (Verve) - leaves, French Script BG (SU)
PAPER: Elegant Eggplant, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Neenah Solar White
INK: Elegant Eggplant, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery
ACCESSORIES: CB, Nesties, MS fern punch, MS Modern Garland border punch, Leaves die (SU), Lace trim by Recollections, Prima

Country Christmas

This was a quick and simple 4.25 inch card made using the wonderful colors of the SCS Color Challenge (Real Red, Old Olive, River Rock & any neutrals) and the layout of Mercy's Tuesday Skatch Challenge. Love this new (to me) wreath of all seasons by PTI...so much versatility!
STAMPS: Wreath of All Seasons (PTI), Richly Blessed (Verve) - sentiment
PAPER: Old Olive, Real Red, River Rock, Neenah Solar White
INK: Real Red, River Rock, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Corner chomper, Kaiser black pearls, Gingham ribbon

Little Whippersnapper!

Joanne gave us some yummy colors for the Color Challenge on SCS: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Kraft with an option to use some kind of glaze. I was too chicken to use my new crackle glaze on this image, so opted to omit anything shiny. This is a new Whippersnapper stamp that I inked up for the first time...isn't he just too cute?! The layout is for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge.
STAMPS: Whippersnapper
PAPER: Jolly Holiday (SU), Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Neenah Solar white
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Copics, Snowflake EF, Brads (BasicGrey)

Perfect Baja Pizzazz

Betty has some awesome colors for today's Color Challenge on SCS: Perfect Plum, Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze with an option to use pennants on our cards. I used a tag, which in a broad sense is one large pennant...right? I stamped the tag image in Certainly Celery, then colored with pastels for a soft hint of color. The layout is for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge. It's a rainy day in VA, but am NOT complaining...just thankful it's not the white stuff! :-)
STAMPS: Glad Tidings (Verve)
PAPER: Mitten Weather (Cosmo Cricket), Manchester (SU), Pear Pizzazz, Neenah Solar white
INK: Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum
ACCESSORIES: Pastels, Verve tag die, Lg. Mega Oval Nesties, CB, EF, Brad, Button, Ribbon

Christmas Blessings

The layout is for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge and the colors are for SCS's Color Challenge: Poppy Parade, Tempting Turquoise & White. Since I didn't have the Poppy Parade ink, I subbed Real Red. I outlined the snowflake and sentiment using a Clear Star gelly roll pen to give it some sparkle. I do really love the new Verve dies that match the stamps...this tag is a favorite and I'm already planning to decorate Christmas gifts using this tag. I'm not happy with my Liquid Pearls...they always look lopsided to me! I wish I had layered another circle on top of the scalloped Nestie but ATG 714 adhesive is there to stay once you put it down! :-)
STAMPS: Glad Tidings (Verve)
PAPER: Urban Prairie (BasicGrey), Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Neenah Solar white
INK: Real Red
ACCESSORIES: Baker's twine, Button, Liquid Pearls, CB, Nesties, A Cut Above tag die by Verve, Brad, Ribbon, Snowflake EF

Abundant Blessings

Mary gave us some great fall colors for the Color Challenge: Cajun Craze, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso with neutrals of choice and with a dessert option to use rick rack. I had already cut out this new die border from PTI, so I chose to skip dessert. Now THAT doesn't happen too often - lol! This is the first time I inked up this new turkey image from Verve - isn't he just too cute?! I colored with Copics, cut him out and popped him with dimensionals. The sentiment was stamped inside the new flag border stamp by Lil Inker Designs - check it out HERE on Laura Pryor's blog. The layout is for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge...love her sketches!
STAMPS: Bountiful Harvest (Verve); Sentiment Flags (Lil Inker Designs)
PAPER: Autumn Splendor by Making Memories; Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Vintage Cream
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Early Espresso
ACCESSORIES: Vintage button (PTI), CB, Square Lattice EF, Border die by PTI, Copics, Twine

With Sympathy

Joanne has a fabulous Color Challenge on SCS this week: Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, & Crumb Cake with a dessert option to use pearls and/or lace. I used Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge for the layout and had fun layering these gorgeous Verve flowers.
STAMPS: One Person (Verve) - flower; Forever in Our Hearts (Verve) - sentiment
PAPER: Elegant Soiree (SU), Baja Breeze, Vintage Vanilla
INK: Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Blushing Bride ribbon, Kaiser silver pearls, MS frond punch, Dimensionals

Poinsettia

This card combines Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge with Betty's Color Challenge on SCS to use Pink Pirouette, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz & neutrals of choice. I subbed Cherry Cobbler for the red since it matched the DP better. My photo doesn't show the colors true to life for some reason, but IRL they blend together better. I colored the poinsettia with Copics, cut out & popped with dimensionals. Stickles were added to the center. I made this card with a sad heart after hearing my mother was admitted to the hospital, had emergency surgery early this morning to remove a blood clot from her arm, and now she's not responding like expected. They may have to fly her to Cleveland Clinic, pending results from the CT scan. I'd appreciate prayers for her. It's so hard to be in a different state when something like this happens.
STAMPS: Poinsettia Greetings (SU)
PAPER: Eskimo Kisses (BasicGrey), Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, Neenah Solar White
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: MS holly border punch, Yellow Stickles, Copics, Gold cording, Square Lattice EF

Curtain Call 49

I finally got a chance to use Mercy's Sketch Challenge layout and loved it! Stacey's Curtain Call Challenge was to use Real Red, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Black & Vanilla. This was an out of the box combo from my usual, but I liked it when I finished. I added Crystal Effects to the flower center and sponged Soft Suede ink on the Nestie shape... even had ribbon in my stash that went with the colors. It's been a rainy Sunday, but I love those days...great to watch some football, stamp awhile, and catch a few winks!
STAMPS: Forever in Our Hearts (small fern), Plain Jane (large fern), Petals & Stems (flower), Psalm 3:3 (sentiment) - all stamps by Verve
PAPER: Vintage Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Black, Soft Suede, Real Red
INK: Black, Soft Suede, Real Red
ACCESSORIES: Crystal Effects, Circle punch, Labels Fourteen Nesties, CB, Sponge, Ribbon, Dimensionals, EK Success border punch

Honoring the Olympics

Betty's color challenge on SCS was to use any or all of the colors in the Olympic logo along with a neutral(s). I used 4 colors with one neutral (white) so that makes this an Event 4 card. The 'dessert' was to include a metallic (either gold, silver or bronze) so I chose silver pearls as an accent. The layout is Mercy Kerin's Tuesday sketch and it was a great one to ink up one of my all-time fave SU stamps! This was a quick and easy card to create...it's past my bedtime, so will say good night!

STAMPS: Upsy Daisy (SU), Inspired by Nature (SU), Thankful Accents (Verve)
PAPER: Enchanted Evening (PTI), Summer Sun (SU), White, DP (?)
INK: Not Quite Navy, Summer Sun, Certainly Celery
ACCESSORIES: CB, Nestabilities, Satin ribbon (PTI), Kaiser silver pearls

Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge

Mercy's Tuesday sketch was one I loved! I haven't used this stamp in a LONG time so decided to give it some love and color it with Copics. I've been hoarding these Brenda Walton stickers by K&Co and decided they would fit nicely with the sketch. Gotta head to work, so this is a quick post.
STAMPS: Stampendous
PAPER: DP by SU (retired - ? name)
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: CB, Oval Nesties, Kaiser pearls, K&Co stickers, Dimensionals

Prayers for the Teubners

It's with love and sadness that I created this sympathy card for Shannan Teubner, a stamping friend through SCS who unexpectedly lost her husband yesterday. As the sentiment states...'may the love of those around you help you through the days ahead'.
I combined the color challenge by Betty on SCS (to use Dusty Durango, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip & a neutral) with Mercy Kerin's Tuesday sketch challenge. I stamped the image with sage ink, then used a Tombow marker (#905) to color the flowers on the rubber. Betty also challenged us to use at least 2 patterns on our card so I added scored stripes on the brown border and of course the DP has a polka dotted pattern. TFL!

STAMPS: Thoughts and Prayers (SU)
PAPER: Autumn Vine DP (SU), Dusty Durango, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
INK: Sage Shadow, Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Kaiser gold pearls, Marvy scallop corner rounder, Brenda Walton Grand Adhesions by K&Co (butterfly), ScorPal, SU scallop border punch, Grosgrain ribbon

CC meets Mercy's Sketch

Betty's color challenge on SCS was to use Crushed Curry (I'll have to confess it's my least fave of the in colors), Basic Gray, Bravo Burgundy, a neutral with a twist of text for dessert. I combined this with Mercy Kerin's Tuesday sketch challenge to create this card. I embossed the gray panel in the Cuttlebug using a herringbone EF. The white square was stamped with the French Script BG stamp
(SU), then distressed and sponged. A die cut vase and lattice BG was also CB'd. The
flower was colored with Copics (R59, E09, Y19, YG03, YG63) then cut out. Thanks for your visit...I love to read your comments!

STAMPS: Verve Love's Flower, SU Bloomin' Beautiful, French Script BG
PAPER: White, Bravo Burgundy, Basic Gray, Crushed Curry
INK: Basic Gray, Bravo Burgundy, Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: CB, Herringbone EF, Lattice die (SU), Vase die (CB), Distressing tool, Sponge, Copics

I Lift Up My Eyes...

I wanted to showcase one of the lovely verses that Julee Tilman, owner/designer of Verve stamps, so beautifully creates fonts for. I used Mercy Kerin's Tuesday sketch for the layout. Quick and easy card with some punched leaves & border (thanks to Martha Stewart), a pierced border and some great DP by 29th Street Market. Thanks for looking and commenting!

STAMPS: Verve 'Ps. 121:1-2'
PAPER: Neenah Solar White, 29th Street Market DP, Sage Shadow
INK: Perfect Plum
ACCESSORIES: Ghost shape by Heidi Snapp, Corduroy brad (SU), Doily Lace border, fern & frond punches by MS, Piercing tool/template, Dimensionals

Hang in There!

Mercy Kerin has another great sketch this Tuesday. It was an early post, so I stayed up late and burned the midnight oil to combine her layout with Betty Wright's color challenge on SCS which was to use Bashful Blue, Rose Red & Soft Suede. Definitely some challenging colors for me! I love using Verve's Bountiful BG stamps to create my own DP, so I pulled the striped image and stamped Soft Suede on white CS. The pocket was cut out and fastened with copper brads. The flowers, leaves and border are all punches from the Martha Stewart collection. Diamond Stickles were added to the flower centers. The sentiment is from a Hero Arts set that I thought typified the image of the frog "hanging in there"....and here's hoping you do exactly that! :-)

STAMPS: Verve Bountiful Backgrounds
SU Pocket Fun
Hero Arts Playful Animals
PAPER: Neenah Solar White, Rose Red, Soft Suede, Green Galore, Bashful Blue
INK: Soft Suede, Always Artichoke, Rose Red
ACCESSORIES: Martha Stewart arch lattice punch, MS frond punch, MS flower combo punch, Copper brads, Diamond Stickles, Googlie eyes, Dimensionals