Blogger's Challenge (Jan. 18th)

Our challenge this week was a color combo - Blue Bayou, River Rock, Real Red, and WW OR VV. Well, since I found out that I don't have any Real Red card stock, I used it as accents on my card. This is such a cute set from TAC - I don't believe it is available anymore, so I'm glad I got it! One of my best friends is going through some rough times right now, so I thought I'd send her this card.

A bit about the card - I stamped the elephant and colored her in with my Aqua Painter and the River Rock ink. I then used Copic Ciao R29 Lipstick Red marker to color in her nails. I added some glitz to them as well with the Sakura Glitter Gel Pen. I sponged the scalloped piece with Real Red ink - to add a touch more red to the card. I stamped the circular design from SU's A Beautiful Thing onto the River Rock with River Rock ink. After tying the ribbon around the card, I used SU's dimensionals under the elephant to give her some 'lift'. The greeting is a bit hard to read here, it says - If you ever need a friend --- I got your back!

I tried to do the sketch challenge over on Kim's blog, but not sure I succeeded. :) Oh well - I tried!

Supplies:
Stamps: Stand Tall (TAC), A Beautiful Thing (SU!)
CS: River Rock, Blue Bayou, WW
Ink: River Rock, Blue Bayou, Real Red, StazOn Black
Other: Stamping Sponge, Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Marvy Scalloped Circle Punch, Aqua Painter, R29 Lipstick Red Copic Ciao Marker, Sakura Glitter Gel Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals

Circlin' Fun

I got this awesome Spunky Stamps set called Silly Circles in my last 2Jills scrapbooking kit. Aren't they awesome!! They are all different sizes of circles. I used the Color Challenge #92 for this card. I really like how the red and blue go together. It's hard to see, but I stamped different circles on the Real Red cardstock with Real Red ink. The velvet ribbon is from the Flirty Ribbon collection that was in the Winter Mini. Of course, I added some Prima flowers - one of my favorite embellishments and then topped it off with a Real Red brad. The 'birthday' stamp is from TAC's February stamp set of the month.

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Silly Circles (Spunky Stamps), The Good Life (TAC)
CS: Cool Caribbean, Real Red, WW
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Real Red
Other: Flirty Ribbon, Prima Flowers, Real Red Brad, Corner Rounder

TAC - Garden of Life

Well, it's been a couple days since I posted last (sorry R!!). I made this card the other night and have been meaning to post it. This set is Garden of Life from TAC. I got a new order in of TAC stamps and had to use them right away. I had some time to stamp and actually finished this card in one sitting - which for me lately is quite an achievement!! Usually when I sit down to stamp - all 3 of my kids flock to me and start grabbing, touching, pulling, etc and I end up stopping and putting things away.

Anyway - back to the card...this is a neat little set that has greetings included. I'm trying hard to use up scraps of card stock and not cut into whole sheets of card stock. So, this card uses all 'leftovers' I had. I stamped the flower 'border' from the set on Gable Green with Gable Green ink. I also sponged the WW edges with Bashful Blue. Then all layers were sponged with Close to Cocoa. The Gable Green piece is mounted on the Cameo Coral card base with dimensionals.

Supplies - all SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps - Garden of Life (TAC)
CS - Cameo Coral, Gable Green, WW
Ink - StazOn Black, Gable Green, Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue
Other - Wide Celery Organdy Ribbon (SU retired), Flower Brads, Stamping Sponge, Blender Pen, Stampin Dimensionals

Creative Blah

Well, lately I've been in a creative blah. We've been sick again at our house and it truly drains me. My oldest also had her tonsils out this past Monday, so on top of being sick...I'm trying to keep her as comfortable as I can. I feel so bad for her when the pain medicine wears off. She's been a huge trooper though and for the most part is doing really well. So, with everything going on...I just haven't felt like stamping or scrapbooking. Could also be the mess in my area because I have no energy (nor desire :) to clean it up. I had to withdraw from a couple swaps as well because I just don't have it in me.

This all said - on one of the many message boards I belong to (2Jills), one of the owners of the business/board is battling cancer. I wanted to send her a card to help brighten her day, as my days in no way compare to what she is going through. So, last night I sat down and stamped her this card. I really like how it turned out as well - a shock since I've been in a scrampin' rut. Hope it helps to put a smile on her face if only for a short while.

I used the D'vine Swirl for my Cuttlebug machine. I got the embossing folder at All That Scraps - she has TONS of items in stock and offers free shipping on orders over $10. Can't beat that even going to the store (gas, time, tax, etc). :) I also use my new SU! tag punch that is in the Spring Mini (will be available for purchase come March). I first embossed the greenish paper (from TAC ). I then sanded the raised swirls to reveal the white core of the patterned paper. I stamped the flowers from Happy Harmony (SAB set from SU) with markers. I edged the certainly celery card stock with the Taken with Teal pad to make it *pop*. I used the Tag Punch (so glad I bought it!!!) and adhered it to the flower piece with black brads. I stamped 'smile' first before attaching. The smile is from TAC, as is the Just Because. I used both Oval punches from SU! and the Horizontal Slit punch to thread the celery ribbon through. Both the flower piece and the oval piece are popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Happy Harmony (SAB), both greetings (TAC)
CS: Taken with Teal, Certainly Celery, WW, PP (TAC)
Ink: Taken with Teal
Other: Tag Punch, Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Horizontal Slit Punch, 1/16 Circle Punch, Markers - Taken with Teal, Bordering Blue & Certainly Celery, Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sanding Block, Black Brads (from Vintage Brads pack), Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl Embossing Folder