WSC95 TRENDY TREES

I had a chance to play with Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge (WSC95) this weekend. I loved this sketch! My niece Jen, (hi Jen!) gave me the color inspiration. She is helping with another niece's marriage in October and her wedding colors are Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, and Not Quite Navy.



It sounded so unusual, but when I pulled my sample cards out and laid the colors together, they were gorgeous!
Thanks to you wonderful girls who leave me such sweet comments!
Blessings,
Colleen

Details:
Stamps: SU Trendy Trees
Paper: SU Old Olive, Chocolate Chip dp, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla
Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Tools: Cuttlebug embossing, nestabilities dies
Other: Ribbon brad, ribbon, twine, paper piercing

ppa5 Halloween

PPA Challenge 5 is Halloween. I was thinking I didn't have much in the way of Halloween in my stash, but remembered these cute pumpkins in the hostess set: The More The Merrier. I so tried to get orange in this color combo! I couldn't do it! I liked the Rich Razzleberry, black, and white so much, I just went with it. The pumpkins are stamped in black Staz-on on clear card sheets (like acetate). I then cut out a window on the front of my card and positioned the clear sheet inside my window. I also used a piece of RR cardstock to along the back side of my card. Gives a nice frame look.
Kansas weather was PICTURE PERFECT today! Deep blue skies and 72 degrees. Hope your day was good wherever you are.
Details:
Stamps: SU The More the Merrier
Ink: Black Stazon
Paper: SU ww, black, Rich Razzleberry
Tools: Nestabilities, SU word window, scalloped edge punches
Other: SU ribbon, cuttlebug embossing, misc black rhinestone
Blessings,
Colleen

PPA3 -Off to School

Time for this weeks PPA (Pals Paper Arts) Challenge3. The team at PPA's challenge this week was an inspiration photo found here. I know, I know, lot's of room for interpretation and directions to go with this, but I found it to be a struggle.

In the end, here's what I came up with. I was immediately grabbed by the bright blue striped rug. Knew those were the focal colors for me. Then I saw the 2 children at the table in maybe a playroom or preschool. That made me think of my now 5 year old who finished her preschool in May and will be starting Kindergarten in {sniff} 2 days. This led me to thinking about getting her school supplies all ready in her pride and joy: her Tinkerbell backpack! So, in conclusion, bright blue, light blue, backpack!

You can find a really great tutorial for these little backpacks on SCS. I also found inspiration from Nancy Riley at Istamp. They are little, about 4 inches high and about 1 1/2 inches at the bottom. Perfect for a small handful of wrapped chocolates, or even tucked in with a gift card.

Stamps: None

Paper: Retired SU Pacific Point and DP (using up my stuff--woohoo)

Other: Retired SU corduroy buttons, lots of redline tape, ribbon, eyelets.

I actually made two as my older daughter wanted to give one to her BFF, and my youngest daughter can give one to her Kindergarten teacher.

So, in conclusion for me: 5 year old, Kindergarten, tissues.

Blessings,

Colleen

PPA Challenge 1

Mary Fish a FANTASTIC resource for all things SU! has created, with the help of her amazing downline, a new challenge site, PPA. The first challenge was a color challenge using Chocolate Chip, Mambo Melon, Bermuda Bay.

I really did find this challenging! My sister had asked me to make her a simple set of gift cards for a variety of occasions. So I took a very, very clean and simple approach and made her a dozen gift cards using the SU! level2 hostess set, Admit It. I cuttlebugged the card fronts, then simply stamped the ticket stamps on Whisper White CS, trimmed and popped up with a pop dot. A finishing touch was a snippet of the SU! in color ribbons. The cards are a smidge less than 3"x3". I had found this little box of cards on a clearance rack at M's (<$1) and bought it for the box and envelopes alone! The little cards inside were donated to the school for teachers to use. I didn't show it here, but I also stamped a little coordinating image on each envelope.

Probably not exactly what the girls had in mind for their color challenge, but hey, I reserve the right to use artistic interpretation, right? Thanks for stopping by! Here's hoping for a wonderful Tuesday for you!

Blessings,

Colleen

CHF Summer challenge - week 5

This is the final week for the Summer Design Challenge at Cornish Heritage Farms. This week's challenge was a One Sheet Wonder. Basically, you start with either a 8.5x11 or 12x12 sheet of paper, either randomly stamped or collage style to create a distinctive pattern paper. Then you use every little bit to create! The contest was open to all types of creations. Often crafters will make a set of cards, each slightly different. I (cough) of course had to go a slightly different direction.

So here's all my little beauties! My 11 year daughter (my biggest fan and cheerleader) went crazy when she saw all these! She told me it was some of my finest work! (Remind me to give that girl a raise in her allowance--what a sweetie!)

Now, it's hard to capture all the details in one image, so here are some close-ups of most of the items. (It's also hard not to get a glare from the acetate).

Here are the details:

I stamped a variety of images from the CHF sets: Vintage Butterflies, Inchie Style, Kim Hughes Nature's Silohuettes, Little People Collage, and Double Damask BG all in black stazon ink. Then I went to cutting out pieces and working from there. I used the Double Damask BG to make a box cover for a box of chocolate nuggets. Little People Collage turned into a card. I completely cut out one butterfly and turned it over, using crystal laquer and glitter to add brown and pink sparkle. I combined the glittery butterfly to the rest of the butterflies (Vintage Butterfly) and it also became a card. I then used the Inchie Style set to create 2 distinctive tags and finally a trifold gift card holder. Inks used were Staz-on and Versamark Dazzle. I went digging through all my embellishments including ones from SU, Making Memories, Paper Studio, Prima, and K & Co to name a few. I also used sewing on the tags. I wish you could see this collection in real life.

Thanks for taking a closer look!

It's a Party!

I guess I never posted my Cornish Heritage Farms entry for week 1 of their Summer Design Star Challenge. (It's 5 weeks of themed challenges. You can catch all the details here: http://becreative.cornishheritagefarms.com/?p=808)

Anyway...this card was a labor of LOVE I tell ya! Don't ask me how long it took. Lots of stamping, coloring, paper piecing, stickles, pop dots and bling. Each little party hat was cut out and popped up on each little animal. It was all worth it as I made it for my dearest mother-in-law. When I visited her a couple of weeks ago, I noticed she had gotten large (2'x4') shadow box frames and had framed all the cards I had sent her! She has them proudly hanging in the entry way of her home for all to see! Is she not the biggest sweetheart ever?!! She truly is a second mother to me (and that's saying a lot, as my Mom is so GREAT) . Sometime I'll tell you more about my 2 great Moms!

But...I digress.

So here's the PARTAAY card! I was so happy with this card (and so was Mom K!).

Honestly? I thought this card was a winner. Really! I was kind of bummed it wasn't selected as week 1 winner.

We grow stronger by our attempts at new things, right?

{Me flexing muscles here}

Blessings to you!

Colleen

Let's Celebrate! Week 2 challenge

Umm..I've been busy.

Enough said, hmm?

This one's for you Jen, for inspiring me to post again. Here's my entry for Cornish Heritage Farm's Summer Design Challenge. October Afternoon DP, and MUCH, MUCH paper piecing. A little stickles on the eyelids and hat tops. Momento black ink. Stamps: UR A Hoot, The Landing Pad, and Forest Friendzy (all by Kim Hughes at CHF).

Week 2 challenge was paper piecing. (Let's hope wild and crazy DP counts for something too). There's a $50 prize gift certificate for each week's winner. Cross your fingers for me, ok?