For The Record. . .

Hi and happy weekend,

Today's card is made using the September SFYTT sketch. I haven't played along in Jen's monthly sketch challenge for quite awhile and I'm not really sure why that is. 

I wanted to make a card or my nephew, who started at a new school this year, and remembered the RC "Inner Rock Star" set. Since he plays guitar, and he LOVES old R & R, this set is a perfect choice to make his card with.

The records, guitar and sentiment are embossed using clear EP with SU black craft ink. The stars are SU dies and the tags are made with SU punches, the large dot background is an SU embossing folder. 

Supplies

Stamps: Inner Rock Star set by Reverse  Confetti

Paper: SU Pool Party and Basic Black card stock and SU Flashback DSP

Ink: SU craft black and Crushed Curry pad and marker

Other: SU stars die, SU tag punch, SU large dot embossing folder, SU clear embossing powder, Fiskars corner rounder punch, Pebbles yellow enamel dot, the Big Shot, dimensionals

That's all from me today. It's a hot and humid weekend here in San Diego, so I'm laying low with the fan going. Thanks for coming by,

Colleen

I {Heart} This

Hello,

How's the start of your week going? Mine has been super busy, work wise, and that's okay.

I made this card several days ago for Jen's February SFYTT on her Reverse Confetti blog. I used a couple Reverse Confetti sets, including my new favorite RC set called Freida Fox.

Instead of coloring Freida Fox, I stamped her in SU Melon Mambo ink and framed her with a frame cut from Nesties. I love Stacey Schafer's card here, and CASE'd it. After adhering the frame with dimensionals, I added some heart brads. The sentiment is from another RC set called Arrows N Elements. I did color the flower in Freida's hand and added a thick layer of red Stickles on the heart.

In addition to the SFYTT challenge, I'm also entering this card into Linda's Catered Crop Heart Of the Matter Recipe Swap.

Supplies
Stamps: Freida Fox set and Arrows N' Elements set by Reverse Confetti
Paper: SU Soft Sky, Melon Mambo and Whisper White card stocks and Cupcake Love by Little Yellow Bicycle patterned papers
Ink: SU Melon Mambo and Soft Sky ink, Copics
Other: Square Nesties, Doodlebug brads, Stickles, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Happy Hump Day tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by,
Colleen

Hey, Foxy!

Good Saturday afternoon bloggers,

I received my new Reverse Confetti stamps in the mail yesterday and couldn't wait to ink up Freida Fox. OMG she is just too cute! Valentine's Day 2014 card #2 done.

I used the January Sketch For You To Try layout for my card along with papers from the January TE Key Ingredients kit.

Here's the inside of my card:

Supplies
Stamps: Quirky Cuties, Freida Fox and Whole Lotta Hearts sets by Reverse Confetti
Paper: Taylored Expressions bright pink, teal and snow white card stock and Crate Paper Love Notes pattern papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics and SU Poppy Parade
Other: SU corner punch, Kaiser pink rhinestones, TE heart brad and tab, pink and teal Stickles, dimensionals

I hope your weekend is wonderfully crafty! Thanks for coming by,
Colleen

For the Record, You Rock!

Hello and Happy Sunday all,

It's been a bit since my last post. We took another vacation at the end of July and were gone for 10 days. We went to spend a week "down the Cape" with our very good friends who live in Mass. They spend a week each summer with their kids on Cape Cod. We try to go with every other year. It's one of those relaxing vacations where we hang at the cottage, do puzzles, read, cook, play games, veg at the beach, and do some shopping. Always a wonderful, wonderful time.

This is the first weekend since our return, and I had some stamping time yesterday evening. I thought I'd make a card using Jen's August SFYTT and some of my Reverse Confetti stamps. I'm loving the design of Jen's stamp sets!

I used black craft ink to stamp the skulls and records, then embossed them with clear EP. I'm not sure if the ink is drying out or if I waited too long to put the EP on, but some of the records did't get good coverage. It didn't look too bad, so I elected to use the panel. It's a little hard to see in the photo, but I used Spica Glitter pens to color in the flowers and leaves on the skulls and the wings on the guitar. IRL it looks quite sparkly.

The lower panel is made with Die-namics Jumbo Fishtail Flags STAX dies and the cross panels are made with Die-namics regular Fishtail Flags STAX dies. After putting all of the panels in place, I added a little extra sparkle with some sequins and a large crystal heart in the center of the guitar. I notice that the current Catered Crop Recipe Swap challenge is Sequins. This card will work for that challenge as well.

Supplies
Stamps: Inner Rock Star set by Reverse Confetti
Paper: SU Very Vanilla and Soft Sky card stock and SU More Amore DSP
Ink: SU black craft ink, SU Raspberry Ripple ink, Spica Glitter pens: light blue, pink and silver, Copic BG11, R35, R37
Other: SU clear EP, Avery Elle sequins, Die-namics Jumbo and regular Fishtail Flags STAX dies, SU oval and scalloped oval punches, rhinestone heart, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

I hope your Sunday is fab. Thanks for looking in,

Colleen

Let It Snow

Hi all,

Only one more day of the work week. I'm SO ready for the weekend! Lots of stress this week, but things are looking up. (I think)

Here's a card that I made last Sunday. It uses December's SFYTT layout and a Snowman for The Paper Players 124 challenge. Most all supplies are from Taylored Expressions.

Supplies
Stamps: The Cool Crowd set by Taylored Expressions
Paper: TE Choice Snow White card stock and MME Winter Wonderland patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics and SU Not Quite Navy
Other: TE Musical Swirls Impressions Plate, TE small and medium layering doilies, TE snowflake die, Kaiser rhinestones, Stickles, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Happy Friday, have a great weekend,
Colleen

Sweet

Happy Monday morning fellow stampers,

I hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was filled with stamping and shopping, two of my favorite activities. Saturday Jen released the November SFYTT sketch. I used it to make two cards, both Christmas cards.

The first uses Taylored Expressions stamps and dies. The patterned papers are from Jillibean Soup.

The scalloped borders are cut from TE felt using the small and medium scalloped border dies. The two backgrounds are made with TE Impressions plates, music and dots.

The second card is made with the SU Scentsational Seasons set, three SU Framelit dies and SU DSP.

Supplies
Card 1:
Stamps: Very Merry Set by Taylored Expressions
Paper: TE choice snow white and SU real red card stock, Jillibean Soup patterned papers
Ink: SU tempting turquoise and real red
Other: TE Imperssions plates, TE scalloped border dies, TE red and green felt, circle and scalloped circle Nesties, clear rhinestones, silver dot, the Big Shot and dimensionals

Card 2:
Stamps: Scentsational Seasons set by Stampin' Up
Paper: SU cherry cobbler, raspberry ripple and very vanilla card stock and SU Be Of Good Cheer DSP
Ink: SU crumb cake, early expresso and cherry cobbler
Other: SU Framelits X3, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots EF, burlap, buttons, red and green pearls, the Big Shot and dimensionals

I hope everyone has a fabulous week! Thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Peace On Earth

Happy Monday evening everyone,

I hope everyone on the East Coast is doing well and is out of harm's way tonight.

I'm squeaking in with my October SFYTT card. The layers on this sure were fun to play with. I used some "new to me" Paper Smooches stamps and Lawn Fawn patterned papers.

The snowman is stamped with Memento tuxedo black and colored with BG70 Copics. Then I smeared Crystal Stickles all over him to make him look nice and icy. I thought that the heart ornament would look kind of like the Earth colored in green and blue Copics. It's popped up on a dimensional on his little twig hand.

Supplies
Stamps: Paper Smooches
Paper: Taylored Expressions medium and light blue card stock, X-Press IT blending card stock, Lawn Fawn patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics and SU Riding Hood red
Other: Crystal and Red Stickles and dimensionals

Thanks for looking in,
Colleen

SFYTT Birthday Card

Hi all,

Ahhh, it's Friday tomorrow, and that means it's almost the weekend. Do you have any plans? Nothing special going on here this weekend, but next, we're off to the Central Coast wine country for a five day weekend with friends. I can't wait!

I needed a birthday card for a friend's son who is turning two on Oct. 5. I decided to use Jen's SFYTT layout for September. Clearly, I'm just squeaking my card in before the end of the month.

Because the card is for a little boy, I used Taylored Expressions Life Is A Circus set. I thought it would be perfect for a two year old, paired with very bright, mostly primary colors for the papers and the coloring.

 The images are colored with Copics. The patterned papers are from SU and have a great circus theme.The star boarder is also from TE.

I'm also entering this card in The Catered Crop Knot Now Recipe Swap. My ribbon is tied in a square knot, so I think that qualifies.



I made the inside of the card very colorful as well:

Supplies
Stamps: Life Is A Circus set by Taylored Expressiosn
Paper: SU Whisper white, Real red, Yoyo yellow card stock and SU DSP
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU Real red, Gumball green and Copics
Other: TE Star border die, SU Gumball green ribbon, SU punches (inside panel), sewing machine, Crystal Effects (on the seal), the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Thanks for looking in,
Colleen

You Are Pretty Amazing

Happy Friday everyone,

My sister recently accepted a new job. In fact, she was offered two in one week. I'm so happy for her as her current job requires about 60 to 80 hours per WEEK. No time for her family and certainly no time for herself. The new one promises not to consume so much time, and it's in a completely different field. She's very excited.

I made this card for her to say Congrats! I also sent some artisan chocolate and salt carmel candies that are made locally here in Leucadia, CA to help her celebrate. They are YUMMY! (If anyone is interested in trying them here is a link to the web site: Sea Salt Candy Company)

The layout comes from July's Sketch For You To Try. I changed the circle to an oval to fit the stamped sentiment.

Supplies
Stamps: Complimentary Greetings set by My Favorite Things
Paper: From TE July KI kit, Taylored Expressions blue and gold CS and Tea For Two by Cosmo Cricket PP
Ink: SU Not Quite Navy
Other: oval and scalloped oval Nesties, Die-namics Fish Tail Flags Stax, Mini Rolled Roses and Royal Leaves dies, Sizzix Birds and Flowers embossing folder, Want 2 Scrap green pearls, the Big Shot and dimensionals

Have a fab weekend and thanks,
Colleen

Summer Afternoon and June's SFYTT

It's Wednesday, half way through the work week. I hope your's is going well.

This stamp set, Summer Afternoon, is another 2012 Hostess Set. I really like the images in this set because I think they will look good colored or just stamped and left uncolored. On today's card, I stamped them on SU watercolor paper and colored them with Copics. I wanted the textured look of the water color paper.

The flowers are from the old SU "Pretties" kit. I colored the white flowers with two of the new 2012 in-colors, Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit markers to match the card stock.

As you can see, the layout is June's SFYTT.

Supplies
Stamps: Stampin' Up "Summer Afternoon" set
Paper: SU water color paper, Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit card stock, Comfort Cafe DSP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo black, Copics and SU Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit markers
Other: classic circle and scalloped circle Nesties, SU border punch,
SU "Pretties" kit paper flowers and 1/2 pearls for the centers, the Big Shot and dimensionals

Have a great day and thanks,
Colleen

Happy Birthday To You

Happy Hump Day all,

Yesterday was my nephew Ian's 15th birthday. He, like his auntie is a baseball fan. In fact, his birthday present from me is a week of baseball in southern California and Phoenix after school is out in June. It will be an awesome week!

In keeping with the baseball theme, here is the card that I made for him.

The layout comes from Jen's May SFYTT. The stamp is a Kenny K  digi stamp. The paper is from TE's May's KI kit. The image is colored with Copics.

Supplies
Stamps: Pitcher by Kenny K digi
Paper: from TE May KI kit, navy and green card stock and Pebbles Fresh Goods patterned papers
Ink: Copics and SU Night of Navy
Other: SU star brads, sewing machine, Taylored Expressions Reach For the Stars border die, and dimensionals

Thanks for checking in,
Colleen

Happy Easter everybunny

Hello crafty peeps,

I received some new Stampin' Up goodies this week and couldn't wait to ink up this CUTE Easter set. I used some retired SU DSP and the image is colored with Copics. The sketch is the March SFYTT.

Supplies
Stamps: Everybunny set by Stampin' Up
Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White card stock and Holiday Happenings DSP (retired) all SU
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, SU Chocolate Chip and Copics
Other: SU crafters tool kit, SU Baja Breeze seam binding, SU oval punches, sewing machine and dimensionals

Thanks for coming by today,
Colleen

Hugs

Good Monday morning to you,

I'm off to Seattle today. I'm doing some mentoring of a co-worker this week. The good news is that it is supposed to be sunny until Thursday. Other good news is that I will get to see my sister and nephews over the weekend before I fly back to San Diego.

Today's card uses Jen's SFYTT layout for February. I like this one with the long element down the side. This monster set from Taylored Expressions is too cute! I couldn't resist wrapping this little in a very bright package. Do these look like Christmas papers? They're called Christmas Wishes, but I think they look great doing double duty as Valentine's papers.

Most of the supplies on this card are from TE. The papers are from December's KI kit. The dies are from Taylor's January release as is the Love Monsters stamp set.

This sweet little guy is colored with Copics and I dropped some Glossy Effects over his eyes to make them pop out.

Supplies
Stamps: Love Monsters set by Taylored Expressions
Paper: TE green, red and aqua card stock, Neenah solar white card stock, and Bella Blvd-Christmas Wishes patterned paper
Ink: Memento tuxedo black and Copics
Other: TE Layering Doily dies (small and medium), TE Hearts A Plenty dies, Glossy Effects, corner rounder punch, sewing machine, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Have a great week all and thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Thinking Of You

Happy Thursday,

I finally got my January SFYTT card done. I am going to try to do all of them this year. Last year I missed a few. This card certainly evolved. I had picked out my patterned papers to use, but when I was putting everything together, I decided I didn't like it, so, I ended up going with completely different papers, which I think work much better with the stamp. The first were way too bright and tended to over power the image.  Anyhoo, here is my card.

The papers are from Taylor's January Key Ingredients kit. I was inspired by this card by Jodi and added lots of bling.

The heart and circle background is done with an SU letterpress plate and whisper white craft ink. I was hoping for a more embossed look, but I think I needed to add another layer to my sandwich prior to running it through the Big Shot. It ended up looking more like a stamped image instead of letter pressed. I still like the way it looks.

Supplies
Rose Wreath set by Taylored Expressions
Paper: From TE January KI kit, TE card stock and Crate Paper "Paper Heart" patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU craft Whisper White and Copics
Other: SU letter press plate, classic circle and scalloped circle Nesties, SU corner rounder punch, SU rhinestones, TE ribbon, the Big Shot, sewing machine, and dimensionals

I'm looking forward to the weekend, how about you?

Thanks for stopping in,
Colleen

Sending You A Little Christmas and SFYTT

Happy Saint Nicholas Day to all.

Here's my version of December's Sketch For You To Try. Of course, I made another Christmas card. I finally finished them all last night. I'm happy to say, I made them all different with the exception of two designs, and I made six of each of those. In the past, I usually made about 15 - 20 of four different designs, but this year I wanted to be more creative and do them all different. In the end however, I did make the two sets of six for time's sake. Now, I need to sit down and get them addressed.

On to my SFYTT card. 

As you can see, I have another cutie PI girl. Her coat, hat and scarf are paper pieced. The rest is colored with Copics.

Supplies:

Stamps: Pure Innocence Sending You A Little Christmas set by My Favorite Things

Paper: Taylored Expressions red, green and choice buttercream CS and My Minds Eye 12 Days of Christmas PP

Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU glorious green and Copics

Other: SU and Cuttlebug embossing folders, Die-namics die, Taylor's Tiny Twinkles in red, Viva Decor Pearl Pen in Cream, Kaiser large red rhinestones, SU red and green brads, sewing machine, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

That's all for this evening. Thanks so much for looking in.

Colleen

Don't Open Until. . .

It's Thursday. Only two more days of work to go this week. I'm actually in Las Vegas this week for my company's national sales meeting. We started on Monday and today's the final day. I drive back to San Diego tomorrow.

Here's another card that I made last weekend. It's another Christmas card and this one follows November's SFYTT layout.

Supplies:
Stamps: Pure Innocence Don't Open Until by My Favorite Things
Card stock: TE red, green and choice snow white
Patterned papers: 12 Days of Christmas by My Favorite Things
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU real red
Other: Cuttlebug snow EF, TE red ribbon, TE green buttons, red floss, red Stickles, SU twine, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Have a great Friday tomorrow and thanks for looking in,
Colleen

More Halloween Cards - More Sketch Challenges

Happy Thursday evening all,

One more day of the work week. It's been a busy one for me and I'm looking forward to getting together with my monthly craft group on Saturday for some crafty fun and good food. In the mean time. . .

I have a couple more Halloween cards to share tonight. The first one uses October's SFYTT layout. The stamps are from Taylored Expressions, one of the new Halloween sets released this year. I love this old Victorian mansion stamp. I made the windows bright and shinny with yellow Stickles. I suppose a rockin' party is going on inside.

Supplies
Stamps: Fangtastic set by Taylored Expressions
Card stock: light and dark purple, green, black and choice snow white from Taylored Expressions
Patterned papers: Happy Halloween by Echo Park
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU gray, sahara sand and craft white (sponged on the clouds)
Other: spider web ribbon by TE, TE cloud die, SU punch, yellow Stickles, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Card number two is for Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch # 139.

Supplies
Stamps: Fangtastic set by Taylored Expressions
Card stock: TE light purple
Patterned papers: Eerie collection by Basic Gray
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, Spica black glitter pen
Other: TE pennant die, TE small and medium scalloped border dies, Kaiser green and purple rhinestones, SU circle punch, TE sparkly green ribbon, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Wishing You. . .

Hi all,

I'm starting to get serious about making Christmas cards. I know it's only August, but last year I was scrambling to get them done in time. The layout for this one is August's SFYTT at Jen's blog. Yikes! I almost forgot to make a card for this month. Unfortunately, I don't have any KRAFTIN' KIMMIE! stamps, so I'm using one of my new SU Christmas sets.

Supplies
Stamps: Polar Party by Stampin' Up
Card stock: SU kraft, riding hood red, taken with teal and whisper white
Patterned papers: SU DSP retired
Ink: SU basic black, taken with teal, riding hood read, crumb cake, more mustard, craft white and pool party
Other: SU embossing folder, SU button, SU punch, SU square brads, SU baker's twine, the Big Shot, mini glue dots, and dimensionals

I've been thinking of all those on the East Coast and New England in the path of Irene. I can't imagine how scary it must be!

Thanks all,
Colleen

Let's Chat

It's been too long since I've played in the Follow The Recipe challenge over at Linda's Catered Crop blog, so last night I decided to join in the fun and make a card for FTR15.

I chose to use Jen's July SFYTT layout, just posted yesterday. The sponsor this month is My Favorite Things, and I've used one of my favorite PI stamps.

There's tons of texture on this card. Too much?? Remember Linda's post a few days ago with quotes from some of her favorite romcoms? When I start adding. . . and adding. . .  and adding, elements to my cards, in the back of my mind I always hear "More isn't always better Linus, sometimes it's just more." I find this quote very appropos sometimes. It's from one of my all time fav romcoms, with one of my all time favorite romantic comedy leading men. So, can you guess which movie? Can you guess which actor?

Anyhoo, here's "Let's Chat":

And the inside:

My ingredients used per FTR15 are:
colors: yellow, green, red
patterns: polka dots
embellishments: buttons and baker's twine
tools: dimensionals (I DO love dimensionals)
theme: friendship

I think the polka dot ingredient must have stuck with me, as that seems to have become the main theme for the card. Lot's of them with the patterned paper and the embossing folder. I do love the way it turned out too. {guess it's okay to say that about one's own card}


Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence "Lady Bug" and "Say What" sets by My Favorite Things
Card stock: SU crumb cake, not quite navy, summer sun and TE choice buttercream
Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU not quite navy and Copics
Other: Seeing Spots EF, Die-namics dies, Fiskars corner rounder punch, SU buttons, SU die, paper flowers, crystal Stickles, candy dot, yellow rhinestones, cork sheet, sewing machine, baker's twine, the Big Shot, mini glue dots and lots of dimensionals

Have a fabulous Sunday and thanks,
Colleen

PS: The movie is Sabrina, the remake with Harrison Ford. Although, the original was great as well.

Happy Summer - Happy Birthday

Yikes! I'm almost too late posting a card for June's SFYTT. I really didn't have that much stamping time this month, with traveling to Oregon for my niece's graduation and traveling for work.

I made this card last Tuesday evening to send to our friend Kathy, who lives in Mass. Her birthday is this week. We are going to be spending two weeks at the end of July and first of August with she and the family on Cape Cod. Sooooo looking forward to that!!!

Anyhoo, this card uses more new stamps, dies and papers that I got from Taylored Expressions.

I angled the large square panel some for added interest. I like this look. In my early stamping days, I used this angled panel a lot. Miss Belle penguin is colored with Copics and, as you can see, I sewed around all of the panels.

Stamps: Beach Belle by Taylored Expressions
Card stock: SU cool caribbean, pacific point, close to cocoa and garden green, TE choice snow white
Patterned papers: Splash by Echo Park
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU pacific point
Other: TE wave border and palm tree dies, classic circle and scalloped circle Nesties, SU oval punch, sewing machine, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Yea, it's Friday! Have a fabulous weekend everyone,
Colleen