All images and designs on this blog are the sole property of Carole Burrage. This blog is for inspiration only. Please do not use these photographs or designs for contests or publications.
Thank You!
Are you ready to get Dirty? Because it's that time of year... Each summer the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen and Dirty Dozen Alumni get together to issue challenges for all of the SCS Fan Club members. I'd love for you to play along with me!
I can't tell you what the challenge is (for that, you'll need to go HERE ), but I can show you my sample. There are also beautiful samples made for my challenge by the amazing Andrea Ewen, and my favorite Hot Pocket, Christina Fischer.
Here's a look-see at what I came up with...
I used Lil Inker Designs' brand new Rainbow & Clouds die and the accompanying stamp set (which comes with 20 all-purpose sentiments - yay!) to make this sunny little 3.5"x5" card. Isn't it fun? So much fun, in fact, I did something I haven't done in a while - I created a whole group of the same cards...
I remember when I first started stamping: I always made multiples of the cards I created. My thinking was, "Well, I've got all of this paper and stuff out already. If it's going to take me this long to do one, I might as well do several..." Still makes a lot of sense, but I hardly ever do that anymore, since I generally use images that I've colored. But no coloring on this little number, and it seemed wasteful to die-cut four rainbow stripes in each color, only to throw three away. (Granted, I throw a lot of paper away daily, but don't distract me from my illogical thinking, please.) So now I've got a sweet little set of cards, each with a different sentiment from the accompanying stamp set.
Here's a detail shot of the rainbow-like handstitching I did around the black layer:
I just alternated a blind stitch in my four rainbow colors. Easy & colorful!
... These are words that go together well, my Michele ...
Before you think I've got a big girly-crush on my buddy, Michele Boyer, just know this: despite the fact that I have short hair, I am 100% heterosexual. Not that I have anything against anyone who prefers their own; I'm perfectly okay with that. Just sayin'. I DO have a HUGE crush on Michele, but of the stamping kind, only. I wish I could stamp and embellish exactly like her, but that's it. I don't want to woo her. I'm perfectly happy and satisfied by my husband. Who is a man. Not that gender makes a difference. Whatever floats your boat! And now? Maybe I should just shut up and talk about this week's Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps' Challenge...
(Don't you know Kimmie is wondering why on earth she ever asked me to be on her design team?! But she knew me, and thus knew random babbling like the above came with the territory. Caveat emptor! ;) )
So. You ready to hear about this week's Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Challenge? Of course you are! DONNA is this week's hostess, and she's come up with a challenge that's elicited fear in the hearts of all: CLEAN AND SIMPLE - NO EMBELLISHMENTS! It's enough to you make it faint, ain't it? Fortunately, we could use anything made of paper and stitching was deemed okay, so here's what I came up with using MICHELE...
Michele is one of the new Travel Girls recently released by KKS, and named for my aforementioned stampin' pal. (I almost typed 'gf' but didn't want y'all to get the wrong idea.) She's strolling along the streets of gay Paree (gay meaning "happy"...), after having done a little bit o' shopping. Wanna see a close up of her? Okily-dokily...
Not sure if you can tell from the pic, but I added a little Glossy Accents to her glasses lenses to make 'em a bit more realistic. Other card details? Michele was colored via Copic Markers, on Copic X-Press Blending card stock (my favorite for coloring these detailed images). For the lovely sewn border (if I do say so myself...), I used one strand of cream and another strand of pink embroidery floss to handstitch around the light gray layer. The only other decorative details were created via the lacy border die cuts, made via MFT's Dainty Lace Border Die-Namic. Simple, yet chic, as befitting la jolie petite fille.
Ready to see more CAS stunners? Then head on over to the KKS Challenge Blog. You'll get a lot of loverly inspiration and find out how you can participate in this week's challenge. Should you decided to play along with us -- and of course, we hope you will -- you'll be eligible to win BRIGITTE - the image our oh-so-sadistic Donna used in her challenge card. All the details are available on the KKS blog.
Au revoir, mas petite chou! (See you later, my little cabbage!)
BUY THE WAY: This week's Frugal Friday special features a stamp I truly believe EVERY stamper NEEDS: The Krafty Stamper! Seriously? Is this not the BEST image you've ever seen of a stamper?! If you say "no," I'm not sure I want to know you... Get the Krafty Stamper and this week's other Frugal Friday images for 40-50% off, only through Sunday! And if you've been on the fence about ordering any of the Gimme Kimmie kits, you need to get off it because that special ends on Sunday, too. :)
I couldn't resist this week's TCP Tuesday Color Challenge. Tori is our Color Challenge Hostess With the Mostess, and she put together this delicious combo:
Is it the yummiest? I've had an idea for the new Lacey Butterfly CutUps die that I had yet to put into action, and then I found some adorable new Doodlebug Designs patterned paper at Simply Scrapbooks (my awesome LSS) this week, so it came together lickety-split.
Some of the most striking butterflies have a lot of black markings with intense color - Monarchs are the ones that immediately come to mind, but there are so many others. Once again, I'll show you one of my favorite home decor items, an anniversary gift from my husband that we selected on vacation in Ouray, Colorado several years ago:
Lots of black amongst their wing colors, with unexpected pops of pink, green, orange, yellow, aqua, blue, purple - you name it! Thus, I was inspired to cut out a trio of Lacey Butterflies in black cardstock and back them with TCP Tuesday's colors of orange, melon, and green. I added a little strip of Heidi Swapp bling to their middles (bodies?) to make 'em extra swanky (as befitting anything related to The Cat's Pajamas, a.k.a. the world's swankiest stamp company).
Here's a close up of the sentiment treatment and hand-stitched border (y'all know I love my embroidery floss...):
I used a one of the dies from Spellbinder's Double-ended tag trio to cut out the tag in white cardstock, then sponged in the orange using Adirondack Sunset Orange ink. Then, I stamped the sentiment from the Take Off set and tied it off with embroidery floss. That delightful patterned paper from Doodlebug Designs (which is the first name in CUTE when it come to patterned paper and accessories, IMHO) is called 'Fruit Cocktail', and I think I'm going to have to go back to get more sheets of it to hoard because I am officially in LOVE!
Here's a sideview of the card, which is long note sized (3.35" x 6.5"):
While this sentiment reads "Let's Fly Away", I've had a MAJOR event occur this week, which reminds me how fast time is flying through my fingertips. My oldest son, Truman, will be a freshman in high school this fall. He's now taller than I am and is morphing from a boy to a man, right before my eyes. I'm sure some of you moms out there understand what I mean when I say that I have missed this boy since the day he was born. Unlike Carter, I've always had some innate understanding that my time with Truman was fleeting and therefore precious. Not that Carter isn't precious to me -- y'all know WAY better than that -- but there has always been this sense of the ... temporary with Truman. He reminds me of this Stephen Sondheim lyric from the Broadway musical, Into the Woods:
How can you say to a child who's in flight "Don't slip away and i won't hold so tight"...
Guide them then step away Children will glisten Tamper with what is true And children will turn If just to be free Careful before you say "Listen to me"
The song is "Children Will Listen" and I guarantee, I cry a RIVER every single time I listen to it. Best song about parenting ever written, bar none.
Anyway, what happened this week to cause this gush of emotion? Truman got his braces off, and aged years in just a few short hours. See what I mean...
Before:
And, after:
Since I'm wallowing, how about a little musical number to further set the scene? Here's the wonderful Maria Friedman's rendition of "Children Will Listen" from the Sondheim at 80 BBC special. Get out your tissue and enjoy!
It's time for the weekly Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge, and this week's challenge is a SKETCH by the terrifically talented TARA. You can find the sketch and samples from lots of Krafty Girls and Krafty Guests on the KKS Blog.
In the meantime, here's my take on the sketch challenge starring CLEO, one of the brand new Moonlight Whispers Travel Girls that were released last Sunday.
Isn't she quite the come-hither Queen o' the Nile? Very sultry... I think it's her pelvis-first posture. I'm going to have to try that out. Think it'll be a good look for me? Here's Cleo, up close and personal:
Mosey on over to the KKS Challenge Blog - pelvis first, chest first, feet first, however you're most comfortable. Hopefully you'll be inspired to get Krafty and play along with us. If so, you just might be the lucky winner of TORI, the image Tara used for her card.
BUY THE WAY: Kimmie's announced this week's FRUGAL FRIDAY discounts and among them is one of my faves! Thru Sunday, you can save 40-50% on the following images: Eleanor, Cannonball Cameron, Jukebox, Brady the builder, Lavender the Quilter and Party Time. Here's one of Eleanor I made not so long ago (and just mailed out to a dear friend yesterday):
Can you believe it's the 200th Mojo Monday?! Isn't that something?! I hear they're going to issue special quarters (aka $.25 U.S.) all year long and have fireworks on the Mall in D.C. in honor of this auspicious occasion...
Even better? Madame Mojo, herself - the one and only JULEE TILMAN - is inaugerating a brand new look for everyone's favorite weekly sketch challenge. Regardless of your political persuasion, I know we'll all agree that the incumbent look is MOJOLICIOUS! I, for one, am thrilled with the new look - it makes me happy! Let me show you this week's sketch, then explain why...
Reasons why I love thee, new Mojo look? Let me count the ways...
GREENis my favorite color! It's the color of growth, new life, nature, and harmony. It's a perfect balance of cool (blue) and warm (yellow) undertones. It's soothing and peaceful. Money (at least, here in the US) also happens to be green, but that's beside the point.
I love the mod, funky font. Rounded, sans-serif, with a tiny bit of retro-80's vibe. It makes my heart sing!
I could probably make up more reasons, but that's enough to start with. I hope you'll find the new look as inspiring as I do. And before I get to my card, as the newest Mojo Maker on the block I'd like to take the opportunity to tell Julee and all of the Mojo Makers, past and present, how much I've appreciated their inspiration over the years. No matter what kinda crummy Monday I was having, I always looked forward to seeing what this week's sketch would be, and could count on it to be a sure-fire winner. It's my privilege and pleasure to now be able to make samples that hopefully do the same for other stampers and papercrafters.
Okay, okay. I'll quit waxing poetic and show you my sample. Ready? Here goes...
This is another one of Your Next Stamp's new World Kids (whom I ADORE!). I introduced you to Kali from Hawaii on last week's YNS Blog hop; this is KAI FROM HAWAII. Judging from his blonde coloring (thanks, Jenny!), he and Kali are probably just friends... Maybe boyfriend & girlfriend? Isn't he cute with his surfboard and little puka shell necklace? I had this on my desk when Carter (my six-year old) walked up and said "Awww, look at me with the surfboard!"
Have I mentioned lately how adorable my little guy is? Check him out...
Isn't Carter gorgeous? Is it bad form for his own mother to say so? Just look at those eyes... And he's the sweetest, funniest little guy you'd ever want to meet. To know him is to love him (he takes after his mama... ;) )!
See a detail shot of Kai to the left. Notice a resemblance? Besides the hair color, me neither. But if Carter says so, I'll go along with it.
Now, are you ready to get your Mojo a go-go? Then head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for all the details about how to participate in this week's fun. And don't forget to visit the blogs of my fellow Mojo Monday design team members and thank them for helping to kick-start your creativity week after week. They're amazing!
I hope you're inspired to create your own version of this sketch and post it to the Mojo Monday blog. If you upload to an online gallery, make sure you use the keyword 'MOJO200' so we can shower you with compliments.
Hello hello! How are you this fine Sunday morning? Enjoying yourself on the July Kraftin' Kimmie Blog Hop? This month's hop is like traveling the globe, is it not? Don't you feel cultured? If you've been keeping up with the Krafty Peeks of the past several days, you know that TODAY is RELEASE DAY for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps! This month's release brings you:
a very elegant Sympathy Set featuring several sentiments and a gorgeous floral image illustrated by Emilie Goulet,
three new Back to School images from Cheryl Alger,
five new Outdoor Fun stamps from Emilie Goulet, and
six awesome new Traveling Girls from Annie Rodrigue!
Assuming you started at the tippy-top of the Hope with the Challenge Blog, you should have made your way here via my good friend, MICHELE. Michele has a Traveling Girl named for her this month, and she also happens to be one of my stamping idols - if you're at all familiar with her work, you know why: everything she makes is sublime!
That Michele is one hard act to follow, but hopefully you've caught your breath by now and are ready for my humble hop submission: a little card dedicated to my Krafty sister from Down Under, DONNA!
DONNA - another of the new Moonlight Whispers Traveling Girls - is quite a lovely little Sheila, hugging her 'Roo on a sunny day in the outback. She looks happy - like she just ate a vegemite sandwich and washed it down with a Foster's lager. Next on the agenda: tossing a boomerang! And I'm done with all the Aussie stereotypes I can think of for the moment...
Please note the hand-stitching around the square and image panels. A labor of love, but Donna's worth it! Here's a close-up of her seam binding bow/sentiment treatment:
The sentiment is mounted on a Tim Holtz Memo Pin, stuck through the knots of the double bows. Now for a detail shot of the Copic coloring/airbrushing (I masked her off with Eclipse masking tape before airbrushing the sky and ground):
As I worked on this card, and again as I'm typing this post, that old song by DeBarge "Who's Holding Donna Now" kept running through my addled brain. Ugh! Please, please... MAKE IT STOP!
I could go on a whole DeBarge monologue, but I'm going to let the album cover to the left speak for itself.
Back to the hop! Are you interested in winning a package of stamps from the release? Then be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the Krafty Girls and Guests participating in today's hop. Of those who leave comments on ALL of the blogs, several lucky peeps will be randomly drawn and win BIG! Woot!
And of course, when you've finished the hop, be sure to head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie shop, because ALL the new images are NOW available!
In the meantime, though, I'm going to send you hippity-hopping over to our elegant Traveling Girl from merry ol' England, ELAINE! Pip pip! Cheerio!
Good morning, glories! It's one of my favorite days of the month: the day we get to show you all of the new Moonlight Whispers images coming your way from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps! Annie Rodrigue's illustrations just do it for me, you know? I rank 'em right up there with key lime pie, La Coste shirts, A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving, Airstream travel trailers, and Deadwood. Need I say more?
And, since it's Saturday, it's also time for this week's Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge. You'll never guess who this week's hostess is...
It's little old me! And - for once - I've decided to take it easy on you (I don't want the sound of your own wheels to drive you crazy). (Just a little Eagles humor for the classic rock lovers in the house. Carry on!) (My wayward son/There'll be peace when you are done...)
Okay, okay. No more song lyric references. Where was I?
Oh yeah! This week's challenge is easy-peasy, if I do say so myself. All you have to do is FINISH THE INSIDE! Of your card, that is. I'll show you what I mean, using one of the FABULOUS new TRAVEL GIRLS being released on Sunday from KKS.
I chose to work with JEANNIE for obvious reasons...
{Please know that I am biting my tongue/fingers to not make any references to 'American Woman' by The Guess Who (and covered by Lenny Kravitz) right now} Isn't she somethin'? KKS is a Canadian company, you know, and I think this is what Kimmie and the gang think a lot of us Yanks look like...
Farrah hair,
cut off shorts, and
tube socks
It wouldn't bother me in the least to look like JEANNIE - I think she's fab, posing in front of sweet Lady Liberty. And you've got to admit: she's knocking you out with those American thighs!
SORRY!!!! You ought know I don't have the self-control to NOT quote AC/DC in a situation like this...
Wanna see inside? Of course you do!
See? It doesn't have to be fancy. When I decorate the inside of a card, I generally keep it clean and simple. For one thing, I'm usually out of creative juice by the time I get to the inside, and for another, I like to have plenty of room to write my message to the recipient. In case you haven't noticed, I can be a little long winded...
Ready to see where in the world some of the other TRAVEL GIRLS are? Then head on over to the KKS Challenge Blog where you'll be treated to lots of look-sees by my fellow Krafty Girls and our oh-so-special Krafty Guests. And be sure to leave a comment on all the Krafty Peeks you see today. If you do? you might be one of two randomly drawn lucky winners to receive THREE of the six new TRAVEL GIRLS! Woot!
I'll see you mañana - aka RELEASE DAY! - for the Krafty Blog hop. And be warned: the image I've used (another Travel Girl) lends itself to many a pop song. The first that come to mind? Hmmm... "Who Can It Be Now?", "Love Is Thicker Than Water", "The One Thing", and "I Honestly Love You." Any guesses?
{If you're looking for my post for the Your Next Stamp Blog Hop, please scroll down. Thank you!}
It's Day 2 of Krafty Peeks for the July Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps release, and Kimmie's newest illustrator, Emilie Goulet, has created a whole slew of fun animal characters. Case in point: BIKING BUSTER!
I like the way Buster thinks: why hop when you can pedal? Buster was colored with Copic Markers and his tail was made fluffy with Liquid Applique. I airbrushed the sky and sponged the pavement. The sentiment is from the Mermaid Sentiments set.
Buster and the rest of KKS's July images will be available for purchase on Sunday, July 17. In the meantime, be sure to visit the KKS Challenge Blog each day to get links to all of the designers showing off the new images. And every day Kraftin' Kimmie will be giving away prizes (a.k.a. free stamps from the release!) to a lucky random commenter, so if that's the sort of thing you like, be sure to leave comments on all of the designers' blogs. If you comment on all of today's Krafty Peeks, you just might win all FIVE of the new Emilie's Etchings images. Beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, don't you think? Not that those are your only options...
Well, it's late as I write this, so I'm going to wrap it up and get a little shut-eye. Nighty-night, friends!
I'm so happy Karen (owner of Your Next Stamp) invited me to be a part of this month's Your Next Stamps Blog Hop. If you've been hopping in order, you've arrived on my cyber doorstep fresh from the delightful DIANA'S. If you've come by to see me unaware of the YNS Hop, I know you'll want to start at the beginning with current Dirty Girl KERRI MICHAUD; trust me: you don't want to miss one C-U-T-E thing in YNS's July release!
As I've mentioned before, YNS is one of my very favorite stamp companies, and Karen knows how much I ADORE her oh-so-sweet World Kids collection. Since YNS is welcoming a couple of new World Kids to the collection this month, Karen generously asked if I'd like to help introduce them to you.
Please meet KALI from HAWAII...
Isn't she a doll? Check out her fringe-y grass skirt:
I stamped and colored a second skirt then chopped it up, removed a few 'blades', and spread it out a little. Then, I adhered just the waistband to the main image via a Quickie Glue Pen. One more fun way to add texture. Additional texture is provided by the felt sunshine and cork sand.
Now, ready to see what the Boss Lady, Herself has come up with? Of course you are! Then head on over to visit the fabulous, fantastic KAREN! And thanks, again, Karen, for including me in this month's fun!
Oh, I ALMOST forgot! Might'n you be interested in winning the two newest World Kids for your very own? You would? What a surprise... ;) To make it nice in easy on you, all you have to do is enter your name in the linky tool thingamabob (<-- technical term) on any of the hop designers' blogs. One random winner will be selected to recieve his/her own KALI and KAI.
And -- this is good, too -- when you finish the hop and immediately go to the Your Next Stamp site to shop (because you are smart enough to recognize resistance is futile), be sure to use coupon code YNSJULYNR to recieve 10% off your entire order. Woo-hoo!
... in its own way. Like a starry summer night or a snow-covered winter's day...
Remember that song? I seriously doubt Britney Spears or Nicki Minaj will be singing it when I go see them tomorrow evening with my oldest son, Truman, and our friend, Larami. (I'm pre-posting this late Monday evening, and we're leaving bright and early Tuesday for Dallas, where we'll see the concert and do a little shopping before heading back home Wednesday a.m.) But if they do? I'll definitely let you know.
Wouldn't that be CRAZY?! I think I'm going to do a little experiment using The Secret to make it so... Cure cancer? End hunger world-wide? Create world-peace? Nope! I choose to use the Law of Attraction to make pop stars sing random songs from the 70s! What can I say? That's the way I roll.
Speaking of rolling... let me roll out this week's COLORTHROWDOWN for you. My favorite Lil (st)Inker, LAURA, is this week's challenge hostess, and she's throwing down this cool combo:
And here's what I did with it:
See? Even MIZUKI (one of Kraftin' Kimmie's Asian Inspired Moonlight Whispers images) agrees with me & Ray Stevens (in so many words).
Here's a close-up of Mizuki's sparkly skulls (thanks to Stardust Stickles) and diaphanous jacket (courtesy of mint green Shimmerz):
Don't be fooled by the bling that she's got - she's still Mizuki from the block.
No, I'm not going to get started on a J Lo rant. I'm backtracking to the aforementioned Ray Stevens. Here's a fun fact for you to know and tell: Not only did Ray Stevens sing the Grammy award winning "Everything Is Beautiful" - he also sang "The Streak."
Oh, yes, they call him the Streak Look at that, look at that Fastest thing on two feet Look at that, look at that He's just as proud as he can be Of his anatomy He goin' give us a peek
Doesn't that just make you want to stamp along with this week's challenge? I knew it would! Visit the Color Throwdown Blog for more inspiration and information about how to play along. And don't forget to visit my colorful Color Throwdown peeps to see what they've come up with this week's challenge and leave 'em some love:
Wanna play along with us? Of course you do! Just use CTD150 when uploading to a public gallery and add your creation to the Color Throwdown blog using the linky tool.
Hello? Anybody out there? Is everyone on vacation? Is it me, or does it seem like the only folks reading posts these days are these fellows:
No matter. I don't do this for the money and fame... {money & fame in stamping... that's a pretty good one, if I do say so myself!} Nope. I do it for LOVE. And with LOVE. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. All you need is LOVE...
One thing I know you'll LOVE? This week's fabulous MOJO MONDAY sketch, designed by the LOVE-ly Teresa Kline. Here's a look-see:
Isn't Mr. Bunny a versatile little wabbit? He's a pilot, a hot air balloonist, a cyclist, a lepidopterist, a skier, an ice skater, a nature lover, a great present giver, a cake decorator... why he even ice fishes! Truly a Renaissance Rabbit, don't you agree? I'm going to have to start calling him "Leonardo." In today's incarnation, as you can see from the detail pic, I gave his gray fur a light spotty texture using my Copic blending pen. For the bottom detail part of the sketch, I used my Big Scallop CutUps die.
Ready to check out what the rest of the Mojo Makers have created using this week's sketch? Then head on over to the Mojo Monday blog, where you can see all the samples in one fell swoop and also where you can find out how to play along in this week's Mojo Monday challenge.
And hey - why not share the aforementioned LOVE by visiting the blogs of my fellow Mojo Monday design team members and leaving them a little for helping kick-start your creativity this week? It'll give 'em warm fuzzies, I promise -- something everyone LOVES, regardless of the temperature!
I hope you're inspired to create your own version of this sketch and post it to the Mojo Monday blog. If you upload to an online gallery, make sure you use the keyword 'MOJO199' so we can shower you with compliments.
You've survived another week - congratulations! Why don't we celebrate by playing with this week's Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge? What's that you say? GREAT idea? Why, thank you. I'm glad you approve. I aim to please...
Our Krafty hostess for this week's challenge is Kraftin' KIMMIE herself, and she's challenging all of us to either make a tag or include a tag on our creation. Here's what I came up with, using KIMIKO, yet another of the gorgeous Asian-Inspired Moonlight Whispers girls by Annie Rodrigue:
And yes, I DID use both Brilliant Blue and Glorious Green on the same card! I know those colors make some of you want to throw up a little in your mouth, but to me, they are utukushii (<-- that's 'beautiful' in Japanese. Duh... ;) like I knew that before I Googled it 5 seconds ago).
Speaking -- as I ALWAYS do -- of utukushii, how do you like my tassel? I made it using Plum and Blueberry Divine Twine from The Cat's Pajamas. It was really easy to make, and I think it adds an elegant-yet-trendy touch. Maybe one day I'll teach you my ancient Chinese secret about how to make these, but not today. I've got places to go, people to see, and lots of new images to color for next week's Kraftin' Kimmie release.
Yeah, I know. I'm cold. Leaving you hanging AND teasing you that I have yet-to-be-revealed rubbah in my possession... Just call me 'Queen Frostine'!
Okay, okay. I will throw you one bone: check out the Krafty Challenge Blog to see what the Krafty Girls and Guests have created for this week's challenge. There, you'll also find out how you can win the image Kimmie used in her creation just by participating! And here's another bone: don't forget about KKS's new FRUGAL FRIDAYS promotion - each week Kimmie will be posting 3-4 stamps that will be on sale for at least 40% off! These items will be on sale until Sunday night ONLY, so be sure to grab them while you can! You can check out this week’s stamps HERE.
That's it for me, folks. Happy Saturday, and sayonara!
Oh happy day! It's time for another J(ust)iF(or)F(un)y Challenge with my JiFFy girlfriends. You know the drill: once a month (or so ;) ), a group of my stamping friends and I get together for a little challenge. One of us selects an image. Before that image is revealed to the group, another one of us mails out some patterned paper to everyone. The patterned paper has to be used to make a card with the selected image, and no other patterned paper can be used. Sometimes the image and the selected pattern go well together, and sometimes they're a ... challenging fit, but it's always JUST FOR FUN!
This month, I was the image picker, and I selected an oh-so-sweet image from Paper Smooches' Spiffy Scooters set. (Paper Smooches is owned and illustrated by our dear friend and former JiFFy Girl, Kim Hughes, don't you know.) Before I revealed the image, SWEET Lori sent out some patterned paper: the ultra elegant Bohemian Floral from Graphic 45's Le Cirque Collection.
Here's what I came up with:
Look, Ma! Nice and flat - only one postage stamp necessary...
Pretty clean and simple, but that's one (of many) things I love about Kim's images - you don't need to frill 'em up or get fancy to make something that will make someone smile. :)
Speaking of frilly & fancy, wanna see what my JiFFy girlfriends have created with this combo? I know I can't wait! But first, I've got good news and bad news. Which do you want to know first?
Okay. The bad news. (I always like to get the bad news over with first, too.) *sigh* Don't shoot the messenger, but here's the scoop: JiFFy Gal Julie Campbell is taking a break this summer from our challenges, while JiFFy Gal Alli Miles is stepping down for perhaps a bit longer.
A bona fide bummer, but even JiFFy Girls -- super-human and magical as we are -- have to take a step back and prioritize every once in a while. We'll miss you lovelies, but we know where to find you and we're hoping you'll be back to play with us sooner than later.
Now, are you ready for the good news?!
We'd like to welcome some NEW members to our little JiFFy family! Each of these ladies are great personal friends of ours AND amazing stampers, too. Our new blood is none other than:
Stop by their blogs and see what these fresh faces have done with this month's challenge. And don't forget to leave some love for the 'old-timers', too...
Mmmm... Sounds tasty, no? Er... well, maybe not. But it looks delicious, that I guarantee. How do I know? Because those are the colors DANIELLE has thrown down for this week's Color Throwdown challenge. See for yourself:
And here's what I came up with, using AKIKO, another of the exotic Asian-Inspired Moonlight Whispers gals from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps. (Can you tell I love these images?! I know, I know - I say that about most of my stamps. After all, life's too short to play with ugly stamps. <-- That should be a sentiment!)
I also used the July Sketch For You to Try again. It's a super-versatile one, pefect for bigger vertical images. I imagine you'll see it several times over the course of the month. I kept the card fairly clean and simple so that the image would remain the focal point. The piercing on the Riding Hood Red layer was made via a metal piercing template I picked up a couple of years ago. And how lucky am I that I had the perfect fabric covered brads in my stash for this week's CTD challenge and the image I wanted to use? Kismet! Akiko was colored with Copics and her jacket/robe was paper-pieced.
Be sure to visit my Color Throwdown homegirls to see what they've come up with this week's challenge and leave 'em some love:
Wanna play along with us? Of course you do! Just use CTD149 when uploading to a public gallery and add your creation to the Color Throwdown blog using the linky tool.
It's a holiday weekend here in the U.S., and among the many things I'm grateful for this 4th of July is the fact that I don't have class tonight! Woo-hoo! Instead, the fam is going to our next-door-neighbors' house for a cookout and fireworks. And sweating. Just a little slice o' Americana...
Ready to take a look at this week's Mojo Monday sketch? Here you go...
Because it's the first Monday of the month, it's contest time! If you particpate in this week's sketch and link it up at the Mojo Monday Blog, you could win the Verve Stamps set of your choosing. Pretty sweet, huh? Speaking of sweet, here's my interpretation of this week's sketch using the brand new Away We Go set from The Cat's Pajamas:
Isn't that bunny adorable? Love him! I wanted to make this sorta Fourth of July-ish, but not so over the top that I couldn't use it any time of the year. The patterned papers are all from October Afternoon's Rocket Age set and the stripey ribbon is by Strano. I stamped the sentiment on a cloud from The Cat's Pajamas new Cloud Border CutUps die (a must have!). The star strip was cut with My Favorite Thing's Star Border Die-namic.
Here's a close up of Mr. Bunny and the hand-stitching done between the two patterned base layers. I used 110 lb. Neenah Classic Crest in Natural White to stamp/color on, as well as for my card base.
For more Monday morning inspiration, be sure to stop by the blogs of my fellow Mojo Monday design teammates and see what they've done with this week's sketch.
Then, create your own version and post it to the Mojo Monday blog. If you upload to an online gallery, make sure you use the keyword 'MOJO198' so we can shower you with compliments.
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