Autumn Color Challenge

There is a briskness to the air in the mornings now, and it makes me hungry for Autumn! It is my favorite time of year...thus, I believe it is time for a color challenge!

Here's what I created using my color challenge and the Global Design Team sketch #GDP052 (when I really should have been working on my newsletter...but I'm the queen of procraftination!): 

Try your hand at a Stampin' Up! creation using these lovely colors and tag them with #CJCC (Creative Juice Color Challenge) and PLEASE share your creations over on my Creative Juice Facebook Page before September 17th for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to spend in the new Holiday Catalog!

Thankful Fall Wreath Card

Glad I had a moment to stamp today because the challenges at TGIF and Friday Mashup were a perfect pairing:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Though I'm not blogging as much, I'm sharing DAILY on my Facebook page Creative Juice by Loni and often on Instagram!  Support a small business by ordering your crafting supplies (including those used for this card) from my Stampin' Store :)

Colors, Mashups, Retirement and Special Card

Give me a good challenge...or three...and set me loose! Today I was anticipating the opportunity to join the inagural challenge over at TGIF Challenges with the uber-talented Mercedes and her "dream team" of creators and serendipity happened when the Friday Mashup gave me an excuse to use my Chalk Talk stamp set once more before it retired! Here are the challenges~ A color combo, sketch and retired set:

And this is my creation:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

That was fun~ I may have been a little excited to be the VERY first TGIFChallenge entry...it's a stampin' thing, I guess!!

Chalk Talk was one of my favorite retiring stamps and if you love it, get it today in my store! I've shared a few other projects using this soon-to-be-gone set on my Creative Juice by Loni Facebook Page ...join me there for daily inspiration, fun and creative juice. 

A Dusting of Diamonds and Non-Traditional Christmas Colors!

Getting ready for my last Christmas Card Class and I saw the Friday Mashup from last week, so I decided to use it as inspiration for one of the cards we'll be creating: It uses some non-traditional holiday colors (Island Indigo, Garden Green and Rich Razzleberry) but turned out pretty festive! I hope you can see the Faux Diamonds (or Diamond Dust technique) over the "Merry"...I've told you about this super easy sparkly technique before here and here.  Just can't get enough of it because the BLING sings to me!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

If you are in the Utah County area and would like to come to my Christmas Card Class this Saturday morning (November 15, 2014), please RSVP before Thursday night!

Bee Inspired...By a Challenge

I've been itching to update the blog and this card gave me a reason to do it! It was a wonderful opportunity to combine the Splitcoast Stampers Embossing Folder Stamping technique , the color challenge over at Create with Connie & Mary and the SUonly Birds, Bees & Butterflies challenge :

Card Recipe (All supplies can be ordered from my Stampin' Up! Store):

Stamp Sets: Flower Shop, Petite Petals, Feel Goods
Ink: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay, Basic Black
Paper: Watercolor paper, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral and Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories: Petite Petals and Pansy punches, Oval Framelits and Big Shot, Honeycomb embossing folder, Gingham Garden washi tape, large Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Crisp Canteloupe thick baker's twine, colored Sharpie Markers, Stampin' Dimensionals.

3-D Paper Piecing: Attention to Detail

My style is simple. Usually. But when I saw the Friday Mashup Challenge for 3-D Paper Piecing, my interest was piqued and this little elephant from the You're Amazing stamp set came to mind:

I did my paper piecing a little different as I didn't have the 3-d glue suggested in the tutorial video, so I cut out the largest whole elephant image (including hat), then layered it on my base with the Multipurpose Liquid Glue, next cut out the elephant head/trunk/hat and adhered that, and finally, the party hat! Other than that, I followed the tutorial substituting the tools I had from Stampin' Up!

It's fussy, detail-oriented work, but I loved the result! You can watch Mariska's tutorial on Splitcoaststampers. 

Combining the Friday Mashup 3-D and color challenge with the sketch from Create with Connie & Mary, here is the finished card:

I've also challenged my Stampin' Family to "Go for the GOLD" so you may notice the gold sequins that add a little bling to the whole thing as an homage to the US Olympic Team :)

If you love this card, you can make one of your own at my 3-D Card Class on February 20th!

Card Recipe (all supplies available in my Stampin' Up! Store):

Stamps: You're Amazing
Ink: Stazon Black, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist stamp pads. Stampin' Write Markers: Smoky Slate, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Marina Mist and Primrose Petals. Blender Pens.
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Sky, Whisper White and Crumb Cake card stock. Scraps from Christmas DSP (?), Polka Dot Parade & Natural Composition Specialty Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon (#126844), Gold Sequin Trim (#132983), Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Circle Collection Framelits, Big Shot, 2-1/2" Circle Punch (#120906), Essentials Paper Piercing Pack (#126187), Paper Piercing Tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Stylus, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stretching My Muscles with Mosaic Madness

It was a challenge in the truest sense of the word: This color combination from Create with Connie and Mary made me stretch my creativity!

Since it was a challenging color scheme, I chose to use a stamp set I haven't had any inspiration with either (a double whammy, I guess you could say). Here's my creation:

It turned out better than expected, and I feel more confident in using the Mosaic Madness stamp set, too.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Mosaic Madness, Yippee Skippee
Ink: Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango ink pads and markers
Paper: Naturals White, Always Artichoke and Sahara Sand card stock
Accessories: Mosaic Punch (131267), Big Shot (113439) and Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder (129984), 1/8" Mini Brads (122941), Stampin' Dimensionals

A Piece of Cake Birthday Mashup

Couldn't resist the color challenge at the Friday Mashup...and whenever there is cake, I'm ALL in!

Here's the card I crafted:

It has a fun fold to open like this:

Take a Coastal Cabana marker to a little bitty Glimmer Paper flower and add a pearl: 

Card Recipe (all supplies from my Stampin' Up! store):

Stamps: Birthday Cake (130390), Remembering Your Birthday 
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Whisper White, Crushed Curry and Smoky Slate card stock, Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper (130131), Silver Glimmer Paper (124005)
Accessories: Coastal Cabana Ruffle Stretch Trim (130024), Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (126872), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Scallop Trim Border punch (118402), Pearl Basic Jewels (119247)

A Card for a Special Occasion

Today I made a card for my dear friend and downline, Sally Hadley, who just passed $100,000 in career sales with Stampin' Up! It had to be SPECIAL to celebrate such an awesome accomplishment, so I combined it with Connie & Mary's color challenge and spent a happy hour crafting this masterpiece:

 To make it even more exciting, the inside slides out and the balloon floats up:

I was surprised at how much I thought about Sally as I created this card for her: She has been a friend for 14 years and I love visiting with her. We share the same faith, struggles and goals, and talking to her is easy. She is thoughtful and kind, sarcastic (in a good way), easy-going, dependable, loyal, tenacious, hard working and fun to be with.  She likes simple, quick crafting and you can see her artwork over on SallyStamper, Ink FB page. Yesterday was her birthday, too, so wish her a HBD if you stop by! That's one of the benefits of stamping something specifically for a friend, I guess ~an opportunity to reflect on what they mean to you and the satisfaction of creating something special, just for them. 

Sadly, I don't have a picture of us together (an error I intend to correct the next time I see her), but this is her doing what she loves best: Stamping!

Way to go, Sally! I'm proud of you and know this is going to be your best year ever :)

Feminine Colors and County Fair

Needed a special thank you card and the color challenge over at Create with Connie & Mary this week epitomized the person I am sending it to:

And here is my finished project :

Card Recipe (all from Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: En Francais background stamp, Too Kind and Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Smoky Slate, Pistachio Pudding, Blushing Bride, Versamark
Paper: Blushing Bride, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder (109130), Heat Tool, Sponge Daubers (102892). Big Shot Machine, Deco Labels Collection Framelits (130102), Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder (129984), Silver 1/8" ribbon (132137)

In other news...I won a blue ribbon (actually two) at the Utah County Fair for some of my paper creations!

All Ears

This trio of bunnies are too adorable for words and I've been looking for an excuse to use them, so I combined sketch #78 from the Freshly Made Sketches blog and the color inspiration on my Creative Juice by Loni Facebook page...and it turned out so sweet! Of course, I had to add the bunny tails, so it's really NOT JUST all ears...

Card Recipe: **All supplies from Stampin' Up! of course!**

• Stamps: Ears to You single stamp (Item 132659...only available through March 31, 2013!)
• Ink: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Lucky Limeade & Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Markers
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Whisper White & Bashful Blue card stock. Tea for Two Designer Series Paper (129311)
• Accessories: Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon (122977), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Big Shot (113439), Honeycomb embossing folder (119378), Scallop Edge Border punch (119882), Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack (118309), Pearls Basic Jewels (119247), sanding block, Stampin' Dimensionals

Two-for-One Challenge: Feeling Autumnal

Serendipity! I made this card yesterday for the Create with Connie and Mary color challenge and woke up to discover that it kind of fits the Clean & Simple sketch #216 scallop challenge too :) Since I haven't made nearly enough fall/autumn cards, I was very pleased with how it turned out and the champagne glimmer paper makes me so very warm inside:

I adore the Autumn Accents Die for the Big Shot to make my own leaves and I used the Simply Scored to give the leaves veins. The DSP is from the Comfort Cafe package.  

It was so fun to create last night, but here is what my desk looks like this morning:

And my kids think there should be food in the fridge, so I guess I'll be cleaning and shopping today instead of crafting :( As my Father-in-Law is fond of saying, "Just when you teach 'em to eat dirt, they up and die on you." No bueno!

Celebrate WCMD!

Apparently it's not just National Card Making Day, it's WORLD Card Making Day (WCMD)! My bad...
But this is good! I combined the sketch from Create with Connie and Mary:

with my Facebook Color Challenge:

 (Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, So Saffron)

 to come up with this masculine birthday card:

Card Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up!): card stock and ink colors listed above, You're Amazing Stamp Set (catalog page 33), Apothecary Accents Framelits (#127703),  Big Shot (#113439), 1" circle punch (#119868), Subtles Glimmer Brads (retired). It's good to have a spring-board for creativity sometimes and I was happy with the way it turned out!

If you are making cards this weekend, try my sketch challenge or FB color challenge (or combine them!) for a chance to win a prize :) then go ahead and send a card to a friend...just because.

2-for-1 Challenge and Cut a Perfect Flag Tutorial

I love it when you can combine TWO challenges and get one simply sensational card! Today I combined the color challenge over at Create with Connie & Mary with the Fall-To-Layout 210 sketch at the Clean & Simple blog and came up with this holiday card:

I debated whether to add something to it, but I *really* like it just the way it is...and with the silver glimmer paper, it's even prettier in person! Of course, I tend to gravitate toward simple and elegant cards with a touch of sparkle, but I hope you like it too. It used  a-little-bit-of-this and a-little-bit-of-that Designer Series Paper...why not pull out your stash and try your hand at this sketch too? The stamp is from the "Greetings of the Season" set on page 8 of the Holiday Catalog (which you can download from my sidebar).

Let me share the EASIEST way to make a perfect "flag"...taught to me by one of my Stampin' Family, Kelly H. WARNING: This may change your life! Start by cutting a slit straight into your paper from the side center where you want the flag to be:

Then cut from the corners into the point of your slit. I KNOW!!! It's so simple! I haven't used a square punch since she showed me this! Thanks again, Kelly :)

Don't forget to leave your comment because I am still giving away all the cards I share here in September to celebrate my 20th Anniversary with Stampin' Up!

Update: Connie will be getting this card in the mail...thanks for visiting, Connie! I admire your work and am happy to share this card with you :)

SQUEEZING a little creativity in today...

I am squeezing in under the wire at Freshly Made Sketches with sketch #28:

And a color challenge I gave my Stampin' Family in March:

And this is what I came up with:

Whew! That felt good!