Thinking of You, SU only...

Well, just about SU only, aside from the Nestabilities and the Cuttlebug folder. But this is about as SUO as I get nowadays.

I think this is the first time ever that I've completed the weekly Splitcoast Sketch Challenge on the day it's issued. This layout is SC242. When I saw the sketch I thought it would be perfect for Trendy Trees. The tree is inked with chocolate chip and kiwi kiss then I stamped the sentiment in riding hood red. I just can't seem to give up these colours...yum!

The patterned paper is Bella Rose. I ran some pink pirouette through my birds and swirls Cuttlebug folder before layering it onto the white card base. Everything is layered on chocolate chip and I did my fun loopy ribbon treatment with the riding hood red ribbon then attached a kiwi corduroy button. Two chocolate brads finished it off nicely.

I have lots to do today (running around and stamping), getting ready for friends to arrive for a weekend visit.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

I Need More Memory...

This week's challenge in the MFT forum on Splitcoast is to create something with a back-to-school theme. Instead of making a card I decided to alter a mini composition book.

When I was flipping through my pile of MFT stamps searching for just the right one, Digital Girl from the Who's That Girl line jumped out at me, especially the "I need more memory" sentiment. After all, schools are about more than just books these days, the kids all use computers too, but I chuckled to myself at just how funny it would be to use Digital Girl and the sentiment to alter a paper book...it still makes me chuckle! Although, I'm a paper-lovin' girl...up until just a few months ago I was still using a paper planner for my appointments and stuff...hubby laughs at how long it takes me to embrace a new gadget, then I plow ahead full steam commenting on how much I love my new 21st century gadget! LOL!

This book is little, only 3.25 x 4.5 inches big so I chopped the image at the bottom of the desk to fit better. Digital girl is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White and coloured with copics. I can colour so much faster with copics than I can with pencils, so I still tend to reach for my copics first. The desk is paper pieced.

The patterned papers are from Jillibean Soup, the Minestrone line. I adhered them directly to the composition book then added some orange ribbon. I used an EK border punch on some chocolate chip to create the spine piece and attached it with Score Tape so it's very secure. The only embellishment I added was a small ghost flower and an orange bonbon.

Since we don't have kids and I'm not going to school any time soon, I think I'll tuck this into my purse for when I need to make a note, or maybe jot down a sketch or idea that comes to mind when I'm out.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Bright and Happy #1

It's been quite a while since I played with one of my friend Janet's Corrosive Challenges so when I saw this week is a sketch challenge I just had to play along.

And the best part...I was planning on using You're my number one-abella from Stamping Bella and the sketch worked beautifully with the image. I love it when a plan comes together! :)

I started by stamping #1-aBella with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Bella's Bestest Paper then cut her out with rectangle Nestabilities. Then I coloured the image with copics and added some shimmer with both pink and yellow Spica glitter pens.

This is my first card using the new in-colours from SU...they're preeeeetty bright! I do really like how happy this card is though. I ran some Melon Mambo through my swiss dots Cuttlebug folder then layered it onto the white card base. The patterned paper is from Razzleberry Lemonade and I added Razzleberry polka dot ribbon. The image is layered onto Razzleberry and so is the "you're". I finished the card with some purple Primas and a Fuschia Bella Bonbon in the center.

Don't forget to check Bloggabella for this week's Bellarific sketch challenge and play along for a chance to win Bella bucks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Whimsical Birthday Wishes

I {heart} this adorable floppy dog from the Beary Special set at Taylored Expressions and I thought he'd be perfect for Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge, TESC78.

I started by stamping the hat then masked it and stamped the dog, all with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White. Then I stamped the hat and present (both from Beary Special Accessories) onto a scrap of Choice Snow White because I knew I'd be cutting them out. I was about to reach for my copics and then I saw my Lyra pencils (because they're out on display on my desk now, thanks to the sweet handbag tidy I altered...you can see it here) and decided to colour everything with my pencils, OMS and a stump. The hat is popped on foam tape for dimension and I added liquid applique for the pompom. The image is cut out with deckle rectangle Nestabilities.

I layered Prism Suede Brown Dark and Frosted Teal onto the white card base then added some polka dot paper from the My Mind's Eye Delighted line. Next I wrapped some orange polytwill and tied a bow then secured the present to the bow with a white jump ring. I finised the card with three Multicolour Twinkles on the left side.

I'd like to remind you that Beary Special and Beary Special Accessories are the charitable sets for this quarter's TE Giving Tree. Proceeds from the sale of these two sets until August 31st will benefit Sick Kids Hospital. You'll still be able to purchase the sets after August 31st, but then the TE Giving Tree will be focussing on another charitable organization, so if you want to help benefit a wonderful children's hospital, pick up your sets before the end of August.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Up, Up and Away...

I finally cracked into my other new-to-me Verve set Up, Up and Away. I've loved this set since it was released and it's the reason I'm no longer Verve-less. :)

The Weekend Sketch Challenge, hosted by Beate, seemed like a fabulous layout to use with this set. I also dug into my SU Thoroughly Modern PP. I stamped the balloon with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White then stamped it again onto one of the patterned papers so I could paper piece the circle. The rest of the image is coloured with copics and I added a blue background with my copics to make it look like it was in the sky. I ran my clear Glaze pen over the balloon to make it shiny.

The white card base is 5 inches square. I layered rose red then sahara sand and stamped the clouds in sahara sand. I backed the scallop border with bermuda bay to make it pop. I saw this fun ribbon treatment on Paula's card and tucked it away in my memory to use on my own cards. I just love her idea of wrapping it back onto the image and securing with a button. I was lucky enough to find a button in my stash that coordinates perfectly with bermuda bay! Thanks for the idea Paula!

The weather is soooooooo beautiful here this weekend...finally! Hot and humid...just the way I like it so you won't hear me complaining...perfect convertible weather (with sunscreen and a hat of course!).

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Surprise-abella!

Happy Bellarific Friday!

Today's sketch was created for us by the talented Shannanabella, and it was a fun one. Did you play along?

I decided to use one of my very first Bellas for this one, and I'm embarrassed to say I don't even think it had been inked yet...eeks! I also wanted to make a birthday card because my birthday stash seems to be getting a little low. I stamped Curly Surprise-abella with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Bella's Bestest Paper and coloured her with copics. She's cut out with Petite Oval Nestabilities. I decorated the packages a little with my copic multiliner and black glaze pen as well as with some purple Stickles.

The patterned paper is from the Little Yellow Bicycle Zinnia collection and I paired it with Prism Majectic Purple Medium and Prism Papaya Puree Medium. I ran the one layer through my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder before adding some green ribbon from my stash. I finished it with three Lilac Bella Glitter Dots in the bottom left corner...look close because they're easy to miss.

I can't wait to see what the Sistahood created for this week's challenge. Let's pop over to Bloggabella together, shall we?

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

No longer out of sight....

I created a fun project to get my Lyra pencils out of their drawer and into my line of sight...hoping that this will get me using them more often. Pop over to the Stamp A Sweet Impression blog for all the deets on my project.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Verve Christmas

I finally picked up a couple of Verve sets a few weeks back so I decided to ink up Ornamental Christmas for my Christmas card this week. I know, I know...I didn't have a Christmas card last week. Seriously, I completely ran out of time and I'm blaming it on our vacation. :)

I chose very traditional colours for this card, burgundy, green and gold, and I just happened to have some fabulous Cosmo Cricket papers with those colours...yay! The swirly ornament is sooooooo elegant that I decided to emboss it in gold. I never emboss...ever...I just don't think of it, but I'm really pleased with the look here. I also embossed the ornament onto the patterned paper then paper pieced the center. For the layout I used one of the anni-Verve-sary sketches from Splitcoast, AVS203, but I flipped it to work with the image.

The rest of the card is pretty basic, although the gold paper just doesn't look as pretty in the photo as it does in real life...sigh. I did colour the clear rhinestones with a deep red copic though, and I also ran a dark green copic over the grosgrain ribbon to darken it a little.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

A Card for Amy

When we were visiting back home recently, our dog got to visit and stay the day with his old groomer, Amy. I'm sure Shadow had fun playing with Amy and her three dogs, so I thought I'd send her this card as a thank you for keeping him for the day while we did some shopping and visiting.

I stamped Dog-walk-abella from Stamping Bella with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Bella's Bestest Paper and coloured it with copics. I did this card a little backwards (well, backwards for me anyway) and coloured the image before choosing any papers. I think that's why I ended up using a ridiculous amount of copics (29 to be exact!)...oh well...live and learn...I guess choosing my paper first kinda helps me stick to fewer colours. Regardless though, I really like how this turned out and it wasn't as stressful as I thought it would be to choose the papers after I'd coloured the image.

The white card base is 5.25 inches square. I layered some Prism Suede Brown Dark then the yellow polka dot paper, which is from My Mind's Eye Delighted. The other layer is Prism Razzleberry Medium and I ran that piece through my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder before stitching around the edge. I finished it off with some white satin ribbon and a button.

This week's Bellarific sketch is posted on Bloggabella. I hope you'll play along for a chance to win $20 Bella Bucks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Cheers!

I made this card for Taylor's Sketch Challenge #77, TESC77. I'm lovin' the new Chillax set from Taylored Expressions and having an absolute blast creating with it!

This time I created a trio of drinks for the main panel. Everything is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White and coloured with copics. The middle drink is popped on foam tape for dimension and I swiped my clear Glaze pen over each of the glasses to make them shine. The image is cut out with octagon Nestabilities and layered onto black, then I stitched a zig zag around the edge.

I chose a fun pattern from Basic Grey's June Bug 6x6 pack and accented it with black and Prism Blush Red Medium. The sentiment banner is stamped onto Prism Frosted Kiwi. Finally I added some black twill and I fished through my Whirligig buttons for the accents. I've seen people thread their buttons with fine strips of paper and I thought I'd give it a try this time. I really like the result and it was much easier than using white floss.

Cheers to you, and have a fabulous day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen