Color Throwdown #164

Hi friends.  I'm popping in to share a card I made this morning for the Color Throwdown (CTD164) challenge.  I didn't get my card done for the challenge on Wednesday because I was out of town this week for work (and I'm a procrastinator).  Broni is our hostess and she chose a pretty Halloween palette for us! 

Of course, I decided not to make a Halloween themed card, and recolored the same paper I used last week instead, Fresh Cut Expressions - Collection 1.  I used Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #34 as the inspiration for my layout:

I didn't want to cover my bold print with my sentiment (MTME Sentimental Occasions) so I went with vellum (again).  I added some black sewing trim and a piece of black lace and stiched my small layers together. 

I also randomly stitched my vellum to secure it to my paper and to add interest.  Other than that, it's pretty self explanatory :]

You have until 11:59 pm on Sunday to link to your card and be eligible for our Featured Stamper badge.  Be sure to check out my fellow DT creations also!  I'm being lazy tonight, so I'm going to refer you to their blog links over at the Color Throwdown site ;]  I WILL be back this week as usual.  Check in with me again on Wednesday if you're looking for a fresh palette of inspiration!!

Hope you're having an awesome weekend.

Color Throwdown Challenge #163

Hi friends!  It's Wednesday which means I'm here to share my Color Throwdown card!!  Bar is our fab hostess who chose this stunning palette.

I didn't realize it until I uploaded my card, but apparently I channeled my card from two weeks ago when I was getting crafty!  I kept thinking something felt familiar, but I dismissed it and kept right on going.  Oh well...I love the colors and I adore this paper I recolored to fit the challenge palette (MTME Fresh Cut Expressions - Collection 2).  I also used a sheet from my Romance pack and recolored a sheet from my Cheerful Musical Magic pack.  My sentiment is from the MTME So Sentimental stamp set.

My bird, sentiment panel, round layer, and branch are all cut files (Branching Out, A Little Birdie, Framed Elegance, and What's My Fortune? Cookie).  I ran my Poppy marker around the edge of my bird and also dotted her eye.  I did the same for my sentiment panel.  The vellum layer is dry embossed, and I added some cool, dark brown hemp twine to show off my button.  The ribbon layer is the same as the layer on my card two weeks ago (of course).  That lace trim just sings to me every time I get busy in my craft room! 

My layout was inspired by Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday challenge #32...which was inspired by a card our guest designer, the talented Ms. Amy sheffer created not long ago.

That's pretty much all there was to my card (other than a BUNCH of dimensional tape)...but be sure to check out our new DT!  You'll find a LOT more inspiration each week with our awesome designers ;]

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Joan

Keva
Laura

Lori

Lynn

Tammy

Wanda

♥ Amy Sheffer ~ October Guest Designer ♥

Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope you are having a wonderful, short week ;]

Swimming for Katie Renz ~ Blog Hop and Fundraiser

From October 10-12 some of the best stampers are joining together to support and encourage our friend and fellow stamper, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer. If you're not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year. This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight. A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer. Her first post about it is here. The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.

This exclusive stamp used in my sample, designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digi or a digi and SVG cut file (I used the svg cut file to trim around my digi image...if you haven't used digis with cut files before, Lauren Meader has an awesome tutorial HERE...the digi papers I used came from my MTME Blue Skies collection). 100% of the profits go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family. Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support. 

In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale. Direct donations are also being accepted. Information central is HERE. This is a permanent page that will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.

Here are all the items available for sale.

Keep Swimming Octopus Peachy Clear stamp $5.50 with free shipping

Keep Swimming Octopus DIGIstamp $3.00 with instant download

Keep Swimming Octopus DIGIstamp with SVG cut file $3.50 with instant download

Keep Swimming Mermaid DIGIstamp $3.50 with instant download

Keep Swimming Ribbon Fish DIGIstamp and DIGIpapers $5.00 with instant download

I hope you will join me in supporting Katie through a purchase or donation.  If you would like to send Katie a card, her mailing address is:

Katie Renz
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

The following is a list of everyone who has projects posted today. I hope you will be inspired by them and moved to purchase or donate.  

Thank you!

Ashley Harris
Clare Buswell
Jessica Diedrich
Lisa Somerville
Charlene Merrick
Eva Dobilas
Judy Rozema
Sharon Doolittle
Tifany DeGough
Windy Robinson
Ashley Cannon Newell
Connie McCotter
Heidi Van Laar
Karen Maldonado
Lori Craig
Melissa Phillips
Tosha Leyendekker
Amy Kolling
Angela Thomas
Angelica Suarez
Angie Blom
Becky Oehlers
Betty Wright
Bev Gerard
Brenda Weaver
Carolyn King
Chari Moss
Charlene Driggs
Cindi Bisson
Claire Brennan
Corinna McGregor
Craft Critique
Karen Hunsaker (Rubbernecker Stamps Designer)
Keely Yowler
Kelly Schirmer
Keri Lee Sereika
Kim Hughes
Kimber McGray
Kittie Caracciolo
Kristin Eberline
Wendy Price

Color Throwdown Challenge #162

Hi friends!  I'm here to share my card for the Color Throwdown Challenge (CTD162) that Tammy is hosting this week!  BUT, before I get into my post I have to apologize to everyone who played along last week.  I was the hostess and I set aside Monday night to comment on everyone's cards and type the Featured Stamper post, but unfortunately I've had MAJOR CONSTANT issues with my wi-fi router.  Sometimes it works like a charm for a good length of time, and others, well it just doesn't allow me to do anything for a good length of time.  The latter was the case last night.  It took me over two hours to comment on one blog post.  Eventually I had to give up because 5 am comes way too early.  Fortunately, my sweet friend, Broni, stepped in and saved the day!  THANK YOU BRONI!!!  I owe you girlfriend.  Okay...onto Tammy's awesome palette!  Check it out:

I chose to work with my MTME Romance paper since the palette was so similar to the challenge colors!  I hand-stitched my three base strips together (1.5" x 4" each) and added a strip of some pretty, brown lace trim I picked up at Hobby Lobby a while ago.  I used my Sentimental Occasions stamp set, my Occasional Labels and Flutters and Flowers cut files for my focal points.  I punched "happy" with a SU punch, and secured it with a button.  I layered about four pieces of the daisy cut file after inking the petal edges with a Copic and curling them with my fingers.  I secured them with a button also.  My card shape is also a cut file from MTME, Cornice Trimmed Square.

My layout was inspired by Chupa's Saturday Sketchbook challenge.

 

That's all I have to share today, other than the links to our fabulous DT!  Swing by and take a look at their fab creations :]  You'll definitely receive a HEALTHY dose today...we've expanded our talent - take a look ♥

Bar

Broni

Carole

Danielle

Laura

Tammy

~ Newbies ~

Keva

Lori

Lynn

Wanda

don't forget our HUGELY talented October guest designer:

♥ Amy Sheffer ♥

We certainly hope you can play along this week!  You don't have to use these exact colors (obviously, because I didn't :)...just come close.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope your week is off to a great start and you're on a swift downhill slide ;]