Less is More 27...Colour meets Clean and Simple 152

The sketches at Clean and Simple Stamping have been a bit of a challenge for me the last couple weeks.  I don't do this often, but when I saw the color challenge at Less is More...to make a card with the colors of our nation's flag colors...I decided to at least make one of my cards to fit both challenges.  My flag is "The Red White and Blue"..."Old Glory"..."The Star Spangled Banner"..."Stars and Stripes"...the flag of the United States of America!!!!:

I made the first to fit both the Less is More 27 challenge and Clean and Simple 152 sketch the second is simply for Less is More:

Here's the sketch:

For the first one, I used 2 Papertrey Ink sets(Everyday Button Bits, Botanical Silhouettes) and some heart buttons I had bought a long time ago.  Stamped with Memento Paris Dusk ink.  I made my red panel by using a Stampin up corner punch. Popped up the panel on a 4" x 8' card. Bazzill red, white and blue paper used on card.  Super simple!!
This second one I made with a stamp from W Plus 9 Design Studio(LOVE the way these stamps stamp!!) the set is called Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions and a Hero Arts sentiment(Everyday Sayings).  I inked the stamp with Riding Hood Red and misted with water(Ranger spritzer) before stamping...kinda like the spotted look...having fun with that little spray bottle!!  Dotted the leaves with red rhinestones and added sentiment with Memento Paris Dusk ink. Stamped on and popped up on Papertrey Ink white paper.  Another super simple card!!

Thanks for looking, hope you have a fantastic week!  I love the Less is More challenges...the variety in the different types of challenges keep me challenged, keep me stamping...and keep me having sooooooooo much fun:)!!!!  I rarely think  to put red, white and blue together too often and in different ways...you challenged me to think outside my comfort zone...thanks Mandi and Chrissie!!

Less is More 26...Feeling Fruity

 The challenge at Less is More this week is to make cards with fruit on them!  I was having so much fun, I came up with 3:

 This was made with a couple very old stamps by A Stamp in the Hand.  I colored the pear with More Mustard, Crumb Cake along the edges and Old Olive markers and used a Ranger spritzer and misted water on the stamp and then stamped it on Gina K Pure Luxury paper.  I masked the pear and added the sentiment in what else...Pear Pizzazz.  Added ribbon. Layered on Old Olive card.

 I made this with a Stampin Up stamp(I just bought the cherries and the stems separately, not a set, on ebay...I LOVE all things cherry:)!!). I stamped the cherries with ruby red,clear embossed and cut out.  The stem is stamped in Wild Wasabi, embossed and cut out.  I popped them up on piece of dp from Mike's(I think...or Joann's) .  The sentiment is Papertrey Ink....masking the sweet and stamping in Ruby red and Stazon black.  White paper is bazzill .

This card was made with an apple stamp from a set of 4 apples by Hero Arts, the sentiment Hero Arts, as well.  Stamped on polka dotted bazzill from Mike's, clear embossed and cut out.  Layered on same paper and then on bazzill white dry embossed with apple folder(quickutz).  Added ribbon tied with Bow Easy and red button threaded with floss. I know this one is a little complex for Less is More...I'm sorry...there is a bit of white, but this card took on a life of it's own when I got going....
Thanks for taking a look...another fun challenge:)!!

Less is More 25...Buttons and Ribbons

I made this card for Less is More's challenge 25, this week's challenge is to use a button or ribbon...I used both!

I had a ribbon hole maker( very loud hammer hitting metal tool) and made two slits, threaded my $1.97 ribbon from Walmart through the slits and put some dark brown floss through wooden leaf button(Joann's).  Added sentiment(verse from Verve) to panel and popped up and popped up again on white card.

AND...I decided to put up my first attempt, but this one doesn't qualify...I thought there wasn't enough white space...but thought the Papertrey Berry Sorbet colored card, buttons and ribbon were just too "sweet"...so here it is:

I know...nothing original under the sun, but fun to make, anyway.   I am trying hard to start thinking out of the box when I stamp, but unlike so many other incredible stampers...I have to work REALLY hard at it...so I'm working on it...but not this card...it's still ok to just make a row of button flowers and add ribbon and sentiment...and you know...I like it!!  The ink, card, buttons, and ribbon are Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet, the other ink and paper Early Espresso.  Flowers stamped on bazzill white, the sentiment Hero Arts and pink twine threaded through buttons.

Thanks for looking, hope you have a great day!!

MojoMonday 200!!

Congratulations, Julee Tilman, on your 200th MojoMonday sketch and challenge!!  When I came back into stamping two years ago, after having left for seven years(and TOTALLY starting over after giving all but a couple favorite stamps away), MojoMonday was a challenge I would look at and tell myself...wow...those are incredible cards...that is one challenge that's out of my league...kind of like the grouchy ladybug who would say, "Oh, you're not BIG enough."...well I would tell myself, "Oh, you're not GOOD enough."  Well, last year, around my one year back into stamping anniversary(yes, we can ALL have anniversaries), I decided it was time to step out of my comfort zone, and  decided to conquer my biggest stamping fear, MojoMonday!  I can't tell you how liberating it was for me...and how much fun!  I am a clean and simple stamper...I have discovered my style...that's who I am...that's what I do.  I am a puzzle maker, though, too, and LOVE putting pieces together.  I  love to take the Mojo Monday sketches and although I may not be the most creative banana of the bunch, I can interpret literally pretty good and make cards true to my style.  I have LOVED the fact that no matter if you are a stamper who is clean and simple like me, or one who is super creative, or loves lots of layers and "foof"(as I call it:)!)...all cards are admired and valued on MojoMonday...the diversity is wonderful...all this to say...WAY TO GO, JULEE and TEAM!!  Thank you for the wonderful sketches, and inspiring us with your creativity!!
Here's the sketch:

And here's my card:

The colors are a result of inspiration from wrapping paper at Target I saw while out shopping with my daughter yesterday.  The only thing I will say is that I stamped the flower twice, one on white paper and again on blue with black ink and then polka dotted over both the white and blue in versamark and clear embossed...just so you know.  OK, I talked enough..it was fun... thanks for looking, hope your day is great!

Things I used:
Stamps: Stampin up Dot Dot Dot, Hero Arts Sew Me Flower Jewel, Stampendous Party Invite
Paper: textured taken with teal, bazzill white, black the lighter  blue unknown, polka dotted from Mike's
Ink: stazon black, versamark
Extras: SU border punch, white enamel accents, large black brad., lacey square nestie, ribbon from Mike's, pop up dots

Less is More...Circles

I had time to play in my stamp room yesterday and came up with a few cards for Less is More's 24th challenge...a card made having circles on it:

This is my Hero Arts card...made with a new set of flowers I just got(Dotted Flowers) and sentiment as well(Friends).  Used Marina Mist, Bashful Blue and black . Used various circle punches and dotted them amongst the flowers.  Masked the sentiment and used black and marina mist for that.  Popped up panel.

This is my Papertrey Ink card...cherry stems from Everyday Button Bits, the sentiment from Signature Greetings, the buttons also PTI. Popped up panel.

This was made from a Clean and Simple sketch( I LOVE their sketches when I need inspiration). Punched circles with 1" punch and added sentiment(Hero ArtsThinking of You) and popped up on A Muse Bubblegum card.

Thanks, Mandi and Chrissie, for this blog and the wonderful challenges...It sounds funny putting fun and challenged in the same sentence...but you make it fun being challenged!!  Thank you!!!

Clean and Simple 149

I made these cards for Clean and Simple's 149 challenge with this sketch:

This sketch was a bit difficult to work with for me, and my cards are perhaps a bit boring and quite a bit alike, but I had fun...and that IS what's important...well, and that you like your cards, too!  Sometimes I LOVE my cards, sometimes LIKE my cards, and then there are those that you never see...only the "circular file"!  These I LIKE...and that's good!

Things I used:
Stamps: Verve Great Friend, Papertrey Ink Gracious Vases, Stampin Up Cherries, Papertrey Ink Signature Greetings
 Paper: Riding Hood Red, papertrey white, dp from Mike's, More Mustard, black, bazzill black, bazzill polka dotted
 Ink: Riding hood Red, More Mustard, Old Olive, Stazon black
 Extras: SU and EK border punches, White and Black enamel accents, black nail head stick ons, pop up dots, clear embossing powder(sentiments)

Clean and Simple 148

Here's the sketch for this week's Clean and Simple challenge:

This is what I made with it:

In cleaning my stamp room...I have discovered a LOT of things I had long forgotten about.  I had purchased a big stamp set from Gina K Designs which came with paper, design paper and ribbon of various colors...this dp, yellow card and circle around the sentiment are Gina K as well as the ribbon.  I added daffodil delight for the top and bottom circles.  It's been fun "rediscovering" and using some stored away supplies!! The circles were a bit intimidating...I think circles do that to me...and then when I chose to use the yellow dp....I couldn't make the circles work...but I'm pretty happy with some embossing and added Enamel Accents to work with the dp.  Thanks for looking, have a great day!!

Things I used:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Birthday Basics
 Paper: Gina K, daffodil delight, bazzill white
Ink:stazon black
Extras: flowered embossing folder, GKD ribbon, white enamel accents, circle punch, circle nestie, SU tri flower punch

Less is More...One Layer...Legs

 I made this card for Simply Less is More's challenge 23...to make a one layer card with something that has legs.
I decided on one of my tiniest wood mounted stamps...my scottie dog:

Used a piece of removable tape to make a line for the scotties and my stamp-a-ma-jig to position them.  Colored their bows with Poppy Parade, and added a red rhinestone to each bow.  Scored lines beneath them and added sentiment!  My free time has been tough, these days, so this is short and sweet...hope to get to the gallery tonight, and hope I can make some comments before the "sleepies" get me:)!!
Thanks for looking!!

Things I used:
Stamps: scottie Inkadinkado, Papertrey Ink Fillable Frames 1
Paper: Papertrey Ink white
Ink: stazon black, poppy parade
Extras: Martha Stewart scoreboard, red rhinestones, clear embossing powder, stamp-a-ma-jig

One Layer Wednesday 61...Clouds

Under the wire...I made this card for OLW...to make a one layer card with clouds:

Sponged Baja Breeze for the clouds and stamped wild wasabi for the leaves and verse.  Super simple...thanks for looking, have a great night!!

I Things I used:
Stamps:Verve, stems DRS Designs
 Paper: Bazzill white
 Ink: baja breeze wild wasabi
 Extras:

Enjoy the Sun

While trying to make a card for yesterday's SCS's Clean and Simple challenge with a 3 layer scallop idea, I made a bunch of die cut zig zags by Papertrey Ink in various colors.  I had the thought of waves and water, so this morning, I made this:

It took 4 stamp companies to pull it together, but I think they all work so sweetly together:)!  The sailboat is Verve, the sun Hero Arts, the sentiment Gina K Designs and the "waves" Papertrey Ink.  Paper pieced the sailboat and sun...now I must sail away(but not out into the sunshine...it's expected to reach 100 degrees here today)!!  Thanks for looking, have a great day...stay cool out there:)!!

Things I used:
Stamps: Verve Text Objects, Hero Arts Kiss from the Sun, Gina K Designs Enjoy the Sunshine
Paper: bazzill white, cool caribbean, tempting turquoise, pumpkin pie, so saffron, dp from Mikes
 Ink:So Saffron, stazon black
Extras: Papertrey Ink Rick rack die, clear embossing powder

Shades of Brown Birthday

SplitcoastStamper's clean and simple challenge today was based on this pretty card:

I didn't have any large scallops, but had just gotten a MFT die that, when layered like this one, adding some pearls and ribbon, I came up with:

I used 2 colors of kraft paper scraps I had and a scrap of early espresso to make the layers. Added a sentiment from Hero Arts.  Quick and easy...just like this post...now it's off to finish my work in my stamp room...just made a stamp pad holder from foam board(my second, but much better built than the first!!)...holds 60 SU stamp pads.
thanks for taking a look, hope you have a great day!!

Things I used:
Stamps: Hero Arts
 Paper: bazzill white, early espresso, kraft
Ink:early espresso
 Extras: stick on pearls, My Favorite Things crochet die, SU early espresso ribbon, clear embossing powder

Mojo Monday 198

It seems like...no, it has been ages since I've posted a card.  I have been busy redoing my stamp room...what a job!  My stamp room is a space in my daughter's former bedroom.  She got married last September, and although her bed and dresser are still here for when she and hubby Nic visit, I have taken any remaining space(and the room plus a laundry room, was made from 1/2 the garage, so it wasn't very big to begin with) and continue on in my quest to make the very most of the space I have .  I should have taken "before" pictures, but will take a couple pics when I have it done, to show you "my space"...I am pretty happy, so far.  It's amazing what you can do with a small space!!
I made a couple cards for MojoMonday 198...here's the sketch:

And, based on a look at a Pottery Barn catalog, while waiting in front of one of their stores the other day for my daughter, I was impressed with some outdoor furniture that was wooden with poppy red cushions:

Made with stamps from Annabelle, Verve(sentiment) and stems are RubberSoul. Stamped the same flowers with Versamark on the poppy panel for dimension.
I also decided on another set of stamps by Verve and made this card:

The sketch was pretty simple, which I loved, but the banners(ribbon) panels were a bit of a challenge for me. I wanted to make this sailboat a little more "girly" so used flowered dp and rose red for a base. Drew the lines around the square.

I will put both in the Mojo gallery...it was my fun in the midst of chaos!  Thanks for looking, have a great night.

Things I used:
Stamps:Annabelle, Verve , RubberSoul
Paper: Bazzill white, SU dp, soft suede, sahara sand, poppy parade, rose red
Ink: soft suede, stazon black, versamark
Extras:polka dot embossing folder , ek border punch, bird punch(leaves), brads, ribbon, Enamel Accents

Five Panels and a Vase

SplitcoastStampers had a Clean and Simple Challenge on July 4th, and I made this card for the first of the many challenges, but in the end, thought it had a bit too much going on to put there, but thought I would put it here:)!:

I stamped the image, and stamped again in yellow, blue, green and white, cut out the pieces and added them to stamped image...popping up flower. Popped up panel on embossed and cut panels and added sentiment(I think a little too little)...added white enamel accents and a sparkly black stick on dot.

Things I used:
Stamps: stampendous, Stampin Up Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:papertrey ink white, textured taken with teal and apricot appeal, bazzill green polka dotted, plain taken with teal
 Ink: stazon black
Extras: white enamel accents, black stick on, embossing folder, pop up dots, clear embossing powder

Framed Birthday Card

It was my daughter's 20th birthday, today!  Between pizza and ice cream cake, I decided to put the card I made for her last night on the blog!  Here's what I made for her:

I used paper from Mike's, bazzill polka dotted, and the black dotted is also from Mike's.  I used a flower stamp from PTI, stamped and cut out 8 flowers.  I dotted with white enamel accents and stamped the stems with a SU stamp. I cut the stems with a petite oval nestie and made the frame from a smaller oval and larger scalloped petite oval.  I taped the black paper on a piece of chipboard and used the dies to cut out. Layered on another piece of bazzill polka dotted and added PTI sentiment. Thanks for looking...I hope your Wednesday is wonderful!!

Things I used: 

Stamps: Stampin Up Thanks from the Heart, Papertrey Ink Beautiful Blooms and Birthday Basics

Paper: bazzill white, bazzill polka dotted pink, purple and red, black polka dotted dp from Mike's 

Ink: stazon black

Extras: pink ribbon, white Enamel Accents, petite oval and scalloped oval nesties, clear embossing powder, pop up dots

Clean and Simple 147

I hope everyone had a great July 4th!!  We  grilled chicken...that is until the SEVERE thunder and lightning storms rolled in with the torrential rains...we only grilled 1/2 the chicken we were going to grill...oh well more for another day!  Today is my daughter's 20th birthday, so I made her a birthday card, will post next...but I had fun playing in my stamp room this weekend...here are a couple.
This was this week's sketch for Clean and Simple's challenge 147:

I made a couple:

I made them both with the same size circles, same sentiment, same Enamel Accents, same borders and both are 4 1/4" square...what can I say, it all worked for me!!  Used a stamp set for the first and a flower punch for the second.  Popped up both sets of panels.  Thought it was a tough challenge when I first looked at it, but  after punching the circles, wound up coming together.
Thanks for looking, have a great day:)!!
Things I used:
Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments, Hero Arts Friends
Paper: bazzill white, bashful blue, not quite navy, brocade blue, SU design paper
Ink: stazon black, brocade blue
Extras: stick on white dots, SU border punch, flower punch, circle punches, white enamel accents, striped embossing folder, clear embossing powder, pop up dots

One Layer Wednesday...Quick Layers of Ink

I made these cards for One Layer Wednesday 60...the challenge:
 Make a card that layers ink. USE ONLY STAMPED IMAGES AND/OR SENTIMENTS.No masking, no sponging, no embellishments of any kind!  I got out a stamp set I had purchased on ebay  and made these:

The set has 4 stamps...one has 9 circles...so I used my stamp a ma jig and pigment ink from A Muse(the dye inks didn't work so good with these old stamps.,. and stamped.  I cut the card down to 4"...then there were no cut off circles and same length and width of circles.  Added sentiment from Stampendous.

And then I took the rectangle from the same set, and swiped distress ink over the stamp(again dye inks just didn't work...uneven coverage)...and with a long flower stamp and a sentiment from PTI, made this:

I made it on textured paper, too...my DD, Emma liked it better on PTI  white, instead, but here's the other:

These only took minutes, each, but it was fun and kinda "freeing" to have such "limitations" to my card making...it was nice knowing I could make a card in minutes if I had to:)!!
Things I used:
 Stamps: Stampin Up Great Shapes, Stampendous, Papertrey Ink Through the Trees, Tim Holtz
Paper: Papertrey Ink white, Bazzill white
 Ink:  A Muse bubblegum and papaya, distressed linen, soft suede and stazon black
Extras:

Mojo Monday 197

I made this card for Mojo Monday challenge 197 found HERE :

Here's the sketch:

I chose the square(as I always do:)!)...but my color choices were a bit more difficult.  I initially thought of kraft , brown, and cream, but thought of my designer paper from Michael's and with the flower in the sketch, thought I would let that have the  pop of color, so went with black and white with a  teal flower.  SUPER simple...tried to add some silver pearls, but less is more...I thought there was enough going on with the paper:)!!  Stamped flower, cut out...added enamel accents.  Used a Sizzix die for the leaves and Verve stamp with BEAUTIFUL sentiment...I am loving this for ALOT of occasions...what's not got LOVE in it???  I thought this might be a wedding card??  Added ribbon and popped up panel and flower. 

Thanks for looking...I love these square sketches...fast, easy and with only 4 1/4" square to work with, it's easy to stay simple!

Things I used:
Stamps: Verve Text Objects and Great Friend
 Paper: Papertrey Ink white, black, Textured Taken with Teal, dp from Michael's
 Ink: stazon black
Extras: Sizzix Flowers, Branches and Leaves Die, SU ribbon, Enamel Accents, pop up dots, clear embossing powder

Clean and Simple 146

I made this card for Clean and Simple's challenge 146 :

Here's the sketch:

I made this card with stamp sets  from Papertrey Ink and the sentiment from A Muse.  I stamped, embossed and cut the hearts. Die cut the black hearts and added the stick on dots.  Stamped the flowers on the card with a stamp from a PTI set and versamark so the flowers would add to the card, but not overpower(you can see better if you press on the picture...more noticeable IRL) and dotted the card with black Enamel Accents.  Tried using more colors, but in the end, wound up with Melon Mambo alone...I think in the end, the sketch stretched me enough:)!!

Things I used:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Heart Prints and Beautiful Blooms, A Muse Hand Scripted
Paper: melon mambo, bazzill white, Papertrey Ink white, black
Ink: stazon black, melon mambo, versamark
Extras: clear embossing powder, PTI heart dies, cuttlebug embossing folder, black Enamel Accents, pop up dots

I made this card for SpiltcoastStamper's Sketch challenge 339...

and here's the sketch:

The only problem, though...I just couldn't separate 4a and 4b into separate pieces...and even though I separated the panel with a ribbon, I felt bad at not following the sketch as directed and just couldn't justify putting it in the challenge gallery, so just putting it up for the fun of it:)!!  Used a couple Stampin Up sets ...a really simple and super easy card to make. Colored flowers and stems with markers and added sentiment on bottom. Used ribbon from Mike's and design paper from SU.
Thanks for looking, hope your night is great:)!!

Things I used:
Stamps: Stampin Up Close as a Memory and Warmest Regards
Paper: Textured Taken with Teal, Design paper Apricot Apeal, Papertrey Ink white
Ink: Taken with Teal, Apricot Appeal, Old Olive, Stazon Black
Extras: silver pearls, satin ribbon, SU border punch, pop up dots

Less is More...sketch

I made this card for Simply Less is More's challenge 21...a sketch:

I made this one:

I used some designer paper from Michael's and a flower punch. I punched the flowers and popped up the red panel over a white panel and layered on polka dotted paper.
I also made this one but didn't put a panel behind the 3 "circles"(did you ever do that....think you have the sketch solid in your brain....make your card....only to find that you forgot the details of the sketch??), but thought that maybe with the scoring on the bottom part of the card separated the card into panels????...it could sort of pass for the challenge:)...ok it's a stretch, but I thought I would try:

...Splitcoaststamper's Clean and Simple challenge this week is a color challenge of red/white/and black...so these two cards are being used for that challenge, as well.
EDITED***
Added this one that I finished this morning, 6/28, after I changed the ribbon from gingham as I'd had it yesterday to black:

      Made this with Papertrey Ink Round and Round and a Inkadinkado sentiment with rhinestones and ribbon..

OH...I wanted to apologize for not doing a card for last week's monogram challenge....I was BEYOND challenged...I tried SOOOO many things...here are a couple of my computer generated letters I cut out:

but just couldn't make a card that I would want to send to someone...all my efforts just didn't work...so we move on(and hope I'll NEVER be challenged with a monogram again:):):)!!)....LOVE SIMPLY LESS IS MORE!!!!!!
Things I used:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Signature Greetings, Round and Round and Stampin Up Pocket Silhouettes
Paper: Bazzill white and red, design polka dotted paper, black
Ink: stazon black
Extras: Petite Oval nesties, scor buddy, flower punch, black stick on dots, pop up dots, clear embossing powder

A Case of One of My Own

I needed to make a card for my sister's birthday.  She loves all things with an Asian, Oriental flavor.  I had pulled out my Embrace Life set and went to SCS's gallery to look at cards made with this set.  I came across one of my own and thought...I'll make another like this one...this is my original:

This is how I redid it:

Every element identical..just changed the colors, papers and pearls.  Thought the red gave it a more Asian flavor..and even though there is no Happy Birthday on the outside, I put a bunch of sentiments on the inside...I thought the original was perfect for what she means to me...her love has brought me life through some of the darkest days and hardest times of my life:)!!  Now it's off to the post office!!  Thanks for looking, have a great Sunday!!
Things I used:
Stamps: Embrace Life, Verve Text Objects
Paper: Textured Real Red, bazzill white, black, dp
Ink: stazon black
Extras: clear embossing powder, gold pearls, circle and lacey nesties, embossing folder, SU heart punch, pop up dots