ROCKIN' the challenges...

Seriously...Rockin' 'em. This is a TRIPLE challenge card, and I whipped it out in 32 minutes. Awesome. (And before the rest of my family was awake, to boot!)Yes, it's Wednesday, and that means it's a Unity Addicts Challenge! (Number 19 to be exact...can you believe it's been 19 already??) I also used yesterday's Color Challenge CC201 (Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, and Kraft), and Verve's VLVJan01 sketch from last week.
I started with a standard A2 card base of Kraft, and then grabbed some NQN, Baja Breeze, and Very Vanilla CS from my stash, and found that fab leaf paper from Scenic Route. Using the sketch as a guide, I cut all my pieces to size (the DP is 4" x 2 1/2", the NQN is 1 7/8" x 2 3/8", and the Baja Breeze is 1 7/8" x however long the scrap was *grins*) and adhered them to the base. Then I stamped 'Good Times' from the October KOTM on the NQN panel using NQN ink and my Stamp-a-ma-jig. Since the color scheme was blue, I thought it'd be the perfect chance to do a masculine card, so I stamped 'Old Skool Ride' onto the VV scrap using NQN ink. I punched it using my pink Marvy circle punch, and lightly raked my blending tool around the edge with some more NQN ink. Then I punched a NQN circle using my purple Marvy punch, and sponged NQN ink onto it using the blending tool. I adhered both of those circles using 2 layers of foam tape (one under the VV circle, one under the NQN circle) to the card base, and the *front* was complete.

Maria's USC19 challenge to us was to make a card that's decorated on the *inside* and the *outside*. So, I started on the inside:
I cut a 1/2" strip from my dp, and used it at the bottom, and then stamped one of my all-time favorite Unity stamps (from the August KOTM) in NQN ink. Isn't it perfect with the front?? Happiness and travel...good times and a bike...I love it when a plan comes together!

Hope you get a chance to play along with us today! Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Kraft, NQN, Baja Breeze, and Very Vanilla CS (SU!); leaf DP (Scenic Route)
Ink: Not Quite Navy (SU!)
Stamps: 'Old Skool Ride', 'good times' from October KOTM, 'Way of travel' from August KOTM (Unity Stamp Co.)
Other: Foam blending tool (Ranger Industries); Stamp-a-ma-jig (SU!); Mega and Giga circle punches (Marvy Uchida); foam mounting tape (3M)

To bling, or not to bling? ...and lots of scraps

I had a bit of extra time this afternoon (while waiting for laundry), so I decided to make a card...which meant I went through this week's challenges, both on SCS, and various blogs. And I decided to try out Friday's Limited Supplies Challenge (LSC202)...where everything is about HEARTS and RED (as soon as I read the challenge, I imagined this stamp and those little red heart buttons):
I started with a base of Riding Hood Red (sorry...the lighting in the photo above makes it look 'redder' than it is!), and stamped 'So & So Loves...' onto a scrap of white CS, then colored it in with a blender pen. I trimmed the image down, and realized 'Hey, that would fit into Verve's Viva La Verve challenge for this week!'. So, I matted that piece onto Chocolate Chip CS (also from the scrap bin), and found a scrap of heart DP, and matted it onto a scrap of Chocolate Chip CS, and distressed the edges with Chocolate Chip ink. I assembled everything per the VLV02 sketch challenge, added my cute red heart button and the last of a double-sided satin ribbon I've been hoarding, and Voila! A cute little finished card!

The problem came along when I remembered that the challenge has a *twist*, and required bling. So I added bling around one of the hearts on the DP...and I don't think I like it. What do you think? Normally I'm a fan of the bling (used judiciously), but I think it doesn't quite fit in this instance....
So, you're probably wondering "What's with all the scraps??", right? While cleaning up my desk area, I found scraps, which I added to my scrap file (which I have sorted by color). And I kept adding, and adding, and adding...until my scrap file looks like this:
Check out how it 'alligators' from the side:
Yeah, seriously need to work on depleting my scrap stash!! So, don't be surprised if my next *several* cards are constructed from scraps. *wink*

In other happy news, last week I {finally} put up my Rubba Rack that I won at HHT! And it's already full! *sigh* But check out how accessible my beloved Unity Stamps are:
Happy Monday, everyone! Thanks for stopping by today!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Red Riding Hood, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White CS (SU!); heart DP (source unknown)
Ink: Stazon Timber Brown (Tsukineko); Distress Brushed Corduroy (Ranger Industries); Real Red reinker, Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Stamps: So & So Loves... (Unity Stamp Co)
Other: Ink Blending tool (Ranger Industries); satin ribbon (source unknown); foam mounting tape (3M); heart button and bling (Michael's)

HHH and Verve Looking for Love

Happy HHH!

(To see all the participants in today's blog hop, head over to the Unity blog) Now, on to the card! *grins*

This is the last of the Verve 'Looking For Love' release challenges (VSLFL4), and it was another sketch challenge (Julee always has *amazing* sketches!). I also made it to fit two other challenges, yesterday's HHT 'Unity Dazzle' challenge to create a card using rhinestones, and Joy (aka Daiseyfreak)'s challenge to make a love-themed card using ShortCuts products if you have 'em (and I do, so I did!).
I started with a ShortCuts frosted acetate card blank, and then built up my layers based on the sketch. The textured CS is by Bazzill, but I'm not sure of the color...I bought it at the same time that I bought this DP, and never noted the name (sorry!). Might be Papaya?

I stamped the Distressed Dot Butterfly from Unity's September KOTM, and reverse-masked it so that I could sponge on the Apricot Appeal and Regal Rose ink. THEN, I GOT TO USE MY NEW NESTABILITES DIES FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! Seriously excited about that...they really are all that everyone says that they are! I even did the embossing with the die, and used it as a stencil for sponging more Apricot Appeal ink around the edge...SO COOL! I attached the die-cut parts using some foam mounting tape. Check it out:
Of course, I added the obligatory bling *wink*, and a lovey sentiment from the July KOTM (which was inked with Apricot Appeal and then sponged on some Regal Rose before stamping...you can see that better if you click on the image to see the bigger version).

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out the other HHH bloggers! Have a great weekend!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Frosted acetate card blank (ShortCuts); textured CS (Bazzill); patterned paper (Scenic Route)
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa (SU!)
Stamps: butterfly from September KOTM, sentiment from July KOTM (Unity Stamp Co.)
Other: Nestabilities 'Labels Two' dies (Spellbinders); foam mounting tape (3M); makeup sponge; rhinestones (Michael's)

Feelin' the Verve...

Yesterday was a *very* productive day for me, stamping-wise (can't say the same about my house...). I even managed to keep my desk in the same state of near-cleanness by putting things back in their home after I used them, and depleted a bit more of my humongous paper stash!

So, Verve is having a set of 4 challenges for its newest release (which will be tomorrow), and completing them gives you the chance to win the new releases! Isn't that cool? Yesterday, I managed to finish the first three:

VSLFL1:
The first challenge is a color challenge...Kraft, Riding Hood Red, and Blush Blossom. Unfortunately, I don't have a Blush Blossom stamp pad, and could only find a small scrap of Blush Blossom CS, so this is what I came up with:
The card is an 11" x 4 1/4" Kraft CS base (folded in half to make the A2 size), with a strip of Riding Hood Red that I stamped with Versamark and punched one edge using my new Martha Stewart border punch. I attached a butterfly punched from Blush Blossom CS (lifting the wings a bit for dimension), and tied on some $1 bin ribbon that matched the Kraft *exactly*. Super CAS (clean and simple), and so fast!


VSLFL2:

The second challenge is a sketch challenge...and the sketch had scallops on one side, but I wanted to make a 'masculine' card and use up some of the paper from a kit I bought from Cocoa Daisy awhile back, so I substituted some orange lazer-cut paper.
Seriously LOVING this card. I love the colors, love that I used some more of that fab Tinkering Ink paper, and love that I finally found a color match for those Pebbles candy dots! *wink* The panel with the sentiment is popped up on my beloved foam mounting tape (naturally), and that brown 'ribbon' is actually paper curling ribbon I bought at Ikea last year!


VSLFL3:

This challenge was a sketch also. And I had more issues than I would have thought...those two stripes kinda threw me for a loop, but I powered through!
I used my new border punch again, and the Chloe's Closet paper and blossoms that I used on my Unity challenge card yesterday. I just love the colors, and I finally figured out why when I made this card: they're *exactly* the colors I used in the boys' nursery (I didn't find out the sex of either of my kids before they were born, so I did 'neutral' baby colors). Makes me love this paper just that much more! *grins*

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget that HIP HOP returns today!! *doing the happy dance!*
~Michelle

Supplies used (VSLFL1):
Paper: Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Blush Blossom CS (SU!)
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko)
Stamps: Beautiful You (Verve Stamps)
Other: Butterfly punch, scalloped border punch (Martha Stewart Crafts)

Supplies used (VSLFL2):
Paper: Kraft CS (SU!); blue CS (Bazzill); 'Peavy' DP from the Gibson collection (Tinkering Ink); 'Gossip Hazard' lace paper (KI Memories)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Stamps: Beautiful You (Verve Stamps)
Other: I*Kan*Dee candy dots (Pebbles, Inc.); paper ribbon (Ikea); foam mounting tape (3M)

Supplies used (VSLFL3):
Paper: So Saffron and Whisper White CS, Wild Wasabi textured CS (SU!); Chloe's Closet DP (Making Memories)
Ink: Wild Wasabi (SU!)
Stamps: Beautiful You (Verve Stamps)
Other: Apricot seam binding and scalloped border punch (Martha Stewart Crafts); Paper Blossoms and Buttons (Making Memories); foam mounting tape (3M)

Penguin Snowglobe Card! (as promised)

Ever make something and you're just totally jazzed about how it turned out and want to show everyone? Well, this card is it for me!! I had a vision of trying to do this while I was pondering my ShortCuts clear sheet, and just had to try...and it turned out even better than I imagined! *grins*
I started by punching two circles from the acetate using my purple Marvy circle punch, and then two circles of Whisper White using my pink Marvy circle punch. (As I've stated earlier, I can't remember what their actual names are, or whether 'Giga' or 'Mega' is the bigger one, so please forgive me!) On one of the acetate circles, I stamped 'snow' using Stazon Cotton White ink, and attached it to the front of the card base. I stamped my little penguin scene onto one of the white circles using Jet Black Stazon ink and 'Jolly Little Winter' from Unity Stamp Company, masking the penguin to add the elements behind him, and colored it in with blender pens.

The card base is a 6" x 4 1/4" piece of Chocolate Chip CS, folded in half, with the fold at the *bottom*...you'll see why in a bit. I cut a strip of Ski Slope DP and adhered that to the bottom, then cut a piece of Baja Breeze DP to look like a snow globe base, and drew a line across it with a Platinum ZIG Writer to define it, and attached it with the top aligned with the opening for the card. ('Merry Christmas' from Bitty Christmas Tags is stamped in Old Olive ink.)

The 'winder' for the snow globe is two photo turns, held together with a snap, and attached with a mini Glue Dot (I admit it, I thought it was a clever idea! Just look! ---------------------------------->)







Inside (and this is why the fold was at the bottom) is a gift card holder made from Baja Breeze CS, using the instructions from TLC196: I scalloped the edges with my corner rounder and punched the scallops with my Crop-a-dile. I attached one of the acetate circles to the Chocolate Chip base, then attached the penguin scene, and adhered the other white circle to the back to hide the adhesive. The ribbon (see above) is tied all the way around the card to keep it from flopping open...and because I love ribbon. *grins*

SO....What do you think?? Isn't it cool?!? (I'm seriously excited about it, but if it's not as cool as I think, don't burst my bubble, k?) *wink*

Thanks for stopping by today!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Whisper White CS, Ski Slope DP (SU!); Acetate sheet (ShortCuts)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black and Cotton White (Tsukineko); Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, and Going Gray (SU!)
Stamps: 'Jolly Little Winter' and 'Bitty Christmas Tags' (Unity Stamp Co.)
Other: Photo turns and snap (Making Memories); Crop-a-dile (We R Memory Keepers); corner rounder (EK Success); Mega and Giga circle punches (Marvy Uchida); satin ribbon (Club Wedd by Target)

Sometimes Less *IS* More

It's Wednesday! And, today is the return of the Unity Junkies challenge after a short Christmas break, and tomorrow is the return of HIP HOP Thursday!! (Isn't your week looking better already??)

Kim (aka doodersmom) is hosting this week, and challenged us to make a SLIM (Sometimes Less Is More) card: A card base (you can layer if you like), an image and/or sentiment, and one embellishment. Normally, these kind of cards make me nervous...but I tried to channel some Julie Ebersole, and 'embrace the white space'. And, I {love} how it turned out! *grins*
I started with an 8 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of So Saffron CS, which I folded to make a 4 1/4" square card base. Then I stamped 'Whateva' from Unity's December KOTM 'Little Reminders' in Old Olive ink. Using blender pens, I colored in the sentiment with Brocade Blue and Really Rust inks. Then, I attached a layered flower from Making Memories' Chloe's Closet line, and added a strip of DP from the same line to the top of the card. (okay, that's two embellisments, but since she did say that we could layer if we wanted, I'm counting that little strip of paper as a 'layer'! *wink*)

I'll be back in just a bit with that snowglobe card I promised earlier, so stay tuned!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: So Saffron CS (SU!); 'Chloe's Closet' patterned DP (Making Memories)
Ink: Old Olive, Brocade Blue, and Really Rust (SU!)
Stamps: 'Whateva' from December KOTM 'Little Reminders' (Unity Stamp Company)
Other: 'Chloe's Closet' printed paper flowers (Making Memories)

Owls Again!

Well, I don't have anything 'new' per se, but I do have some projects I made pre-Christmas, so I'll show you those before it's June. *wink* This is a card that I made for my MOPS group to do on our last craft day before our semester break.

The card base is an 8 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of Chocolate Chip CS, folded to make a 4 1/4" square card. I stamped the base using Chocolate Chip ink and the Snowflake Spot stamp set from SU!. Then I stamped the Three Owls onto some Very Vanilla CS, and colored them with Prismacolor pencils. I mounted the stamped panel to a strip of Ski Slope DP, attached them both to the card base, and tied on some green satin ribbon to finish the card.

I'll be back again (probably tomorrow, though I won't make any promises *wink*) to show you a snow globe gift card holder that I made for some dear friends...it's seriously cool! *grins*

Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla CS, Ski Slope DP (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Stamps: Three Owls (Hero Arts); The Snowflake Spot (SU!)
Other: satin ribbon (Club Wedd by Target); Prismacolor Art Pencils (Sanford)