A challenge, Elmo, and a big cup of suck it up

So these were the color's for Dawn's color challenge this week. Purple - eek! As I have previously admitted, purple and I often butt heads. I usually win and end up trashing anything I make with it. I occassionally make something I like with purple though, and I do like it with pink. This has scarlet red too though. Yikes! I love red, but never use it with purple. Okay so now, I've used once. I think I may have used the two together in another challenge four or five years ago. This will probably be the last time. LOL.



I was almost defeated by this color challenge. I thought about it several times this week. I stared at my stamps and paper and did nothing. Now today is a very busy day at our house. Lots of fun stuff planned since the kids don't have summer session. That means no stamping until they're in bed - usually. I try not to let them watch much more than an hour of TV a day. And that time is usually spent with me sitting next to them or cooking or cleaning. So this morning they wanted to watch Sesame Street. We're sitting in the living room, talking about 6, and singing the alphabet. Then my mind wonders to this challenge. I think there is no way I'll get it done at this late date. Then I decide to drink a big cup of "suck it up" and see what I can come up with. So I literally ran to the girl cave and slapped this together - all during Elmo's World. I don't hate it and I feel a huge sense of accomplishment in not totally getting my butt kicked by these colors. Thanks, Dawn! This was really a challenge. So here's the card. I hope you like it.





My smarty pants son just came over and saw I was blogging, and promptly ran to the television and put in a VeggieTales video. The little stinker. He thinks he can sneak in a few more minutes of TV time. So with that, I'll end my loquacious diatribe and wish you a happy day. Have a good one!

A little inspiration

I decided to give Lauren's Inspiration challenge a whirl. What fun colors these were! And I had this Bo Bunny paper that was just perfect. I decided to use Pink Cat Studio's Lily for this one. I colored her with my copic markers. I want everyone to know that the no turtles were harmed in the making of this card. This stamp reminds me of the turtle (or is it a tortoise) statue at the Detroit zoo. Kids are always climbing on that thing. Any way, here she is.

I'll have to try these more often. Challenges are such a great way to get the creativity flowing.

Stamps - Pink Cat Studios Lily at the Beach

Ink- Pallette Noir, PTI vintage cream, copics

paper - Bo Bunny printed paper, basic black, SU! - Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Melon Mambo

accessories - crystal brad, ribbon, primas, scallop edge punch
.

Working with limited supplies

This past weekend I got to spend some time with my fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators at a mini-convention in Portage. It was such fun. I love hanging out with these girls. I eventually remembered to use my best behavior after getting slugged once and the threat of soap to the mouth. Thank you, Debra, for having us and putting so much work into this. Thank you, Emma and Lorien for helping her. And thank you to all the ladies who attended. It was so nice getting to know you better.

Usually when I travel somewhere to stamp or scrapbook, I bring WAY to much stuff. You know... I might need that color I've only used once in the last five years or the 3 year old package of eyelets that is still unopened. Not this time. I had nothing other than my make and take and my swap planned. So I decided to just pick a color scheme and a couple of sets to go with it. I stepped way out of my box and went with pinks and black instead of pink and brown. I'm getting bolder by the second. These are what came of it. All I brought was three stamp sets (one of which was only sentiments), paper and ink from my color scheme, a few punches, and a few matching embellishments. I'm pretty happy with the results.

All products are Stampin' Up!
3 squares friend to friend

Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes, For All You Do

Paper - Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo

Accessories - Scallop edge punch, Word window punch, modern label punch, crystal brads, black ribbon

3 butterflies

Stamps - Flight of the Butterfly, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink - Black Stazon

Paper - Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White

Accessories - Curly Label Punch, Butterfly Punch, Scallop edge punch, black grosgrain ribbon, crystal brad

A man card

This is a card I made for a new catty swap recently. One of my dear MI Mingle friends hosted it. These girls did a top notch job. It was a pleasure getting their cards. I love getting swap cards from my friends. I'm sad I didn't sign up for the latest PSF/Dork swap, but next time I will. Although, as I'm finishing my twentieth card I usually say, "Never again!". Never rarely lasts more than a month or two.

It's a man card or an attempt at one anyway. It doesn't have any pink. That's something, right? The pheasant is embossed with clear EP. It got Stefan's seal of approval. Then again he liked that purple one from the other day too... His mom is an interior decorator so it isn't a huge stretch for him to show a little attention to detail. I appreciate that. In fact, I appreciate a lot about my beloved husband. I probably don't tell him that enough. Bossing everyone around really takes it out of me, and I just forget sometimes. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a nag. I am way too bossy though. So if you need someone to tell you what to do, give me a ring. I'm happy to help.

Muddy jungle - sketch challenge

This is my creation for today's Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge. These stamps are by Autumn Leaves. I colored them with my copic markers. I dirtied up the paper to hide a little flaw, but I like the way it turned out. This was a great sketch.

Good times friend

I've spent a lot of time in the girl cave (a.k.a. craft room) recently. It looks like a paper factory exploded in there about now. Fear not. I threw myself upon the paper grenade to save you, my friends, from paper cuts. Someone should probably call FEMA to come clean up the mess.

Here is another card for you. I think it works okay, but is a bit busy for my tastes. It will go to a friend whose birthday has come and gone. Extend the celebration with a little procrastination. I hope she likes it. She is just one of my favorite people.

Stamps - Great Friend

Paper - SU! retired DS, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze

Ink - Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, White craft

Accessories - ribbon, Martha Stewart edge punch, MS butterfly punch, bling, flower eyelet, matchbox die

A confession

Brace yourself. I have to make a confession. It is something that has weighed on my mind for years. Are you ready? I don't like working with purple, not at all. I find it a tedious chore. I like somethings other people make using it, but I hate almost everything I make with purple. It is a deeply rooted neurosis of some sort I'm sure. Just confessing makes me feel much better.

In an effort to improve myself, I'm attempting to use purple more. This is a set from Stampin' Up's new catalog. It went together very quickly and I didn't feed it to the trash can. Double bonus.