#TGIF401 is a "Simple" Challenge

This is probably one of the hardest challenges for me. The challenge is to create a simple project. Simple? That's tough because I love fancy folds, layers, embellishments, and all that good stuff. If you love clean and simple hand stamped cards--this is your challenge. So, join us at #TGIF401.

Cool Take on the Fond of Autumn Bundle

Join along in our latest Monday Montage Blog Hop--I'm glad you're here.  For today's hop I grabbed some cool toned colors for this more wintry take on the Fond of Autumn Bundle. Technique wise this card is all about blends.  I used a blending brush and Stampin' Blends.

I used a mix of Pool Party and Balmy Blue for the softly blended background panel. I stamped the largest image from the Fond of Autumn Bundle with Balmy Blue Ink to complete the background. On Basic White Cardstock I stamped all the flowers and berries with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. I used several Stampin' Blends to color in the images. My colors include, in both dark and light, Mint Macaron, Balmy Blue, Fresh Freesia, and Pale Papaya.

Thanks for the quick visit. Next, on the hop is Emily or you can work the opposite direction and click back to hop to Cheryl. Enjoy and as always happy stampin'.

#TGIF399 Inspiration Challenge

Today is about an inspiration challenge from #TGIF399. I went rather literal with my interpretation. What would you do with this inspiration graphic? What comes to your crafty mind?

I stamped with three colors; I inked up with Polished Pink, Tahitian Tide, and Highland Heather. I used two stamp sets for this card and they are Season of Chic and Peaceful Deer. For the snowflakes I used the Chic Dies and a piece of the Lights Aglow DSP.

Inking Up My Cottage Rose

Are you in the mood for a sketch challenge? We have one over at Hand Stamped Sentiments that is pretty cool and as always open to your interpretation. If you take a look at my card You'll see I've taken some liberties to be inspired by the sketch and to make a slight alteration.

Or, rather a major alteration. I decided the two layers under the circle were too much for my card. You see that's the fun of a challenge, you can modify to fit your design. I always say "there's no card challenge police."

I pulled out some totally non-Christmas paper to make a friendship card. I pulled out from my stash what I have left of the Tea Boutique 6" x 6" DSP for my card layers and to paper piece the images from the Cottage Rose Stamp Set.

I like to stamp directly on DSP as it creates such cool patterns, shadows, and highlights. I stamped the cottage rose and leaves image on a piece of the Blushing Bride gingham print. Then I stamped the leaf image on a piece of the Tahitian Tide polka dot print. I fussy cut the rose and the leaves and then mounted them on a die cut of the same image to create lots of dimension.

Stampin' Fancy Friday is Using Their Stashes

Our theme this month at Stampin' Fancy Friday is #useyourstash. We could pull out anything from our library of stamps, papers, dies, embellishments...  I pulled out Wild Wild West; a stamp set from 2002.

For both cards I made four pieces of custom blended background papers. On Very Vanilla I used Blending Brushes to add the following inks: Mango Melody, Polished Pink, and Soft Suede. I splattered the blended papers with water, Wink of Stella, and Dark Crumb Cake Stampin' Blend.

Also, for both cards I used up some of my Cinnamon Cider Cardstock, Well Suited DSP, a Stampin' Chalk Marker. To rough up the edges I pulled out one of the tools from the Distressing Cutter Kit. All products that Stampin' Up! has carried at one point.

From my current stash of stamps and dies I used the Fond of Autumn Bundle and the Layering Circles Dies. I did heat emboss the greetings with White Embossing Powder. And, I couldn't help but add some single threads from the Silver Threaded Twine. I love the rustic look of these strands and how it lends to the finished look of these hot, dry, western-themed cards.

Texture Chic for Monday Montage

I am taking a break from sharing Christmas creations for today's Monday Montage Blog Hop. I feel like I've been making cards, tags, and packages for the holiday since the end of August. So, I felt like sharing a pretty card I stamped using the Texture Chic Bundle.

I selected my ink and cardstock colors based on the piece of DSP from the Seasons of Chic pack. My card base is Coastal Cabana and then I added a layer of Basic White. The Basic White layer has been embossed with the Timeworn Type EF. I did ink up the folder very lightly with Pale Papaya before I ran the paper through my Stampin' Cut Emboss Machine.

I stamped the leaves with a mix of Pale Papaya, Mango Melody, and Blushing Bride. The die cut leaves started as Pale Papaya and then I used a Water Painter to add Mango Melody and Blushing Bride. I like this technique of amplifying the cardstock color with more ink colors. It lends to a beautiful custom look. For the gold leaves I used the Distressed Gold Specialty Paper. That paper is gorgeous!

Thank you for being here as part of our Monday Montage Blog Hop. Click one of the buttons below to continue hopping. Happy stampin'!

Creation Station is All About Holiday Happenings

Happy first Sunday of the month! Being the first Sunday of the month means it's time for a Creation Station Blog Hop. This month we are sharing hand stamped projects for our "holiday happenings."

My favorite stamp set for Christmas this year has been Leaves of Holly. When it come to winter greenery and decorating I'm a huge fan of variegated holly. So, you can see why I love this stamp set and matching dies. I've made a batch of cards here that feature the bundle along with the Boughs of Holly DSP.

I love the crisp look of the white on this card. My ink colors include Soft Succulent, Poppy Parade, and Real Red.

I included some of the Festive Glimmer Paper to brighten and fancy up this card. I do have some Seasonal Adhesive Backed Sequins tucked here and there for a bit of sparkle. For the banner and circle I used the Stylish Shapes Dies.

Similar to my previous white card I used the same colors but added gold glimmer and gold embossing. For the background I added a layer of Basic White which I embossed with the Brick and Mortar EF.

I wish you all the Merriest Christmas Season and a Happy New Year. Thanks for stopping by today. Next up along our hop is the adorable Mikaela Titheridge. She's got some fantastic stampinspiration for you!

A Paper Pumpkin Thing: From the North Pole

Welcome to A Paper Pumpkin Thing Blog Hop. This month we are sharing alternatives made using the From the North Pole Paper Pumpkin Kit. I used the elements from the Kit to decorate small goodies and larger packages.

My first project features one of the North Pole Sacks. These little gift bags are an add on that any subscriber can order. They are $4 for 12 food safe sacks. I did just a bit of altering to the tag by adding a bit of color and dimension. I love the Mint Macaron stripes on the "from Santa" tag. I used the candy cane image to stamp those. A trio of Festive Pearls make the reindeer extra fancy.

To dress up a basic kraft gift bag I added a mini garland of tags which I strung on Metallic Mesh Ribbon. I did add Basic White Cardstock for the circle image on the far left tag and two more Mint Macaron snowflakes. I cut the snowflakes from scraps from the kit using the Chic Dies.

Thanks a whole bunch for spending a few minutes to see a few of my alternate projects. I did make several others which you can see on my SeeingINKspots Facebook Page. I had a FB Live Class yesterday so feel free to go check it out.  Here's a link: https://fb.watch/h9aZNtL3b2/

Don't miss any of the stops along today's hop. Click on each of the names to see lots more ideas using the From the Noth Pole Kit.