As You See It Challenge #021 (Sweet Baby)

I've been having lots of fun playing with my new stamps from the 2014 Occasions Catalogue. What's on your "must have list" of new products??

As soon as I saw the cute images in Baby, We've Grown, I knew it needed to be added to my collection. Those cute grumpy owls (they're not meant to look grumpy, but they kind of do!) and that adorable little bunny were destined to be brought to life. 

This weeks' As You See It Challenge features a focal point right smack in the middle. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to break out some new rubber!

Here's the sketch that the lovely Amanda has designed:

Lots of fun! I have to admit, I didn't adhere to the shapes of the challenge, but the general idea is definitely the same.  I don't have all of my supplies with me so I had to just use what I have and this is what I came up with:

I didn't have a scallop square or rectangle so I went with the Deco Labels Framelits.  I had been antsy to use the new Arrow TIEF (textured impressions embossing folder) so I broke that out for the background of that. It's cut out and embossed on Smoky Slate card stock.  I then used the Circle Framelits to cut out that circle of DSP from the Fresh Prints paper stack. Love the fun and sassy designs in that super stack of paper!

I also used the new Fringe Scissors for the first time, too! I've seen some really cute cards using them on Pinterest so I'll hopefully be making lots of fringe-filled cards! The three red candy dots are in place of the sentiment on the sketch. I've been quite taken with Real Red and Coastal Cabana paired together. I'm not normally a red person, so I find this kind of odd, but fresh and new at the same time!

Now comes the best part!  Look at that rabbit! Isn't he the cutest??? I've fallen in love with him! I stamped him in Jet Black StazOn ink and then coloured him in with an aquapainter and Basic Gray and Coastal Cabana ink.  I went around the outline very lightly with crumb cake to create a bit of dimension. Then I added some beneath as well to ground the images. 

He even looks kind of fuzzy. I want to pluck him off the card and give him a good cuddle!

Here's a last look at the completed card.  what's your favorite addition? The candy dots? The fringe? Mr. Rabbit?  I'd love to hear your comments!

Enjoy and be inspired!

Tamara

As You See It Challenge #020 (AHOY!)

Another week snuck on me. I created my card on Tuesday with the intentions of writing my blog post Wednesday. Well, that didn't happen and now it's Friday! We found out our bathroom has a mold issue so we are staying at my inlaws for a week or two while we deal with it.  That meant Wednesday night was spent packing and last night was spent settling in. 

I have a fun card today! I really wanted to use my new Hello, Sailor stamp set so I set to work.

Here's the sketch challenge: As You See It Challenge #020

And here is my design team project!

 A close up...

 A cute banner...

 The final project!

I've been loving all things nautical and Real Red, Night of Navy, and Whisper White are just that. I added a pop of Coastal Cabana too, just for fun. After all, it is COASTAL Cabana so it has to, right? Right!

I thought this could be a cute valentine's card for my hubby. He's been working so hard on the bathroom fix, I'll have to think of a nice gift to accompany his card!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Be Inspired,
Tamara

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Hello, Sailor, Banner Blast (SAB)
Card Stock: Real Red, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Coastal Cabana
Ink: Real Red, Night of Navy, Coastal Cabana
Accessories: Gold Sequin Trim, Gold Baker's Twine 
Punches: 1" circle punch, Ticket Punch, banner punch (SAB)
Other: Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail

As You See It Challenge #019 (Lovely)

Well, I had to rush to get a sample together for the challenge this week. I have been looking forward to it for weeks now so I'm not sure why I left it to the last minute.  I've always been a procrastinator.  Even is school. I did an essay on time management and then handed it in late.  It wasn't really late though. No one was able to get it in on time and so the deadline was pushed ahead a few more days. But still....

Getting back on track...I love this week's challenge from Amanda. It's a colour challenge and the colours are Pool Party, Pacific Point, and Gold! Fun stuff! 

Here's the official challenge and inspiration photo:

 

I had thought about doing something fun with the Dress Up Framelits but didn't have a ton of time to tinker so I decided to join the Mojo Monday sketch this week. I had a seen the design Mary Fish did and loved it so thought I'd join the fun over there too!

Here's what my fingers came up with. My brain was somewhat distracted as I've been watching Downton Abbey on Netflix (can I get a woot woot from all the DA fans?). 

I will keep you in suspense no longer. I know you want to get back to your episode of Downton as well.. 

I wanted to use many sale-a-bration products as possible.  

How many new products do you see? You might be thinking three, but there are actually just TWO! I used the new Embossing folder as a stamp by rubbing ink on it and then putting my card stock inside and rolling it over and over with a brayer. It made that cute background behind the sentiment. I also used another technique (that I've done before) where you ink a clear block with Pacific Point and Pool Party ink and then spritzed it with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and shimmer paint.  I then smooshed the clear block onto the paper.  It gives it a fun watercolour look.

 
Sorry my photos still aren't edited. We're sharing our one computer and I don't have the editing program on this one. It was just on my laptop. I'm hoping to go laptop shopping this weekend!!

Hope you will join us and play along at As You See It Challenge this week!

As You See It Challenge #018 (playing with the NEW!!!)

I've been MIA over the holidays, but I'm happy to report I'm getting back in the saddle.  I spent some time in my studio last night working on today's post and some customer thank you's.

Here is this week's challenge: ARROWS! And I'd be remiss if I didn't share the cute graphic Amanda created!

I subconsciously used the colours as well, though that wasn't intended. I mostly just wanted to use some new product and the Fresh Prints DSP stack has Real Red, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, and Whisper White.

Here's my entry:

I know the arrow is subtle, which is what I was hoping to achieve. I had been flipping through this year's Sale-a-bration brochure (yes!! I have them!!) and saw a cute card with polka dots. I achieved the polka dots with a sponge dauber and ink pad.  I freehanded an arrow and then cut it out with an exacto knife and used that image as a mask. I then lightly sponged crumb cake over top to enhance the arrow shape.  

Some cute pennants finished off with Whisper White Baker's Twine. Loving these colours together, aren't you?

One last view. I used my iPad to take these photos. My laptop had an unfortunate mishap over Christmas. My darling daughter (2.5) decided to dump a full cup of eggnog on it! It hissed and popped and died. It will turn on now, but the keys are glued together and I haven't had the patience to carefully and gently work each key loose. I've been in the market for a new one for a while, but this will most likely speed up that process!

Anyways, I hope you leave feeling inspired to play with arrows! Have a look through the Stampin' Up Annual catalogue for inspiration. Can you find any projects featuring arrows there?

Have a great weekend!

Tamara

My Christmas Tree & AYSI Challenge #014

It's definitely getting Christmasy around here! I put up our tree today. Actually, I bought a new "slim" tree and decorated it before my husband got home so it would be harder for him to say "return it". He likes it so it gets to stay! Also helps that it was pretty cheap and I used a gift card for part of it ;) Here's a little pic. It's not quite done, I'm missing a ton of decorations, but it's getting there! It fits our space a lot better, which was the main reason for getting it. We have a beautiful HUGE fake tree, but it's HUGE! (In case you missed that).

 

I know you didn't come here to see photos of my Christmas tree though, so here's this week's As You See It sketch challenge:

 

And my Design Team entry is decidedly NOT Christmas themed. I needed a change. 

 I had fun making this while my friends slaved away making their Stamper's Dozen cards.  It's fairly simple, but enough bling and added touches to make it special :)

Here are some alternate views:

And a close up:

The colours are Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate, and Crushed Curry. I used the Chevron embossing folder (TIEF) on the card base. Chalk Talk framelits provided the cute little tag. I used some Coastal Cabana stretch ruffle trim for the tails and rhinestones to bling up the sentiment which is from Yippee-Skippee! (LOVE that set. Wish I could use it on everything!) I'm trying to remember the name of the DSP, but it's just not coming to me. It's the primarily gray, yellow, and blue one. It goes with the Beautifully Baroque stamp...I think it's something about Eastern...Eastern Elegance DSP maybe? Leave me a comment if you remember the name of this paper stack!! Thanks :)

Hope you're feeling inspired! Be sure to visit the other Design Team's pages for more inspiration!

Tamara

As You See It Challenge #013

Today's challenge is pretty fun!! Just pick your favourite stamp set and go with it!  

Here's the "official" sketch:

I decided to go with Gorgeous Grunge as my chosen set. Ever since I first saw it in the Annual Catalgoue, I've loved it! I waited until Convention to receive it and have fun ever since!  

The Design Team was asked to share two projects featuring our choice stamp set so here we go: 

  This first card is a 3x3 I created for my customer Thank You's. Every order placed with me gets sent out with one of these. I do a new one each month so they're always different and fresh! 

The base is Raspberry Ripple with a Whisper White panel on top. I stamped the various Gorgeous Grunge images in Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit. The 'Thank You' is stamped in Raspberry Ripple and then punched with the Modern Label Punch. A cute snippet of washi tape and it's done-zo!

The second card I'd like to share is from our make & take packet at Convention this year.  

 

The colours are fun and fresh with pops of Calypso Coral, Bermuda Bay, and Summer Starfruit. The stamp sets used are Gorgeous Grunge and Hello, Lovely.  I took a piece of white baker's twine and dragged it through the Bermuda Bay ink pad in order to dye it.  Lots of fun accents make this a great workshop card or gift box. 

So, there are two projects that I've created with Gorgeous Grunge! It's a super versatile stamp set and deserves space in everyone's collection!  

I hope you'll join the fun over at As You See It Challenge!

Enjoy your weekend!

Tamara

 

 

AYSI Challeneg #12 - Joy & Cheer!

Snow! There, I said it! I know it's coming, and I know lots of people don't look forward to it, but there's not much to be done about it. I, for one, love snow (for the most part). 

Before I ramble on, I'll share the sketch:

I took some creative liberties this week by flipping the sketch and elongating that main image panel (what I perceived as the main image panel). Now that I'm looking at the sketch again, I realize that I left out the two rhinestones (or any embellishment you like). I did use rhinestones though. And how.

I "accidentally" ordered the Snow Day stamp a while back and finally broke it open and defiled it's virgin rubber inked it up!

Here's a sneaky peeky:

 Mmmm...mmm! Isn't that a cute snowman? I love snowmen! Building them, stamping them, eating them (cookies, that is).  They are winter to me.

I'm glad those snowflakes sort of showed  up. I inked them in the Illuminate pad and they are pretty subtle.

Here's the whole shebang! All the elements of the sketch are there, except for those two rhinestones that should be in the bottom right. I think I made up for it though as there is a splattering of rhinestones all over :)

I decided to use the Tasteful Trim XL Bigz die as I'd see it recently on one of Brian King's cards. (Love Brian King! I met him at Convention and it was one of the highlights for me! I'm still waiting to hear how my downline Heather's Rising Star trip went. She was with Brian King for 2 whole days!!)

The patterned flags are from the Winter Frost DSP paper stack. The cute whimsical words are from the Endless Wishes photopolymer stamp set. Sadly, it's sold out again! It's been pretty popular and I'm happy I got in on the second round :)

The colours I've used are Basic Gray, whisper white, Pool Party, and Rose Red (for the heart).  Crisp and cool.

Hope you've enjoyed today's featured card! Be sure to play with us at As You See It Challenge!

Tamara

I heard a little...grunt? (AYSI Challenge #011)

We (meaning my kids) have this little book called "I Heard a Little Baa".  The first line is something like, I heard a little baa, it woke me from my sleep. First I saw some wooly fur and then I saw...a sheep!

Well, there's not a whole lot that rhymes with rhino. Whino, albino, lino...none of them fit with today's card. In fact, the only thing that has anything to do with today's card is the rhino. Um, ya. You read right.  Have a peek at this little fella:

I'm playing along with this week's As You See It Challenge which is to use the colours So Saffron, Blushing Bride, and Pistachio Pudding as beautifully displayed in the challenge photo:

 Love those bikes! I was tempted to go with a bicycle themed card, but decided to do a baby/kid card instead.

The photos speak for themselves mostly. I used the Morning Post numbers to create a colourful and fun background and our little rhine takes center stage. This would be a great baby card or a birthday card for a special little one :)

Hope you're leaving inspired!

Tamara
 

Zing! As You See It Challenge #010

Pa-chow! Zing! Did you hear that? Another week has FLOWN by and it's time for Challenge #010 at As You See It Challenge!

I'm having sooo much fun doing these weekly challenges. Sometimes I'm amazed at what I come up with. Like this week. I was having a really hard time and stuck in a rut. I really wanted to use washi tape and I struggled and struggled. Then I just ditched the washi tape and went another direction and I.seriously.love.it!

Here's the sketch before I get too far ahead of myself:

                                     

And here is my baby:

Once I got going, it came together pretty quick! I did have to reference the sketch about a bazillion times, but I'm really pleased with the outcome. 

I took a ton of pictures so bear with me...(side note, I think it's funny when people write "bare with me". I'm like, um, no, I'm not going to be bare with you...) Get back on track!

Here are some alternate views:

 That little strip holding the pearls? Yep, arrow of death. It was like getting a bad haircut. A little here, a little there. That's too long, not that side looks funny. It started out about 5 inches and now it's only 2.5. Sigh.

 Frosted Finishes are gorgeous!  Typically I would hoard these precious gems but HOARD NO MORE! We used them at my last technique night and this was the last one in the container! Gotta order more!

And, before we move on, I have to give a shout out to the Champagne Glitter Paper! That MAKES this card to me. 

 Also digging the Positively  Chevron background stamp. I inked it in Sahara Sand and stamped off once before stamping it on the Whisper White Panel. The Joyful Tidings is from Christmas Messages. It's stamped in Cherry Cobbler.

  There was still a lot of white space on the panel, so I decided to put the normally "inside" greeting on the outside. I lurve it. A lot. 

Put it all together and you have one stunning Christmas Card! Here's one last look so you don't get RSI (repetitive scrolling injury). 

Don't forget to join the fun at As You See It Challenge!

'Til L8tr (remember when people did that? Ugh!)

~Tamara

As You See It Challenge #009 (Splat, splat)

Challenges are....challenging! Who would have thought?!? I had a tough time with this week's challenge and I'm still not sure I'm 100% pleased with my design team submission, but I'm going to share it anyways.

Here's the sketch:

And here's my take:

At first glance, it looks as if I missed using two different flowers on this card but...

There they both are! I used the Blossom Punch and punched it out twice; once with daffodil delight card stock and once with Quatrefoil DSP. The other punch is the 7/8" scallop circle punch.  A whisper white button for the flower centre completes the trio.

Gorgeous Grunge is creeping up to the top of my "Favorite Things" list.  It gives a little somethin' somethin' to each project. And Yippee-Skippee, where the Awesome...Thanks! greeting is from, has been a fav since I first laid eyes on the 2013/2014 Annual Catalgoue! 

Hope you're leaving inspired! Go create and don't forget to load your photo to the As You See It Challenge blog!! www.asyouseeitchallenge.com

 Have a great weekend!

Tamara

 

As You See It Challenge #008

Another week has flown on by!!  I had three classes within 7 days so I'm beat!! I remembered to do my weekly DT (design team) card though so I'm glad I have something to share with you.

Here's the sketch:
 

 

And here's my spin on it:

The photo colour is a little off. I used Pistachio Pudding even though it looks more like Old Olive. 

A couple snippets of Venetian Romance Designer Series paper creates two cute little pennants.  A simple strand of Whisper White Baker's Twine forms a bow.

And I used MORE basic pearls!! I'm proud of myself for not hoarding so I hope you'll give it a try as well! Of course the paper doilies provided me with the scallop circle shape. I toyed around with trimming the doily to make a smaller one to fit inside and after spending too much time fussy cutting, I just used the other half of the first one I'd cut. It layered well into the first one.  A simple strip of Crisp Cantaloupe punched with the scallop dots border punch and I was pretty much done. Other than that cute Thank You (which is from Lots of Thanks), I didn't do much else. 

I hope you will play along with us this week at As You See It Challenge! 

Have a super great weekend!! And be sure to check out the 25 stamp sets that are on sale 25% off!! It's Amaze-ZING! Shop in my online store HERE

 ~Tamara