Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #224

Today I have an exciting announcement to make.  Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge has honored me by having me join their Design Team.  I'm so excited!  I love to work from sketches and am looking forward to sharing my take on our sketches.

With Autumn just around the corner now that August is here, I thought I'd get started on my Thanksgiving cards I like to send to family and friends. 

Stamp Set:  Bushel of Blessings (Taylored Expressions; Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copic Markers:  Y13, YR07, YR09, YG17, E39; Other:  Bushel of Blessings Dies (Taylored Expressions), Triple Banner Punch, Home for Christmas Very Vanilla Enamel Dots.  Stampin' Up! product unless otherwise noted.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Shaped Card

It's the first Saturday of August and you know what that means.  It's time for our August challenge at Crafty Calendar and the challenge is to make a shaped card.  Today the Design Team is showcasing some wonderful digital designs from SheepSki Designs, sponsor for our August challenge.

When I saw that wonderful bumble bee on the flower, it brought to mind the dog we had when I was a child.  Dodie was a red cocker spaniel and was named such as I couldn't say doggie well enough for everyone to understand what I was trying to say.  Anyway, one of the things Dodie loved to do was to chase down bumble bees and eat them.  We were never sure how she avoided being stung, or if she didn't, how could she handle the sting.  She was such a sweet puppy and whenever I see a bumble bee, I think of her.     

Digital Design:  Bumble Bee Blossom (Images (c) SheepSki Designs); Stamp Sets:  Butterfly Basics, Sheltering Tree (Images (c) Stampin' Up!); Ink:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Marina Mist; Copic Markers:  E33, E37, E39, V12, V15, V17, Y11, Y17, YG11, YG13, YG17; Cardstock:  Watercolor Paper (Strathmore), Whisper White; Other:  Hearth & Home Framelits Dies, Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies, Golden Harvest Glitter Drops (Nuvo), White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Nuvo), Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Here is what the card looks like when it is open.  I stamped the inside with a honeycomb image but there is still a wee bit of room for you to write a small note if you wanted just above the thinking of you sentiment.

For all the challenge details and to share your project at the Crafty Calendar Challenge, just click on our name.

Our sponsor for the month of August is SheepSki Designs.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Wednesday Challenges #105

This week it's a color challenge at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  As host this week, I thought some springlike colors would be a nice change to the snowy, wet, cold winter days many of us have been experiencing.  Whether you make flowers is up to you as this is a color challenge and the only requirement.  I was in the mood for flowers as I am so ready for Spring.

My card starts with a Very Vanilla card base to which I added a strip of patterned paper from the Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Stack.  The flowers and leaves were cut using the Botanical Builder Framelits Dies.  For my colors, I chose Flirty Flamingo, Peekaboo Peach and Rich Razzleberry for the flowers.  For the leaves, I chose Mint Macaron and Mossy Meadow.  On the Mint Macaron leaves, I stamped an image from the Botanical Blooms stamp set.  To the center of each flower I added a Metal Rimmed Pearl.  The sentiment is from the Rose Wonder stamp set and is stamped in Basic Black Archival ink.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit Watercooler Wednesday Challenges by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, February 13th at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

One More Year

One of the gifts I make each year for my daughters-in-law are new calendars.  This year I was especially excited as I was able to bind the calendars.  My oldest son gave me a Cinch Book Binding Tool for my birthday and I love it!

So, back to my project for today.  I made three calendars using Graphic 45 patterned papers to decorate the calendar pages.  The calendar was printed on Very Vanilla cardstock Stampin' Up!®  What you can't see is the easel I put on the back of each so they would stand on their own.  I have a Tim Holtz Small Easel Die and it works great for those projects you want to stand alone.

This week Just Us Girls is having a word challenge and that word is "new."  What better way to demonstrate the word than a "new" calendar for the "new" year.  My girls loved them.

Stamp Sets:  Perpetual Birthday Calendar, Petal Potpourri (retired), Sunshine Sayings; Inks:  Blushing Bride, Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Perfect Plum, Real Red, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi; Cardstock:  Very Vanilla; Patterned Paper:  Graphic 45 Botanical Tea, Place in Time, Time to Flourish; Other:  Flower Medallion Punch, Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

The word for the week is "NEW" at the Just Us Girls Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Wacky Watercooler January Mini Hop Number One

Welcome to the our January Mini Blog Hop Number One.  Each month, on the third Thursday of the month, a group of us get together to hop and share projects from Stampin' Up!'s current catalogs.  It's always a lot of fun.  This month we are doing a two mini hops to showcase the new Occasions Catalog and the new Sale-A-Bration Catalog.

You should be coming to my blog from Jean Fitch.  After your visit with me, head on over to Marie Green.  That brings you full circle.  And, as always, our Hop runs in a circle.  Whether you start at the top and go forward or start at the bottom and go backward, you will always wind up where you started.

With all that has been happening since I got back from my holiday trip to Reno, Nevada, I only had time to create one project to share using the new High Tide stamp set found in the new 2017 Occasions Catalog.  It's a quick and easy card to put together even with fussy cutting the lighthouse.  I think it is going to be a very versatile stamp set.

Stamp Set:  High Tide; Inks:  Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, Old Olive, Pool Party; Cardstock:  Island Indigo, Whisper White, Whisper White Thick

Marie Green is your next stop on your tour.  To see her wonderful projects, click the image below.

If you'd like to revisit Jean Fitch and see her great projects again, click the image below.

To go back to the Wacky Watercooler Stamping Blog, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Wacky Watercooler "All Out" Christmas Blog Hop

Welcome to the November Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop!  Each month, on the third Thursday of the month, a group of us get together to hop and share projects from Stampin' Up!'s current catalogs.  It's always a lot of fun.  This month it's all about Christmas.  You'll see projects using product from both the Annual Catalog and the Holiday Catalog plus a few surprises along the way.  So, grab a cup, sit back and enjoy.

You should be coming to my blog from Libby Fens.  Weren't her projects great?  After your visit with me, you'll head on over to Penny Hanuszak.  You are going to love her projects.  And, as always, our Hop runs in a circle.  Whether you start at the top and go forward or start at the bottom and go backward, you will always wind up where you started.

My first card is a clean and simple design.  I actually fussy cut the scallops after tracing around a die cut from another project.  Most of the cards I make for Christmas that get mailed to family and friends are rather simple.  It does keep the cost of postage down.  This one has the holly branches Father Christmas from the Holiday Catalog.  I colored them with Old Olive and Real Red.  The sentiment is from the Reason for the Season stamp set from the Annual Catalog.

Stamp Sets:  Father Christmas, Reason for the Season; Inks:  Basic Black Archival, Old Olive, Real Red; Cardstock:  Real Red, Shimmery White, Whisper White; Other:  Rhinestone Basic Jewels

For my second card, I stamped the train image from the Christmas Magic stamp set and heat embossed it using Copper Embossing Powder. I love that copper and I think it looks well with most colors.  I keep trying it out and so far, I've not found one that I don't like the combination.

Stamp Set:  Christmas Magic; Ink:  Dapper Denim, VersaMark; Cardstock:  Dapper Denim, Whisper White; Patterned Paper:  2016-2018 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack; Other:  Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits Dies, Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Copper Embossing Powder, Radiant Rain Shimmering Ice Mist (Splash of Color), Dimensionals

It has been a while since I've used that Festive Flower Builder Punch so thought a pretty poinsettia was just the ticket for my final project.  I have to confess that the sheet music patterned paper is from last year's Home for Christmas Designer Series Paper.  For some reason I have totally neglected to buy any of the beautiful Christmas papers we have in the Annual Catalog and the Holiday Catalog.

Stamp Set:  Reason for the Season; Inks:  Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green; Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry, Garden Green; Patterned Paper:  Home for Christmas (retired); Other:  Festive Flower Builder Punch, Radiant Rain Shimmering Ice Mist (Splash of Color), Paper Doily, Rhinestone Basic Jewels  

That's it for me this time around.  We are taking the month of December off but will be back on January 5th, 2017 with the first of two mini hops to showcase the new Occasions Catalog and the new Sale-A-Bration Brochure.  You are going to love them!

Penny Hanuszak is your next stop on your tour.  To see the wonderful Christmas projects she has created, click the image below.

If you'd like to revisit Libby Fens and see her lovely projects again, click the image below.

To go back to the Wacky Watercooler Stamping Blog, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,


Marsha

A Tribute to the United States Marine Corps

Wacky Watercooler October Blog Hop

Welcome to the October edition of the Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop!  Each month, on the third Thursday of the month, a group of us get together to hop and share projects we've made using product from Stampin' Up!'s current catalogs.  It's always a lot of fun.  This month we are celebrating Autumn with a focus on fall colors and occasions.

You should be coming to my blog from Gail Allen.  Her projects were fantastic, don't you think?  After your visit with me, head on over to check out what projects Debbie Spano has shared with us.  And, as always, our Hop runs in a circle.  Whether you start at the top and go forward or start at the bottom and go backward, you will always wind up where you started.

One of the things I have come to love and appreciate is single layer stamping.  It's clean, it's simple and it doesn't bulk up that envelope when you are ready to send it through the mail.  For this one, I stamped the leafy branch from Crazy about You in Pumpkin Pie and added the sentiment from Paisleys & Posies stamped in Soft Suede.  And that, as they say is that!

Stamp Sets:  Crazy About You, Paisleys & Posies; Inks:  Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede; Cardstock:  Whisper White

My next project adds a couple of layers and some simple embellishments.  The "pumpkins" are stamped in Tangerine Tango using one of the images from the Work of Art stamp set.  The stems, also an image from the Work of Art stamp set, are stamped in Emerald Envy.  On the center pumpkin, I added a small twine bow and to the upper left corner I used Regals Candy Dots in Rich Razzleberry.  That is the only part of this project that is retired.  I really do miss those candy dots.  The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set and it's stamped in Soft Suede.

Stamp Sets:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Work of Art; Inks:  Emerald Envy, Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango; Cardstock:  Emerald Envy, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White; Other:  Twine, Rich Razzleberry Regals Candy Dots (retired)

My final project showcases some of the fall colors we see here in Iowa in the Autumn.  The base color is Delightful Dijon.  To that I added a strip of the Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper.  On the popped up layer, Rich Razzleberry, Delightful Dijon and Whisper White.  I used the trees from the In the Meadow stamp set and stamped it in Soft Suede.  The leaf colors were done using a bundle of q-tips as a stamp.  The sentiment I used is from the retired stamp set Happy Scenes.  I love this color combination, don't you?

Stamp Sets:  Happy Scenes - sentiment (retired), In the Meadow, Timeless Textures; Inks:  Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Smoky Slate, Soft Suede; Cardstock:  Delightful Dijon, Rich Razzleberry, Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Stack, Whisper White; Other:  Pearl Basic Jewels

Now that you have seen all of my projects, it's time to move on and check out what Debbie Spano has in store for you.  Simply click on the image below to be directed to her blog.

If you'd like to go back and look over the projects from Gail Allen again, click on the image below.

To go back to the Wacky Watercooler Stamping Blog, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop

Welcome to the September Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop!  Each month, on the third Thursday of the month, a group of us get together to hop and share projects from Stampin' Up!'s current catalogs.  It's always a lot of fun.  This month we are focusing on those products that first caught our eye when we had the chance to view the new Holiday Catalog.

You should be coming to my blog from the blog of Jan McQueen, a new addition to our hop.  After your visit with me, head on over to see what delights Fiona Whitehead has in store for you.  And, as always, our Hop runs in a circle.  Whether you start at the top and go forward or start at the bottom and go backward, you will always wind up where you started.

One of the stamp sets from the new Holiday Catalog that I knew I had to have was Christmas Magic.  I love all the stamps in this set and know I'm going to get a lot of use out of it.  My first card is one I made for my youngest granddaughter.  I put the snowman from Christmas Magic in one of the jars from the Jar of Love stamp set then, cut it out with the Everyday Jars Framelits Dies.  He is such a cute little snowman.

Stamp Sets:  Christmas Magic, Jar of Love; Inks:  Archival Basic Black, Emerald Envy, Garden Green, Smoky Slate, Sweet Sugarplum, Tangerine Tango; Cardstock:  Emerald Envy, Shimmery White, Sweet Sugarplum; Other:  Everyday Jars Framelits Dies, Emerald Envy Baker's Baker Twine, Silver Gelly Roll Pen, Silver Sequin Trim, Softly Falling Embossing Folder

My next card also features the Christmas Magic stamp set.  I love this train image.  Reminds me of the one in the movie Polar Express.  My cards this year are mostly in non-traditional colors as you can see.  The only I colored on the train is the greenery and the bows and the gold ornaments. 

Stamp Set:  Christmas Magic; Inks:  Archival Basic Black, Emerald Envy, Sweet Sugarplum; Cardstock:  Floral Boutique Designer Series Paper, Night of Navy, Shimmery White, Whisper White; Other:  Gold Gelly Roll Pen, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

My last card was made using the Father Christmas stamp set.  This set and the Christmas Magic set were my must haves from the Holiday Catalog.  I love them both.  I did this one in Dapper Denim and Crumb Cake with a touch of gold in the cording down the left side.

Stamp Set:  Father Christmas; Ink:  Crumb Cake; Cardstock:  2016-2018 In Color Designer Paper Stack, Dapper Denim, Crumb Cake, Whisper White; Other:  Gold Cording

Next in line is Fiona Whitehead.  Click on the image below to head over to see her projects.

If you'd like to revisit the great projects from Jan McQueen, click the image below.

If you want to start at the very beginning, head over to the Watercooler Stamping Blog, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Swirly Thank You

Today's card is one that was inspired by Frenchie Martin.  I love the new Swirly Birds stamp set and when I saw the one she made, I just had to CASE  (Copy And Share Everything) it.  You can see her version Here.  The lime, teal and yellow colors I used are from the Color Throwdown Challenge.  I matched what colors I had as closely as I could and I think it turned out rather well.

Stamp Sets:  Fancy Thank You (Hero Arts), Paisleys & Posies, Swirly Bird; Inks:  Bermuda Bay, Black Soot Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Daffodil Delight, Pistachio Pudding; Cardstock:  Bermuda Bay, Whisper White; Other:  Rhinestone Basic Jewels

The colors I used are from the Color Throwdown Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Bitty Butterfly Birthday

It's a short post today simply to share a card I made for a couple of my favorite challenges, Retro Rubber Challenge and Sunday Stamps Challenge.  The colors and the sketch came together beautifully, don't you think?

Both of my stamp sets qualify for the older than a year rule at Retro Rubber.  The Bloom with Hope stamp set came out in 2014 as a Host Set.  Papillion Potpourri is over a year old, too, but I don't know the year it came out.  It's still a current set available in the Annual Catalog.

Stamp Sets:  Bloom with Hope (2014), Papillion Potpourri; Inks:  Dapper Denim, Marina Mist; Cardstock:  Dapper Denim, Mint Macaron, Soft Sky, Whisper White; Other:  Swirly Scribbles Thinlits Dies, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Silver Sequin Trim, Pearl Basic Jewels

The sketch I used is from the Retro Rubber Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

The colors I used are from the Sunday Stamps Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

 Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Wacky Watercooler August Blog Hop

Welcome to the Wacky Watercooler August Blog Hop!  Each month, on the third Thursday of the month, a group of us get together to hop and share projects from Stampin' Up!'s current catalogs.  It's always a lot of fun.  This month we're Stepping it up:  One, Two, Three!  We are taking the same card and showing you how to take it from a simple design to one with all the bells and whistles.

It's my privilege to start off our Hop.  I've been having so much fun creating with the Paisleys & Posies Stamp Set and the Paisley Framelits Dies that I wanted to give you a sneak peek.  It is a new bundle from the upcoming 2016 Holiday Catalog that launches on September 1st.

As always, our Blog Hop runs in a circle.  Whether you start at the top and go forward or start at the bottom and go backward, you will always wind up where you started.

You should be coming to my blog from Penny Hanuszak.  Weren't her projects great!  After your visit with me, head on over to Gail Allen and her wonderful projects.

For my first card, all I did was stamping.  The center is a square layer with a design stamped on it and a rhinestone just to fill in the center of the card.  Very basic and very simple.

Stamp Set:  Paisleys & Posies; Ink:  Dapper Denim; Cardstock:  Whisper White; Other:  Rhinestone Basic Jewels

My second card is a stepped up version of the first one.  I added more layers and some twine.

Stamp Set:  Paisleys & Posies; Ink:  Dapper Denim, Whisper White Craft; Cardstock:  2016-2018 In color Designer Series Paper Stack, Dapper Denim, Night of Navy, Whisper White; Other:  Triple Banner Punch, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

My cards were inspired by one done by Debbie Mageed.  This third version used die-cuts and lots of layers.  While the first two used different images, the die-cuts give a special look all their own.  I had intended to use the came stamp but the die-cut I used doesn't have a stamp to go with it so it's simply the die-cute.  I really like the way this one turned out.

Stamp Set:  Paisleys & Posies; Ink:  Dapper Denim; Cardstock:  2016-2018 In color Designer Series Paper Stack, Dapper Denim, Night of Navy, Whisper White; Other:  Paisley Framelits Dies, Triple Banner Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Next up we have Gail Allen.  To see her wonderful projects, click the image below.

 To revisit Penny Hanuszak and check out her great projects, click the image below.

To visit the Watercooler Stamping Blog, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Blue & White Birthday

It seems like forever since I've been able to keep up with making cards and blogging.  Sometimes life just gets in the way and puts everything else on the back burner.  But, I'm happy to say, the week is ending well and it is a most welcomed change.

What was really great, was to be back in the craft studio playing with some new things from the Holiday Catalog.  Instead of using a circle like on the card, I stamped an image from the Paisley & Posies stamp set in Distress Embossing Ink and added some of my favorite Copper Embossing Powder.  Then, I overlapped the die-cuts and stamped the sentiment on it.  The die I used is one from the Paisley Framelits Dies.  Both the Paisley & Posies stamp set and the Paisley Framelits Dies are from the new Holiday Catalog that you'll be able to order from beginning September 1st.

Stamp Sets:  Paisleys & Posies, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks:  Distress Embossing Ink (Tim Holtz), Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz), Night of Navy; Cardstock:  Floral Boutique Designer Series Paper, Whisper White; Other:  Copper Embossing Powder, Night of Navy Baker's Twine, Cream Pearls

The sketch I used is from the Sunday Stamps Challenge.  For all the challenge details, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha