WWC308 - Tristan's Challenge: All About Occasions

Well, sometimes things just don't go as planned. Since I've moved, I can't seem to get myself in gear to remember anything that I should.  Today my post for the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge is so very late, but you probably wouldn't have known that unless I pointed it out to you, which I just did.  As for the day, it's a beautiful, sunny day that is frigid.  I'm not going out in the cold until I absolutely need to do so.

Tristan is host for our All About Occasions challenge this week.  I am still in the process of getting stuff out of totes and placed where they need to be in my apartment.  I came across some pieces that were already colored and cutout so I put them all together and came up with this sympathy card.  I love using up my scraps.

For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, February 15th at 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for visiting,

Marsha

Deepest Sympathy

With the joy of Christmas just past, it is hard to be brought back to earth with needing a sympathy card.  My daughter-in-law's uncle passed away on Christmas Day.  This is the card I made to send to her dad as it was his brother. 

Stamp(s):  Woven Heirlooms, Timeless Tropical (Stampin' Up!);
Simple Strips Background (Taylored Expressions)

Ink(s):  Jet Black (Altenew)

Colored Pencils:  Dark Green PC908, Grass Green PC909 (Prismacolor Colored Pencils)
Cardstock:  Gray Granite, Merry Merlot, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Dies:  In The Tropics Dies (Stampin' Up!); Simple Strips Die (Taylored Expressions)
Other:  Raindrop Gems, Gamsol

I've entered my card into the following challenges:

Brown Sugar Challenge

Lavinia World Challenge

Cute Card Thursday

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

WWC238 - Tristan's "All About Occasions" Challenge

Tristan is this week's host for our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  The challenge is "All About Occasions."  Here is another card made at last month's stamp club.  It also uses the Flourishing Phrases stamp set from Stampin' Up!

For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, September 16th at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

AECP - Beyond Basic Backgrounds Lesson 3

This lesson was all about foiling without a laminator.  Last week I spend some time creating different backgrounds and this leafy background is one of them.  It was perfect to add a frame of foil to and it qualifies for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge..

This way of foiling is done using Sticky Strip.  I added the sticky strips around the card, then laid the foil onto and carefully rubbed it so the foil would adhere to the sticky strip.  It is an easy way to add foil to your projects. 

The technique of adding foil accents using bonding powder was the one I wanted to share but, alas, I didn't have any bonding powder so it's on order and once it arrives, I'll share a project using it to add the foil.

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

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Pretty Primroses

Would you believe that for the first time in a long time I'm actually able to play along with some of my favorite challenges again.  This past year has been full of recovery from cancer surgery and a major move that took me from Iowa to Nevada.  And, that's not counting all the little things in between.  It feels good to be back to doing what I love best making cards and playing along with the challenges.

For this card, I combined a couple of challenges.  The sketch is from Sunday Stamps and the colors are from CAS Colours & Sketches.  And, I got to play with my new Delicate Primrose stamp set from Altenew.

Stamp Set:  Delicate Primrose (Altenew)

Ink:  Real Red, Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up!)

Cardstock:  Balmy Blue, Crumb Cake, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)

Dies:  Delicate Primrose Die (Altenew)

Other:  Pearl Basic Rhinestones

The colors I've used are from the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

The sketch I've used is 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

WWC196 - Heidi's "All About Ocassions" Challenge

Hello and a wonderful Wednesday to you all.  It's time for for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  This week Heidi is hosting our "All About Occasions" challenge.

Here again, I'm sharing one of the cards I made in the Make A Splash class I took at the recent Stamp Joy 2018 event.  Taylor taught this class where we were able to use her new Liquid Watercolor.  It was such fun.

Stamp Sets:  You're In My Prayers, Happy Flowers Background

Ink:  Oreo

Liquid Watercolor:  Lollipop, Lemon Merigue, Shimmer

Cardstock:  Sugar Cube, Poppy Seed, Watercolor Paper, Vellum

Dies:  Prayers Script, Prayers Script Backer, Double-ended Flag Stacklets, Blooms Overlay, Stitched Frame Stacklets 1

Other:  White Fine Detail Embossing Powder

For all of our challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, November 19th at 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time to link up your project.

 Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #262

Hello and welcome to another sketch from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I'm sad to say that this is my last post as a member of the Design Team.  For various reasons, I need to step down and, as you can see, my card reflects my mood today.  I'm going to miss being a part of the team.

Stamp Sets:  Delightful Daisies (Heartfelt Creations), Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up!)

Inks:  VersaMark Watermark Ink

Brusho Crystals:  Gamboge, Prussian Blue

Copic Marker:  Y17 Golden Yellow

Cardstock:  Oreo, Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions), Tip Top Taupe (Stampin' Up!)

Dies:  Delightful Daisy Dies (Heartfelt Creations), Standard Circles Dies (Spellbinders), Double-ended Flag Stacklets (Taylored Expressions)

Other:  Weathered Embossing Folder, Sheet Music Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions), Silver Embossing Powder, Pearl Basic Jewels (Stampin' Up!)

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.  You have until Monday, May 7th at 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Buttons and/or Bows

Wow, March has come and gone and I'm now a year older!  Time does fly when you are having fun.  And, I sure did have fun creating my latest project for the Crafty Calendar Challenge.  For this challenge you are to add a button and/or a bow.  I didn't want to cover up too much of my pretty image, so I opted to add a double bow, to one side of the sentiment, using white twine.  Our sponsor this month is A Day for Daisies Digital Stamps.  For all the challenge details and to share your project at the Crafty Calendar Challenge, just click HERE.

As you may know, I love flowers.  When I saw this Bachelor Buttons image from A Day for Daisies, I fell in love with it's simplicity.  I started by printing my image off using my inkjet printer.  I always let my ink dry overnight to be sure it is good and dry before I start coloring my image.  It's a sure way of not having the ink run when coloring.  I'm really pleased with the way this turned out.

Stamp Sets:  Bachlor Buttons in a Mason Jar (A Day for Daisies Digital); Ink:  VersaMark; Cardstock:  Dapper Denim (Stampin' Up!), Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore); Dies:  Double-ended Flag Stacklets Dies (Taylored Expressions), Stitched Rectagle Stacklets (Taylored Expressions); Other:  Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Gamsol, Pewter Embossing Powder, Whisper White Baker's Twine

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

With Sympathy

A good friend's sister passed away recently and today found me in the craft room making a sympathy card.  I know she loves orange, so I included it in the design.  She's a redhead so wearing orange, other than in her shoes, is out of the question.  So, I always use orange somewhere in each card I design to give to her.  It's a tradition and this card for her was no exception.

Stamp Sets:  Background Bits, Flower Shop, God's Blessings (inside sentiment), Teeny Tiny Wishes; Distress Oxide Inks:  Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint, Salty Ocean, Spiced Marmalade; Ink:  Soft Suede; Cardstock:  Watercolor Paper (Strathmore), Whisper White; Patterned Paper:  Golden Grove (Kaiser Craft); Other:  Pansy Punch, Golden Harvest Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

The sketch I used is from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch 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

Black & White Sympathy

The background in the graphic for the sketch at the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge, had me pulling out my Crimper which I so rarely use these days.  I crimped the Whisper White layer then, crumpled it up every which way I could and came up with a crinkly look to the layer.  Oh, before I did all that, I stamped an image from the Timeless Textures stamp set using Tuxedo Black Memento ink.  Then, I attached it to a card base of Basic Black cardstock.  The sentiment is stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento ink as is the outline around it.  I used the Rose Garden Thinlits Dies to cut out the sentiment label.  I decided to not add any embellishments at this time.  I may do so later when I use the card and then again, I may not.

The sketch I used is from the CAS(E) this Sketch 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 January Mini Hop Number Two

Welcome to our January Mini Blog Hop Number Two.  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 is our second hop for the month as we wanted showcase the new Occasions Catalog and the new Sale-A-Bration Catalog.

You should be coming to my blog from Lisa Kmiec.  After your visit with me, head on over to Jayme Ziemer.  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.

For this hop, I used two of my newest stamp sets, Beautiful You and Avant Garden.  Beautiful You is from the 2017 Occasions Catalog.  I think it's going to be a very popular stamp set and one of my favorites.  Avant Garden is from Sale-A-Bration.  It's one of the free stamp sets you get when you place a $50 order.  And, for both projects, I used the new Watercolor Pencils also found in the 2017 Occasions Catalog. 

For my first card, I used the Beautiful You stamp set which is found in the 2017 Occasions Catalog.  I love the images and sentiments in this stamp set.  For my colors, I chose are Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Daffodil Delight.  All of these colors come in the new Watercolor Pencils set.  I can see hours of fun ahead of me.

Stamp Set:  Beautiful You; Inks:  Basic Black Archival, VersaMark; Watercolor Pencils:  Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry; Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Watercolor Paper; Patterned Paper:  Serene Scenery; Other:  Aqua Painter, Black Embossing Powder, Fancy Frost Sequins, 5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon

For my second project, I used the Avant Garden stamp set.  It's one of the free sets offered during Sale-A-Bration when you place a $50 order.  I love this flower image that is in the set.  I used the Old Olive and Real Red Watercolor Pencils and blurred outside the lines of the image.  The sentiment I used is from the Rose Wonder stamp set.

Stamp Sets:  Avant Garden, Rose Wonder (sentiments); Inks:  Tuxedo Black Memento, Dapper Denim; Watercolor Pencils:  Old Olive, Real Red; Cardstock:  Dapper Denim, Shimmery White, Whisper White Thick; Other:  Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Rose Garden Thinlits Dies, Seaside Embossing Folder, Frosted Sequins, Pearl Basic Jewels, Linen Thread

That is all from me.  The next stop on your tour is Jayme Ziemer.  To see her wonderful projects, click the image below.

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

To start at the beginning you can click the image below to go back to the Wacky Watercooler Stamping Blog.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

With Sympathy

The other day I found out that our facility manager's father-in-law had passed away.  While I don't mind making sympathy cards, it is especially hard to do so right before Christmas.  The empathy I feel for anyone losing a loved one at this time of year is magnified by own sense of loss.  We buried my oldest brother, Lance Corporal Larry D. Borschel, 51 years ago on December 20th.  He was killed in Vietnam during that turbulent time in our country's history.

Here is the card I made for Denise.  I didn't have any bright orchid colors to use so I softened the color and made it pastel on my card.  I didn't think bright would be quite as appropriate for a sympathy card.  I really like how this came together.

Stamp:  Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink:  Night of Navy; Cardstock:  Gold Foil, Night of Navy, Whisper White: Patterned Paper:  Vellum Paper Sets (Fiskars); Other:  Botanical Builder Framelits Dies, Leafy Branch (Taylored Expressions), Petal Pop-Ups 2 (Taylored Expressions), Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Triangle Screen Die (My Favorite Things), Pearl Basic Jewels

The colors I used are from 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

With Sympathy

It's been a rainy day here in Iowa and what better way to pass the day than to get back in the swing of joining in on some challenges.  Due to an unexpected health issue, I've not been in my craft room much other than to fulfill design team obligations.  Today found me seated at my craft table to combine the Freshly Made Sketches challenge and the Just Add Ink challenge.  I think they went well together.

As you can see, I used a white card base.  On the left I added a strip of Blackberry Bliss.  And, before you ask, yes, it is Blackberry Bliss and not black.  :-)  The rose and small flower are cut from Rich Razzleberry using the Rose Garden Thinlits Dies.  The ferns are cut from Tip Top Taupe using the Botanical Builder Framelits Dies.  To the center of the flowers I added Pearl Basic Jewels.  The sentiment is from the Rose Wonder stamp set and stamped using Blackberry Bliss ink.

The sketch I used is from the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

The colors I used are from the Just Add Ink challenge.

Thanks for stopping by at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Heartfelt Sympathy

Today I just have time to for a very short post.  I have friends coming in from out of state tomorrow so my focus has been getting my house in order and I'm happy to report that it is done!  The aftermath of a cleaning frenzy is that I'm extremely tired!  When my daughter-in-law said she needed a sympathy card, I offered to make one for her.  Here is the very clean and simple card I designed. 

Stamp Sets:  Serene Silhouettes, Simply Sketched (retired), You've Got This; Inks:  Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder; Card Stock:  Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Pearl Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer

So, for now that's it.  I'm sure my posting here will be rather sporadic given all we have planned for the next four days.  I'm so excited! 

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Challenge #25

This week's Watercooler Challenge is full of beautiful colors.  I decided to draw my inspiration from those colors.  This was my first chance to use a new stamp set that is in the 2015-2016 Annual Catalog.  You'll be able to see it on June 2nd.  You are definitely going to love it!

This set is You've Got This.  I love that great background stamp, don't you?  For the flower, I did a bit of paper piecing.  First I stamped the image on Mossy Meadow and cut it out.  Next, I stamped the image on Cajun Craze and fussy cut just the flower and layered it over the Mossy Meadow layer.  And, that embossed layer, it's the new Boho Chic Embossing Folder.  The new product is just a sneak peek and I've noted that in the product list below.

Stamp Sets:  Kinda Eclectic, You've Got This (sneak peek); Inks:  Cajun Craze, Delightful Dijon (sneak peek), Elegant Eggplant, Mossy Meadow, Tip Top Taupe (sneak peek); Stampin' Write Marker:  Crushed Curry; Card Stock:  Cajun Craze, Elegant Eggplant, Mossy Meadow, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Boho Chic Embossing Folder (sneak peek), Elegant Butterfly Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Tangelo Twist Thick Baker's Twine, Ovals Collection Framelits, Pearl Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Paper Snips, Stampin' Trimmer, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

You'll find Kath's lovely inspiration photo and all the challenge details at Watercooler Challenges.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

With Sympathy

Today I woke up to sunshine and blue skies and wonderful warm.  So, instead of getting my chores done first thing, I decided to make a card for the current Pals Paper Arts Challenge.  I figured the dusting and vacuuming could wait an hour or two.

One of the services I volunteered for, here at the place where I live, is giving or sending cards to those who live here, whether it's their birthday, a get well wish or an expression of sympathy to family members who have lost their loved one.  I keep plenty of birthday cards on hand as those are the ones I go through the quickest.  Today, I made a sympathy card, not because I needed it today but because I thought the colors from the challenge would make a very nice card.  What do you think?  

Stamp Sets:  Flower Shop, Petal Potpourri, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento; Card Stock:  Basic Black, Garden Green, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Triangle Screen Die (My Favorite Things), Bird Builder Punch, Flower Medallion, Pansy Punch, Gold Sequin Trim, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Multipurpose Glue, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

All Stampin' Up!® product unless otherwise noted.

The colors I used are from the current Pals Paper Arts Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

With Sympathy

With the storms that rolled through earlier, I decided it was probably a good idea to shut down the computer.  We had some very wicked lightning strikes and our power usually goes out.  It didn't so I used the time offline to work on my card for the Freshly Made Sketches.  I decided to do a bit of paper piecing.

The image from Bloom with Hope was stamped on Whisper White card stock using Mossy Meadow ink.  Then, I stamped the image onto a piece of paper from the All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack.  I fussy cut around the blossoms and attached them over the image stamped on the white card stock.  It's an easy way to give a different look to your design.

Stamp Set:  Bloom with Hope; Inks:  Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow; Card Stock:  Blackberry Bliss, All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Scallop Oval Punch, 2013-2015 In Color Sequin Assortment, Pearl Basic Jewels, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals
All Stampin' Up!® product, unless otherwise noted.

You can find the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

With Sympathy

When I started working on this card, I had no idea what it was going to look like.  I wasn't sure the color scheme would work for a sympathy card but, I really do like the way it turned out.  The red, white and blue made for a very nice combination.

Stamp Set:  Bloom with Hope, Gorgeous Grunge (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Real Red, Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Real Red, Night of Navy, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!); Accessories & Tools:  Pansy Punch, Petite Petals Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack Flower, 1/8" Mini Brads (Stampin' Up!), Dimensionals

The colors I used came from The Paper Players Color Challenge #199.  You can find it HERE.

You can find the sketch I used HERE at retrosketches.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

With Sympathy

So, what are you doing while you wait for the total eclipse of the moon?  Me?  Why, I'm making cards and entering challenges and having ever so much fun in my craft studio.  It's now after midnight so I don't have long to wait for the event to begin to unfold.  Fortunately, we have a clear sky tonight.  In the meantime, here is the card I made for two challenges; The Paper Players Color Challenge and the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

Stamp Sets:  Secret Garden, Mixed Bunch, Flower Shop and Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral and Always Artichoke (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Basic White (Darice), Always Artichoke and Etcetera Designer Series Paper (Stampin' Up!); Accessories & Tools:  Stripes Embossing Folder, Secret Garden Framelits, Blossom Punch, Pansy Punch and Pearl Basic Jewels (Stampin' Up!)

The colors I used followed the The Paper Players Color Challenge.

For my card design, I used the sketch from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Simply Sketched Sympathy

It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind, right?  Well, I did just that.  This is a card I made to feature in the upcoming Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop but I changed my mind.  Something else came to mind and now I'm working on that.  Of course, you'll have to wait until March 13th to see it because that's when the hop begins.  :-)

Tuesday brought the UPS guy to my door with some new goodies from Stampin' Up!®  I've not had a chance to use many of them but you will see a couple of them featured on today's card.  I love the new Banner Punch and the Gold Foil Sheets.  That's saying a lot since I'm a silver person.  My dear friend who shall not remain nameless, Jean, talked me into the gold and I must say I'm glad she did.  One of the projects I'm making for our blog hop is a study in gold.  I can't wait to share it with you.  But, for now, here is my newest card.

Stamp Set:  Simply Sketched; Inks:  Night of Navy, Pool Party; Card Stock:  Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Pool Party, Gold Foil Sheets, Etcetera Designer Series Paper; Accessories & Tools:  Banner Punch, Circles Collection Framelits, Arrows Embossing Folder, 3/16" Corner Rounder, Pearl Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

The sketch I used is from The Deconstructed Sketch No. 139.  You can check it out HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha