Inspiration Challenge - Americana

SCS Inspiration Challenge: I chose the Americana buckets from Room Service Home.

Stamps: Springs - TAC, Baroque Motifs - SU, Tag Lines- Gina K Designs
Colors: riding hood red, bashful blue, white
Accessories: taffeta ribbon, small star punch

Hockey Snoopy

I made this card quite awhile ago for the SCS sketch challenge #84

Stamps: Snoopy - Stampabilities, It's Your Birthday, Sporting Goods, * Cheesecloth - SU
Paper: brocade blue, basic black, white
Ink: brocade blue, basic black
Accessories: slit punch, eyelet, ribbon, WW crayons

Skater Ian

I recently discovered The Greeting Farm and instantly fell in love with Anya and Ian.

Stamps: Skater Ian - The Greeting Farm, Tag Lines - Gina K. Designs
Paper: not quite navy, kraft, white, not quite navy & kraft DSP
Accessories: Copic markers, oval punch, brads

Blast from the Past: Scallops

This is a SU kraft scallop note card. I colored this image at a Splitcoast gathering almost a year ago. CuttersCallous is a great teacher!

Stamps: flowers - Gina K, sentiment - unknown
Colors: kraft, white, chocolate chip, groovy guava
Accessories: Copic markers, ribbon, SU scallop Notes





I used the slit punch to make the scallops on this card. I love my new scallop border punch. It's so much easier and quicker!

Stamps: In the Spotlight, Warmest regards
Colors: pretty in pink, soft sky, rose red, white
Accessories: circle, slit, & snow blossom punches, soft sky ribbon

Wednesday's SCS Sketch Challenge

Thank you to everyone who found the maker of this stamp! And to the many who wanted to know the answer too... it's from GREAT IMPRESSIONS!

Stamp: bunnies taking a peek - Great Impressions, Sentiment - SU's Miracle of Spring
Colors: creamy caramel, pink pirouette, white
Accessories: Copic markers, Michael's texture ribbon. close to cocoa marker for dots






I received Pocket Silhouettes from some of my Wish RAK friends!

Stamps - Pocket Silhouettes, One of A Kind
Paper - pacific point, pacific point DSP, white
Ink - pacific point
Accessories: ribbon, square punches, corner punch, boho blossoms punch

Tuesday's Color Challenge

SCS Color Challenge: summer sun, kiwi kiss, pumpkin pie

I love this color challenge so much that I had to make a 2nd card. This card is the size of a SU scallop note card.

Stamps: A Good Egg
Accessories: Copic markers (for coloring), old olive marker (for grass), flower eyelet, ribbon, Martha Stewart zig zag punch
Techniques: paper piecing






Aren't these little ducklings the cutest!?! I love the expression on the face of the last one! This cute image is from Whipper Snapper. (They now sell stamps unmounted!!!!)

Stamps: Ducks in A Row - Whipper Snapper, sentiment - Gina K's Tag Lines
Paper: kiwi kiss, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie DSP, white
Ink: black, kiwi kiss (sponging)
Accessories: Copic markers (for coloring), old olive marker (for grass), Martha Stewart butterfly punch

Monday's CAS sketch Challenge

You can find the challenge and sketch here.

I made this card for a secretary at my doc's office. I think she's giving it to her niece. She says she's really girly. I hope this works. I like wedding cards to be mostly white.

Stamps: Fresh Cuts
Paper: white, pink pirouette
Ink: pink pirouette
Accessories: pretty in pink marker, crocheted flowers by lacyquilter (Melody), Martha Stewart lace punch, taffeta ribbon, pearl stickers
Techniques: computer generated words


I'm showing off my favorite color again... orange!!!
I love how these 2 Verve sets go together!

Stamps: petals & Stems and Flutterby - Verve, sentiment - Gina K
Colors: white, apricot appeal, pumpkin pie
Accessories: ribbon, pumpkin pie marker, paper piercer, dimensionals

Ice Cream for 2

This card qualifies for 2 challenges.

High Hopes #17 (A little late but better than never!)
Wish RAK monthly challenge Feb #2 - CB swiss dots

Stamps: Ice Cream for Two - High Hopes, sentiment - Gina K
Paper: chocolate chip, creamy caramel, white, SU DP
Accessories: Copic markers, ribbon, button, hemp, CB swiss dots, creamy caramel marker for dots

Flash Back Wednesday

Since I didn't have time to make anything new today, I decided to make it a flash back day. Both of these cards were made for past Limited Supply challenges.

Simple One of A Kind

Stamps: One of A Kind, Boho Backgrounds
Colors: river rock, bordering blue, white
Accessories: river rock ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, scallop scissors, dimensionals






3x3 Quick Snow Blossom

Stamps: In the Spotlight, The Snowflake Spot, Short and Sweet
Paper: blush blossom, chocolate chip, whisper white
Ink: chocolate chip
Acessories: taffeta ribbon, snow blossom punch, mat kit & marker, dimensionals
Technique: distressing

SCS Color Challenge

Color Challenge: more mustard, rose red, kiwi kiss

Stamps: Verve - Petals & Stems, Flutterby By
Accessories: ribbon, paper piercer, dimensionals, sponge

Even though I love mustard, I wasn't sure I was going to like this combo. But it's growing on me. I hadn't even planned on what set to use. I had told myself that I had to get my PIF images stamped and mailed today before I could make a card. Well, I was using this set and it hit me. Verve was the way to go, today!

CAS02 - One Button Will Do!

CAS has become very popular and we're so excited! We even have a design team every season. Come check us out! This week we would like you to use one button on your card.

What is CAS?
The idea of CAS is to keep it Clean and Simple.

Definition: A clean and simple card has limited layers and sometimes just a card base. It leaves a lot of "open space". It uses little or no embellishments. Any techniques should be the old standard everyday kind like sponging, distressing and piercing. Limit the number of tools you use. Any colored images should be small and quick. Don't go overboard on tons of punches and embossing. CAS cards should be easy and quick.

Here's my 1st card for CAS02 - Checker Flower

Stamps: flower - DRS Designs
Colors: regal rose, pretty in pink, so saffron, bashful blue, certainly celery
Accessories: button MS butterfly punch, celery marker


Here's my second button card for the CAS challenge - You're Fabulous!

Stamps: It's Beautiful wheel, Absolutely Fabulous
Colors: riding hood red, black, white
Accessories: ribbon, button, stickles

SCS Featured Stamper Challenges

I was so excited to be able to use Teacher Anya that I received from Tammy on the PIF thread!

This week's Featured Stamper: juliemlacey

* different Anya image
* same layout
* similar colors
* less layers
* no hearts; added brad and sentiment
* Since this was a PIF, I couldn't use a Top Note.

Here's Juliemlacey's adorable card.

Stamps: Teacher Anya - The Greeting Farm, sentiment - SU's Wonderful Words
Colors: bashful blue, creamy caramel, white
Accessories: Copic markers, ribbon, brads, dimensionals, DSP


This is a card I made quite awhile ago.

Featured Stamper: stampinat6213

* same stamp sets
* different colors. Used stamps instead of DSP
* used butterflies instead of flowers

Here's Nancy's beautiful card.

Nancy cased it from kricki.

Kricki cased it from Cris1467.

And I think It's been cased several more time. LOL! It's a GREAT card!

Stamps: Priceless, Hugs & Wishes, So Swirly Wheel
Colors: pale plum, perfect plum, white
Accessories: taffeta ribbon, dimensionals (on the top butterflies)

IN THE NEWS!

Several companies have had new releases. Here are 3 of my favorites!

DRS Designs

High Hopes

Whipper Snapper

Stampendous has also had a new release, but I can't find the link. But my LSS helped me out with those. :)

Fun, fun, fun! Now I need to get well so I can start stamping some more.

The first CAS Challenge Design Team

First, I want to say thank you. I'm so happy that we've had so many challenge participants after only 2 CAS challenges (one being in the Limited Supply Challenge). There is so much talent on SCS that has been hidden!

It was very difficult to choose just 3 people. I hope that if you submitted cards for the DT call that you will do so again in May. If for some reason a DT member is unable to complete her term, I will choose a another designer from the first group who expressed interest. After all, you never know when you'll drop your only camera, burn your hand with a heat gun, punch a hole in your finger with a crop-o-dile, or go blind from too much glitter blown in your eye. All kidding aside, we never know when illness or accident may happen to a stamper or her family. So if I need a replacement, I'll look at the first group.


The first design team will be for the Spring Term 2009.



craftycaro (Carolina)

LateBlossom (Susan)

mudflapmamma (Angela)



Thank you ladies! I think this new idea for challenge design teams will be a positive one for the CAS style!

Blast from the Past: Valentines

Stamps: Olive You, Flannel Plaid BG, hearts unknown
Colors: real red, black, brocade blue
Accessories: ribbon, WW crayons, marker

This card measures 4.25 square. I buy 4.5 envelopes from A Muse.









Stamps: Sweet & Sassy, Houndstooth, Loving Hearts
Colors: so saffron, rose red, orchid opulence, white
Accessories: ribbon

I remember this card being a sample for a color challenge when I was guest hostessing. Everyone thought I was out of my mind! But the cards in the gallery were amazing.








Stamps: Wild About You, Bodacious Bouquet, Beyond the Basics
Color: old olive, cetainly celery, vintage violet, white
Accessories: ribbon, square punches

SCS has a new weekly challenge... CAS!

The idea of CAS is to keep it Clean and Simple.

Definition: A clean and simple card has limited layers and sometimes just a card base. It leaves a lot of "open space". It uses little or no embellishments. Any techniques should be the old standard everyday kind like sponging, distressing and piercing. Limit the number of tools you use. Any colored images should be small and quick. Don't go overboard on tons of punches and embossing. CAS cards should be easy and quick.

The CAS challenges will be on Mondays. This 1st week's challenge was an inspiration challenge. When I go to Joann's for card making supplies, I always have to visit the fabrics. I cannot sew..... at all. (That's why I like faux stitching ) But I love the patterns and often get inspiration from them.

I had linked 2 patterns from Joann's Snuggle Fabric line. But you can choose any of the Snuggle fabrics for your inspiration. Just put a link to the pattern in your comments when uploading.

This is one of the 2 cards I made as samples.

Stamps: butterflies - Verve, Curvy Verses - SU
Colors: regal rose, white
Accessories: ticket corner punch, organdy ribbon, marker, dimensionals

And there is more!

I am looking for a Design Team to help me make samples for the challenges, help come up with new and creative ideas and step in and post the challenge if I'm out of town or sick... or something like that.

I'm looking for 3 people for a 3 month term. The first term will actually be a 3.5 month term because we're already well into February. So, the first 3 people will be on the team for the rest of February, March, April, and May.

Sometime in May, I will be looking for people for the next 3 month term.

Sound like fun? Then send me 3 of your best CAS cards to my email address by Friday, February 13 at midnight EST. I will let you know who the 1st 3 people are on Saturday. If you don't get chosen this time, don't worry... your turn will come.

My email address is
designsbyboo at hotmail dot com

Skippin' Bee

It's been a busy, busy week! (on top of having a cold... yuck). This is the card that I made for SCS's sketch challenge on Wednesday.

Stamps: Skippin' Bee - Stampendous, sentiment - Gina K's Framed Friends
Colors: regal rose, pretty in pink, so saffron, white
Accessories: spiral clip, so saffron & pretty in pink ribbon, Copic markers, regal rose SU markers for the dots

Remembering Grandpa

Today marks the 1st anniversary of the day my grandpa passed away. In the few days he had left, this card hung on the cabinet by the TV in his hospital room. Even though he was 88, he had always been there. He had overcome so many health problems and rebounded quickly. It was understandably hard on me to realize he wasn't coming home this time. I miss him very much.

All SU products were used.
Stamps: Fishy Friends, Crab & Company, Cheesecloth, Flower Filled
Colors: white, creamy caramel, soft sky, craft white, chocolate chip, certainly celery
Accessories: WW crayons, ribbon, markers
Techniques: Masking

SCS Featured Stamper: K Dunbrook

Wow! I can't remember the last time I used this set. It was a lot of fun. Thank you for the inspiration, Karen!

Featured Stamper: K Dunbrook

* I changed the colors.
* I used the same layout but on a bigger card. (9"x4")
* I used brads instead of a sentiment.
* I used a similar main image.
* I used a punched image and stickles instead of buttons.

Here's Karen's beautiful card.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Paper: WW, bashful blue, certainly celery, close to cocoa DSP, unknown striped DP
Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, bashful blue
Accessories: celery poly-twill ribbon (SAB), brads, circle punch, stickles

This card fits inside a business size envelope.

It's good to be back!

Well, I could tell you all about my computer problems for the last week... but that's boring. The more exciting thing is I have an early birthday present from my parents... a new laptop computer!!!!! I love it.... but I admit that I'm still trying figure it out. Mostly I've been transferring hard drive documents. I can't believe I've only made one card this week... whoa! Hopefully, I will change that soon! Here's the one card I made. I used the SCS sketch challenge.

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes, Aida Cloth BG, Petite BGs
Paper: chocolate chip, creamy caramel, bashful blue, bashful blue DSP, white, riding hood red
Ink: black, chocolate chip, creamy caramel, bashful blue
Accessories: Copic markers, Michael's ribbon, Heart to Heart punch, dimensionals