Penny Black Saturday Challenge #64

I'm not sure what the problem was, but this card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge #64 took me forever. The challenge was Christmas. Simple enough. I made a Christmas card earlier in the week which came together quite effortlessly. But this one had me stumped. I had trouble picking the paper, I had trouble cutting the paper, I tried ribbons, I tried different flowers, I stamped a couple of different images. Finally, late yesterday afternoon, things started falling into place.

I used "Merry Kitty" by Penny Black. The little bit of coloring was done with Copics (C1, C5, R02, R24, R27, R29). The DP was some really old Paper Patch paper, the CS was Bazzill and the mirror paper came from Marco's Paper. The squares were cut with Nestabilities standard and scallop squares and I embossed with Cuttlebug's "Christmas Ornaments" embossing folder. The flower was made by punching twice with Fiskar's "oopsie daisy" punch and once with a Stampin' Up punch. The jewel in the center is Hero Arts. And the Christmas ball is totally covered with Stickles "Xmas Red".

It's not the best card I've ever made... but it's not the worst, and in the end, I like it. I guess, subconsciously, I'm just not ready to think about Christmas.

Cheers, Judi

Papertake + Stamp Something + Colour Create = Christmas

What do you get when you take the sketch from Papertake Weekly, the color challenge of Ruby, Gold and Cream from Colour Create Challenge and the Stamp Something Challenge to use an animal? A Christmas card, of course! I think it was the color challenge which really drove me towards Christmas. I must admit I haven't had any Christmas stamps out before now. (Still not ready to admit that summer is almost over and Christmas will be here in no time.


I stamped Impression Obsession's "Christmas Tree Mouse" in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics (R59, G21, G24, E00, E02, D37, E29, W1). The DP is from a Christmas paper pack I got from Hobby Lobby and the gold CS is from stash. I used the EK Success "Scalloped Scallop" border punch and the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. The flowers are Prima (the largest was white which I colored with R59) and the gem is Hero Arts (also colored with R59). Lastly, I added a touch of "Polar White" Flower Soft to fluff up his hat and to make snow.

Thanks for stopping by. Comments are always appreciated.

Cheers, Judi

Just Magnolia

Decided to participate in the Just Magnolia Challenge this week. I only have two of these lovely stamps so hope you don't get tired for seeing them over and over again.

This week's Challenge #19 is a sketch by Rach. I stamped "Tilda with Flowers" with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics (R02, R39, R59, YG21, E00, E02, E29, E31, E37, E57, C1). All the DP is from the "Imagination" paper collection by A2Z. I used several sizes of Nestabilities standard and scallop circle dies and "Spring" Flower Soft. The flowers are Spare Parts and Primas, and the ribbon is from QVC.



Thanks for visiting.
Cheers, Judi

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #63 and Papertake Weekly

So last week was all I expected it to be. I ended up working 3.5 extra hours on last week's timesheet and I was in on Saturday, so I already have 4.5 extra hours for this week. I like the extra money (more stamping things to buy!!) but it's hard to keep up with everyone's blogs and challenges. Vacations are over for a while, so it's time to catch up.

Starting the week off with Penny Black Saturday Challenge #63 and Papertake Weekly. Penny Black's challenge is stitching and Papertake Weekly is celebrating their 100th challenge with "Take Your Pick". You can use any of their 100 challenges for your inspiration. I went back through all the past PTW challenges and chose Katharina's Sketch 13. This was an early sketch and I thought it looked fun.

I used a transparent stamp from PB's new "Spooky" set. This kitty is so darn cute I just couldn't resist. I stamped him with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics (E00, E02, E09, R02, C1). (I'm not very pleased with the coloring, can't seem to get the right amount of "light" or "white" space. Guess I'll just have to keep trying.) My "stitching" is from the Technique Tuesday's "Hanging By A Thread" stamp set. The CS is Bazzill and one of the sheets of DP is from Doodlebug, but I don't know where the other paper came from. (I think I've had around for a while.) I used Nestabilities standard and scallop oval dies, two sizes of EK Success Retro flower punches, and the Swiss Dots embossing folder. There's a touch of Spica's on the kitty's hat, jewels and rhinestones from Doodlebug and Queens & Co.

Looking forward to more crafting this week (and not so much working). Thanks for stopping by. Comments are always welcome.

Cheers, Judi

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #62 & Sketch Saturday #64

I wanted to get one more card done before the work week begins because I'm not sure if I'll be back to my craft room again before Friday (my day off). I'm anticipating this to be a rough week as one of the other admin assistants is on vacation and I'm expected to do a part of her job that I've never done before..... as well as my own job. Should be an interesting week, to say the least.


So, of course, I chose the Penny Black Saturday Challenge #62. Their challenge this week is a color challenge.... blue, tan and cream. Since I also love sketch challenges, I checked out the sketch saturday challenge and, as usual, they have a wonderful sketch posted.

I used the PB stamp "Three Daisies" and I actually colored it with a blender pen and Chalk "Prussian Blue" ink. I didn't seem to have a Copics blue that matched my paper (sounds like a shopping trip to me??!!) The DP is from K & Company's Classic K Bailey paper pad and the CS is Bazzill and Stampin' Up. I used Nestabilities standard and scallop oval dies, the Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder and a Fiskars border punch. The pearls are Hero Arts, the blue ribbon is from Michael's and the pearl/lace is from Hobby Lobby.

Hope you have all have a good week. Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers, Judi

Spoon Full of Sugar & Whiff of Joy Challenges

Both of these challenges are a first for me. A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #64 is a wonderful sketch by Camilla and Whiff of Joy Challenge #43 is to use pink and brown.

This is the first inking of Whiff of Joy's "Willow with Sunhat". I think she is so cute. I stamped Willow in Memento Tuxedo Black and again colored with Copics (R81, R83, R85, R39, R59, E00, E02, E37, E29, YG23, C1). "Just Because" is Endless Creations stamped in Chalk "Dark Brown". The DP is from the Basic Grey "Bittersweet" paper pad and the CS is Bazzill. I used Nestabilities' Labels 4, the flowers are Prima, and pearls are Hero Arts.

Hope you're having a great weekend. The weather is perfect here in Michigan (personally it's a bit warm for me) but I think most people are just glad that summer has finally arrived.

Thanks for stopping by. Comments are always appreciated.

Cheers, Judi

Our Creative Corner & Papertake Weekly

Our Creative Corner has an inspiration challenge this week and Papertake Weekly has a great sketch by Dawny. I've put the two together for the following:



The image is "Flower Tub" (C1182) from Impression Obsession and the "thank you" is Inkadinkado. I stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics (YR12, YR18, G21, G24, YG11, C1, C5, C7, BG10). I added Flower Soft bright orange and baby peach to the flowers. I thought Basic Grey's "Marrakech" collection matched the coloring perfectly and the CS is from a DCWV paper pack. I used Spellbinders Nestabilitlies square die, standard and scallop ovals, and labels 1, along with the new Spellbinders Lattice Borderability. The ribbon is from a QVC ribbon pack and the charm is from stash.

Hope you get some inspiration from my card. Thanks for visiting. Come back again.
Cheers, Judi

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #61 & Stamp Something

Another week and a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge. This week's challenge is a sketch by Beth and I've combined it with the Stamp Something Challenge which is to use a charm.


I'm using another stamp from the "purrfect day" transparent set and I've colored this little cutie with Copics (C1,C7,Y26,Y28,YG11,YG23,YG25,R02,R39,R81,R83,R85). "Birthday Wishes" is by Endless Creations, the DP is from the "Baby Powder" collection by imaginisce and the CS is Bazzill. The flowers are Prima, the "diamonds" in her color are by Hero Arts, jump rings and chain are from Hobby Lobby, and the charm is from stash. There's a touch of Spica on the flowers and leaves.

To hang my charm, I used a technique I found on Bev Rochester's blog All The Things I Love. I think my chain's a little long but, for a first try, I think it turned out pretty well.

Thanks for stopping by.
Cheers, Judi

Truly Scrumptious 13

One of our cousins waited a long time to get married and have kids; but he finally tied the knot in 2008 and they had their first child in 2009. We are hoping to meet our new second cousin Nicholas in a couple of weeks so I've made card for the occasion.

I took the sketch from Truly Scrumptious and added papers and stickers from K&Company to come up with the following card. I haven't decided on the sentiment yet but didn't think I needed it to post the card.



As I said, the DP and stickers are from K&Company's "Brenda Walton Small Wonders Boy" collection. The CS is Bazzill, the flowers are Prima, the pearls are Hero Arts, the ribbon is from Michael's and the "filigree bell caps" are from Hobby Lobby. I used three sizes of Nestabilities standard and scallop circles.

We are looking forward to our first visit with Nicholas and hope he enjoys the gift that goes with this card.

Thanks for visiting. Would love it if you left a comment.
Cheers, Judi

Penny Black/Friday Sketchers/Papertake Weekly

Three challenges in one today: Penny Black Summer Challenge, Papertake Weekly Four Seasons Challenge and the sketch from Friday Sketchers.

I've used the PB stamp "Make A Wish" and colored with Copics (E00, E33, E37, R24, R27, BG10, BG72, YG11, YG23, Y21, C1). The DP is from the "Twitterpated" collection from Imaginisce and the CS is Stampin' Up. Circles were cut with the Nestabilities standard and scallop dies, flowers are Prima from a QVC flower pack, and the jewels are Hero Arts and Dew Drops.

I had a great weekend. Barb and I headed to Novi for the Heirloom Productions Rubber Stamping Convention. This is Michigan's biggest rubber stamp convention with about 50 vendors; some old favorites and some new ones.

We were taking a beginning Copics class on Friday taught by Sandy Hulsart. She's a certified instructor and very talented. We learned a lot and I think I finally understand natural blending families and what all the letters and numbers mean. After class, Barb and I checked out The Stampeddler (in Northville) and Archivers. We hadn't been to Stampeddler in a long time... they are still a wonderful stamping store.

Sue and Sandy didn't come down till Saturday morning. We hooked up in the convention center parking lot and, after standing in a very long line, finally made our way in. I had a list of things I wanted to look for and managed to find a lot. The big items were the new Spellbinders dies, Flower Soft, and Copics Ciaos. I was hoping to find Magnolia or Whiff of Joy stamps, but no such luck. Back to ordering on line.

Anyway, Barb and I took a Flower Soft class on Saturday afternoon (good thing, since I bought so much of it) given by The Paper Hollow. We made two different cards, one using a card topper and one using the flower stems. We had a lot of fun; it was great to use the product.

We stayed until the end, spent a lot of money and came home very inspired (and tired). I can't wait until next year!

Cheers, Judi