It's OK to Stop

Today I had but a moment to create a clean and simple card - and with my tendency to keep adding, I had to remind myself that it really is OK to stop.  I have to say, I loved making this card.  I think the little flower at the top is my favorite.  It's for my sweet niece who is just beginning her teenage years... oh, the ride so begins (again) for her parents!

I found these wonderful challenges to guide me in picking colors, choosing the layout and designing the image:

At the Creative Corner, I tried their red and aqua challenge - and I loved how they suggested to use the pink, 'cause I could not find a color for the base of the card.  I think I like how the Pink Pirrhouette surrounds the focal image.

 

The super-fun layout was lifted from the folks at Clean and Simple.  What a great sketch challenge!  I will be sure to try this simple and sweet sketch again!

And, since I keep using the same stamp set over and over (not like I don't have a few more...LOL), I needed to find an image inspiration.  Over at SCS, the Saturday Challenge - IC295 was just the right amount of inspiration I needed to get these cute little stem stamps in my hands.  I found this pretty image on the site, L'Affiche Moderne.

And isn't this a cute little flower (if I say so myself)?  I created it with the Boho punch and a black paper fastener for the center.  

Thanks for visiting!
Hope you have a sweet and simple day!
Luci

Adding CAS-Tastic Summer Ink

So morning coffee in hand and a brief opportunity to travel the blog-o-sphere, I came upon these lovely challenges:  Over at Just Add Ink (JAI 78), they pulled out of their magic color wheel, one of my favorite color combinations:  Certainly Celery, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip... yummy!  And, over at SCS, there is the Summer CAS-tastic challenge (F4A75) that craves those summer colors.  And at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog (#150) there was an adorable, CAS sketch to try!

Completely inspired, stamps practically jumped into my hand and away I went... until, of course, the phone rang and all that reminded me that this day has many tasks ahead.  Yes, it was a brief moment of creative bliss.  So before I tend to the things that need to get done, let me share my CAS-tastic (SCS term) moment with you.


I know I cannot get enough of this Sail Away stamp... I just adore it!  I love how every time I add the sails with designer paper or cardstock (Certainly Celery here), the image seems to pops off the page.  The waves were sponged until I had some movement under the boat.  Hardly able to see, but I choco-chipped some color on the actual boat.

Thanks for visiting.
Have a CAS-tastic Summer Friday!
Luci

Non-Convention Goer Swap

Not being able to attend this year's Stampin' Up's Convention, I decided to participate in a non-convention goers swap - so I would not miss out on the fun of swapping!  I am so looking forward to receiving the rest of the swap back.

The flowers were masked with the script background and colored using a tool I have put aside for a while - I don't know why - 'cause it was one of the very first supplies I purchased when I started to stamp:  The Blender Pen!  Not the same pen that I started with (went through a few since the early days), but certainly a loved device.  I dabbed it in the ink and water-colored it around the flower, giving some areas a certain amount of light and dark.

And, can you tell I am absolutely loving those Teeny Tiny Wishes?  They are the sweetest little sentiments (as seen above:  "just for you") that add just a little something to any size element on the card.

So, this card started out for a special person's milestone birthday.  I enjoyed the card so much, I decided to make a few more.  Here is the full version of my card.

 

It took me longer than I expected, as there were more pieces to work on than what I imagined in my head (as I always seem to do).  And, of course, making multiple copies of the same card... well, you understand.  I don't know how some stampers make 100s and 100s of swaps...

I added a little card to the front envelope for an extra surprise.  Those Curvy Verses are too wonderful, too:

Supplies Used:

• Stamps:  Fabulous Florets, Curvy Verses, En Francais,  Teeny Tiny Wishes

• Ink:  Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Basic Black

• Big Shot Supplies: Flower Garden Textured Embossing Folder, Scallop Envelope Bigz Die, 

• Other Supplies:  Pearl Jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Blender Pens

• Techniques:  Masking, Sponging, Water-coloring


Here's another version of it with a pink/purple color scheme.  I think I still favor the red and black colors, though.



Thanks for visiting.
Have a wonderful day,
Luci

Morning Cup o' Joe on Small Doilies

For me, a perfect morning is a tasty cup of coffee ~ joined by a cookie (on a doily, of course), a calm dog and quiet time to create.  Such occasions are rare and short lived.  I enjoyed my (short) moment this morning, until I heard the footsteps...

I found this color combo at Color Throwdown - which I probably would not have thought to put together, but quite enjoyed the blend... (nice coffee pun, huh?)

So with the current doily craze, I thought I could play along with the WT330 SCS Challenge.  Unfortunately, I don't have any real doilies... but, I thought the detailed circle element from Stampin' Up's Artistic Etchings, had that doily look.  You have to look very closely to see them - I added the mini doilies below the white scallop effect above.

.

I added a little bling on heart to "perk up" this cute little cup, with a side of frothy whipped cream on the edges of the card.

Hope you find your perfect moment today.
Thanks for stopping by!
Luci

Happy 4th!

 Happy 4th of July!  The storms have passed and so a lovely day of sunshine and splashing for all... (Shockingly, our pool is crystal clear blue... and, not the typical shade of cloudy green).  

Well, maybe not splashing for all... you see, the floral brad and splashes of blue (to the upper left) are hiding the poor little birdie that I messed up coloring.  But, since I was following the Mojo Monday challenge here, I moved my "star" element to the other side so I could cover up the faulty feathered friend. 

I chose to use this interesting color combo in the Simply Stampin challenge here.  They have some beautiful samples there, so make sure you visit them, too.

Thanks for stopping by.
Have a terrific day!
Luci

Surf's Up!

Masculine cards have to be my most challenging - especially since I admire all the floral cards out there!  Needing a masculine graduation card, and finding this super challenge at CASual Fridays, I thought going with Kraft and beach-y blues might be just the way to go. 

I started by masking the sun or moon (whichever mood you are in) on a piece of Kraft CS, and sponged the blue sky around.  Then I added some drifts of Kraft sand (sponged of course).

 

Here, I tucked in a few embossed surf boards so that they had a glossy/wet look (ya' know after surfing all day, they had to dry off...)

I added 3 tags to the upper left, using just the Happy part of the Happy Graduation stamp for the smaller tags.  The 3 tags and the 3 sea shells I thought fell right into sketch challenge that inspired this layout.  You can see the sketch here from iheart2stamp.  

I hope it's a happy, happy day for the graduate!

Thanks for stopping by.

Hope your day is happy, happy!

Sunscreen Needed on this Sail Away Adventure

Well, there are more "Out of the Garden" projects to show you.  Unfortunately, the pictures are stuck in the computer that needs repair... sigh...  Plus, it's probably too hot to be in the garden these days, so - I'll take you to the shore (as they say in Joisey).

And, how much do I love this cute little sailboat?  It's one of those stamps that you can use in a scene, rather than just on its own, if you know what I mean.  Here, I wanted to put the boat in some waves under a beautifully sunny day.   I used the giant Medallion stamp for the sun and added too much yellow for my taste - so, I figure it's a reeeeealllllly sunny day!   I had to reapply sunscreen when making this card.   :)

Since it was used for a masculine graduation card, I added the saying from Stampin Up's Set, Word Play:  "Go Confidently in the Directions of Your Dreams" on the inside.  I thought it was fitting for the occasion.

Thanks for stopping by.
Have a bright day!
Lucian