April Challenge by SL

My oops! SL sent this lovely card in April and I am just posting it now. Look at the shimmer! What a great "twist" to the original layout. I am always so impressed with your creativity. Keep going!



I used SU Brilliant Blue cardstock for the base; SU Cool Caribbean for the bottom strip, and SU Green Galore for the strip in between the blues.



I stamped the background on top with white pigment ink with a stamp from the SU “Polka Dot and Paisley” set. I stamped the bottom piece with the shell from the SU “Aquaria” (retired) set using Versa Mark ink, and embossed it with the SU Holograms powder to give it sparkle.



The middle piece is stamped with a stamp from the SU “All in a Row” set and Brilliant Blue ink.



The tag is stamped with stamps from “Aquaria” in Brilliant Blue ink, and I used the same to stipple the white background. I used markers to color the fish, and glitter to add sparkle to the middle fish.



I stamped “happy” (SU “Polka Dot and Paisley” set) and “birthday” (SU “Happy Everything” stamp set) on white cardstock with brilliant blue ink.



I added a half circle of “Green Galore” on top of the tag. I set two eyelets – one in the tag, and one in the card, and tied silver and pink ribbon in a knot.

March and April Challenge - by CL

CL brought her beautiful cards to camp to get photographed. Aren't these wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

June Challenge by SL

The June challenge was not out for more than a day and SL got right to work on this fun card. Hope you all enjoy:



Directions:
The background card is SU “Green Galore” cardstock stamped with a stamp from the SU “Fresh Fillers” set using SU “Green Galore” ink.

I then layered SU “More Mustard” cardstock on top of SU “Tempting Teal” cardstock.

The circular “thank you” stamp from the SU “Seeing Spots” set is stamped on “More Mustard” using SU “Real Rust” ink.

A different stamp from SU “Seeing Spots” set was stamped on a scrap of “Green Galore” cardstock with “Green Galore” ink and punched with a circle punch. The edges were colored with SU “Brilliant Blue” pen to make it stand out, and I used a foam dot to adhere it and to give it dimension.

I used the butterfly from the SU “Reason to Smile” set to stamp tiny flowers on scraps of “Green Galore”, “Pixie Pink”, “Brilliant Blue” and “Cool Caribbean” cardstock using inks of the same colors. I then punched out the flowers with the SU “Spring Flower Bouquet” punch and glued them on with a glue pen.

I attached a piece of pink ribbon to the flower furthest left, and embellished with a brad from SU “Hodgepodge Hardware”.

May challenge by SL

Isn't this gorgeous?! Thanks SL for sharing!!


Background cardstock – SU Apricot Appeal.

Frame – SU Ruby Red cardstock stamped with Versamark ink and the SU “Paisley Background” Stamp.

Center cardstock – SU Gable Green sponged with SU Creamy Caramel ink on edges.

Two step flower stamp is from the SU “Delight in Life” set. I embossed the edges of the vellum square with gold embossing powder to make a gold frame. I used SU Ruby Red ink to stamp the first step of the flower, and SU Chocolate Chip ink for the second. I then used SU Cameo Coral, More Mustard and Chocolate Chip pens to fill in the petals and center of the flower.

I attached brown and white gingham ribbon with a bronze buckle embellishment from the SU Hodgepodge Hardware.

April Challenge by CS

What great ideas here in this card! (Sorry about the sideways post - you have to look at this card with your head tilted). I love the circle punch and ribbon on the side - cute embellishment idea! Thanks CS for sharing your creativity!




Delight in Life stamp set
Versa Mark, Brilliant Blue, Ballet Blue, Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens

Two complimentary shades of Blue cardstock and a 1/2" strip of orange cardstock.

I also used white grosgrain ribbon and the silver cord as well as the slot punch.

April Card Challenge Details

Finally! Here are some samples. The "Best of Cluck" sample is created by Jenna. I thought her sample was so cute and wanted to play with this layout. I hope you are inspired, as well.



The "Doodle This" sample is a set from the Spring Catalog. I had to make 24 scrapbook pages in 1 weekend. So, I purchased the "Home" Simply Scrappin' kit, and used some of the scraps for this card - so fun - so easy!!



Here's the recipe:

Stamp Sets: Doodle This, Curvy Verses
Cardstock: Buckaroo Blue, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, striped cardstock from scrappin' kit
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: ribbon from Prep School collection, corner rounder punch
Notes: I watercolored the the flower and accented the swirl with the white gell pen. Then, I added the dazzling diamonds with the glue pen.

Here are the details for the April cards. Remember these are just loose guidelines - keep it fun - or change it up! Make 5 of the same!

TECHNIQUE: Sparkles & Shimmer (ex: dazzling diamonds, hologram highlights, pearl ex or anything that adds shine...)
THEME: Birthday
LAYOUT: Stampin' Up© Idea Book and Catalog page 52 - "Loads of Love Accesories" set.

March Challenge-Roses in Winter by SL

Here's SL's card - very pretty!




Here is my card. The recipe is as follows:
Card Background: Blush blossom paper. SU “linen” background stamp with SU “Creamy Caramel” ink.

The vertical strip is white cardstock stamped with the SU “Paisley” background stamp with gold pigment ink.

I used a piece of SU “Almost Amethyst” for the small purple piece stamped with the words “Happy Wedding Day” (in “Perfect Plum” ink)from the “All Year Cheer” SU Stamp Set.

On that same piece of card stock, I stamped a rose with leaves and some little flowers using the SU “Roses in Winter” stamp set. The ink for the roses and small flowers was SU “Pale Plum” and “Perfect Plum” with the Rock ‘N Roll Technique. The ink for the leaves is “Old Olive and “Almost Artichoke”.

I accented the card with white, purple and gold ribbon.

First Entry for the Card Challenge!

Here is CS's card for the month of March. I think she did a fabulous job - don't you! Hope you are all working on finishing up your 5. Please send a photo and I will post for us all to "ooooh" 'n "aaaah" and to get some great ideas! Don't forget to leave comments (click on the "comments" link below each post to comment).




Hi Ladies, here is my card. Nothing special, but I wanted to get it done and I've been crazy with the Expo and my vacationl

I used the mixed bouquet and curvy verses stamp sets.

rock and rolled with brilliant blue/bashful blue
artichoke green/certainly celery

Also used barely banana

Put it all on bashful blue cardstock

Enhanced with blue, green and yellow ribbon and a green button.

Hope you like it. I deviated a bit from StampinLu's card. I'm new at this you'll have to cut me some slack!!!

Anyway, I leave for Canada on Thursday and won't be home until Easter. Then I'll be craaaazy with the Expo. See you gals soon.

CS

March Challenge Details

Here are the details for the March cards. Remember these are just loose guidelines - keep it fun - or change it up!

Technique: Rock 'n Roll
Theme: Congratulations (for baby, new home, etc.)
Layout: Stampin' Up© Idea Book and Catalog page 20 - "In Any Event" set. (See my sample above)

RECIPE FOR MY SAMPLE (above):
Stamp Sets: Feathered Friends, Simply Said
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Cool Carribean, Tempting Turquoise (The color in the photo may not show these colors - Certainly Celery is the background of the card.)
Ink: Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black
Accessories: flower punch, pure color pencils, mini deco fasteners, gold cord, sponge
Notes: I replaced the button with a punched out flower, and used a strip of Tempting Turquoise cardstock as ribbon.

The Best Dessert Ever - Challenge & Swap Rules

WELCOME!
Ever get a craving for something sweet and wonderful, but don't want the calories? Welcome to our sweet spot on the web, SweetStamps! Here we'll be posting our Stampin' Up© cards and designs created through monthly challenges. Feel free to join our challenges, email us with your ideas and of course, post comments! Time to sweeten up and get inspired...

So then, let's get ready for the Great Card Challenge. This is all about having fun and being creative, so if you need to change things around, go for it! There's enough dessert to go around.


RECOMMENDED RULES FOR THE CARD CHALLENGE:
1. Make a group of cards for the months of March, April, May and June.
2. Each month try to use the techniques, theme and layout ideas that are suggested.
3. For each month make 1 card 5 times (i.e. 5 cards will all be the same for that month).
4. E-mail the picture of your card to me by the 30th of each month.
5. In addition, include the recipe of your card (i.e. list of the Stampin' Up© supplies used)*, and I will post them on this blog.
5. Please comment on our cards. Everyone loves the encouragement - and what a way to grow, creatively!

OPTIONAL:
Join the SWAP and exchange your cards with other members of the challenge. If you do not join the swap, the challenge cards are still yours to keep. See below for swap rules.

RULES FOR THE SWAP:
1. E-mail me by March 30th to let me know that you are in for the swap, as well.
2. Once I hear from everyone about participation (on or about April 1st), I will let you know how many people are in the swap, so you know how many cards to make.
3. Make an additional set of cards for the number of people in the swap (all cards being the same).
4. We will try to swap these cards in June (date to be announced). You will be able to keep 1 of your cards, plus you get to trade with everyone in the group for even more ideas.
5. Please try to use Stampin' Up© products when possible.*
6. Kindly include a removeable note with each card (or stamp the back of the card) that gives your name (we will all want to know who made what) - and if you want to go the extra mile, list the supplies (ex: cardstock, ink, stamp set, and technique as we will all want to know how it was made).

PLEASE REMEMBER that the goal of these activities is to challenge your creative mind, and offer an opportunity to have fun while exchanging ideas with some wonderful people. This is not meant to be stressful. I hope you will join us and have some fun!

*It is recommended and appreciated, but not required, that you use Stampin' Up© products (Stampin' Up© products are of very high quality, and are appreciated when traded in a swap. In addition, it makes it easy to describe the card and how it is made when SU© products are used. And, including the SU© products with your card is especially useful when someone wants to recreate your design and/or use the same colors... isn't copying is the best form of flattery?)