Host Set Note Card for Challenges!

I'm back! April was a fantastically busy month for my family with lots of lovely things happening, but I have just stolen a little time in the Studio! I only got one project completed so far, but here's what we've got for today.

I'm entering this project in the Mojo Monday MOJO395 and Colour Me Card CMCC69 Challenges.

I used the retiring Hello, There host set and 2013-15 In Color, Coastal Cabana, along with Real Red and Cherry cobbler.  The Burlap Ribbon and Cotton Ribbon add a bit of texture to the project. The Baker's Twine was just what I needed to finish the flag.

Since the 2014-15 Annual Catalog is in its final month (and things are selling out!), I'll be highlighting retiring items throughout the month.  Click {HERE} to read more about the retiring catalog, 

and 

click {HERE} to shop!

Say, are you on my mailing list? Drop me a line and I'll make sure you are! Are you a Studio Select Customer? If so, I'll be sending you a new 2015-16 Annual Catalog for free!

Pot o' Gold and the Luck of the Irish

Feeling a bit of the luck o' the Irish with this card.  I was working on a few challenge entries and this fun note card just came together. 

First, I've been looking forward to playing with the "swipe" image from the Sheltering Tree set in the Occasions catalog.  For the Colour Me Card Challenge (CCMC62), we were to use Pear Pizzazz and Garden Green, so I thought I'd highlight those two colors with this simple stamp.  They form the background behind the Gold Satin Ribbon (which I just fell upon as I pawed through my ribbon stash -- my original plan was to go with Whisper White ribbon of some sort).  This card also fits the monochromatic scheme of the Friday Mashup celebratory 200th (choose your own) challenge, so I chose #6: FM200.

The layout was provided by the Mojo Monday MOJO388 challenge.

Next, I have the "lucky" sentiment punched and clipped from the And Many More set.  I masked off the "you" and inked the stamp with Versamark before embossing it with the Heat Tool and Gold Embossing Powder. I punched the tag with my trusty Modern Label punch and clipped off one end.  Whisper White Baker's Twine finishes the tag. Simple and sweet!

Finally, I used the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack to approximate my lucky clovers. Easy!

Hope you have a fun St. Patty's day and that you find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Captivating Snowflake is the Winner! {12 Weeks of Christmas}

 

I couldn't be more tickled that my entry in the Colour Me Card Challenge #45 won the "Captivator" prize this week!  

I've enjoyed this challenge for months and my creativity is always stretched by their cool color combinations.  As I said yesterday in {THIS POST}, I am often vexed by color, so this challenge helps me work out some new combinations.  I *LOVE* the cards the Design Team come up with -- their work is truly inspiring.  Check them out {HERE}!  You'll thank me!

This card was super-easy to make.  I used my new Snowflake Card Thinlits die (found in the Holiday Catalog on page 22 or {HERE} online).  

Stampin' Up! has a video for you -- there's a great trick for making a snowflake to contrast with the body of the card... My card has a belly band, too, only in mine, I used ribbon!

I ran it through my Big Shot once with a piece of Real Red card stock and again with a snippet of white to give me the contrasting bit behind the moving snowflake.

This Thinlit is worth it for the snowflakes and sentiments alone! I ran some Silver Glimmer Paper through my Big Shot (*twice, sometimes*) to make both the sparkly snowflake and "Brrr" sentiment.  I've used these same elements to dress up gift boxes and other cards.  Wait and see -- I've got more details about those in upcoming {12 Weeks of Christmas} posts!

Don't forget to check out the Colour Me Card Challenge for a new weekly challenge!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  None, on this project!

Papers:  Real Red (102482) and Whisper White (100730) card stocks, and Silver Glimmer (135314) paper

Inks:  None, on this project!

Artist's Flair:  Snowflake Card Thinlits die (135855), Big Shot (113439), White Organza Ribbon (114319), Scallop Circle Punch (127811), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Thanks again to the Colour Me Card design team for making my day!

Weekly Deals and a Challenge Winner Sneak Peek!

First, I'd like to thank our military service personnel around the globe and across the country and the families who support (and miss!) them.  Thank you for your service and sacrifice!

Tuesday equals deals at Stampin' Up! and here are the latest goodies for 25 percent off or more! Click {HERE} to shop!

 1/2-Inch Circle Punch, #199869, originally $5.95, but on sale this week for $4.46!

7/8-Inch Circle Punch, #129404, originally $12.95, but on sale this week for $9.71!

Blushing Bride Chevron Ribbon, #130013, originally $8.95, but on sale this week for $6.71!

Brights Designer Buttons, #130028, originally $7.95, but on sale this week for $5.96!

Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, #125583, originally $6.95, but on sale this week for $5.21!

Window Frames Collection Framelits, #129021, originally $26.95, but on sale this week for $20.21!

Wonderfall Digital Download MDS, #131218, originally $7.95, but on sale this week for $4.77!

And I got some exciting news today...  I've followed the Colour Me Card Challenge for a while now and today, I'm their Colour Captivator!  I'm so very excited and grateful!  You should see the lovely entries they get every week.  

I love this challenge for the inspiring projects created by its talented design team as well as for the fun challenge presented by the colors they choose to highlight.  Color is the hardest part of crafting for me (and what drew me to Stampin' Up!) and I love how this challenge continues to teach, inspire and push me!  

Thanks so very much!!  I'll post more tomorrow, but here's a sneaky peeky at my next {12 Weeks of Christmas} post: