Tropical Vacation Inspiration

Imagine my complete surprise when the weekly hostess for the Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoast, Stephanie (aka SmilynStef) asked me if I wanted to create a sample for this week's challenge.  Well, of course!!!

And, I absolutely squealed in delight when I saw the colors of these soaps!!! The inspiration challenge (#344) this week has us visiting the Etsy shop of Indulgence by S.V. Soaps.

My card is inspired by this particular item in the shop,  Tropical Vacation Handmade Began Artisan Cold Process Soap. 

I couldn't resist making a bright, bold whimsical card with the color scheme of this soap.  And, the white and tan layers reminded me of sand. 

So, I inked up the delightful Hambo Stamps image of "Sand Castle Boy" (3402) with Marvy black dye ink onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored the image with Copic markers.  I drew in the birds with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker.  I drew the sand and the water's edge.  For the water's foam where it meets the sand, I applied Polar White Flower Soft.

Patterned paper from Bo Bunny and Bella Blvd was used to form the layers of this card.  The strip of Bella Blvd was dry embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder.  I used a sponge to apply some Adirondack Sunshine Yellow to this particular panel. 

Three small sunshine brads and a yellow/orange striped bow was added to the card for the finishing touches.

I sure hope you have a chance to play along in this week's IC344.  I know you will have lots of fun if you do.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Hot Dog

(If you are looking for the Repeat Impressions Designer Challenge, just scroll down or click here.)

Though I am running later than what I would like, I did want to post this card today.  Many of you could be having a hot dog, or two, today as you celebrate the Fourth of July.  Very American.  Or, you could have a little German hot dog, which is what I have, love and adore every day.  I thought I'd play around with Rubbernecker's "Dog" (SKU: 569-18) image and see if I could somehow integrate it into today's holiday.

I stamped the dachshund onto X-Press It cardstock with Marvy black dye.  I colored the image with Copic markers and then cut around the image with my Cutter-bee scissors. 

I created the flag with patterned paper from Queen & Co. (the red and white stripes) and the a scrap of unknown (sorry!) pattern paper (the blue dog paws).  I added six white dog bone brads to the blue patterned paper.  I framed the blue square and the red and white striped panel with black cardstock.

I stamped the Rubbernecker sentiment of "Hot Diggity" (SKU: 568-11) onto a sentiment flag that was cut with a Nestabilities die using Versafine Onyx Black.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today!  I hope you are enjoying your holiday (or day, if you are a visitor from outside the United States).

Purple and Green

Repeat Impressions Rock Star Lynette Neus challenged us to use the colors of purple and green in a creation.  I just couldn't help myself...I had to use the Repeat Impressions image "Underpants Frogs" (7120-L).  I inked them up last week, and I just can't stop smiling at these little guys.

On a square piece of X-Press It cardstock and using a stamp positioner, I stamped the froggies with Marvy black dye ink.  I colored them with Copic markers.  Also with my Copics I added a sky and grass blades into the scene.  I framed my image with black cardstock and placed it onto a green piece of cardstock that I cut with a Nestabilities die.  I added a bow to the card and called it done.

Join us in this Designer's Choice Challenge on the Repeat Impressions blog, The House That Stamps Built.  Read the details and show us your creations...you may just win a little something.

Also be sure to visit the other Rock Stars for some more inspiration:

• Cheri Weston
• Dawn Bennett
• Joy Hadden
• Karen Hasheck
• Lynette Neus
• Makiko Jones
• Patti Gilliam

Here's to you America

It's Monday! What better way is there to make a Monday more bearable, than with a Stamp of the Week from Repeat Impressions? This week’s SOTW is the sentiment "Here's to you America" (3703). The SOTW is available exclusively to Repeat Impressions blog readers at 50% OFF with the special discount code from Monday, July 2 to Sunday, July 8. To get the discount code and more information about the SOTW, please go to the Repeat Impressions blog, The House That Stamps Built.

For my card, I used patterned paper from The Paper Studio and Bo Bunny to form the layout of the card.  I framed these panels with black cardstock.  Using a Nestabilities die, I cut the scalloped edge from white cardstock. The stars were made with my Cricut and the cartridge George & Basic Shapes. A sheer white bow was tied around the card.

And, this week's SOTW was stamped using Versafine Onyx Black pigment ink.

 Please take a look at some of the other creations the Rock Stars made using this week's SOTW.

• Dawn Bennett
• Joy Hadden
• Karen Hasheck
• Lynette Neus

And a very special thanks for visiting my blog today.  For those of you getting ready for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday...stay safe and have fun, and remember the reason why we celebrate.

Beach Dachshund

I keep making beach cards because I find them so relaxing to create.  This time around, the Rubbernecker image of "Dog" (SKU:569-18) begged me to put him in the beach scene.  Who am I to object to such a request?

And, it just so happens that this request fits July's Rubbernecker Stampin' Sisterhood challenge perfectly.  Here is the inspiration photo:

I stamped the adorable little dachshund with Marvy black dye ink onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored him with Copic markers.  I cut around the image with my Cutter-bee detail scissors.

I then cut a piece of X-Press It cardstock with a Nestabilities die and used Copic markers, a white Uni-ball Signo gel pen, and FlowerSoft to create the beach setting for the card.  I drew the birds in the distance with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker.  I paper pierced around the image panel.

Using my Cricut and the cartridge Life is a Beach, I cut the crab using creme cardstock..  I sponged around the crab with Adirondack Latte dye ink, and used the Uni-ball Signo gel pen and Memento Tuxedo Black marker to add the crab's eyes.

I paper pierced around a panel of Bo Bunny patterned paper. I faux stitched with a colored pencil.  I placed the beach scene, complete with the dachshund and crab onto this panel.  I framed this panel with creme cardstock.  I added Caribbean Baker's Twine around the card, tied a bow and added a brown button for the finishing touches on this card.

I've got to share with you the reason I put the crab into the scene.  Earlier last week, I discovered this adorable video that has gone viral....watch this!



Makes me wonder what Sloopy would do on the beach, LOL!

Sure hope you can join us this month on for the Stampin' Sisterhood Challenge! Head on over to the blog and check out all of the details. Though you aren't going to win a trip to the beach, you could win a stamp set from Rubbernecker Stamps!

Pork of July

(If you are looking for today's Repeat Impressions sketch challenge scroll down, or click here. )

 It isn't even July yet...and look at me, a Fourth of July card!  Woot! And two posts in one day...Double Woot!

This card represents one of the reasons I love Hambo Stamps!  Their sentiments just crack me up, and the one on this card is no different.

For this card, I used the Hambo image of "Uncle Ham" (3419) by stamping it with Marvy black dye ink onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored the image multimedia style with Copic markers and Caran d'Ache color pencils.  I used the out-of-the-box technique to let the flag hang out from the image panel.  Polar White Flower Soft was used on Uncle Ham's beard, and some Crystal Stickles add some sparkles to the sparkler. The image was framed with black cardstock.

I used my Cricut George and Basic Shapes cartridge to cut the stars from black and white cardstock.  I adhered small bows of Maraschino Baker's Twine to these stars.

Patterned paper is from Bo Bunny and is framed with black cardstock. Small ric rac from white cardstock was cut with a Nestabilities die.  The layout is inspired by today's Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast, SC#391.

The Hambo sentiment "Pork of July" (3416) was stamped using Versafine Onyx Black Pigment ink.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.  So hard to believe the Fourth of July is next week.  Yikes!  What has happened to my summer?  Wishing all of my fellow American readers a happy holiday.

Frogs in Underpants

Never did I dream that I would have a blog post titled "Frogs in Underpants", but I do!

It's Wednesday, which means it is time for a "What If? Wednesday Sketch".  You have two weeks to enter your card using the sketch posted on the Repeat Impressions blog...The House That Stamps Built.  All participants will have a chance to win a $25 Repeat Impressions gift certificate.  I hope you'll play along with us. 

The sketch this week looks like this:

I decided to flip the sketch, and omit the rhombus (yep, I'm up on my common core standards!).  I guess you can say I'm a rebel.  I stamped the Repeat Impressions image "Underpants Frogs" (7120-L) with Marvy black dye ink onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored the frogs with Copic markers and cut around each frog with my Cutter-bee detail scissors.

Using my Nestabilities die, I made the two triangular shapes to the sketch.  I sponged on the following dye inks to create a green color gradient: Whispers Savoy Green, Whispers Whispers Sage, and Whispers Green Leaf.  I paper pierced around the triangles, faux stitched with a colored pencil, and framed with black cardstock.  I cut the circle with a Nestabilities die, and sponged it and paper pierced it as well.  It too was framed with black cardstock.

I paper pierced around a piece of Doodlebug Design patterned paper, faux stitched with a colored pencil, and framed with black and white cardstock.  I arranged all of my elements to adhere to the sketch, and then placed the frogs onto the card.

A bright pink polka dotted bow was added to the card for the finishing touches.

In some way, this card reminds me of my bedroom when I was a child.  I had this hideous (though I'm fond of the memory) wallpaper with pink and green frogs sitting on lily pads. 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today.  Make sure you visit the other Rock Stars for some more sketch interpretations.

• Cheri Weston
• Dawn Bennett
• Joy Hadden
• Karen Hasheck
• Lynette Neus
• Makiko Jones
• Patti Gilliam