What Gives You Inspiration?

Hey Everybody,

Our challenge today is an inspiration challenge. The website was Ethan Allen. I chose the triangle hanging lights on the main page found here.

I put my white paper in the embossing folder on an angle. The embossing folder I used is a Stampin' Up! folder called, Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder. I used a yellow Copic Marker to draw the lines. I pulled the pecan pie ink pad across the debossed side of the card to get the brown color above the yellow lines.

I stamped the image and sentiment in Memento tuxedo black ink then colored the image with Copic Markers. The image doesn't have the little shirt, so I drew it on the little guy. The image is a stamp from Unity Stamps called, Thought of You Today. I fussy cut the image and sentiment with scissors. I added the image and sentiment with dimensionals. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

Additional Info

Keywords: IC1066 Winnie the Pooh

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Thought of You Today

Paper: white, pecan pie, Stampin' Up!-Beautiful Bokeh designer series paper

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, pecan pie

Accessories: Stampin' Up!-Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder, scissors, Copic Markers, Fine line black pen, dimensionals

Techniques: fussy cutting, coloring, direct to paper on debossed side, dry embossing

I think finding inspiration from websites is a different way of getting ideas for card making. I must admit, I don't do it except for this challenge, but I might start!  Sometimes it's overwhelming to see a website or Pinterest site of images. I get lost in looking, especially on Pinterest where they have little things for sale that are distracting and cute! LOL

Maybe it's easier to look around your house and find something that inspires you to make a card or scrapbook page. That's what I did when I made 6" x 6" pages of Mia Sunshine. I saw pictures of her hanging on the wall and thought I could make some cute pages that would record what she's doing at this time in her little life.

See what you think.

Well, now that I see these again, it reminds me that my little Silas was 5 months old the other day and I haven't done one page of a scrapbook for him! Yikes, I better get going or he'll be graduating before I know it!

Hey, the stamp I used for today's card would be great on a page for Silas! Woohoo, I've started it already! LOL

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Text or Script Challenge and a Walk Down Memory Lane

 Hey Everybody,

I'm back with another challenge today.

Our challenge was to use text or script on our card. You can find the challenge here.  

I started looking through my book of dies to find something for this challenge. I found the baseball cap and that was the start. I knew I had a House Mouse bunny with a baseball that I could add. It is an older House Mouse stamp called, Great Catch.

 I needed something else to complete the image panel. So, I printed a small baseball diamond. 

The image was colored with Copic Markers. I fussy cut the bunny to add him in front of the hat. The hat was stamped with Memento tuxedo black ink.

I added the hat and image with dimensionals. This will go to a local nursing home to be used by residents.

Additional Info

Keywords: F4A846

Stamps: Birthday, House Mouse-Great Catch

Paper: white, real red, blueberry bushel, Stampin' Up!-Delightfully Eclectic designer series paper

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: baseball hat die, scissors, Copic Markers, dimensionals

Techniques: die cutting, fussy cutting, coloring

Think about it, what would you use. Here are some suggestions.

You might choose book paper, patterned paper with text, stamped script, embossing folders, or even your own handwritten words! 

I found it enjoyable to go through my designer series paper to see what I had that would fit the challenge. That's why I love these challenges. They get me going through my supplies and pulling out things I haven't used in a long time.

I can't remember when the last time was that I used the baseball cap die.

I hope you give this challenge a try. It doesn't matter if it comes out the way you want, but that you tried something out of the ordinary for your stamping. You will grow in your skills, little by little.

Check out some of my cards and 3D items from 20 years ago! Oh boy, stamping and I both have come a long way in 20 years.  We didn't have dies back then everything was cut with scissors.  Do you remember the 24 scissors that had different edges? They were so popular back then.

We stamped on tiles you'd find in building. My husband and I spent time on the floor at Home Depot making sure that my box of tiles didn't have any broken tiles in it before I purchased it.  We used the tiles as coasters and sold them in sets of 4 at our craft shows. We added cork to the bottom so they wouldn't scratch your table.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane with me.  Thank you for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Mixed Media Organized Chaos Challenge

Hey Everybody,

Today's challenge was a real challenge for me. It is a mixed media challenge. You can find the challenge here.

For our challenge this week, I am attempting to stretch us or our stash. So what we are doing is to take all of our stash that has been overworked and not used (the maximal part), putting them together with maybe more work to sew them together, and then put only in a small space of our project (the CAS part). If you want to see inspiration of the maximalism art that inspired this challenge, look to artist Jamie Curtismith here. The collage style artwork.

I took various pieces of designer series paper and put them together then cut them out with a puzzle die. I stamped the image and colored it with Copic Markers and Derwent watercolor pencils. I blended the pencils with a blender pen. I added the sentiment and image die cuts with dimensionals. This will go to a local nursing home to use.

I probably could have left this with just the heart and sentiment, but it looked so empty. I am also not used to putting random papers together like this on a card. So, I used an image on top of the heart.

Of all the challenges on Splitcoast, mixed media is the most challenging for me. It took me a long time to even think of what to do. Then I started looking through my dies. I found the Pink Fresh heart puzzle die and so it began.

How would you do this challenge? What papers would you put together?

Here are some samples of cards ladies made for this challenge. There are so many creative ladies here.

Well, that's all for today. I hope you stop by again soon.

Blessings,

Sue

Got Legs?

 Hey Everybody,

It's a legs challenge today! LOL 

Lisa's challenge today is to make a card with legs. You can find that challenge here.

I stamped the images and colored them with Copic Markers. The stamp I used was House Mouse-Toadal Makeover. It is an older stamp, but it's so cute.

  Then I added clear wink of stella to the lipstick in the holder and on their lips. I gave Ms. Toad a string of pearls like she was going out for the night and Ms. Mouse has an earring. I fussy cut them and added them with dimensionals to the designer series paper to make a cute scene. Of course they'd be out in a field somewhere having fun.

Keywords: WT1104 House Mouse

Stamps: House Mouse-Toadal Make Over

Paper: white, fresh freesia, Stampin' Up!-Thoughtful Journey designer series paper

Ink: memento tuxedo black, berry burst

Accessories: clear wink of stella, scissors, pearls, dimensionals

Techniques: coloring, fussy cutting

When I went to design this card I knew I wanted designer paper that would help make a scene. The paper I found was one of my favorites called, Thoughtful Journey.  I knew when I saw this paper that I needed to fussy cut the images so I could place them so they looked like there were in the field.

I don't think it would have looked as cute if it was one large rectangle on the page. I just had fun with this once the lipstick was done. I knew pearls would be perfect for Ms. Toad so I added them around her neck. Then I had to give Ms. Mouse earrings. I had a great time making this card. It was almost as much fun as getting dressed up to go out myself! LOL

What would you use for stamps and paper if you were to do this challenge of using legs?

It's fun to see the process your brain goes through once you have your paper or your stamps.

It's like the book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. One thing leads to another. Check it out.

Well, that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

Sue

Memorial Day 2026

 Hey Everybody,

It's Memorial Day (click on the link.)

 

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May to honor and mourn military personnel who died while serving in the Armed Forces. It is a solemn day of remembrance distinct from Veterans Day, which celebrates all living military veterans. 

Memorial Day is not cook-outs or a long weekend. It is a time to remember those who have lost their life preserving our freedoms here. They gave the ultimate sacrifice. We pray for the families and loved ones of those we've lost in their service to our country.

Blessings,

Sue

It's Sketch Challenge Time Again

 Hey Everybody,

Today we have a sketch challenge. It can be found here.  

Here is what the sketch looks like. You don't have to use these shapes, but you need three shapes. You can turn this any way you'd like as well.

Here's my card.  

I stamped the birds, from the Unity set called, Flock Talk then colored and die cut them. Then I used two dies at a time from my Nested Essentials Dies to cut the shaded spruce openings for each bird. 

I put the frames through the paradise garden embossing folder for some texture so it would mimic the background paper. 

I stamped the sentiment and used the double oval punch to cut it out.

 After the card was assembled, I added rhinestone hearts and clear wink of stella.

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Flock Talk

Paper: white, shaded spruce, Stampin' Up!-Perennial Lavender designer series paper

Ink: memento tuxedo black, shaded spruce

Accessories: Stampin' Up!-Nested Essential Dies, Stampin' Up!-Paradise Garden Hybrid embossing folder, Copic Markers, rhinestone hearts, Stampin' Up!-double oval punch, clear wink of stella

Techniques: coloring, die cutting, dry embossing

Here is a video by Lisa Curcio showing how to make these frames. You can use any shape you'd like if it has multiple sizes of the same shape. 

Take a look.

So that's what I did with my rectangle dies. Then I ran them through the embossing folder to give them texture.

Take a look at your dies and embossing folders. After stamping your image, see what shape looks best with it and cut a frame. Then decide if embossing the frame will add to your card.

I think embossing adds more interest to   my cards.

Well, that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you give this die cut frame a try.

Blessings,

Sue

Two Different Color Challenges

 Hey Everybody,

Diane's color challenge today was to use old olive, misty moonlight and fresh freesia. Dessert was to use designer paper. You can find her challenge here.  

I stamped the image and colored it with Copic Markers. I used my SU seasonal labels die to cut out the image. I added the image to my designer series paper then stamped my sentiment. I added the image and sentiment with dimensionals. I added a misty moonlight border around the image panel to make it stand out a bit against the background paper. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

Keywords: CC1103

Stamps: House Mouse-Spring Rain, Jillian Vance Design-Delightful Sentiments

Paper: white, Stampin' Up!-Lovely & Beautiful designer series paper

Ink: memento tuxedo black, old olive

Accessories: Copic Markers, Aleene's Paper Glaze, Stampin' Up!-Seasonal Labels Die

Techniques: coloring

Our challenge today was to use neutrals for colors. I used, blackberry bliss, Mossy Meadow and gray.
I stamped the image and colored it with Copic Markers, then die cut it with the seasonal labels dies. I cut another from blackberry bliss to add behind the image. I cut the paper horizontally so it would form a border.
I stamped the sentiment and die cut a blackberry and white set of words. I layered the words, then added white gel pen over the words so they'd be easier to see. I added clear Wink of Stella on the sentiment. This will go to a local nursing home for the residents to use.

Stamps: House Mouse-Boquet For You, Sunny Studio-Big Bold Greetings

Paper: white, blackberry bliss, Stampin' Up!-Dandy Garden designer series paper

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, blackberry bliss

Accessories: Sunny Studio Big Bold Greetings Dies, Stampin' Up!-Seasonal Labels Dies, Copic Markers

Techniques: die cutting, coloring

What are considered Neutral colors?

  
We use all the colors that Stampin'-Up has designated as neutrals.

In addition to white, vanilla, black,gold and silver the following color chart lists the other neutral shades.

(sorry the color names are blurry. I copied them from the Splitcoast website as large as they'd allow.)

Take a look at all of the color choices you have if you are only using neutrals. What colors would you use?

What stamp set would you use? I found a few House Mouse wooden block stamps for $1 each so I bought them. I removed them from the wood and use them with an acrylic block or in my stamp positioner.

They are the type of stamp that I can use for cards for the hospital. Most can be used for men or women. That makes it easier for those who put cards on dinner trays at the hospital.

Well, that's it for today with the two color challenges. You know sometimes having a challenge makes it easier to make a card. Usually the challenge has you searching for something whether it's designer paper or stamps. I love being able to have help with using the stamps and supplies I have.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

Sue

Sunflowers and Black Out Technique

 Hey Everybody,

Our challenge today is to make a card using our favorite flower. You can find the challenge here.   My favorite flower is the sunflower.

I stamped the image with versafine black ink. I first colored with watercolor pencils but didn't get the color I wanted so I went back and colored some of the image with Copic markers and zip paint brush markers. 

I added clear wink of stella to the sunflower. The image was fussy cut. I die cut a flower pot using designer paper then added a contrasting color behind which was fussy cut. I dry embossed the daffodil paper with the sunflower 3D embossing folder. I stamped the sentiment on designer paper and added it to the card.

Keywords: CAS897

Stamps: House Mouse-Potted Mouse, Stampin' Up!-Phrases & Frames

Paper: white, Stampin' Up!-Bloom Impressions designer paper, daffodil delight

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Versafine black, cajun craze

Accessories: Derwent watercolor pencils, blender pen, clear wink of stella, Zig real brush markers, Copic Markers, scissors, Stampin' Up!-3D Sunflower embossing folder, dimensionals, flower pot dies

Techniques: coloring, dry embossing, fussy cutting, die cutting

Here's another sunflower card. It is made with the same 3D embossing folder as the card above.

Nancy's challenge is to send cards to Jayne. You can find her challenge here.  I love sunflowers and they always lift my spirits. 

I ran daffodil delight paper through with the sunflower embossing folder. I colored the petals and flower centers with Copic Markers on the debossed side. Then I pulled shaded spruce down over the flowers. I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with an old Stampin' Up die called, Seasonal Labels Dies. I added the sentiment with dimensionals then added green gems inside and outside.

Inside the sentiment reads, Wishing You a Lovely Day!

Keywords: MMTPT928

Stamps: Stampin' Up!-Paradise Garden

Paper: daffodil delight

Ink: shaded spruce

Accessories: Copic Markers, dimensionals, green gems, Stampin' Up!-Sunflower 3D embossing folder

Techniques: dry embossing, direct to paper on debossed side

As you can see I used the same embossing folder. On the first card I used it the typical way with the embossed side as the background.

The second card uses the debossed side of the card where I pulled ink over the image. This is called the blackout technique.

Here is a video by Lydia, who is an accomplished artist who does videos for Splitcoaststampers website. She shows some beautiful cards.

What types of 3D embossing folders do you have in your stash? What colors will you use to do this technique? What color will you use to go over your image? Lydia uses black but you can use any color you'd like, preferably a dark color.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you give this technique a try.

Blessings,

Sue