Color Throwdown 481

Hello, friends.

I am thrilled to be guest designing today for the Color Throwdown #481 challenge.

Isn’t this a lovely color combination?  So very pretty!

I don’t have any inks that match these colors exactly, so I went with what I have that was close and created this card:

While I had the You’ve Been Framed dies out on my desk for that card, I went ahead and used them for a couple of additional cards.  One, with a different flower color:

And another color combo using the supplies from my previous card that were still hanging around:

Thank you to all those at Color Throwdown for the opportunity to be a guest today – I had some much needed creative time while on assignment, and that is time which I am always grateful to have!

And thank you all for stopping in today.
-Ally

Pink, Red, and Gray

In addition to coloring all my stamped images, I sometimes like to sit and do some sponging on white cardstock, just to have some on hand for when I get around to using them and also to practice my blending skills.  I used one of the ombre panels for this card.  I’m not much of a Valentine kind of person, so I turned these Color Throwdown Valentine colors into a birthday card, instead.

This card was designed for the Freshly Made Sketches #323 challenge:

And also for the Color Throwdown #479 challenge:

Thanks so much for stopping by today.
-Ally

Painted Petals – Freshly Made

It was tricky getting into the craft room today, as we were busy with a field trip.  (We’ve been learning about Johannes Gutenberg and his wonderful printing press in our history lessons – how amazingly blessed we all are because of him!)  But I was able to sneak in for a few minutes to create a little something for 2 challenges.

Painted Petals is one of my favorite Papertrey Ink anniversary sets.  Yet, like most of my stamp sets, it has been used so infrequently!  I have actually started to give each stamp set and die collection a test run as they arrive at my doorstep, so that even if I don’t get a card made immediately, at least there will be some in my pre-made stash so that I can grab them and make something in a hurry when I actually do have extra time.  Anyway, I love this stamp set – such adorable flower images!  And I have really loved the Mix + Mat series, with all the fun variety in patterns and designs.  Their versatility makes them fun to use.

This card was designed for the Freshly Made Sketches #322 challenge:

And also for the Color Throwdown #478 challenge:

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Happy Crafting!
-Ally

Primary Colors Birthday Card

Something for the Color Throwdown #348 challenge.  In an effort to use new supplies in a more timely manner, I used my new Reverse Confetti Star Garland die for this one.

The garlands are made from glitter cardstocks.  You might be able to see a little sparkle, if you look closely.  You can also enlarge the next photo to see a little more sparkle on the close-up pics.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Stylish Sentiments – Birthday (PTI)
Paper/Cardstock:  White (Xpedx); Glittered Cardstocks (Misc)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections)
Tools:  Star Garland Die (Reverse Confetti); Rectangle Frames Die (MFT)

Guest Star Stamper for Color Throwdown #280

I am delighted to be a Guest Star Stamper this week, for Color Throwdown Challenge #280.  Here is the inspiration/colors photo:

And here is my creation:

The concept for this card came when a young neighbor friend of ours was hit by a car last Thursday night.  Fortunately he suffered only a broken leg and a few broken ribs, with no head or internal injuries.  All of us – in our close-knit neighborhood – are very grateful that it wasn’t much, much worse!

I’m afraid I’ve been in a rather somber mood since the event, and it had me thinking about a masculine ‘get well’ card that we could send to him.  After I began to create, though, this card morphed into more of a masculine sympathy card instead.  So I suppose I’ll have to start over on the get well card.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Spring Tulips (Sweet & Sassy Stamps)
Paper/Cardstock:  Classic Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Rustic White Cardstocks; Enchanted Evening and Ripe Avocado Patterned Papers (PTI); Soft Sky Cardstock (SU!)
Inks:  Dark Chocolate (PTI); Tea Dye Distress Ink (Ranger)
Embellishments:  Rustic Cream Button Twine (PTI)
Tools: Linen/Canvas Impression Plate (PTI)

A Birthday Card

This is the ‘botched timed challenge’ card I made for the PTI anniversary challenge the other day.

The Delightful Dahlia flower & leaves and also the doily were from my stash box, so this card was pretty easy to put together.  This is one of the better looking flowers I created while I was practicing a bunch trying to line up my Delightful Dahlia Addition stamp layers.  I’m not very good at the layering stamps.  Even with my Stamp-a-ma-jig-thingy.

This was also the first time I had used my new Notched Star Banner Dies, which have been sitting around doing absolutely nothing since they were purchased last August (poor things).  The top layer was cut from vellum.

This one is also going into the Color Throwdown #278 challenge gallery as well.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Delightful Dahlia, Delightful Dahlia Additions (PTI)
Paper/Cardstock:  White Cardstock (Xpedx); Classic Kraft Cardstock, Sweet Blush Patterned Paper (PTI)
Inks:  Pure Poppy (PTI); Various Stampin’ Up Inks
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections); Sparkle Shimmer Spray (Tsukineko); Thread
Tools:  Doily Details Die, Delightful Dahlia Dies, Notched Star Banner Dies, Woodgrain Impression Plate (PTI); Sewing Machine

More Happy Birthday

Well, I was so disappointed about missing the mark with the Color Throwdown #250 colors, I had to try again, this time using CASE This Sketch #36.  I am also submitting this into the Clearly Besotted Challenge #2 for ‘Seeing Spots’, and also Seize the Birthday’s Anything Goes Birthday Challenge.  Four challenges in one pop – Wow!  Write that down.

Stephanie originally sent me 4 stamp sets to use during my guest DT spot last week, but she ended up using one of the sets for the June release instead.  So even though it wasn’t part of the release for which I was participating, I wanted to use some of the stamps from that set – Make A Wish – to give them a little more exposure. 😉

Aren’t those polka-dot balloons too cute?!  I’ve tried over the past few months to find some balloon stamps that suit my style, and the balloons in this stamp set definitely suit my style.  This card has polka-dot balloons, a polka-dot-impressed background, spots around the scallop circle, and some sparkly bling spots.

And some STRIPES in the middle – Haha!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Make A Wish (Clearly Besotted Stamps); Happy Birthdays (Sweet & Sassy Stamps)
Paper/Cardstock:  White Cardstock (Xpedx); Crumb Cake Cardstock (SU!); Soft Stone Designer Paper (PTI)
Inks:  Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, So Saffron (SU!); Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections); Twine (PTI)
Tools:  Make A Wish Die (Clearly Besotted Stamps); Polka-Dot Impression Plate (PTI); Scallop Circle Die (Spellbinders); Tilted Banners Die (Simon Says Stamp)

A Double

By keeping things simple, I was able to create two cards in my ‘spare’ moments on Friday.  This card today was created for the Color Throwdown #240 and Seize the Birthday #16 challenges.  I flipped the sketch upside down.

I wanted to use my neglected Big Wish stamp set by Verve, which has this lovely little cake image.  I used each of the specified colors on that one little image (though you might have to look closely to spot the apricot and limeade!) and then used a glitter pen to add a few strokes of sparkle to it – on the candle flames, the flourishes on the cake, and the flower petals.

The card base is Smokey Shadow, and I used Wisteria Wonder for a mat layer.  The top portion of the main white panel was embossed with PTI’s By The Number impression plate, and I tied a knot of Aqua Mist ribbon to hide the dividing line.  The sentiment is from Wplus9’s Embroidered Bouquet stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Embroidered Bouquet (Wplus9); Big Wish (Verve)
Paper/Cardstock:  Smokey Shadow Cardstock (PTI); Wisteria Wonder Cardstock (SU!); White Cardstock (Xpedx)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Wisteria Wonder (SU!); Copic Markers
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections, Kaisercraft); Glitter Pen; Stitched Ribbon (PTI)
Tools:   By The Numbers Impression Plate (PTI)

Color Throwdown 235

Oh my word, y’all know how to make a girl cry!!

Thank you to all of you who have commented on my 120 Followers Giveaway post this week, and especially to those who opened their hearts to share with me why you visit my blog.  I was very touched by your kind thoughts and generous compliments, and I’m grateful for the insights into how you perceive and appreciate my personal style of card-making.  My ‘style’ is something that I often think is lacking, but the cards that stay truest to that personal style are the ones I love the most.  It was refreshing for my heart to know that others enjoy that style as well. 😉

You’re all so kind and sweet, I wish I had a package for each and every one of you to win!!

Your comments were a boost to my spirit.  And that was a very welcome respite amongst all I’ve been through this past month!

Thank you so much.

And I am amazed to see that there are 7 new followers just since Monday – Wow!  I think I’ll have to find something to add to my prize package to make it an even 13 items now…  😉

I do have a card to share today.  Something very, very simple for the Color Throwdown #235 challenge.  These are some of my favorite colors to see together – the rose/brown/white combo.  Beautiful!  Here is what I created with them:

I’m not sure I do these colors justice, but I really like this simple, rose/brown/white card.  I used my favorite Sweet & Sassy Wildflowers stamp set, heat embossing it in white onto a block of Primrose petals cardstock.  Then I sponged the edges with Raspberry Ripple ink for a little shading.  I adhered that panel over a block of Dark Chocolate cardstock using foam adhesive.  The sentiment is from PTI’s Gracious Vases stamp set, stamped in Dark Chocolate ink onto a Double-Ended Banner die cut.

I tried to add some twine or a few rhinestones.  But my simple side stopped me and said, “Let it be.”  So there you go.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Wildflowers (Sweet & Sassy Stamps); Gracious Vases (PTI)
Paper/Cardstock:  White Cardstock (Xpedx); Dark Chocolate (PTI); Primrose Petals Cardstock (SU!)
Inks:  Dark Chocolate (PTI); Raspberry Ripple (SU!); Versamark
Embellishments:  White Embossing Powder
Tools:  Double-Ended Banner Die (PTI)

CAS(E)’d Color Throwdown

I have been on a bit of a roller coaster this week!  Up one minute, down the next.  Feeling stable one moment, feeling like spaghetti the next.  Wanting to make a card one day, wanting just to sleep the next!  I’m not very good at spontaneous happenings, but I’m getting much practice at just taking what comes to me right now!

Amongst the crazy ride, I have found a little bit of time here and there to create a few simple items.  Very, very simple.  Yesterday, I used CAS(E) This Sketch #20 and the Color Throwdown #234 combo to create a card using an image I had previously colored with my Copics and fussy cut.  So the only effort I expended was in cutting a few blocks of cardstock, sending a die through my Vagabond, stamping a sentiment, and adhering all the pieces.  Very rudimentary here!

I didn’t even feel like my usual rhinestone self, so I just left it like this.  Actually, though, the little dots on the vase are little touches of silver on the DP, so it has a tiny little bit of sparkle in real life.  The DP was a 12×12 piece and had these silver dots all over it in a varied pattern.  I supposed I could have chosen a section with uniform dots, but I thought it would be interesting if it wasn’t so uniform.  Meh.

I guess I’m just happy I had some creative time yesterday. 😉

Thanks for stopping by today!
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Digital Flower Image (Squigglefly); Iconic Images (PTI)
Paper/Cardstock:  White Cardstock (Xpedx); Classic Kraft, True Black Cardstocks (PTI); Real Red (SU!); Misc Designer Papers
Inks:  Real Red (SU!); Copic Markers
Tools:  Mega Gracious Vases Die (PTI)