Flourish & A Flower

Whew!  A migraine kept me out of the craft room until later this evening.  I loved the sketch from the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge and my time was running out.  And, the colors from the Color Throwdown Challenge were perfect for it.  Now that the migraine is gone and I'm totally wiped out, it's time for an early night and I'll start fresh in the morning. 

Stamp Set:  Sheltering Tree - sentiment (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!), Victorian Velvet Distress (Tim Holtz); Cardstock:  Night of Navy, Whisper White (both Stampin' Up!); Other:  Flourish Stencil (Tim Holtz), Petal Pop-Ups 2, Stitched Oval Stacklets (both Taylored Expressions)

The sketch I used is from the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.  I loved this sketch.  It's simplicity and elegance were just right for some stenciling.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

The colors I used are from the Color Throwdown Challenge.  The gold I used is actually in the center of the flower where I placed a dot of Golden Sunset Glitter Drops by Nuvo.  I didn't have any other gold and thought this a perfect way to incorporate that color into my design.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

So glad you stopped by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #121 - "Anything Goes" Challenge

It's an "Anything Goes" challenge this week at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  They happen to be my favorite kind of challenge as I can share whatever project I'm currently working on.  For this one, I did a wee bit of masking and layered me some flowers.

Stamp Set:  Sunshine Sayings; Inks:  Cucumber Crush, Watermelon Wonder, Tip Top Taupe; Cardstock:  Delightful Dijon, Watermelon Wonder, Whisper White; Other:  Sunshine Wishes Dies, Golden Sunset Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, June 5th at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

A Tribute to All of Our Fallen Heroes

Memorial Day is a day set aside to remember those who died in service to the United States.  Today I'm remembering all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  Most especially my oldest brother, Lance Corporal Larry D. Borschel who died December 9th, 1965 in Vietnam. 

Attribution for this photo and video goes to USA Patriotism.

Click on the image for the video.

Happy Birthday

Well, so much for good intentions.  My day was to be spent continuing to sort and re-organize my craft room.  As you can see by the card below, this is how I did that.  What can I say?  Those scraps laying on my desk were just too inviting.  Here's the birthday card I made for the Color Throwdown Challenge using those bits and pieces.

Stamp Sets:  Simply Stamped - Butterflies (Taylored Expressions), Beautiful Birthday (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Emerald Envy, Smoky Slate (both Stampin' Up!); Cardstock:  Emerald Envy, Smoky Slate, Whisper White (all Stampin' Up!); Other:  Simply Stamped - Butterflies Dies (Taylored Expressions), Ariana Sprig Die (Memory Box), White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Nuvo), Rhinestones

The colors I used are from the Color Throwdown Challenge.  I wasn't sure there were green butterflies but I googled it and sure enough, there are many and some are quite beautiful.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

So glad you stopped by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Wisteria Thinking of You

With all of my sons, and their families, now living out of state, I tend to make more thinking of you cards with birthdays running a close second.  I always leave them blank so I can write a short note to whomever the card is intended.  Here's the latest one for my stash.  I love the sketch and the soft colors.

Stamp Sets:  Sheltering Tree - sentiment (Stampin' Up!), Simply Stamped-Butterflies (Taylored Expressions); Ink:  Wisteria Wonder; Cardstock:  Whisper White; Patterned Paper:  6"x6" Paper Pad by 5th Avenue; Other:  Simply Stamped Butterflies Dies (Taylored Expressions), Sequins, White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

The sketch I used is from the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge. I loved the simplicity of this sketch.  It had so many possibilities but I decided to stay with the original orientation.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

The colors I used are from the Retro Rubber Challenge.  For me, the soft, muted colors were the draw and they reflected well in the patterned paper I used.  I love that sentiment from the Sheltering Tree stamp set by Stampin' Up!  It was in the 2015 Occasions Catalog and is now in the current Annual Catalog. 

For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Blossoms and Butterfly

The sky is blue, the sun is shining and I'm in my craft room where I combined three challenges to make this clean and simple thinking of you card.  A day doesn't get any better than this! 

Stamps:  Jar of Love (Stampin' Up!), Simply Stamped - Butterflies (Taylored Expressions); Inks: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Delightful Dijon, Pool Party, Smoky Slate (all Stampin' Up!); Cardstock:  Smoky Slate, Whisper White (both Stampin' Up!); Other:  Simply Stamped - Butterflies Dies (Taylored Expressions), Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies (Stampin' Up!), Everyday Jars Framelits Dies (Stampin' Up!), Sequins, Clarity Stencil Brushes

The clean and simple butterflies theme I used is from The Paper Players Challenge.   I love the Simply Stamped - Butterflies stamp set and dies from Taylored Expressions.  It has so many wonderful butterfly images from which to choose.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

The sketch I used is from the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  I loved the simplicity of the sketch.  I don't often use squares in my designs, but the Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies from Stampin' Up! were perfect for the square layer.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

The colors I used are from the Sunday Stamps Challenge.  Such pretty colors for this color challenge.  I used five of the colors but two of them looked different when I printed the graphic out so they are more in the yellow family than the green family.  The Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Delightful Dijon and Crushed Curry inks from Stampin' Up! all worked so well together.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #120 - Gail's Christmas Challenge

Oh what fun it is to get started on my Christmas cards early.  This week, at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge, starts our monthly Christmas card challenge.  We've decided to that we like the idea of getting many our cards done before they are needed.  Gail is hosting our first Christmas card challenge.  Don't you just love that cute little puppy in the Santa hat?

Stamp Set:  Father Christmas; Inks:  Always Artichoke, Mint Macaron; Cardstock:  Real Red, Whisper White, Whisper White Thick; Other:  Santa Hat Die (Taylored Expressions), Clarity Stencil Brushes, White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, May 29th at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Hooray Grad!

It's graduation time and what better way to make a fun card than to combine three of my favorite challenges.  Yes, men do like pink!  And, somewhere out there someone's school colors might match the colors I used on my card.  You just never know.

Stamp Set:  Pockets of Cheer; Ink:  Rich Razzleberry; Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand; Patterned Paper:  2016-18 In Colors Designer Series Paper Stack;  Other:  Stars Framelits Dies, White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

The sketch I used is from the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

The colors I used are from the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

The theme I used is from The Male Room Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Wacky Watercooler May Celebration Blog Hop

Welcome to our May "Old Favorites Which Made the New Catalog" Blog Hop. Today's hop is all about those favorite products that made it into the new 2017 Annual Catalog that comes out on June 1st.  I was so glad to see that three of my favorites will be around for another year.

Each month, on the third Thursday of the month, a group of us get together to hop and share projects from Stampin' Up!'s current catalogs.  It's always a lot of fun.

You should be coming to my blog from Sheri Lee.  After your visit with me, you'll head on over to Judy Markowitz.  And, as always, our Hop runs in a circle.  Whether you start at the top and go forward or start at the bottom and go backward, you will always wind up where you started.

My first project highlights the Beautiful You stamp set.  With the stormy, rainy weather we've had here lately, which is to continue tomorrow, I thought a walk in the rain was so appropriate.  I love how those Clarity Stencil Brushes let me control how much depth I want in any given area.  Oh, I did sneak in one of my favorite sets that will be gone come May 31st.  It's the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.  I'm really sad about that one.  It made for some nice rain effects on my card. 

Stampin Set:  Beautiful You, Gorgeous Grunge, Jar of Love (horizon); Inks:  Basic Black Archival, Island Indigo, Smoky Slate; Cardstock:  Island Indigo, Whisper White; Other:  Clarity Stencil Brushes, Stamping Mask Paper

For my next project, I had to used the High Tide stamp set.  I made the background using the Clarity Stencil Brushes and different inks to get the effect I wanted.  I love the image of the lighthouse and the birds.  For a finishing touch I added some sequins.

Stamp Sets:  High Tide, Sunshine Sayings; Inks:  Tuxedo Black Memento, Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Night of Navy, Old Olive; Cardstock:  Basic Black, Whisper White; Other:  Clarity Stencil Brushes, Fancy Frost Sequins

My final project is a shaker card made using the Jar of Love stamp set and the Everyday Jars Framelits Dies.  I know, the paper I used is retired but it goes so well with the lightning bugs that I just couldn't resist.  This is a CASE of a card done by Priscilla Ivler.  To see hers, click on her name.

Stamp Set:  Jar of Love; Ink:  Basic Black Archival, Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Marker, Delightful Dijon, Smoky Slate; Cardstock:  Crumb Cake; Patterned Paper:  Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Stack; Other:  Everyday Jars Framelits Dies, Foam Adhesive Strips, White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

Well, that is it from me for this time.  The next stop on your tour is Judy Markowitz.  Judy is new to our hop, so please make her feel welcome and leave her a bunch of comments.  To see her wonderful projects, click the image below.

If you'd like to revisit Sheri Lee and see her wonderful projects again, click the image below.

To start at the beginning you can click the image below to go back to the Wacky Watercooler Stamping Blog.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Flowers on the Fence

The challenge this month at The Flower Challenge was to CASE a Design Team Member.  I chose Karen Dunbrook's great design.  As you know, blue always gets my attention.

While I didn't have anything like the dies that Karen used, I improvised and came up with this design.  I've shared her design with a link back to her blog.  Click on her name under her picture.

Stamp Sets:  Butterfly Basics - sentiment (Stampin' Up!), Hardwood (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Dapper Denim, Night of Navy; Cardstock:  Whisper White; Other:  Bloomers 4 Dies (Taylored Expressions), Clarity Stencil Brushes (Clarity Stamp), Everyday Jars Framelits Dies (Stampin' Up!), Golden Sunset Glitter Drops (Nuvo), Labels Collection Framelits (Stampin' Up!), Mini Bloomers 2 Dies (Taylored Expressions), Succulent Framelits Dies (Stampin' Up!)

Karen Dunbrook

The inspiration for my design came from The Flower Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #119 - Judy's Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge

This week happens to be our Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  It's hosted by one of our new Watercooler Artists, Judy Markowitz.

Now that I have all of my Mother's Day cards done, it's time to focus on my Father's Day cards.  The Wetlands stamp set from Stampin' Up! makes for a great guy card, don't you think?

For this card, I did something just a wee bit different.  The card itself is actually attached to a single layer of Basic Black cardstock which is why I shared the second photo.

Stamp Sets:  Crazy about You, Wetlands; Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento; Cardstock:  Basic Black, Whisper White

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, 22nd at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Pretty Pink Flowers

You know, if I'd craft earlier in the day, I wouldn't have to stay up so late to share my post with you.  I sometimes schedule my posts ahead of time but haven't been doing that lately.  I kind of like just shooting from the hip when I write.  You just never know what I'm going to say.

Hope every Mom out there has had a great day.  I've heard from my three sons so I'm a happy one.  Now that they all live out West, those phone calls they make are so very important to me.

Anyway, here's the card I made for a couple of challenges.  I combined the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge sketch with the theme challenge over at the Retro Rubber Challenge to make this birthday card.  The stamp set I used is Butterfly Basics from Stampin' Up!  It was introduced in the 2015 Occasions Catalog.

Stamp Set:  Butterfly Basics (2015); Inks:  StazOn Black; Stampin' Write Markers:  Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Pretty In Pink, Wild Wasabi; Cardstock:  Whisper White Thick, Shimmery White; Patterned Paper:  Adorbs Paper Pad (My Mind's Eye); Other:  Sequins, Golden Sunset Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

The sketch I used is from the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

The flower theme is from the Retro Rubber Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Pretty Red Poinsettia

Everyone else is thinking Spring and here I am making a Christmas card.  Yes, there is a method to my madness.  I'm trying to make at least two Christmas cards a month.  When it comes time to send out my cards for the season, I'll be all ready and won't have to stress about not having those cards made.  So you see, not really madness at all, just the fact that we are having temperatures close to 80 degrees here in Iowa in May and I needed to cool things down. 

This card I made for the sketch challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches.  I flipped the sketch on it's side and must say I really like the way it turned out.  I even used some of my patterned paper that's been hanging around on the shelf.

Stamp Set:  Bells & Boughs (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Copic Markers, Tuxedo Black Memento; Cardstock:  Whisper White (Stampin' Up!); Patterned Paper:  Merry Little Christmas (My Mind's Eye); Other:  Pearls, Golden Sunset Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

The sketch I used is from the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge,  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Thinking of You

Just a quick post for you tonight to share the card I made for the Color Throwdown Challenge.  Now I'm off to make it an early night.  Migraines are not fun!

Stamp Sets:  Jar of Love, Sheltering Tree, Swirly Birds; Inks:  Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Smoky Slate; Cardstock:  Pool Party, Whisper White, Whisper White Thick; Other:  Pool Party Baker's Twine

The colors I used are from the Color Throwdown Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #118 - Penny's "Mom" Theme Challenge

Today the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge has a theme challenge for you.  With it being so close to Mother's Day, Penny challenged us to create a project with the them "Mom".  Appropriate, don't you think?

To the card base of Tip Top Taupe, I added a layer of the Succulent Garden Designer Series Paper.  On a layer of Shimmery White, I stamped the silhouette image and sentiment from the Penny Black stamp set So Blessed using Night of Navy ink.  The hat and ribbons were colored using the Sweet Sugarplum Stampin' Write Marker.  The little butterflies are from the Stampin' Up! stamp set In the Meadow and stamped in Night of Navy ink.

For the flowers, I stamped images from the Stampin' Up! stamp sets Flower Shop and Petite Petals onto Whisper White cardstock using Night of Navy ink and Sweet Sugarplum ink.  Then, I punched them out using the Pansy Punch and the Petite Petals Punch.  I punched two Night of Navy and one Sweet Sugarplum shapes from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and added them to the center of the flowers.  Then, I added a touch of Golden Sunset Glitter Drops by Nuvo.   

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, May 15th at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link your project.

I've also entered my card in the Just Us Girls Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #117 - Heidi's Feminine Anything Goes Challenge

Today, at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge, Heidi is hosting our first Feminine "Anything Goes" challenge.  It's one of the new changes to our challenge line up and we think you are going to love it.  I know I do.

When I was going looking for something in my storage closet, I came across this pretty little frame and thought this would be a nice way to showcase one of the images from the Beautiful You stamp set from Stampin' Up!

The outline image is stamped on Shimmery White cardstock using Tip Top Taupe ink.  Then, I added the dress detail using Delightful Dijon ink and for the hat, I colored it with a Peekaboo Peach Stampin' Write Marker.  The sentiment also is stamped in Tip Top Taupe.

Such a quick and easy project.  And, you can always change to image when you are ready for something different.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, May 8th at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

A Study in Clean and Simple

After days of rain and gloom and cold, we finally have lots of sunshine and blue skis.  It makes for a very pleasant day.  The kind where you want to throw your windows open and breath in the clean air.

But, it also finds me in somewhat of a dilemma.  I'm entering a new challenge for me and also trying out for the Design Team at the AAA Cards Clean and Simple Challenges.  As many of you know I love clean and simple cards.  There is just something very elegant about them.  I've made two cards for the challenge but I can't decide which one I like the best so I'm including both in this post.  That's my dilemma so I guess you could say, dilemma solved.

Here is the first card I made using a negative from a die-cut label and my Clarity Stencil Brushes.  I love those brushes.  I used temporary adhesive to hold the stencil in place and used the brushes to add color and fill in the negative space.  Once done, I stamped the image and sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and the card was done.

Stamp Sets:  In the Meadow (Stampin' Up!), Wetlands - sentiment (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Cucumber Crush, Marina Mist, Soft Sky (all Stampin' UP!); Cardstock:  Whisper White Thick (Stampin' Up!); Other:  Labels Collection Framelits Dies (Stampin' Up!), Clarity Stencil Brushes (Clarity Stamp)

For my second card, I used some Stamping Mask Paper, another product that I love.  I just recently learned there was such a paper when I took a class at Taylored Expressions all about the Clarity Stencil Brushes.

I die cut the word sunshine from a piece of the Stamping Mask Paper and attached it to the front of the card.  Then, I used the Clarity Stencil Brushes to add the color.  I stamped the sentiment from the Sunshine Sayings stamp set in Old Olive ink.  The dot over the i has a drop of the White Blizzard Glitter Drops.  And, there was another done.

Stamp Set:  Sunshine Sayings (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie (all Stampin' Up!); Cardstock:  Whisper White Thick (Stampin' Up!); Other:  Sunshine Wishes Dies (Stampin' Up!), Stamping Mask Paper (Inkadinkadoo); Clarity Stencil Brushes (Clarity Stamp), White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

I've entered my cards in the AAA Cards Clean and Simple Challenges.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

A Morning Creating with Iliana Myska

Last Saturday I had the privilege of attending a class at Taylored Expressions.  Iliana Myska, the inventor of the MISTI, was the instructor and she showed many tips and techniques on ways to use the MISTI.  It was a wonderful class and I enjoyed visiting with Iliana.

Here are the four fun and beautiful cards we made.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha