WWC163 - Penny's "All About Christmas" Challenge

Hello Wednesday!  It's time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  This week Penny is hosting our "All About Christmas" challenge.  For my card, I pulled out one of my favorite stamp sets from Flourishes and did some coloring with my Prismacolor colored pencils and Gamsol. 

Stamp Sets:  Christmas Candles (Flourishes), Happy Scenes - sentiment (Stampin' Up!); Ink:  Chocolate Truffle (Taylored Expressions), Marina Mist (Stampin' Up!); Cardstock:  Marina Mist (Stampin' Up!), Shimmer White, Sugar Cube (both Taylored Expressions); Dies:  Wreath Cutting Plate (Taylored Expressions); Other:  Prismacolor Colored Pencils

For all of our 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, April 2nd at 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Spring Flowers

Hi everyone!  It's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week Debbie is our host and she has challenged us to design a project showcasing Spring Flowers. Considering we just had a couple of inches of snow over the weekend, I'm more than ready for some warm weather and pretty flowers.

The I'm sharing with you is one I made in a recent class I took at the Taylored Expressions Studio.  I learned how to blend using my Prismacolor colored pencils and Gamsol.  I can tell you that I love this technique.. I'm sure you will be seeing it often in future projects.  I found it to be a very easy technique and it is so easy to blend colors. 

For all the challenge details and to share your project at The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge, just click the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Sunday, April 8th at 7:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #265

This week we have a great sketch challenge at the CAS Colours & Sketches and the Design Team has some wonderful inspiration to get you started.  It's a wonderfully simple sketch that packs a punch when you use bright colors such as I did.  It really makes me glad Spring is here and the weather can only get better going forward.

Stamp Sets:  Gran's Garden (Papertrey Ink), Mandy's Tulips - sentiment (Maymay Made It); Inks:  Pea Pod, Plum Punch, Poppy Seed, Strawberry Milkshake (all Taylored Expressions); Cardstock:  Cookie Monster, Sugar Cube (both Taylored Expressions); Dies:  Gran's Garden Dies (Papertrey Ink), Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies (Stampin' Up!); Other:  Clear Wink of Stella Brush

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, April 2nd at 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Flowers for Spring

Yesterday found me in my craft studio until the wee hours of this morning making these two cards for the current Twofer Card Challenge and The Flower Challenge.  The Twofer Card Challenge is the one where you have to make two different designs for two different occasions using the same stamps and/or dies.  The Flower Challenge is an anything goes for the month of March.  Of course, having new stamps and dies to play with could have been the incentive to simply sit and create.

Here are the two cards I made using the same stamp set and dies.  It's fun to create two totally different card designs using the same stamp set.  The blossoms theme for the challenge was perfect for making some bright, cheerful flowers.

 
My first card features the Gran's Garden stamp set from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped the different flowers and leaf stems onto Crumb Cake cardstock and cut them out using the Gran's Garden Dies from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped a sentiment from the Secret Garden Collage stamp set by TPC Studio onto some Sugar Cube cardstock,  Then, cut it out using the Double-Ended Flag Stacklets Dies from Taylored Expressions.  I popped up the banner with foam tape.  An easy and simple card to make.  It's a thinking of you card I'm sending to a dear friend.

Stamp Sets:  Gran's Garden (Papertrey Ink), Secret Garden Collage - sentiment (TPC Studio);  Inks:  Blue Corn, Lemon Meringue, Pea Pod, Plum Punch, Sugar Cube (all Taylored Expressions); Cardstock:  Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up!), Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions); Dies:  Double-ended Flag Stacklets Dies (Taylored Expressions)

My second card is one of encouragement and uses the same Gran's Garden stamp set and dies.  For this one I stamped the flowers in various colors along with the leaf stems and cut them all out.  They flowers are popped up with foam tape to add a bit of dimension.  The frame is cut using the Frame in Frame 2 Cutting Plate by Taylored Expressions.

Stamp Sets:  Colorful Seasons - sentiment (Stampin' Up!), Gran's Garden (Papertrey Ink); Inks:  Cookie Monster, Lemon Meringue, Plum Punch, Poppy Seed, Strawberry Milkshake (all Taylored Expressions), Crushed Curry (Stampin' Up!), Wild Honey Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Dies:  Frame in Frame 2 Cutting Plate (Taylored Expressions), Gran's Garden (Papertrey Ink); Other:  Sequins

The theme of blossoms is from the Twofer Card Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

I'm also entering my second card in The Flower Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

WWC162 - Charlotte's Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge

Hello everyone!  It's time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  This week Charlotte is hosting our Masculine "Anything Goes" challenge.  For my project, I created this card using the Apron of Love stamp set from Stampin' Up!  It could be for Father's Day, birthday or just a thinking of you to let Dad know he's the best.

Stamp Set:  Apron of Love (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Cookie Monster, Poppy Seed (both Taylored Expressions); Cardstock:  Basic Black, Silver Foil (both Stampin' Up!), Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions); Dies:  Apron Builder Framelits Dies (Stampin' Up!)

For all of our 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, March 26th at 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #264

This week we have a great color challenge at the CAS Colours & Sketches and the Design Team has some wonderful inspiration to get you started.  For my project, I kept it very clean and simple.  Everything but the flower is stamped on the card base.  The flower was stamped separately then, cut from the die that coordinates with the Corner Adorner:  February stamp set from Papertrey Ink.  

Stamp Set:  Corner Adorner:  February (Papertrey Ink); Inks:  Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red (all Stampin' Up!), Poppy Seed (Taylored Expressions); Dies:  Corner Adorner: February Dies (Papertrey Ink)

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, March 19th at 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #256

Hello and welcome to another sketch from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  Today I felt like making some pretty Spring flowers.  The weather has been beautiful here in Iowa with blue skies and sunshine.  Of course, with it being March, that could change rather quickly but I'll enjoy it while I can. I've had my eye on the Gran's Garden stamp set from Papertrey Ink for quite some time.  This is one of the images from that set.  You'll see more of them in future creations.

Stamp Sets:  Gran's Garden (Papertrey Ink), Apron of Love (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Peapod, Plum Punch (both Taylored Expressions); Copic Sketch Marker:  Y17 - Golden Yellow; Cardstock:  Bermuda Bay, Whisper White (both Stampin' Up!), Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions); Dies:  Stitched Rectangle Stacklets Dies (Taylored Expressions), Stitched Tags Dies (Unknown); Other:  Rhinestones, Silver Mini Brads (Stampin' Up!)

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, March 26th at 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

WWC161 - Helen's "All About Occasions" Challenge

Hello everyone!  It's time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  This week Helen is hosting our "All About Occasions" challenge.  For my project, I created a Napkin Fold card.  This time I used some Graphic 45 patterned paper I had in my stash.  The video tutorial I followed to make this card is one I found while looking for another special fold.  This video is by Dawn Griffith and you can find it HERE.

Stamp Sets:  Beautiful You, Timeless Textures (both Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede (both Stampin' Up!); Cardstock:  Kraft Paper (DCWV)

For all of our 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, March 19th at 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Birds

Hi everyone!  Wednesday has rolled around and it's time for another challenge from The Sisterhood of Crafters.  This week is Darlene and she has challenge us to design a project featuring birds.  Funny thing is, I don't have a stamp set that has a bird in it.  Now how sad is that, I ask you?  So, I dug out one of my favorite patterned papers from Graphic 45 and let it do the bird watching for me.  I love the bird images in this paper.  And, yes, if you are wondering, I am on the lookout for some bird stamp sets.

Cardstock:  Soft Suede, Very Vanilla (both Stampin' Up!); Patterned Paper:  Botanical Tea 8x8 Paper Pad (Graphic 45); Other:  3/8" Lost Lagoon Silky Taffeta Ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Friend Die (Taylored Expressions), Sequins

For all the challenge details and to share your project at The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge, just click the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Sunday, March 25th at 7:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #263

This week we have a great sketch challenge at the CAS Colours & Sketches and the Design Team has some wonderful inspiration to get you started.  I needed a thank you card so I brought out the So Very Much stamp set and made this bright, cheerful thank you card.  I like having these larger stamps that you can make the focal point of your design.

Stamp Set:  So Very Much (Stampin' Up!); Ink:  Cookie Monster (Taylored Expressions); Cardstock:  Cookie Monster (Taylored Expressions), Whisper White (Stampin' Up!); Patterned Paper:  Rainbow Brights 6x6 Paper Pack (Taylored Expressions); Other:  Cookie Monster Enamel Dots (Taylored Expressions)

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, March 19th at 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Calypso Thinking of You

You know Spring is right around the corner when you see the robins foraging at the bird feeder.  I don't know about you but I am ready for warm weather and no more heavy coats, gloves or boots.  To cheer myself up I made some pretty flowers using the Flower Shop stamp set by Stampin' Up!  I was able to combine three of my favorite challenges to create this thinking of you card to send to a friend.

Stamp Sets:  Apron of Love - sentiment (Stampin' Up!), Flower Shop (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Calypso Coral (Stampin' Up!), Poppy Seed (Taylored Expressions); Cardstock:  Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi (both Stampin' Up!), Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions); Dies & Punches:  Leafy Branch Die (Taylored Expressions), Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies (Stampin' Up), Pansy Punch (Stampin' Up!); Other:  Brick Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions)

The sketch I followed is from the Retro Rubber Challenge.  The Flower Shop stamp set I used is from the 2013-14 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog. For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

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

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

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

WWC160 - Heidi's Feminine "Anything Goes" Challenge

Hello to everyone!  It's time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  This week Heidi is hosting our Feminine "Anything Goes" challenge.  What I've created is called a Greeting Card Organizer and I made it using product that was given to me by a sweet friend and I had not idea what to do with it.  This organizer was the perfect way to use this up as I've been trying to use up some of my stash.  The video tutorial I followed is from Maymay Made It Crafts and you can find it HERE.

The months are die cut using the Months of the Year Dies from My Favorite Things.  I've had it for quite some time so I'm not sure it is still available.    

And now, here is what the full organizer looks like.  The pockets will hold cards and envelopes.

 
For all of our 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, March 12th at 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Saving Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

CAS Colours & Sketches #262

This week we have a color challenge at the CAS Colours & Sketches and the Design Team has some wonderful inspiration to get you started.  For my project, I did a z-fold card.  It's a new one to me and I really had fun making it.  The colors were an interesting mix and no matter what I did, the combinations I used were not working for me.  Finally, I came up with this design and I must say, I really rather like it.  Dawn Griffith inspired me to create this card.  You can see her tutorial HERE.

Stamp Sets:  Background Bits, Butterfly Basics, Jar of Love, Sunshine Sayings (all Stampin' Up!); Ink:  Crushed Curry (Stampin' Up!); Cardstock:  Fresh Fig, Whisper White (both Stampin' Up!); Patterned Paper:  Eastern Palace Specialty Designer Series Paper (Stampin' Up!); Dies:  Lots of Labels Framelits Dies (Stampin' Up!); Other:  Rhinestone Basic Jewels (Stampin' Up!)

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

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #254

Hello and welcome to another sketch from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  Today's card was so much fun to make.  I flipped the sketch so that I could use the sentiment from the Butterfly Basics stamp set as it is one of my favorite sentiments.  And, I used pinks, which, if you know me well, is something I rarely do on a card.  I rather like the way this one turned out.

Stamp Sets:  Butterfly Basics - sentiment (Stampin' Up!), Simply Stamped - Butterflies (Taylored Expressions); Inks:  Blushing Bride, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette (Stampin' Up!), Poppy Seed (Taylored Expressions); Cardstock:  Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!), Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions); Dies:  Simply Stamped - Butterflies Dies (Taylored Expressions); Other:  Chicken Wire Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions), Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Tonic Studios)

For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge by clicking the image below.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday, March 12th at 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Crafty Calendar March Challenge - Add a Tag or Make One

Okay, so January and February have come and gone.  That means Spring is just around the corner and it's time for the next challenge at the Crafty Calendar Challenge.Wow!  The challenge this month is to add a tag or make one.  Our sponsor this month is Oddball Art by Lizzy Love.  For all the challenge details and to share your project at the Crafty Calendar Challenge, just click HERE.

For my project, I chose to make a waterfall card.  It's the first I've made and I think it will be a fun one to make more of and send to my grandkids, even the bigger ones.  As you know the challenge is all about tags, right?  Well, I totally forgot that step of the process as I was so excited to try a different kind of card, so I improvised.  My tag is on the back of the card.  

Digital Image:  Panda Bears (Oddball Art); Ink:  Poppy Seed (Taylored Expressions); Cardstock:  Cookie Monster, Sugar Cube (both Taylored Expressions), Whisper White (Stampin' Up!); Patterned Paper:  Hello Happiness 6x6 Paper Pack (Taylored Expressions); Dies:  Celebrate Die (Taylored Expressions), Standard Circles (Spellbinders), Stitched Tags Dies (Unknown); Other:  Cookie Monster Enamel Dots, Sugar Cube Enamel Dots (both Taylored Expressions)

Our sponsors for the month of February are Oddball Art by Lizzy Love.  You can click on the image to check them out.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha