Stampin' Royalty Challenge SR#345

I'm continuing my love affair with Stampin' Up's Totally Trees stamp set and so decided to use it for this colour challenge (Delightful Dijon, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler). I sponged the background onto water colour paper, and liked the texture of the trees when I stamped onto that slightly rougher surface.

Made using: 

Card: Stampin' Up's Basic Black, Delightful Dijon, TAD The Art Department watercolour paper

Ink: Stampin' Up's Delightful Dijon, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: Stampin' Up's Totally Trees, Thoughful Branches (for the sentiment).

CASology Challenge: Beach, Just Add Ink Challenge: Just add...'P'

So I know this probably seems, to non-New Zealanders, like a very un-beachy card with a pretty tenuous connection to the letter 'P'. However, the flower is from the beautiful pohutukawa tree, which graces many of our beaches, particularly in the north, and blooms at Christmas (which as you all know is in the summer for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere). By way of proof, here's a photo I took a couple of years ago, on Christmas Eve, at Raglan in the North Island:

I hope this has convinced you! Anyway, here's the card. The sentiment is a Maori greeting which is commonly used by New Zealanders:

Made using:

Card: Stampin' Up Whisper White, Pacific Point, Real Red, Emerald Envy

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Die: Craft Creations Pohutukawa Flower (From the Iconic New Zealand Dies Collection)

Stamp: Kia Ora (EK406K) from Rubbadubbadoo 

Pals Paper Arts PPA317

I'm completely in love with the new Stampin' Up' Totally Trees stamp set - I'd marry it if I could (at least it wouldn't fall off motorbikes - see previous post). I especially love its retro look. In an alignment of the planets, the Pals Paper Arts colour challenge of Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry and Crushed Curry exactly suited a retro looking card. I've kept it really simple, in keeping with that style.

Made using:

Card: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Kraft Cardstock

Ink: Stampin Up Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango

Stamps: Stampin' Up Totally Trees, Vertical Greetings

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #252

This card is a homage to my husband, who has recently done the TAT (Trans American Trail) - an off-road traverse of the USA on motorbikes. (Although, instead of saying 'Born to Ride', it probably should say' Born to fall off and break your collarbone and two ribs three days before the end, after riding 9000 kms'.)
Anyway, the red and blue background references the flags of both our countries (I'm from New Zealand), and I chose Dapper Denim and Cherry Cobbler because they're a bit earthier in tone and so suit the off-road experience. That's also why I water-spotted the sponged background. The silver background is - well - I figured even badass off-roaders need a bit of bling.

Made using:

Stampin Up Card: Basic Black, Silver Foil, Whisper White

Ink: Stampin' Up Dapper Denim, Cherry Cobbler, Memento Tuxedo Black

Embossing Powder: American Crafts Zing! Black Glitter Finish

Stamps: Stampin' Up One Wild Ride

Other: Bunch of Banners Framelit Dies, Washi Tape that isn't branded and I got it in a clearance sale.

The Paper Players Theme Challenge PP311: Circles

Well, I must say I'm feeling a little impressed with myself - I've just used this challenge to be brave and make my first circular easel card. (I've also made up the gorgeous fold-out book kit a lovely friend gave me for my birthday. Like the easel card, I thought it would be extremely difficult, but it was well within my capabilities - although my friend had kindly done all the cutting etc and provided very clear instructions.)

Anyway, back to the challenge - I've also been wondering if I'd ever use the largest circle from the Stampin' Up Framelits Circles Collection, and was pleased to realise now was the perfect opportunity. The smaller, Crumb Cake-coloured circles are the next size down, and I embossed the outside one. A fun day!

Made using:

Paper: Stampin' Up's Dapper Denim, Rose Red, Blushing Bride, Emerald Envy, Crumb Cake, Black

Ink: Stampin' Up's Rose Red, Emerald Envy, Dapper Denim

Stamp: Stampin' Up Botanical Builders, Balloon Celebration (for the sentiment)

Die: Stampin' Up Botanical Builders Framelits

Other: Stampin' Up's subtles Candy Dots (now retired - a pity!). And a leafy embossing folder that I think might be Kaiser Craft, but I'm not sure because I threw out the packaging and the folder itself isn't labelled!

Stampin'Royalty SR#344; CAS Colours and Sketches #189 - Colours

Hello from a windy Southern Hemisphere spring day.
The CAS Colours and Sketches colour challenge appealed to me instantly, since I'm a fan of bright colours, but I had to think hard about how to balance them so they didn't 'shout' at each other. I've just bought the Stampin' Up 'Playful Backgrounds' stamp set, so the invitation by Stampin' Royalty to use stripes seemed like a good place to start.
I like the finished product, and will bear its design in mind for future cards.

Made using:
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Dapper Denim (realised I don't have Island Indigo and this was the closest I could do).
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Real Red
Stamp: Playful Backgrounds
Thinlits: Hello You
Other: ek tools punch (for flowers), Daffodil Delight enamel shapes

Paper Pal Arts PPA316; Retro Rubber Challenge #rrcb46

I needed to make a baby card, and wanted to use the Stampin' Up 'Zoo Babies' stamp set I recently acquired in a sale of retired items (I've only been making cards for a bit less than a year, but I assume being retired means that teh set is more than a year old?). When I saw the Retro Rubber challenge, with the key word 'Critter', it seemed like fate! I love the little monkey stamp, and saw the Paper Pal Arts sketch challenge as a chance to use it more than once.
The picture in my head took a while to resolve into a card I was satisfied with. I knew I wanted to emboss the monkey, but played around for ages (see the two different attempts below).

In the end, I decided on a pretty traditional, pure kind of version. I did use 'Soft Sky' as the only colour so it remains gender neutral - decided I couldn't really ask if my friends know the sex of the baby just so I could colour my card accordingly (and, of course, it's always good to avoid sexism)!

Made using Stampin' Up product:

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky

Stamp: Zoo Babies

Other: Silver embossing powder, Layering Circles Framelits, Elegant Dots Embossing folder, washi tape possibly but not definitely Stampin Up!