Play Date Cafe 84

This week's Play Date Cafe colors gave me a bit of a struggle at first:

Individually, I like the colors, but the creative side of my brain just dawdled when it came to combining them.  I searched through my patterned paper stash, but nothing had just the right colors.  I thought about making a Christmas card, but I didn't have the "right" stamps I needed. 

Since our sponsor this week is Mark's Finest Papers, I pulled out my newer sets from them to see what I could do.  The lily pads from Floating Along jumped at me, begging for some Copic coloring (which, by the way, I really need a class in this).

I really didn't know where this was going at first.  I stamped a bunch of images in Pale Plum ink on Pale Plum cardstock.  Then I wound up covering it all with a frame and a punched border, so those stamps aren't even noticeable!

The green piece of punched cardstock was a sample I received from California Paper Goods, whom I used to order my envelopes from.  (they've since reorganized, and now I buy them from Discount Office Items)
It has shimmer to it, but my camera just refused to capture it.

The frame is glittery, from Colorbok, and I've set a piece of Purely Pomegranate cardstock behind it.

Here's another card made with similar ingredients:

On this one, I needed to use a different frame (because the package didn't have duplicates), and I've off-centered my focal point.  My 12 YO thinks this looks terrible, being off in the corner.  However, my 9 YO loves this version because I am using one of her embellishments:  the glittery 5 Petal Flower punch. 

And the 9 YO thinks more people will like this version of my card better, because of her glittery flower. :-)

I'm still not totally enthralled with either of my creations, but I ran out of time to play further. 
I'm anxious to see what YOU will create with our colors, though!

Thanks for joining me today!

Colleen

Stamps:  Floating Along - Mark's Finest Papers
Paper:  Purely Pomegranate, Pale Plum, white by PTI, green sample from Calif. Paper Goods (probably no longer available)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Pale Plum
Punch:  Modern Garland - Martha Stewart, 5 Petal Punch - SU
Other:  Copic markers, white satin ribbon, dimensionals, green bling from Michael's $1 bin

The Anniversary Celebration Continues

Hello!  You've made me smile with your kind comments and happy wishes for the one year anniversary of my blog!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  :)

Today I am featuring some of my favorite cards I made from November 2010 through January 2011.  This week I'll have one more look at my past favorites, and then it's time for Blog Candy!  Stay tuned...

Just click on a photo to go to the original post for that card. 

I sometimes surprise myself by the different styles of cards that I do.  They can be clean and simple, a little whimsical, or vintage(ish).  I don't like to stay in one category.  It's more fun to test my boundaries from time to time. 

Hope you've enjoyed my parade today.  :)

Colleen

More Blog Anniversary Celebration!

This week marks the first anniversary for my blog!  I began my celebration HERE by showing some of my favorite cards from the past year. Today I have more for you to see.  At the end of this 'Trip Down Memory Lane', I'll be offering Blog Candy, so keep checking back!

If you want to see an original post, just click on the picture.  :)

These cards are from August through November 2010:

After my Blogaversary post on Friday, I received such nice comments and compliments from you all!  Thank you for the anniversary wishes.  :-)  It really made me happy to read that my work inspires you, and that we can go ahead and call these cards "Art" after all!  LOL  (if you didn't read the original post about that, my kids had scoffed - lovingly - at me when I called my cardmaking "art").

I'll be back soon with another anniversary post, showing off more of my work from the past year.  Thanks for joining me!

Colleen

Mark's Finest Paper 57 - Lace And Ivory

Hello!  I am hosting the Mark's Finest Paper challenge this week, and the theme is "Lace And Ivory".  Now, when I came up with that idea, I had planned on an all-ivory creation.  However, the day I made my sample card for the Design Team, my creativity wasn't working as it should.

Today I had a bit of time to do the card that was intended all along:

And can you believe I put a hat pin on here??  I figure it's pretty safe and secure, tucked into the foamy dimensional sticker under the sentiment.  That made me feel more relaxed about using it.  :)

I used a stamp from a June release called Floating Along.  It has water lilies, a pretty scene with a swan, and some terrific assorted sentiments. 

Here is the other card I had originally done as my sample card for the challenge:

Not as much ivory and lace here, huh?

I used a wreath and sentiment from Seasonal Poinsettias, but turned this into a sympathy card by putting a "With Sympathy" stamp inside.  The patterned papers are all from MFP.

I hope you can come and play in my challenge this week!  Cards should be uploaded HERE by Friday, June 3, 2011 at 3:00 PM EST. 

Thanks for joining me today.  :)  Stay tuned for more Blogaversary posts coming soon!

Colleen

Top Card -
Stamps:  Floating Along - Mark's Finest Papers
Paper:  Ivory by MFP, kraft by SU
Ink:  Early Espresso - SU
Other:  Big Shot, oval and scalloped oval Nesties by Spellbinders, pearls by Recollections, lace from stash, pin from Jenny Bowlin Studio, dimensionals

Bottom Card -
Stamps:  Seasonal Poinsettias,
Paper:  Ivory cardstock, patterned papers - MFP
Ink:  Tattered Rose Distress Ink, Sahara Sand
Punch:  scallop border by SU
Other:  Big Shot, circle Nesties by Spellbinders, pearls by Queen & Co, lace from stash, dimensionals

Happy Blogaversary To Me!

My first year anniversary of blogging is fast approaching.  I can't believe it's been one year!  I can't imagine life without it.  When I was young, I always kept diaries and journals.  These days, blogging takes the place of them, and I get to combine it with showing off my artwork.  I do think of cardmaking as an art form, although my children beg to differ.  :)  They do not agree that it can be considered art!

To celebrate, I will be featuring some of my favorite cards from the past year.  At the end of this Trip Down Memory Lane, I'll be offering some Blog Candy! 

Today I am looking back at May, June and July 2010.  If you want to see an original post, just click on the photo.

I sure was punch-happy those months!
Soon I'll have another post with more faves from my past.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Colleen

Play Date Cafe 83 - Farewell to Sarah

We say goodbye this week to a member of our team - the lovely and oh-so-talented artist,  Sarah Anderson.  Sarah's favorite Play Date Cafe challenges have always been "Color Splashes," so we are honoring her with a very special Splash. 

This week, use black and white with a SPLASH of green.  Just a hint, a smidge, a teeny bit!

Here's my card:

Our sponsor this week is Skipping Stones Designs, and they gifted each of us on the design team with a stamp set of our choice.  I picked this one, called Timeless Textures:

I used the medallion stamp to create the background behind my butterflies.

I don't think the pictures do justice to this card.  I LOVE how it turned out! 

Julie Ranae asked each of us to visit the archives of The Play Date Cafe, and find our favorite project that Sarah made over the past year and a half.  I chose this one:

As I looked through many of our old challenges, I noticed that MOST of Sarah's projects in the first year contained butterflies!  I almost picked another card as my fave, which had pinks and purples, but this won me over with the black and white damask and script backgrounds.

And isn't it funny how I picked Sarah's card that features the same BLACK / WHITE / GREEN Color Splash as we are having right now??  Coincidence, I swear!

PRIZE ALERT!!
In addition to the prize for Cup of the Week, we have a special prize during our Blog Hop this week.  Visit each designer's blog and leave a message on their Play Date Cafe post.  There's a prize this week for one lucky winner who hops along and leaves a little love for each designer!!

Andrea

Libby

Colleen - You Are Here!

Jaclyn

Michele

Jinny

Savannah

Tracey

Fiona

Ruby

Julie

...and Sarah!  Leave her some happy thoughts and wishes.  :)

Our sweet Sarah leaves one Cafe for another.  She is working at The Bean and Brush Cafe in Sale, England.  We wish you all the best, Sarah, in your new endeavors and we will miss you!

Colleen

Stamps:  Timeless Textures by Skipping Stones Designs
Paper:  Basic Black, white by PTI, green patterned paper from SU scrap stash
Ink:  Basic Black
Punch:  deep edge Martha Stewart
Other:  Big Shot, butterfly Embosslit. bling from Queen and Co. and Recollections, dimensionals