"Not So Scary" Foursome

Happy Thursday, Bloggers! I hope you are having a great week. More Halloween cards from me. For those Halloween cards to arrive at their destination on time, they need to be in the mail by Saturday. So I hoping to finish the remainder by tomorrow. This card was made for the Pals Paper Arts (PPA 145) challenge. This week it is a sketch from Margaret Moody as shown below.

Pretty cool sketch, don't you think? I am sure that I will use it again; love the banner!

I've mentioned that I am on a buying moratorium, it is partly financial (to save a few dollars but no need for alarm there is still food in the pantry!) and partly to downsize or better put 'rightsize' my supplies. My studio is overflowing & it is hard to find my creativity in all of "the stuff", hard to keep organized, and thus at times, it is hard to find a clear horizontal surface to make a card. So anyway this stamp set is one of the culprits, it was one that I purchased because it was 'too good of a deal to pass up". Did I really need another Halloween set? Of course not! My Marshalls had the set of 8 Inkadinkado acrylics for $1.99 & they were labeled as past season. I thought they were cute & how could I pass up such a good deal?! Does this one stamp set take up that much space? No but five, ten or fifteen of these really good deals each month really does take up lots of room. So my mantra now is: "You live in the land of plenty, there will be more _(Fill in the blank)_ when you really need it." In other words- No Hoarding, no buying just because it is a good deal. 

I'd love to hear your strategies on keeping your supplies in check. If I get lots of ideas, I will devote an entire post to the topic. Feel free to email me if you'd like to remain anonymous.

Have a great day! Marilyn

Supplies: 
Stamps: Trick or Treat (inkadinkado)
Paper: white (Neenah), Black and Only Orange (SU)
Designer Paper: Happy Halloween (Echo Park) - another really good deal but I don't recall the details
Ink: Jet Black Stazon (Tsukineko); SU markers
Accessories: Black Grosgrain ribbon (retired SU)
 
 

Denim & Burlap

Hi Friends! How are you? Happy Friday!
This card was made for two challenges. First, the CR84FN63 challenge (below) to use the colors denim, tan and brown. They are having an open call for Design Team members. I'm all over that! Wouldn't that be a blast to be a part of that awesome DT?!!

Several months ago I purchased two pairs of toddler jeans at the local Goodwill. I intended to make some denim flowers but I never got around to it. So when I saw the CR84FN challenge, I knew exactly what I wanted to do- make those flowers after all! I was struggling with the design when I decided to look out on blogland at some of the sketch challenges & found this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge, PPA143 (below) which was perfect for my flower idea! It's a great sketch, very versatile- I'd like to use it with my blossom punch later.

Hope you like my off-beat creation!
Hugs, Marilyn

Supplies:
Stamps: Vintage Labels (SU- retired)
Paper: Basic Brown textured, Very Vanilla (SU!)
Designer Paper: Basics Manilla (Basic Grey)
Ink: Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories: Denim, Burlap material; Corduroy Brad (Eyelet Outlet), Dahlia nestabilities (Spellbinders), Pop-Pom ribbon (stash), Curly Label punch & 1" circle punch (SU)

Birthday Mouse

I made this card for two challenges. First, the Victorine Originals (VO) blog challenge #14 to make a birthday card. I used my VO stamp called "Mouse with Balloon". Stop by & play...you don't have to use VO stamps (of course we'd love it if you did)...we just want everyone to have fun! Anyway, today I chose to make the mouse masculine & I used my Basic Grey Marjolaine plaid paper. (I'm already thinking about a little girl mouse with some feminine colors like pink and yellow). My sentiment is also from VO; you should check out their All Occasions set (10512X)~ it's a super value. There's 38 Occasions and 8 descriptive words like Merry and Happy making a total of 46 stamps for less than $10 when you chose the unmounted rubber option.

The second challenge is the Pals Paper Arts (PPA) #105 challenge  where we were to use the colors below.

I just love this new SU! color "Island Indigo". I'll be using a lot of it over the next two years. Yea- it is a blue & you know how I love blue.

Thanks so much for coming over to my place. Have a great week!
Hugs,

Marilyn

Supplies:
Stamps: (Mouse with Balloon & All Occasions Set) Victorine Originals
Ink: (Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Basic Grey, Blushing Bride, Not Quite Navy) Stampin' Up; (Tuxedo Black Memento) Tsukineko
Paper: (Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo) Stampin' Up; (Solar White) Neenah
Designer Paper: (Marjolaine) Basic Grey
Punches: (1-1/4 square, 1-3/8 square) Stampin' Up
Accessories: (Blender Pen) Stampin' Up

Cajun Seas

Here's another card using the Stampin' Up Summer Catalog's "The Open Sea" stamp set. I am having so much fun with this set. And since Father's Day and several male family members birthdays are coming up, this set came at the perfect time for me! I made this card for several challenges. First, the Color Dare 104 (CD104) to use Cajun Craze, Baja Breeze, and Not Quite Navy. When I saw these challenge colors, I knew right away which stamp set I'd be using.

The next challenge is Pals Paper Arts Challenge (PPA97) where you are to show your signature style. My natural style is along the lines of classical, but I do like to create vintage and CAS. Trying new things is one of my favorite parts of stamping so that includes branching outside my comfort zone. Anyway, I almost always use some sort of designer paper & most of my cards have several layers, but not usually more than 2-4 embellishments. I love ribbon and flowers but rarely use it on male cards; thus the reason you don't see them here.

The last challenge is for the Crazy 4 Challenges (C4C91) to make a masculine card. 

Everything is pretty self explanatory except the background, designer paper. I started with an indigo colored paisley DP by daisyd. I used the ledger stamp in Not Quite Navy and covered the background both horizontally & vertically & then a couple of random stamps for good measure. (LOL!) Then I used the anchor stamp inked up in Cajun Craze and stamped angled lines of the anchors. So in essence, I created my own DP. Well, that's it for me...

Thanks so much for stopping! Hugs,

Marilyn

Stamps:  The Open Sea (SU)

Paper:  Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze, Baja Breeze, Vanilla (SU); DP- Gypsy Paisley(DasiyD)

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze (SU!)

Accessories: Copper loop brads (Oriental Trading), Jute twine (local hardware store)