Here's the Story...

Another happy day as I got to play more challenges!

The challenges today was the color challenge over on Splitcoaststampers- CC409. Today's colors are Rose Red, Pink Pirouette & Wisteria Wonder. I've been using my Copics more recently & I didn't quite have the quite the match for Rose Red used on her pants, but I like how it turned out anyway. 

The sketch was the My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #106 as shown below. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Have a wonderful day! Hugs, Marilyn

Supplies:
Stamps: Here's the Story (MFT)
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette, DSP-Springtime Vintage (SU), Solar White (Neenah)
Ink: Black Tuxedo (Momento), Copic markers
Accessories: OVal and scalloped oval dies (Spellbinders), pearls (stash), Pink ribbon (SU!),   

Brilliant Blue- I love you!

Hello Blogger Friends! I hope you are having a nice weekend. Today I played all day...wow! It has been a long time since I've done that & it sure was fun. I visited with friend who was selling her handmade jewelry at an artist market which was located at one of the old parks with huge trees, gorgeous gardens & beautiful fountains. Next I went to a stamping event that another friend was holding. We made five cards- they were all so cool! The trees here in St. Louis are at their peak of fall colors & so driving was enjoyable too.

The card I made tonight was for two challenges. The first challenge was My Favorite Things' Wednesday Sketch Challenge (MFTWSC94) shown below. It is the first time I've played this challenge even though I have had good intentions of playing many times. They give away prizes & you can win even if you don't have any MFT stamps. How nice is that!?!! So check it out!

The second challenge was for the Color Throwdown Challenge (CDT214). The colors are Old Olive, Summer Sun, White & Brilliant Blue. Brilliant Blue is one of my very favorite colors. You may know that I love the color blue- any shade! And Brilliant Blue is at the top of my list. I have a few sheets of paper left & I am hoarding a partially used packet of 12 x12 for scrap-booking as it happens to be one of the High School's colors. (My youngest will be graduating with her undergrad degree in May...do you think I will ever get the HS years done?! HA! Maybe I should just start using it too! LOL)
Yet, I digress...anyway, when I saw this challenge, I just had to play.

One last note- I am being frugal these days as I look for a new position, so what this means for you is this: you will see a lot of retired (or not brand new) papers and stamps. This is a good thing for me as I have so many supplies; I am actually quite happy as it will help me pare down and it will spur my creativity to look at my current supplies in a new ways. Not having lots of new things certainly won't keep me from enjoying stamping and card making! 

I hope you like my card, but even more importantly I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
Hugs, Marilyn

Supplies:
Stamps: You're So Tweet (MFT- Pure Innocence), Tiny Tags (SU)
Paper: Brilliant Blue, Watercolor (SU), White (Neenah- Solar White)
Designer Paper: Prestwick, Playdate, Ski Slope (all retired SU)
Ink: Jet Black Stazon (Tsukineko), Ink- Brilliant Blue, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Bashful Blue. 
Accessories: Blender Pen, Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Brilliant Blue brads (SU); Yellow Bradletz (ProvoCraft- circa 2006)

You Make My Heart Sing!

You Make My Hear Sing is the theme to the latest Splitcoaststamper's Virtual Stamp Night otherwise know as VSN. I LOVE VSN!! But I don't always get to play. A card challenge every hour starting Friday evening from 5PM (CST) until 9PM, picking back up on Saturday at 12noon & going until 10PM; well that is quite a commitment. I've done it before...twice, but this weekend I only had time for a few cards.  This card was for the Friday night 7pm (8pm EST) challenge called Sing, Sing, Sing where a bird was to be incorporated in your card. I just recently purchased this little gal..the "Pure Innocence" girl. I think this line is so cute & since I have two daughters away at college, these images make perfect cards just to say 'hello'.

Supplies:
Image: You're So Tweet (Pure Innocence- MFT)
Paper: White (Gina K pure luxury 120#- my favorite for card base b/c it is so smooth and heavy); Real Red, Only Orange, DSP-retired Summer Picnic for dress paper piecing (SU)
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Momento), Copics
Accessories: Clip (CTMH), White brads (Paper Studio), ribbon- retired Jersey (SU), Embossing folder-Spots & Dots (Cuttlebug)

Have a happy week!

Marilyn

Darling Valentine

This is my second post for today...I promised to share some new things with you...but this post mostly has 'new to me' not 'new on the market' products. This little Pure Innocence cutie is from My Favorite Things (MFT) & called Flower Girl. I just love the little hearts on her top and pants. when I was cleaning my studio, I discovered an entire scrap kit with this paper, rub-ons, lots of chipboard tucked away .It's really pretty~ sparkley with the girl-y colors of pink, yellow, peach, soft green & a hint of red. I remember I bought this last April at the CK convention- it was a 'close-out' and it's dated 2008, but it's new to me. I'm embarrassed to say that I bought so much at the convention, I didn't even miss it.

Today I used my Copic markers. I have quite a few, but have never quite got the hang of them. So with this new year, I've made some challenges for myself. I hate calling them resolutions because life is about growing; it's not so much about quitting bad habits or doing what we should, but rather becoming a better person and captivating on our loves & strengths. So for me, these challenges (resolutions) are about becoming a better artist over the next year.

So after all that philosphizing (if you're still with me), my challenges are: First, start using the Copics, a person doesn't get good at anything unless she puts time to it. Second, start playing with PhotoShop. Like the Copics, I haven't done much with it. I kept waiting for big blocks of time to do the tutorials and the classes from Jessica Sprague. Those big blocks of time never materialize so I'm changing my approach and going to play a couple of times a week even if it's just for 15-30 minutes. I'll never give up real paper and embellishments for digital, but I like hybrid scrapbooking. I've promised myself that I'll buy a nice printer that will accomodate 12 X 12 paper if I learn this fun and powerful tool. Have you made any challenges or promises to yourself for this new year?

This card would have been perfect for last week's CR84FN9 challenge to use yellow, peach and light pink, but alas I'm too late for that. So I made this card for these challenges.

• My Favorite Things- MFTWSC1- the sketch
• C4C69- Be inspired with the picture on their post. There's not as much pink as I thought when dreaming up this card
• Simon Says - new beginnings- for my oldest daughter who went back to college yesterday for her NEW & last semester
• ODBDSLC43- something old (the nesties & paper & something new (my MFT stamp is new to me)

Supplies:
Stamps: Flower Girl (MFT)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Peach Pizzaz, So Saffron, Vanilla (SU), DSP- Sundress Sweetness & Sundress Heirloom from Laundry Line collection (MME)
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Momento). Copics: Y11 Pale Yellow, Y13 Lemon Yellow, E00 Skin White, E11 Barely Beige, YR00Powder Pink, YR02 Light Orange, R20 Blush, RV14 Begonia Pink & colorless marker. 
Accessories: Nestabilities- Large and Small Scalloped Ovals, Fancy Tags (Spellbinders), Scallop border punch (SU), Pink Pearls (Recollections), Pom-Pom ribbon- Unknown maker-cut by the yard at a Speciality Paper Crafting store.

Thanks for stopping by...