Staff Appreciation card set number 4!

If you are a regular here you are aware that I am the coordinator for our middle school staff appreciation luncheon and I have been working on some card sets to give as prizes.  This is set number 4!

As I have stated in previous posts the supplies are a mix and match of stuff from my stash.  The base of these cards is Bashful Blue.  I think they are one of my favorites!  Simple and cute--don't you think?  Anyway, lots to do today so this is going to be a short and sweet post--enjoy your day!

Flashback Friday!

Still working on School Themed card sets. This is set number 3. So for today's challenge I pulled out the retired sets--Tart and Tangy and Say it With Scallops.  I also use the Deconstructed Sketch 101 for my jump off point.  As with the previous card sets I am mixing and matching colors and papers --a few of which are not Stampin Up but from my old old stash.  I can tell you the basic colors used in these cards are as follows: Basic Black, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive.  This is not one of my favorite card sets to date but as time winds down I just need to get them done, lol! 

Here are some individual pictures -- which is your favorite?

I actually think I like the blue and plaid one best--go figure-couldn't be more UN-traditional! 

Here are pictures of the retired/flashback sets. 

 

Don't forget to check out what Nicole did for the challenge this week--remember that is who thought of this great Flashback Friday challenge to begin with--I just hopped on it with her!

Happy Friday! Mary Jo

School Staff Appreciation Card Group Number 2

As I mentioned on Monday I am in charge of our Middle School Staff Appreciation Luncheon and in an effort to make it a bit more special without adding too much more to the budget I am making some of the gifts.  You will notice that all of the card sets from this point on will be a combination of different items I am finding in my stash--trying to use up some of the CRAZY amounts of stuff laying around my studio--so there will not be full details given for the cards as I am not sure I even know all the details, lol!  Hope you enjoy the ideas though.  The first set was posted in Monday so this is set number two!  Monday's set was pretty feminine so I will be trying to stay a bit more gender neutral for the next few.

I am so happy with this card--I have had this ruler tape in my kitchen drawer for years and did not really know what to do with it, but could not get rid of it because I knew one day it would dawn on me what I can do with it--well the day has come!!!  This was such an easy card to reproduce too--those who follow my blog know I do not like to make multiples of the same card! 

The lighter gray on the card is one of our new colors. Smokey Slate--the base is Basic Gray. 

Hope you have a great day!
Mary Jo

Try Stamping on Tuesday!

We are back again with another fun sketch--it looks hard at first but the fun cards that the Design Team made with the sketch will get you wanting to try it out.  Be sure to check out all the samples HERE.

Here is my sample for this week...

I actually printed the DP from my computer using My Digital Studio.  So vibrant and beautiful. Not sure why I don't do this more often?!  The sentiment is a retired set.  The base card color is Daffodil Delight.  Of course I used a marker to add the lines around each layer to make them pop!  I am pretty happy with the results although I was stumped for a bit again! 

Here is the original sketch...

 

We would love to have you play along with us.  

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 263 (TSSC263)

Welcome to week 263 of my weekly sketch challenges.  I love the sketch this week and the Design Team rocked it -- as always.  Wait to you see all the fabulous samples for this week.  Let's get started with the sketch...

I went all out and decided to show you guys the brand new in colors for the upcoming catalog.  I will be sharing lots of card sets over the next week or so due to my need to make lots of gift packs for the teachers and staff at our Middle School.  Hope you enjoy them.  This first set is using the this week's sketch and some brand new stamps along with the brand new in-colors.  The cards are all identical except for the color and embossing folders used on each.

Here is a shot of the group with the new color names!  You are going to love them!

 Stamps: Wildflower Meadow, the new plaid wheel and One in a Million
Paper: See Above colors and Whisper White
Ink: See Above colors and Basic Black
Other: marker, embossing folders, button embosslit, modern label punch, white baker's twine

Another thing you are going to love are the fabulous samples the Design Team has for this week's challenge.  They are so talented and I am so grateful for all they do each week! 

 

Mary Brown

Tanya

Jonia Smith

Eileen LeFevre

Nicole Tugrul

Sue Root

Carolyn Bennett

Robbie

We are excited to see your samples add them below.. 

  

Here are some basic rules for participation..

1. You have a full week to play along!
2. Create a new card using the sketch as your inspiration.
3. Use any products you choose.
4. Add your card to your blog or other on-line spot and link back to this challenge.
5. Come back here and add a direct link to your sample for the challenge and NOT you home page of your blog--people will not look for your challenge card--trust me.
6. And this one is not really a rule but a request--get rid of that word verification!  It makes it hard for us to comment on your samples.  It is easier for you to delete the spam then for us to jump through tons of hoops to comment.  If your put your comments on moderation you do not have to worry about spam--you will have the option to delete it BEFORE it ever goes on your blog so you will ALWAYS be safe!
7. Have fun and tell you friends to play too!

Mary Jo



Top Three Picks for Sketch 262!

Hmmm, tough picking this week!  I love all the samples.  Here are my top three picks in no particular order.......

 

Pam W

Maria's Amazing Birthday

 



 

Pam Korte

 

Don't you love those!?

If you are a winner please feel free to add my winner button to your blog!

You can grab the code for the button on the upper left hand side of my blog.

 

 

Be right back with the new challenge! Mary Jo



Flashback Friday!

I love Fridays and the chance to grab some of those stamp sets that just never get used--this week I am using Send a Celebration.    I decided to make a card using this week's Dynamic Duos challenge too.  (although  I missed the deadline and the linky is closed) The colors this week are Baja Breeze and Daffodil Delight--pretty fun colors that I don't think I would put together on my own, I like them though!

I also used my sketch challenge for this week again--sort of, lol.  Click here to see the sketch and better yet--play along you have until Sunday night to add your link.

Here is the set...

and the challenges...

Stamps: Send a Celebration, Curvy Verses
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, Whisper White and DP
Ink: Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight
Other: blender pen, pearls

Don't forget to check out what Nicole did for the challenge this week--remember that is who thought of this great Flashback Friday challenge to begin with--I just hopped on it with her!

Happy Friday! Mary Jo

Pink and Brown for Mom!

Mother's day is really sneaking up on me.  This is one of the cards I am sending out this year.  I love pink and brown together.

I am really sorry that the Bordering On Romance set is retiring, the flowers are just so pretty and so easy to work with.  They look great on this card don't you think?

Short post today--too many things going on!

Stamps:  Bordering On Romance and Mixed Greetings
Paper: Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla and DP
Ink: Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery
Other: blender pen, pearls, frames embossing folder, framelit, wide oval punch, organdy ribbon, tulip border embossing folder. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  See ya soon.
Mary Jo

Try Stamping on Tuesday!

Yep, it is Tuesday.  I have a quick post for you today as I need to be out the door by 6:40 for a doctor's appointment. I must start by saying I had a bit of a hard time with the sketch again this week but I am ok with the sample.  Not sure what was throwing me off  on the sketch but it was fun to make it work--hope you will try it out too and remember to check out what the rest of the team did with the sketch HERE.

Let's start with my sample--I used the retiring set Nature Walk again today as I did yesterday.  I also played along with the Latenightstamper's challenge again and chose retiring colors.  This time I chose Not Quite Navy and River Rock--still looking for a more masculine look.

Here is the sketch..

And here are the details for my card...

Stamps: Nature Walk, One in a Million
Paper Not Quite Navy, River Rock, Very Vanilla
Ink: Not Quite Navy, River Rock
Other: embossing folder, marker

Hope you enjoy your day!  Another beautiful one here but I have to be inside all day--sad face here.
Mary Jo

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 262 (TSSC262)

Happy Monday!  We love Monday's around here because it is the beginning of another sketch challenge ALL of us to play along with!  I so love sketch challenges and I know you do too, so let's get right to it.  Here is this week's sketch...

And some basic rules for participation..

1. You have a full week to play along!
2. Create a new card using the sketch as your inspiration.
3. Use any products you choose.
4. Add your card to your blog or other on-line spot and link back to this challenge.
5. Come back here and add a direct link to your sample for the challenge and NOT you home page of your blog--people will not look for your challenge card--trust me.
6. And this one is not really a rule but a request--get rid of that word verification!  It makes it hard for us to comment on your samples.  It is easier for you to delete the spam then for us to jump through tons of hoops to comment.  If your put your comments on moderation you do not have to worry about spam--you will have the option to delete it BEFORE it ever goes on your blog so you will ALWAYS be safe!
7. Have fun and tell you friends to play too!
     
   Now on to the inspiration.  For my card I decided to use some retiring colors along with retiring stamps.  I need a few masculine-ish thinking of you type cards so that is what I had in mind when creating this one.  And the Latenightstamper's challenge for the week is to use retiring colors so you know the old saying--two birds with one stone!
   
   
   
   Everything used on this card--not counting the nestibility dies and sentiment--will be retiring.  I love Baja Breeze with Riding Hood Red.  Sorry they are leaving us. And the stamps set is also retiring--Nature Walk.

Stamps: Nature Walk, Sweet Essentials
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, DP
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze
Other: nestibility dies

Now for the real inspiration--the fabulous Design Team and their incredible samples!

Mary Brown

Jonia Smith

Tanya

Carolyn Bennett



Robbie 

Sue Root

Nicole Tugrul

We can't wait to see your sample. When you are done with it remember to come on back and add it to the Linky Tool below!

Happy Stamping

Mary Jo

Top Three Picks for Sketch Challenge #261!

What a fabulous weekend we had around here.  The weather was amazing!  I love the warm weather and the sunshine. Makes me smile. 

Thanks so much for those of you who played along with my sketch challenge last week--there were some really awesome samples.  Here are my top three picks in no particular order...

 

1. TX Jennywren

 

2. With Sympathy

 

 6. Mixed Bunch  

If you are a winner please feel free to add my winner button to your blog!

You can grab the code for the button on the upper left hand side of my blog.

 

 

Be right back with the new challenge! Mary Jo 

 

Flashback Friday!

It is just beautiful outside for the last few days.  Feels like Summer instead of Spring!  I love it. So it made me pull out one of my favorite Summer Stamp sets of all.  Summer by the Sea!   I always loved this set--especially for water coloring.

I am so going to miss the color More Mustard, I love it combined with Pool Party.  Don't you? Here is the image of the stamp set I used.

Stamps: Summer By the Sea, Blooming Marvelous

Paper: More Mustard, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, DP 

Ink: Basic Black, Pool Party, More Mustard

Other: score board, markers, pearls, oval punch, nestibilities

Why not check out what Nicole did for the challenge this week--remember that is who thought of this great Flashback Friday challenge to begin with--I just hopped on it with her!

Happy Friday
Mary Jo