Masking and Sponging

I am combining three challenges today--first Splitcoaststamper';s F4A154--make a cute Valentine with a heart-- the Stampin Up  Only challenge to create a clean and simple Valentine card and the second is the Blogger's Challenge--remember this!  I have not played along in so long although I always mean to--so today I am!  The challenge over there is to create your own background.  That sounded too fun to pass up.  So I pulled out the new SAB set Madison Avenue and used the leaf type elements with some masking and sponging to come up with this....

Can  anyone me what I am going to do when the colors Pool Party and Island Indigo retire!  My goodness I use them on almost every card lately! I just love this combo.

Stamps: Madison Avenue, PS I love you (retired)
Paper: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo
Other: ribbon, printer paper for masking, sponges, marker for edging, Heart Framelits

Hope you have a fabulous weekend--by the way why not play along with my sketch challenge over the weekend--only three players so far (insert sad face) I need more!  Click HERE to play along. 

SUOnly take two!

 Clean and simple Christmas Cards are the challenge on SUOnly this week. I am playing along a second time because my card from yesterday is a retired set and I wanted to add a current set.  So here we go again!

I love the look of Black and White and Grey and even though they are not tradition Christmas colors they are very elegant looking.  Don't you agree??

Stamps:  Come to Bethlehem, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Basic Grey, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Other: rhinestone, thin black ribbon, word window punch, modern label punch

Ok, so there you have it, another clean and simple Christmas Card.
Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday--I will be back later with my Latenightstamper's challenge for this week--Christmas giftables!
Mary Jo

SUOnly Challnege 58

Clean and simple Christmas Cards are the challenge on SUOnly this week. I love this one and it certainly fits the clean and simple theory.

This card was so easy--and I think it is just stunning in person.  The colors are Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White.  The bows are just folded ribbon with a button tied around it to keep it all together.   I did have to throw a little bling on there--can't seem to do anything without rhinestones, lol!

I actually just realized that this set is retired.  But it is really a beauty! It is called Sounding Joy

Fast and Elegant--can't beat that for Christmas Cards!

Fast post too--enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by!
Mary Jo

Thanksgiving/Fall ---Latenightstamper's challenge.

This week on the Latenightstamper's group we are focusing on fall cards or Thanksgiving cards.  I do not send Thanksgiving cards per say but I do send a lot of fall themed thank you cards.  Here is one for starters.  I have more to share with you tomorrow.

I love this background embossing folder--it is so elegant looking--don't yo think?  Due to that I am adding it to the SUOchallenge for this week too which if fall cards with an elegant feel. 

Stamps:  Gently Falling, retired sentiment (good for you SAB), small leaf is from Four Seasons hostess set.
Paper: Soft Suede, Pear Pizazz (final few sheets) Pool Party, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede, More Mustard Pear Pizazz, Pool Party
Other: Pool party ribbon, Designer Buttons Brushed Bronze, twine, Window Frames Framelits dies, paper piercing pack

My prayers are with those of you who are dealing with Sandy--we got lucky and didn't get much.  But of course we are quite a bit inland--we never used to feel anything from these Hurricanes--where are everything is changing.

Mary Jo

Lot's of Texture

That is the challenge over at SUO Challenges this week!  I knew I could fit this one is as I need to make a whole bunch (30) different Christmas cards for classes.  This is number one--better get my you know what going, lol!

If you have been following my blog for any time you may remember that I love non-traditional colors for Christmas.  I can not believe I still have at least two full packages of these fun felt snowflake accents.  Perfect for this card--love when that happens.  I used two different embossing folders on the card too so between that and the felt snowflakes and bling rhinestone brad you have Lot's of Texture!  Fun challenge.

Stamps: To You and Yours
Paper: Island Indigo, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints DP
Ink: Island Indigo
Other: Lots of Tags Sizzlits,  Wide Oval Punch, Felt Snowflakes (retired) rhinestone brad,Delicate Designs Embossing Folder, snow embossing folder

Hope your week is going well--almost the weekend and a three day one at that!
Mary Jo

SUOnly Challenge

I am not sure why I never play along with this challenge?? SUO Challenge #46 – Bright Summer Days!
I guess I just don't remember that it is out there, but this week I seen it early in the week and decided to play along! The theme for the week is Summertime! To be more specific we are to capture something about a bright summer day and use it on our sample. One of my favorite things about summer is the sound of the birds at the bird feeder in the mornings and the beautiful colors from all the flowers and foliage. So that is what I am incorporating into my card for today...

I used the new Betsy's Blossom stamp set!  Such a bold and fun set.  The colors I chose were Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green, Whisper White and Basic Black. One of the flowers is punched out with the big scallop circle punch.  I also used Tangerine Tango Ribbon and the Modern Label Punch.  I hope you enjoy my sample for the day!

See you tomorrow with my LNS challenge card!
Mary Jo