...Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #53 (MTSC53)

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I can't believe that Christmas is this week, and that the New Year is right around the corner...where has the time gone? I have had such a wonderful time creating sketches for you guys, and looking at all of your gorgeous creations. I couldn't ask for a better following...y'all are the BEST!

Now for this week's Tuesday Sketch #53: My Sample:
Jessie Knight's Sample:

Now let's see what the amazing Muses have in store for your viewing pleasure this week:

• Pam Speidel
• Cindy Haffner
• Pam Varnell
• Julie Lacey
• Crystal Birr
• Jessica Diedrich
• Shannan Teubner...taking a break this week
• Jessie Knight (December Guest Muse)

Now it's your turn! Create a card or scrapbook layout using the sketch above, and link your creation below in Mister Linky. Be sure to use the keyword MTSC53 when uploading to a public gallery!

Happy Stamping & Merry Christmas!

...Crazy 4 Snowmen & Snowflakes

Happy Saturday, everyone! It's time for another challenge from our Crazy Girls! Our team member, Joanne Grzelak, has created all of the challenges for this month...and does she ever have some wonderful challenges in store! This week's submissions will be utilizing snowmen and/or snowflakes..are you ready for this one?

I love me some snowmen, so this challenge was right up my alley! I used one of the snowmen and snowflakes from the Darcie's Heart & Home stamp set "Toasty Snowmen", and the sentiment from Darcie's set "Just Chillin'". I stamped the image onto Watercolor Paper in Jet Black Staz-On Ink, then colored it with my Aquapainter. I love all the papers in the retired SU Wintergreen Designer Series Paper pack, so used those colors for my palette...Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, and Whisper White. I added a pop of red with the Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon, touches of red on the snowman, and a bit of red on the sentiment panel. The only other embellishments used were a Button, Linen Thread, and Stickles.

Now let's see what the rest of the ladies have in store for you today:

• Barbara Anders
• Cindy Haffner
• Frances Byrne
• Jessica Diedrich
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak
• Joycelyn Turner
• Lori Boyd
• Lynda Benden
• Robin Willis
• Vicki Garrett

That's it for today...thanks for stopping by! It's your turn to create a card or project using your favorite snowmen/snowflakes, and share it with us. Be sure to add your creation to Mister Linky back at the Crazy 4 Challenges Blog post...we can't wait to see what you come up with! Until later...

Supplies

Stamps: Toasty Snowmen, Just Chillin' (Darcie's Heart & Home)

Papers: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, Watercolor, Wintergreen DSP

Inks: Jet Black Staz-On, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Ruby Red, Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Baja Breeze, Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie, Dusty Durango

Accessories: dimensionals, ribbon, button, linen thread, horizontal slot punch, aquapainter, circle punches, stickles, white gel pen

...Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #23 (MTSC23)

Edited to add Julie's sample...I had some problems downloading her sample email, so I saved the picture from her blog. You are in the lineup now, Julie....YAY!!!

• Create a card/scrapbook page using the sketch above;
• Use keyword MTSC23 when uploading to a public gallery;
• Leave a comment at this post with a link to your creation;
• If you are going to posting your creation to your blog please link back here to the original sketch, or include a picture of the sketch on your blog;
• HAVE FUN !!!
  

My Sample:

Pam Varnell's Sample

Crystal Birr's Sample:

I am happy to introduce a new guest designer to add to wonderful talent you already see here each Tuesday. Julie Lacey will be joining me, Pam, and Crystal each week with a sketch sample for you to see. She is a phenomenal talent, and you can check out her blog Stamps And Taxes to see some of her other beautiful work.

That's it for today! Thanks for stopping by, and I will see you all again tomorrow. Go ahead and try the sketch...it really is alot of fun. Until then...

Supplies (for my sample)

Stamps: Toasty Snowmen (Darcies)

Papers: Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Watercolor Paper, Wintergreen DSP

Ink: VersaMark, Jet Black Staz-On, Baja Breeze, Real Red, Certainly Celery, Tangerine Tango, Always Artichoke

Accessories: aquapainter, embossing buddy, black embossing powder, heat gun, scissors, acrylic blocks, mat pack, paper piercer, dimensionals, build-a-brad, large felt flurries, 5/8" baja breeze striped ribbon, 1/2" circle punch

...Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #21 (MTSC21)

BE SURE TO CHECK THE RETIREMENT LISTS IN THE STAMPIN' UP SECTION TO THE RIGHT!!! Here are the rules:

• Create a card/scrapbook page using the sketch above;
• Use keyword MTSC21 when uploading to a public gallery;
• Leave a comment at this post with a link to your creation;
• If you are going to posting your creation to your blog please link back here to the original sketch, or include a picture of the sketch on your blog;
• HAVE FUN !!!

It's time for yet another sketch challenge! I loved this one, because (as you all know) I love layers...the more the better! I do have an announcement though...I have decided that from now on when I post a sketch sample, I will only include a recipe for the card instead of a detailed explanation of how the card was made. That will free up some space to share some cards that were made by my guest designers. My other posts will still give you step-by-step instructions, however. Thanks for being so understanding!

Supplies

Stamps: Just Chillin' (Darcies)

Papers: Baja Breeze, Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Wintergreen DSP

Inks: Jet Black Staz-On, VersaMark, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Riding Hood Red, Elegant Eggplant, Tangerine Tango, Cameo Coral, Bashful Blue

Accessories: mat pack, paper piercer, adhesive, dimensionals, rhinestone brads, aquapainter, embossing buddy, black embossing powder, heat gun, scissors, circle punches (1", 1-1/4", 1-3/8")

Here's another sample to drool over from Pam Varnell (hop on over to her blog to get all the details about her wondermous card...Thanks, Pam!):

That's it for today! Have a fun time playing with the sketch, and let me know what you do with it...I would love to see it! Until tomorrow...

...Holy Purple Penguins, Batman!!!

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER TO WIN $30 FREE STAMPIN UP MERCHANDISE HERE!

What? You mean you've never seen a purple penguin before? LOL! Isn't he simply adorable? This is one of the penguins from Darcie's stamp set "Just Chillin". I couldn't help but fall in love with him...he's fluffy just like me! I started with a Tangerine Tango Cardstock base, and matted each layer with Elegant Eggplant Cardstock. The patterned paper was from the Frosty Day Designer Series Paper pack, which is quickly becoming a fave. The focal panel consisted of Whisper White Cardstock that was stamped in Elegant Eggplant Craft Ink, then embossed using Clear Embossing Powder and a Heat Gun. I colored this precious penguin with Copics Sketch Markers that I had borrowed from my friend, Janet Beahm, at our last stamping retreat.

NOTE : Now I am not one to usually jump on the "product bandwagon", but these Copics Sketch Markers are to die for! They are so easy to use, and practically indestructible {which is a wonderful trait for clumsy people such as myself}! They are a bit expensive, but I believe that they would be well worth the money; so as you can already tell, I will probably be jumping aboard the wagon at any time now! LOL!


Once I had finished coloring him, I outlined him to give him a slight shadow using the Cool Gray No. 1 Copics Sketch Marker. The sentiment panel was stamped in Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink onto Whisper White Cardstock, then punched out using the 3/4" Circle Punch. It was then matted with Kiwi Kiss Cardstock that had been punched out using the 1" Circle Punch, and Elegant Eggplant Cardstock that was punched out using the 1-1/4" Circle Punch. Each layer of the sentiment was popped up using Dimensionals, as was the focal panel. A piece of 5/8" Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain Ribbon was added around the card front, and three green brads from the Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads collection were added to the upper right-hand side of the card to finish it off.

That's it for today! I hope to work on a couple of sketch and blog challenges some time today after I finish folding about four hundred loads of clothes...fun, fun, fun! I will also be sharing an award that has been given to me by one of my good friends. Thanks for stopping by today, and I will see you all again tomorrow. Until then....

Supplies

Stamps: Just Chillin' (Darcie's)

Papers: Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Frosty Day DSP

Inks: Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink, Elegant Eggplant Craft Ink

Accessories: clear embossing powder, embossing buddy, heat gun, copics sketch markers, dimensionals, ribbon, brads, punches (3/4" circle, 1" circle, 1-1/4" circle)