Color Blog Hop -- December 24, 2014

Welcome back to blog hop Wednesday.  You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite.  I apologize today because I do not have the appropriate challenge combination of colors.  I have been running the past few days and then baking and wrapping all day today.  We have company right now but I have taken 10 minutes to write a blog and to send you my wishes that you all have a very happy and blessed Christmas.  I hope you spend time with family and friends, and I hope your holiday is the best ever.  I will have 2 different sets of company this holiday, both including grands.  And you all know how I love all my grands.

Here is my Christmas Card to you.

This is a retired set, but has been one of my favorites.  I continue to use it.  This year I colored with both markers (red and cherry cobbler) and with Blendabilities (Old Olive light and medium).  I love my Blendies -- markers too.

Now continue to Robbie's blogsite.

Merry Christmas,
Sandy

Color Hop Wednesday -- December 17, 2014

Welcome back to our Color Hop Wednesday.  You should have arrived by way of Liz's blogsite.  This time I haven't seen her challenge, but she always comes up with something I love.  I wonder if we are on the same wave length again.  Often we seem to either choose the same stamp set or choose the same technique.

Below is our inspiration piece for this week.  I love this bright blue ornament.  A couple weeks ago we had a ton of snow and all our pine trees outside looked similar to this picture.  This week, however, we have been inundated with rain.   It is dreary, chilly, and rainy.  I prefer snow, but at this time of year I will take the rain.  At least I can shop in the rain.  Not so much in the snow.

Ok, so you are here to see our challenge for this week and what I did with it.  Below are the Stampin'Up! colors we are to use.  I used all the colors.  My Pacific Point in the ornament looks a little more like navy, but it is the Pacific Point marker.

 Here is my creation.  A week or so ago a customer asked me to help her use the Iridescent Ice powder.  She said she could not get it to work for her.  We got together and worked on several samples and she did a beautiful job.  So continuing with that technique, I decided to make this ornament sparkle with Iridescent Ice.  I hope you like my card.

Now you should hop to Robbie's blogsite.   I'm loving all the Christmas cards she has been doing and showing on her blog, don't you.  I'm sure today is no exception.

Until next time..............

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Color Blog Hop -- December 10, 2014

It's another color hop Wednesday.  Hope everyone is doing well.  Certainly I hope you don't have the ice and snow I have.  I am stuck on the mountain today with ice.  But tomorrow is another day.

You should have come to me by way of Liz's blogsite.    I'm going to start taking lessons from her.  Her card today is another gorgeous creation.  Our challenge this week comes from the inspiration piece below:

So pretty and sparkly.  The SU colors are as follows:

I think my card, below, captured the sparkle but that is about all.  I really don't like this one at all.  However, I just did it tonight and don't have more time to scrap it and start over.  Hopefully next week I will allow more time and "create" something better.  Certainly something that will compare to everyone else in this hop.  So, now continue to Robbie's blogsite, where there will be yet another beautiful creation.   Robbie is an artist and does some really nice work.

Until next time

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Color Blog Hop Wednesday -- December 3, 2014

It's blog hop Wednesday.  We have some snowy colors for you today.  You should have come to me by way of Liz's blogsite.  Isn't her creation today beautiful.  [added later:   Oh my lord, she and I did another "great minds think alike" thing today.  I just looked at what she did, and her card is very similar to mine.  It's scary that we think so much alike.]

Our inspiration piece this week is this:

The comparable Stampin'Up! colors are Saraha Sand, Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Marina Mist, Island Indigo and Lost Lagoon.  I took Pool Party, Marina Mist, and Lost Lagoon re-inkers and dropped several drops onto a craft sheet , then toward the bottom I dropped a little Sahara Sand.  It seems the re-inkers blend just a little better if you mist with some water.  Then I took a piece of Glossy White paper and smushed it around a bit, then dry. (Smushed is my favoritist made up word!)    Looking at these colors I decided my card would be wintery.  And, since I have to mail a birthday card to my niece this weekend, I made this card a wintery birthday card.

Here is my card:

I know my niece is going to like her card, mainly because she is always begging me to send more, she always oohs and ahhs at what I have done, and because she is so sweet.  She is a very appreciative gal.  Of course, the little gift inside is always welcome too.

Hope you like my card.  Now we shall hop on around to Robbie's blogsite.  She is the start, but you can continue around and around until you get dizzy.  But don't do that.  Let's go take a look at what Robbie has done.  I know it is beautiful because she has super ideas and makes really pretty cards.

Happy Crafting,
Sandy

Wednesday Color Challenge -- Nov 19, 2014

I am back.  Wow, what a fine vacation.  We returned from New Zealand last Tuesday morning after travelling for about 30 hours.  18 were on airplanes, the rest was to/from airports and layover time.  I won't get into all the airplane stuff, just that it was loooooong,   New Zealand is a beautiful country, and we drove a very good part of it.  Once I get my gazillion pictures under control I may show one or two,

But you are here today for the color challenge, and you should have come to me from Liz's blogsite.  Didn't she have a fine entry today.  My mojo was really hard to find when I got back home, but I was happy to once again be sitting at my craft table.  Our colors this week are below.  Lots of oranges, so it made me think of Thanksgiving, which is not far away.  I somehow missed the email with the list of Stampin'Up! colors, but I decided it looked like Wisteria Wonder, Going Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Crisp Cantaloupe and Soft Sky.

So here is the card I created to use these fall colors, and also in keeping with the next holiday.  Guess how we are getting ready for Thanksgiving and the company we expect for dinner.  We tore our kitchen apart to remodel.  Yup, the island was remodeled before we left on vacation, floor was installed yesterday, the counter tops next Monday, and hopefully the backsplash on Tuesday.   When we decide to do something, whether it is travel or remodel, we don't worry about timing, we just go for it.  But it is looking good and I am loving it.

The trees on this card are representative of the woods around our house, so the saying Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours is in keeping with our home.  I hope you are all getting ready for the holiday, and are aware of all the things for which you are thankful,  I know I have a very long list.

Have a good week, and see you next week at our Wednesday blog hop.  Now continue to Robbie's blogsite.  You may have begun there, but if not, then continue to her and back around to me.  Robbie has some real beauties on her blog.  This week is no exception.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Color Challenge Blog Hop -- October 22, 2014

Hi crafters.  So I blew it this week!  I hoped to get one last challenge in before I left on a three week vacation, so I agreed to work on this week's.  Well, I messed up with everything this week from forgetting a family birthday, to not picking up something we needed, to packing up all my things into the car and forgetting to post my challenge.  I forgot to do the challenge card yesterday and the camera and luggage are all in the car across the bridge.  Those of you who know me know I live in the mountains, and between me and the road is a river.  A river that floods every time it rains hard.  So, not to get stuck on the wrong side of the river, last night we packed our luggage in the car and drove it to the other side.  Not to fear, we don't have to swim across today.  There is a swinging foot bridge.  Nothing like Tarzan's.  This one we walk on while we swing.  LOL

Anyway, after all those excuses and whining, I figure I will at least post something to keep the hop going.  So here you will find a fall card I worked on the other day.  It isn't the challenge colors, but it was a challenge,  See all those little leaves?  They look nice, but they are a pain.  I colored the leaves individually on the little stamp that is part of Holiday Homes stamp set.

You should have arrived here from Joni's blogsite.  She is inspiration to everyone with her beautiful creations.

I believe the inspiration for this card came from my friend, Buffy.  I can't remember the colors she used, or exactly her arrangement, but she did the house and trees.  Thanks, Buffy.

So hop on back to the beginning to Robbie's blogsite.  I know her challenge was correct, and she did an excellent job.

I am off in an hour or two to head for the airport.  We have about 26 hours of travel before we get to New Zealand, but I am sure we will have a great time.  See you when we get back.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Color Blog Hop Wednesday -- October 15, 2014

Welcome to another color Wednesday blog hop.  We are having some really rainy weather here.  I hope there is sunshine where you are.  Join the hop and I bet with this week's colors you will find something cheery for a rainy day.   This week we were challenged to use Crushed Curry, Wild Wasabi, Lost Lagoon, Basic Black and Cherry Cobbler.  Below is our inspiration piece and the colors found there.  My piece started with lots of Crushed Curry and a little Cherry Cobbler, but by the time I finished thinking through what I wanted to do, I guess Cherry Cobbler won out as the predominant color.

Below are the coordinating Stampin'Up! colors.

 And here is the design I ended up with.  The top part of my card is cut 3/4 and the flowers open the card.  I used Blendabilities for the Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake center, but used regular markers for the Crushed Curry.  I love our new Blendabilities.  The color lays down soooooo smoooooth,

So I hope you like my card.  My hubby even liked this one.  He normally does not go for flowers, but he said he liked the bright colors.

You should have arrived from Joni's blogsite.  She has amazing creations, don't you think?  Now it is time to go back to the beginning to Robbie's blogsite.  She also does great work.  Her designs are always outstanding.

So come back soon.

Happy Crafting,
Sandy

Color Blog Hop -- October 8, 2014

Welcome to Blog Hop Wednesday.  Our challenge today is to use the following Stampin'Up! colors for our creations.

You should have arrived here from Liz's blogsite.  Sometimes I get to take a peek at hers but this time it is a mystery to me.  I'll have to hop around to her site to see what she did.  But I know it is beautiful, because it always is.

Here is the inspiration piece.  Not sure what this is, but the dark colors with purples and blues felt like the perfect opportunity to do something Halloween.

 

Here is the Halloween card I created from the inspiration colors.  My card in person is a bit more vibrant.  The sky colors look a lot more blue and purple and the house is a bit darker.  I'm going to have to do a little adjusting and playing with my camera to see if I can't do better (but I think it is not the camera, instead it is what is behind the camera).

Now you should continue your hopping journey and go along to Robbie's blogsite.  She starts the lineup, but if you started here, then just continue on and you'll eventually come back to me.  I'm going to hop over to see what Robbie has for us.  She is so talented, and I know it will be really pretty.

Enjoy your day, do some crafting, and see you soon.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Color Blog Hop -- October 1, 2014

Hi everyone.  It is our Wednesday color blog hop.  I am back from Wisconsin.  Wow, here at home it has gone from summer to fall in 10 days.  When I left it was green and the tomatoes were ripening.  Today the leaves are colored, falling, and the tomatoes are all orange and we can't eat them fast enough.  Where did summer go?  Do you all feel the same?

Well, for today we are here to look at the creations made by our group.  You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite.  She did a fine job.  Sometimes I have trouble following her, since she is a hard act to follow.  We were challenged to use the SU colors Pistachio Pudding, Wild Wasabi, Mossy Meadow, Basic Gray, Melon Mambo and Whisper White.  Here is the inspiration piece:

I love these flowers.  They look so dainty and fresh.  Below are the Stampin'Up! colors that coordinate with the inspiration piece.  Robbie worked them up for us once again.  Speaking of Robbie, once you leave here you will continue to her website.  

Here is my interpretation of the colors.  I made my card very similar to the inspiration piece.  I used our white gel pen to fill in the white flowers, and an aqua pen and Melon Mambo marker to color the pink flower.  Happy Birthday is heat embossed in order to better see the sentiment.  I hope you like my interpretation.  Now continue to Robbie's blogsite to see what she has done.  It is so fine, you'll love it.  

Happy crafting.  See you soon.

Sandy

Color Blog Hop -- September 24, 2014

Happy blog hop Wednesday.  It is time to see what the group did with the color challenge this week.  You should have come from Liz's blogsite.  Haven't talked to her, but I know she has been working hard.  We were challenged to use some really pretty and bright colors.  I chose this inspiration piece because I loved the flowers, the oranges and purples and yellows.  And because I wanted to use my new Corner Garden stamp.   I never even noticed that stamp until I saw someone else do the most beautiful sympathy card.  I have already done about 4 cards with this stamp.  I love it, but it does take a while to do all that coloring.  Of course, I am one whose favorite used to be those watercolor crayons.  I hated to see them retire, but I still use them.

So here is the inspiration piece:

Here are the comparable SU colors Robbie worked up:

And here is the piece I did.  I wanted a little more fall for right now, so I highlighted the oranges and yellows, but there still is some beautiful rose/purple/melon mambo.  I still need a lot of practice, but I am working on it.  Love those Blendies!

So now you should hop to Robbie's blogsite.  She is the start, but if you started here, you can continue on to her and then all the way around and back to me.

I am currently in Wisconsin on vacation.  I am visiting my sisters and we are having a blast, I know.  We always have a great time when we get together.  We plan craft fairs, wine tastings, a trip or two where we go in and out of shops to see what we find there -- I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about.  And I will bring home some of my favorite cheeses, sausages, and some cherry salsa (yum).   Have a great week.  See you when I return.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Color Blog Hop -- September 17, 2014

It is color blog hop Wednesday.  Welcome back.  You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite.  Love, love, love her entries each week.  She is such a designer.  We were challenged this week to use the below inspiration piece from the Seeds website.  Then Robbie -- or fearless leader -- coordinated the colors with the Stampin'Up! colors as you can see by the below chart.

Stampin'Up! colors:

 Oops, I goofed and didn't catch it until I had already finished my card, photographed it and copied to my computer.  I colored the bear and the children with the appropriate SU colors, but did the background and layers looking at the color selections for next week.  I wondered why I didn't see any yellow in all those pink flowers in the inspiration piece.  Oh sheesh, so my yellow background is not quite the colors, but not too, too, bad.  I have been doing nothing but flowers lately, and will have flowers again for next week's challenge, so I decided to try a Christmas card.  Well, yellow doesn't do much for me in the way of Christmas, but those kiddies sure are cute.  I will probably use this stamp for at least one grand or two for Christmas.

So now you should hop around to Robbie's blogsite.  Bet she has something really super, and bet it does not have one teeny tiny bit of yellow.

Have a wonderful week.  I am leaving tomorrow morning and driving to Wisconsin to visit my sisters for 11 days.  We always have a blast when we get together, so I am looking forward to it.  I am posting my challenge for next week before I leave, so be sure to come back again next week.

Happy Crafting and Many Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Color Blog Hop -- September 10, 2014

Happy blog hop Wednesday.  It's time for color!  This week our challenge inspiration piece has very bright colors.  Here is the piece:

Our challenge is to use Stampin'Up!'s Crisp Cantaloupe, Tangerine Tango, Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant, Garden Green and Pear Pizzazz.   You should have come to my blog site by way of Liz's blogsite.   Great creation.  Love her interpretation.  This is what I did with the colors.  I wanted something really bright, but also wanted to somewhat keep the lines, circles and idea behind the inspiration piece.  I hope I succeeded without actually having food on my card.

Now you should hop to Robbie's blogsite.  If you started with her then you will have gone full circle.  If you started with me, then keep hopping.

I have a craft day today and hope to work on some Christmas things.  I have been inundated with birthdays lately, and want to stop birthday and thank you cards.  Just had my granddaughter's b-day last week, my grandson's yesterday, and today is my wonderful hubby's day.  Happy birthday everyone.

Happy Crafting........See you next time

Sandy

Color Blog Hop -- September 3, 2014

I need to make this really quick tonight.  It is Tuesday night and our power was knocked out by a storm.  I am currently up at the General Store piggybacking on their wifi.  And I see that my laptop is down to 10% on top of that.  Ugh!

So you have probably already seen the colors, as well as the inspiration piece.  Here is my creation based on the colors we were to use.  I colored with markers directly on my stamps.  Love working that way.

So you arrived from Liz's blogsite, and it is lovely.  Bet she has power.  Now you should hop back to the beginning to Robbie's blogsite.  Robbie's is super too, I bet.  And I bet she has power too.  We are in the process of buying and installing a generator, so maybe we won't have to deal with this much longer.

Enjoy the hop.  See you soon.

Crafty hugs,
Sandy

Color Blog Hop -- August 27, 2014

Hi all.  It's Wednesday Color blog hop day.  You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite.   I haven't looked yet, but we've been talking the last couple of days and I know she has been working hard.  We were challenged with the below inspiration piece and the colors.  Looks very much like something of the sea.  But I decided not to do anything like sea.  At first I wanted to use the little seahorses, but found that I don't have that set -- ugh!

Here are the Stampin'Up! colors Robbie worked out for us:  

And here is what I created from these colors.  I used all the colors.  The base is Night of Navy and the mat just above that is Real Red.  My sponged colors are Pacific Point, Crisp Cantaloupe and Marina Mist.  Then the stamp is Marina Mist with some greens.  I used a little Soft Sky in the background.

So now you should hop back around to Robbie's blogsite.  She starts it, but if you began with me, continue with her until you come all the way around.  Robbie has something special, I know.  She has a very creative mind.

Today is my granddaughter's birthday (Hannah).  Over the weekend we had a little party.  Here she is with her new American Girl tent, new camping clothes for her doll and her new little camping puppy.  And just how did she know to wear a color-coordinated dress to go with both the new presents and our color challenge for today -- LOL.  Happy birthday my dear sweetheart!

Until next time.......................

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Coloring Down the Lines -- August 20, 2014

Are  you ready for another Wednesday Color blog hop?  Great.  You should have arrived here by way of Joni's blogsite.  Joni had something really gorgeous once again.  I love looking at her talent.  We were challenged this week to use Wisteria Wonder, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Soft Suede, Crisp Cantaloupe and So Saffron.  Whew, that is a lot of colors, and I used them all.

Below is our inspiration piece from the Seeds blogsite, where we have been finding lots of color ideas.  I just love the soft colors of this piece, and especially the soft purples and the cantaloupe.

Robbie, our color leader, once again coordinated our Stampin'Up! colors for us.

And her is my interpretation and use of the colors.  I used the Everything Eleanor stamp set.  It is one of my go to sets for the flourishes and small flowers.  The sentiment is from Bloom With Hope.  I've had the pack of large pearls for a long time, unused.  I thought it might be fun to use them here.  Not so sure.  I colored them with my Crisp Cantaloupe marker.  What do you think, should they stay or go?  

I am last on the hop, so you should go back to the beginning with Robbie's blogsite.  However, if you started here, then hop to Robbie and continue on around.  It is fun seeing how Robbie interprets things and what a great job she always does with not only the card, but the inside and the envelope.  So hop over there.

Have a happy day.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Coloring Down The Lines -- August 6, 2014

Happy Wednesday, and welcome back to our Coloring Down the Lines challenge.  You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite.  Such a pretty creation.

We were challenged to use Very Vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi and Pistachio Pudding.  I think I covered them all.  Here is our inspiration piece from the Seeds blogsite.  I really do not know my plant life, but they look like those little fall cabbages.  However, I bet they are some exotic flower and I should know better.  Anyway, they are pretty.

And here is the conversion to Stampin'Up! colors that Robbie prepared for us.  Thanks Robbie.  Those colors are really close.

So I decided I would use Crisp Cantaloupe for my base and then the black as a background mat.  Black always sets everything off.  The rest of the colors are in my flower arrangement.  I wanted to try out my new Flower Patch  Bundle.  There are so many things to choose from in that stamp set.  And the thinlits make it so easy to cut everything out.  I love that.

 I decided this time to show you the inside and the envelope.  Unfortunately I have 2 sympathy cards to do this week.  This one has already gone out and another will have to be sent in the next day or two.

Now you should hop back to the beginning to Robbie's blogsite.  Unless you started with me.  Then you can keep on going until you get back.

Happy Crafting.
Sandy

Color Blog Hop - July 30, 2014

Hi Crafters.  It's Blog Hop Wednesday.  We are back with another color challenge.  You should have arrived here by way of Joni's blogsite.  What a nice creation she has for us.

Below is the Seed blogsite inspiration piece and below that you will find the comparable Stampin'Up! colors we were to use in our own creations.  Those colors are Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Basic Black, Pacific Point and Tempting Turquoise.  I used all the colors on my card.

Here is the card I made for our challenge.  I used the soft suede and Crumb Cake cardstock for the base with Very Vanilla.  The squares are Pacific Point and Tempting Turquoise which I colored with markers starting with the darker color and getting light as I got higher on the square in an Ombre effect.  The banner is made using the 2 smallest banner thinlits, and the stamp set is Express Yourself.

I hope you like my card.  Now let's hop on to Liz's blogsite.  Liz has a special creation for you to look at.

Hope to see you again soon.

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy

Blog Hop Wednesday -- July 23, 2014

It's blog hop Wednesday.  Glad you are here.  We have most of our Convention goers back, but not all.  You should have arrived by way of Liz's blogsite.  I know she worked hard on her creation, she told me so.  I can't wait to see it.  She and I are going to get together later this week to see what kind of trouble we can get into, so perhaps I'll have a few more entries to post.

So this week we were challenged to work with the following inspiration piece:

And below are the Stampin'Up! comparable colors.

I must have started the card at least 5 times.  It was another week that what I had in my mind just would not go on paper.  This is nothing like what I envisioned when I started.  However, it uses most of the colors in the challenge and those hexagons even look a little like bubbles.

I made my own ribbon with white satin and printed "birthday" on it from my birthday wishes photopolymer set.  The longer this card sits the more the ink spreads.  I am going to take the ribbon off and try something else.  But for now, I hope you like my idea.

Now you should continue on to Robbie's blogsite, where the hop begins each week.  It will take you full circle, or you can continue till you get back where you started.  Robbie was at Convention last week, so I know she is tired, happy, and full of ideas.  Her blog is always a joy to follow, and I bet she has something nice for us today.  So let's go........

Happy Crafting,
Sandy

Wednesday Color Challenge -- Wisteria Wonder

Happy Wednesday, crafters.  There are a lot of gals at the Stampin'Up! Convention this week, so our blog hop number is smaller.  I went last year, but not this year.  I hope they have a grand time!

Our challenge this week has some pretty blues and purples.  Here is the inspiration piece.

Robbie did not give us a comparable chart with Stampin'Up! colors, and I am not sure how to set it up in My Digital Studio, but here are the colors:

Wisteria Wonder

Elegant Eggplant

GardenGreen

Wild Wasabi

Coastal Cabana

Pool Party

I believe I used all of the colors, and it looks like I have done flowers again.  I love Blendabilities and have been playing with them on my flower sets.  On this card I used both Blendabilities and Markers.  I am happy with how rich the blue flowers look, but even the green leaves, done with markers, are pretty too.  Here is my card:

I started by using the Hexagon Hive Thinlet as a stencil.  However, by the time I added the flowers and the sentiment, it is hard to see anything more than a couple sponge blobs.  I like using that thinlet as a stencil and will probably do it again.  The flower arrangement is Sweetbriar Rose, which I really love.  I fussy cut it and popped it on Dimensionals so there would be some depth.  However, you can shadow around the image and get it to look 3-D too.

You should have arrived from Liz's blogsite, where you always find something really  nice.  Liz is a fantastic crafter.  Next you may continue back to the beginning with Robbie's blogsite.  Robbie comes up with some really super creations.  She is at Convention right now.  I am jealous, as I would love to be there too.  I hope she has a fun time and comes back with tons of ideas and a bunch of new stamps and product.

Until next time.............

Crafty Hugs,
Sandy