Instead of Raking Leaves...

Stamps by SmARTworks. Cardstock: Cool Caribbean, Kiwi Kiss, Papertrey white, My Mind's Eye 'Bloom and Grow' DP. Ink: Chocolate Chip, Copics. Accessories: Martha Stewart scallop border, Nestabilities Rectangles, sparkly brads.

...I'd rather be stamping!

Inspiration for this card was Card Positioning System's sketch #137 and SmARTworks' October challenge to create a Fall card. As much as I love Fall themes, this fun and retro stamp set was calling my name. So, I ended up pairing it with a retro DP and relying on the colors to create my autumn theme. That's what Fall is all about: the gorgeous oranges and reds, elegant browns, and clear blue skies.

OK, at least for today -- tomorrow it's back to rain. More time for stamping instead of raking, right??

Saturday Spotlight: Make Yourself Scene!

Digital images: Squigglefly (Hummingbird), Fred She Said (Freebie Flowerpot). Stamps: DRS Designs 'Butterfly Four Corner Background', smARTworks' sentiment, Rubber Stampede 'Ladybug'. Cardstock: GP110 white, Real Red, Gingham from unknown source. Ink: Copics. Accessories: Offray dotted grosgrain.

Today's Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential challenge is to make a scene. Not that kind, but this kind as described by Vicki: you will need to combine any images you wish to create a fun scenery. You can make a city scene, country scene, Fall scene...just get out your stamps and play!

Our sponsor this week is Squigglefly known for 'The Largest Selection of Digital Stamps for Cards, Scrapbooking & Fun ', so I thought it would be appropriate to try a scene with digital images. Talk about a steep learning curve! But in the end I managed to combine the flower pot with the hummingbird image (free on the Squigglefly site) in an almost seamless look. Then I added a stamped ladybug and butterfly for a few more creatures enjoying the bouquet.

The butterfly has glitter pen accents and is popped up for some extra dimension:

Check out the other Spotlight Diva's scenes on the 'Make a Scene' challenge post and be prepared to be impressed with the amazing views! Then play along for your chance to win 2 free Squigglefly images of your choice!!

Clean and Simple

Oh, if only this were the case for my house!

Clean and Simple (CAS) is the name of a newer challenge over on the SplitCoast Stampers site, dedicated to enticing stampers to create beautiful cards with less fuss. Sounds 'simple', right? It was definitely more of a challenge than I expected to give up my layers! Still, once I was in the CAS mode, it was loads of fun and productive, too.

Being a big fan (definitely verging on 'fanatic) of sketches, the first challenge I tried was CAS3:

Stamps: SmARTworks (Live with Purpose). Ink: versafine onyx black. Cardstock: textured white, Creative Memories yellow, black. Accessories: Offray black gingham ribbon, long rectangle Nestabilities.

This card's yellow image background was inspired by smARTwork's Tea Party #15: Yellow Burst which I discovered on Donelda (Wiggy's World)'s inspirational blog.

A simple sketch was also perfect for this card's solemn occasion:

Stamps: DRS Designs (Pet Sympathy H074, Dog Paw Print A1003). Ink: versafine onyx black. Cardstock: Texture white, Bashful Blue, black. Accessories: Long rectangle Nestabilities, black gingham ribbon.

CAS10 was a challenge to create a monochromatic card. My first thought -- a baby card, especially a baby boy card because I have an abundance of blues!

Stamps by DRS Designs: Brush Baby Buggy G341, Diaper pin A354, Warm and snug sentiment H131, Lots O' Lines H366, Giga Heart Circle L273. Ink: Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Copics. Cardstock: GP110 white, Bashful Blue, Pacific Point.

Last, but certainly not least, was another great sketch (CAS13):

Stamps: Hero Arts Happiness Messages. Ink: Chocolate Chip. Cardstock: Textured white, Basic Grey 'Bittersweet'. Accessories: circle punch, Felt Fusion flower, Bittersweet brad, clear button, chocolate organdy ribbon, adhesive pearl.

For more details on this card, check out the post on today's KL Stampin' N Scrappin' blog!

That's a lot of white, isn't it? I didn't realize how much textured white cardstock I used until all the cards were together in this post. White must be my subconcious definition of 'clean and simple'!

I'm on such a roll that maybe it IS time to try the Clean and Simple approach with my house. We have a community garage sale coming up the end of the month, so it's time for me to start going through the cabinets and basement to clear out all the clutter. It's not nearly as much fun as stamping, though, so wish me luck!

Ladybug Wishes

Stamps: Tilda with Ladybug, smARTworks sentiment and ladybug trail. Cardstock: Real Red, Imaginisce 'Twitterpated Ladybug Ball', Prints Pack Pretty in Pink, Garden Green, PTI white. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red, Copics. Accessories: Crystal Effects, Bazzill red gingham ribbon, Favorite Findings 'Ladybugs', Nestabilities Squares.

This card was created using supplies from a card kit made for Lena (tackertwosome)'s Magnolia Card Kit Swap over on SCS and using Magnolia-licious April Sketch Challenge. Card kit swaps are my new favorite swap -- it's so exciting to see what the other stampers include with their kits! Minimum swap requirements are 2 uncolored images, 2 6"x6" DPs, 12" fiber, and embellishments, but so many swappers go way above and beyond the basics. Check out this thread to join the fun!

A few important and potentially rewarding reminders:

**KLSNS is now not only taking pre-orders for the Magnolia 'Butterfly Collection' which includes the Ladybug Tilda featured above, but will also be ordering for the first time Sarah Kay, Lilo Designs and Rachel Ann Miller stamps!! Be sure to check out the selection here.

**KLSNS has a Cuttlebug challenge running over on PaperCraft Planet and there's still time to enter your card for a chance at great prize. The only requirement is to use a Cuttlebug panel (or portion) somwhere on your card -- how easy and fun is that??

**DRS Designs is also still running their Color Combination Challenge through May 3rd with fun blog candy incentive, too! Just check out the cards featuring Summer Sun, Pink Passion, and Chocolate Chip on the blog and then link your own creation for a chance to win.