Water Cooler Wednesday - #106 Heidi's Clean & Simple Challenge

 
 It's time for this week's Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #106, hosted by the incredibly talented Heidi Weaver.  Heidi is challenging us to make a Clean and Simple Card with Sparkle.

The rules are simple for our Clean And Simple challenge.  Show lots of open space, use minimal layers and use minimal embellishments.  The Watercooler Artists have given you many great examples of what our Clean And Simple challenge looks like.

Here's My Card: 
You'll see by my use of the word "Sparkle" that I chose to interpret this challenge quite literally.  I simply couldn't resist since we have a fun new Stampin' Up! stamp set called "Love Sparkles" in the new Occasions Catalogue.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Love Sparkles #143183 and Balloon Adventures #142823
Card Stock:  Whisper White and Basic Black
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Trimmer, Stamp-a-ma-jig,Tom Bow Glue, Basic Rhinestones, Wink of Stella.
 

Love Sparkles #143183  There are 13 rubber stamps in this set that are sure to help you get your glam on!  I used the little spray of stars and the word sparkle to enhance this card and loved the results.

Balloon Adventures #142823  Such a fun stamp set! I love all the sentiments and there are so many ways to use this 17 piece Photopolymer two-step stamp set that co-ordinates with the Balloon Thinlet Pop-up Dies.  Bundle and save 15%.

Assembly:

1.  Cut an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" base from Whisper White card stock
2.  Cut a 51/4" x 4" Basic Black mat for the first layer.  Adhere to base.
3.  Cut a 5 1/8" x 3 7/8" Whisper White piece for the top mat.
4.  Starting at left edge of top mat randomly stamp a series of stars from top to bottom in Momento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Note by positioning in a different direction as you stamp each image, it will create a ribbon like effect. Colour these stars with Clear Wink of Stella.

Link stamped image as you move along the length of paper so the design flows.

5.  Cut a 1/4" x 5 1/8" strip of Basic Black  and adhere to top mat 1 1/2" from left edge.  Evenly space Basic Rhinestones down this strip.
6.  Using a Stamp-ma-jig for perfect placement stamp "Sparkle" four times.  Use the Clear Wink of Stella brush to add tiny sparkling details on each of the  letters.  Adhere this mat to the Basic Black one.  
7.  Cut a 51/4 x 4" Basic Black mat for the inside of the card and adhere with Tom Bow glue.
8. Cut a 5 1/8" x  3 7/8" Whisper White layer.  
9.  Stamp the sentiment "No One Deserves a Happier Birthday Than You" from the Balloon Adventure stamp set in Tuxedo Black Ink in the center.  
Voila this card is finished!   

Well that's it for me this week.  If you haven't had a chance to check out the other Watercooler Wednesday Design Team Artist's creations, just click on the link to return to the home page.  

And, how about playing along? If you liked this challenge give me some feedback and I hope you'll add your own "Sparkle" Clean and Simple card to our linky. This challenge is open until 5pmMT Monday February 20th.  We'd love to see your creativity and what you can do with our theme!

Happy Stamping!
Penny Token's Stampin' Spot

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge - WWC104 Kath's Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone!  It's time for this month's Watercooler Wednesday Sketch Challenge WWC104 which is being hosted by Kath.   This is such a great sketch.  It's versatile, quick to assemble and could be used for absolutely any occasion.

Here's My Card:

Today I'm featuring a stamp set I've recently acquired and fallen head over heels in love with.  It's called Bella and Friends.

Oh my, the eleven rubber images and sentiments in this set are so much fun and simply bring a smile to your face.  Having several friends with small dogs that resemble Bella, I know these stamps will be seeing lots of ink in future.  

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Bella and Friends and Balloon Adventures
Card Stock:  Whisper White, Calypso Coral and Pool Party
DSP:  A Little Foxy DSP Stack 
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, Calypso Coral and Pool Party Markers, Watermelon Wonder, Smokey Slate
Accessories:  Big Shot, Trimmer, Festive Embossing Folder, Bunch of Banners and Oval Thinlets, Wink of Stella, Aqua Painter, Basic Pearls, Tom Bow Glue, Dimensionals. 
Assembly:

1. Cut Whisper White card stock to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and score at 4 1/4".  Cut a 4' x 5 1/4" piece for the inside of the card.
2. Cut a piece of Calypso Coral to measure 4" x 5 1/4" and adhere to the card base.
3. Cut a piece of Pool Party to measure 3 3/4" x 5" and dry emboss with  the Fiesta Embossing Folder, having the design run vertically.
4. For the band, which I chose to place a little higher on the card than the sketch I cut a piece of Calypso Coral 1" x 3 3/4", a piece of A Little Foxy DSP Stack measuring 3/4" x 3 3/4".  I also added a 1/4" x 3 3/4" strip of Pool Party that was embossed.  
5. Sadly I don't own the Stitched Shapes Thinlet Dies that have just come back on the market, or I would have used the beautiful stitched ovals to cut out the Calypso Coral and Whisper White Ovals.  I had to settle for my old Oval Thinlets which are now retired.  I stamped the Bella image and the cupcake in Momento Tuxedo Black ink. I did not colour the images when I assembled the card because I wanted to show how these great line images stand alone on their own.  
6. For the banner I cut two Calypso Coral banners and one Whisper White banner using the Bunch of Banners Thinlet set.  I layered these together starting with the two Calypso Coral pieces and then adhering the Whisper White banner to the top.  I stamped the "Just For You" sentiment from the Bella and Friends set on my card stock before cutting it out.  The label was mounted with Dimensionals. 
7. For the inside of the card I stamped the image "No One Deserves a Happier Birthday Than You" which Calypso Coral and Pool Party Markers. I added a 1/2" x 5 1/4' strip of the DSP to finish it off.
   

So now that you've seen this card with a plain stamped Bella, I'm going to share a stepped up version featuring some watercolouring and Wink of Stella

What a difference a little colour makes. I applied some brush strokes of Smokey Slate and Watermelon Wonder with an aqua painter. Some sparkle was added to the little red heart and the cupcake icing with A Wink of Stella. Voila, a wonderful little card!
I hope you enjoyed this post and this fun card. I'd love to have you comments. For all the challenge details and to share your project, visit Watercooler Wednesday challenge site by clicking this highlighted link. We'd love to have you join us. You have until Monday, February 6th at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to link your project. too.
Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

WWC81- Gail's Colour Challenge

We're mid-way through August and in BC we're finally getting some weather that speaks of Summer.  It's been hot and sizzling all week with temperatures ranging in the high 30's (C) but no one's complaining, at least not yet!

I always think of Summer as the season of heat and vibrant colours and this week at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge, our talented Gail Allen is bringing you just that.  She's pulled together some pretty exciting summer colours to challenge our imaginations. 

Here's My Card:

Since August is also a hot birthday month I thought I'd respond to this challenge with a gender neutral birthday card that's a fiesta of colour and images.   We've got balloons, splotches and sparklers and it all says fun!  

Supplies:  

Stamp Sets:  Balloon Celebrations, Stylized Birthday and Gorgeous Grunge
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Watermelon Wonder, Peek A Boo Peach, Daffodil Delight and Momento Tuxedo Black
Card Stock:  Pear Pizzazz, Watermelon Wonder, Peek A Boo Peach, Daffodil Delight and Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones, Balloon Bouquet Punch, Wink of Stella, Paper Trimmer, Sponge Daubers, Tom Bow Adhesive, Scissors

Assembly:
This is a pretty easy card to assemble - only ten steps required and it comes together really fast.

 1.  Cut the card base from Pear Pizzazz.  It measures 4 1/4" x 11" and is scored at 5 1/2 for a top folding card.

2.  Cut two pieces of Very Vanilla card stock measuring 4" x 5 1/4" - one is for the face of the card and the other is the inside panel.

3.  Cut a strip of Watermelon Wonder card stock 1/2" x 5 1/4" and a strip of of Peek A Boo Peach 1/4" x 5 1/4".

4.  Before assembling the front do the stamping on the Very Vanilla piece:  Stamp the sentiment "Happy Birthday" from the Stylized Birthday in Pear Pizzazz towards the top center of this card stock.  Make sure your ink pad is nice and juicy so you get a good impression.

The Stylized Birthday is a one stamp wood mount image Order #141828.  The image measures 2 1/4" x 1 3/4".

Randomly Stamp splotches from Gorgeous Grunge in the challenge colours over the remaining Very Vanilla piece.  

Gorgeous Grunge - 5 piece stamp set comes in Wood(130514)and Clear Mount (130517).  The stylized textured images really help create awesome images!

Stamp the small dandelion from the Balloon Celebrations stamp set randomly between splotches.  The overall effect you're trying to achieve is "fiesta" "confetti", "fireworks"...... in other words FUN!
 

Balloon Celebration - 35 piece Photopolymer Stamp Set #140675

 5. Cut two 1/4" x 5 1/4" strips from the Very Vanilla piece.  It should now measure 3 1/2 x 5 1/4.  Glue this to the card base lining up on the right hand side.

6.  Adhere the Watermelon Wonder strip on the left side butting it against the Very Vanilla strip.  Center the 1/4" x 5 1/4" piece of Peek A Boo Peach down the center of the Watermelon Wonder strip.
   
7.  Punch out balloons from scraps of Pear Pizzazz, Watermelon Wonder, Peek A Boo Peach and Daffodil Delight card stock.  Stamp the balloons with the dotted balloon image.  Position and stamp the balloon strings on the Very Vanilla card layer on the left side of the sentiment.  Adhere the balloons with Tom Bow adhesive.  The last balloon is mounted with dimensionals.  

For some extra detail I ran the Clear Wink of Stella Glimmer Brush around the edges of the balloons and on the dandelions in the background panel.  Love this stuff - it's subtle but picks up the light for some extra sparkle.

8.  Adhere strips of Basic Rhinestones down the center of the Peek A Boo Peach strip to the top of the first balloon and from the last balloon to the bottom of the strip.
  
9.  Finish the inside of the card with a 5 1/4 x 4" Very Vanilla card panel.  Attach the two 1/4" x 5 1/4" stamped strips to either side of this panel.  Stamp the sentiment "Let Us Celebrate" in Pear Pizzazz ink along the top left side of the strip, and add a couple of Gorgeous Grunge Splatters.

10.  Stamp the top half of the balloon strings from the left hand bottom corner of the panel towards the center.  Adhere one of each coloured balloon so they look like they are rising from the bottom of the card.  I offset the orange balloon so it actually overlapped the edge, and then I cut off the excess balloon.   

Okay now that was easy wasn't it?  Did you like this colour combo?  I hope you'll play along this week and link up your creation with our linky tool.  It's easy and our team of design artists would love to see how you've used this colour challenge.  If you're unsure go back and check out their cards - they're awesome!  Oh and while you're at it leave us some comments because we like feedback too.  

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stamping Spot

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Watercooler Wednesday - WWC80 Heidi's CAS Challenge

Our bathroom renovation started last week and we've been up to our eyeballs in water related issues, so it was kind of ironic that Heidi's theme for her Watercooler Wednesday Clean and Simple Challenge this week is "Water".  

Since Clean and Simple (CAS) cards always seem to be a challenge for me and because I don't have a lot of water themed stamp sets, I had to really put on my thinking cap to come up with an original and fresh card design.  I hope you like it as much as I do. So with an idea about a school of fish in mind, this is how I started out and then my card designed morphed into the one below:  

Here are my working "drafts" of my card.  I like the final version which is below.

Here's My Card: 

 

Nothing like a school of fish swimming by to make you think of water.  My card base is an 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 piece of Island Indigo card stock scored at 4 1/4".  I used a single layer of Whisper White card stock for my stamping layer and it measured 4 1/8 x 5 1/4".  Note:  This layer should have measured 4 x 5 1/4". but I was out by an 1/8th of an inch, my layer doesn't fit evenly on the card front. I couldn't do anything about the wrong measurement because I'd already applied my glue before I discovered this.  Oh well "go with the flow", if you get my "drift"! 
 
Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Seaside Shore #141625, Stylized Birthday #141828
Ink:  Island Indigo
Card Stock:  Island Indigo and Whisper White 
Accessories:  Tom Bow Glue, Wink of Stella.

I kept the inside of this card pretty plain by just stamping "Happy Birthday" from the Stylized Birthday stamp in Island Indigo ink on a piece of Whisper White card stock that measured 4 x 5 1/4" (got it right that time).

 
I really like the size and timeless classic script featured on this single wooden stamp, and I'm glad I've added it to my collection. It really produces a good solid image, which is so important. 

I wanted the images from the Seaside Shore stamp set to look like a school of fish swimming by and I think I accomplished this.    Before starting on the school of fish I stamped the sentiment "Hoping Your Day Goes Swimmingly" and then masked off both corners of the card so I had clear lines to stamp the design along.

Seaside Shore a 15 piece clear mount rubber stamp set

Now It's Time For You: 
Well what do you think?  Did you like this challenge?  Are you ready to Rock the Watercooler this week and link up your card?  I sure hope so! I also hope after looking at the other Watercooler Wednesday design team artist's cards that you've been doubly inspired and will consider playing along with us.   

Entering challenges is such an awesome way to enhance your card making talents and get great feedback on your creations. After all, it's all about sharing and it's fun and easy.  So what are you waiting for? 

To help you out here are some guidelines you need to follow to be eligible for this week's challenge:

• For the CLEAN AND SIMPLE (CAS) challenge the card must feature either a single layer upon which you stamp or a base with one single layer that you've stamped on (card stock only no dsp).
• Because it's a CAS challenge, no embellishments or die-cuts or anything except the simplicity of stamping for the "clean & simple" is allowed. 
• No embossing folders allowed.
• Heat embossing is allowed since heat embossing does show up better than simple stamping. (Yeah!)
• Your card or project, and this is really important, may not be entered in more than four challenges including the Watercooler Wednesday challenge.
• Keep it clean and simple!  And have fun! 

I'm also adding my "Water" themed challenge card to the "Just Us Girls" Challenge Blog as their theme this week is the word "Water".  Hope appropriate and coincidental is that?  Make sure you check out their challenge site too.  

Check out this challenge site too!

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot
August Hostess Code:  EZGKEM73

WWC72 Jean's Colour Challenge

Have you been waiting for this week's Watercooler Wednesday challenge?  If so, I know you're not going to be disappointed.  This week's challenge is brought to you by the fabulous Jean Fitch and she's chosen to use the new amazing 2016-2017 Incolours for her theme.  

Click here to go to the Challenge

Here's My Card:

The challenge says you can use 3, 4 or all 5 of the colours in your project and there was no specific theme, so it was a really open field to begin with.  Believe me I stared at those colours and played with them for a while before I decided to make a birthday card and showcase the colours in the balloons.  I think this was a good choice.

Supplies: 
Stamp Sets:  Gorgeous Grunge, Balloon Celebration and Birthday Blooms
Ink:  Dapper Denim, Emerald Envy, Flirty Flamingo, Peek-a-Boo Peach and Sweet Sugarplum and Momento Tuxedo Black
Card stock:  Dapper Denim, Emerald Envy, Flirty Flamingo, Peek-a-Boo Peach and Sweet Sugarplum and Whisper White
Accessories:  Balloon Bouquet Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals, Tom Bow Glue.

 
The card base is an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of Flirty Flamingo scored at 4 1/4".  This is followed by a 5 1/4 x 4" layer of Emerald Envy and a 5 1/8" x 3 7/8" layer of Dapper Denim.  

I don't know about you, but I love those fat little "splats" or blotches in the Gorgeous Grunge set and the lines so I used both of these to create a background for the balloons.  

I began by stamping the lines vertically in Dapper Denim on a 5 1/8" x 3 6/8" piece of Whisper White card stock.  I then stamped a "splat" in each of the Incolours in an arch across the Whisper White card stock.   Originally I had planned on just stamping the balloons on the Whisper White panel, but I decided to punch balloons from the Incolour card stock and then layer them across the splats.  I was happy I did this because it really worked.  It was so easy punching out the balloon shapes with the Balloon Bouquet punch. 

To make the balloons look like they really were in flight I tried out a technique I've seen recently that plumps the balloon up and adds dimension to it.  This is easily achieved by running the fattest ball on your stylus around the edge of each balloon until the edges began to raise and take shape. 

I sponged around the edge of each balloon with the corresponding ink

I added a little crescent on the left hand side of each balloon with a white gel pen.

With the balloon face down on the sponge piercing mat I ran the stylus around the outer edge of each balloon until the edges started to curl up. 

Once I had the shape molded around the balloon I mounted the balloons  over their corresponding colour splat using dimensionals. I drew the balloon strings free hand with a neutrals black marker and I stamped the sentiment "Happiest of Birthdays to You" from the Birthday Blooms stamp set in black ink at the base of the card.

When I was finished I felt the balloons needed just a bit more "something" so I stamped some star clusters from the Balloon Celebration stamp set on the face of the balloons and added a Basic Rhinestone at the base of each balloon.  Perfect!

Well I guess that's it from me for today's challenge.  I hope you enjoyed it and will try this technique. I'd love to hear how yours turned out.

Oh and while you're at it, grab your ink and card stock and make a card of your own to enter into the challenge, we'd love to see what you come up with. You can go back and check out the other designers at this link.

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

JUNE'S HOSTESS CODE IS:   XUB7WFD2

WWC70 Marsha's Sketch Challenge

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  I'm super stoked to participate today and to let you in on some great news.  Drum roll please............  

Today, I'm participating for the first time as a Temporary Team Artist for the Watercooler Wednesday Design Team.  How awesome is that?  In terms of "awesomeness" for me, it's a really big honour to have been given this opportunity.  It means I'll be contributing on a regular basis over the next three months with this group of very talented ladies whose creativity and friendship have inspired me so much over the past few years. You just can't wipe the smile off my face! 

Okay, let's get down to business.  Today's challenge #WWC70 is a sketch challenge chosen by Marsha J. Reed. Here is her wonderful sketch:

My Card: 
When I saw this sketch, I was a little undecided about what to create.  I started out making a graduation card but then the more I played with the sketch it morphed into a Masculine Birthday card and I'm very pleased with how it turned out.  This card features some recently retired Stampin' Up! products as well as the brand new Layered Squares framelit dies, which I'm excited to share with you.

 

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Oh My Goodies, Party Pants, Starburst Sayings, Happy Birthday Everyone
Card Stock:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Tip Top Taupe
DSP:  Go Wild Designer Series Paper Pack 
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black Ink
Accessories:  Chevron Embossing Folder, Layering Squares Framelits - Dimensionals, Big Shot, Trimmer, Tom Bow Glue, Scissors 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Starburst Framelit dies (smallest one)

Details:
1.  The card base is a piece of 5 x 10" Tip Top Taupe card stock scored at 5".
2.  The first layer is a piece of 4 3/4 x 4 3/4" Basic Black card stock.
3.  The second layer is a 4 5/8 x 4 5/8" piece of "Go Wild" DSP.
4.  The banner layer is a 2 x 5" piece of Tip Top Taupe card stock that was embossed with the Chevron Embossing folder and adhered 1/2" from the left hand side of the card base  and from the top edge to the bottom, overlapping the first and second layers.

5.  The square layers started with a 3 x 3" piece of Basic Black card stock that was cut out with the 2 3/8" scalloped square die from the new Layering Squares Framelit set.  The Whisper White layer began with a 2 1/2 x 2 1/2" piece of card stock that was trimmed down with the 2 1/8" straight square die cut.  This piece was stamped in Tuxedo Black ink with the "Live Well....." image from Oh My Goodies stamp set, and adhered with Tom Bow Glue to the black square.  The image was stamped again in Tuxedo Black ink on a scrap of Whisper White and again on a scrap of Tip Top Taupe.  The Whisper White image was completely cut out using scissors and only the lines and words "laugh hard" were again fussy cut from the Tip Top Taupe piece.  Both of these images were adhered with dimensionals to the anchor image. 

6.  The "Woo Hoo" image  from  the Party Pants stamp set was stamped in Tuxedo Black ink on a scrap of Tip Top Taupe card stock and cut out with the 6/8"scalloped square Layering Squares die cut and then mounted on a square of Basic Black card stock that was cut out with the 7/8" straight edge Layering Squares die cut.

7.  The "Celebrate" image is from a retired stamp set called Starburst Sayings that was stamped on a scrap of Whisper White card stock and then cut out using the retired Starburst Framelit die.  I stamped this image twice and the second image was fussy cut and then mounted in the center of the image with a dimensional.  To make it pop out I cut a piece of Basic Black card stock with the 1 1/4" circle punch and adhered the image so that it was centered on the circle.   

8.  Whenever I make a square card I also like to make the envelope using Stampin' Up!s Envelope Punch Board.  I lined the envelope with the same DSP as on the card and on the envelope front stamped the "celebrate" starburst in the bottom left hand corner.  

Well that's it for today.  I hope you'll take the time to leave me a comment on this card.   How do you like square cards?  Do you make them and if so do you make your own envelopes and line them?  

Happy Stamping Until Next Time!
Penny Tokens Stampin Spot