Creation Therapy

This last week has not been a very creative one, so I made time today to sit down and create a few cards for some challenges.  And like good therapy, I think I really needed it. 

My strategy for challenges is to look only at the challenge and to surprise myself with the design team samples after my card is made.  I always love to see what mark I've hit; whether I'm totally out of the box, or if my creation was similar to someone else. 

For all of my cards, I dug out a Simon Says Stamp Card Kit that I ordered back in January but is from a year earlier and had not sold out.  I used supplies from that kit for all three of my cards. 

First up is a card for CASology.  The Cue Card was "Java." 

The pattern paper and the ticket came from my Simon Says kit.  I used a stamps set from Reverse Confetti for my cards, and I colored my cup with a few shades of Copic markers. 

One of the CASology design team members used the same stamp set as me, and great minds think alike, as we both colored our stripe on our mug with red.  I was surprised by how many other creations had the cup on the lower right of the card.  Beautiful creations by the group!

For my second card today, I created a little something for Muse.  Here is the Muse challenge photo this week . . .

My card kit paper had chevrons in a few different colors, so I decided to stripe them out.  I stamped my sentiment from the kit onto vellum, and embossed with detail white embossing powder. 

I used a die to create a window and there is an smaller inlaid piece under the vellum to provide some color behind the sentiment.  I matched my sequins to the color. 

After my card was created, I went back and looked at some of the challenge submissions.  Some were challenged by the colors, some by chevrons, some by butterflies.  Beautiful creations!

My final challenge today was Freshly Made Sketches.  I ended up using more layers than I originally intended.  Here is the sketch . . .

Here is my creation.  I used the hexagon paper for that bottom strip, with intentions to have the brown chevron paper above it.  The chevrons and hexagons were not playing well together, so the ribbon had to be brought in to break up the fight.  

 I used another one of those tickets on this card, and my sentiment carries from from the ticket to a hexagon.  The flamingo is a newer stamp/die set from Reverse Confetti.  Loving all that brown! 

 The design team samples from Freshly Made Sketches were so different and so fun.  I can safely say that there wasn't anything remotely close to my creation (no flamingos!), but there were several who layered similar to me. 

Always fun to create first and compare notes after.  And always fun to create!

Supplies Used - Thanks a Latte

Cardstock:  Neenah

Pattern Paper:  Simon Says Stamp Card Kit (Jan. 2013)

Stamps:  Reverse Confetti Be A Barista

Ink:  Versamark, Ranger Black Embossing Powder, Copic Markers, Close To My Heart

Ribbon:  Twine from Pretty Pink Posh

Other:  Ticket from SSS Card Kit (Jan. 2013) and Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh

Supplies Used - Special

Cardstock:  Neenah and Bazzill Vellum

Pattern Paper:  Simon Says Stamp Card Kit (Jan. 2013)

Stamps:  Very Special from Simon Says Stamp

Dies:  Sizzix Fancy Labels

Ink:  Versamark and Ranger Detail White Embossing Powder, Ranger Archival Black

Other: Pretty Pink Posh Sequins

Supplies Used - Happy Bird-day

Cardstock:  Neenah

Pattern Paper:  Simon Says Stamp Card Kit (Jan. 2013)

Stamps and Dies: Reverse Confetti Fabulous Flamingo

Ink:  Ranger Archival Black, Close To My Heart

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Bo Bunny Doily, Ticket from SSS Card Kit (Jan. 2013), Stampin' Up Hexagon Punch