Color me Dare #190 Meets Happy Times Stamp Set

Double bonus post today!  I'll get the timing down someday.  : )

I want to share my Color Dare from this week.

The month of May is National Scrapbooking Month!  At Close to my Heart, we have a special paper packet and stamp set to celebrate.  My color dare capitalizes on the stamp set.  : )

I'm not going to lie, I struggled with this color combination.  Having to use all and only was the tough part for me.  The Ruby and Colonial White threw me off...

This card is a modified Three is the Charm from Originals how-to program.  In Originals, the card measures 7" x 5".  I shrunk the measurements for this 5.5" x 4.25" card.  : )

Adventure Fundamentals paper ((Z3125 - Gypsy) and Penelope Paper packet (X7207B - available until April 30th!) frame the three focal flowers.  Pear unifies the three colored flowers.  And the saying, stamped in Ruby, brings a little more balance for that color.  "just because" (from the hostess reward stamp set Say it All) is flanked by the Red Enamel Gems (Z3090).  The picture doesn't show it well, but the white is actually colonial white!

Zoe Artiste Birthday Card

Playing around with Cricut Balloons from the Artiste Collection, I put together this card in about 10 minutes.  Seriously, ten minutes. Okay, I guess that time doesn't include the cutting time.  It came pretty close to ten minutes, even with the cutting.

I had wanted to use the balloons on a card.  The colors of the balloons are Canary, Sweet Leaf, and Glacier -- all Zoe colors.  Originally I wasn't sure what I else I was going to add.  Then I looked at the stamp sets that come with the Artiste Collection.  Bam!  This banner was the solution!!  Cut with Cricut, stamped in black ink, and mounted with 3D foam.

A fun a quick card! : )

April 2016 Stamp of the Month Sample

Before the end of the month happens, let me share my Stamp of the Month card.  I made this card when I was working on the Color Dare #187 (greens and white).

This stamp is another good one to have.  As you can see, it's got lots of different types of cameras.  Buying this stamp set now is a good thing.  A purchase like this one reminds me of Costco.  You have to buy the item while you are there because it probably won't be there the next time you go.

This stamp set will only be available until the end of April (as will all stamp sets in the Seasonal Expressions 1 booklet), so don't wait too long to shop!

And now for the card...

I made this card when I was working with the greens for a Color Dare challenge.  The card base is Topiary cardstock.  The background swirls are from Love Life (D1482 - available through July 31) stamped in Sweet Leaf ink (Z2153).

The frame for "Smile!" is from the set Crafted with Love (B1399 - available through July 31) in Topiary ink (Z2155), while the word is stamped in Black ink.

The black glitter underneath is Black Shimmer Trim (Z1809).  I took my Scallop Punch (Z1851) to the trim (that's because I didn't have Glitter Paper when I made this).

The other neat thing about this card are the sequins.  I took our Black ShinHam Marker (Z2446) to the Silver Sequin Assortment (Z2013) and colored the sequins!  Don't be afraid to try that.  : )

Thoughtful Thursday April 21, 2016

I was in a mischievous mood for this quote...

Is there anything else to say than this?!  Everyone has had a moment in the past... now you have an excuse.  : )

Studio J Year in Review Layout

Even though Studio J is retiring at the end of the month, I plan on continuing making a year in review layout.  As an example of last year, this layout highlights what happened.

It's probably hard to read, but I highlighted the activities in the journaling on the far right.  Simple, and yet it will be nice to go back and look at the 2015 a few years from now.

And that's how simple your scrapbooking can be.  This is a snapshot of a year in the life of the Simone Kurtz household - and doesn't include EVERYTHING.  And that's okay!  It doesn't have to be everyday.

Regatta Father's Day Card

While I was playing with my hexagons the other day, I thought of another way to highlight the Regatta paper, rather than just the colors of it.

Using Cricut Artbooking Collection, I cut out the hexagon layer.  I then cut pieces of Regatta to go behind some of the hexagons.  I didn't include the sale boats or anchors from the paper packet because my dad isn't into the nautical scene that much. The hexagon layer was wider and taller than the card.  I trimmed it after the rest was adhered to the card.

The large hexagons are from Hexagonal Patterns (C1626).  Looking at the picture now, the Glacier and Pomegranate hexagons weren't supposed to be orientated the same (darn it!).  And if I were to do this card again, I think I'd raise the large hexagons with 3D Foam tape.

Happy Father's Day has been heat embossed with White Embossing Powder.  The saying is from Say it All (Hostess Rewards set C1632).

The Flaxen cardstock has been direct to paper rubbed with Flaxen ink to give it the mottled look.

My husband liked this card.  : )

So I guess I played along twice with Color my Heart Color Dare this week again, and participated in the Between the Folds (BFT) challenge!
                                                                                 

Oops! Thoughtful Thursday 4/14/2016 on 4/15/2016

I don't know why I was thinking Thursday was Wednesday, and that I had "today" to put my thoughtful Thursday up.  Well, it's probably because my girls have been with my parents since Monday (we're out this week for Spring break).  That coupled with the fact that I think Lucy and Tigger have been missing them and driving me crazy, needing attention every few hours.  I mean, come on!  That's why we got two dogs so they would keep each other entertained!  Lucy especially has been naughty... stealing pillows, shoes, socks, plastic Barbie pieces... anything to distract me and my "work".

And since I posted my Color my Heart Color Dare card so late in the day yesterday, I decided I'd wait until today to post my thought.  Fact is, I had made a second Color Dare card that I was going to post today (again thinking today was Wednesday) for the "competition".  You'll get to see it this weekend though!

Onward!

Since I'm all messed up, this is a good one to share.  A friend sent this to me in an email probably 8 years ago.  It's been in my inbox since then.

I love the woman's expression.  She looks quite sarcastic and one who hides the fact that she swears.  I bet she swears like a sailor!!

What are you proficient in?!

The girls will be back at school next week, so I should be sane again by then.  Have a good one in the meantime!