Diva Weekly Inspiration Challenge #6

Hello Bloggers,

Well my post for this week's Utah Diva's Inspiration Challenge is pretty late. I apologize, life has been pretty crazy around my house the last two days. I am getting ready for a trip and I had unexpected guests from out of town. I know you can understand the craziness going on with that. So without further adieu.... Here is my take on this week's Inspiration Challenge. I want to compliment Maria for providing us with some really challenging photos to design from. She babysits me to make sure I stay on track the best she can. I can be difficult at times. This week's inspiration picture did not disappoint. I really struggled with this one because it only used two colors. I really had to reach to come up with something for this one.

So what do you think? I used the faux wood grain technique to create this week's card. I first embossed the flowers from Heartfelt Thanks; then, with an old toothbrush (yes I cleaned it first) I brushed Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa ink across the page and then wiped the embossed flowers off. I then layered this piece onto Close to Cocoa and then on to White. Cardstock. I stamped the Thanks in White Craft ink on Close to Cocoa and the roughed up the edges to give it a little dimension. I like how this card finally turned out.

Next week I'll be away but I hope to have internet access to post my interpretation of next week's challenge image.

Diva Weekly Inspiration Challenge #5

Good Morning Bloggers!

Well I've made it to week number 5 of the Utah Diva International's Weekly Inspiration Challenges. I have to say I like this week's challenge the best. I absolutely love the One of a Kind stamp set. It just screams the rock-n-roll technique every time I use it. For the flower in the center I punched a Night of Navy scallop circle for the base then I stamped the flower two times; first in Night of Navy, then in Ballet Blue. I cut the outer edged Navy one out first, then I cut the center flower out in Ballet Blue and attached them with dimensionals. I added the center flower with another dimensional to really give the flower some pop. I know you can't really see the definition of the flower, but I really liked how it turned out.

I was glad I finally had a card that I could use this different shaped gate card fold on. I love this shape of this card. I have to admit, I redesigned this challenge probably four times before I arrived at my final design, but I am very pleased with it. I hope you like it too. Isn't this week's inspiration picture fabulous?

Thanks for popping in!

Happy Hump Day

Can you believe it? I'm posting other than on Thursday's Utah Diva Challenge. I had to come up with a simple card for a bridal shower. One of my younger cousins is getting married and we wanted to welcome his new wife to be to the family. I didn't think she was a traditional type of bride but a little more modern, so I took this idea right from the pages of the Aug. 2008 Stampin Success. I loved the colors and the simplicity of this card. I didn't have the same stamps that the sample card had so I improvised. I printed the phrase of the computer. I changed the swirl to one of the ones from Stampin Up's Priceless set. I added a little chocolate chip, some so saffron, and a bit of baja breeze and Voila! Simple card.

Check back tomorrow for the next Utah Diva's Inspiration Challenge. I am particularly proud of this design.

UDI Challenge #4

OMG! I can't believe that I am finally able to post. I have been struggling through connection issues and then logging in issues. It has been enough to make a girl go stark raving mad. So here goes for Utah Divas International Inspiration Challenge #4.

I have to confess where I cased most of this idea from; I was glancing at the newest edition of the Stampin Up Stampin Success and I saw a gorgeous version of this card. I was stuck as to which flower to use for this challenge, because I don't have that many current sets. I was also looking for one that I could watercolor in the shades of red that keep with the inspiration picture. I hope you like what I came up with. I love the simple elegance of this card and how fast it was to put it together. I made several to keep in my card stash box. I know I'm going to want to have more than one on hand. I don't know if you are like I am with your cards, but if you are pleased with an idea you had better make more than one or you will never part with the single card. I guess you could say I have creative anxiety separation disorder. I hate to give the only copy of an idea away. I just created my own disorder.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will check out the UDI blog for the other challenge artists work this week.

UDI Challenge #3

I just got home from Stampin' Up! convention and had this great Utah Divas International (UDI) challenge waiting for me. I am a member of the UDI Challenge Team. Our Challenge Coordinator found a great inspiration for this week's challenge. When I saw the inspiration picture I instantly thought of the Andy Warhol look. It just screamed this challenge. The colors in the inspiration also gave me the perfect opportunity to use my new SU In Colors and two of the new stamp sets I received at convention. Don't you just love this new flower? I really love all three of the stamp sets we received this year.

For this card I used flower from the Eastern Blooms set and the words from the Inspired By Nature. For the colors I used the new In Colors Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Baja Breeze, and Close to Cocoa. The words are stamped in Tangerine Tango and the flowers are stamped in White Craft ink.

I love the simplicity of this card and how it showes off the new big flower in the Eastern Blooms set. Did I mention I love this set?

More Happy Mail

I wanted to share some more of my beautiful birthday cards that my friends over at Utah Divas International.

This spectacular Taken With Teal card was created by Sara Chamberlain. She used the Essence of Love stamp set by Stampin Up. I love the way she created a window with the scallop circle. Thanks Sara

This amazing card was created by Janice Rock. I just love the simple layering and embellishments in the perfect places. I must be in a purple mood this month because almost anything in purple catches my eye. The Almost Amethyst goes so nicely with the Elegant Eggplant. The punched flower has a cute rhinestone brad and the vase from the Best Kind of Friend set has been cut out with a bow perfectly placed on it. I appreciate your thoughts and efforts. Thanks

This bright and cheerful card was sent to me from my long time friend Tammy Fite. Tammy and I have been swapping for a few years now and I have been such a fan of her work. I love the combination of Real Red and Tempting Turquoise, a little splash of ribbon and a few deco brads and voila! instant smiles.

Thanks Tammy, I love it!

More Birthday Mail

Well I'm such a dork. I hit the publish button too soon. Here are some of the other fabulous cards I have received.

Isn't this mouse just too cute. Kathy Blanco created this little cutie. I am jealous she has the larger scallop punches. I need to break down and get those. She stamped a mouse on the envelope too so I couldn't wait to see what was inside. Thanks Kathy!






This purple flower card is the creation of Jill St. Angelo. Jill used the Polka Dots and Paisley by Stampin Up! I just love these colors, but then who doesn't enjoy Perfect and Pale Plumb together. Thank You Jill for thinking of me.












This card was sent to me from Max on behalf of all of my stamping friends at Utah Divas International. This is fabulous group of ladies that share and lend support to each other in both good times and rough. The members are from all over the stamping world, and I am so glad I have the privilege to call each and every one my friend. Thanks Ladies and I look forward to meeting so many of you at convention.






Pat Washburn created this card. You can't tell by the picture, but Pat embossed the flower from Stampin Up's Live Your Dream set and then rubbed (I think) Guava ink over the top to make the petals of the flower pop. She also did shadow stamping to give the flower added dimension. I had forgotten about this technique. I think I feel a revival coming at my next workshop. Thanks Pat and everyone for sharing my day with me.