SUOC44 - MOTHER'S DAY!

What better excuse does one need to get out the stamps and ink, than to create a card that Mother is sure to treasure? That's the challenge this week at SUO Challenges - create a card (or gift) for dear ol' Mom!

My momma's favorite color is red, so I grabbed Cherry Cobbler, since it most closely resembles the rubies she adores. Since the card needs to be mailable, the gorgeous 3D flower originally created as an embellishment had to be left off.  But that's okay - it can be used for another project that doesn't have to be mailed. :-)  I'm sure you'll see it in the not-too-distant future!

This technique of coloring the stamp with markers and then stamping on the First Edition DSP was demonstrated at the SU Retirement Party last Friday. Since the Inspired by Nature set is another one getting the old heave-ho to make room for new stamps, we used this for one of the make & takes, bidding it a fond adieu.

Now, let's see your beautiful tribute to Mom! If you want to share it at SUO Challenges, please be sure that ONLY Stampin' Up! products are used. That includes punches and dies, as well as stamps and cardstock. If SU didn't make it, please don't use it on your submission!

And, if you need inspiration to participate, SUO Challenges is going to start periodically inviting contributors to a special edition Guest Designer Challenge!!! Every so often, a select group from our regular contributors will be invited to be Guest Designers. Even if you've never been chosen as one of the top three in any of the challenges, you can still be invited if you participate fairly regularly!

Note: Retiring items are in red.

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Broadsheet Alphabet, Just Perfect Alphabet, Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, First Edition DSP, White Vellum Cardstock
Ink: Cherry Cobbler Classic, and Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose, and Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Elegant Lines embossing folder, Pearls Basic Jewels, Chantilly Crochet Trim, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Birthday SUO Challenge #39

As some of you long-time visitors are aware, February is the month for an extraordinary number of birthdays in my family, so this SUO Challenge was really right up my alley!

The color inspiration for this card came by accident.....I had scraps of Blushing Bride paper laying on my very messy desk (left overs from the Birthday card class last week), when I accidentally knocked a dowel holding some spools of ribbon loose, and they all came crashing down on the desk and floor. The Bravo Burgundy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (retired) just happened to land on the Blushing Bride paper, and I really liked the combination, so I grabbed some cardstock and got to work. Since that ribbon is retired, and we're encouraged to use current items if we can, I opted for the pleated Blushing Bride ribbon. It's a lot easier to work with, anyway!

Stamps: Fresh Vintage, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Blushing Bride Textured, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, Twitterpated DSP
Ink: Bravo Burgundy Classic Stampin' Pad, plus Bravo Burgundy, Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi, and Early Espresso Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies, 1" Square Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Blushing Bride 1/2" Pleated Satin Ribbon, Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

Just What Is So Special About February 22?

George Washington, the father of our country, was born on this day. So was my little sister, who always got her birthday off from school (the little twerp). Oh yeah, and so was a fabulous new stamping forum called Stampin' Addicts! And to celebrate their 2nd birthday, we are having a Birthday Blog Hop featuring different stamping techniques, all with a birthday theme. If you are following the hop in order, you just landed here from Holly's blog, where punch art was the technique. That pizza made me hungry! This is stop number three and the technique is Watercoloring. (Here's a link to all the stops on the hop, in case you get lost.)

The first card uses the marker-to-stamp technique. Using a Stampin' Write Marker, color directly on your stamp. Mist Shimmery White cardstock lightly with water before stamping to get that soft watercolor look.

Click Images to See Larger

Up next is the Watercolor Bleed technique using re-inkers. Heat emboss image in white on Shimmer White cardstock or Watercolor Paper. Moisten image with water in a mist sprayer, then pick up ink with an Aqua Painter and spread it around, letting it "bleed" on the image.

And the last card features a quick, easy technique. Simply stamp the image on Watercolor Paper using a Classic Stampin' Pad in your color choice, then use a Blender pen to spread the color around as desired. Easy-peasy! Note: After the pony was inked up, the Blender Pen was used to remove the ink on the eye and nostril. Then a Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker was used to color (marker-to-stamp) the eye and nose.

There are sooo many different ways to watercolor...you've only seen a few here! I hope you are inspired to try some of these techniques. Check back on Monday for the materials used in each card.

Up next is Carmen's blog, where she's going to show the inlaid embossing technique (one of my new favorites!). Love the bats, especially.......

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Be sure to check out Stampin' Addicts. It is a warm, friendly Stampin' Up-only community, and is open to everyone, not just demonstrators! It's free, it's fun, and it's full of fabulous ideas. (Be sure to check out the gallery.)  Tell 'em Cindy sent you!