A Splash of Burgundy

Burgundy, splashed on black and white is the challenge this week at the Play Date Cafe. I stamped the image of a wine glass surrounded by a cluster of grapes in Memento London Fog ink on Classic Crest Solar White. Prismacolor pencils (Tuscan Red and Black) and a Mars Lumograph sketch pencil were used to color this image. I also blended with some orderless mineral spirits.






The corners of the first panel were punched with a small corner punch from Stampin' Up and layered on a piece of pomegranate cardstock. The completed panel was layered on another piece of white that had been dry embossed using the Cuttlebug embossing dot folder. The cardbase was also dry embossed with the Argyle embossing folder. A small amount of pomegranate ribbon across the corner and a scalloped edge border finish the card.

Cheers!
Susie~

Stamp: Wine glass (Inkadinkadoo)
Papers: White (Neenah), Black, Pomegranate cardstock (Bazzill)
Ink: Memento London Fog (Tsukineko), Prismacolor pencils, Mars Lumograph sketch pencil (Staedtler), Orderless Mineral Spirits
Punches: Corner and Scallop Edge Border (SU), Photo Corner (EK Success)
Embossing folders: Argyle and Dots (Cuttlebug)
Accessories: Pomegranate ribbon (Michaels),

Finished card size: 41/4 x 51/2 A2

Fly Me to the Moon

Halloween, Halloween
Oh what funny things are seen
Coal black cats, witches hats
Broomstick riders mice and rats

It's Friday and this week has flown by. Today I'm playing multiple challenges; Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and the Penny Black Saturday Challenge. My stamped image is from the Penny Black set Spooky and I followed the sketch provided by SSSC. Like my other Halloween card, Robo Von Batty, I went straight for cute! I love the designer papers, don't they remind you of licorice allsorts (yum). I have loved Penny Black images from the time I started stamping. These two characters look like they may have been up to some mischief (hope they make it over the fence). This card was a pleasure to make, hope you enjoyed it too.

Good-night moon.
Susie~

Stamps: Spooky (Penny Black), Sentiment (Papertrey Ink)
Papers: Cardstock (Bazzill) Stripe dp (Doodlebug Design Inc), Black polka dot (Three Bugs 'n' Rug)
Accessories: Picket Fence and Woodland Branch (Martha Stewart Punches), The little moon (Jolee's) from Michaels.

Autumn Colors

In the other gardens
And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfires
See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
The grey smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall!
- Robert Louis Stevenson

Fall is and always has been my favorite time of year.
I've created this fall card for The Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge
and as a birthday card for my daughter-in-law. While I was in Washington DC, Lauren took me to a shop in Georgetown where I found these beautiful iron-on transfers - perfect for layering!

I've used some feathers and a touch of MicaColor on the printed stamp at the bottom. I can already tell the results are wonderful and can be used with a variety of projects. With Thanksgiving right around the corner I think this card may be just right for all kinds of fall events. Thank you to the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge design team for another great sketch!

Paper: Pumpkin and Olive (Bazzill), Designer Paper: Autumn Splendor (The Paper Loft),
(American Crafts), and (The Paper Studio). Color: MicaColor ( Creative Quest)
Acessories: Autumn leaf iron-on transfers and bronze button (Exquisite Fabrics, Inc.), Jute twine and feathers (Hobby Lobby)

See you next time. Susie~

Robo Von Batty

It was a dark, cold, windy night. No, no, it was a dark, cold, windy, scary night! Remember Snoopy on his doghouse typing away on his typewriter? Well, this little robot is hardly scary. In fact, I think he’s “just the cutest thing” - another quote from Charlie Brown’s little sister. And just right for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.

I decided to name my little Robot Vampire, Robo Von Batty. Mr. Von Batty is a digital download from Tiddlyinks. I was a little stand-offish at first, but now, I love em’. They are easy to download and I had no problem running the cardstock through my printer.

I painted Robo Von Batty with Ranger White Opal Liquid Pearls to get that Robo sliver shine. The powered pearls would work too. The rest of the illustration was colored with Prismacolored pencils and a Zig .05 Millennium black pen to draw veins on the bat’s wings.

And what’s a Halloween night without a little moonlight sparkle? No worries, Robo Von Batty, the moonlight won’t bother you because you’re just a little Robot. Moon and stars are punched with an EK Success punch and just a little Stardust Ranger Stickles.

I loved putting this little card together and I know just the place it’s flying off to (smiling). Elizabeth and Sarah, this card is for you. Happy Halloween!










See you next time,
Susie~

Digital Illustration: Vamp Boto (Tiddlyinks)
Paper: Recollections dp (Rockets ‘n’ Sprockets), Neenah Classic Crest Natural White card stock, Fly a Kite (October Afternoon) Accesories: Prismacolor pencils, Martha Stewart Spiderweb border punch, Spellbinders Classic Round, Nestabilities dies, My Favorite Things Die-namics Jumbo Ric-Rac dies, Crystal dew drops (Hero Arts), Ranger White Opal Liquid Pearls and Stickles (Stardust).
Card size: 51/2 x 51/2 square

Hi Sweetie - Happy Anniversary!

I'm Back! And just in time to celebrate the First Anniversary of The Play Date Cafe with Julie Ranae and the Design Team. I went back east for a month to visit our children, conduct some business, and take a wonderful color course from Jennie McGuire, from Hero Arts. Wow, it was fun. I returned in late September and hit the road running. I organized and catered my younger sister's house warming party; got ready for our soon to arrive out-of-town guests; and completed a host of other commitments. But during my absence, I've been faithfully watching from afar. All the challenges and creations have been wonderful. And Play Date Cafe remains one of my favs!

The color challenge this week is pink, yellow and orange with the inspiration photo from Martha Stewart (gotta love Martha). One of the first classes I took as a new stamper was to create several sweet treat cards. They were the cutest ever ! A cupcake, an ice cream cone and ice cream bar. When I saw the colors this week I knew what I had to do - the ice cream bar. And, I had the template (thank you Crop Girls). Pink, yellow, orange, I'm in love!! Those that follow my blog know I haven't created a card with "bling" - yet. Well, there's no time like the present. Happy First Anniversary Play Date Cafe!


For my card this week I've used Sunlitsummer, a digital paper pack (freebie download) from Gina K. Designs. One of the papers from that pack, Dreamsicle watercolor, is used on the second mat as well as the mat behind the ice cream bar. The dreamsicle colors are yummy, creamy and a good color challenge blend. Dp is Orange dots from Recollections Basics. Orange and pink cardstock from Bazzill Basic Paper and the yellow mat from American Crafts. I decided to bling this up by adding some very small rhinestones to the smallest orange circles and placed pink candy dots on the larger circles. I used Martha Stewart's Garden Trellis Deep Edge punch to frame the dreamsicle panel beneath the ice cream bar. Light and dark pink ribbon, pink waxed twine wrapped through the trellis and over that cute little ice cream stick tie off the sentiment, "hi sweetie". A delicious strawberry ice cream bar, prefect for any celebration.

As always, thank you for stopping by and I'll see you next time.

Susie~