My First Challenge!!

Today I finally had the nerve to complete my very first color challenge - Raspberry Suite #13! Note to self - learn how to use blogger so I can upload the challenge color photo! :)

I wanted to participate last week but didn't have any of the colors. Thankfully, my Stampin' Up order came yesterday and everything I used came in my new box (except the white ribbon and the red buttons.) I used the new "Thoughts and Prayers" set, certainly celery cardstock and ink, and rose red cardstock (that was the closest I could get to the idea of berry without going too far into orange territory.)

Anyway, this was a great first for me and I hope to participate in many more!! Thanks Dawn!

Aloha

I know, I know...one day after I talk about my European inspiration, I make a card that speaks to the tropics.

I bought the ribbon and the hibiscus stamp set before we left on vacation and just purchased the bamboo cardstock (from the "Travel" stack) on Friday. Voila! I hope you enjoy this little card as much as I do!! If only it matched one of the challenge color palates...

Inspiration

I can't believe how long it has been since I've posted and have sold several more cards in the meantime!

Crafting was on the back-burner pretty much for the month of June as we had a lot of personal commitments, work was crazy, and we were readying ourselves for our amazing trip to Europe!

We toured all over the north - from Amsterdam to Copenhagen, to Sweden, through Germany, and finally Berlin where we stayed at a hotel in the former East Berlin! I still can't believe it has been 20 years since the wall came down! I was an international relations major in college so we were all glued to our tvs!

We've been back a couple of days now and I'm itching to craft. Right now the table in the office has been re-purposed as the souvenir sorting table - all of the goodies from our trip are waiting to be lovingly gone through and having the moment of purchase fondly remembered.

At some point in the near future, I will start creating cards inspired by our trip. For now, I am practicing my scissor work in the living room. Thankfully all of that stuff is relatively small and easily transported. But, I am wondering what to do with all of the little cutouts - I am definitely running out of space for all of my card-making goodies! What a blessing!