#SSINKCC23: Color Challenge

This month's color challenge features another one of the 2015-2017 In Colors, Watermelon Wonder. Straight out of the pack, this is probably my least favorite color. However, when used with the right color combination, it actually becomes pretty fabulous! 

I was so excited to use some new products on this card. The Lots of Labels framelits and the Happy Patterns Decorative Masks. This is the first time I've had a positive experience with the Sequin Trim, and I think it might be my favorite part of this card! 

Make sure to check out more great creations inspired by my latest color challenge at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration. You can also play along with us on this week's challenge! 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

New Catalog Countdown: Cucumber Crush

The day we've all been waiting for is finally here! The 2015-2016 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog is live! Today is also the last day you can purchase any of the retiring products from the 2014-2015 catalog and the 2015 Occasions catalog.

Today is also the day that we're featuring the last of the new 2015-2017 In Colors. The color du jour is Cucumber Crush. It's a very vibrant green, and perhaps the best green that we currently offer. You can click that big #1 at the top of this post to see how the rest of the SSInkspiration Design Team is "crushing" on this color.

You can also check out the links below to see how I featured the other 4 new colors.
Watermelon Wonder
Mint Macaron
Tip Top Taupe
Delightful Dijon

• So Saffron card base - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" - scored at 4-1/4"
• Cucumber Crush layer - 4" x 5-1/4"
• Blended Bloom stamp set
• Cucumber crush ink
• Vellum cardstock - 2-1/2" x 3"
• Feel Goods stamp set
• Subtles Candy Dots (So Saffron)

Don't have a copy of the new catalog yet? Message me your address and I'll get one in the mail to you! 

New Catalog Countdown: Delightful Dijon

Can you believe that the new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog starts tomorrow? I'm so excited. I've got my wish list made and ready to get my order placed first thing in the morning!

Delightful Dijon was another one of those colors I wasn't sure I was going to like. However, after making my card for today; I LOVE it! As you check out today's Inkspiration from my page, be sure to check out the rest of the Dijon projects from the SSInkspiration Design Team today by clicking on that big 2 up there!

• Delightful Dijon card base - 4-1/4" x 11" - scored at 5-1/2"
• Delightful Dijon layer - 4" x 5-1/4"
• Lucky Stars textured embossing folder
• Celebrate Today stamp set
• Delightful Dijon ink
• Whisper White card stock
• Balloon framelits

#SSINKCS22: Color Challenge

As I was creating this month's color challenge, I was thinking that I should come up with a masculine combination that we could also use for Father's Day. However, most of the cards that the Design Team created with this combination don't come across as masculine. I'd say that makes this a versatile color combination!

• Night of Navy card base - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" - scored at 4-1/4"
• Mint Macaron layer 4" x 5-1/4"
• Kinda Eclectic stamp set
• Night of Navy ink
• Cajun Craze ink
• Mint Macaron ink
• Regals Buttons (Cajun Craze)
• Regals Candy Dots (Night of Navy)
• Very Vanilla cardstock
• Banners Collection framelits

Did you know? You can play along and link up your color challenge creation at SSINK! 

New Catalog Countdown: Tip Top Taupe

My first thought when I saw this color was, "it's taupe." Believe it or not, it is quickly becoming one of my favorite colors. It pairs so well with everything. Once you're done checking out my favorite card that I've made this week, click on the countdown image header at the Tip Top of this post and see more Taupe-y inspiration from the SSINKspiration Design Team. 

My inspiration for this card came from a huge event held in our little town yesterday. It's a little bike race called the Dirty Kanza 200 (#DK200). The cyclists ride 200 miles of gravel through the Flint Hills of Kansas. If you think Kansas is flat; it's not all flat. In the past parts of the course have gone through farmer's fields, across cattle guards, and through creeks. We've gotten a little rain (the river is 7.5 feet above flood stage) lately here as well. 

While I know that I myself could never ride the 200 mile race; it is a huge inspiration to sit at the block party and cheer the riders across the finish line (some of them finish in 12-13 hours!). I have a great amount of respect for them. You can see the accomplishment and pride in their face when they are riding that last little stretch. 

Tip Top Taupe created the perfect bicycle to represent what 200 miles of Kansas gravel after the rains of May will make a bike look like! Plus, after 200 miles of Kansas sun; you need a shade tree to sit under. These riders definitely warm my heart every year. 

• Tip Top Taupe card base - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" - scored at 4-1/4"
• Hello Honey layer - 4-1/4" square
• Tip Top Taupe layer - 4" square
• Very Vanilla layer - 3-3/4" square
• Sheltering Tree stamp set
• Tip Top Taupe ink
• Garden Green ink
• Tip Top Taupe Lace Trim

The DK pint glass was made by the ceramics teacher at our local university. She used stamps for the imprint on the clay, so I thought I'd show it off with my card today. 

New Catalog Countdown: Mint Macaron

I got really excited when I saw the Mint Macaron in the new catalog. I was so sad when Sage Shadow retired 5 years ago, and I thought this was a pretty close match. When I received it, I compared to my stash; and I was right, it's pretty close, but better. Mint Macaron is even more gorgeous than Sage Shadow was!

Part of my love for the Sage was that I used it as one of my wedding colors. Everything was decked out in Naturals Ivory, Chocolate Chip, and Sage Shadow. I decided to pull out some Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla to pair with the Mint Macaron today and make a wedding card.

• Chocolate Chip card base 4-1/4" x 11" - scored at 5-1/2"
• Very Vanilla cardstock
• Mint Macaron cardstock
• Ovals Collection framelits
• Big News stamp set
• Chocolate chip ink
• 5/8" Vanilla Satin Ribbon
• 2-way glue pen
• Dazzling Diamonds glitter

I traced the "happily" with the 2-way glue pen and then sprinkled the Dazzling Diamonds glitter over the top for a little extra sparkle to the card. 

Now that you've checked out my minty goodness, stop by the SSINKspiration page to see what the other Design Team members have to share. You can get directly to the Mint Macaron page by clicking the countdown image header at the top of this post. 

New Catalog Countdown: Watermelon Wonder

I will admit it; when I first got my pack of 2015-2017 In Color card stock, I was a little underwhelmed with the Watermelon Wonder. However, the more I've worked with it, and found great colors to pair it with; it has quickly grown on me. In my opinion, Blushing Bride is an excellent pairing! When you're finished drooling over the Watermelon (let's face it, that's the best part of summer!) here, be sure to check out the rest of the SSINKspiration Design Team's creations. You can link directly to that page by clicking the countdown image header above. 

• Watermelon Wonder card base - 4-1/4" x 11" - scored at 5-1/2"
• Blushing Bride layer - 4" x 5-1/4"
• Best Thoughts stamp set
• Watermelon Wonder ink
• Blushing Bride ink
• Typeset Designer Series Paper
• Subtles Candy Dots (Blushing Bride)

Short On Time?

That's what Quick and Easy cards were designed for! To me, the quickest and easiest thing to do is pull out my Project Life cards and find one that can be used on a card.

• Mint Macaron card base (isn't that color yummy?) - 4-1/2" x 11" - scored at 5-1/2"
• Bohemian Designer Series Paper 4" x 5-1/4"
• happiness card from Moments Like These Project Life card kit
• Petal Potpourri stamp set
• Tangelo Twist ink
• Flower Medallion punch
• Basic Rhinestones

Check out more quick and easy card ideas today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration. Also please help settle the debate and home and let me know if you like today's card or yesterday's card better. Thanks! 

Masculine Monday

Father's Day is right around the corner, so here's some masculine inspiration for you to get a head start.

This card mixes a little bit of the old (and only available for 7 more days) with some of the new (which will be available in 7 days).

• Daffodil Delight card base - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2"- scored at 4-1/4"
• Adventure Bound DSP stack (not available after June 2nd)
• Tree Builder punch
• Cucumber Crush cardstock
• Alphabet Rotary stamp
• Blackberry Bliss ink

Isn't that Tree Builder punch the greatest? I also punched the birds that are in the upper corners with it. We used to have two trees in our front yard that kind of grew towards each other, and that's where my tire swing hung from. Now that I'm looking at my card, I'm thinking I should have added the swing from the Sheltering Trees stamp set in between the "father's" and the "day" trees. 

Are you looking for more masculine card INKspiration? We've got some at SSINK!  

Flattery By Copying

It is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. In our world we call that CASEing. (Copy And Share Everything). Our mission at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration today is to CASE a fellow design team member. Today I chose Diana  E. from Stampin' Fun with Diana. She is extremely talented and I am drawn to almost every thing I've ever seen her create!

My card today features a whole lot of new goodies that will be available for purchase beginning June 2nd!

• Tip Top Taupe card base - 4-1/4" x 11" - scored at 5-1/2"
• Watermelon Wonder cardstock - 3" x 4"
• Boho Chic Textured Impressions Folder
• Delightful Dijon cardstock - 4" x 5-1/4"
• Gold 1/8" Ribbon
• Blackberry Bliss cardstock - 3-1/8" x 3-5/8"
• Bohemian Designer Series Paper - 3" x 3-1/2"
• Bohemian Designer Washi Tape
• Whisper White card stock
• 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch
• 2015-2017 In Color Blossom Accents
• Celebrate stamp from May 2015 Paper Pumpkin 
• Blackberry Bliss Ink

Isn't that a fun stamp that came with the May Paper Pumpkin subscription? Are you a Paper Pumpkin subscriber? If not, now is a great time to try it out! Use code SAVE50 to sign up today and save 50% off your first two months! That's two months chock-full of creativity for the price of one! 

Pinspiration

How many pins do you have pinned on Pinterest? For me, it's just over 2800. How many of those have I actually used? Maybe 2 dozen! There are so many great ideas to be found on there, who has the time to do them all?

I was inspired for today's card, by something I found on Pinterest. I'd like to think it was "unusual" pinspiration, as it wasn't an actual craft project. Here is the pin:

This was the card I was inspired to make:

Remember that Tip Top Taupe lace I used yesterday? The card base is that cardstock.

• Feel Goods stamp set
• Gorgeous Grunge stamp set
• Night of Navy ink
• Perfect Plum ink
• Cajun Craze ink
• Whisper White cardstock
• Perfect Plum cardstock
• Lost Lagoon cardstock
• Strawberry Slush cardstock
• Boho Blossoms punch (retiring)
• Regals Candy Dots - Night of Navy
• Neutrals Candy Dots - Whisper White

I'd love to see some of your pinspired creations! Share a link below. Need more PINspiration? Head on over to SSINK! 

Patriotic

When I think of Memorial Day, I obviously think of the red, white, and blue. However, I also think of the lake and hamburgers! What better reason than that to break out my Stampin' Up! hamburger box die!

Are you curious about that big lace trim bow? That's a new ribbon available on June 2nd, in a brand new In Color called Tip Top Taupe!

• Big Shot
• Hamburger Box die
• Regals Pattern Paper DSP Stack (retiring)
• A Round Array stamp set (retiring)
• 7/8" Scallop Circle punch
• Real Red Ink

Check out more patriotic ideas today at SSINKspiration!