There have been a few exciting changes to the Your Next Stamp challenges, starting with a new Challenge Blog!

       

Let's get right down to the nitty gritties of the new Fun Friday Challenge:

1.  There will be one challenge per month to play along with as many times you like. (a combination Inspiration Photo/Sketch--do one or the other, or both!)
2.  Each monthly challenge will start on the First Friday of every month on the Your Next Stamp Challenge Blog.
3.  PRIZES:  You may use any brand of stamps for the challenge to be eligible to win a YNS  $10 gift certificate.  However, in order to win a special "YNS Top Pick" badge for your blog, YNS stamps/dies must be the focal point of your card or project. 
4.  GUEST DESIGNER SPOT:  A monthly YNS Guest Designer will be chosen from the challenge participants, and get to play along with us in NEW RELEASES and also receive a fabulous package of previously released stamps!  FUN!!!
5.  All projects must be linked up on the YNS Challenge blog to be eligible to win.
6.  Be sure to check out the YNS Challenge blog every Friday for more inspiration from the design team using the monthly Inspiration/Sketch.  You will WANT to play along! 

     

I'm SOOOO excited about this new format!! Not only do I love a good sketch, but the more time to play along, the better!

    

I used just the sketch this time around, designed by our talented Peggy...

     

    

I colored this cute 80's Fhiona weeks ago, but ended up getting sick and taking a little break, so the poor thing never got put onto a card. Well, this sketch was perfect for her! I used lots of my favorite YNS goodies on this one... the sentiment is from the Awesome Journal Words Clear Set (a must have!), and is stamped onto a cut from the Banner/Fishtail Dies. I hand cut the black border, so it would stand out a bit better. The stars are cut from the Whimsy Star Layered Die... I cut one in black and one in green, and then offset the layers just a bit. The black mesh ribbon was something I picked up at the craft store specifically to go with this image... it makes me think of the black lace details and fish net stockings that were trendy in the 80's.

     

    

Skin - E11, E00, E000, YR0000, R00

Hair - E34, E31, E30

Dress - YG17, YG25, YG03, YG01

Shoes, Accessories - 100, T7, T5, T4, T3

   

I hope you are as excited about the new challenge as I am!! I can't wait to see what you create with this fabulous sketch!

     

         

A day late and a dollar short, but I'm here to share my Tuesday Morning Sketches card...

    

We have Raisin Boat joining us as our sponsor this week, and a fun sketch designed by Melissa...

         

       

...and this is the week we throw a TWIST at you! We want to see MASCULINE cards using the sketch. Not too difficult, right?

       

     

I am into all things girly and cutesy when it comes to stamps, so making guy cards is REALLY tough for me! So... I went a little more boyish than manly with my take...

          

Window - B000, B0000

       

  My little guy loves anything to do with tools and construction, and has since before he was 2. We are coming up on his 5th birthday, so I thought this could make for a fun birthday card. The image is "Dump Truck" from Bugaboo (one of the $1 digis - such a steal!) and is colored with Copics. I wanted the dirt in the truck to have a little "texture", so I used the pointillism technique after laying down the base color.

     

Luckily, I found the most PERFECT patterned paper in my stash to go with this image. It's from the Bo Bunny "On the Go" 6x6 pad. It's PERFECT, right!? Continuing on with the whole construction theme, I decided to have the diamond shape on the sketch resemble a caution sign, hence, the blinding yellow! :) I also thought it would be fun to use the horizontal strips in the sketch to look like treadmarks going across the card... so I cut strips of dark brown cardstock, and stamped a single chevron repeatedly with Versamark Ink.

        

I honestly wasn't sure if I could pull together all of my ideas for this card, but I think it turned out pretty cute... and more important, my little guy will love it! :)

    

Linking up to the following challenges:

          

Thanks for stopping by!
     

         

Hi Stampers! Just popping in to let you know that there is a super cute FREEBIE available from Clearly Digi Stamps, but only for a few days!

      

I'm no longer on the CDS Team, but before my term ended, I made up this simple card using the freebie... it is called Mom Tweet Mom, and was created by the talented Lisa Lara.

       

      

I paper pieced the birds, and popped up the center panel on foam adhesive. The wings are also cut separately and popped up for a little extra detail. Easy peasy!

        

You can head over to the Clearly iStamp Blog to find out how to download your own Mom Tweet Mom Freebie... but act fast! You only have until Sunday, June 9th to get it for FREE. After that, it will be added to the Clearly Digi Stamps Store for purchase only.

   

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

    

       

It's time for another sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches! Here's what Melissa has designed for you to work with this week...

     

   

...and our generous sponsor offering up this week's prize is Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

     

I have to admit, I REALLY struggled with this one... I'm sure you all know by now that I'm not one to do a lot of embellishing. The combination of the tabs at the corners and flowers at the bottom was throwing me off big time! I finally decided to take a little creative liberty, and ax the flowers... gotta be myself! :)

      

The image is Thank You Lenny from Stamp Fairy, and was a freebie I came across HERE on the Stamp Fairy Blog a while ago. Lenny is my favorite Stamp Fairy character! Isn't he a cutie?

       

I've colored him with Copics, then sponged the edges of the white cardstock with Antique Linen Distress Ink to better match the patterned paper (which is from the Jillibean "Chilled Cucumber Soup" Collection).

      

   

Fur - E34, E31, E30, E50

Muzzle - E30, E50

Nose - E49, E47, E44, E42

Flower - Y15, Y13, Y11, Y00

Grass - YG67, YG17, YG13, YG11

Sky - BG000, BG0000

      

I think in the end, my card turned out okay. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for this sketch! It's always fun to see another person's take, especially when it has been such a challenge for me!

Be sure to visit the Tuesday Morning Sketches Blog... my team-mates represented the sketch far better than I did, and their creations are sure to inspire you!

  

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

        

Linking up at:

    

         

Happy Monday Stampers! It's the beginning of a wonderful week! Not only is it the first day of the kiddos being on summer break, it's also New Release Week at All That Scraps! We have so many CUTE things to preview this week, and it will all be available for purchase at the All That Scraps Store this Thursday, June 6th at 9pm EST.

 Now onto the eye candy!

     

I wanted to feature my FAVORITE new image first, and she seemed quite appropriate for the start of summer... meet "Birgitta with Popsicle". Isn't she adorable?! I used a simple sketch from Unscripted Sketches, and added little dimensional glittery dot stickers to the corners... I'm not big on embellishing, so I'm never 100% sure if I like the way things like these look...

       

The sentiment is from AmyR Sunny Sentiments, part of last month's release, and is stamped onto a cut out from the larger of the  CC Cutters Tickets Die. I trimmed an edge off of the ticket so it would resemble more of a tab, and stitched it in place. The last finishing touch was adding Glossy Accents to Birgitta's popsicle, and sprinkling it with some glitter. Doesn't it look yummy?!

      

   

Skin - E13, E11, E00, E000, YR0000, R00

Hair - Y26, Y23, Y21, YR0000

Swimsuit, Sandals - R85, R83, R81, RV000

Popsicle - YR18, YR15, YR12

Ground - E43, E42, E41

Outline - BG000, BG0000

       

Linking up to the following challenges:

    

Be sure to visit the All That Scraps Blog for a look at what the other designers are previewing today... you won't be disappointed! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!