DYNAMIC DUOS #7: STAMPIN' UP!'S AIN'T LOVE GRAND

I have been out of my creative groove for a few weeks, since Stampin' Up! Convention, and have really missed playing along with my favourite weekly challenges.  Tonight I've had a chance to play in my craft room, and it feels great!

I've made a card for this week's Dynamic Duos challenge.   The challenge is to "use Melon Mambo with Black and as a dessert option, use ribbon if you would like to!"

I have inked up my Ain't Love Grand stamp set for, oh, the second time ever!  I wanted a sweet line image that could be white-embossed, and I've opted to paper-piece the balloon.

Can you see what I've done with the Basic Black satin ribbon?  It's subtle, but it is embossed with hearts - so cute!

Stamps: Ain't Love Grand

Card: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White

DSP: Melon Mambo Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Melon Mambo stampin pad

Other: White embossing powder, Labels Collection Framelits die, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Basic Rhinestones, Basic Black satin ribbon, Adorning Accents embossing folder, Melon Mambo scallop dots ribbon, mini glue dots

retrosketches #2 : STAMPIN' UP!'S "AIN'T LOVE GRAND"

There is a VERY cool new sketch challenge site on the scene.  I know, I know - I do complain that I find sketch challenges very, well, challenging!  But you must check out retrosketches, started by the super-talented Arielle Gordon.  Great design team, great concept, and a whole lot of fun.  Might I say that I was also drawn in by the gorgeous "coffee-stained" grid paper and hand-drawn look of each sketch?  Love that!

Anyway, I missed the first week's deadline, but have managed to scrape in for the second challenge.  I don't "do" clean and simple very well, but have tried to achieve that look on my card.

Here's this week's sketch:

I've inked up my Ain't Love Grand stamp set for the first time.  Another first for me is leaving the stamped image un-coloured.  I really like the clean graphic look of a black line image, with just a splash of colour (in this case a paper-pieced megaphone).

Here's what I came  up with, thanks to Stampin' Up!'s Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' kit (great colours, don't you think?):

Stamps: Ain't Love Grand, Candle Crazy Builder Wheel

Card: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Poppy Parade

DSP: Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' kit, Poppy Parade Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Gray stampin' pad, Poppy Parade stampin' pad, Baja Breeze stampin' pad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad

Other: Sponge daubers, Crumb Cake corduroy brad (retired), Basic Gray satin ribbon, Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon