Sending Good Thoughts for SAB 2016

Hello everyone!

Well, this is the last month of SAB and sure has been a good one for me!  There are so many terrific items in the 2016 Occasions catalog to chose from and equally awesome items from the SAB brochure.

The first card I have was CASE'D from another I saw Pintrest awhile ago.  I changed up the colors, but basically the general design is the same.  Made using the Botanical Blooms stamp set, coordinating dsp and framelits, it's easy to make quick cards with this set.  And BONUS it's available as a bundle so you save 15% on all three items!!  The bundle price is $51.75, which automatically gives you an SAB item!

My next card uses the Honeycomb Happiness SAB set.  I just love this little chick and it can be used for so many things!  The sentiment is from another SAB set, Perfect Pairings.  Combined with the new balloon punch and you have a cute birthday card for any age!

Don't forget SAB ends on March 31st!  So get these limited time items by then!  To see what's next on the tour, click on Audra Monk and enjoy!

Happy Stamping!!!

Ann  :)

Last Minute Holiday Gifts!!!

It's that time of year again!  Almost Christmas, and if you're anything like me, scrambling at the last minute for gifts!!  I try very hard each year to give handmade gifts, because what else would all this stamping and scrapping stuff be for??

I made up this cute, and quick, gift to have on hand for a last minute gift.  I took one of the many empty jars I have and created this candle in a jar.

I simply wrapped a piece of burlap around the middle of the jar, fraying the edges just a bit.  I used the Watermelon Wonder lace to tie over that for added color.  Then using the Flurry of Wishes stamp set, I stamped the large snowflake in Blushing Bride and the medium snowflake in Calypso Coral.  Now the medium snowflake you can punch out with the coordinating punch, but yes I did fussy cut the large snowflake.  It really didn't take that much time to cut them out.

Using double layer dimensionals I adhered the snowflakes either together, or directly onto the jar.  Once I had the snowflakes on, I placed an Ice Rhinestone in the center of each snowflake.  And for just a bit of added texture, I tied some of the extra burlap strings around the front bow.

I need to put a bit more sand in the jar, but the candle is hot glued to the bottom of the jar for stability.

Quick and cute gift for someone!!

To see the next blog in the lineup click here Audra Monk or click on the graphic below.

Enjoy the tour everyone and I hope we have inspired you on last minute gift ideas!!!

Happy Stamping!!

Ann  :)

Project Life - Seasonal Snapshot 2015

Have you tried Project Life yet???  I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant, scared and intimidated when Stampin' Up! first started carrying Project Life. I was used to, and comfortable with, scrapbooking in the "normal" way!  But once I started playing with the awesome kits that SU! carries for Project Life, I was hooked.

Last month I was chosen by my upline, Janet Wakeland, to be a display stamper using the Seasonal Snapshot 2015 kit.  This kit is in the current 2015 Holiday catalog and covers all fall/winter holidays!!  When you purchase all of the coordinating products:  the stamp set, card collection and accessory pack, you can do so much!

I love the versatility of this kit.  From school days to Christmas, you can do so many different things! The projects I have here give you a sample of what can be done!

The first project is a Halloween card using the popped out pieces from the pumpkin wood shape.  The pumpkin was cut with the 3" circle framelit and ran through the big shot with the Woodgrain embossing folder.  I wanted to mimic the texture on pumpkins.  The bats are in the stamp set and were stamped in black Staz on on Blackberry Bliss.  A piece of the corrugated Crumb Cake paper for the stem and Old Olive leaves punched from the Builder Bird punch.

I used the new Whisper White thick cardstock for the base, spritzed some Pumpkin Pie color on the background and accented it with the fabulous Black Glimmer paper!   Perfect Halloween card!


My next project shows a traditional Project Life page.  I used our wedding pics since we did get married in September, which technically is in fall!

But what this really shows, is how super easy it is to complete a page using the Project Life kits.  I used items from all the items available with the bundle.  The Project Life cards make it quick and easy to assemble your page and then using some specialty paper adds to it.  It's hard to see in the picture, but the black piece was embossed with the Woodland embossing folder.  Wooden leaves adhered to the outside of the pages just enhance the dimension of the page.

Hope you enjoyed your stop on my blog during this month's tour!!  Up next on the tour is Audra Monk!  You can click on the icon below to take you there.

Happy Stamping!!!

Ann

Where has the time gone???

I guess the saying "Time flies when you're having fun" really is true!!!  WOW!  I didn't realize that I haven't blogged in soooo long.  But so much has happened in my life that blogging just didn't become the priority I used to make it.

For one, I have met the most wonderful, caring, handsome and loving man.  We have been together for 1 1/2 years now and we are engaged!!!  Hoping for a summer wedding, but we'll see.  I also moved out of my apartment and into a wonderful new home.  (Not brand new, but new for us!!)  Much more room to move, play and stamp!!!  But, you didn't come here to read about my all that.  I haven't quit stamping and I have lots of projects to show and that's what I know you want to see!!!

I'm still an SU! demo, 8 years now!!!  This year they are have an "open call", so to speak, for all demos to submit projects to be considered for display stampers for the many events that SU! puts on for all the demos all over the world!  Of course, there are certain things they are looking for:  3 cards, 1 scrapbook page and 2 3-D items.  So this post is all about the items I created to submit to be considered for a display stamper.

The first card uses Very Vanilla as a card base, French Foliage and the 2013 SAB set Vintage Verses.  This card actually came about from leftover pieces of from my stamp club where we did the emboss resist technique.  The colors used are Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive.

This is a top fold card, so I cut a small slit to run the linen thread through.  The embossed pieces were punched out with the 1" square and Old Olive back with the postage stamp punch.  These are all up on dimensionals.

The sketch came from the Jan/Feb 2013 Paper Crafter's magazine.

The second card uses a Crumb Cake card base, Artistic Etchings, That's the Ticket and Lovely Little Labels sets.  Again, I had the leftover honeycomb Lucky Limeade piece and just cut it to what I wanted.  Since we don't have a hexagon punch, yet, I ran the Tea for Two dsp through the same eb folder and then cut the pieces out that I wanted by hand.  The strip of Champagne glimmer paper came from my stash too!

The ticket stamps were done on Melon Mambo dsp in Melon Mambo and images from the Lovely Little Labels set were stamped in Early Espresso, as was the Eiffel Tower.  The tickets are held together with an antique brad and one from Artisan Embellishment Kit.

Some distressing with new distressor tool, piercing using the oval mat and Crumb Cake ink to "dirty" it up a little, and viola!!

The third card uses Crumb Cake as a card base and the Friendly Phrases set.  Very Vanilla was through with the Stripes folder and Pool Party was put through the Delicate Designs scallop folder.  Both were "dirtied" up using Crumb Cake.

The flowers were cut from burlap and the More Amore fabric using the Fun Flowers Bigz L die.  Tied them all together with a Naturals button (flipped over) using the Pool Party baker's twine.  The flower is up on dimensionals.   A strip of Pool Party seam binding softens it up a bit along with the pearls.

The scrapbook page is 12x12 and uses Pink Pirouette as the base.  I pulled the colors from granddaughter's pic!!  I used Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade and Fan Fair dsp.  The stamp set is Bloomin' Wonderful from 2013 SAB.

The "Love" tickets also come from the Artisan Embellishments Kit and the rosettes are cream, but can be colored with the ink pads!!  Cool, huh?  I used Rose Red on here.  The flowers were off stamped 2 and 3 times to keep them faint.  The butterflies were punched using the new Bitty Butterfly punch.  And LOVE that two tone ribbon on here: Pink Pirouette/Rose Red!!!

My first 3-D item is a photo holder.  I saw something similar in my local super grocery store, and thought I can do that with my SU! stuff!  And, I was able to upcycle/recycle all that chipboard that comes with some of the dsp we get I've been hoarding!!!

I used the Fan Fair dsp and went with the sheet that already had the images on them.  However, I also used the Daring Adventure set and overstamped on lot of it too!  The Letter It alpha stamps were embossed in clear ep, after stamping in Basic Gray ink and Versamark.  I then grunged them up with Crumb Cake.  The photo holder is what I like the best.  I used two heavy magnets which will be the "holder" for the photo.

The Silver designer button was glued on with Tombo, as was the back magnet to the chipboard on the photo holder and the middle layer.  I was worried they might not "connect" after that, but no worries there!!!  Again, using some scraps I had on my table, the Natural cotton ribbon is stitched to plain white tulle and gathered and the photo will just slip under it.  When I find the right pic for this, I'll post another photo.

I used an old shoebox cover as the base to hold it up and it works perfectly!  I did put strips of Island Indigo around the outer edges of the cover just to help pretty it up.

 My second 3-D project is a mobile.  Not sure how I came up with idea, but as spring starts to come to 

Michigan I was watching the birds outside and it just hit me.

I used the Elegant Bird Bigz die and more of that lovely chipboard I've been hoarding!!  (Don't throw it away!!!!)  The birds are covered with the Flirtatious designer fabric and then I used my Melon Mambo marker around the edges to cover the chipboard.  The wings are covered in Whisper White.  For the front of them I ran them through the Perfect Polka dots eb folder.  Silver glass glitter edges each of the wings to help capture the light.  These were attached with dimensionals.

The "base" of the mobile is a grapevine wreath and I used the Melon Mambo striped organdy to tie it together.  The birds are attached to the wreath using nylon thread.  What fun that was to use!!!!  But, I really wanted them to seem like they were flying and any other type of thread wouldn't give that illusion.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

I hope you like my projects I have to show you today and believe me I many more to show from now on!!!  And, I hope that SU! likes them too!!!

Take care and have a wonderful day!!!

Ann

XOXOXO

Do Not Open Till....

Hello all!!!!  Thursday means another sketch over at the Creative Sketches blog.  But this week is the added the twist of also making your card a holiday card!!!  Any holiday will do, I just chose to make a Christmas card.  Never to early to get started on those!

I started with a Cherry Cobbler base, top folded, and layered with a piece of Deck the Halls dsp.  I also used the Deck the Halls fabric for my "ribbon", which I actually tied all the way around the card front!  (That means inside too, which I rarely do.)


The sketch shows the front panel straight, but I slightly tipped it once I picked out my stamp set to use.  The set I used on here is Winter Post and will be found in the new 2011 - 2012 Idea Book & Catalog due out July 1st!

What is hard to see in the photo is the piece on the smaller Cherry Cobbler panel.  This was actually sprayed with the gold Smooch Spritz onto Whisper White and dried.  It does curl it up as it's drying, but I was able to straighten it out and I did use the Tombow glue to adhere it.  Then I knew it was going to stay down!  This was actually left from another idea that didn't pan out.  I also spritzed the Soft Suede marker over some areas before stamping the postmark in Cherry Cobbler.

The couple were stamped in brown staz on and water-colored with the ink from the stamp lids and an aquapainter.  Once that was dry I went over some areas with a marker for highlights.  Soft Suede ink was sponged around the edges and the smallest of the pearls put on each scallop.  The "Do Not Open" tag is stamped in Cherry Cobbler onto the same gold Smooch paper and punched out with the Designer Label Punch.  A lot of dimension going on with the image panel too!

I was trying for a vintage look here.  Did I succeed??

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

My Friendly Butterfly - DIC151

Hello all!!!  WOW!  Two posts in one day!!!  This is short and sweet and for now.  I'll give you all the details this evening when I return from work.

The inspiration challenge from UDI this week is a calm and serene butterfly with a rainbow.  I love butterflies.

Head on over there to check out the inspiration piece and play along.

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Creative Sketches Color Challenge - From a Strawberry!!!!

Hello all!!!!  Boy does it feel good to be back to stamping and blogging.  I am humbled and overwhelmed get well wishes and thoughts of concern.  So much love out there in blogland and stamping!!

Anyway, this week over at the Creative Sketches blog it is a color challenge - inspired by a Strawberry!!!  The colors are Real Red, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi and Soft Suede.  I had a hard time not making a Christmas card with these colors!!!  LOL!!

I saw the sketch for the Mojo Monday this week and decided to try it out too!  I really liked the mix of stripes and circles.  I also paired this with a new fave technique of mine: Faux Mother of Pearl.  The large butterfly is done with Real Red and the smaller on with Soft Suede.  The sentiment comes from the new Level 1 hostess set in the Summer mini.

Check out the Creative Sketches blog and play along if you have a minute.

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Hello all!! Are you tired of Valentine's Day cards yet?? I like making these as they use some of my favorite colors!!

What an awesome pick for the Featured Stamper on SCS this week!! Anne, aka JDMommy is this week's pick by Beth!! She has an awesome and amazing gallery. And if you love red like she does, this is the gallery to look at!!

In honor of Anne, I went the route of using various shades of pinks, which are from the red family.

I chose her card here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...;ppuser=136194

My changes:

* Colors, stamp set & theme
* Used die cut butterflies instead of stamped one
* Used the Top Note die to make a circle medallion
* Used felt flowers instead of a button for an accent
* Used the scallop trim punch

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Inspired by a Funky Cake!!!

Hello all!! I belong to a Yahoo stamper's group called LateNightStampers. This group is open to demos and non-demos, so if you're interested check them out!!

Anywhoo, each we the design team brings us a new challenge. They mimic the challenges that are all over the web. This week the challenge is an inspiration one and the picture is of a funky cake!!!

Since I am still working on Valentine's, I made mine into a V-day card. I also used Mary Jo's weekly sketch105.

This card actually started with the leftover panel of Rose Red and Welcome Neighbor SAB dsp. From there I built it up with other pieces and dsp.

My card base is Regal Rose and is a top fold card. The dsp on the medium square panel is also from the SAB dsp. I then ran a strip of Regal Rose through my crimper and attached this with dimensionals. My bow was a frustrating work in progress!!! I seem to be bow challenge, but I wanted more than just a simple knot.

I used my scallop trim corner punch on the smaller square and it was the perfect size (2 1/8 x 2 1/8) to create my frame. Another piece of SAB dsp that panel was done.

The bird and leaves were punched with the new 2-step extra large bird punch available in the Occasions mini. Love this punch!! There are some many possibilities and color combos you do with this! The bird was punched with Choc Chip and his wing is a leftover piece of the dsp I used on the other panels. I used the small parts of my dimensionals under the wing and then the entire bird is popped up with dimensionals. The leaves are Old Olive.

My sentiment tab was punched with the Modern Label in So Saffron and the white with the Word Window and stamped in Rose Red from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

More love is in the air!!

Hello all!! Can you believe we just about half way through January already? Before we know it Valentine's Day will be here!!

I have another Valentine card to show you, right in line with this week's challenge!

I've wanted to try the Herringbone technique in the most recent Technique Junkies newsletter and I just hadn't made time. Well, the other day I was sitting at my table and got the bright idea of trying this technique using ribbon!! I plenty of ribbon scraps in bin, and so I went looking. I pulled out red, black and white ribbons and then just followed the directions.

I started out with a 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 piece of scrap card stock and covered thoroughly with double sided tape. At that point I just started laying out my ribbon scraps in the Herringbone pattern. Once I was done, I trimmed the edges and then cut the card stock piece down to the size I wanted. This is the largest piece. I was able to make three cards with the pieces I had. I'll post them this week too.

My card base is Shimmery White and I then used Real Red and Basic Black. The stamp set I used is Love You Much and the bird is punched using the new 2 step bird punch in the Occasions mini.

I used my distressor tool around the edges of the Basic Black panel, just to add some texture! Both the heart and bird are popped up with dimensionals. I also popped up the bird's wing. Lot's of dimension on this one!!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #73 - Love is in the Air!!

Hello all!!! So sorry for the last posts today, but the day just got away from me! Today was stamp club and my girls were just having too much fun!!!

The challenge for this week is, you guessed it, LOVE!!! Now at this time of year most of us think about Valentine's Day, but anytime is the right time for love! Right? (Isn't that a song??)

So, for this week create a card, scrapbook page, or any type of creation, with the emphasis on LOVE. Your card does not have to be specific to Valentine's Day, but feel free to show off your Valentine's!

My sample for this week is a Valentine's Day card, and actually one of the cards we did at stamp club today! Very quick and simple, yet the little touches pack a WOW! I used the Love You Much set and the new Very Vintage wheel from the Occasions mini. The Whisper White and Regal Rose pieces are punched with the new scallop trim border punch, which is available in the SAB mini. This punch is a must have, and you need the corner punch that goes with it!!

Just to add a little more texture to my card, I ran the Regal Rose piece through the crimper. The heart is popped up with dimensionals, as is the sentiment tab. A couple of buttons, and it's done! The dsp is from the SAB dsp pack. This is another awesome set of dsp!

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by January 16, 2010 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner the next day. If you upload your card to SCS, PaperCraft Planet, Stampin' Addicts or Stamp TV, please put GCA73 in your keywords. That way everyone can see all of the wonderful creations at once!

Even if you can't make the drawing deadline, PLEASE feel free to participate in the challenges and upload your creations at any time. I would love to see it! And yes, my challenge is open to everyone who visits, even if you live outside the US!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

More Christmas Gift Sets!

Hello all!! How is your New Year going so far? Mine has been filled with spending days with my grandsons and stamping/preparing for an upcoming stamp camp.

On the 2nd, my upline held her annual Christmas brunch for her team. We each bring a passing dish and make a gift for exchange. It is supposed to be around $5, but I think I went over!!

Actually, all these supplies I already had on hand and I used up some of my retired dsp and card stock.



The round box is a paper mache box which I covered using the Sweet Slumber dsp from last year. Using my Tombow glue I applied the dsp to the box. I had just enough dsp to wrap around the box and the ends met each other. The strips on the sides of the box are added to help disguise the seam I covered up!



I then filled the box with a set of 12 notecards which I've had forever! I stamped them with my Flower Fancy set, very simply, and used the Define Your Life set for the sentiment.



The desk calendar was made using a 4 x 6 acrylic frame and more scraps of the Sweet Slumber dsp. I recently was part of bulk buy for the mini calendars, and that is what I used on here. Some of the elements here are inside the frame and some are outside to create a 3-D effect. The butterflies are made with new Butterfly Embosslit in the Occasions mini.

I just love putting together gift sets like this, for any occasion! You can give an awesome gift to someone for very little cost, yet it looks like it cost a bundle!

Enjoy your Saturday!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #72 - It's a Brand New Year!!

Hello all!! I hope you are enjoying the beginnings of a fresh new year! As many do at this time, we look back to see where we've been and we look forward to where we are headed. Or would like to be headed!!! LOL! And, with Christmas just past, many of us have received new stampin goodies!!

The challenge for this week is to use any new item you have recently received, either as a Christmas present, or that you bought for yourself, to create a card, scrapbook page, or any type of creation. There is no special theme this week, just be sure to list what your new item is.

My sample for this week is using one of the new sets in the upcoming Occasions mini catalog. You can order from the mini beginning on January 5th.

The "Happy Birthday" greeting is from the Well Scripted set and I ordered the clear mount stamps that SU! is now carrying!!! These are not acrylic stamps, but the same red rubber SU! is known for, but now you can use clear blocks to stamp with!

My card uses the Night & Day dsp that is currently available in the Holiday mini until Monday!!! Even the printed window sheet comes in that pack.

My flowers were cut out with the Flower Folds die in fabric. I then layered them with a Fleurette and brad from the Stylized Silver Hodgepodge.

The sketch I used was Mary Jo Price Williams weekly sketch on her blog, Techno Stamper.

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by January 9, 2010 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner the next day. If you upload your card to SCS, PaperCraft Planet, Stampin' Addicts or Stamp TV, please put GCA72 in your keywords. That way everyone can see all of the wonderful creations at once!

Even if you can't make the drawing deadline, PLEASE feel free to participate in the challenges and upload your creations at any time. I would love to see it! And yes, my challenge is open to everyone who visits, even if you live outside the US!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

A Monkey New Year - 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEAR all!!!! I hope this finds you healthy and happy on this first day of 2010. How weird is that to say?

I created this card for two different challenges - LSC253 on SCS and LNS51 on the Late Night Stampers Yahoo Group I am in.

I used the soon-to-be released Fox and Friends, coming in the Occasions mini. You can purchase these starting on January 5th! And, I used the new clear mount stamps!!! I love these, as they help make placement soooo much easier!

When I ordered this set I knew I wanted to do the Warhol technique I learned from Technique Junkies, at least once! But I think I see more cards using this technique from this set. It really lends itself to this technique.

I stamped the monkey in black staz-on on 3 each of Certainly Celery and Barely Banana and then punched them out with the scallop square. Each of the squares were then mounted to a black square and placed on the card using dimensionals.

The challenge for LNS51 is to use brads, so I put a black brad in the corner of each square.

LNS253 is create a Happy - New - Year card, but not necessarily specific to the new year.

The happy part is to create a card in 15 minutes or less. When you stamp one image six times and punch it out, makes the card go very quickly!

The new part is my Fox & Friends set. First time it's seen ink.

The year part was to create a card for an annual event - I just stuck to the New Year theme.

And, the best part of all, is this card was put together using only scraps from stash.

I originally intended this to be a birthday card, but as I was looking through my Teeny Tiny Wishes set, I saw the "Happy New Year" and thought it worked better.

Especially with the font. I used the Modern Label and Word Window punch for the sentiment panel. A strip of black gingham finishes it off.

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Kathleen's Christmas Gift

Hello all!!! Here's another gift set I made for another good friend of mine, Kathleen. I met her about three years ago at a vendor fair and she's been hooked ever since!! So not only did I gain a good customer, but a even better a friend!!

I had displayed the framed card I gave my friend Deb at club this month and Kathleen just fell in love with it! So, I knew what I wanted to do for her Christmas present.

Again, the frame came from the clearance rack at TJMaxx for $5.50 and initially was pink! And a little beat up, but I knew I could cover that with paint. I used cream colored acrylic craft paint for the frame.

Now she LOVES purple and her entire bedroom is done in purples and the shabby chic style, so that is what I was going for. The background dsp is the retired set that went with Carte Postale. (Can't remember the name!!) The size of the frame is 5 x 7.

The "artwork" starts with a base of Shimmery White, 3 x 5 1/2, I think! I used a scrap piece of card stock to create my inside mask so I could evenly score an inside frame. Not as evident in the photo, but it's there!

Next I cut three pieces of card stock in Pale Plum, Kraft and Kiwi Kiss. These pieces fit just inside the scored frame. The Kraft piece was stamped with Soft Suede using the grass from Inspired by Nature, which the cone flower also is from. I then torn the edges, just to add a little character.

The flower was colored with my Old Olive, Choc. Chip and Perfect Plum markers and stamped onto Shimmery White. I outlined the flower edges with my Elegant Eggplant marker, but it didn't show like I hoped. Once I cut the flower out, I mounted it onto the card base with dimensionals. I used a flower button from the Playground set and some off-brand stick on pearls.

The neat thing about this is what I used for the "glass". I knew the glass that came with the frame was going to be too thick once I added the button and pearls, so I got out my thick window sheets and cut it to fit the frame! Perfect replacement!! I initially just place the window sheet in the frame and then laid the artwork over it, but once I had the back closed I could tell where the window sheet gave away at the edges, and I didn't want dust and dirt getting in. So, I ran sticky strip around the inside frame and then laid the window sheet back down.

Around the edges of the frame, the raised swirly parts, I very gently and lightly, daubed the Champagne Mist shimmer paint until I had the look I was going for. I did it a little heavier on the inside scrolls and lighter on the outside.


I also made her a set of 12 monogrammed notecards, again using the purples! The card base is Pale Plum and I used Rick Razzleberry and the purple dsp from Rallzeberry Lemonade.

These cards also use the new Butterfly embosslit, available January 5th, and the new scallop edge punch. The frame stamp is one of the Sale-A-Bration sets, Vintage Labels, which you can earn for free with a $50 order in Jan, Feb and Mar!!!! Her initial was stamped in Pale Plum with the Lovely Letters set.

I also threw in some older SAB sets I had, which she didn't, and of course chocolate!! It was a hit.

Happy Stamping and Happy New Year!!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #71 - Background Stamping

Hello all! I hope everyone had a fun and enjoyable time over the Christmas holiday.

This past Thursday the Ways to Use it challenge was to use your background stamps as a focal image. As I was working on my card I thought this would be a good, and easy, challenge for us this week!

I have a SAS next month and was working on putting together some card ideas. What could be easier than using an elegant background stamp to create a quick and striking birthday card.

I stamped the Bella Toile in black staz-on to get that rich black color, onto Whisper White. The WW part is actually the card and it's backed on a piece of Basic Black.

Again, keeping the sentiment panel and embellishments simple, I stamped the saying in black staz-on and added a piece of black gingham. The panel is up on dimensionals.

This took me all of 15 minutes, at the most, for me to put togther! That doesn't happen very often for me!

So, the challenge this week is to get out those background stamps, or wheels, and create a card, project or scrapbook page that highlights those backgrounds.

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by January 2, 2010 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner the next day. If you upload your card to SCS, PaperCraft Planet, Stampin' Addicts or Stamp TV, please put GCA71 in your keywords. That way everyone can see all of the wonderful creations at once!

Even if you can't make the drawing deadline, PLEASE feel free to participate in the challenges and upload your creations at any time. I would love to see it! And yes, my challenge is open to everyone who visits, even if you live outside the US!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

Merry Christmas!!!!

Hello all!! Just want to pop on here and wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas! Attached is my Christmas card to all of you! Enjoy!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Deb's Christmas Gift

Hello all!! I hope you are finding time to spend with your family and friends this week, as well as some stamping time! I have the whole week off work and both of my grandsons here! (I have now retreated to my stamp room to preserve my sanity!!! LOL!!)

This gift set I put together for my BFF, Deb. Are 40 year somethings supposed to have BFF's? Too bad, I do! Actually we have been friends since we met in 1990 when we both started our pre -reqs at the community college for the nursing program. We have since gone through our bachelor's and master's programs together and have watched both of families grow through the years. And I wanted to really give her something from the heart this year as she, and her husband, have been so good to me over the past couple of years when I needed it.

She was just amazed at how everything looked liked you would find it in a store! She kept asking me, “Did you really make these?” She knows I stamp and she buys cards from me all the time!! When people only see the cards you make they don't realize all the other possibilities out there too!!



The picture frame I found on clearance at TJMaxx. I backed it with a piece of groom’s dsp and then laid my card front over it. This actually was a card to begin with, but someone suggested I should frame it and so I did! And I think it made a lovely gift.



The candle I just covered up the label on the front and wrapped some ribbon around the neck and the body. And yes, that is a contraband butterfly punch but the current SU! one is too big and my new butterfly embosslit comes today!!!! (Pre-order for the new Occasions mini & SAB starting on January 5th.)



Then I made a set of 10 monogrammed notecards for her. She loves red, so I used my leftover Riding Hood Red and Bella Rose dsp. I am so happy with how they came out.
And, one of the best parts is this only cost me around $10 to put together! I also put some lotion/bodywash in I bought after Christmas last year on clearance. But, most of all she loved it and that is what makes me happy!!



I also gave her the button wreath card I made for GCA68. She thought the buttons were purchased that way and then I put the bird and branch on it. I think I told her three times that put the wreath together myself!

Happy Stamping!!

~~~Ann~~~

Christmas Memories

Hello all!! Are you getting everything ready for Christmas? My grandson Cameron is coming over tonight through next Tuesday!!! We will probably do our Christmas with him on Sunday. I am so excited to see him open his presents this year. It will also be interesting to see how Malaki reacts to all of this!

In keeping with the Christmas theme and opening presents, I have a 2 page scrapbook layout for you today. These are pictures of my son during his first and second Christmases. This was my first 2 page spread and I came up with the layout on my own!! As I am no seasoned scrapbooker, anytime I can do that I just love it!! LOL!!

The base is Sahara Sand textured with Holiday Lounge dsp, Whisper White and Taken with Teal card stock. I used the sheet with the trees and cut them out for some dimension.

The letters were cut with my Big Shot Billboard alpha strip in Whisper White and backed with Sahara Sand circles. The snowflake punch was used to help fill in some spaces!!

Can't wait to have grandson Christmas pictures to scrapbook this year!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~

GCA #70 - Non - Traditional Christmas colors!

Hello all!!! How are things going for you this week? Are you feeling the last minute crunch of getting your Christmas cards out, presents bought and wrapped and your family get-togethers planned? I know I still have to get my Christmas cards out!

Well, in helping you get finished, this week we are making Christmas cards, tags, projects,scrapbook pages or anything you come up with, in Non-Traditional Christmas colors!!

What are those you ask? Well, they could be any of the following:

* Pink/Light Green
* Purples
* Oranges
* Browns

Anything that is not your "normal" red/green/gold of traditional Christmas colors.

As you can see, I used anything but traditional colors on this Christmas card! My colors I used are Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Green Galore and Whisper White text. Who knew that Green Galore would this good with Curry and Suede? I used this SU! color combo site to come up with this combo!

This card is serving a two-fold purpose of my sample for this week and is my TJ 1 on 1 card for December. Each month TJ members have the option of joining in a swap with another person. During this swap you receive a card that highlights one of the TJ techniques.

On this card, I used the Fantasy Chalk technique, but I had to alter it a bit after I messed up the first! When you use chalks you need some kind of sealing medium, and usually I have a sealer. But, do you think I could find that sealer?? NO! So I thought I would try using hairspray. It's worked in the past, but you need to make sure that you use aerosol and not the pump kind!!

So I started over and this time I sealed the images with Versamark dazzle and clear ep. Not sure how well the chalks show up, but on the sentiment panel I used a combo of Summer Sun, Green Galore and Creamy Caramel chalks. On the tree panel I used Green Galore.

My layout is sketch #2 in the current issue of Papercrafts.

Upload your creation to either your blog or to an online gallery and post a link to your creation to this blog entry by December 19, 2009 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner the next day. If you upload your card to SCS, PaperCraft Planet, Stampin' Addicts or Stamp TV, please put GCA70 in your keywords. That way everyone can see all of the wonderful creations at once!

Even if you can't make the drawing deadline, PLEASE feel free to participate in the challenges and upload your creations at any time. I would love to see it! And yes, my challenge is open to everyone who visits, even if you live outside the US!

Happy Stamping!!!!

~~~Ann~~~