Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Fallin' into Winter

Okay, it's just turned fall and already I am thinking winter cards....not just Christmas, but snowy, hot chocolatey, winter hats & mittens cards!  I had been hoarding this DP until just the right stamp came along, and last night while I was stampin' into the wee hours, I realized this image from CHF's Winter Vintage Signage set would go perfectly!  I had been playing with this image and had already colored it in when I made the connection!  The coolest thing about this paper is that there is a gold shimmer to it that just adds another dimension to it!  Plus I stamped my image on Shimmery White from SU, so it is all shimmery.  You can see a tiny little bit of shimmer in the top right corner of the photo:

Hot Chocolate

The color in the photo doesn't really capture its true color--the background really matches SU's Baja Breeze, so I added a little strip of striped DP from the Manchester line.  The snowflakes are from Crafty Secret's Vintage Christmas embossed in white EP.  The oval is stamped in Basic Brown and watercolored with BB and CtoC ink.  It's mounted on a CtoC scalloped oval and everything is all blinged up.  I haven't decided what kind of card this will be, so I left off any sentiment.  I really threw this together quickly, so I would like to do another with a little more embellishments on it.    TFL!  Remember, tomorrow is the Color Challenge Throwdown, so be sure to stop back!

Double Challenges

Well, I finally got to do the color challenge at SCS today, and as a bonus, used the Pink Cat sketch from Tammy's blog!  Woohoo!  I really had fun making this card....no pressure, used some new rubber, some old rubber, my nesties, CB folders, just a lot of fun.  What stampin' should be!

09-30-08 Challenge

The card is pretty straightforward; the image was paper pieced; I sponged on some additional Chocolate Chip on the trunk to make it darker, as well as the ribbon.  I love this paper, but hadn't been able to make it work with anything, so the challenge was perfect!  TFL!

  • Stamps:  Making the Grade (Kim Hughes), CHF; Wonderful Wishes, Verve Visual
  • Paper:  Baja Breeze, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Confetti White, Autumn Vine DP
  • Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Really Rust
  • Acc: CB Folder Just My Type; Punches & Nesties, Mike's Grosgrain Ribbon, SU Buttons, thread, glue dots

Monday, September 29, 2008

Clean & Simple NMBS Challenge

Just a quick post today....I belong to a group of SU demos called "No More Bad Swaps"; a name that is bound to make people sit up & take notice, but it just means we are committed to quality in our swaps.  They have a weekly challenge, found here, which I have just not had the time to play, but today's was a sketch.  Since I suddenly seem to need some sympathy cards, I decided to use the sketch and make some clean & simple, masculine cards.  I used cards that I had already had cut, but hadn't used, from my last stamp club; the DP is from Autumn Vine and Ski Slope from the new Holiday Mini; and the image is from Pocket Silhouettes, which I can't seem to get away from!  Sentiment is from Fresh Cuts.  I wanted to use something like "thinking of you" but I cannot find one stamp set that has that sentiment in my whole SU collection!!!

NMBS 09-29-08 challenge

I used Chocolate Chip & Sage Shadow markers to give the silhouettes two colors; the jumbo eyelet was set with my crop-a-dile, and the ribbon is the new Sage Shadow grosgrain from SU.  Clean & simple.  Be sure to check out the samples on the NMBS blog!  TFL!
LeAnne

  • Stamps:  Fresh Cuts, Pocket Silhouettes
  • Paper:  WW, Sage Shadow, Choc Chip, Autumn Vine & Ski Slope DP
  • Ink:  Choc Chip
  • Acc:  Markers, CAD, SS Grosgrain Ribbon

Saturday, September 27, 2008

OCC Challenge In Stitches

I haven't participated in an "Our Creative Corner" Challenge for a while, and since we were away most of the day, I snuck in some stampin' after we got home and DH was watching the ballgame.  (The Phillies won--yahoo!)  We had gone to the Italian Market in Philadelphia with some friends of ours, and also to a warehouse to buy wine supplies.  My hubby and his friend both like to make their own wine.  The whole trip was quite an experience for a farm girl like me.  Let's just say it was fun, but it was nice to be home.  One highlight was, that as I was coming out of one of the stores on 9th St., I saw a guy with a T-shirt with our school name on it.  When he turned around, it was someone I graduated with in 1972 and probably hadn't seen in a BUNCH of years.  So there we were, talking about our kids and school, on a street corner in South Philly!  Go figure.

Anyway, on to my card!  The challenge this week was to sew on your card--real or faux.  My girlfriend just brought me a pair of pants to repair, so I thought I would kill two birds with one stone.  I fixed the pants, and CASE'd Peanutbee's card while I was at it, because OCCC also has another challenge, which is to CASE one of their designers.  I made a couple little changes to mine, but the basic layout is the same.  So here we go:

09-27-08 OCC Challenge

Let me just say that I like to sew.  I learned in 4H as a child and from my mom, and have made lots & lots of clothes for myself, my sisters and brother, my mom, my school friends and my daughter.  Sewing on fabric is forgiving....you can rip out and start over.  Sewing on cardstock is not.  So although it FELT as if I was sewing in a straight line, you can see that I wasn't.  Pair that with plaid Manchester DP paper that is on the diagonal and you get the effect that these skaters will probably fall over from dizziness!  Oh well, I still like the card.  I am trying to make samples with Winter Post, and I just keep coming back to these skaters....I really need to use some of the other stamps in the set too!

  • Stamps:  Winter Post, Everyday Flexible Phrases
  • Paper:  Bordering Blue, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Manchester DP
  • Ink:  Basic Brown
  • Acc:  Markers, DD Glitter, Twill, 1/16" punch, Linen Thread, Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch, Glittery Dots from Gina K, sewing machine

Friday, September 26, 2008

Christmas Critter Challenge

Today's SCS challenge was to make a card with a Christmas critter.  Hmmmm.....I think this is stretching it a bit, to call my reindeer a "critter" but since I was playing with this set, making some swaps, I just figured I would go with it:

06-26-08 Challenge 2

Of course, this is a Limited Supply Challenge, and I am in the mood to really add some embellishments, but I could only use ribbon.   I just think it needs something more--glitter, brads, something; and I will probably add it after I finish this post!  TFL!

  • Stamps:  Winter Post, Many Merry Messages
  • Paper:  Confetti White, Baja Breeze, Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Watercolor,  Ski Slope DP
  • Ink:  Craft White, Chocolate Chip
  • Acc:  Baja Breeze Wide Stitched RIbbon, Daubers

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Charmed Challenge and Awesome Blog Candy

Okay, my last post for today, I promise!  I just got off the phone with my friend Shawn and we were both lamenting that, with all the stampin' stuff we have, we had no charms!  And we needed charms for today's SCS Challenge!  I had just made a polyshrink charm for the Color Challenge (you can see it here), so I wanted to do something different.  I thought the faux metal technique would be fun, and I knew I wanted to use Gina K's Whimsical Autumn set again. 

09-25-08 Challenge autumn thanks

This also uses the sketch from yesterday's Sketch Challenge.  Hmmmm....now that I look at it, the vine stamped on the right side reminds me of stitching on a baseball.  Oh well!  This is going to a friend of mine who just game me some pumpkins from her garden!

  • Stamps:  Whimsical Autumn, Gina K, Itty Bitty BG, SU
  • Paper: So Saffron, Confetti White, More Mustard, Autumn Vine DP
  • Ink:  Stazon, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Versamark
  • Acc:  Classy Copper EP, Heat Tool, Markers, Circle Pumches, Linen Thread, 1/16" punch

Now, on to the blog candy.  Cammie, (Carolyn King) has some INCREDIBLE blog candy to offer.  She is a stamp designer for Gina K and designed the Whimsical Autumn set I used above.  She is donating 100% of the proceeds of the sales of that set to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of her grandmother.  So if you make a card and send it to someone who is a caretaker of an Alzheimer's patient, you qualify to enter in the blog candy drawing.  There are other rules that apply, so check it out by clicking on her name.  The chances of my winning are about as big as the chance of a snowball lasting in the middle of August,  but for $1000 worth of prizes, I'll give it a shot!  This is my card:

Cammie' Challenge

This card will go to a sweet lady in my church.  I rarely see her because she stays at home, taking care of her husband, who gets very agitated if she is gone for any length of time.  But she was at church last week, so I wanted her to know I was thinking of her.  This uses another Gina K stamp called Flowers for Daisy.  Basic Grey Stella Ruby and Kraft cardstock form the card, with watercolor paper and Chocolate Chip for the basic image, which was watercolored.

  • Stamps:  Flowers for Daisy, Gina K
  • Paper:  Kraft, Basic Grey Stella Ruby, Watercolor, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip
  • Ink:  Stazon, Baja Blue, Rose Red, So Saffron, Cert Celery
  • Acc:  Nesties, Dimensionals, Taffeta Ribbon

Remember to check out the blog!   There are tons of companies as well as stampers that have contributed to this candy.  If I win, I promise, I'll share!
LeAnne

More Autumn

I needed some quick cards this morning before I went off to Curves and I was drawn to the new Autumn Vine DP that SU will be offering in the Holiday Mini Catalog on October 1, 2008.  Love it!

09-25-08 Autumn Silhouette 2

09-25-08 Autumn Missing You

Both cards used Pocket Silhouettes for the main image.  I really enjoyed coloring these little images to match my cardstock.  Here's how I do it:

  1. Stamp the image first in your lightest color.  On the top card, it was Creamy Caramel; the bottom card was More Mustard.
  2. Color over portions of the design with darker markers.  On both card, it was Chocolate Chip and Really Rust.
  3. "Huff" on the stamp to remoisten the ink, then stamp.
  4. On the first one, I took a blender pen and added little dots of Baja Blue and More Mustard to replicate the little dots on the DP. 

I wanted to put a scallop behind the first image, but the die was too big, so I took a tip from Sharon at notimetostamp, and just cut it apart and readhered it to fit.  There is a little line, but not real noticeable.  The little felt flowers really add a little extra.  Thanks for visiting!

  • Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes, So Many Sayings (ret SU)
  • Paper:  More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Really Rust, Confetti White, WW, Baja Breeze, Autumn Vine DP
  • Ink:  Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Creamy Caramel
  • Acc:  Markers, Flower Fusion Too, brads, Word Window Punch, Nesties

September Christmas Cards

I had my two Christmas Card Stamp Camps Tuesday and Wednesday, and it was a lot of fun.  The cards were fairly simple and quick to stamp, but had some stepped-up elements as well.  Most of the cards were done by both groups, but a couple were unique to each.  Here they are:

Sept 08 Christmas 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These two cards were 4 1/4" square with a little topper.  The left card used pastels for the coloring; the right card used a SAB set and the scallop & round punches.

Sept Christmas 2 This card used a BG from Cornish Heritage Farms as well as a new SU stamp called To You & Yours.  Love this set!  You can't see it but of course there is glitter on the snow!  A snowflake punch from Martha Stewart finished it off.

 

 

Sept Christmas 3

Oh, how I love this new Soft Holly wheel!  So simple to whip out this card!

Sept Christmas 4

This is another image from the To You & Yours set....hard to tell, but the swirls from Season of Joy are stamped on Brushed Silver.  Just adds a touch of elegance.  And of course, more glitter!   Yum!

If anyone wants detailed recipes, let me know and I will be glad to share!  Today is a much-needed down-time day, so maybe I'll be able to play a challenge somewhere along the line!   Thanks for visiting!
LeAnne

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Color Throwdown Challenge 12

CTD12 banner

Well, you can tell when the seasons are changing..stampers begin thinking about Christmas and the holidays!  (Of course, I am always thinking about Christmas!) 

CTD12 swatch

Today's colors of Real Red, Old Olive and Kraft (plus Bashful Blue if you want) seemed to want to be made into a Christmas card, so I obliged.  Here is my creation for Color Throwdown Challenge 12; I opted not to use Bashful Blue:

CTD12

I had some Basic Grey Fruitcake Nutcracker DP with close colors, and I broke out my Crafty Secrets Vintage Christmas set.  I added some background stamping right on the DP, added layers of cardstock & ribbon and an snowflake accent made from some shrink plastic.   Not sure that really "matches" this card....have to think about that some more! 

  • Stamps:  Crafty Secrets Vintage Christmas, Snowflake Spot by SU
  • Paper:  Real Red, Old Olive, Kraft, Very Vanilla, BG
  • Ink:  Real Red, Close to Cocoa, Chalk Red
  • Acc:  Distresser, Wide Red Grosgrain, Narrow Olive Grosgrain, Shrink Plastic, Scallop Punch, Heat Tool, 1/8" punch, string, Dimensionals

Now check out what the other Challengers have created:

Thanks for visiting!!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

I Can See the Light.....

at the end of the tunnel.  It's been a long week that started last Wednesday.  I haven't checked anybody's blog, I haven't looked at any challenges on SCS or anywhere else for that matter.  People are creating wonderful creations all over blogland and I have seen nary a one!  Tomorrow is my Christmas Card stamp camp and then I can breathe!  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE doing my stamp camps!  I just overbooked the rest of my life!

There, now that I have had that little "whine" with my cheese, I'll show you one little card I made for a club hostess (Hi Janet):

Hostess Thank You 9-22-08

It uses a Kraft base and the new Autumn Vine DP that will be available October 1 from the new Holiday Mini--lots of good stuff in there!  Pocket Silhouettes was stamped in More Mustard, Chocolate Chip & Pumpkin pie on Confetti White, and sponged around the edges.  I used a button cut from the Big Shot die-cut (so cute), added some linen thread and Chocolate Chip ribbon, and my sentiment from All Holidays, and it's done.  I forgot to photograph it, but I  stamped the little stems on the inside too!

I also got an award from my crazy friend Dana:

spanish blog award Now, she swears this is a good award.  I didn't know what it said, it's in Spanish obviously, and she said, "It's Portuguese for:    "This blog invests and believes in,  proximity"  [meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' -being close through proxy]."  Okay, I think that is good!  I know I would never have met her except through blogging and she is always an encouragement to me, as well as making me laugh!!!  Just a disclaimer---her blog is not for the faint of heart!  Enter at your own risk!!!

Tomorrow is Color Throwdown Challenge Wednesday--so check back in to see what those lovely ladies have come up with, and so YOU can play too!  It's our twelfth one!  See ya then!
LeAnne

Monday, September 22, 2008

Busy Days

I apologize for not posting lately.....I have been busy with life outside of stamping as well as two stamp camps I am preparing for, a stamp club meeting and a Wee-Inker meeting!!  I have been stampin' a little, just haven't had time to post.

Yesterday was my Stampin' Up! downline meeting of the Wee-Inkers.  There were only four of us altogether, but we had a great time chatting and stamping.  I can't show you ALL the projects we did, but I will show you my favorite:

Weeinker Meeting Project 1 9-21-08

This is a little altered notebook, covered with the new DP from the Holiday Mini, called Autumn Vine.  LOVE THIS PAPER!   As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to pair it with some buttons die-cut from the new Big Shot, a Felt Fusion Too flower and the wide Baja Breeze ribbon.  Those little buttons on the DP are sooooo cute!  I showed them how to remove the coil from the top, adhere the DP, punch holes using the original holes as a template, then replace the coil.  Easy!  No stamping, actually!  I did dauber the edges of the buttons to give them some depth, and added a little "thread" with my white gel pen!

Here are the swaps we exchanged:

Swap 9-21-08 Alison

Swap 9-21-08 Laura

Swap 9-21-08 LeAnne

Swap 9-21-08 Shawn 2

Swap 9-21-08 Shawn - inside Shawn even stamped the inside of her card, ala Peanutbee! 

All the swaps were very cute!  Such great ideas from a creative bunch of girls!

 

My last share is the little recruiting gift I gave to Alison, who recruited her friend Jenn!  I added some quick rub-ons from the Holiday Mini to an Ikea frame and put some beautiful DP as a background.  Now she can add a picture of her little one playing in the snow----if we ever get any!  Ooops, maybe I shouldn't say that---we'll get inundated!  I apologize for this photo---it looks like the frame is warped, but it's not.  Anybody know how to NOT get this when they photograph their projects?  Seems it happens to me a lot!

Weeinker Gift 9-21-08 Rubons

Weeinker Gift closeup 2 9-21-08 Here is a closeup showing the Old Saint Nick rub-ons from  as well as the felt snowflakes available --so cute!

 

Thanks for visiting!
LeAnne

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Treat Bags

I have been making some little bags for samples so I thought I would share them with you. The first one is Beate's One Sheet Box. You can find detailed directions here. This is actually one of the projects we made at my stamp club meeting last night.

DSCF1760

The box/bag was made from one sheet of Tangerine Tango and decorated with Ghostly Greetings DP. I stamped the "thank you" image from Say it with Scallops in TT ink, then punched it out. The little ghost from Holiday Blitz was stamped in black, cut out, then mounted on a small piece of Basic Black to fit right inside the image. The Happy Halloween sentiment from All Holidays, punched out with the Word Window punch, finished it off. I added a couple tab punches on the top and threaded through black grosgrain. You can't see it, but the remaining sides of the box is stamped with IBBG in TT ink too.

Here is another box I made with the new Manchester DP. I think I prefer making them with DP simply because they are easier to fold. I love this paper for masculine things.

treat box 3

I just added a little strip from the opposite side of the DP as an accent, stamped the Congrats sentiment and mounted it on two Square Scallop punchouts of Always Artichoke. I added a couple jumbo eyelets with my Cropadile and some gingham ribbon. I also wanted to show you how I tie my ribbons on these so the bow is in the front:

treat box 1 Thread your ribbon through the back & front holes as you normally would, then bring the back ribbon over the top and thread it back through the front hole, from the inside.






treat box 2

Now both tails are coming out the front hole.









treat box bow closup

From here, you don't even need to tie a knot; you can just form the bow with your tails. Works like a charm!






Finally, everybody loves the Bag in a Box, so I thought I would keep in the Halloween theme and make one also. This one I filled with goodies & gave to my hostess.

DSCF1762

I got my directions to make this here. And the beauty of these bags is that you can decorate them to your heart's content for any occasion or any theme! Again, I used Holiday Blitz for the image on the front and Ghostly Greetings as my paper. You'll notice I forgot to tie my bow in the front, but that was probably because it was stuffed so full of goodies! Just kidding! The tutorial uses a scallop punch to make the bottom piece, but now that SU has a Scallop Edge punch, it is sooooo much easier! Let's see what you can make!
LeAnne

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

A Little This & That

Just a quick post as I have a club meeting tonight, but I wanted to share a few things I was able to stamp in the last couple days.  I guess because I am always feeling rushed, they are all pretty simple--not many layers or embellishments.  They are also all SU as I have been trying to make samples for my clubs & workshops!  My other stamps are lying lonely & neglected.....maybe this weekend!

First is a RAK from Shawn.  You can see more of her beautiful work here.  I am so glad she finally decided to start a blog!

09-17-08 Shawn's RAK

This is such a sweet layout--I'll be casing this one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

09-17-08 Baby Card

A baby card for one of my club girls, using Bella Rose, Puns from the Past and a Filigree Brad.  I also took Denise's idea to stamp inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

09-17-08 Baby card inside

 

09-17-08 Perk up Another Pun from the Past, a guy's get-well card.  Uses the new DP Manchester.  I love these plaids, although on this one I picked a more subdued one.  Now only if I had gotten those eyelets all even!

 

 

09-17-08 For You You can't get much simpler than this!  Say it with Scallops & the corresponding punch, a Felt Fusion Too flower, ribbon & Bella Rose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, my favorite.  I just received my SU order today with the new Autumn Vine DP.  IT IS GORGEOUS!  The catalog does not do it justice.  And no, it is not on this card!!!  I wish I had had it before I made it--I could have really had fun with it!  A good excuse to make another!
09-17-08 Thankful Thoughts 2

Thankful Thoughts, lots of Earth Elements inks & my aquapainter.   The little sunflower is popped up.

Sorry, I didn't list all the ingredients & techniques, but it's a quick post.  If you need more info, shoot me an email!

LeAnne

 

 

 

 

 

We Have A Winner

I just drew the winner of the Hodgepodge Hardware Blog Candy! Random.org drew entry 8 as the random number! That means my winner is Elaine M! Here is what she said about her fall memories:

"My favorite memories are hay rides and roasting marshmallows - and watching the big kids steal a kiss while us little kids giggled." Isn't that sweet!? I believe I already have your address Elaine, but you can email me just to make sure, and I'll get this out to you right away!

It was a lot of fun reading everyone's fall memories. It seems to be a favorite season of many of us; I guess when I was a kid, summer would have been my fav, but I really love the cooler weather and the anticipation of the holidays!! Thanks to everyone who submitted a comment, and who faithfully visits my little blog! Love to you all!



Halloween Blog Candy

Wow, check out this site for some Halloween blog candy! Yum Yum!!

Color Throwdown 11

CTD11 Banner

Wow, don't you love that banner!  Kisa Peters is our computer whiz, and she surprises us each week with her fun creations!  Thanks Kisa!  And she is our hostess this week as well with this great color combination for Color Throwdown 11:

CTD11 Swatch

I have to admit that at first I did not think I would like these colors together, but as soon as I started playing with them, I decided I LOVE them!  I hope you do too and will play along as well.  Remember to link your creations in your comment, or if you upload to SCS, use the keyword CTD11.  Lots of possibilities for this combo:  So here is mine:

Color Throwdown 11

I have a very busy week ahead of me, so I needed something clean, simple & easy.  In fact, it's probably a little too simple--I think it needs something a little more, but just not sure.  The leaves were stamped, cut out, folded in half and put through a crimper on the diagonal.  I stopped just short of the stem, then took it out.  That gave them just a little added dimension!  Hope you like it, and make sure you check out what the others have come up with:

Thanks for visiting!!!

  • Stamps:  Best Wishes & More, Pocket Silhouttes, Always, Simple Serif Alphabet
  • Paper:  Kraft, Confetti Cream, Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
  • Ink:  Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
  • Acc:  Crimper, Square Scallop Punch, Daubers, Dimensionals

Monday, September 15, 2008

All That Glitters

09-15 challenge closeup 2

The last couple days have been very busy and I haven't gotten any stamping done at all!    And although I don't do well stamping late at night, before I went to bed, I really wanted to try this technique of applying glitter with Versamark and Heat & Stick Powder that was today's SCS challenge.  It is messy, but the end results are awesome.  My photography just doesn't capture how really pretty this is!

09-15-08 challenge2-a

The base is Whisper White, front panel is Baja Breeze stamped with Versamark, sprinkled with Heat & Stick powder and then heat set.  The backgrounder is Leaves #3 from Cornish Heritage Farms.  I applied some Fine Cosmo glitter  and heat set it again, then bushed off the excess.  I did the same for the snowflake, which is from SU's Best Wishes & More, except that I stamped it in Craft White.  I mounted it on a plain circle of Baja Breeze and attached it to the card with some retired silver cord.  Very simple but you need something simple with all that glitz! 

Now hopefully tomorrow I will get to play some more and will have some fun stuff to show you!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Blog Candy

Wow, my counter just passed 35,000! Thanks, everyone, for checking out my little corner of blogland! In honor of that, I am giving away a brand-new Stampin'Up! Hodgepodge Hardware kit in Antique Brass:

Hodgepodge Hardware Blog Candy

To enter the blog candy contest, just leave a comment here and let me know what your favorite fall memory or activity is! There is a certain smell in the air that hits right around the beginning of September; I don't know whether it is the grass, or leaves beginning to change, the goldenrod, or what. But it reminds me of:

  • the first days of school, and we only wore dresses to school, NO PANTS!! And little plaid sneakers with white rubber toe things--what are those called?
  • going out to recess with our little button-down sweaters on
  • bringing fall leaves to class so we could iron them between pieces of wax paper to make place mats (anyone else remember that?)
  • the crunch the leaves would make as my saddle shoes (I HATE saddle shoes) crunched through them as I walked down our lane to the school bus
  • carving jack-o-lanterns
  • hearing the big corn-picking machine going through our cornfields

That's just a FEW memories of mine growing up on a Pennsylvania farm in the early 60's. How about you? I'll keep this open until Wednesday, Sept 17 at 8 pm eastern time, at which time I'll pick a winner! One entry per person, please!

Edited to add: Please make sure to have an email address available through your post or blog so I can get in touch with you if you're the winner! L.

More Fall Fun

I took a few minutes to participate in the OCC Challenge, which was a sketch.  I needed this--I am having so much trouble putting cards together!  So it was quite helpful.  I was also able to stamp a few images with my new GinaK stamps!  Here is today's challenge submission:

Whimsical Autumn Apple Basket 09-13-08 2

A real fun sketch, and a fun design to water color!

  • Stamps:  Whimsical Autumn, Gina K
  • Paper:  Creamy Caramel, Basic Grey Recess & Boxer,  Watercolor, Garden Green, Riding Hood Red, Choc Chip
  • Ink:  Stazon, lots of Earth Elements, Sahara Sand
  • Acc:  Corner Rounder, Brads, Aquapainter

I finally sewed the little curtains for the inside of my hutch yesterday, and since I had my sewing machine out already, I thought it would be interesting to sew some of the scraps to some cardstock pieces so I would have them at hand if I wanted to play!  So this was my first attempt.  It uses the daisy from Flowers for Daisy, another Gina K stamp:

Flowers for Daisy 9-13-08

  • Stamps:  Flowers for Daisy, Gina K; Essential Sentiments, MFT
  • Paper:  Nat Ivory, Kraft, Shimmery White
  • Ink:  Stazon Black, Sahara Sand, Ruby Red, Bravo Burgundy
  • Acc:  Taupe Ribbon, Small Oval Punch, Scallop Punch, Just my Type CB folder, sponge dauber

And finally, just a fun Halloween card:

Happy Halloween 9-13-08

  • Stamps:  Holiday Blitz, EFP, Seeing Spots
  • Paper:  WW, Ghostly Greetings, Old Olive, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie
  • Ink:  Stazon Black, Pumpkin Pie, Going Gray
  • Acc:  Black Grosgrain, Black Gingham, Pumpkin Pie Marker, Small Square Scallop Punch, 3/4" Square Punch, Eyelets, Nesties, Scallop Punch, Circle Punches, Eyelet Setter, black marker

The orange gingham ribbon was made by coloring the black & white ribbon with a Pumpkin Pie marker and quickly drying it with my heat tool.  A fun way to customize your ribbon colors!!!  Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Online Ordering!

orderonline

Stampin'Up! has finally offered online ordering!  If you love online shopping, now you can purchase all your favorite SU products---great if that mini catalog is about to expire and you decide late at night, you can't live without a stamp that is featured in it!  All you need to do is to go to my Demonstrator Web Site, click on "shop now" and you'll be good to go!  Email me if you have any questions or need more details!

More Fall Colors

Daisy Border 9-12-08

I almost forgot to check Stacey's Inspiration Challenge--it is a beautiful challenge, full of fall colors!  She chose Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Old Olive & Whisper White as her colors:

 Stacey's Challenge #2

I just received Gina K's "Flowers for Daisy"--first time I ever ordered anything from her, and I am very pleased--especially since she sent M&Ms that say "Thank you"!!! Yum!  So here is my card using that set:

 9-12-08 ssnotime 52

This sketch is CASE'd directly from Tammy; you can see her card here.  It also qualifies for Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge today! You need to check out her blog, as she is giving away TONS of blog candy!!!   I am not too sure about the shadowing I did--you know how you start to add something and then it doesn't look right, and you add some more to fix it and...well, you get the picture!  I didn't have any little rickrack, and this jumbo rickrack seemed a little too bold, but I toned it down with some Sahara Sand ink.....a little better.  I love sewing on my cards, and now that I have my sewing machine out, maybe I can work on the curtains that I never did a few days ago!

  • Stamps:  Flowers for Daisy, Gina K
  • Paper:  More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Shimmery White, Ghostly Greetings DP, retired Christmas DP
  • Ink:  Stazon Timber Brown, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Choc Chip
  • Acc:  Aquapainter, Nesties, Jumbo Rickrack, HPH, Sewing Machine, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals

I was able to make a quick "clean & simple" card yesterday with Cornish Heritage Farms' "Making the Grade" by Kim Hughes.  This will make a great masculine card and I was able to use up some teeny Basic Grey scraps!  Quick & easy!

Making the Grade 9-12-08

  • Stamps:  Making the Grade, CHF; Happy Everything, SU
  • Paper:  Confetti White, BG scraps
  • Ink:  Stazon Black, Creamy Caramel, Always Artichoke

Have a great day!  Stay tuned for blog candy, coming soon!
LeAnne